All activities and entertainment in the programme are being done for the benefit of Bridgwater Businesses. Christmas is a key trading period and it is to everyone’s advantage if we can encourage footfall into Bridgwater. The Christmas Committee are working very hard towards this end. All businesses should now have received a draft list of activities and a fax back form to report planned opening times and support for the Switch on, late night shopping and Sunday opening.

So far this year the financial sponsorship for Christmas Activities in Bridgwater has come from Sainsburys, Sedgemoor District Council, Gerber, Express Park and Angel Place Shopping Centre. All traders in the town have been invited to contribute £25 and/or a prize for the Town Centre Partnership to raise funds for the Christmas entertainment and new Christmas Lights for the town.

The Christmas Committee are still short of funds so please get in touch if you can help.

Raffle tickets will be available in the first instance from Sainsburys, Hooks and the Town Centre Managers Office. If any other business is willing to sell tickets, or wishes to purchase any, please contact Wendy White 01278 446859.

The Bridgwater Mercury Town Centre Partnership and BCRfm have joined forces to offer the ‘Christmas Cracker’ promotional campaign. This offers a six week advertising package, reduced price Christmas Trees, free entry into competitions and a business prize draw worth over £1,000.

The Town Centre Partnership have entered into an agreement with Commercial Services to provide small Christmas Trees with lights (or wired-on tinsel if no power supply). These are £40.00 each. Brackets may be supplied for an additional cost. Telephone Wendy White 01278 446859

Gerber have donated £1,000 towards new Christmas Lights, and with other monies raised it is hoped to refurbish and purchase some new lighting in the town. Christmas lighting has a limited life span of between three and five years so we need to plan an on-going upgrade project. This project has to include the cost of installation/removal, storage and maintenance of lights.

The Bridgwater Mercury is supporting this competition with editorials and pictures to give our entrants maximum free publicity. As well as the prize for the winning windows, we plan to continue the readers choice feature which has been especially popular as it encourages readers to visit all listed entries. Closing date 13 December 2002.

All businesses that enter help to encourage footfall into the town, enjoy some friendly rivalry, receive some free publicity and possibly win a prize! Judging will take place week commencing 16 December, any ‘fresh produce’ entry will be judged on 18 December.

From 4.45pm children are invited to come and meet Father Christmas and deliver letters to him in person. Free Christmas Biscuits and Fruit Juice will be served to children.

Children aged 4 - 10 are invited to bring in an A4 size picture with a Christmas theme. They need to add their age, name and telephone contact number on the back. Angel Place will be making a ‘Father Christmas Gallery’ of as much submitted work as possible.

1st, 2nd and 3rd Prizes will be awarded by a panel of judges and announced on Friday 22 November 2002.