Christmas will be a whole lot brighter for two Cornish villages, thanks to donations from a local event organiser.

St Keverne Christmas Lights and Porthleven Lights have both been presented with cheques to help pay for the illumination from Masked Ball Productions Ltd, a event company that organises annual events near the two villages.

St Keverne Christmas Lights has received £350 to help finance the St Keverne Christmas Lights Switch On that takes place on Friday, December 14.

Clive Cooper, chairman of the St Keverne Christmas Lights committee, said: “The donation was most unexpected and greatly appreciated. “The money will help towards additional lights and decorations.”

The St Keverne Christmas Lights switch on takes place at 6.30pm, with carol singing around the Christmas tree in St Keverne Square, St Keverne Brass Band in attendance, mince pies, mulled wine and a raffle.

The Porthleven Lights appeal has received £700 towards the cost of illuminating the clock tower of the Bickford-Smith Institute.

Assistant chairman and maintenance engineer Roger Taft of Porthleven Lights said the funds would help achieve the goal of illuminating the clock tower for the first time.

“The donation is extremely useful and will be very helpful. We hope to externally illuminate the tower this winter pending various permissions. I was quite taken by surprise, the money is a big help,” said Mr Taft.

Kelvin Batt, of Masked Ball Productions, said: “We want to give something back to local communities. We also employ only local companies wherever possible for the production of the events.

I grew up in Porthleven and always wanted to see the clock tower lit up and I'm glad I can do something towards it.”

Masked Ball Productions have also donated £700 to the Cornwall-based charity Pants. The aim of Pants is to raise awareness of gynae and testicular cancer.