Christmas lights will go up in Aberdeen this year despite a legal challenge over the decorations.
A civil action has been launched by Scotia Animations over plans to award a contract to provide city centre illuminations.
It is believed that the city-based firm was an unsuccessful bidder for the job of designing and supplying the decorations.
But Aberdeen Sheriff Court ruled that the local authority can go ahead with its decoration plans while the case is being dealt with.
At an interim hearing, Sheriff Malcolm Garden said: “I will grant the defender’s motion to lift the prohibition in this case.
“The matter will take its course thereafter.”
The preferred bidder for the three-year contract to provide and maintain lights is Blachere Illumination, which has supplied lights for the last three years.
The city council’s vice-convener of enterprise, planning and strategic infrastructure committee welcomed the decision.
Councillor Angela Taylor said: “I am very excited that we are now able to formally award the contract to Blachere.
“I have seen the planned lights which use iLed technology and they reflect Aberdeen’s unique architecture.
“The lighting is interchangeable – so it could go from a stag to a snowflake, for example.
“We are also looking into projecting images on to the city’s Music Hall.”
She added: “The lighting is exciting and I’m confident kids and adults will enjoy the switch on which is on November 23.”
Councillors approved a budget of £105,000 a year from the Common Good Fund for the lights and £8,000 a year to run them.