A SOUTHAMPTON charity has made a desperate plea for help because its festive Tree of Light has no lights.

Volunteers from Christian good neighbours charity Communicare have urged businesses across the city to lend a hand to try to save their biggest fundraiser of the year.

People have already sponsored 150 of the Daily Echo backed tree’s twinkling lights to raise cash for the charity that is dedicated to making life easier for the city’s most vulnerable people.

Volunteers from churches visit lonely, housebound elderly people, help mums with young children and provide transport for hospital and other appointments.

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Last year there was a moving switch on ceremony where crowds came to pay respect to lost loved ones as 1,000 illuminations lit up the city sky and more than £2,000 was raised for the cause.

But with just days to go until the ceremony on Friday at the tree in the Millennium Gardens, in Woolston, the charity has been struck a major blow.

Although Communicare already has 2,000 lights, the business which said they would put them up has pulled out.

If the charity can’t find anyone to put up the fairylights before 6pm on Friday, they will be forced to cancel potentially losing thousands for our most needy residents.

Annie Clewlow, of Communicare, said: “The people due to help us let us down at the eleventh hour.

“Everything is in place but the lights need to be put in the tree. This is a major disaster.

If we can’t find anyone to help us, we won’t be able to go ahead with the project.

“I am confident that with the power of prayer we will get it sorted out somehow.”

The switch-on by mayor Cllr Carol Cunio is scheduled for 6pm on Friday as part of the annual Woolston Christmas Festival.

Festival organiser Giv Thornton, said: “If anyone can help we will be very grateful. They won’t be able to use a cherry picker as there isn’t enough space.

Last year it had to be with scaffolding and ladders.”