Retailers across Haslemere are getting into the Christmas spirit as the Haslemere Christmas Windows competition is once again open for business.

Now in its fifth year, a total of 15 local schools, cubs, beavers, brownies, rainbows, and the church youth group are decking out shop windows to create 19 festive displays throughout the town centre and Weyhill.

Competition organiser Rev’d Justin Manley-Cooper, said: “There is already a lot of excitement from the schools, I have little doubt they will set the scene for a fabulous festive attraction. A number of schools taking part are from surrounding villages, which will hopefully draw the pupil’s parents, aunts and uncles into Haslemere, increasing Haslemere’s overall footfall.

The aim of the event was for “for Christmas to be an event that makes Haslemere a destination of fun and community for the festive season,” he said.

“We hope this will be a major boost for the retailers of the town and many local shops will take part, enticing people all around to come and shop locally and make our shopping areas a Christmas destination,” added Rev’d Manley-Cooper.

All the windows will be in the judged competitions (most festive, most stylish, most complementary to the retailer’s business) with judging day being Thursday, December 19.

However, the school/club-dressed windows will not be in the community vote competition, which is solely for retailer-dressed windows, with the prestigious window dressing cup and hamper at stake, last year won by Oliver’s coffee shop.

Visit www.haslemereparish.org/windows to cast a vote.