A HOTLY-CONTESTED battle for public votes in the Haslemere Christmas Windows competition has been won by SS Makeup Studio in Wey Hill.

The studio narrowly pipped Oliver’s in Charter Walk to win the recently-found and newly-restored silver cup, which was originally sponsored by the Herald.

Competition was equally fierce for the three categories considered by the panel of judges who, having originally decided there would be one outright winner in each category, had a change of heart in view of the quality of entries and also picked runners-up.

In the panel judging categories, the most festive winner was The Swan, with Eden Hair as the runner-up. The most stylish winner was Anya in the High Street, with Silk Road in Wey Hill as runner-up.

The prize for a shop with the most complementary window to its business went to Venturi Vision, with Marley Flowers as runner-up.

"The quality of the competition has been extraordinarily high, I’m so glad I was not a judge," said Rev Justin Manley-Cooper, who had organised the competition sponsored by the churches of All Saints, Grayswood, St Bartholomew’s and St Christopher’s, in association with St Stephen’s, Shottermill.

"This competition is not really about winners and votes.

"It’s to create talking points, new connections and friendships that broaden the fabric of our whole community.

"And in that respect, this competition has been a massive success."