CALLING all Tavistock traders, schools, groups and organisations — there is still time to add to the festive cheer at St Eustachius’ Church’s annual Christmas Tree Festival.

The festival spectacular is from Friday, November 25 — the town’s Dickensian Evening — to December 4 and organisers are hoping for a bumper crop of entries to exceed last year’s total of 66.

The event attracts visitors from far and wide and last year more than 10,000 people walked the tree-lined aisles, twinkling with lights on a myriad of themes. More than £12,500 was raised towards church funds.

Among exhibitors was Tavistock Launderette, which has entered for the past five years.

Tracey Hounsell, who has run the business with husband Johnny for 22 years, said: ‘It’s a nice Christmassy event to do. The staff enjoy it — we all get together to decorate the tree.’

Last year, the staff hung their tree with dolly pegs of angels.

Johnny said: ‘It’s a community event and it’s good to get together and do something local. We get a lot of people coming in here afterwards talking about it.’

Trees are invited in three sizes, from 4ft to 7ft — small, medium and large — with donations to at least cover the cost of the tree. You will need to say whether you have lights, either white or coloured, and whether you need a socket.

Entries with contact name, phone number, address and email need to be in by October 24, complete with programme blurb (150 maximum).

Please mark your entry ‘Christmas Tree Festival’ and send either to Pat Morrison, 12 Meadow Brook, Tavistock, PL19 8BH, email [email protected], call 01822 613614 or send to the Parish Office, 5 Plymouth Road, Tavistock, PL19 8AU.