DESPITE the financial crisis the region’s town councils and community groups are spending more money than ever before on Christmas lights to boost trade and simply ‘cheer people up’.

Appleby Community Acting Together (ACAT) group formed earlier this year to take over the running of the lights from the Chamber of Trade.

The group raised £15,000 from grants and fundraising events to buy new lights and install a better electrical infrastructure in the town.

Caron Baines, chairwoman of ACAT, said: “Businesses and the local community have worked really hard to get the money to buy new lights. We’re expanding right across the town this year and we think it’s just nice to bring a bit of sparkle to the place. A big employer WA Developments left Appleby this year and jobs at British Gypsum have been in decline over last few years so everyone is feeling the pinch. It’s important to spend money on the lights because they help to lift people’s spirits and make this time of year a real celebration.”

Shopkeeper Christine Rose said Appleby’s lights are a worthwhile investment because they can increase trade during a difficult economic time.

“Coming out of a recession means the town’s got to pull together to help shopkeepers and the lights bring people in to spend money. You’ve got to be proactive in a time like this...spending money on lights is good for trade in the long run,” she said.

Windermere and Bowness’ Winter Lights Committee also received a welcome boost to funds this year from Windermere Town Council who raised their grant from £1500 to £2000.

Mayor of Windermere Bill Smith said: “We think it’s an event that needs support and I think lights cheer people up in a dark time of the season, and during a dark time economically. When they asked for funding the economic climate was difficult but we see the lights as bringing joy to people.”

Ambleside’s Lights committee is another organisation investing more than ever before on their lights and Christmas displays.

Committee chairman Fiona Sparrow said they have doubled their investment in new lights this year, buying new Christmas trees for the outside of shops and a new banner.

“To keep the lights going for six weeks costs about £10,000 and this year we’ve allocated twice as much money to new lights than we did last year. Fundamentally we do this for the local community, we think people need cheering up and businesses do need help in economic times like this.”