CREATIVE staff in Guiseley have made a special effort to create a Christmas scene for customers.

A life-size fireplace has been built near the entrance of the town’s Hobbycraft shop by team leader Nicola Scott. Nicola used cardboard boxes, which she shaped, cut, glued and then covered with paper mache, to create the cosy looking scene.

She also painted on ‘bricks’, rubbing sand into the paint to give it a stone look - while using flickering lights and coloured tissue paper to create realistic ‘flames’.

Nicola said: “Altogether it took about 25 hours to complete. We wanted to make a small setting for Santa’s room, making something that looked magical. I have had great reactions from the public, from children and adults alike.”

Colleague Gina Bentley also contributed, working in her own time to paint the window and help create the fireside scene, while other staff members have been decorating baubles and embellishing Advent calendars.