Part of the new Christmas lighting in Merchants Street came crashing down on tables and chairs set up outside a restaurant this morning.

The lights were hit by a delivery truck, Valletta 2018 Foundation chairman Jason Micallef said.

Micallef said the lights, consisting of thousands of small bulbs that formed a light tunnel, were the work of Italian company Faniuolo Illuminazione – the same company that designed the baroque style lighting set up along Republic Street last year.

Both streets will be officially lit up for Christmas this weekend.