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.

See News - Lakes Towns for the full story.