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More on KentOnline
The festive lights have been switched on in West Malling thanks to a huge community effort and an online fundraiser.
After residents and businesses heard the lights were unable to go up this year due to a lack of funds brought on by Covid-19, a community Go Fund Me page was set up to gather the £10,000 needed to bring Christmas spirit back to the high street.
In just 11 days, the £5,000 milestone was reached which was enough to install the lights and give the switch on the go ahead.
The lights were put up on Saturday, and Switched on from 3pm on Sunday.
The remaining £5,000 is still needed by January, £2,000 of which has already been raised.
Usually businesses chip in for a switch-on event organised by the chamber of commerce, but the organisation said it had made the difficult decision not to ask for the funds due to the financial climate.
Instead, the fundraiser was set up by Hannah Rose, a manager at Rose's Coffee and Juice in Swan Street.
Miss Rose, 23, said: "As a local resident as well as business owner, the lights have a huge impact on not only the spirit of the community, but the businesses too.
"We’re blown away by the response to the fundraiser. Everyone has gone above and beyond to spread the word and donate.
"The lights not only brighten our high street, but their presence helps support the local businesses by attracting people to the town.
"They’re loved by the children, residents and businesses alike and this community effort is such a fantastic way to end this strange year.
"We’re so grateful to everyone who has got involved to make this happen in such a short space of time."
Julia Smith, secretary for the chamber of commerce who helped organise the switch on said: "It is so good to have the lights up, it really does brighten up the high street and makes it feel so much more festive.
"It is a true reflection of the wonderful community we have in West Malling, heartwarming is the best way to describe it."
