A COUNCIL has reassured people in a Teesside town that its Christmas decorations will soon be taken down.

Although Stockton's festive lights were turned off on Saturday, the decorations have stayed up after twelfth night.

Superstition states that it is bad luck to leave Christmas decorations up past January 6 but Highways Services Manager Richard Hayes said work had begun to remove lights around the borough.

Mr Hayes said: "Stockton's Christmas light displays are among the biggest in the region and it takes approximately four weeks to put them all up and about two weeks to dismantle them. Obviously, the displays then have to be carefully stored to prevent damage or deterioration.

"The lights were switched off on Saturday and work commenced first thing on Monday morning to remove some of the displays." The main town centre decorations would be dismantled this weekend.

He said: "The main overhead displays on Stockton High Street will be taken down on Sunday. This work cannot be done during the week because of the dangers of working above pedestrians and live traffic."