FUNDING cuts to a local business partnership have put this year’s Christmas lights in danger, meaning businesses could lose out on "significant" potential income.

Wanstead Business Partnership has had its annual council grant - around £2,000 - cut by the council in a bid to make savings.

The Partnership, which covers 12 shops in Wanstead High Street, donates the bulk of this money to the cost of Christmas lights and the Wanstead Festival.

The cut means that local businesses face losing profit from the increased trade they receive from the annual events if they do not take place, while the partnership itself is likely to close.

“Under the current straitened circumstances I’m not sure shops will feel able to fund the lights out of their own pockets,” said Jeffrey Edelman, treasurer of the Partnership.

“It might be the end of business partnerships, which will mean less security and unity for shop owners.

“They really haven’t put any interest into local businesses. I’m not quite sure what the council are doing for our businesses.”

Despite shops’ fears, the Wanstead Festival should go ahead after securing £10,000 from the council but doubts remain as to whether the Christmas lights can go up.

The Area One Committee responsible for them will now have to find another method of funding to replace the Partnership's contribution.

A council spokesman said: “The council is still supporting business partnerships with limited match funding this year but still needs to discuss the most effective way in which these funds should be deployed.

"As no discussions have yet taken place it is premature to conclude that the Christmas lights will not go ahead."