Some of the fireworks have 300mm shells

Beacons at sites across the west Lakes will be visible from as far away as Scotland.

The Civil Aviation Authority and the coastguards have been informed about the laser beacons, which under the right conditions are visible 15 miles away.

Barry Surtees from Muncaster Castle, one of the sites, told BBC News Online:" It is a technical marvel... the lights take six minutes to warm up and the intensity of the light is incredible.

'Wow factor'

"There are six bulbs in a cone which rotate with another six bulbs, going across an arc and creating a disturbance which you have to look at.

"The damp creates an even better effect - from somewhere like the Isle of Man it will be unbelievable.

"From here you can see Wales, Ireland, and the tip of Scotland with the eye so it will create some great photographic opportunities... there will be a 'wow' factor."

"Light following a dark year"

The lights will go on at 1700 GMT each night until 29 December.

They will be turned off by 2300 GMT.

Coach services are reported to be booked to bring people from the central Lakes to view the spectacle - at a time of the year when the usual tourist season has ended.

The idea of a linked series of beacons came from the Whitehaven Christmas Fair Group, who wanted to carry out a high profile project to bring "some light to Cumbria in what has been a hard year."

The event will cost about �30,000, with funding comes from a variety of organisations.

The viewing sites will be at Silloth, Allonby, Maryport, Workington, Whitehaven, Egremont, Seascale, Ravenglass, and Millom.