CREWE and Nantwich town councils reached a flash point this week as part of an ongoing dispute over a set of Christmas lights.

With a full six months to go until the festive season, the disputed ownership of the illuminations has prompted claim and counter claim between the two authorities behind the scenes.

But the situation was forced into the open this week, after Nantwich Town Council issued a statement confirming that they had received the lights as a donation from Cheshire East Council.

Crewe Town Council said they were ‘disappointed’ with the statement – believing the lights to still be their property.

David Marren – a councillor for both Cheshire East and Nantwich - claimed: “Crewe Town Council declined ownership of these lights when they were offered by Cheshire East, but when the clerk of Crewe Town Council found out that Nantwich Town Council had been offered the Christmas lights, we understand that he complained.”

Clr Marren added that Nantwich Town Council has ‘acted in good faith’ on Cheshire East’s offer and would renovate the lights for use in future.

Crewe Town Council denied they had ever instructed the lights to be disposed of.

A spokesman for the authority said: “Crewe Town Council notes with interest and disappointment a press release issued last Friday stating that Nantwich Town Council have taken possession of the Crewe town lights.

“Crewe Town Council has repeatedly contacted Nantwich Town Council over recent months asking them about this matter and they have not had the courtesy to respond.

“Crewe Town Council did ask for the lights to be taken down after Christmas 2013, but were never told of plans to make the lights available anywhere other than in Crewe, and so the lights then went into store at Pymms Lane.”

The spokesman added: “Crewe Town Council now wishes to know who, at Cheshire East Council offered the lights to Nantwich, as well as who at Nantwich Town Council was responsible for receiving them, and why?

“Had these lights been surplus to requirement then best practice would normally be to have offered them to all the towns and parishes.”