MARSHALS patrolling roads closed for a Christmas lights switch-on were reportedly targeted with verbal abuse and one came inches from being run over.

The incidents were said to have happened at Dalton's festive switch-on event on Sunday night.

A town centre road was closed for around 45 minutes to allow the event to go ahead.

But motorists were said to have targeted marshals at the closure points, with police at one point forced to step in. 

A statement by Dalton Town Council said: "The Town Council would like to express their thanks to our volunteer marshals who helped out with road closures and other duties at the Christmas Switch On event yesterday, your help was invaluable. 

The road closure of Market Street between Cleator Street and Queen Street was only in operation for approx. 45 minutes, which was less than the allocated time, however our marshals were subjected to verbal abuse at two of the closure points by four separate vehicles, one of whom parked their car and got out to continue the abuse until police stepped in and one vehicle almost ran over one of our marshals, stopping just inches away.

"Not what we would have hoped as all four vehicles were local residents."