Wisbech’s best-dressed windows are judged

Wisbech’s Rose Fair is under way and already a new champion has been crowned in the best-dressed shop window competition.

This year the theme was “The World of Fantasy” and a dozen stores in the centre of the town entered.

This morning, Wisbech mayor Garry Tibbs, was joined by Sarah Mace, from the town’s chamber of trade, which organises the competition, and Mark Leslie, editor of the Fenland Citizen, to go a little ‘window shopping’ and declare a winner.

That proved a tough task as all the entries were first class. But in the end the nod was given to Prams & Toys, of Hill Street.

Its large window display, actually the very first one the judges looked at, set such a high standard, it could not be beat, featuring as it did a fantastical unicorn.

The window was designed and dressed by manageress Karen Smith and colleague Alison Hudson. She was overjoyed to win the competition and said: “It took a day-and-a-bit to do it. We worked really hard on it.”

Three shops were named as highly commended runners-up. Sarah’s Flowers, in Market Street, overcame the handicap of three front windows, with intriguing displays in each, Sense charity shop in the Market Place had incorporated the help of local schoolchildren for its display, which included bubbles, while Cat’s Pygama’s Emporium in Union Street had a great Harry Potter/Labyrinth mash-up going on (complete with David Bowie music).

Other shops taking part were Just Ballet, the Hospice charity shop, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Sue Ryder, Age UK, British Heart Foundation and Button Up & Stitch.

Mr Tibbs said: “People had really put a lot of thought into the window displays this year. We were very impressed. Well done everyone!”

The shield for best-dressed window was presented to Ms Hudson and Anita Brown, of Prams & Toys, by the mayor.