Brighton's trendy North Laine shopping district will no longer be too cool for Christmas.

Traders are embracing the festive spending spree this year after shunning special opening times during seasons of Christmas past.

Brash Christmas displays and late-night hours may be an annual tradition in Bond Street in London's West End but shopkeepers in the Brighton street of the same name have never previously been quite so keen.

But this year they and fellow traders across the North Laine will be opening much longer to tap into the Christmas shopping frenzy.

Jenny Rowkins, from The Lavender Room boutique in Bond Street, said: "Most of the North Laine traders I have spoken to are going to be open late near Christmas, particularly down Bond Street because it's nearest the High Street shops.

"One or two of them have done it in previous years but not many. But we are hoping the more people do it, the more it will attract shoppers here."

Traders are planning to open late every Thursday from the start of next month.

Peter Stocker, chairman of the North Laine traders' association, blamed previous lack of interest in late-night shopping on being too far away from the city centre.

He said: "It would never get very busy and people didn't think it was worth it.

"But this year lots of shops are keen. I suspect the ones that don't open on the first Thursday will find out how busy it gets and open the next week."

The area has long featured Christmas lights, however, and this year's display has been designed by Piggotts, which performs the same task for Regent Street in London.

Several shops in The Lanes have teamed up to organise a Christmas shopping party on Tuesday, offering mince pies, competitions, gift wrapping and ten per cent discounts.

Brighton sisters Mel and Kerrie Ford have set up a temporary market at The Yard in Queen's Road, near the Clock Tower, while the site awaits redevelopment.

This year the area will feature late-night Christmas shopping by lanterns on Thursdays and Saturdays starting today with a visit from Father Christmas on Saturday.