A multi-million pound deal between Edinburgh Council and an events firm to run the capital's annual Christmas market collapsed following "differences of opinion" about what could realistically be delivered, bosses have claimed.
Councillors met on Monday (October 10) in a last ditch attempt to save Edinburgh's Christmas - which comprises festive market stalls and amusements around the city centre - and were told a last-minute agreement secured with a new company will see a slimmed-down festival delivered compared to the programme initially proposed.
Elements included in the original £5.5m five-year deal between the authority and Angel Event Experience (AEE) - including a zip wire on George Street, a funfair on East Market Street and a new marketplace on Castle Street to enable local third sector organisations to trade for free - will no longer be delivered.
