North Ayrshire's new MP has given her backing to a community campaign to reverse the council’s cut to their Christmas lighting fund. 

Community group Choose Kilwinning launched a campaign against what they described as a ‘cruel’ cut earlier this month.

In February, the council passed a budget which scrapped the support offered to community groups for the installation and testing of Christmas Lights.

Since then there have been fears that communities across North Ayrshire could be left without festive lights this year.

In Kilwinning alone, the additional costs for the volunteer group to set up the lights this year run to an estimated £5.000.

Now Labour MP Ms Campbell has given her backing to the groups.

She said: “Community groups like Choose Kilwinning work hard every day to organise events and they fundraise as much as they can to put on the events.

"The council must know how hard they work, but rather than make the right decision and support the brilliant Christmas light events across North Ayrshire, yhe current administration decided to make what they no doubt thought was an “easy” cut.

"The council can and must find the money to reverse this cut.”

The removal of funding for Christmas lights displays was part of the spending plans put forward by the council's minority SNP administration in February.

Neither Labour nor the Conservatives sought to reverse the cut in their amendments to the SNP's budget plans, which were voted through by 21 votes to nine, with only Labour voting against.

The new MP added: “First the community had to come together to stop the council implementing parking charges and killing off our town centres, then pupils and parents had to come together to protect their school libraries and now the community is having to fight to quite literally save Christmas.” 

Chair of Choose Kilwinning and campaign coordinator Aaran McDonald said: “It is great to have Irene’s support, as a local champion having Irene’s backing has given a spotlight to the campaign.

"We can’t afford the additional bill as the event itself costs us around £8,000.” 

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Like councils across Scotland and the rest of the UK, we face a challenging financial climate. At our budget-setting meeting on February 28, it was agreed to cease providing a budget for the installation of festive lights.

“In respect of support to groups, we have been in contact with community groups to explain that there may be a number of potential grant funding options open to them.

“Neighbourhood services will continue to provide storage for the lights.

“Capacity-building support for the groups, including advice on potential funding, is available through our connected communities service and support through the events process will also continue as usual.

“Community groups can find out more about funding online.”

You can sign the petition to save the festive lights here.