Shoppers' mixed feelings over festive city lights

This year's offering includes the UK's largest light-up Santa

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Derby city centre as shoppers are treated to a new-look festive installation.

Residents have offered a mixed reaction to the new-look offering, which was officially switched on on Saturday and includes a light trail through the city.

Lit-up presents, a Christmas tree on the Market Place and the UK's largest light-up Santa are also among the installations on display.

Derby City Council spent £102,000 on this year's decorations and contributed £10,000 to the light trail, which was created in conjunction with the authority, the Cathedral Quarter and St Peter’s Quarter Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).

Shopper Carol Clifton said the atmosphere was "lovely"

Carol Clifton, 63, from Long Eaton, said: "I think it's really nice, I think they should be proud of it, the whole thing is lovely, it's got more atmosphere than other places we've been to."

Anne Taranto, 68 and from Derby, felt the surrounding area, with the derelict Assembly Rooms car park and the closed market, "sort of spoils the atmosphere".

She added: "The Santa gets a 10 out of 10 and I think it's just a shame the market place is as it is at the moment.

"It's the surround that I think detracts from what the council have tried to do but I certainly think Christmas without lights would be very sad so I'm glad they've done it."

Mr Pearson said he had only been selling about a quarter of the hot dogs he normally did

The Christmas lights received some criticism from a German sausage stall holder who was moved from his usual spot on the Corn Market to make way for the lights.

Charlie Pearson has been selling German Bratwurst from his festively-decorated cabin in the city centre for the past 14 years.

But he was forced to downgraded to a trailer and moved to a quieter spot to make way for one of the light installations.

Derby City Council said in a statement: "The introduction of the festive light trail means that the Corn Market site is unavailable as this site is a key area for the light trail."

Reacting to the lit-up arch that is now near his usual spot, he said: "I'm not a malicious person but I'm just totally gobsmacked by the whole thing to be honest."

Mr Paerson's usual spot now has a lit-up arch in it

But the lights have not been welcomed by all shoppers.

Jolene Hodgkinson, 48, from Derby, said: "(It's) very disappointing, as always really, compared to some cities, like Nottingham. I think Derby has always been quite disappointing.

"Seeing that it's replaced the sausage man I do think it's quite disappointing."