ALTON’S 2016 Christmas shop window competition drew some stunning results, but also disappointment over the number of shops, and in particular larger chain stores, that failed to join in.

Run by Alton Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Alton Town Council, who team up each year to judge and award certificates for the best exhibits, the competition is seen as a way of encouraging retailers to engage in making the most of their shop window displays, which are seen to play an important part in encouraging footfall to Alton.

But not all the retailers engaged in the festive initiative.

Chamber of Commerce president Stephen Lewis said: “2016 was a year of contrasts, with a good number of certificates being awarded for window displays and interiors, yet there were also a number of retailers making little or no effort to decorate their windows.

“Most prominent were Clarks Shoes, Iceland, and Marks & Spencer, but there were a number of other bah-humbugs, including independent retailers, who were ignoring Christmas. This is disappointing because, as a town, we need to be doing all we can to encourage people to shop in Alton.”

There were nine categories in all this year, and Alton mayor Matthew Bayliss joined Mr Lewis in giving out 23 certificates to those who had made the effort to take part.

The category winners were:

* Most Inventive – The Knitting Habit;

* Best Exterior – Hair;

* Best Small Window – Airsafe;

* Best Festive Interior – The Swan Hotel;

* Best Animated Window – Party Cakes;

* Best Designed Window – Melanie Nelson Interiors;

* Best Newcomer – Cholily;

* Best Town Centre Residential Property – 3 Turk Street;

* Best Charity Chop – Oxfam.

Mr Lewis said: “The window of Melanie Nelson Interiors, located in Westbrook Walk, was fantastic as usual and is the gold standard by which all Christmas windows should be judged.

“Marion Morse, of The Knitting Habit, had done us proud with a knitted reindeer for her window, Unique Chique’s multi-window displays were excellent and, at the St Michael’s Hospice Shop, Father Christmas was able to take time out to have his photograph taken with the shop manager.

“Mark Mentzel, a resident of Turk Street, offered yet another excellent display, including his unusual sub-basement grill visible in the pavement. Plus there were so many good Christmas interiors that we felt deserved reward, despite not being window displays. The Swan Hotel’s interior lights and decorations were especially good, but we also awarded certificates to Waterstone’s, Get Fresh & Fruity, and Headcase Barbers.

“Market Street and Lenten Street had the greatest concentration of winners, and it was pleasing to see that the new owners of ChoLily café (formerly Cara’s tearoom) had commissioned a snow scene for their windows.”

In congratulating all those who had received certificates and who had “made an effort to bring Christmas to Alton”, Mr Lewis expressed thanks also to Alton Town Council who, he felt, had “made the Market Square look very good this year”.

He also explained that Alton Chamber of Commerce and Industry is working on some other ideas to enhance future Alton Christmases, all aimed at encouraging people to do their Christmas shopping in the town.