FRIDAY nights are set to be a shopping frenzy in Okehampton with extra late night opening hours in the town.

After calls by many shopkeepers for late night shopping, the Chamber of Trade has agreed to support opening until 7pm every Friday in the run up to Christmas.

Chairman of the chamber Ian Bailey said people would be able to admire the 'widely renowned' Okehampton Christmas lights whilst doing some last minute shopping.

'This is the sort of thing we have been pushing for for years so the chamber is delighted to support it and publicise it,' said Mr Bailey. 'One or two shops have in the past taken it upon themselves to open later than normal in December but this time we hope many more will join in and make Okehampton very attractive to customers.'

The Christmas lights have been up for nearly two weeks now and Mr Bailey said the feedback once again was fantastic.

'Many people are saying Okehampton still has the best Christmas lights in the county,' he said.

Peacocks, Donalds Menswear and jewellers W J Cornish will be among the stores opening late on Fridays. So too will many traders in The Arcade, including Millennium Music.

The chamber of trade has printed 1,000 leaflets publicising Friday opening hours to hand out to shoppers at tonight's Edwardian Evening.

Richard Appleby of Millennium Music said last year some of the traders, including himself, opened on Thursday evenings in the run up to Christmas following a hugely successful Edwardian evening, but this year the night had been changed so it did not clash with late night opening in Exeter.

'We are very grateful to the chamber for coming forward with sponsorship so now we are just looking forward to seeing everybody — the doors will be open and the music playing,' added Mr Appleby.

l A charity night in the Okehampton Conservative Club organised by Richard Appleby and his wife Bernie on Friday raised £500. The night, which included a musical performance by the couple who go under the stage name of 'Mayfair' plus a talent show, games and a prize draw, was in aid of the Arcade Traders Fund.