WELLINGTON is set come alive in the run-up to Christmas with a programme of entertainment – including a stilt-walker and musicians – to cheer shoppers and help local businesses.

The initiative comes after the town council received the first instalment of its £100,000 emergency ‘Town Centre Recovery Grant’ from Somerset West and Taunton Council to revitalise the high street.

It is hoped the entertainment will benefit traders and retailers who have suffered financially from two national lockdowns during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Wellington Mayor Cllr Janet Lloyd said: “Town centre committee members have been working on a plan for two months. The aim of the funding is to get people back onto the high street by making it a more enjoyable experience.

“The fund has enabled us to replace the Christmas lighting infrastructure. This will allow the town to use other lighting installations throughout the year. I really hope everyone will enjoy the new Christmas lights as they brighten up our town for the Christmas season.

“We have also arranged a programme of walking street entertainers throughout December, beginning on Saturday, December 5. We realised from the outset that we needed to stay within virus safety guidelines in terms of social distancing and we’ve had professional help to build that into the programme.

“For three Saturdays in December and two weekdays before Christmas Day, the town centre will burst into life with Wellington Christmas Walkabout’s street entertainers – performers ranging from stilt-walkers to local musicians, and all at a Covid-safe distance.

“Everyone knows that our fantastic local retailers and traders have had a very difficult time through two lockdowns and this is a bit of Christmas magic to tempt families away from Amazon and back into the town centre for their shopping.”