MEMBERS of Ilminster Lions Club helped warm up a cold and frosty morning on Friday when they presented a cheque to the town’s Christmas lights committee.

The club is a big supporter of the Ilminster Christmas Lights appeal and the Victorian Evening which is held each November to signal the start of the countdown to the festive season.

Lions club members man stalls to provide mulled wine and mince pies to Victorian Evening visitors and the proceeds are given to the lights committee.

They raised £614 last year and this was presented to lights committee chairman Clinton Bonner last week.

The Lions Club has now given more than £7,500 to the lights committee over the years.

Mr Bonner said he would like to thank the club for its generous donation and its continuing support.

Lions club president Roger Taylor added he would like to thank everyone who helped raise money on Victorian Evening.

The club is currently joining forces with other groups in the area to raise £7,500 for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance to provide a special piece of equipment which can be used to transport tiny babies to hospital to receive specialist emergency treatment.