by Callum McAvoy, reporter

Christmas lights around Kent may start to disappear from our streets due to a lack of funding and interest from the public.

This comes after organisers behind the Christmas Lights in Herne Bay pushed ahead with their Christmas event despite falling short of raising the required funds to put on a full light show.

The organisers were hoping to raise £25,000 from the public, individual councillors, local business and retailers. However, in the end only around £15,000 was raised.

A scaled down still took place on the 23rd November but the organisers hope that people are more supportive next year.

According to the organiser’s PR head, Liz Crudgingham: “I think there’s a feeling that everyone would like to see Christmas lights but not everyone wants to contribute and pay for them.”

Although there is disappointment in Herne Bay, it is still a great achievement to have any kind of Christmas event in the area after Canterbury City Council pulled their funding for Christmas lights in Herne Bay two years ago.

There is a fear that the same could occur in other areas of Kent such as Medway. However, hundreds turned out at the Rochester Christmas Lights Switch-On that took place on 17th November and was hosted by Heart’s Jonny Meah.

Similar attendance numbers are expected for the upcoming switch-ons’ in Gillingham and Chatham.