ONE lucky family out shopping in Newton Abbot has scooped a £100 Austins voucher after taking part in a trail, promoted by Newton Abbot Town Council and combining the high street with virtual reality.

The free Santa Needs You challenge took place in the run up to Christmas and challenged participants to track down ten digital animal stamps located at shops across town.

Posters containing a QR code - a dot matrix which can be read by smart phone cameras - had to be scanned and the stamps collected.

Once all ten were discovered those taking part could vote for their favourite, receive a free e-book and be entered into the prize draw.

The Taylor family, consisting of mum Laura and children James and Lucy, were the lucky winners and awarded the department store voucher, its presentation delayed by the pandemic.

Town council events co-ordinator Natalie Hicks said: ‘The Santa Needs You challenge was a great success with hundreds of people taking part.

‘There were some rave reviews from families who enjoyed finding and scanning the codes, as well as taking silly selfies at each shopfront.

‘We’ve had people saying they hope it becomes a regular event and we’ll be taking to the company that we worked with, High Street Safaris, on what we might do next.’

Town development manager Sally Henley, employed by the town council, said: ‘Newton Abbot is doing well when it comes to the vitality of its town centre with a shop vacancy rate far lower than the national average.

‘As a town council we’re determined to make what investments we can to ensure people want to continue visiting, something that’s particularly important as we recover from the pandemic. For 2022 we’ve a great line up of events planned, details of which are on our website at www.newtonabbot-tc.gov.uk.

‘We’ve also the brilliant Newton’s Place with the town’s free museum open Tuesday – Saturday, and we’re working hard on a new visitor guide that we hope to release later this year.

‘Rest assured Newton Abbot, we’ve behind you all the way.’