Government officials in Britain have told organizers of a traditional nighttime Christmas procession to replace flaming torches with glow sticks.

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The procession in Looe, England, has attracted about 500 people and has taken place for 20 years without injury. However, local government officials say the risk of fire was too great with torches, reported the Daily Telegraph Saturday.

Local officials said they feared they might be sued if there was an accident caused by the torches, so they paid about $600 for 500 glow sticks.

"It's an absolute joke," said John Andrews. "How can you have a torchlight procession with glow sticks? We'll be the laughing stock of the county."