Hot food and drink cheers late shoppers

For the first time, Market Square was the focal point, with its spectacular Christmas tree and grid of lights above and several stalls had been set up to offer shoppers some local crafts and other products.

It was also the venue for the Salvation Army band to entertain people with some favourite carols and the Guernsey Music Service Choir also appeared.

At the other end of Town, the Round Table was providing hot roasted chestnuts and mulled wine, as it has done for many years.

Treasurer Steve Deane and member Mark Priaulx were behind the stall and Mr Deane said that despite the weather, business had been good.

Not far away some brave young entrepreneurs from this year’s Young Enterprise Challenge had set up shop up at the bottom of Smith Street.

Young Enterprise Project, or Yep, comprises students from Elizabeth and Ladies’ Colleges and for their first idea they had made ear bud wraps out of pieces of laser-cut birch wood during their design and technology lessons.

‘We’ve got until April and we can come up with as many ideas as we want,’ said Jacob Bradley, 16, who stressed that the wraps were made from a sustainable source of wood. Business had not been bad, he said, despite the drizzle.

Among the shoppers who were not put off by a bit of damp weather was Sarah Naftel, who was with children Francesca, 5, and Reuben, 3. She said the family always made the trip in for late shopping in Town: ‘I’m just buying the last few bits.’

The changes, including moving the tree to Market Square this year, had improved things: ‘It’s a lot better than it usually is,’ she said.

n Community singing will be the first item of entertainment at next week’s late opening, with Festiva singing carols from 6.30 in Market Square and providing word sheets so that everyone can sing along. Joining them will be the La Mare de Carteret High School choir, which is looking for instrumentalists to accompany them. Anyone who can help should call Danny Furness at the school on 256588.