DRYBROOK Parish Council is devastated – and shamefaced – after being told it cannot put up a new festive lights display because of Health and Safety regulations.

Councillor Colin Smith says he wants to apologise to his parishioners that this season's Yuletide lighting "may prove to be a disappointment". Instead, the village will revert to less ambitious plans.

Back in May, his council spent £2,400 on new additions to its already fine displays "only to have our plans suddenly and unexpectedly shattered by new Health and Safety regulations."

He said: "After nine consecutive years of brightening up our plain little village without a single incident, the county safety regulators, Southern Electric, have refused to fit our normal ten cross-street garlands and new flashing lights because of recent changes in safety measures.

"Although a compromise has been reached I still fear it will bring little joy to our parishioners and traders.

"It will be better than nothing but will make the village more than a little lopsided and not nearly so bright as in recent years – and certainly far less then the council had planned for this Christmas."

The Review has been trying to contact Southern Electric's safety officer for the Drybrook area for comment, without success at the time of going to press.