Dartmouth's giant Christmas star could end up being blown away – and sent on a boat-bashing rampage around the town's Boatfloat, a town councillor has warned.

But his warning did not stop councillors from agreeing to fork out up to £600 on setting up the 16ft-high floodlit glittering star in the Boatfloat basin this Christmas.

Councillors did admit that if the star breaks loose in a gale and damages the boats moored nearby, the council would be 'responsible'.

But the town's deputy mayor declared that the Christmas project would be done 'correctly and properly'.

At the moment the town council spends its Christmas decorations cash on stringing up lights around the Boatfloat, the Guildhall and the town market and setting up three Christmas trees – one in the market, one at Townstal and one in Royal Avenue Gardens.

This year councillors want to go one step further and give the town a bit of an Christmas wow factor – with the shiny, glittering star.

The star would be sited on a pontoon in the middle of the Boatfloat, lit by up-lights and held in place by a steel pole, said Cllr Felicity Smith.

But Cllr Les Barnes said: 'If we have gales at Christmas and this thing break free and damages boats in the Boatfloat, are we going to have to pay for the damage?'

Cllr Rob Lyons admitted: 'We as a council would be responsible.'

But he added: 'But we are not going to be negligent and the job will be done correctly and properly.'