A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to bring festive lights to Harlesden not just for one year, but for many.

Members of the Harlesden Festive Lights Cooperative (HFLC) are hoping to raise £10,000 to bring festive colour to the whole town as part of a three-year project.

They are hosting a fundraising event at The Royal Oak in the High Street on November 16 between 6pm and midnight to help reach the target, which has already reached more than £6,000 in donations.

Leroy Simpson, co-chair of HFLC, said: “These are not Christmas lights, they are festive lights, and that’s a big difference. This year it will run from December 2 to the end of January but within three years we hope to light them in time for Diwali, Black History Month, all those festivals.

“If we hit this year’s target, it will allow us to do the next two.”

HFLC was formed in February by Mr Simpson, who is Harlesden’s community liaison officer, and David Camm, of the charity Business In The Community.

Realising the project they had in mind was so big they contacted all the chairs of residents groups, business associations and local councillors to form the co-operative.

Mr Simpson said: “The first stage of the project is to get all the lamp posts up to standard and raise the £10,000 to buy lights, install them and store them for the rest of the year when they are not in use.

“We aim to cover the 11 lamp posts between the Jubilee Clock and the Library and maybe a Christmas tree as well.

“Stage 2 is to cover the area between Jubilee Clock and Santander Bank and then the next year to cover Park Parade and light up the whole of Harlesden each year.

The co-operative is working with Christmas light suppliers High Level Electrics who will undertake the necessary structural work that will allow the replacing of the lights each year with hanging baskets or banners to brighten up the town and add to the experience of shopping there throughout the year.

Mr Simpson added: “Our aim is to show the rest of the community what can be achieved when we work together as a team to promote Harlesden and make it a better place for us all.”

To donate go to crowdfunder.co.uk/harlesden-lights