Merry Christmas EVERYBODY: Council puts up lights for Hindus and Muslims so they don't miss out on the festive spirit

Although the Muslim and Hindu events have already passed, the lights are being kept up by Rochdale Council in order to ‘represent the community’.

Officials are said to be anxious not to offend other faiths so they have ensured the Christmas display incorporates the other celebrations.

Eid is a Muslim festival which marks the end of the fast of Ramadan while Diwali is a Hindu celebration.

Many described the lights as ‘fantastic’ but the move has been criticised by an MP who claims the council is ‘pussyfooting’ around.

Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley, West Yorkshire, told the Daily Star: ‘I’ve no idea why local authorities up and down the country are so ashamed of celebrating Christmas.

‘All this kind of pussyfooting around is done in the name of not offending other people from other faiths.

‘But it tends to be done by white middle-class people with some kind of bizarre guilt complex.’

The Christmas lights were switched on last night although the Muslim Festival of Eid ends today and Diwali was celebrated two weeks ago.

Former boy band member Simon Webbe from Blue flicked the switch for the display, which cost £89,500.

A council spokesman said: ‘We have a varied and diverse display, representing our community.’