Exmouth Mayor Steve Gazzard gives his Christmas message ahead of perhaps the most unique festive holidays

2020 will be a year that none of us will forget, we have all had to cope with rules constantly changing and adapting to new working practices.

Our everyday vocabulary included words such as Coronavirus, Covid-19, Pandemic, social distancing, sanitizers, face masks. . .etc.

We live in a most beautiful part of the country with a fantastic beach and I think we have been extremely fortunate with Covid-19 but we cannot become complacent. It really looks like there might be a light at the end of the tunnel with the role out of a vaccine.

I would like to pay a massive tribute to our amazing NHS staff and all essential workers who, since March, have worked over and above to keep us all safe and to be there to provide our needs - whether it be food deliveries, emptying our bins, providing our medications or delivering our post, we cannot function without all of you.

We have so many independent shops in Exmouth and they have taken a huge drop in takings and footfall this year.

So I would ask that we now give them all our support by shopping local and buying or using their services as without our custom they might fold.

So many events have had to be cancelled this year, which has been a great blow to so many charities.

However, looking on the bright side let's hope they can return next year and give us all something to look forward to and give our support to!

Finally I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope that you manage to catch up with your loved ones, whether that is by phone, social media, Zoom or maybe face to face.

Exmouth Town Council will not be hosting the New Year's Eve's firework display, due to the Covid-19 regulations, so please have a safe New Year.

Best wishes to you all.