Melton residents urged to light up their homes for festive competition

The Melton Times has teamed up with Melton Borough Council and the Rotary Club of Melton Belvoir to organise a special competition with cash prizes for charities and food hampers up for grabs for the best dressed houses.

Rotary members were keen to get involved because their popular annual fundraising Santa Claus sleigh tour cannot go ahead this year due to the need for social distancing.

Residents across the borough are invited to decorate their homes with lights and other Christmas adornments and then posting a photograph of it all on the Melton Borough Christmas Lights online event section of the council’s Facebook page.

Five winners will get the chance to nominate a local charity to receive a £100 donation funded by the Rotary Club of Melton Belvoir.

And two further winners will have an opportunity to win a hamper donated by local Councillors and filled with products from local businesses.

Borough councillor and cabinet member, Alison Freer Jones, said: “We are all disappointed that we could not have the usual Christmas light switch-on event this year so we want to make sure people have an alternative way of lighting up Christmas by showcasing some of the beautiful lights and decorated houses across the borough.

“Melton borough councilors have clubbed together to support the shop local initiative and will be offering two Christmas hampers full of local goodies into the prize pot.

“I am delighted that the Rotary Club of Melton Belvoir are also supporting the competition with the opportunity for people to pledge a donation to their local charity.

“I would strongly encourage everyone to spread the Christmas cheer and post your photos to the Melton Borough Christmas Lights event page set up on

Facebook.”

Other prizes are also being donated by local businesses which will be advertised on the Facebook page when they become available.

Carol Scarborough, president of the Rotary Club for Melton Belvoir, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we have decided, it was in everyone’s best interest we did not bring out our sleigh this year. 

“We know how much everyone looks forward to Santa.

“This competition is another way of bringing some joy and excitement into the lives of people in the borough after months of restrictions and worry about Covid-19. 

“If anyone would like to be part of the spirit of Rotary, there are two ways people can do this; one is by considering a donation to help replace our Santa Sleigh normal funds.

“The second is to join Rotary. Anyone with a big heart is welcome. Details of how to donate will be on the Melton Borough Christmas Lights Facebook page.”

Anyone not on Facebook can also submit their photos via email to [email protected] who will post the photo to social media.

The competition will close at midday on Monday December 21.

Competition Rules:

***No photos of recognisable faces of people in any of the photos;

***One entry per house only (make sure it’s your best photo;

***You can only enter a photo, of your own house;

***The house must be within the borough of Melton.

Competition Timeline:

***You can post photos on the Melton Borough Christmas Lights Facebook page or via email to [email protected] until midday on December 21;

***On Decemeber 22, a judging panel made up of representatives of the Rotary club, council and Melton Times will pick the best photos.

Prizes:

***Rotary Club of Melton Belvoir are donating five £100 prizes for the winners to donate to a Melton borough-based charity;

***Melton borough councilors are donating two hampers filled with products from local businesses;

***Local businesses are donating a variety of prizes (see the borough council Facebook page for details of these).