THE front of Tavistock Town Hall will be a mass of sparkling white lights at 7pm on Thursday, November 28, the day before the annual Dickensian evening.

Pat Macauley, the president of the Lions Club of Tavistock, will switch on the 'trees of light'. Bulbs on the three Christmas trees will have been sponsored by an individual or family in memory of a loved one or a good cause with all the proceeds going to local charities which this year will be the Motor Neurone Disease Association, the Chestnut Appeal and the Tavistock Triangle and Chemotherapy Outreach Project.

The switching on will be followed by a short interdenominational service led by the local clergy and during the evening, the Lions will be serving hot drinks and mince pies.

A spokesman for the Lions Club said: 'This will be the 15th year that the Lions Club has organised the trees and to date, nearly £65,000 has been raised and distributed to local charities.'

For the tenth year, Tavistock-based funeral company Morris Bros (Tavistock) Ltd. will be the main sponsor and Simon Luke, a director of the family owned company, said that he was delighted to be supporting the project once again as it did ensure that all the money donated was given to the nominated charities.

Lion Steve Lethbridge, the main organiser within the club, said that he was 'very pleased' with the continued support from Morris Bros, the Times for publishing the application form in its paper and also Tavistock Town Council and staff for their sterling work in erecting the trees.

Four years ago, the Lions established a charitable trust which enabled the club to reclaim the tax on any donation made by a UK tax payer.

A total of £6,000 was donated last year and a rebate of just over £900 from HM Revenue and Customs enabled the club to give £2,300 to each of last year's charities.

Steve has already written to those people who participated in 2012 asking if they wish to do the same this year and if anyone else would like to sponsor a light on the trees, they can obtain a sponsorship form by contacting him on 01837 54697 or by e-mail to [email protected]">[email protected] or by completing the adjacent form.

To ensure that the club is able to reclaim back the tax, it is important that the UK tax payer completes the form and also writes the cheque.

A full list of donors will be published in the Times just before Christmas with each one receiving a commemorative card in the New Year.