Elliott wants to light up Market Drayton
Plans have been unveiled for a major event to bring festive cheer to a Market Drayton next year.
Elliott Powell, who works as a community champion at Morrisons, said he wants to launch a festival of lights in the town next December.
He said: "The Christmas celebration we had this year was really good, but there is a consensus that we can do more and we want to bring people together to make it happen.
"The next port of call really is to get in touch with the town council and the county council, to see about legislation and what we can and can't do.
"I know it's not as easy as putting up a million lights in the town centre.
"We have to work with the councils."
Mr Powell also said that the festival would welcome anyone willing to help.
"We're not going to turn away someone from Whitchurch with a really good idea just because they're not from Market Drayton," he added.
"It's just about bringing some magic back to the town, making memories for the kids and saying we're still here, don't forget about us."
His ambitious plans include for chalet-style market stalls in the model of Birmingham or Telford's Christmas markets, showcasing local food and drink in a festive atmosphere.
He hopes to arrange for local musicians and carol singers to perform, organise a fireworks display and have the festival opened by what he describes as a "local hero, not a celebrity but someone unsung in the community".
Mr Powell set up a page on GoFundMe, with the statement: “With budget cuts and people living on hard times, the spark of the holiday season can be lost.
“I would like to bring the joy and happiness of Christmas back to our historic town, with more to enjoy and make memories with your family and friends.
“Donations will go towards funding and creating new experiences for the festival of lights in Market Drayton.”
The target Mr Powell has set is £10,000, and he has also set up a Facebook page called Market Drayton Festival of Lights - Committee.
Mr Powell has long maintained that the town's Christmas provisions are inadequate, saying in 2016: "I say it every year - still shocked that our Christmas tree and lights are so shockingly poor.
"I don't want to be a snob or be ungrateful because it's lovely we get donated a tree.
"But our town has been really suffering with lack of trade over the last 10 years.
"It just makes me so angry because I love this town and we really need to get Drayton back on the map and become a talking point."
