Chippenham Mayor Sylvia Gibson found herself stuck for choice when picking the competition winners for the town’s Christmas window competition this year.

Coun Gibson spent a morning admiring festive shop windows before choosing five whose displays were particularly impressive.

The Dorothy House furniture shop, on Station Hill, was the national chain winner for its entertaining display featuring a moving Father Christmas, a snowman, a reindeer and a dog. In second place was Poundland, in the High Street.

Caroline Ambrose, deputy manager of the furniture shop, said: “We didn’t really think about the award, we just put them up to make a display and to make it a bit festive, so it was an extra surprise and we’re very pleased.

“We’ve got the cup and the certificate in the window so anyone can walk by and see. It gives us a bit of a lift to see someone has noticed us.”

Coun Gibson picked Coates Florist, Market Place, as the independent shop winner and the Revelation Christian Bookshop as runner-up.

Staff at the florists filled their window display with a selection of Christmas trees and seasonal produce available to buy at the store.

Manageress Ali Summers said: “We love doing the window display so it’s a bonus to get a prize. We went for a woodland theme this year.

“Christmas is our favourite time of the year, people always come in and see what we’ve got.”

A special award went to Snowdrop Cottage Day Nursery, St Mary Street, which changed from the Dutch Cottage tea rooms at the start of this year.

Town council events manager Emma King said: “There’s an awful lot of businesses that go to a lot of trouble to make sure they get into the festive spirit and we just want to recognise that and say thank you.”