GOOSTREY residents are invited to the village’s rescheduled Christmas lights switch-on after the event was postponed on Sunday due to high winds.

The rescheduled switch-on takes place this Sunday, December 6, starting at 5.30pm at the Bog Bean.

The lights switch-on and carols, organised by the Scouts and Guides on behalf of the village/parish council for the third year running, is the Scouts’ final major fundraising event of the year.

There will be a visit by Father Christmas, festive brass band music, barbecue burgers and hotdogs, hot and cold drinks, cakes and mulled wine, and everyone is welcome.

Fundraising for the new Scout Hut and Youth Centre in Goostrey has reached £95,000.

Group Scout leader, David Giles said: “To raise £95,000 in only 18 months is a remarkable achievement, but we are aiming high and hope the last fundraising events of the year might permit us to reach the milestone of £100,000 – 50 per cent of the cost of the new building.”

Donations flooded in last month from numerous sources.

Goostrey Guiding’s fundraising event at the village hall raised more than £300. Donations were also received from Twemlow Parish Council, Goostrey Flower Club and Goostrey Wine Circle – as well as private donations to the Scout Hut in lieu of presents from a number of people who toasted birthdays or other special celebrations.

Goostrey Parish Council made over more than £3,000 to the Scouts’ fundraising account in November, including £2,400 raised by the former Goostrey Residents Association towards the creation of a new youth centre, and a further £600 which had been held by the council on behalf of the former Goostrey Young People’s Project.

Two events held on the same day added nearly £2,000. Goostrey Parish Council donated the proceeds from the Senior Citizens’ lunch on November 22 at the village hall.

Thanks to generous sponsorship of the event and donation of food and drink by the Yellow Broom restaurant and the Trading Post, the event raised £1,000. The same evening £950 was raised by a sell-out family quiz night and supper held by the Scouts at the same venue.