A North East shop owner's spectacular Christmas window display has attracted visitors from all around, helping to get the region 'into the festive mood'. 

Laura Knight, who runs Tinkers Treasures alongside her mum Carol, has been putting together extravagant window displays since her boutique interiors shop opened in 2019.

The Christmas window has become a staple of both their shop's calendar and the Bishop Auckland festive high street. 

The Northern Echo: The Christmas display at Tinkers Treasures in Bishop Auckland.

Previously described as "better than Fenwick's", the window display at Tinkers Treasures attracted around 70 people to their opening event earlier in the month, with mince pies, mulled wine, and prosecco on offer to get guests into the Christmas spirit. 

Shop owner Laura said: "We've had a really good response to the shop window this year - people seem to really love it!

"We're calling it Durham City Tumbling - it's a tinker's truck, with all kinds of gifts tumbling out the back. We had over 70 people show up to the unveiling this year."

The Northern Echo: The Christmas display at Tinkers Treasures in Bishop Auckland.

Laura and Carol put their "blood sweat and tears" into their window, trying to make it bigger and better with every subsequent installation.

Tinkers Treasures' festive window is an effective advert for the business too - nearing five years old, Tinkers Treasures has weathered the pandemic and the following economic crisis, meaning that business has been challenging. 

Laura said: "It has been a tough year for business all around, but our window has really boosted business for us already this year. 

"There have been far fewer visitors into the town centre this year, with the bus station and Wilkos shutting  - but our window has really increased numbers for us. 

"We stayed open later with Lumiere and the Bishop Auckland Christmas village, and we had plenty of people stop in as a result."

The Northern Echo: The Christmas display at Tinkers Treasures in Bishop Auckland.

She added: "We're described as our very own Fenwick's of Bishop Auckland by our customers - so no pressure!"

After the shop's Facebook page was hacked, Laura was worried that this year's launch would be a non-event. 

She said: "Previously, we've used Facebook to get the word out about the revealing of the Christmas window. 

"But this year we didn't have access to our Facebook page, after it was hacked twice by people in America and I was removed as an admin, so I couldn't put anything up. 

"But the other businesses in the town really rallied around us, and everyone else got the word out for us - everyone else was putting it up for us, so that people were aware!"

Laura also thanked her customers for their support since the window was unveiled mid-month. 

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She said: "I want to thank all of our amazing customers for their support this weekend, as what a weekend it was."

For plenty in the town, the window reveal has been a high of their festive calendar  - with customers congratulating Laura and Carol on the effort poured into their display. One said: It's a beautiful window, like every year. You've been getting me in the festive mood!"

Another said: "I drove past today and it is simply beautiful!"