Ottery has welcomed in the festive season with a Christmas tree festival and the illumination of this year’s lights.

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Ottery’s beloved tourist information centre manager Phyllis Baxter was remembered as part of the Christmas tree festival.

Some 50 firs were decorated by organisations, associations and businesses as part of the four-day event, now in its eighth year.

Phyllis was also remembered by the organisers of Ottery’s Christmas lights who were determined to make the event the ‘best ever’ in her memory.

Josefina Gori, chairman of the Late-night Christmas Shopping steering group, said: “It could not have been any nicer and showed how beautiful the town is.”

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Father Christmas arrived to entertain the children and there was a torchlight procession from the church to the council offices where the gathered crowd watched the big switch-on.

Josefina also thanked the support from traders, volunteers, local groups and the public.

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's late night shopping. Ref sho 49 18TI 5936. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Coldharbour Farm created a tree in memory of Phyllis Baxter. Picture: Clarissa PlaceColdharbour Farm created a tree in memory of Phyllis Baxter. Picture: Clarissa Place (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

Sidmouth Herald: Ottery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry IfeOttery's christmas tree festival. Ref sho 48 18TI 5808. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)