A Shropshire pub landlord has taken on the role of one of Santa’s little helpers to save a county town’s Christmas lights festival from the axe at the eleventh hour.

Darren Price, who runs the Boars Head in Bishop’s Castle, said he could not bear the thought of the town being plunged into darkness at Christmas and wanted to do something for children living in the town.

Bishop’s Castle Christmas Lights Festival will now be held on December 4 and will feature a traditional lantern procession and Santa’s grotto as well as a less conventional samba band.

It comes just days after organisers called the event off, claiming there would not be enough time to organise a successful event.

An urgent call has now been made for volunteers to step forward to help bring some festive cheer to families in the town.

Mr Price said: “We do not have much time but we will definitely do something. I do not want children in Bish-op’s Castle to miss out on what’s been a fantastic festival. We do not want the town plunged into darkness – how sad would that be?

“I will be approaching local businesses who have always been generous with sponsorship and we hope to put lights throughout the town and have a tree at a focal point.

“This will be a scaled-down version of the festival and it really depends how many people step forward as to what we can achieve.”

Organisers had pulled the plug on the event on Tuesday with a view to bringing in a new-look event next year.

Jacs Collins, a member of the festival committee which made the decision to call off the event, said: “The festival team is delighted to hear that Darren Price has decided to offer a smaller community-focused programme of activities on December 4 at the Boars Head pub in Bishop’s Castle – and we will of course offer whatever support for this that we can.”

To volunteer, call Mr Price on (01588) 638521.

By Peter Kitchen