Shoppers in Trowbridge could be forgiven for thinking they were seeing double or treble at the weekend with Father Christmas spotted here, there and everywhere.

Shops decked out in Father Christmas theme as the town launched its annual Santa trail for shoppers and residents to follow.

Trowbridge Chamber launched the trail with 30 individually decorated ceramic Santas displayed in town centre business and shop windows until Monday, January 1.

Wiltshire Times: Santa gets a bottle of whiskey from Katie Haslam and Hayley Coles at Still Sisters in St George’s Works where their decorated Santa gets pride of place in the window. Photo: Trevor Porter 70436-4Santa gets a bottle of whiskey from Katie Haslam and Hayley Coles at Still Sisters in St George’s Works where their decorated Santa gets pride of place in the window. Photo: Trevor Porter 70436-4 (Image: Trevor Porter)

A Chamber spokesperson said: “The Trowbridge trail will not only provide a fun activity for Santa fans of all ages but will also encourage residents and visitors to explore areas of Trowbridge they may not have visited before and to discover some of Trowbridge’s independent businesses, including art spaces, dog groomers, gin distillery, beauty salons, solicitors, florists and a circus school.”

The Santa plaques were made by Simon Evans and Lynda Parry of Arty Kids in Trowbridge Town Park over 15 days.

“We made them from moulds and we then distributed them to all the shops around the town taking part in the trail,” said Simon.

“They were all given the opportunity to come in and paint the Santas themselves, but some preferred to take them away to paint.

“The trail is going fantastically well. We have noticed a big upsurge in footfall.”

Wiltshire Times: Lynda Parry, of Arty Kids, which supplied the Santa plaques for shops to decorate, outside their workshops in Trowbridge Town Park. Photo: Trevor Porter 70436-7Lynda Parry, of Arty Kids, which supplied the Santa plaques for shops to decorate, outside their workshops in Trowbridge Town Park. Photo: Trevor Porter 70436-7 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Paul McKinley, of Castle Place Butchers, brought out his Father Christmas to add to the Santa Trail theme, while Bill Ellis, from the Key Shop in Castle Street, set the Santa theme by bringing out his Cobbler dummy dressed up in a Santa costume to his car park.

Wiltshire Times: Bill Ellis, from the Key Shop in Castle Street, boosted the Santa theme by bringing out his Cobbler dummy all dressed up in Santa costume to his car park. Photo: Trevor Porter 70436-1Bill Ellis, from the Key Shop in Castle Street, boosted the Santa theme by bringing out his Cobbler dummy all dressed up in Santa costume to his car park. Photo: Trevor Porter 70436-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Santa Trail Maps can be downloaded from the Events page of the Trowbridge Chamber website, and a limited number of printed maps will be available from The Toy Shop in Castle Street and the Visitor Information Centre in St Stephen’s Place.

Trowbridge residents and visitors of all ages are invited to track down the decorated Santas and make note of the unique numbers displayed alongside them. 

Once all 30 Santas have been found, the challenge is to add up all their numbers and email the total to info@trowbridgechamber.com for the chance to win prizes galore.

For further information about the Santa trail or to find out about Trowbridge Chamber membership from just £35 a year, see www.trowbridgechamber.com