CREWE Town Council has awarded the contract for its popular Lumen event to Blackpool Borough Council.

Councillors at this week's full council meeting approved the recommendation by the marketing and events committee that the Lancashire authority should be paid £52,000 for delivering an "amended Covid-19" event following a successful competitive tender.

Lumen – Crewe's Night of Lights - has proved a massive success in the town since its inception in 2018 with big crowds flocking to see a spectacular light show in Memorial Square, including a projection mapping show across the Municipal Buildings.

Because of social distancing plans are being drawn up for this year's event to be spread out over several nights later this year rather than a one-off performance as in the previous two years.

Blackpool Council is renowned for its role in staging the town's famous Illuminations, which faces lesser Covid challenges than other events of large gatherings as people can be confined to their cars. This year's Blackpool Illuminations is being extended until January 3 (starting on September 4 with a virtual switch on).

It is the first time the Blackpool authority has worked on the Crewe event.

Of the contract award, Cllr Joe Cosby said: "The events officer and working group have all worked very hard to try and deliver an alternative event with social distancing."

The full council also authorised a £30,000 payment to Fleetwood Festival of transport for the performing arts content and production provided by its Spare Parts team for the trAction event.

That money is being paid in advance of next year's event; this year's was cancelled because of the pandemic.

A further £5,000 payment will be made conditional on programming choices to be paid at a later date.