A senior Oxford city council officer has admitted she was responsible for taking down the Christmas lights ten days early -- without consulting councillors or traders.

Isobel Garner, city council strategic director, said her staff made the decision to remove the lights two days after Christmas.

The action was thought necessary after a span of lights fell into Queen Street, just before the November 29 official switch on.

Poor weather forecasts over the Christmas period, prompted council officers to act swiftly.

Council leaders have now agreed to conduct a full Christmas lights review, starting with a consultation meeting with retailers later this month.

All aspects of the Christmas lights, including internal council processes and the contractors the authority employs to put up the lights, will be reviewed.

The council will ask retailers at the meeting about their views on last year's lights display and what they would like to see in 2002.

Council lawyers are now in discussions with Gala Lights, the contractors that installed the display, regarding the question of liability when the lights fell.

Ms Garner said: "A lot of people must have been disappointed that the lights were taken down early.

"My staff made the decision to take the lights down. However, I regret that they did not consult councillors and retailers. This decision will be looked at during the review.

"The decision to take down the lights was made for safety reasons.

"Leading up to Christmas, we were able to conduct daily inspections of the lights and staff were on hand to take down lights at very short notice if the need arose. Over the Christmas break, high winds were forecast and possible snow, and the decision was made to ask Gala Lights to remove them early."

Cllr John Goddard, the executive board member with responsibility for the city centre, said: "Christmas lights will be the key item for this meeting. It is clear that things do need to improve and this will happen as part of the council's three-year Christmas lights project. Last year, the Christmas lights were taken down ten days early.

"I am determined to make sure that next Christmas safety will remain paramount and that the lights stay up until January 6."