ASSURANCES have been given that a town's Christmas celebrations will not clash with Armistice Day.

Traditionally, Darlington's Christmas lights, which attract huge crowds to the market place, are switched on six weeks before Christmas.

But this year that date coincides with Armistice Day, and the town's ceremony to commemorate those who lost their lives fighting for their country.

The suggestion to switch on the lights on November 11 has received cross-party condemnation since the leader of Darlington Borough Council, John Williams, received a report from council officers proposing the date as the official start of Christmas celebrations.

When the town's Liberal Democrats heard about the proposal they started an online petition because they were concerned any Armistice Day memorial services would be trivialised by the lights being switched on.

The petition called for another day to be chosen so preparations for both events could get under way.

Christopher Hawkes of the Liberal Democrats Association said: "This is a day our town should stop to remember all its war dead and not to think about celebrating Christmas by turning on the lights.

"What did so many men of our town go to war, and be killed, for? Surely not for an insensitive act of this nature to take place.

"We feel this idea is ridiculous and disrespectful and must be opposed."

Councillor Williams, who is a Labour councillor, has rejected the plan and called for another date to be chosen for the lights switch-on.

A council spokesman said: "It is obviously a very sensitive date.

"When Councillor Williams realised there was a clash of dates he sent the report back and called for another day to be chosen.

"He did not think that November 11 was appropriate and the light switch on will not now go ahead on Armistice Day," said the spokesman.

Last year, hundreds of people gathered in Darlington to see the Christmas lights being turned on.

The event coincided with the Orange Darlington Festival Lantern Parade and the BBC Children in Need Appeal.