Gillingham Suite and Bed Centre have won the first prize and cup from judges in the Christmas window competition.

The High Street store’s window (see photo) depicted a Victorian Christmas Scene from Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. The judges said it was a ‘cosy, appropriate Victorian scene’ and ‘well-lit’ and that an ‘amazing amount of effort’ had gone into it.

Highly commended by the judges was the Copy Shop’s ‘Frozen’ scene. ‘Good use of strip silver, imaginative, textures lovely, very artistic,’ noted the judges.

In third spot were Shampers and their ‘Polar Express window. ‘Very effective.’ was the judges’ verdict.

Finally, the judges requested a fourth prize to be awarded to Hair Razors for their ‘The Elves Are Coming’ scene, which they described as ‘very imaginative’.

The windows were judged by the mayor of Shaftesbury Councillor John Lewer, local artist Janet Swiss, and steam engine enthusiast Nick Baker. They were taken around on 28 November by Gillingham mayor Councillor Belinda Ridout and her consort Councillor David Walsh.