A Merseyside town whose economy is bolstered by tourism has cancelled one of the biggest events in its social calendar.
Southport's iconic Christmas lights switch on will not go ahead this winter.
The event regularly attracts thousands of visitors to the town centre each year, with Lord Street closed to allow the set up of a stage, big screen, fairground rides and food stalls.
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But Southport's Business Improvement District (BID) has said money will instead be spent on a month-long programme of events that will give "more benefit to the town’s businesses ".
The news comes as a blow to some, after a string of huge events being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Southport Flower Show was cancelled in both 2020 and this year, with the charity behind the event saying the decisions were made with a heavy heart.
The Southport Air Show has also been postponed, with the last show taking place in July 2019.
Dozens of Sandgrounders have reacted to the news on Facebook.
One woman said she was "heartbroken" at the decision and said Southport wasn't Southport without a switch-on.
Another said: "Everything is cancelled in Southport this year."
A third wrote: "I think Christmas lights are the least of our town's problems."
Southport's most recent Christmas switch-on event, in 2019, was headlined by Peter Andre - who was paid £11,000 for a 20 minute performance.
Southport BID said the entire event, including all operational costs, all performers and all associated marketing and promotion cost £45,000.
Other performers were at a lower cost in order to balance Mr Andre's fee out.
The ECHO understands Sefton Council has no budget for Council-run Christmas activities.
The local authority has previously said "this was removed as part of the budget setting process a number of years ago due to government cuts".
In previous years, however, the council has given some grants to established community groups in all parts of the borough to help with the purchase of their own trees and lights.
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