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A church is having its Christmas lights switched back on after local fundraising efforts.

The tree in the grounds of St Augustine’s in Pontllanfraith had for decades been regularly lit up for the festive season until vandals damaged the lights just before the pandemic struck.

Thanks to fundraising efforts led by church treasurer Phillip Williams and donations from residents and local firms, the lights are being switched back on later this month.

Rev Heulwen Rees, focal minister at St Augustine’s, said: “We were just at a loss really. People kept on asking us why aren’t the lights on at Christmas, but the community and the congregation were willing to take the challenge on.”

Phillip explained: “This year we decided that this would be the year it was going to happen.”

Health and safety rules has meant ladders and cherry pickers can’t be used to install the lights – leading to an ingenious solution from Michael Rackham and his son Andrew from MAR Electronics.

They have designed a system of electrical conduit piping to be used to install and place lights without the need to scale the tree.

They have been working with a fellow father and son team, Ian and Dan Chivers, of IDC Contract Services, to get the lights ready.

Contributions to help fund the lights have been made by Blackwood Rotary Club, Inner Wheel, Bryntirion Dentist, and many others, including Caerphilly County Borough Council.

A special contribution has also been made by Cheryl Fox, the widow of local businessman Derek Fox, who had previously helped get the lights back on in 2007.

• The lights switch on, led by the Girlguides based at the church’s hall, will take place at 5pm on Thursday December 11.