DESPITE the common panto saying ‘It’s behind you’ judges of this year’s Christmas window display competition have been looking for the best front shop windows.

Newent shop keepers were given the theme of ‘pantomime’ to base their designs.

After lots of deliberation, the judges decided in joint first place were Pippins Greengrocers and Newent Association for the Disabled’s Old Shambles charity shop.

New Start for Cats came in second place and All Seasons Deli-Café came third.

Highly commended were Erols Coffee Shop and the Great Oaks Hospice Shop.

One of the judges, Rev Simon Mason said: “We were impressed by all the many traders’ efforts. Well done.

“The entries are all so different. The charity shop window is a dark, bejewelled mysterious evocation of Aladdin’s cave, while Pippins’ comic take on Jack and the Beanstalk made us laugh out loud.

“The New Start for Cats window has been beautifully crafted with hand-knitted characters from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

“It just goes to show the inventiveness and variety of Newent’s traders’ imaginations.”

Newent is well-known for holding seasonal-themed shop window displays throughout the town. Christmas is one of the most popular.

“Christmas is a time when this town really comes into its own,” says Norma Hurrell of All Seasons Deli-café and Newent and District Business Club.