Late night shopping for Sidmouth

FIELDS department store will join other Sidmouth traders to stay open for late night Christmas shopping on Friday, December 5.

The increasing popularity of the event, organised by Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce, has persuaded managing director Trevor Roberts to open the store for the first time.

He said: "We have supported it every year with Monday's Child and will now keep the main store open until 7.30pm."

Chamber member Helen Watts has been busy organising the event - see our Christmas shopping supplement in this week's paper - and has some surprises in store for the evening.

Most shops participating will remain open between 6pm and 8pm and Helen is delighted to have Fields' support this year.

She said: "Now Fields is opening it will make a difference. The majority of shops should be open. Even the solicitors, Mossop and Whitham are offering mince pies."

So too is the Sidmouth Herald office where editor Emma Silverthorne and advertising executive Emma Maskell will offer sparkling wine, mince pies and Christmas cheer as well as a competition aimed at children, with chocolate prizes to be won.

Carols will be sung by Sidmouth Day Care Nursery in Market Place, where Sidmouth Town Band will play from 7pm, and more carols, accompanied by the Salvation Army Band, will emanate from outside Sidmouth Methodist Church.

Christmas cards, produced by Sidmouth College's Young Enterprise group, will be on sale, and Brownies and scouts will sell roasted chestnuts.

Violinist Paul Roberts and his wife Tia will perform outside Flo & Us, Fore Street, while Rangers and Guides will be performing carols. So too will Sidmouth Folk Choir.

Father Christmas will hand out sweets to children and Educated Pig hog roast will roast two hogs this year as one was not enough last year.

Other attractions will include the Toastrack, driven by Tom Griffiths, and, weather permitting, street art by Coco Hodgkinson.