The event is being held ahead of Christian Aid Week

Budleigh’s Christmas Light Fund for 2013 has got off to a great start after Peter Carter of H. Carter & Sons donated £1,000.

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

The gift comes as the business celebrates 100 years of trading this year.

They have filed two planning applications to give the premises on the corner of Brook Road and the High Street a makeover as part of the centenary.

The ‘Light up Budleigh’ campaign was launched last year to help replace the town’s ageing lights, and up to Christmas around £7,000 of new lights were installed.

The chairman of the chamber, Christine Bentley said: “We, the chamber are extremely grateful to the Carter family for this wonderful donation to start off this year’s appeal.

“What a fine example this family business is, with its friendly, knowledgeable staff, excellent sales and after sales service and regular hours.

“We wish them every continued success.”

Peter presented campaign organiser Simon Blissett with the cheque – Simon organised the Light Up Budleigh show, which raised £1,500.

Simon said: “This is wonderful and unexpected. It has amazed me how generous businesses, organisations and individuals have been.”

Mrs Bentley added that they still needed more funds to replace more Christmas lights this year, as well as paying for the annual maintenance, insurance and running costs.

“Everyone enjoyed the new lights last season, brightening up the town and adding to the atmosphere as they did. But for too many years the chamber has been bled dry by these hidden costs and now we must look to businesses, organisations and the general public if the Christmas lights are to continue in the town.”