Come winter, come the need for light. But whether it's a firework or a bonfire lighting up the cold, dark evenings or festive coils of lighting designed to lure shoppers in to the pre-Christmas sales, there are a host of illuminating options available that all depend on the mood you're trying to convey.
One such lighting scheme is that in place at Winckley Square in Preston, where a new eco-friendly installation has been fitted ahead of the winter. As the Lancashire Evening Post reports, the Winckley Square setup is just one small part of the town's efforts to light up the high street this winter, with the annual Christmas lights being turned on this weekend.
However, the council has confirmed that a number of improvements have been made to lighting in the area for this year, and Winckley Square will be home to a new lighting scheme that will shine throughout the Christmas period, using 75 per cent energy efficient LED bulbs.
"2012 has been a fantastic year for Preston and we want to make sure it goes with a bang," said city mayor Carl Crompton. "The Christmas period is so important to our high street, we have to make sure we pull out all the stops to give people a reason to come and shop in Preston and support them."
To that end, the local authority has spent an additional £50,000 on new Christmas lights, illuminating the Avenham Street, Orchard Street and Lune Street areas for the first time.
Additionally, a new two-day Lancashire Market is set to take pride of place on the high street over the winter.
Outdoor lighting isn't just a practical way to illuminate the streets so customers can get their Christmas shopping done - it's also a festive way to dress your home for winter.
Why not invest in floodlight-style outdoor lights to light up your home, as well as wall-mounted porch lights that can help you find your keys on those dark winter evenings.
