THE ‘Yuletide Lyme’ Christmas shopping campaign has been labelled a success by organisers.

Created by the Lyme Regis Business Group (LRBG), it started on November 30 with the Christmas lights switch on, and will come to a close this weekend.

Its main aim was to encourage people to do their Christmas shopping within the town rather than going to big retail outlets and Tony Colston, chairman of the LRBG, said the campaign had been a success in its first year.

Mr Colston said: “Generally, the feedback has been positive. We seem to have had more people around even though it still has been relatively quiet.

“People are still going to Exeter and Weymouth and other big retail outlets to do their shopping, but hopefully, they are more conscious of shopping locally and are aware they can shop locally to buy some of their presents.

“When we launched there was a buzz around town. With the lights being switched on and everything, it generated a feel good factor in the town.

“People have come from other counties to see the displays and that was what we wanted to encourage, people coming into the town.”

The campaign hasn’t finished yet, with retailers providing their own special discounts to customers this weekend to give ‘Yuletide Lyme’ one last push, with organisers already planning for next year.

Mr Colston added: “The window displays have also gone down really well and we have already pencilled them in for next year.

“We are looking to repeat this campaign again because the whole concept has proved interesting to people and has attracted people to the town, and we will look to build on what we have started this year.”

Rikey Austin, who runs the Alice’s Bear Shop, on Broad Street, said the Yuletide Lyme campaign had capped off “the best year ever” for retailers.

She said: “Anything that encourages people to come into Lyme Regis and visit the fabulous independents that we have is wonderful. The new traders group is doing such an amazing job and it is so nice to see such enthusiasm and energy put into the town.

“This Yuletide Lyme campaign has finished off the best year ever for retailers in the town, and it has put a sprig of mistletoe on top of a great Christmas pudding.”