A BEAUTIFUL display of Christmas lights is guaranteed in Tavistock this year as the chamber of commerce has reached its target to light the town.
This year, the chamber asked all businesses in the PL19 area to contribute £35 towards the cost of putting up the festive lights.
Dave McDowall, of the Christmas lights committee, said: 'Although many businesses, side-streets and industrial estates do not have lights around their premises, we maintain that the goodwill feeling the lights bring to the town benefits all.
'The hope this year was that by spreading the net further, less money would have to be paid by more people. We can say at this stage it has worked — we have reached our target to put up the existing lights and a few new ones.'
Mr McDowall said the committee understood the complaint that the lights did not reach businesses in side-streets but said they were in a 'Catch 22 situation'.
'If they don't pay now we will not have the money we need to buy new lights.
'If there is more help from those concerned we will try and get more lights put up in the side-streets this year — the chamber has discussed with the contractor that we can renegotiate new works as and when we can afford them,' said Mr McDowall.
He said the committee thanked all those who have helped with the Christmas light appeal so far — anyone else who would like to donate should make cheques payable to Tavistock Chamber of Commerce. Donations can be given to Robbie in Goodes Café, Dave at Kountry Kit or Pam at Richard Walke Motors.
The lights will start going up on Sunday — the mayor of Tavistock, Cllr Judith Williams, will switch on the lights on Friday December 1 after a service in Bedford Square at 6.45pm, coinciding with the Lions Tree of Light switch on.