The debate surrounding Otley's Christmas lights has hotted up this week as people continue to voice their opinions.

David Brotherton, a former street light superintendent, who put the town's Christmas decorations up for more than ten years, is unhappy with this year's showing.

He said: "I used to work in Otley for the local authority in the 70s and I was responsible for putting the lights up.

"Things have certainly changed in the 30 years since I helped with the Christmas decorations and I am appalled at what has been put up.

"I am just so incensed with what has happened to Otley over the years, it makes me so mad.

"The Christmas lights mean so much to the town, but it has been done totally wrong this year.

"When I used to be involved, there were lovely lights and Christmas trees everywhere, not just one tree and a few lights.

"We put lights in trees all around the town, and not just in the town centre.

"There was a huge decorated tree by the Jubilee Clock and a nativity scene there, too.

"People in Otley are just so disappointed with this year's effort, and the efforts for a lot of years to be honest, because they haven't been as good now there is the town council and city council involved."

Mr Brotherton, who lives in Lea Croft, Otley, added that the lights meant more than just decorations.

"It is very unfair on the shopkeepers who want to attract people into their shops.

"The lights themselves can become an attraction and get people into the town, but that is unlikely to happen here, because if you go to just about any other town, their lights are better."

The lights this year include the Christmas tree in Market Place as well as individual trees with low-key white lights.

But people have criticised the lack of bright coloured flashing lights strung across the roads, which are commonplace in Otley during the festive season.

Organisation of the town's festive displays have been taken over this year for the first time by the Environment Committee. Last year the displays were organised by a working party headed by Coun Nigel Francis.

Speaking about this year's lights, Coun Francis said: "Christmas is supposed to be a happy time for children especially, but these lights have been turned into a laughing stock.

"The way the whole Otley Christmas lights have been planned is ridiculous and has turned into a political issue."