A town council decision to cancel Sunday’s public Christmas lights switch-on has been blasted as ‘Nanny state’ and ‘Covid caution at its worst’.

Abergavenny Town Council announced in the Chronicle last week that it would instead be holding an online virtual switch-on this week, because the county was “seeing an increase in Covid infection” and schools were “badly affected”.

But local residents who took umbrage at the decision pointed out that both the town Remembrance Parade - which the council heralded as “most moving” and “well attended” - the fireworks display and the food festival all went ahead, while Saturday’s Wales-Australia match in Cardiff was unaffected, with local pubs and shopping centres also busy over the weekend.

Usk shelved its Reindeer parade, which attracts some 5,000 people, two months ago, but owing to the financial risk of investing large sums and then possibly having to cancel at the last minute.

And Monmouth is still aiming to go ahead with its Christmas Lantern Parade and popular Santa Fun Run next week.

Abergavenny Town Council said last week it “could not take the risk of causing a huge spread of Covid amongst the population of Abergavenny and surrounding areas and just before the Christmas break.”

“The town council also considered carefully the effect on the NHS if it had gone ahead with the physical switch-on outside the Town Hall,” it added.

“Even with stewards, it would have been almost impossible to control a large crowd of people in a very tight space.”

But some residents were unhappy, Sally Evans posting on the Abergavenny Voice Facebook page: “Very disappointed by this. So it’s ok for 60,000 people to be in a rugby stadium, or hundreds in Morrisons (without masks!), but we can’t stand outside for some joy for the children who have had to miss out on so much this year.

“I appreciate your choice, but I feel it is the wrong one. What a shame.”

Tim Roberts added: “Shame for the small children at this time of year, surely they have missed out on so much over the last two years.

“Quite rightly the Remembrance Parade and Belgrave Park fireworks went ahead, can’t see the difference myself. Poor decision town council.”

Jane Burson added: “This is Covid caution at its worst, firework parties allowed, sport gatherings allowed, pubs allowed, restaurants, clubs, etc, allowed, but not the Xmas lights and joy for all.

“It’s distorted and wrong… To cancel Xmas is miserable, when all other activities go happily ahead.”

And Nicole Phelps added: “Couldn’t agree more, it’s an outdoor event and with the right precautions in place it would’ve been a controlled and safe environment for everyone to enjoy.

“The food festival went ahead, and… firework displays, etc (which the children loved)… I don’t understand why this was cancelled.

“Yes we are in difficult times at the moment, but surely we all need the Christmas spirit now more than ever!”

Richard Griffiths questioned: “Why Virtual, what statistics are driving this? As I read it Covid infections are remaining stable. Nanny state by those not qualified to judge.”

The council posted pictures ahead of this week’s online switch-on on its Facebook page saying: “We’ve been working on the virtual switch-on to bring to you all in the next week, and we were very excited to have Santa stop by to give the Mayor a lift to set!

“Our thanks to Abergavenny Round Table and AM Discos for their assistance, and 47 Studios & Productions for the filming.”