A COUPLE who took a chance on opening a shop devoted to the festive season are toasting their first year of trading.

Husband and wife Chris and Carmen Hunt opened their year-round Yuletide store in Bowness-on-Windermere on December 8 last year.

As their first anniversary approaches, the couple are planning a stocking-full of special events to thank their customers and neighbours for the warm welcome given to their shop, Christmas on the Lakes, at Quarry Rigg.

"We have loved our first year in Bowness," said Mrs Hunt. "We have experienced an abundance of support both locally and from visitors alike and look forward to many more."

The couple, who have been married for 19 years, say they have "always loved Christmas". They moved to the Lake District from Cheddar Gorge in Somerset in September 2018, where they had owned Old Rowlands Christmas & Gift Shop for 16 years.

"We wanted to create a Dickensian-themed traditional Christmas shop," said Mrs Hunt, "where customers would experience areas within the shop called Scrooge & Marley’s, Cratchit’s Curios, Tiny Tim’s and Mr Fezziwig's.

"There are also old carts, barrels, post boxes and a roaring log fire to complete the cosy Christmas feel."

Mrs Hunt is originally from South Africa, but her family celebrated the traditional English customs as her granny was from England.

Mrs Hunt said she has fully "embraced Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere", and her husband has also shared his love of the "quintessential" Christmas with her over the years.

Celebrations at the shop will start on Saturday, November 30, with a visit by the reindeer of family-run firewood company Cosy Logs, based at Ings, from 2pm and 4pm.

A Salvation Army Band will play favourite Christmas carols at 2pm on Sunday, December 8.

Then, on Saturday, December 14, Fancy Fox Face Painting will be treating customers from 12pm to 4pm, with carols performed by Dappaday Theatre School at 1.30pm.

Christmas on the Lakes stocks brands including Gisela Graham, Disney, Jim Shore, Ingrid Lindholm-Banks, Heaven Sends, Enchante and Wrendale, as well as its exclusive hand-painted Lake District bauble. Items such as swags, garlands, wreaths and personalised tree decorations can also be made to order.

For more, see the shop's pages on Facebook and Instagram, or visit www.christmasonthelakes.com