Derby Christmas light switch-on to happen despite theft

The depot was targeted on two consecutive days

Derby's Christmas lights switch-on is to go ahead on time after the council organised replacements for more than £20,000 worth of stolen illuminations.

It was feared the event would have to be delayed after thieves used a cherry picker lorry to take the lights and equipment from a depot on 10 November.

However Derby City Council said its contractor had successfully found new lights for the 19 November switch-on.

No-one has yet been arrested over the theft of the equipment.

The lights were stolen from the Markeaton Park depot early in the morning using the cherry picker lorry which would have been used to install them in the city centre.

'On track'

A second break-in was reported at the depot the following evening but nothing was stolen.

Phil Derbyshire, head of energy and maintenance at Derby City Council, said the authority and its contractor were insured for the theft and had worked together to organise replacement equipment.

He said: "Christmas definitely isn't cancelled. We've all rallied round to secure some new equipment which we will be using.

"We've had some equipment arrive today [Monday] and some will be arriving soon so we're on track for the opening on Saturday."

Mr Derbyshire said security had now been stepped up at the storage depot.