Damage leaves Christmas lights team out of pocket

OVER £300 worth of damage was caused to Melksham Christmas lights fencing and equipment after a late night brawl spilled into the Market Place. 

In the early hours of Sunday 30th November the base of the town’s Christmas tree was damaged and  fencing was broken, along with control equipment for the lights.

The incident, just days before the lights switch-on event increased the work-load on the town’s volunteers who work tirelessly to put on the festive display each year and left the team with another cost.

Many have shared their dismay at the damage caused on social media sites where one local said, “Well Melksham, you did us proud last night. To the 30+ people in the market place brawling, shouting, screaming and swearing, well done. It was a spectacular display of abuse and disarray, including the smashing up of the Christmas tree area.”

Melksham Christmas lights organisers are now appealing for anyone with information as to who is responsible for the damage to contact Wiltshire Police.

On the Melksham Christmas Lights Facebook page they said, “£100 worth of fence panels bought and refitted, £250 worth of control gear smashed and useless… a day’s work lost. The main thing is that it won’t affect the quality of the town’s lights and we were still able to put on a great display, it takes more than this to ruin Melksham Christmas lights.”

Anyone with any information can contact Wiltshire Police on 101.