HARD-up councils blew thousands of pounds on Z-list celebs switching on their Xmas lights.
Many authorities claim to be struggling to fund services — yet a festive fortune was paid to little-known stars.
Belfast city council spent £15,624 on TV kids’ characters Skye and Marshall from Paw Patrol and Fireman Sam’s Norman Price, with CBeebies presenter Andy Day getting £4,800. Boyband East 17 – minus their best-known stars Brian Harvey and Tony Mortimer — were paid £4,800 by Waltham Forest council in East London.
Reggie ‘n’ Bollie, X Factor runners-up in 2015, got £4,000 from nearby Havering. Mansfield district council in Notts paid £2,915 for an appearance by Peter Rabbit plus £500 for a Gary Barlow tribute act.
Other bumper pay-outs included Chesterfield borough council’s £2,195 on an actor in a Paddington Bear costume. Andy Brown, ex-lead singer of pop band Lawson, was paid £1,500 to turn on Derby’s lights.
The figures were obtained by The Sun via Freedom of Information requests. Chloe Westley of the TaxPayers’ Alliance blasted the payouts, warning: “Councils need to budget hard and keep costs down.”
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Belfast city council said: “We select our acts to appeal to our target audience which is families with young children, and do consider value for money.
"Last year, the economic impact to the city in staging the event was estimated to be £150,000.”
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