The Christmas lights are on in an area stretching from Tuckton to Westbourne and local people are being urged by Bournemouth Coastal BID to go out and admire them and to support local shops.

Lights have been put up in Tuckton, Pokesdown, Southbourne, Boscombe, East Cliff and West Cliff and Westbourne.

Paul Clarke, the BID’s chairman, said, “With just a few weeks until Christmas many businesses will be aware that this is the period that could make or break them.

“The retail and hospitality sectors have been particularly hard hit and we have many of those businesses along the coast.

“Despite the restrictions we’ve been able to fund and put up lights to make our trading areas more attractive.

“We want to encourage locals and visitors to come out and spend money in our communities.

“Businesses have spent time and money to make themselves Covid-safe and our message is simple: Christmas isn’t cancelled.

“We’d also like to thank Gala Lighting whose generosity means we have lights on the West Cliff and East Cliff.

“With a Covid vaccine now approved we can see the end of the tunnel and would urge everyone to get out this Christmas and enjoy what our trading areas have to offer.”