Shops booming

Traders are upbeat as they countdown the final hours to close of business on Christmas Eve. Last year's gloom over difficult parking in the town has lifted and traders believe shoppers are coming back.

"There's still a shortage of parking in the town. It hasn't got any better," said co-owner of Cottage Cakes, Heather Noble.

But she believes people are accepting the lack of town centre parking and looking around to find alternatives.

Last year she reported a 30 per cent drop in business which she blamed on the town's poor parking. But things have turned around.

"We have been very busy. It's been excellent."

Many local traders depend on a "good Christmas" for a substantial part of their annual profits.

Shoppers have flooded into the town centre every day this week.

Business has been hectic at Ravenside, Little Common and Sidley, too.

Ian Standley at Drays, the Western Road electrical retailers, believes trade is following last year's pattern. He said: "People seem to have been shopping earlier - September and October - or leaving it to the last minute when they could be disappointed as some lines have already sold out.

"Turnover is up on last year and the reports we are getting is that Bexhill is doing better than Hastings though not as well as Eastbourne."

This year's must-have toy, Barbie Pegasus, has been flying off the shelves, along with a revival in Lego which have both been in short supply.

At Western Road Toyland, traditional wooden toys have been proving particularly popular.

Digital cameras are still selling fast, with more people moving over to the new technology.