Traders in a small Somerset town are refusing to place decorations in their stores as a protest over the number of empty shops.

They accuse developers of being slow to start work on converting about a dozen boarded-up properties in the high street at Highbridge.

The town was at the centre of a Christmas controversy five years ago when councillors placed a solitary star in the town centre.

Only two of the four lamps on the star worked, one bulb was missing and another failed to light.

The town was short on decorations in 1997

Shop owner Russell Chedzoy is leading the ban on Christmas lights in the town this year.

"I want Highbridge to be busy - I'm not anti-development, I want the developers to develop the town, but I want them to do it within the foreseeable future.

"I believe Highbridge is in such a mess - the developers being responsible for a lot of it - leaving so many shops empty.

"Who would want to come to Highbridge as it is?"

'Lone star'

Mike Murphy, chairman of the town's chamber of trade said: "I think it's a good point.

"Highbridge was a thriving town in the 1950s with production of locomotives - sometimes 12 on the stocks at one time.

"Five years ago this was the lone star town but I think it's set for an explosion of development.

"We are also part of 45 towns who are taking part in the market and coastal towns initiative - the town is on the turn."