ANNA SEWELL, of Seymour Drive, Dartmouth writes:

Dull, dull, dull as dishwater. Dartmouth doesn't seem to have entered into the Christian spirit this year.

With all the press coverage trying to promote the town and businesses and bring more people and trade to the area, I would have thought more effort could have been made with the Christmas lights.

If you drive down Victoria Road – our main street – it looks like any other day in the year.

It's not until you reach Duke Street that any sign of Christmas appears in view.

Foss Street looks pretty, only because of the efforts of the shopkeepers there and expense at making it so.

Some of the shops have made a real effort, others hardly any at all.

My next gripe is about our wonderful 'shining star' which was supposed to help attract shoppers.

To my mind all it attracts are the ducks and gulls and even they turn their beaks up in disgust. What an utter waste of taxpayers' money.

Over the last couple of years I've suggested we should go back to the old method of Christmas decorations which made the town look lovely.

Each shop would have their own small tree in a bracket with lights on above their shops.

Many shops still have their brackets.

For the cost of a small tree and lights that can be used every year, it would be more cost-effective and much prettier.

We have a whole year to get it right for this year and years to come.

If the takings are down, we have only ourselves to blame and of course the council for it's lack of effort.

I hope you all had a merry Christmas and will enjoy a prosperous New Year.