DONTATIONS for a Christmas tree in Leigh have almost hit £2,500.

The community tree will be located outside Leigh Town Hall and will be put up on December 14.

Founder of Old Leigh Photographs, Stewart McGarrie started an online fundraiser with a £5,000 target after it was revealed that Wigan Council would not be able to fund a tree this year.

The 25ft tall tree, which will be up until January 6, will be decorated with red and white LED lights as homage to the Leigh Centurions and will have an 85cm snowflake on top of it.

Mr McGarrie said: “The fundraiser has been going really well and I am going to place an order for the tree next week. As well as the online donations we have had lots of support from local businesses and fellow Leythers. Hopefully with all those donations we will have around £4,000 which is a great amount.

“I wanted enough money to be able to buy a tree for next year as we will be able to keep all the decorations and the concrete stand but we are getting a real civic Christmas tree so that will need to be replaced each year but we won’t have to raise this much again.”

There will be an official switch on with carol singers, fun fair rides and refreshments put on for the community.

Mr McGarrie added: “While the tree is up we are going to offer it out to local community groups for them to hold events in the square for carol services and other Christmas events.”

To donate to the tree fund go to: https://www.gofundme.com/ewa4bgw4 or you can call in at Trust in Leigh in Market Street in Leigh or make a paypal payment as a donation to stewart@mcgarrie.com