THE festive future is looking bright in Wickford.

With the festive season almost upon us, the Light Up Wickford community group has been given a grant of nearly £20,000.

The group, which is made up entirely of volunteers and each year organises the festive lights and fair in the town, was handed the cash by Basildon Council leader Tony Ball after successfully applying for cash from the borough’s Community Investment Fund.

The council has set aside the £1million fund to dish out to community and voluntary groups.

The group will use the £19,678 to buy even more Christmas lights for the town, as it currently hires some, while others they own need replacing.

The group will also use the cash to purchase generators to power the town’s festive lights, as again it also has to hire the equipment, as well as buy market stalls to protect traders from the elements who come to Wickford for the Christmas fair.

Nick Mills, chairman of Light Up Wickford, said: “A big part of the money will be used to purchase some lights.

“Most of the ones we use in the High Street are hired, but if we own them we won’t have to pay to hire them in the future. We will also use the money to buy an across street display for the opposite end of the High Street. We are pleased to have successfully bid for this money.”

Although there is no official Christmas light switch-on in Wickford, the town’s festive fair will take place on Sunday, December 8 from noon to 4pm.

The event will see the High Street closed and there will be a marquee with bands and entertainment throughout the day, including choirs performing from Wickford’s primary schools.

There will also be a helter skelter, fairground rides and stalls selling a variety of goods for visitors to the event.