Moss Lane will be aglow with Christmas spirit once again thanks to a huge social media appeal.

Joe Henshaw, owner of Henshaws Waste Management, is known across the town for his fantastic Christmas light spectacle at his Moss Lane business.

But his decision to cancel this year’s display prompted outrage among the community - with more than 2,800 people joining an facebook appeal calling for them to be brought back.

Sam Hall, 29, who lives in Macclesfield and has always enjoyed seeing the display, launched the campaign, said: “I was really disappointed when I heard they weren’t doing the lights on Moss Lane. It lights up Moss Lane, it’s so Christmassy and lovely, and I know loads of people who have made it a family tradition to go and see them. I’m a friend of Joe’s daughter so I spoke to her, she spoke to her dad and he came back and said if I can get more than 2,000 likes on facebook he would do them. I put a post up at 9pm last night and now I’ve got 2,800. It’s a fantastic response.”

Sam’s Facebook post has been shared more than 800 times with more than a hundred people commenting on the lights.

Commenting on facebook, Dan Blackman said: “My lads don’t fully connect with Christmas until we have done the family walk past Henshaws lights. To be fair, it’s the community spirit of Mr Henshaw in his kind and generous action that makes me take my metal to him instead of the competitors.”

Tracey Benson said: “Love walking past the lights at night with the dogs - after a busy day it cheers us up and it’s great to see the smiles on children’s faces.”

Ros Siddons said: “Drove past and hour ago with my 88-year-old dad to see them... well disappointed. Please?!”

Holly Goodhynde from Henshaw’s, speaking on behalf of Joe, said the lights are expected to return on Monday evening. She said: “Joe set the challenge of 2,000 likes and it’s been achieved. He’s sticking to his promise and the lights will be going up again.”

She added: “We’ve done them for a long time. But it’s an expensive job and takes a lot of hard work, and Joe wasn’t sure if it was being appreciated, so he just decided to not do it, He never expected there would be such a response. It just goes to show how much community spirit there is in Macclesfield and that they do appreciate it.”