Britain's Most PC Town

Scarborough has been named “Britain’s Most PC Town” after the cancellation of the Christmas light switch-on.

The switching on of the Christmas lights is a popular annual event in the town – thousands of people – young and old – turn out to watch the Christmas lights being switched on by a TV personality, and it is the possibility of a large crowd which has prompted the cancelling of the event on health and safety grounds.

Angry locals have jammed the switchboard of the Scarborough Borough Council in protest at the move, and it is hoped that the council Chief Executive will be persuaded to change his mind and allow the event to go ahead.

Last year more than 10,000 people flocked to the event and organisers have said that if more were to turn up this year then someone could be hurt. However, this is not the first event in Scarborough this year to fall foul of red tape – the summer carnival was only allowed to go ahead after insurance issues were sorted out, a fireworks display at the annual Sea Fest was cancelled, a naval march was only allowed to take place after a local businessman agreed to pay for the insurance of the march, a motorcycle parade was cancelled for insurance reasons, Whitby Regatta parade had to be altered because of the danger posed by the tradition of throwing sweets to the crowd and a procession by Filey Lions was cancelled because the floats would have had to be insured.

No other town in Britain has taken such a drastic step over its Christmas light switch on, it is claimed.