PICTURES: Festive spirit in the air at Thurso Christmas Fun Day!

Thurso was a hive of activity on Saturday as the town's annual Christmas Fun Day drew people in for some festive cheer.

Many shops filled to the gunwales with shoppers tempted by special bargains and tasty treats such as mulled wine and mince pies.

Caithness FM played festive music in the town centre and raised over £270 as well as a car full of toys for its annual Toy Appeal.

Staff in many of the stores were dressed up on the day, while the Highland Hospice shop had its own Santa's sleigh and workers in Semichem dressed in Wizard of Oz costumes.

Susan Imlach, manager of the Highland Hospice shop, said: "We all had a fantastic busy day, so many folk came to support a fantastic charity.

"Santa and Mrs Clause kindly donated their time, as did all our volunteers to make the event a success. A special thanks to eight-year-old Danny Swanson who helped hand out presents, pack customers' bags and feed Caithness FM who were outside playing Christmas tunes."

The day is organised as a community effort, and included Christmas songs from the Tutti Choir, from Kara Gray Vocal Teaching, in the precinct.

A spokeswoman for Thurso Festive Lights, one of the groups involved in organising the day, said: "There was a great buzz about the town, and it was lovely to see it so busy.

"The choir helped spread the festive cheer and gathered a crowd in the precinct. There was lots of Christmas spirit in the air!"

There were "mystery shoppers" about the town who judged the best dressed staff and best window display on the day.

Best dressed staff – 1 Jamiesons Bakery, 2 Semichem. 3 Highland Hospice. Best window display – 1 Buds n Blooms, 2 Olive, 3 Northern Vault.

Pictures: DGS

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