THE popular light festival will return to Winchester in the New Year, following the success of the first event.

A longer three-week festival has been given the go-ahead after the city council secured a £1m Government grant.

The grant will cover costs for a number of initiatives including boosting a sense of community and place, support for jobs and businesses and skills training.

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Cllr Lucille Thompson, portfolio holder for business and culture, told the Cabinet: "We want to build on the success of the light festival. I'm pleased to report it will run for three weeks in February 2023 including Valentine's Day and half-term week.

"It will be based in Abbey Gardens. It will be a free event and something to look forward to, after the glitz and glamour of Christmas is over and the weather is dull and dreary."

The first event in January was very popular attracting a lot of people into the city centre at a normally quiet time of year.