This year's yuletide weekend will increase trading opportunities, organisers say.

Largs Initiative organisers are planning to go ahead with a yuletide weekend instead of the traditional Thursday evening event which they hope other businesses may organise.

The Initiative group who have run the yuletide evening in previous years have made the move to fully concentrate on a weekend of activities from Friday 4th-Sunday 6th December.

Last month, they stated that they were ditching the traditional late night shopping event on a Thursday.

A spokeswoman for the group said: "The Largs Initiative is extending the towns Yuletide event and changing the times too.

"The move is hoped to encourage more visitors to Largs and increase trading opportunities for local businesses, as well as making the whole event even more fun for the family.

"The extended seasonal festivities, staged over three days, will include a Santa Parade, Father Christmas in his Grotto, entertainment, food and charity stalls.

"There may well be a late night shopping too. Marlyn Green, Chair of the Largs Initiative said, "There is interest from businesses to open for late night shopping on Thursday 10th December." She added, "More details will be confirmed over the next few weeks." However, the 'News' asked the Largs Initiative who would be organising the late night shopping event on Thursday 10 December.

They stated that the Initiative would not be involved in this event but have left the door open for other businesses or groups in the town to organise it themselves. The Initiative say they would be happy to add it as part of their overall yuletide promotions if this were to happen.