SELKIRK is facing a black-out this Christmas due to a lack of volunteers to put up the town’s festive lights.

Community councillor Thomas Combe became the latest member of the Selkirk Christmas illuminations group to announce his resignation this week after volunteering his services for more than 20 years.

He blamed a lack of Christmas spirit for his decision after previous appeals for more help went largely ignored.

A public meeting is now planned to discuss disbanding the group.

Earlier this year, a lack of volunteers put the Christmas festival which celebrates the life of Sir Walter Scott under-threat.

The organisers of Scott’s Selkirk planned to dissolve the committee due to a lack of volunteers.

But an emergency meeting attracted a number of new members and the committee agreed to organise a 2015 event.

It has now been moved to the first weekend in October to coincide with the Selkirk Sessions traditional music festival which, it is hoped, will boost numbers.

Addressing members of the town’s Community Council in the Victoria Hall on Monday night, Mr Combe said: “We’ve had no support from the public on Christmas lights at all. It was the same with Scott’s Selkirk and we were almost finished.” But he added: “We’re going to have another meeting in the near future to see if it’s going to continue at all.” Community councillor Ian King, who chaired the meeting, warned there was a danger that the community took the Christmas lights for granted without realising the work that goes on behind the scenes to make it happen.

However, he revealed he hoped it wasn’t too late for the community to rally round - and save Christmas in Selkirk.

Mr King said: “It’s a bit like the hanging baskets carry on, I hope something comes of it.”