CREWE'S festive lights display Lumen is to return this year - but the event is being scaled down amid fears over large gatherings.

Crewe Town Council, the organisers of the Christmas event, has revealed that the lights spectacular, which was cancelled last year because of the pandemic, will be replaced by a self-guided illuminated arts trail over the nights of November 26 to December 12 in the town centre.

There will also be a series of themed "Crewe-mas" Shopping Saturdays, each with dedicated entertainment such as walkabout festive characters and craft workshops.

Lumen proved to be a huge success when it was launched in Crewe in 2018 drawing crowds of thousands to Memorial Square and the town centre to enjoy a night of entertainment, including a lantern procession, an interactive LED installation and after the switch-on a large light projection cast across the Municipal Buildings (see picture above).

Because of Covid social distancing last year's event was due to be replaced by a similar arts trail format, but it was shelved completely.

The expectation was that a full event would be restored this year and the town council has worked with Blackpool Council's Illuminations team on the project.

But councillors at the marketing and events committee meeting in July decided that the "safest option" was to pursue a lower profile event, now called Lumen Lite, to avoid large gatherings congregating in the town centre.

With Covid-19 rates in Cheshire East now rising to the highest levels in the pandemic it appears to be an astute decision.

The council posted on social media: "This Christmas Crewe is open for business, however, to keep everyone safe we will do things a little differently. Don't panic we are still going to have a holly jolly Christmas in Crewe!

"We have a fab programme of family-focused festive activity."

The town's Christmas Lights will be switched on, although not at a formal event. While Crewe-mas Shopping Saturdays are to be held each Saturday in the run up to Christmas (November 27 and December 4,11 and 18.

And Lumen Lite will offer an arts trail over 16 evenings, which will include digital light displays created by young people as part of the Luminate workshop programme.

The workshops are being held at Crewe Library later this month and next.

The council aims to "sync" this year' event with other Christmas activities in the town, including those being held at Crewe Market Hall.

It will also produce a 'Christmas in Crewe' What's On guide and plans to spend £12,000 establishing a Lumen Festival of Lights Development Programme to help with the staging of future Lumen shows.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Nantwich's Christmas lights switch-on is going ahead on Friday, November 19 in a town-centre event which includes a performance from tribute band Electromantics.