Solar power lights festive trees

Porthcawl will celebrate an environmentally green Christmas

Solar-powered Christmas tree lights are going up in a south Wales seaside resort to cut the town's festive carbon emissions.

The 3ft artificial trees with small flashing white lights are being attached to lampposts in Porthcawl.

It is hoped the 88 solar-powered trees could save the community £10,000.

Because solar powered lights come on when daylight fades, an official switch-on will not be possible, but a Christmas Fayre has been arranged.

The idea was approved by the town council after discovering it could save on energy costs and maintenance.

Porthcawl mayor Alana Davies said: "The economic aspect of the lights is very important, but we were attracted by the opportunity to cut down on carbon emissions by investing in solar power.

"No-one in the town has ever heard of solar-powered Christmas lights before, but we believe they are the future.

"We are really looking forward to seeing them in action."

Christmas would not be the same without civic festive light displays, but there are real worries about their future Mark Stone, Plantscape

The firm supplying the trees, Plantscape, calls them a green alternative to traditional Christmas illuminations.

Each tree being placed on the lampposts sits in a planter and is covered with dozens of flashing LED lights.

Above the top of the tree is a solar panel, which converts light into electricity, which is then stored in the battery. When darkness falls, the lights switch on automatically.

Mark Stone, managing director of Plantscape, said: "Christmas would not be the same without civic festive light displays, but there are real worries about their future.

"We are proud to have developed a safe, eco-friendly alternative to traditional lights and predict our solar-powered solution will revolutionise the market."

Porthcawl's Christmas light celebration will be on Saturday, 1 December at 1730 GMT.