Team pleas for help with lights

Christmas lights may have been burning bright in Shifnal every December for the last quarter of a century, but the team of volunteers behind them is now hoping for some festive help.

Four hard-working volunteers meet every Tuesday during the year to ensure the town's lights are switched on. But the group says it now needs some new blood to help with the display as members are getting too old.

Gerald Nickless, a retired agricultural worker, of High Street, is one of 14 volunteers putting up the lights.Mr Nickless, 63, said: "Myself and Neil Johnson started the lights about 25 years ago. When Neil passed away I decided to carry it on.

"We began by putting them along Cheapside, but it's now spread to the whole of the own.

"We are all getting older, so it would be a big help if people came up to us when we're putting up the lights and asked if they could get involved."

Mr Nickless said new lights to look out for this year include an angel near the railway bridge, coloured lights in the trees along Cheapside and Christmas trees scattered throughout the town centre.

Fellow volunteer John Danby, 67, a retired construction worker, of Manor Park, said the committee was also slowly changing over to energy saving bulbs.

The lights will be switched on at 6.45pm on November 30 at Cheapside car park.

Staff at a north Shropshire travel agent are also looking for help to spread some festive joy.

People are being urged to help fill Santa's Suitcase at Travelcare in Whitchurch with gifts to bring joy to youngsters in the area who may be sick or less fortunate than others. Unwrapped gifts are needed so they can be wrapped for suitability and age range.

This is the sixth year staff at the store in the Bredwood Arcade have run the appeal.

The gifts will be handed over to Home Start North Shropshire in Whitchurch on December 15 in time for Christmas.

By Emma Kasprzak