Keighley's Christmas lights have a dim future.

This year's display will be smaller than usual and the lights may be scrapped altogether in future years.

But town centre bosses are looking at ways of finding more cash and have urged local shops to pay their fair share.

The cost of putting up the display has rocketed from £8,000 to £23,000 over the past few years.

Keighley Town Centre Management Group, which organises the lights, says cash also has to be found for electricity, repairs, testing and new lights.

Bradford council gives £14,000, plus free technical help, and Keighley Pride, made up of town centre businesses, contributes about £2,000.

Over the past few years money from Keighley Single Regeneration Budget has helped improve the lights so they meet rigorous health and safety standards.

Mike Millbank, the management group's chairman, says the cost of putting up the lights was around £8,000 when the body took over responsibility from the now-disbanded Chamber of Trade.

Mr Millbank adds: "This year we have had three quotes for the job and the price ranges from £23,000 to £26,000."

Andrew Mallinson, the Conservative representative on the management group, hopes the council can provide more help.

He says the council has its own workshop that makes lights for Bradford city centre, but at present does not provide a similar service for Keighley.

Councillor Mallinson says this year's Christmas lights would have been reduced from the usual, even if money was available, due to the improvement work being carried out on town centre streets.

Barry Thorne, the management group's Labour representative, supports Cllr Mallinson's efforts to get extra council support.

But he believes more money is unlikely in light of the council's current drive to save £1.8 million on its budget.

Cllr Thorne says the future of the lights depends on more town centre shops and businesses providing cash each year.

"We don't do very well from the private sector," he says. "The businesses of Keighley do not seem to want to sponsor the lights."

Cllr Thorne says thousands of pounds have come from the public purse in recent years to improve the lights, and survival now depends on businesses.