TEIGNMOUTH’S seafront is twinkling again after residents and businesses joined forces to install solar lights.

The promenade has been in darkness for five years since the previous lights were removed by Devon County Council for safety reasons.

Since then, Teignmouth Town Council has been working on replacements with £60,000 earmarked for the project.

In the meantime, a group of business owners and residents raised £200 for solar powered twinkling lights which are now wound around lampposts along the seafront.

There was an initial setback after the first two sets were removed or stolen.

However, these were quickly replaced with new sets paid for through contributions from the town’s traders.

Fourteen more sets of lights soon followed to festoon the rest of the lamposts.

Edd Winsborrow, of Teignmouth Residents’ Group said: ‘Teignmouth has once again demonstrated its strong community spirit, with residents and local businesses coming together to fund and install new fairy lights that have already brightened the seafront for evening walkers and visitors.

‘What began as a simple idea quickly became a town‑wide collaboration, showing how much can be achieved when people work side by side.

‘Although some lights were unfortunately removed by unknown individuals, the community’s overwhelmingly positive response keeps the project’s spirit shining, and the remaining lights stand as a reminder of what local pride and goodwill can create.’

Ian Featherby, one of the Teignmouth business owners who funded the lights said: ‘We now have 14 sets of lights along the promenade.

‘Whilst they are only solar powered lights they certainly brighten up the seafront.

‘The official lights are due to be fitted in the near future, but in the meantime they along with the flags make the promenade a brighter place.

‘The businesses in Teignmouth have been amazing with their kind donations and are totally committed to helping make Teignmouth a brighter and more appealing place to visit.’

There is still no date for the installation of decorative illuminations however, highways officers have approved the town council’s plans.

Mock-up designs have already been created for a salmon and anchor motif to adorn the 40 lighting columns along the seafront.

There had been delays over approval of the technical specifications for the scheme.

Teignmouth Town Council said last month it is now in a position to ask the contracted lighting company to make final modifications to the designs.

Then the final version and the price can be agreed by town councillors.

The town council will then have to apply for planning permission from Teignbridge Council before the installation of the lights can go ahead.

The lamp posts are already fitted with electricity boxes to power the lights.

While there is no definite timescale for the work, the town council has said it is optimistic progress could now be faster.