A weekly newspaper's campaign to boost the town's festive lights display is on course to raise more than £1,000.

The Wisbech Standard has handed over 1,000 specially-produced badges to be sold locally for a minimum of £1 each.

Various groups, led by the town council, chip in each year but the paper decided more support was needed to make a more memorable Christmas display.

The Mayor's fund currently stands at £1,450 and the badge-selling brought in a further £390 in the first 12 hours.

The decorations and lights are already being put up ready for the official switch-on on November 29, in the presence of Mayor Roger Green and Father Christmas. The extra cash could be used to buy new features for the display.

Coun Green welcomed the badge scheme and said: "It's something totally new. I have never seen anything like it before.

"I, and the council, are most grateful to the Wisbech Standard for this novel way of helping to boost the collection, over and above what it would otherwise had brought in.

"We hope this year's display will be the best Wisbech has ever had."

The special badges are available at the Standard's Market Place office, the Tourist Information Centre, the Town Hall and in local shops.

Letters seeking support for the appeal are being sent to industrialists and businessmen and the council is also appealing for donations and sponsorship.

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