LAST Thursday night's Edwardian Evening in Okehampton is being hailed as the best in recent years with great weather, hordes of shoppers and entertainment at every turn.
The streets were buzzing with Christmas shoppers, music, dancing and laughter, all backed by the spectacular Christmas lights in the town centre and the two arcades.
Entertainment included a wizard on stilts, clown, magician, barrel organ, Cogs and Wheels Morris Dancers, Barber Shop Quartet, a Scottish piper, kiddies' playground rides and Okehampton Town Band.
President of Okehampton Chamber of Trade William Cornish said the evening was of great benefit to the community.
'I think people had a wonderful, enjoyable time,' he said. 'Trade was excellent and there have been lots of follow-up sales but, above all, it was a great night for the community which was very much needed.'
Chamber member Donald Rooke said: 'What a fantastic night — the town looked great and there was not a roadwork in sight.
'Everybody was having fun and it was great to see.
'The jig we had at midday to ward off the rain obviously worked.'