A YEAR'S free web presence courtesy of Newsquest North-East - publisher of The Northern Echo - was the top prize for the winner of a town's best-dressed Christmas window competition.

The competition organised every year by Redcar Business Association, is open to all businesses in the town.

This year, it has been supported by Redcar town centre management and sponsored by The Clarion, The Northern Echo's sister paper serving Redcar and east Cleveland.

The competition was judged by the Mayor and Mayoress of Redcar and Cleveland, Arthur and Iris Dobson, with Northern Echo and Clarion reporter Lucia Charnock.

The winner was the Teesside Hospice shop in West Terrace, which had used products from the shop to make two displays - a Nativity scene, and one on a snowman theme.

Coun Dobson said: "It's good that the hospice was the winner and the window really is lovely. It's nice because it is based on a traditional Christmas theme, and they have used things from their own shop and put a lot of effort in."

Carol Lambert, manager of the shop, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to bits. We are just so chuffed."

As well as the website, provided by the digital media services department of Newsquest North-East, the shop received a shield from Redcar Business Association and a box of chocolates, courtesy of Thornton's.

Staff from runners-up Boyes were presented with a bottle of wine