FRIDAY should have been the first day of the Chudfest Summer Spectacular.

Due to Covid 19, this of course will not take place.

Alison Neely, chair of the Chudleigh Christmas Lights Committee, says: ‘This was our 10th Anniversary year and our programme was our strongest yet.

‘As well as entertaining the people of Chudleigh for 10 days, with a wonderfully varied programme of events, the profits from these events, go towards Chudleigh’s Christmas lights.

‘?The people of Chudleigh may not know that the costs of the Christmas Lights are shared by Chudleigh Town Council and Chudfest.

‘?The rest of the Chudfest contribution is obtained through our very popular Variety Show and the Chudfest Christmas Fayre, where we switch on the lights.

‘The Variety Concert will definitely not take place and although we are hoping that we may be able to have parts of the Christmas Fayre happening, it is too early to know what we can do and we anticipate that even if it goes ahead, we may not break even.?The Night of our Christmas Fayre and the turning on of the Christmas Lights is when Chudleigh has its Late Night Shopping.

‘This is always a very important night for the small retailers in our town.?

‘Chudleigh Town Council, even though they have been hit hard financially by Covid 19, have agreed to still contribute their 50 per cent.

‘?Chudfest has to raise their share, which we anticipate based on last year, to be £2,300.

‘To that end, we are asking, for help to raise this money.?

‘This can be done in two ways.? We have set up a Just Giving page.’ www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/chudfest (or just google justgiving and Chudfest).

‘This will be active until the end of July,’ says Alison. ‘The page will be taken down as soon as we meet our target.?

‘For people who don’t use the Internet, you can put your contribution in an envelope addressed to Chudfest and put in the collecting box in the Post Office or the letterbox at the Town Hall. We are happy to receive cash or cheques. If it is a cheque, please make it payable to Chudfest.

?Alison added: ‘We are often complimented about our Christmas Lights. This year to give everyone a boost, we really need to get our town lit up for Christmas.’