TONY and Kath Whitrow have been named as the first winners of North Petherton Town Council’s Christmas Decorations Competition and are pictured receiving the cup from the town mayor Councillor Alan Bradford, while fellow judges Cllrs Julian Taylor and Richard Ives look on.

The council, which for many years had awarded a cup, donated by former Mayor Molly Sellick, to the best dressed shop in the town, agreed this year to recognise the efforts that people go to and present a new cup for the best display of Christmas lights in its area.

Cllr Bradford, who provided the cup, was very impressed with the standard and variety of decorations. “It was a very difficult decision,” he said. 
“There were very impressive efforts across our whole area, and although Tony and Kath’s display at Crosswell Close, North Petherton was the unanimous choice of the judges, there were many others that we felt also deserved to be commended.”

Houses that drew particular praise from the judges included: 9 Romney Road, 4 Sika Walk and several other houses on Charolais Drive, Angus Way and  Channing Drive in Stockmoor; houses in Lotus Drive, on the corner of Jasmine Close, in Lillianna Way and Barberry Drive in Wilstock; nearly all of the properties in Chapel Road, Fordgate; the Old Forge, Huntworth; Riverbank and Church Road, Moorland; many houses in Maunsel  Road and Newton Road, North Newton; and properties in Watery Lane, St Mary’s Crescent, Maple Close and School Fields in North Petherton.