PLANS to spend £6,000 of taxpayers' money on Christmas lights has been approved by the council, despite complaints that businesses should foot the bill.

At a meeting of the council’s Area Two Committee, members voted to fork out the cash to fund two sets of lights on George Lane in South Woodford and The Broadway in Woodford Green this winter.

But Bridge ward councillor John Fairley-Churchill was not happy at the decision. He said: “Bah humbug. Westminster Council do not pay a penny towards the Christmas lights on Oxford street, they are put there by businesses to attract trade, and they are the ones who should fund it here as well.”

But Cllr Linda Huggett said: “I think they will put the sparkle into our Christmas.”

Cllr Felicity Banks agreed. “With all this doom and gloom going around the country at the moment this is just the sort of thing we need,” she said.

The lighting will be organised by the South Woodford Business Partnership and the Woodford Green and Bridge Business Partnership respectively.