TAVISTOCK'S Christmas Festivities launched on Friday with the Dickensian Evening and continue this Friday with the start of three Friday late night shopping experiences.

Shops will be open until 8pm, and there will also be face painting, free rides from 6pm, live music, a magician, harpist, stilt walker and a living statue and Father Christmas in his sleigh.

Parking is free in Brook Street car park from 3pm every Friday on the run-up to Christmas and there is a free park and ride at Morrisons from 5pm.

There will also be two competitions. Starting tomorrow (Friday) there is a chance to win a huge amount of Christmas goodies all from Tavistock. All participants have to do is collect an entry form from the Times office, Kaleidoscope Toys, Allan Dolan or I Love Candy. It will list all the items and where they are from, all participants have to do is find out what the total cost is. All winning entries go into a draw and a winner will be announced on December 21 at 7pm at Bedford Square.

The second competition is 'Spot the Odd Thing in the Window'. There is a list of 15 shops throughout town and if people can identify all 15 they will go into a draw to win a Christmas hamper. The winner will also be announced on December 21.

Throughout the festive season, late night shoppers will also be able to see the Trees of Light shining in Bedford Square. The lights were switched on during Dickensian Evening by Tavistock Lions president , Alan Wroath (see picture page 9). It is hoped that the donations in memory of departed loved ones will exceed last year's total of just under £6,000, increased to £6,900 following the Gift Aid rebate.

Alan expressed thanks to Simon Luke of Morris Bros (Tavistock) Ltd for his continued financial support which ensured that all of the money donated goes to the nominated chairties, the town council staff for erecting the trees, the Times for publishing the sponsorship forms, Jo and Graham Moule for donating this year's trees and lion Steve Lethbridge and family for organising the project.