TRADERS are being challenged to dip into their tills to ensure the Christmas lights go on in Taunton town centre this year.

They are being urged to fork out £50 each to help lure tens of thousands of shoppers during their busiest trading period.

The council has pledged to stump up some cash on the condition businesses also pay up.

Kelly Durdan, who rescued the last two Christmases by raising money for the lights, is trying to pull in £25,000 for this year’s big switch-on on Sunday, November 23.

She said: “I’m desperately trying to put this together, but I’m not even halfway there yet and we’re running out of time.

“Without the money from businesses, there won’t be any lights and you then have to ask if people would be prepared to shop in Taunton – I’m not sure I’d want to.

“If every business put in £50, we’d get there.”

As well as visiting businesses asking for contributions, Ms Durdan is also running a competition for four to 14-year-olds, who pay £1 to be entered into a draw to press the plunger at the lights switch-on – to enter leave your name and e-mail address with £1 in an envelope at the Deane House, in Belvedere Road.

And a band night at the King’s Arms, in Staplegrove Road, Taunton, from 7.30pm, when entry is £3, will also raise funds to help Make Taunton Sparkle.

Hugh Duder, of The County Stores, said: “I’d call on everyone to rally round.

“I’m contributing and it would be nice if all the businesses, including the big national companies, also paid up.”

But another independent trader, who asked not to be named, said: “This is the third year we’ve been asked to pay and there’s only so much money to go round.

“It’s not just the traders who benefit from the lights – it’s the whole community – so I think the council has a duty to pay for it.”

Taunton Deane Council ruled out chipping in with £5,000 from its unparished fund, but the authority’s leader, John Williams, said it would be prepared to help out.

He said: “We recognise the value of the lights to our community and therefore we’d certainly consider trying to assist.

“I really hope that the plea for assistance (from Kelly Durdan) will be heard as the community so values the Christmas lights and the feelgood factor they give Taunton in the lead up to such an important festival and an all-important time for traders to maximise their income.

“We would certainly consider some match funding, but this means the traders must contribute as well.”