MALVERN's traders showed off their seasonal creative skills in the entries for the annual Christmas window competition, organised by Malvern Town Council.

No fewer than 30 businesses rose to the challenge, displaying their ingenuity in creations cleverly capturing the seasonal spirit.

The competition had no theme this year, as feedback from earlier years indicated that some businesses felt a single theme was too restrictive.

Instead, the entries were judges according to their overall impression and visual impact, creativity and relevance to business and use of products.

The judges were town councillors Julian Roskams and Cynthia Palmer, who set out on a particularly glorious morning to tour the town and inspect all the entries.

Cllr Roskams, the mayor of Malvern, said “Cllr Palmer and I were privileged to judge this year’s window competition. Almost without exception the entrants had shown a good deal of imagination and inventiveness in producing their displays and in interpreting what Christmas means for their shops and for their customers. Their efforts have certainly done a good deal to put us all in the Christmas spirit.”

Cllr Palmer said: "I was delighted with all the Christmas window displays and appreciate the hard work that the retailers put into them at this busy time of year. Well done to everyone for making Malvern look so seasonal."

The town was divided into three areas for the competition, and the winners and highly commended entries were due to be presented with their prizes yesterday (Thursday) in the Council Offices on Belle Vue Terrace. The first prize winners took home Christmas hampers, with certificates for the others.

RESULTS

Great Malvern: 1 Bridal Gallery, 2 The Knitting Parlour, 3 Iapetus. Highly commended: Forget-me-Not, Shaw Trust, Great Malvern Post Office.

Malvern Link and Link Top: 1 Floral Events, 2 St Richard’s Hospice. 3 Cox of Malvern.

Barnards Green: 1 Just So, 2 Shrinking Violet. Highly commended: Action for Children.