THE new series of All Creatures Great and Small is the inspiration of Skipton BID’s Covid-safe Christmas campaign.

Skipton normally expects between 10,000 and 30,000 daily visitors over the festive period attending the lights switch on and the Christmas markets.

This year, with events cancelled to avoid attracting large crowds in a combined community effort to combat coronavirus, the focus is instead on providing a safe and secure environment while still promoting the festive spirit.

With the aim of keeping Skipton attractive to visitors in smaller numbers and also to create a welcoming environment for residents to enjoy their town, the BID has launched its“All Things Bright and Beautiful” campaign.

Geraldine Thompson, manager and director of Skipton BID said:“Since the relaxing of restrictions out of the first lockdown, everyone in the town’s authorities has worked collaboratively to create a safe and secure environment for our businesses, visitors and residents. As such Skipton managed to stay in Tier 1 while many areas around us entered Tiers 2 and 3.

“In designing our Christmas campaign, it was important for us to support our retail businesses in what is historically one of the busiest times of the year, while at the same time maintaining a safe environment for everyone as we adapt our ways to live with Covid-19 at this point in time.”

Skipton BID has arranged for the festive street lighting around the town, vacant shop windows have been painted by the artist Jenny Tribillon, a late night Thursday shopping in December will see more than 30 shops stay open until 8pm and a 'Robin Scavenger Hunt' around the shop and restaurant windows will run throughout December with weekly prizes.

There will be two mulled wine pop-up stands at High Corn Mill and near Jerry Croft, and there will also be recognition for the best-dressed shop window, which will be awarded at next year’s Skipton Business Awards.

Liz Smailes, marketing and communications officer for the BID said: "We’re delighted at the level of engagement and enthusiasm the businesses have shown, which brings this campaign to life during a very challenging time, when we really don’t know the extent of restrictions we will be working with in December. Hopefully the restaurants, cafes and bars will be allowed to open so that our late night shoppers can enjoy the town’s hospitality as well.

“The campaign title was inspired by the popularity of the recent television series remake All Creatures Great and Small and the additional tourism it brought to our town."

For more details about the hunt, visit: www.skiptonbid.com.