Bournemouth goes crackers this Christmas

Hut stuff! Sultry ex-Corrie star Amanda Barrie today unveiled the very latest in advent calendars - made up of Bournemouth beach huts.

The former Loose Women presenter took a break from her Fairy Godmother role in Cinderella in the Dorset resort's pantomime to unlock the first seaside surprise of the festive season.

"This might seem an odd time to be promoting a seaside town, but Bournemouth is wonderful year round for everyone," said Amanda Barrie, "Indeed my dog informs me it has the best beach ever and thanks me for having the great good taste to come here for my Christmas Panto."

Bournemouth Tourism is putting its beach huts to good use encouraging local businesses and charities to get into the festive spirit and celebrate what our seafront and town centre, has to offer this Christmas.

Charities and local businesses are using the opportunity to raise awareness in different ways; the Fire-fighters Charity will be bringing a fire engine to the seafront, the Chocolate Boutique Hotel will be covering a hut in chocolate, while local surf school Sorted plans a surf board pine forest on the sand.

And there'll be plenty of free festive samples for beach-goers from Bournemouth restaurants like Dorset specialists Urban Reef, Dermot O'Leary's new Poole-based Fishy Fishy and the Royal Bath Hotel.

"We are encouraging people to enjoy Bournemouth's spectacular seven miles of golden beach even in the middle of winter. Our beach huts can be rented by the day 365 days of the year," said Jon Weaver, Bournemouth Tourism's, Marketing and Events Manager

"And with attractions like Amanda down here - we can't fail!"

The Advent Calendar beach huts will be open to visitors from 11am to 6pm from December 1 to December 24 with exhibits from Fat Face, Poole Lighthouse Theatre, Whittards of Chelsea, the National Trust and many more.

Visit bournemouth.co.uk for details of the daily beach hut makeovers.