A STREET market on Sunday will help boost a £25,000 appeal to make sure Taunton has its Christmas lights this year.

The £30 stall fees will go to the Make Taunton Sparkle appeal, while traders are giving a percentage of their takings to the initiative and shoppers can do their bit by leaving money in collection tins.

If YOU want to help and fancy switching on the lights, here’s your chance...organisers of Make Taunton Sparkle are appealing to someone to donate £2,500 for the honour of pressing the plunger on switch on night, Sunday, November 23.

Several businesses and individuals have already responded to a call for £25,000 to hire the lights, but they’ll need another £1,000 a day by November 4.

Mark Davenport, who is running a ‘crowdfunding’ initiative in an effort to hit the target and make sure the town is lit up over the festive season, is pleased with the response so far.

He said: “It’s fantastic to see just over £1,000 come in via the crowdfunder campaign since we launched over a week ago.

“We’ve also had lots pledged via cheque, so we’re probably closer to £3,500.

“It just goes to show that the businesses and residents of Taunton want to see the lights go ahead.”

Mr Davenport’s big fear is that the big national stores have not donated anything yet – local store managers have no say over the budget and he believes head offices will not be able to meet the donation deadline of 9pm on November 4.

He said: “If they don’t, we could lose all the money – if we miss our £25,000 target, then we won’t get any of it.

“It’s really exciting to see so many people get behind the Christmas lights, with lots of members of the Taunton community backing and supporting the campaign.”

So far £1,070 has been pledged via crowdfunding – to join in go to crowdfunder.co.uk/maketauntonsparkle Other donations have boosted the total, while a number of businesses have said they will contribute £500 and Taunton Deane Council says it will match whatever is raised up to a maximum of £10,000.

You can also donate by contacting Kelly Durdan, who raised money for the lights over the past two Christmases, on 07789-871856, e-mail Kelly@maketauntonsparkle.co.uk or via maketauntonsparkle.co.uk and follow @TauntonSparkle on Twitter.