LATE night Christmas shopping in Dorchester received a boost as big stores agreed to join in.

Department store Goulds, Argos and Marks & Spencer have agreed to late hours and posters urging businesses to join in are going up around the town.

Thorntons chocolate shop and late night shopping promoter Monique Chester said: "In recent years people have tried to open late and it has not succeeded because they have not all done it together and the streets look really dark.

"We want Dorchester to be a bright, cheerful, warm and welcoming place," she said.

Late-night opening will take place every Wednesday during December with shops running until 8pm. Marks & Spencer has moved its normal late-night opening on Thursday to coincide with the rest of the town.

Miss Chester said she was happy to see Goulds joining in as the store was seen as a leader by many other business owners.

This year shoppers will be treated to a piano recital of carols in South Street and hundreds of leaflets have been printed to advertise the events.

Posters are going up in stores around the town to pledge support for late night shopping in the town.

She said she was pleased to see larger stores setting an example and added: "Because they are doing it, they are encouraging everybody else.

"They are going to keep on opening late and stick with it until people get used to it. We know that people would like to do their shopping here."

Father Christmas is also lending his support and will be in residence at a specially prepared grotto in Thorntons and raising money for charity on the Wednesday night following an appearance at Dorchester's Christmas Cracker.

Miss Chester said: "There is massive support for it this year - what we need to do now is let customers know that the whole town is open for business."

Goulds' managing director Roger Gould praised the work of Miss Chester.

He said: "She got on her walking shoes and got going and with her determination and enthusiasm persuaded shops to stay open - it's brilliant."