A nine-year-old girl is so upset by the lack of Christmas lights in Old Coulsdon, she is taking matters into her own hands.

Madison Seabrook is asking for donations to ensure Old Coulsdon does not go without festive lights again this year.

Since Croydon Council scrapped its funding of Christmas lights in 2004, many district centres have been forced to ask their own communities to cough up.

Christmas 2005 was the second year Old Coulsdon was without lights and town hall Scrooges are unlikely to pay for them this year.

Madison, a Keston Primary School pupil, said the lack of Christmas lights in her neighbourhood made her feel "down" last Christmas.

It all started when she drove through neighbouring Caterham with her grandmother last December and saw the district's twinkling light display.

Grandmother Sylvia Wilson said: "We were so impressed with how lovely Caterham looked but when we got back to Old Coulsdon Maddie asked me why there weren't any lights. All I could say was, darling, I honestly don't know'."

Sylvia encouraged her granddaughter to write a letter to her local councillor Chris Wright and also to the mayor to ask how to get the lights returned.

Madison, who has enlisted the help of eight-year-old sister Jordan, said: "It made me feel down when I didn't see any lights in Old Coulsdon. There should be lights, because it's Christmas and if we don't have lights it just doesn't seem like Christmas anymore.

"I was talking to my grandma about it and she helped me write a letter to the councillor and the mayor to ask how we could get the lights back."

Madison's mum, teacher Ruth Seabrook, added: "I think what she's doing is great. She was really quite disgusted at there being no lights. She's even got her sister involved."

With the help of her family and Coun Wright, Madison set up a committee and bank account for fundraising.

She is asking residents to lend their support by making donations.

Coun Wright said: "I must admit when I got Madison's letter it rather put me to shame. She's been very determined and I'm only too pleased to help."

A Croydon Council spokesman said: "The decision was taken in 2004 that, as it was traders local to any given area that ultimately reaped the benefit of illuminated decorations, town and district-centre Christmas lighting schemes should be a commercial expense.

"The council, nevertheless, asked officers to help secure appropriate displays wherever possible. Despite measured success in other centres, the authority proved unable to help broker an appropriate sponsorship for Old Coulsdon.

"At this stage of the year it is too early to say exactly what provision will be made for Christmas but it is likely that, as in 2005, the council will limit its involvement to providing professional expertise.

"Any organisations wishing to use stored council lighting schemes as the basis for their own show will have their bids considered on a first-come, first-served basis."

To support Madison's campaign, send a cheque made payable to Old Coulsdon Christmas Lights to: Madison, Christmas Lights in Old Coulsdon, c/o 44 Homefield Road, Old Coulsdon CR5 1ES. If Madison cannot raise enough money required for lights in Old Coulsdon, she would like to give donations to children's cancer charity the Lisa Thaxter Trust.