Residents in Portobello are being asked to dress up their windows to create a winter Window Wanderland.

The initiative, by Action Porty, is encouraging occupiers to design a festive window, and to display it by leaving their curtains open, for locals to enjoy while wandering around the seaside town.

People are encouraged not to buy new materials but to creatively repurpose plastic bottles, cartons, coloured paper and similar items. A small number of art packs are available free of charge for those who can’t access materials.

A scene from last year’s Window Wanderland in Portobello.

Portobello Window Wanderland runs from Friday 10 December to Monday 13 December from 5.30pm to 8.30pm, during which residents are asked to leave lights on and curtains open.

This year’s theme is “Heart Talk”  – something close to your heart – which could mean nature, community, your pet, your favourite charity, your family, home, music, sport, hopes for the future – pretty much anything that matters to you.

Residents taking part are asked to register (no charge) on the event Facebook page so that others know the locations of festive windows, which will be shown on a map.

The winter window display will be preceded by a late night festive shopping initiative on Portobello High Street on Thursday 9 December with many local traders extending hours and encouraging people to shop local for Christmas gifts.

For more information visit here.

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Stephen Rafferty is a former crime correspondent at The Scotsman and was a staff reporter for the Daily Record and Edinburgh Evening News. He has freelanced for many of the Scottish and UK national newspaper titles. Got a story? Get in touch - stephen@theedinburghreporter.co.uk