Bury St Edmunds businesses are lighting up with festive window displays as an annual competition has been launched. 

The Our Bury St Edmunds Christmas Window Competition has begun with residents in with the chance to win a hamper worth £150 by voting for their favourite festive display. 

The winning business will also receive a prestigious Our Bury St Edmunds Shield presented by the BID.

Mike Kirkham, business support manager at Our Bury St Edmunds BID, said: “Last year’s winner was the beauty and make up salon Edit Clinic in Risbygate Street and it was the first time that owner Victoria Last had decorated a shop window for Christmas, so a real achievement.

"Our businesses always do the town centre proud and put so much hard work into their shop windows with all of them looking wonderfully festive.

“If you are coming into the town centre for some shopping or meeting up for a coffee or night out, then do have a wander around looking at all those seeking your votes.

"Together with the town centre lights and decorations it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas."

The competition is free to enter and launched on Monday. 

Votes can be cast on the Our Bury St Edmunds website until Sunday, December 13.

The winning business will be announced shortly afterwards along with the winner of the £150 hamper drawn from all those who have cast a vote.