TRADERS have condemned Scrooge-like council bosses for scrapping Christmas lights in two Southampton shopping centres.

Civic chiefs have pulled the plug on festive illuminations in Shirley and Bitterne to save money.

They are also switching off the city centre decorations for six hours a day in another cost-cutting measure.

The anger of traders comes just days ofter TV star Jim Davidson switched on the lights in the city centre.

The moves will save the council £10,000.

Angry business people in Shirley have branded the decision "disgusting" and said councillors were risking turning the centre into a ghost town.

Karen Tucker, manager of Peacock's department store in Shirley High Street, said: "It's disgusting. People pay enough in council tax and rates. They should be able to put up a few lights. There have always been lights and now there is nothing. It does not feel like we are building up to Christmas. There is no atmosphere."

John McGrory, assistant manager at H Gasniers shoe repairers in Redcar Street, added: "Every year the display has got worse and worse. They should be trying to keep smaller businesses going. Shirley is becoming like a ghost town."

Julie Russell, duty manager at Shirley High Street's branch of frozen food giant Iceland, said: "Other high streets smaller than us have Christmas lights and they don't have to pay for them.

"Customers have been asking if we have seen any lights go up and we have had to say no. I think it's sad when the ones in Southampton are going up.

"Last year we had some in the precinct - a line of coloured light bulbs."

And Shirley ward councillor Paulette Holt added: "This is shabby treatment by the council which always seems to favour the big city lights over district centre such as Shirley which need all the help they can get to support trade.

"The council should consider alternating annual funding between the district centres and the city centre."

But Derek Burke, executive member for leisure at Southampton City Council, said the decision not to put up the lights was taken because the council simply could not afford the cost.

Instead they decided to take the lights from Bitterne and Shirley and offer them to traders to store and maintain at an estimated cost of around £1,500 a year. So far, not a single trader had agreed.

They will be offered to other traders at East Street, Bedford Place and Woolston if no one comes forward.

Cllr Burke said: "The lights are quite expensive to maintain and I understand why the traders have not taken up the offer."