TWO major shopping areas could be left without Christmas lights this year after councillors 'forgot' to answer an email.

Woodford Green Broadway and High Road could both be left without the popular festive decorations after an email reminder about payment was not responded to in time by members representing Monkhams ward.

The alleged error - which was revealed during an argument between councillors at a meeting of Area Two committee last night (Tuesday) - comes at a bad time for traders in the area, many of whom have seen a big drop in business since the council clamped down on them displaying goods in front of their shops last month.

Pauline Latham, owner of Cafe & Co in Woodford Green Broadway questioned what her business rates were spent on.

She said: "That's just great isn't it. As if things weren't tough enough for us already.

"We pay lots of money to the council but seem to get nothing back but hassle.

"This just shows they don't really care about us."

Fellow Broadway trader, James Rose, of charity Child's Dream, agreed:

He said: "We pay our business rates and yet we don't really seem to get any services.

"People love Christmas lights. How can they forget to sort something like that out?"

Florist Sacha Towler - who has already lost money after council officers stopped her leaving flowers outside her shop in the Broadway - was shocked by the news.

She said: "It does make you fed up.

"They should be trying to help us out, not making things more difficult."

Monkhams ward councillor, Linda Huggett, said the email - sent by Church End ward councillor Richard Hoskins on October 16 - was 'confusing.'

She said: "We were under the impression we were going to discuss this at tonight's (Tuesday's) meeting.

"Maybe it was the email that was confusing. It was not very clear."

Council officer Cliff Woolnoth said it was unlikely there would still be enough time to order the lights.