It's Christmas! MP joins civic leaders to launch the festive season and switch on town's light displays

Christmas has arrived in Torquay.
The Torquay Town Centre Partnership work tirelessly throughout the year purely for the good of the town. Its weekly markets bring in a great feel to the town and revenue to finance the Christmas lights.
It works with Torbay Council, police, business owners, shopping centre managers and anyone who has a vested interest in the high street.
Official David Rowe, of Conroy Couch Jewellers in Union Street, hosted a reception for the Friday night switch-on performed by Torbay MP Kevin Foster and said: “We cover any manner of subjects from safety, anti-social behaviour, car parks and more. And once again the Partnership has brought Christmas lights to the town. They really are quite spectacular. Thank you Torbay Council for their support. I was also delighted to host the reception attended by 'Mr Christmas' – Steve Holdup Of Torbay Display, council leader David Thomas, Mr Foster and others from the partnership.”
He added: “This reception proved useful as early in January I hope to be meeting with other business owners, mangers and the key players in the council to get greater understanding of the issues within the town continue. The English Riviera is a great place to work, live and play. But we will highlight the difficulty of running a business with the anti-social behaviour. The safety of all who work in the town and the public at large should be a given.”
Conroy Couch Jewellers continues its success story - next year it will have been trading 160 years with just three family owners.
Mr Rowe said: “I have a loyal and a hardworking team alongside my daughter Michelle and myself. We continue its core tradition of great service and trust.”
Meanwhile, at the other end of the town, Torbay mayor Mark Spacagna was welcoming Father Christmas into his grotto in the Fleet Walk shopping centre, ready to meet his legions of fans.
He said: “I would like to thank Kathy Luxton and Andy Uglow from the Rotary Club of Torbay Sunrise for inviting my Mayoral Cadet Daisy and myself to open the grotto. It raises approximately £10,000 over the Christmas period which the Rotary Club use to help worthwhile causes in the Bay. The grotto has been running for 33 years.”