UK Christmas markets and lights being cancelled due to budget cuts
Towns and cities across the UK have cancelled Christmas light switch-ons and markets this year due to the cost of living crunch.
The Grinch - in the form of a high rate of inflation and a persistent lack of public funds from central government over the past decade - has very much dampened festivities in parts of the country this year.
Many councils have made the decision to cancel events such as markets and lights, in a bid to save cash as they attempt to close budget shortfalls.
The silver lining is that you'll still be able to find plenty of festivities around you, if not in your hometown. Check out our list of the UK Christmas markets going ahead to find the closest to you - or if you're looking to meet Father Christmas, we've also rounded up some of the best Santa's grottos across the UK!
In the meantime, below is a list of the UK towns and cities that have cancelled Christmas markets and lights so far...
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Lincoln Christmas Market got too busy last year (James Turner)Bournemouth: The switch-on was ditched after its £44,000 budget was scrapped in a cost-saving exercise by the council.
Beaminster: The lights were cancelled by the council, due to the £11,000 cost.
Leominster: Way back in June this event was cancelled when the council agreed that roadworks affecting the town centre could go ahead at the end of this year.
Sheffield: The City Council blamed city centre building works for the cancellation of the light switch-on event this year.
Braintree: Back in August the Essex council said it could "not support an official switch-on" due to "budgetary constraints".
Bolton: For a fourth year in a row, Bolton Council decided the Christmas lights would not be twinkling this year.
Medway Council: The Kent council decided to cancel the big switch on and light display due to a projected £17m overspend in its budget.
Kirklees: On the outskirts of Leeds festive fans were left to rue the fact that there will be no community Christmas trees this year due to budget issues.
Shrewsbury: The town council decided to cancel its light switch-on in the wake of the tragic news that four teenagers from the town died in Snowdonia in a car crash. The decision was made after Wilf Fitchett, Jevon Hirst, Harvey Owen and Hugo Morris were discovered in an overturned car in a ditch near the village of Gwynedd in North Wales on 21 November.
Glasgow: The lights are shining in the Scottish city this year. However, the Elfingrove ice rink has been metaphorically gritted due to inflationary price hikes associated with running it. It comes after 120,000 people visited the rink and winter wonderland it sits in last year.
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Manchester: Ongoing development in the city centre and the absence of a suitable safe location has led to the switch-on to be cancelled. The lights are still shining however.
Cosham: The switch-on was cancelled just hours before it was due to take place at the end of November.
Lincoln: One of the UK's longest-running Christmas markets has been cancelled. It was rumoured last month that Lincoln Christmas Market would not go ahead because it made the city centre too busy last year, and that decision was confirmed this week. Five smaller events have been set up instead to spread visitors out.
Brighton: The south coast city had its market called off in November due to budgetary issues.
Felixstowe: The Beach Christmas market in the Suffolk town was called off at the last minute, just before it was due to open.
Colchester: The Essex County Christmas Fair, which takes place at Layer Marney Tower, was called off not because of monetary issues, but because the car park got too muddy.
Windemere: The Lake District Christmas market was cancelled as organisers were unable to secure funding.
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