Many towns in the west country are getting in the Christmas spirit. Tavistock is heading back in time for its annual Dickensian evening tonight. Shopkeepers dress up in period costume and mulled wine and mistletoe and roast chestnuts flow freely.
Around 12 thousand people are expected to turn up for the festivities, which coincide with the switching on of the Christmas lights.
Tavistock town centre is to receive a £10,000 Government grant. The town will benefit from the investment after narrowly missing out in the competition to become a "Mary Portas Pilot", where the retail guru would have helped rejuvenate the main shopping area.
The money will be used for some of the projects proposed in the original Portas Pilot bid.
The MP for Torridge and West Devon is visiting Tavistock to highlight the dangers of flash flooding.
Geoffrey Cox will encourage people to be prepared after other parts of Devon were flooded recently. The Environment Agency has identified the town as one of the at-risk areas.
There was some welcome news for the south west economy today. Livestock markets are reporting an upturn in trade, in the face of tough conditions for other parts of farming.That positive mood is also reflected at the annual Goose Fair which has been taking place today in Tavistock.
Thousands of people have descended on Tavistock for the town's annual goose fair.
It's a tradition that dates back to the 12th century, and is still going strong, despite a decline in animal markets across the country.
Our reporter Richard Lawrence is there:
At Tavistock Goose Fair you can also buy an alpaca.
Tavistock is one of the last towns to still hold the event which dates back to the 12th century.
Crowds are arriving the Tavistock goose fair. It is one of the last towns to still hold the event which dates back to the 12th century.
All the local schools are closed for the day to allow families to attend.
It brings in hundreds of visitors, traders and entertainers from across the country.
And as the same suggests, there are geese available to buy at auction.
The annual Goose Fair will take place in Tavistock later. It is one of the last towns to still hold the event which dates back to the 12th century. It brings in hundreds of visitors, traders and entertainers from across the country.
The final link in an Anglo-French cycle route opens on Wednesday. Drake's Trail stretches from Ilfracombe to the south of Brittany.
An old railway tunnel near Tavistock has now been made safe. New sections of Drake’s Trail include iconic features such as Gem Bridge, replacing an older viaduct, and Grenofen Tunnel. The 260 mile route is now complete.
The A386 Abbey Place in Tavistock is blocked both ways due to accident. It involves a lorry and fallen power cables between Abbey Place and the A390 at Armada Roundabout. The police have set up diversions.
