Hundreds of families were left in the dark when Tipton’s Christmas Tree of Light was not switched on.

People had paid for lights in memory of family members as part of the Tree of Light charity appeal.

However, they were left disappointed when Sandwell’s mayor Gurcharan Singh Sidhu fell sick last night and no-one from the council turned up for the switch-on in his place.

Tree of Light organiser Ray Brothwood said: “It was extremely embarrassing and very upsetting for people.”

Josephine Hartland was at the event with her family, including her 81-year-old mother and two-year-old grandson.

The 54-year-old, who works at Walsall Morrisons said: “We go every year to remember my husband’s parents and my father and we were really upset by what happened.”

No-one from Sandwell Council was available to comment.