OKEHAMPTON will be sharing its love of Christmas at Edwardian Evening tonight (Thursday).

The event will see shops in the town stay open as late as 9pm, welcoming shoppers with mince pies and a mulled glass of wine.

The evening gets underway at 6pm with the ringing of Okehampton’s historic curfew bell to announce the switching on of the Christmas lights, an honour being performed by BBC Radio Devon presenter Matt Woodley, who grew up in Okehampton.

The Christmas lights are the town’s pride and joy, being put up each year on successive Sundays in November by volunteers Mike Harding, Louis Enderson and Steve Bolt.

Three cherrypickers allow them to get up high enough to string the lights across the street, with this representing the biggest cost of the installation.

The Christmas lights cost £5,000 to install every year, with organisers Everything Okehampton fundraising throughout the year to pay for them.

The lights really add to the atmosphere on Edwardian Evening when, as well as shopping, there is a chance to meet the reindeer in the Red Lion Yard and Father Christmas at the Museum of Dartmoor Life.

And town mayor Julie Yelland will be inviting everyone to join her for the mayor’s carol service, with accompaniment from the Okehampton Excelsior Silver Band, beside St James Chapel at 7pm.

Organiser Christine Marsh from Everything Okehampton said: ‘Everyone will have lots to do, with street food, the reindeer and the Steel Band in Red Lion Yard; and Father Christmas will be visiting the museum.

‘Jack Frost will be entertaining everyone throughout the town and a warm welcome awaits those visiting our local businesses.’

A programme of the evening’s events will be available to view outside Donald’s Menswear on Fore Street.