The councillor behind a newly-founded co-operative of businesses believes funding Banstead’s Christmas lights is just the start of the mission to bring greater prosperity to the village.

The Banstead Business Guild is still in its early stages, but has already set its sights on footing the £3,000 bill for the storage, erection and maintenance of the village’s much-loved festive lights.

In recent years the money has been raised by a shop owner with the support of Banstead Village Residents' Association after a communal pot – titled ‘Let There Be Light’ – set up in 1999 ran dry.

But this year Banstead Business Guild will be raising money to fund the lights.

Chairman of the Guild and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council cabinet member for economy and jobs, Councillor Eddie Humphreys, said: "It should not be down to one individual to fund it out of his pocket.

"The guild was not set up specifically to do that, but to create a networking community and bringing other businesses in and work locally as a forum for good ideas for the high street.

"Anything we raise should be for the benefit of the High Street, and this definitely would be for the people of Banstead village."

The group do not have a logo or website yet and have only had two meetings, but Coun Humphreys believes the Guild will help foster solidarity among Banstead businesses and attract customers to the village.

He added: "It is really very early stages at the moment. So far we have got in the region of 20 businesses and I see that growing.

"We are not looking at it as a short-term process. I am really sure that in three months we will have seen some progress.

"If it is a good model then there is no reason why we can’t replicate it elsewhere."

Jon Tabard, owner of JT Snuggs Jewellers and holder of the ‘Let There Be Light’ account set up a Justgiving page as part of the Guild’s efforts to raise the £3,000 needed to light up Banstead this Christmas.

He said: "The lights make such a difference, bringing a warm glow to the High Street in the dark wintery nights – and adding that touch of Christmas magic.

"The recently formed Banstead Business Guild – comprising local businesses and traders have set themselves a task – to raise the funds needed to bring the lights back.

"The appeal goes out not only to businesses but to the whole community – and donations however large or small are all welcome."

Donations toward funding Banstead village’s Christmas lights can be made at: https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/bansteadfestivelights