SOMERSET Council is encouraging residents to think about repairs this Christmas.

Material Focus's campaign 'Recycle your electricals' reveals 35 million Britons tossed out defective Christmas fairy lights, which is enough to wrap around Earth nearly 12 times.

The council recommends people inspect their festive lights and other electrical adornments before setting them up.

Repair groups spread across Somerset might assist if problems persist.

Over 20 such groups exist, manned by skilled volunteers adept at fixing the issues.

The abilities possessed by these volunteers vary from group to group, but they commonly include electrical and mechanical repairs, sewing, and general adhesive tasks.

Many groups also mend bicycles, jewellery, and more.

Somerset County Gazette: 35 million Brits tossed out defective Christmas fairy lights - which is enough to wrap around Earth

To gather more information or to find out when and exactly where these groups meet, individuals can visit www.somerset.gov.uk/tables/somersets-repair-network/.

There are several such groups operating in towns ranging from Burnham and Highbridge to Porlock Vale during December.

Furthermore, the Fixy Project, a joint venture with the Somerset Council, will be featured at the eat: Taunton festival on December 16.

The Fixy team will advertise repair and reuse options and provide insights about Somerset's Repair Network.

They will also accept reusable smart tech donations, such as laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and digital cameras.

Data on these devices will be wiped responsibly by Donate IT before being redistributed to the community to bridge the digital divide.

Councillor Dixie Darch stated: "'Repairing broken items is a sustainable and cost-effective option for residents and promoting and support the county’s network of repair groups is part of what we can do to help Somerset become a greener, more sustainable county.

"The dedication of these volunteers has prevented many items from going to waste.

"It’s great to see a thriving network of groups in every corner of the county."

She added: "If your items are beyond repair, or if you are not going to keep them, make sure to sustainably dispose of them."

For more about the Fixy project and the events they will be attending, visit www.somerset.gov.uk/fixy/.