CHRISTMAS lights and celebrations “have to” take place in Haddington this year – even without a crowd.

East Lothian Council has called on community groups to shelve any plans for fireworks displays and other community events, including the switch-on of Christmas lights, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Usually, people would pack Haddington town centre to see High Street and Market Street lit up, with lights also on nearby Whittingehame Drive.

Pat Lemmon, from the town’s community council, stressed the importance of spreading some festive cheer, despite the lack of a public switch-on, and called for volunteers to come forward and help.

She said: “There have to be Christmas lights.

“It has been such a bad year for everybody that, whatever happens, we have to have Christmas lights.

“Steve Gibson has been in charge of the lights for the last few years and he has been able to pull something together.

“It is time to ask the question: ‘Are people available to help him?’

“He works full-time, Chris McEwan is stepping down and he was involved as well.

“We need to have more bodies but whatever happens, I don’t care, there will be Christmas lights.

“I joined the community council years ago because there was a year we did not have Christmas lights.

“I joined because I could never let it happen again.”

For several years, a Christmas tree has stood outside the town’s Corn Exchange. At the end of November each year, the Haddington Events Group puts on a special day of celebrations, leading up to the switch-on by a festive VIP.

However, with social gatherings cancelled, it is set to be a much more low-key affair this year.

Mrs Lemmon stressed the importance of having something to spread a little bit of festive cheer. She said: “I’m not talking about a switch-on event.

“One Monday night in November, boom, the lights go up and people see them going up and start to get excited. The lights are on and people know we have pulled together and put the lights up.”

Last year, for the first time, two Christmas trees brightened up Haddington, with a tree in the town centre and one outside the Nungate Community Centre.

Mrs Lemmon felt the additional tree looked “fabulous” and stressed: “This year, above all years, with everything going on, we have got to have some Christmas cheer going on. It does not bear thinking about it.”

Anyone keen to get involved should search Haddington Events Group on Facebook or go to www.haddingtoncc.org.uk