A RAFFLE organised by the Ely Traders Association raised nearly £1,000 for the city s Christmas lights appeal. Independent retailers sold tickets ahead of the Christmas lights switch-on earlier this month to extend Ely s display. Alison Callaby of East

A RAFFLE organised by the Ely Traders' Association raised nearly £1,000 for the city's Christmas lights appeal.

Independent retailers sold tickets ahead of the Christmas lights switch-on earlier this month to extend Ely's display.

Alison Callaby of East Cambridgeshire District Council was so impressed by the traders' efforts that she donated a bottle of wine to Danny Niven, who sold the most tickets - 180 in total.

Mr Niven works at Griffin Re-sale and sold tickets at Ely's fireworks display, the Christmas lights switch-on, and at the Fore Hill shop.

Chairman of the Ely Traders' Association, Elaine Griffin-Singh, said: "It's been a great success and we raised more than £940 - we would like to thank all the shopkeepers for their generosity and the public for their support."

The first prize - a year's free entry to Ely Cinema - was won by Mrs Paten of Ely, and the second prize was a hamper full of goods donated by city traders.

Mrs Griffin-Singh said: "People were so generous that we were able to make a second hamper, which we auctioned for £100 at the Christmas lights switch-on, which counted towards our total.