Christmas comes early to Rose Green

Three of the independent stores in the shopping parade combined to extend their opening on Monday (November 7) as the build up to the festive season starts.

Monday’s venture – in which they were open until 9pm – will be followed by a further late-night session on December 15.

Sunday openings will take place on December 4, 11 and 15.

The initial night involving the Rose Green Art and Craft Centre, So Lovely hair and beauty salon and Scanstation computer store was a success.

So Lovely was packed with up to 100 people during the evening.

The salon’s staff dressed up as elves as they sold raffle tickets for Macmillan cancer charity and handed out snacks.

Nail technician Cheryl Perryman said: “It’s important we do things like this as a community and stick together.

“Being a small community, we wanted to bring new people in who may not know we are here.

“It’s all about keeping small businesses like this open. There are not many villages where the independent shops are still there.

“It’s very difficult to survive.

“There is so much competition and there are a lot of big names out there.

“But it’s not about the big names.

“It’s about how you treat your customers and make them feel welcome and have a chat with them.”

So Lovely’s charity efforts on the night raised £112 for Macmillan.