THE festive period may just have ended but businesses in Cudworth are already turning their attentions to next Christmas.

Cudworth Businesses and Community Together, which was formed to make improvements to the village in a bid to entice more shoppers into the village’s centre, has set its sights on fundraising throughout the year in order to fund replacement Christmas lights, another Christmas market and incentivised schemes for shoppers.

The village was set to go without decorations for the first time in 30 years last month when Barnsley Council said the current ones were too dim to use - until a backlash from businesses and shoppers forced them to perform a U-turn.

But 2017 was their last year and now replacements, which councillors said would cost around £12,000, will have to be found.

Collection boxes are being distributed to businesses in the village centre along Barnsley Road, with the first ones appearing at Wishes, Laki’s Fish Bar and the Co-op this week.

Chris Fox, chairman of the group, said: “More boxes will be dropped off in the coming weeks but the ball is already rolling. The Christmas market was a big success, especially given it was our first attempt at one, so we definitely want this to return in 2018 as it increases footfall in the centre of the village.”

The group’s first event, dubbed the ‘Bunny Trail’, tasked local kids with finding bunnies in each of the nine shops involved - Katie Newsam Fashion, Poppy’s Florist, Wishes, Deacon’s Superdec, Infinity Jewellers, BARC, Buttercup Florist, Four Seasons and the Co-op - and when all were found, they received a bag full of treats for their investigative skills.

“This is another project which will return as it encourages youngsters to stop off at multiple shops,” Chris added. “There’s so much we can do, all which help to make Cudworth a better place to trade and visit. Linking shops together and having shoppers involved is what it’s all about.

“We will be creating a Facebook page to promote what the group is doing and that will feature all the goings-on in Cudworth, as well as our own website which will have details about the businesses.

“We will be discussing all these matters at our next meeting, which is open to everyone. The association is for both shoppers and businesses, as ultimately they are the ones who choose to visit Cudworth so their opinions are essential.”

* The meeting takes place place on January 25 at the council’s offices on Bow Street at 6pm.