’TWAS several nights before Christmas and all through the town… well, quite a lot was stirring.

The big man in red was conspicuous by his absence last year, for obvious reasons.

But when news got around that last night (Wednesday) he’d be checking out Newton Abbot’s Christmas illuminations youngsters and the young-and-heart decided to brave the chill weather and catch a glimpse, and maybe even get a fist bump or high five, from Father Christmas.

And they were not disappointed.

What was planned as a low key event ended up seeing several hundred hopeful, smiling faces get touched by a little yuletide magic and remember just what Christmas was like again.

More pictures in next week’s Mid-Devon Advertiser.