THE focal point of Brighton's Christmas decorations has been knocked out by Storm Clodagh.

The Clock Tower's spider web lights have been out of action for much of the last few days after 70mph gusts and heavy rain hit across the weekend.

Last night was the first time it was deemed safe for engineers to go up in cherry pickers to assess the damage with organisers hoping the lights are back on this evening.

Gavin Stewart, manager of Brighton Improvement District (BID), which is responsible for the city's lights, said: "Unfortunately the storm has affected a few of the lights across the city, not just at the Clock Tower.

"Lights in Western Road and North Street have also been out and the wind has been so strong that it has not been safe to have people up there looking at them."

The lights were switched on less than two weeks ago on November 19 by X Factor contestant Hobbie Stuart and shoppers had been enjoying their festive glow until Clodagh hit.

The Clock Tower lights first went out on Friday before coming back on briefly on Saturday. However, since then they have been out of action.

Mr Stewart said it was unclear what had caused the problem, suggesting it could be to do with damaged cords or rain water flooding the systems.

He said he hoped to have the lights up again by this evening, ahead of a busy weekend of shopping.

It is not the first time the city's Christmas lights have hit the headlines, with the decorations making national news back in 2012.

A video went viral on the internet which showed the lights arranged to form rude symbols and messages.

Within hours the video, which was titled "What has Brighton Council done to annoy the person that puts up their lights", had attracted tens of thousands of views.

However, it was later revealed to be a spoof.