A SUPERMARKET provided some very early Christmas joy to residents of Astley Bridge.

The local branch of Asda has donated a cheque for £1,000 towards the cost of paying for the area’s Christmas lights and the festivities.

It comes as the Friends of Astley Bridge group is busy fundraising to make the event better than ever.

Members want to hire marquees to provide weather-proof venues for entertainers to perform to the crowds.

Cllr Hillary Fairclough said: “This donation has been an absolute godsend.

“Normally we just have to rely on bag packs, tombolas and small businesses to help raise the money.”

The group is hoping to raise more than £3,500 to hire the marquees, pay for the lights to be strung on trees at Andrew Lane, provide free mince pies, mulled wine and hot Vimto for revellers and to also buy sweets for Father Christmas to hand to children The lights switch-on, now in its fifth year, has become a major event in the social calendar, with crowds of around 4,000 people attending.

A marquee was introduced last year as a venue for groups, including school choirs and bands, to perform out of the rain.

“We’ve had good years and we have had years when it has been so wet we have been up to our knees in mud.

“It doesn’t tend to stop people coming though,” said Cllr Fairclough.

This year, on the afternoon of December 7, they hope to have two marquees to provide even more space for performers and audiences.