The centre of Newton Abbot was packed on Wednesday night for a festive market with a difference.

For the first time the top half of Queen Street was closed to traffic as dozens of stallholders from across the region set up shop.

Courtenay Street, too, was lined with traders and entertainers and the night sky was brilliantly lit by the roaring bursts of flame from a hot air balloon burner.

The party atmosphere went down a storm with shoppers and visitors.

Bill and Barbara Dimes, who moved to the town a few years ago from a village near Dartmouth, were full of praise.