A SUM of £400 has been raised by the Ormiston community towards fixing the lights on the village’s Christmas tree after they were ripped off by a group of youths earlier this month.

After the culprits were lambasted for damaging the newly installed £1,600 lights paid for through village fundraising, the community came together again to raise a further £400 to go towards fixing the tree for next year’s display.

A raffle was held at an event at The Coalgate pub on Sunday.

The village’s community council was delighted to receive the money, along with the first £1,000 raised by regulars at an earlier event at The Coalgate for the 2019 lights.

Scott Gillies, community council chair, said: “It is brilliant – and much-appreciated – when people come together to fundraise.

“Roots and Fruits East Lothian donated a hamper and so did some other people.

“Donna Howe and Derryn McKillop provided the entertainment at the two events, which resulted in £1,400 being handed over.

“It was a great amount raised from the raffle.

“A big thanks to Jack and Grant at The Coalgate for their fundraising efforts.

“The extra £400 will go towards the costs of repairing the lights on the community tree and also to repair some of the trees on Main Street, which have had some wear and tear.

“We will probably get the company who does this out around October [next year] to fix the lights in time for next Christmas.”