LET there be lights! An appeal has been launched to provide new Christmas decorations for Huntingdon. The project involves a monthly draw, with a first prize of up to £300 plus runners-up prizes. Anyone can join the newly-formed 500 Club. You buy a ticket

LET there be lights! An appeal has been launched to provide new Christmas decorations for Huntingdon.

The project involves a monthly draw, with a first prize of up to £300 plus runners-up prizes.

Anyone can join the newly-formed 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 rest will go towards Christmas lights for the town.

If all 500 draw tickets are sold each month, it will generate £12,000 over a year to help make the town sparkle at Christmas.

The project is the brainchild of town centre manager Katy Sismore, who 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 of the money had to be raised from local businesses.

Raising the money through the 500 Club would mean, for example, £6,000 of new lights could be acquired on a lease-buy scheme, paying the cost over three years.

The 500 Club will be launched by Huntingdon MP Jonathan Djanogly in Huntingdon's Market Square on Friday, July 20, and a barometer will be placed in the town to track the amount of money coming in.

INFORMATION: Flyers with details of how to join the 500 Club will be available throughout the town, including the Card Gallery, in Huntingdon High Street, the town council offices, The Commemoration Hall, Saxongate and from the The Hunts Post. Members of the 500 Club can buy as many £2 tickets as they wish in batches for six months or a year. Tickets will be available from Monday, July 23.