DARWEN'S Christmas lights switch-on to-night will appear smaller than last year's as some Christmas trees for the front of shops have not been put up in time.

And road works in the town centre have been blamed by traders whose shops will miss out on the event, featuring actor Simon Gregson who plays Coronation Street's Steve McDonald.

Blackburn with Darwen Council denied road works had anything to do with the delay and said the new scheme had simply taken longer than expected.

The usual lights are on the town hall and the market and trees have gone up in Bridge Street, Darwen Street and Duckworth Street.

But they are absent in Railway Road and some have still not gone up in parts of Bolton Road, the approach to the centre.

Hairdresser Mark Graham, whose tree was due to arrive today, said: "It is a real shame some cannot be put up in time.

"It's these road works again. They have caused so many problems already and now it's affecting Christmas.

"Others have been told they will probably get their tree on Sunday or Monday.

"But they will have missed the big switch-on. I'm disappointed."

Simon Gregson is due to turn the lights on tonight at 5.30, joined by young tumour patient Madison Allan as part of a day of entertainment in aid of a new high-tech scanner for the hospital where she is treated.

Regeneration chief Coun Andy Kay said: "During installation, some unsafe brackets have had to be replaced. Also, some of the shops do not have the wiring in place to accommodate trees.

"Unfortunately, these problems have led to some of the shops not having Christmas trees in place for the switch-on. I can assure traders that all trees have arrived in Darwen and will be in place by mid next week."