BRIGG CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WERE SWITCHED ON IN JULY BUT WITH GOOD REASON

Brigg Blog wondered whether we'd had one too many late on Saturday night (July 25) when we thought we saw Christmas lights shining brightly in the distance as we crossed the Market Place from the Lord Nelson towards the Woolpack.
With this in mind we asked someone else at the Woolie to pop out and confirm that illuminations were indeed present beyond the County Bridge, along Bridge Street.
Despite having secured a reliable witnesses to back up our observations, we later crossed the Old River Ancholme and took these pictures.
 

Outside Simon Ho's China Royal on Saturday night.

On Monday morning we checked with Brigg Town Council, which provides the local Christmas illuminations, and staff soon threw light on the reason for Saturday night's unexpected display.
"The contractors are doing a test of all the lights in the trees in the town centre to see which ones work, what needs mending or what needs replacing," they explained.
"It's an on-going project to see if we can get a better display this year, even if we can't have a Switch On Event."
 

Lights near Dunham's bakery shop on Saturday evening.

 As we revealed recently, Brigg District Lions have already cancelled the 2020 Christmas Market due to Coronavirus emergency concerns about large public gatherings.
This would have followed the traditional switch-on ceremony undertaken on a temporary stage in the crowded Market Place and organised by the Town Council.
So if you observe other Christmas tree lights 'on' well ahead of the festive period, the reason is now clear.
Tree lights similar to those on Bridge Street are sited at other locations, including Queen Street and East Park (near the Tintab shelter).

The view from the County Bridge, looking down Bridge Street, on Saturday night.