OKEHAMPTON and District Chamber of Trade has received a seasonal boost from the town council.
Okehampton Town Council's policy and resources committee has agreed to a request by the chamber for financial assistance towards the town's Christmas lights.
The council will purchase nine new snow crystal stars, each with a circumference of 3ft, worth £1,000, which they will then donate to the chamber.
Town clerk Don Bent said: 'Each year we support the chamber by giving them a grant but this year we have an agreement to buy the lights and give them to the chamber.'
The lights throughout Okehampton along with the 130 Christmas trees, cost approximately £15,000 a year.
Chamber chairman Ian Bailey said: 'It's a lot of money each year so anything we can get is more than welcome.
'We are incredibly grateful to the council for this donation and we know the town will be grateful as well. We are so incredibly pleased.'
Don Rooke, member of the chamber and Christmas lights organiser, said: 'No-one realises how much these lights cost the chamber each year so it is brilliant the council is doing this for us.
'The chamber is so grateful — it is a fantastic thing for us and the town.'
Mr Rooke added that anyone who would like to help the chamber with installing the Christmas lights on Sunday, November 23 at 8.30am for a few hours or even for 30 minutes, would be more than welcome.
• The Okehampton Christmas Lights Fund will also be one of the nominees for the Waitrose Community Matters Scheme throughout November, along with Okehampton Scout Group and Okehampton Primary PTFA.