TRADE in Okehampton was booming over the Christmas period — despite the credit crunch.

Businesses in the town centre enjoyed a steady flow of customers shopping over the festive season, hitting above and beyond their targets.

Department manager at Waitrose, Simon Lambert, said: 'We had a really successful Christmas.

'The original estimate for our target was set over twelve months ago, before the credit crunch hit, and the run-up to Christmas was great, we have beaten our estimate.'

Mr Lambert said Waitrose had received praise about how well the store staff had handled the busiest trading time of year.

'We had a lot of positive feedback from our customers on how well we managed the queues and the car park.

'The overall outcome over the Christmas period was fantastic and we are very pleased.'

The town enjoyed a buzzing atmosphere during the run-up to Christmas, with residents and visitors from further afield choosing Okehampton for their last minute shopping.

Donald Rooke of Donald's Menswear said the atmosphere in the town was very good during the pre-Christmas period.

Mr Rooke said: 'We had very good trade in the ten-day lead-up to Christmas, there was a great feeling in the town and the vast majority of Okehampton was busy throughout.'

Chamber of trade chairman and owner of Inkprint, Ian Bailey, said the days before Christmas were busy.

'I was very pleased with the lead up to Christmas.

'It's afterwards when things start to slow down, but given the recent credit crunch, trade was really good for us.'

Women's clothes store Angels were among those who to enjoyed a rise in trade over the days before Christmas, after a slow start the weeks beforehand.

Owner Amanda Bright said: 'We appreciate our customers' loyalty in the run-up to Christmas and are pleased at the way people are responding to our sale.'

Manager of The Red Lion Bazaar, Keith Clark, said: 'Christmas is always a manic time of year, especially the last few days beforehand.

'We had a steady flow of customers and on the whole we are pleased with the trade this year.'

Sue Kendall, owner of sewing services Sooz, said: 'We weren't as busy as last year but that was because there was only me then — this year we were much more organised and I had staff.

'I was expecting to have more people wanting to get dresses altered for Christmas do's, but the overall sales were good and a lot of people came in for soft furnishings.'