Community leaders in Elgin will have plenty to celebrate this Christmas following the purchase of brand new festive decorations.
A scheme to update the town’s yuletide decor got under way last year, with some old lights being replaced by modern, energy efficient models.
The Elgin Town Centre Benevolent Trust has now confirmed that by the time of the switch-on date this November the entire town-centre will be aglow with new decorations.
The overall value of the new lights is about £50,000.
Chairman of the group, Stewart Halkett, said: “Most of the existing lights are in the old style, using filament bulbs, and they need replaced.
“They are expensive to run, and can be quite fragile as well.
“After launching a fundraising campaign we have collected enough money to buy new lights for the entire town-centre.
“These new lights will be brighter and more energy efficient, and as they are all in the same style they will look much better visually.”
Mr Halkett added: “The more attractive new lights will hopefully encourage more people into the town-centre and into local shops.”
The majority of the lights will occupy the same places as those they are replacing, but some new additions will bring festive sparkle to areas that previously went undecorated.
The trust received £3,000 from Elgin Rotary Club for new lights for the town’s Christmas tree last December, and was also able to adorn the Muckle Cross monument and the fountain with new ornaments.
The group has now been given £16,100 from the Elgin common good fund towards the cost of replacement switches and cables, and received £10,000 from the National Lottery’s Awards for All scheme.
Other funding came from the Robertson group, which pledged more than £3,000 for new lighting on the Plainstones and from Johnston’s of Elgin, which donated £2,000.
Elgin community council also granted £500 towards the new lights.
Its chairman Alistair Kennedy said: “The old decorations have been looking a bit tired and I think people will enjoy having a single theme throughout the town-centre.
“Hopefully by bringing more folk into the centre the lights can be a benefit to the whole of Elgin and beyond.”