City centre nightclub and bar owners have branded Bradford Council a Scrooge after it failed to put up Christmas lights in Manor Row.

The owners of the night-spots claim they're losing trade because customers aren't getting into the Christmas spirit.

And they are writing to Bradford Council to complain and ask for money off their rates.

Tony Reed, joint owner of Reedy's Place off Manor Row, said: "We're absolutely disgusted. You wouldn't even know it's Christmas up here as there's not a single light anywhere.

"I saw all the lights being put up in the city centre but I was gobsmacked when one of the workmen said there were none going up in Manor Row.

"Coming up from the bottom of town, it just looks dark and dingy while everywhere else in the city centre is flooded in lights.

"This is the main strip of bars and nightclubs in Bradford and we've all invested heavily.

"We're trying to encourage trade and do something for Bradford but the Council is like Scrooge, not even wanting to put up a single Christmas light.

"The cash for the lights comes out of our rates but we feel we deserve some sort of discount."

Dave Thornes, who runs Fatty Arbuckle's, Mirage and Juice, said: "I've spoken to all the landlords and they're totally dismayed. We've had to spend hundreds on our own decorations. I put some coloured lightbulbs in a tree outside one of my clubs in a bid to get some Christmas spirit going.

"We thought the Council might do something as this is supposed to be the strip of pubs and clubs in Bradford where people come to party and have a good time. You wouldn't think it was Christmas in Manor Row.''

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "For public safety reasons we cannot attach decorations to lighting columns on Manor Row because they are not strong enough to take the weight.

"However, there will be improvements to Manor Row in 1999 as the next phase of the city centre improvement programme gets underway. We are looking at upgrading the street lighting including making provision for Christmas decorations."

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