Tiverton Christmas lights are 'pants'

If you've ever been underwhelmed by your local Christmaslights, spare a though for the inhabitants of Tiverton in Devon. They switched their festive lights on for the first time this week, and people immediately spotted something unexpected. One string of Christmas lights in particular has attracted national attention - and not in a good way.

The string of lights bears an unfortunate resemblance to an illuminated washing line decorated with big sparkly pants - and a photo of the lights has gone viral.

It's not brilliant news for the town, which spends £15,000 on the lights each year, and fundraises in order to be able to afford it. Fundraisers may be feeling their efforts aren't going to be enormously appreciated this year.
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On social media, the lights have attracted comments from news outlets all over the country. The Western Morning News went for the puntastic: "#Tiverton's Christmas lights have hit a bum note this year.... they're just pants!" Meanwhile Wirral Radio asked: "What do you see? Undies or Christmas lights?" And the Metro Breakfast show chipped in with "Who thinks these Christmas lights are a bit pants?"

Paddy Power even got in on the act, tweeting: "Looks like the council in Tiverton, Devon have based their Christmas lights on our Lucky Pants..."

Unfortunate lights

Every year we have news of unfortunate Christmas lights around the UK. Last year there was the candle and bauble light display in Bromley that people worried looked like an intimate part of the male anatomy, and back in 2012 there were the Brighton lights with hidden rude messages. However, where this set of lights differs from the others is that this one is actually real - the other two were internet jokes.

Fortunately the locals appear to be making the best of it. Committee chair Sue Griggs told the BBC: "They're Father Christmas's sparkly pants and they're great." She said: "We picked them because they're nice and festive, and we liked the shapes. Then people started saying that they resemble pants, which they do.

"They certainly look good and they are getting the attention they require, they look brilliant," she added.