LIGHT has been shed over the mystery disappearance of half the Christmas lights along King Street in Great Yarmouth.The display of white lights, which crossed the busy shopping street, were removed by borough council workmen before work started on improvements to Victoria Arcade.

LIGHT has been shed over the mystery disappearance of half the Christmas lights along King Street in Great Yarmouth.

The display of white lights, which crossed the busy shopping street, were removed by borough council workmen before work started on improvements to Victoria Arcade.

But rather than putting the old lights back up, the council has decided to treat shoppers and businesses to an early present by spending nearly £20,000 on new lights which change colour, from red to yellow, green to blue.

The new lights will stretch all the way from Burton's Menswear in Market Place to the Yarmouth Way junction and will provide a brighter display with 2,400 bulbs - 1,000 more.

Michael Stephenson, council environmental services officer, said the lights nearest Victoria Arcade had to be removed in August so workmen from building contractor ISG Jackson could position their cranes to repair the mall's glazed roof.

But the lights had not been returned, instead they would be replaced along with all the other lights along the length of the road after the council set aside money from its repairs and maintenance budget in April.