The community has been praised for rallying to raise £4,000 to replace the town’s Christmas lights after they were destroyed by vandals.

The lights have cost organisers around £2,000 to replace and have been used for decades to decorate trees in Broad Street – which has attracted crowds to watch the official Christmas lights switch-on every year.

Virgil Turner from the Lyme Christmas Lights Committee said that hundreds of bulbs kept in a locked storage unit behind the Three Cups Hotel, were recently smashed ‘like glass bombs’ by vandals.

He described the incident as a ‘heavy blow’ to the organisers of the Broad Street lights, who launched an appeal for financial help from traders across the town. Organisers also hope to raise further funds for a new Christmas tree stand and safety hole at The Shambles after last year’s 40-foot tree was blown over in strong winds. Since then, the Lyme community has rallied to raise £4,000 so far, Lyme Regis town councillor Cheryl Reynolds told The News.

She added: “Thank you to everyone who has donated.

“Cheques of £100 and more have been given to me and we really do appreciate the help from the Lyme community.

“It’s important to add that people can still donate if they want to. We want to raise as much as we can. Cheques must be made out to Lyme Regis Town Council.”

Those wanting to donate can call Cllr Reynolds on 07796 074849.