A GROUP of residents have seen red over coloured lights that were originally draped from Bowness pier to lift spirits during the foot-and-mouth crisis, reports Lisa Frascarelli.

The rainbow of red, green, yellow and blue lights which have illuminated the waters of Windermere since 2001 have been dubbed inappropriate by more than ten locals and branded "Blackpooly" by a parish councillor.

The lights were put up on Bowness and Ambleside piers as part of Cumbria County Council's Spirit of Cumbria Initiative, which aimed to lift spirits and attract tourists during the doldrums of foot-and-mouth.

But the £17,500 illuminations, which would appear to be anything but attractive to some, found themselves on the agenda of Windermere Parish Council after attracting the complaints.

"I have had more than ten complaints from residents in the area saying they dislike the lights and would prefer white ones they think they would be more appropriate," explained Coun Jim Morphet. "They also think maybe the lights could just be switched on at special times of the year or replaced with white lights."

Coun Jennifer Jewell backed the call of those against the lights, which are switched on from the second week in November to the first week in January and for special occasions.

"The lights look rather Blackpooly," she said. "Bowness is beautiful it doesn't need tarting up."

Coun Arthur Astle branded the bickering "a nonsense."

"I'm in favour of coloured lights. Are we all old fuddy-duddies saying you can't do this or that," he said. "They create a good atmosphere and we need something like that to brighten the place up. It's a nonsense when we don't have lights people complain, when we have them people decide they don't like them."

The pier lights were launched to much fanfare in November 2001, with local dignitaries and hundreds of locals turning out to the switching on of the waterside illuminations.

Robin Martakies, of Windermere Lakes Cruises, the company responsible for the lights, said he was "gob-smacked" by the complaints.

"We have had lots of favourable comments about the lights people think they brighten and cheer the place up. I'm very surprised anyone would object."