TAVISTOCK hosted its first ‘Paint the Town’ day on Saturday (March 16) with local shops and businesses revealing their Spring window displays featuring garlands created by local schoolchildren and other community groups.

Organised by the Tavistock Improvement District (BID), the event brought spring colour, joy and a sense of optimism to traders and shoppers alike.

On the day, representatives of local schools and community groups came out to meet the town mayor, Cllr Paul Ward, and deliver flowers to over 40 participating businesses.

The award for best school garland went to Gulworthy Primary School and best community garland to Tavistock Community Gardeners. There were also awards for the best school garland within a window display, Fi’s Children’s Clothing Boutique with St Rumons C of E Primary School and best community garland within a window display, Oxfam and Peter Tavy Messy Church.

On the day an award for outstanding artistic creation went to Tavistock College Art Department for its garland adorning the window of Inside Out and visitors enjoyed building a bird box with rangers from Dartmoor National Park and created garlands with Tavistock Community Gardeners.

BID manager Janna Sanders said: ‘The idea behind the event was to bring spring colour in the town centre but also to get the community involved in helping the high street and showing support to traders during months that can be economically challenging.

‘We had an amazing response from businesses wanting a garland and schools wanting to create one. The community feel about this event was really special.’