Barry Answer, a Mansfield district councillor, fears new government rules may cost �79,000 to implement.

District and county council officers will meet to discuss the costs involved with the regulations.

But district council managing director Ruth Marlow told the BBC she was confident that Christmas lights would be on this year.

Councillor Answer said the county had told the district council to carry out safety checks and if necessary change the lights to comply with the new standards.

He felt the company putting up the lights was professional and experienced enough to carry out such procedures.

"I would hope we could come to some sort of compromise to sort it out and get the lights on," he said.

"I would not want to see our town or our district without lights at Christmas, without any question whatsoever. I think Christmas is a fantastic time and I don't want to be a killjoy.

"Health and safety is paramount to everybody but you can go over the top and I think in this instance people are actually going over the top."