SUMMER holidays are only just coming to an end but attention has already turned to Christmas.

Winsford Town Council has invited tenders for the rights to put up the town’s Christmas lights.

Bidders will be responsible for purchasing (where necessary), erecting, maintaining and dismantling the lights on High Street, part of Dene Drive and from the River Weaver Gyratory to the roundabout by the Top House pub.

In total, this adds up to almost 200 lamp columns which will need to be decorated.

The successful bidder will also need to install lights on a nine-metre Christmas tree at the junction of the High Street and the Old High Street.

The annual lights switch-on is pencilled in for 5pm on Saturday, December 7.

From then, everyday until January 7 the lights will come on at 3pm and switch off at 11pm.

Interested parties are asked to send the council quotes for the examination, testing and replacement of the lights.

They should also include the price for a pre-switch-on exercise ahead of the official switch-on, along with details on undertaking electrical intelligence to set up a switch-on system.

Tenders have until midday on Friday, September 13, to submit their bid.

To do so, send a sealed envelope marked ‘Tender for Christmas lights’ to Mark Bailey, Town Clerk/Finance Officer, Winsford Town Council, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford, Cheshire CW7 1AH.

Further information can be found on the council website.