FESTIVAL organisers are pleading for help from businesses as they aim to light up the West End.

Volunteers behind the annual West End Festival plan to set up an Electric Gardens light show that will take over the Botanics.

But the event will cost £120,000 to stage and they are appealing to city bus- inesses, volunteers and residents for support.

Michael Dale, director of the festival, said: "It's only going to be possible with support from local businesses with an appetite to have an exciting new event in the West End for everyone to enjoy.

"Every year we ask for support from businesses, volunteers and residents, and we've had fantastic support from our network, including the Byres Road Traders' Association, but we need to look at the bigger picture.

"If we, a volunteer-led organisation, are to carry on organising and running the likes of the West End Festival and its parade day and introduce new exciting events like the Electric Gardens, then we need to find a sustainable way of doing this.

"And yes, as they benefit from the activities, we mean finding a way for local businesses to contribute."

The Electric Gardens will be similar to Pitlochry's Enchanted Forrest and the Electric Glen in Rouken Glen Park.

The light display is planned for February 2015, with around 24,000 tickets going on sale in early December.

Organisers hope the event will generate money to invest in next year's Byres Road Mardi Gras Parade.

Businesses are asked to create special offers, help promote the event or support plans by taking part.

Liz Scobie, chairwoman of the West End Festival, added: "We're very excited about this new event.

"It's something to look forward to in a typically quiet month and it will be accessible to all."

This year's West End Festival attracted 1.1million visitors and provided a multi-million-pound boost to the local economy.

Evening Times' columnist Michelle McManus brought proceedings to a close with a concert at the revamped Kelvingrove Bandstand.

catriona.stewart@ eveningtimes.co.uk