Early start for most carefully planned late-night shopping in years

Yes, noon! The early start has been chosen because organisers Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism have something very special on offer.

Street-by-street, they want to show shoppers that some lucky punter could win a brand new 1.2 litre Honda Jazz SE car.

All the winner has to have done is throw the dice and come up with the right numbers.

It sounds easy...

Only the Bexhill Late-Night Christmas Shopping Extravaganza will prove whether anyone will be lucky enough to produce the right numbers.

Entry is just 1. The offer will run from noon right to the end of the late-night shopping promotion at 8pm. All profits from the competition will be donated to St Michael's Hospice.

Already, the town's Christmas lights are up, tried, tested and working.

They will be formally switched on from Devonshire Square at 5.45pm on Friday by Town Mayor Cllr Patrick Douart.

A huge Christmas tree is already in place in the square which, as usual, will be the setting for carol-singing by choirs from local schools and churches.

Town centre streets will also resound to the music of a jazz band and other musicians. Street entertainers have been engaged to put smiles on shoppers' faces.

Many of the town's trading community will be offering seasonal cheer, including mince pies and mulled wine to shoppers.

Street-by-street, the traders have been encouraged to offer competitions. In Sackville Road, for example, shoppers will be invited to Spot The Stranger in the windows of participating businesses.

Bexhill Chamber of Commerce and Tourism is pulling out the stops to draw in as many shoppers as possible for the town, reminding them that two hours of free parking are available in Bexhill.