STREET entertainers are being urged to book early in order to reserve their pitches over the Christmas period.

Demand for pitches in Douglas grows each year and anyone interested in booking a slot must be issued with a busking licence.

Gill Anderson, Douglas town centre manager, explained: "Having buskers in the town centre at Christmas has proved very successful. Street entertainment adds to the atmosphere at this busy time of the year and helps attract greater number of shoppers.

"Judging from the standard and variety of buskers we've seen in previous years and the success of this summer's Festival of Youth there's clearly a wealth of talent out there.

"With this in mind we welcome applications from every type of entertainer - solo performers, vocal and instrumental groups, brass bands, school choirs - any performance artists who feel they could add to the mix of street theatre in the town centre.

"Demand for pitches grows every year especially for the Thursday late night shopping evenings and other peak times such as TT fortnight  - which has led to our drawing up a timetable and requiring performers to pre-book their slots throughout the year."

Street entertainers must apply to the Douglas Development Partnership for their busking licence by Monday, November 7. The slots are free of charge and applicants should indicate how long they require the licence for.

To apply e-mail ganderson@douglas.org.im, telephone 612022, or call in to 7-13 Victoria Street, Douglas.