SHOPS on the outskirts of Wallingford may stay shut at this year’s annual evening Christmas event.

Wallingford In Business, which represents retailers in the town, has pulled out of the 20-year-old festive event after it missed out on funding from South Oxfordshire District Council.

Chairman Elaine Hornsby said it cost about £3,500 for entertainment, road closures, insurance and security but it would not be getting a grant to cover the costs.

Mrs Hornsby said: “We have not actually taken money at the evening for a very long time. In most cases people do not come into the shops and spend money.

“I am not grouching about it as it is putting money in the town in other ways, but when we pay for it we want all the shops to benefit from it.

“The event has come to the end of its life, not because of the economic climate, but simply because things have changed and everything we do costs so much more these days with health and safety.”

Julian Walley, owner of Lesters estate agents, in St Martins Street, said her shop had opened up for the event for more than 10 years but it would not be doing so this year.

The Christmas light switch-on event on Thursday, December 2, is run by the Wallingford Town Council and some shops are promising to stay open.

House of Cards, in St Mary’s Street will open. Manager Debbie Moore said: “For us it has always been a good evening and fun to work.”

The Lamb Arcade, in High Street, and Pettit’s department store, in St Mary’s Street, will also open.

Mayor of Wallingford Ber-nard Stone said the main focus this year would be the switching-on of the new Christmas lights. There will also be music from Cholsey Silver Band, a roundabout and barbecue.

He said: “It is enjoyable for the people to come out into the market place without any traffic and wander around the shops. But what the response will be if the shops do not open, I do not know.”

District council spokesman Gavin Walton said the council had pumped £100,000 into the town this year.

He said: “More than £20,000 of this money is being used to provide lights, banners and electricity cabling as part of the Christmas celebrations for this year and on a longer term basis.”

The council also now emp-loys a part-time market town coordinator for Wallingford who assists in promoting events in the town.

Mr Walton said: “The council previously provided a small amount of funding to Wallingford in Business to assist them in staging their Christmas activities.

“This funding, which was limited to lthree years and has now come to an end, was to help encourage local businesses to support events in the town.”