THE appeal launched to provide new Christmas lights for Huntingdon has already signed up about 50 people hoping to win a cash prize. The Huntingdon Christmas Lights Appeal 500 Club involves a monthly prize draw. Each month, someone will win a first prize

THE appeal launched to provide new Christmas lights for Huntingdon has already signed up about 50 people hoping to win a cash prize.

The Huntingdon Christmas Lights Appeal 500 Club involves a monthly prize draw.

Each month, someone will win a first prize of £300 and there will be runners-up prizes of £150 and £50.

Anyone can join the 500 Club. You buy a ticket for £2 each month to enter the draw and half the money will be given out as prizes.

The other half will buy new Christmas lights for the town.

The cash will also be used to put the lights up, take them down and carry out safety checks.

The idea is that, if all 500 draw tickets are sold each month, 500 people will between them contribute £1,000 a month towards making the town sparkle at Christmas.

The project is the brainchild of town centre manager Katy Sismore. She said: "When Christmas lights go on in the town, it puts a spring into everyone's step. The switch-on is a whole-family event."

Mrs Sismore said that it cost about £10,000 to light up the town each Christmas with a big switch-on, including family entertainment.

Over the years, the town council and the town centre partnership had each contributed £2,500 and the rest had to be raised from local businesses.

She said the response to the 500 Club had been very good and organisers hoped to have between 200-300 members within the next three months.

Members can pay their fees by direct debit, and can find out if they are winner by reading the results in The Hunts Post.

The first draw will take place in September.

A barometer in Huntingdon's market square tracks the amount of money raised through the initiative.

Flyers with details of how to join the 500 Club are available in shops and public places, including the Card Gallery in Huntingdon High Street, the town council officers, the Commemoration Hall, Saxongate and from The Hunts Post offices.

Members of the 500 Club can buy as many £2 tickets as they wish each month in batches for six months or a year.

INFORMATION: Cheques should be marked: "Huntingdon Town Centre 500 Club" and sent to Huntingdon Town Centre Partnership, 10A Princes Street, PE29 3PA.