CLITHEROE traders could scrap late night opening in the run up to next Christmas in favour of a special 'themed Saturday'.

Clitheroe Chamber of Trade, which said takings last December were down on recent years, is to ask every business in town what it thinks of the idea.

Shopkeepers blamed wet and windy weather for keeping customers away on its one-off late night, held on Thursday, December 16.

Traders say the late night, traditionally held a week after neighbouring Whalley's successful Pickwick Night, is held too close to Christmas for many shoppers.

Instead, the chamber is now proposing scrapping the night altogether and holding a themed Saturday in December instead. This could include asking all town centre stores to sell everything at a discount for just one day. Other ideas could see shopkeepers dress up in Victorian clothes for the day, on a similar style to Pickwick Night.

Chamber secretary Julie Watson explained: "Late night shopping was hardly a rip-roaring success last year so we are considering something different in time for this Christmas.

"I know it's a long way off, but it'll be December before we know it and if we do nothing you could say it was an opportunity missed.

"So we've posted around 150 - 200 leaflets to every business in Clitheroe asking them for feedback.

"Last year I think the bad weather kept a lot of people away while many shoppers have told us they like to shop for Christmas a bit earlier.

"Having a full themed Saturday instead might just reinvigorate the town before Christmas, especially if we could maybe persuade traders to offer discounts for one day.

"We could also get shopkeepers to dress up in old-fashioned outfits for the day. It's been done before in Clitheroe so it could be done again."

Meanwhile, the Chamber is appealing for new members to join.

A chamber meeting, open to all, will be held upstairs at the Swan and Royal pub tonight, for any traders to meet chamber members and representatives from Ribble Valley Council and the police.