A Southport family are tasting success after winning the Southport BID’s Gingerbread Family Trail competition.

Martin and Beverley Sarbutts, and their children Harrison (aged eight) and Evie (nearly 10) have won a specially engraved iPad which will be handed over later this year. 

The family won after successfully completing the BID’s Gingerbread Trail throughout Southport town centre.

They discovered all 10 figures using a specially created map before emailing across their answers.

Families could also hand deliver their answers into a festive post box inside Wayfarers Arcade on Lord Street. 

The Gingerbread Trail began on 27th November and ran until 3rd January, and was enjoyed by hundreds of local families and visitors. 

It was among a wide and varied package of measures introduced by Southport BID over the Christmas shopping season which were designed to attract people into the town’s shops, restaurants, bars, and other businesses. 

People could enjoy the Gingerbread Trail, Southport’s first ever Digital Winter Wonderland, an illuminated Christmas tree and festive decorations throughout the town centre, a Santa’s Grotto, a Frozen Grotto, and much more besides. 

Martin Sarbutts said: “We picked the children up from school one day and went into town to try the Southport Gingerbread Trail. 

“We started out by enjoying the new Digital Winter Wonderland experience at Marble Place, which was really good. 

“While we were in there they gave us a discount voucher for Remedy on Lord Street, so we all went for some drinks in there too. We have never been in there before, but it was really nice. 

“The whole package of festive entertainment which Southport BID put together this year was brilliant. 

“It was excellent, our kids loved it. The Gingerbread Trail and the Digital Winter Wonderland were really fun. 

“We all tried Southport BID’s Nutcracker Trail last year and loved the Gingerbread Trail this year. Putting all the gingerbread figures for people to find inside the windows of shops and restaurants was a really good idea. 

“We were really impressed with what Southport BID provided for Southport this Christmas.” 

Southport BID was keen to offer shoppers an array of entertainment in Southport this year, encouraging people to support local businesses rather than shopping online or out of town. 

Southport BID is continuing to make Southport town centre sparkle this winter through its ‘boulevard of light’, which was completed last year thanks to substantial investment, and sees  300,000 lights strung along both sides of the Lord Street shopping and dining boulevard.

Southport BID CEO Rachel Fitzgerald said: “We were excited to unveil a comprehensive package of festive themed attractions throughout the BID area to attract shoppers, diners and other visitors to Southport throughout the crucial few weeks in the run-up to Christmas.

“This schedule of activities encouraged visitors and local residents to engage with Southport on multiple occasions across the festive period.”