FRUSTRATED locals have turned Grinch because their Christmas lights are still twinkling six weeks after the big day.
Residents in Aberlour, Moray, are sick of the sight of the Santas, snowmen, presents and puds on the main street.
But they’re banned from even switching the lights off because of the deal they’ve got with road maintenance firm BEAR Scotland.
Chris Burns of the Aberlour Community Association said: “Because the lights have been up for so long people are moaning about them.
“The novelty has definitely worn off and they just don’t understand why they are still there in February.
“We’re not allowed to touch them at all because of all the rules and regulations that are laid down by BEAR.”
Aberlour is on a trunk road so BEAR crews put up and take down the community association-owned lights free of charge.
Retired headteacher Chris had to lodge his paperwork last August and asked for the decorations to be taken down in the first week of January.
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He understands that the bad weather may have caused problems so has no issue with the lights still being up.
But he said: “It would make life a bit easier for us if someone came along and just flipped the two switches to put them off.
“That wouldn’t take too long and it would keep everyone happy. They could stay up for as long as they had to if they weren’t on.”
The lights, designed by local schoolkids, are expected to eventually be removed this week. The job can take as long as a day.
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The decorations will then be put in storage until November, when Chris will have to get them out and test them all.
He added: “Once they’re away things will go back to normal because there will be nothing to moan about.”
A spokesman for BEAR Scotland, said: “The removal of the Christmas lights in Aberlour is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 9 and 10 February.
“This is later than normal due to our workload.”