THE Rotary Club of Hunterston has stepped in to help the West Kilbride Yuletide Group raise enough funds to ensure this year's Christmas street lights shine.

Following the announcement that the cost of erecting the hundreds of bulbs that light the town's streets over the festive period would not be met by North Ayrshire Council, the group appealed for help.

The Community Awards scheme, run by Hunterston Rotary, presented a cheque for £200 "to help keep the West Kilbride Christmas lights burning", said the club's awards secretary Jim Jackson.

Accepting the award, George Young, who heads up the West Kilbride Community Group, said: "We were devastated when we were informed by the council that they were no longer meeting the cost of putting the lights up this year.

"We were delighted by the offer of support from Hunterston Rotary. This award will be put to good use and go a long way towards ensuring a brighter Christmas for the folk of the town."

According to Mr Young, the group hope to take some of the Christmas lights to those in the West Kilbride community who are unable to come to the centre of the town to see them.