Bridport will have a Christmas Festival this year and hopes are high that it will be bigger and better than ever.

Councillors on the Finance and General Purposes committee heard that a new organising committee has been formed after a number of the previous members stepped down leaving a question mark over the event.

Town surveyor Daryl Chambers said that there have been big behind-the-scenes efforts to ‘rally the troops’ and a new co-ordinator will take the reins for the event to be held on Wednesday, December 5.

“Everyone feels that the festival has been such a success over five years and it is well worth doing,” said Mr Chambers.

“With the committee we have got now I feel very confident that it will be a success.”

Town clerk Bob Gillis said he wanted to record the council’s thanks to former co-ordinator Frances Pearsall and committee members Arthur Woodgate, Ron Bishop and others for their help over the years.

“This year it will be the town council co-ordinating the festival overall to make sure it carries on.”

The new group includes Rebecca Kingston, Margi Barbour from the arts centre, Coun Sandra Brown, Jason Foote and tourist information centre manager Terri Foxwell.

Earlier this year there were fears that the popular festivities, which see the town lit up for late night shopping, events and attractions and the arrival of Father Christmas would not happen after a lack of interest and support from local businesses and organisations.

The group runs the festival on a voluntary basis apart from a £180 payment to the co-ordinator.

“They will really be earning that £180,” said Mr Chambers.