£13,000 raised in just days by Telford Tree of Light appeal

The campaign, which remembers loved ones and supports county causes, has been launched for only a week and members of Rotary Clubs from across the borough are already busily sorting application forms and donations.

Each year, people in Telford are encouraged to donate to the campaign and in turn have the name of a lost loved one displayed around the base of the tree in Telford Shopping Centre.

This year is the 21st it has been held, and the Rotarians say they already have 1,001 names.

John Morris-Roberts, one of the Rotarians who has been helping to sort through the first flood of donations, says it is much the same as last year's campaign, which raised over £40,000.

In total they have raised £13,000 so far, but Mr Morris-Roberts says this does not include Gift Aid, which contributes a huge amount to the final total.

He said: "We've only been counting for about four days, we sent out application forms last Thursday and we've already had more than 1,000 names.We're very pleased,"It is quite similar to last year, to be honest. In the first two weeks we always see a lot of people filling the forms in and sending them off. but there is still plenty of time to get names around the tree."

The organising committee for the tree is drawn from the Rotary clubs of Ironbridge, Telford Centre, The Wrekin and Wellington.

The tree will be turned on by BBC antiques expert and Shropshire's resident Christina Trevanion at 4pm on November 10 at Telford Shopping Centre, where the Hope House Choir will sing festive carols.

The four rotary clubs together with the Tree of Light trustees have decided that half of the funds raised in 2016 will be donated to Severn Hospice, a quarter to Hope House, an eighth to the KIP project, for the homeless in Telford, with the other eighth being shared between Homestart and the Age UK Telford Befriending Appeal.

To name a loved one of the Tree of Light visit telfordtreeoflight.org.uk - there is a minimum donation of £5.