Delighted traders yesterday hailed the three-month Harbour Nights trial a success -- and called for a repeat next year.

They said late-night Front Street shopping and street festivities on Wednesday nights had proved a big crowd-puller.

One store boss suggested late opening be extended to other days of the week.

Some large store owners, however, said their coffers had not been noticably boosted.

These included Trimingham Brothers and H.A.& E. Smith Ltd., which blamed overheads and extra staffing for cutting into profits.

"We think it's a good thing for Bermuda, although it's not profitable,'' said Trimingham's president Mr. Eldon Trimingham.

Mr. Roger Davidson, president of Smith's, took a similar stance: "We have to do something to improve the general business situation in Bermuda, and not just for retailers.

"We have to provide visitors with more things to interest them and more attractions.'' He added he supported repeating the effort next year.

Harbour Nights was launched by the Chamber of Commerce on July 14, and ended last Wednesday.

Front Street was closed to vehicles between Parliament and Queen Streets on Wednesday nights to allow for a host of attractions.

These included street performers, such as gombeys and clowns, music, face painting and children's entertainment.

Tables and chairs were also placed outside as in Europe to let people lap up the atmosphere while sipping a cup of tea or coffee.

In addition, shops stayed open until 9 p.m.

The idea was to jazz up City life, and capitalise on visitors from the cruise ships.

A similar experiment was carried out on Tuesdays in St. George's.

Yesterday Ms Carolyn Mello, executive vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, said she had had "positive feedback'' from traders.

She said a minority of retailers -- the larger ones -- had noticed no marked boost in profits.

But most shopkeepers had pulled in extra revenue.

"We are planning to repeat it next summer and are looking at the plans right now,'' said Ms Mello.

She did not know whether other days in the week would be included.

Ms Mello said the venture had regularly attracted up to 5,000 people.

"The place was absolutely packed with both visitors and locals,'' she added.

"We found that visitors welcomed the opportunity to shop when it was cooler.

"It was more convenient for them, and they liked the local entertainment.

"We were surprised at the regular number of local families who came out to enjoy themselves.'' Ms Mello said the Chamber would be releasing further details on the outcome of Harbour Nights shortly.

She pointed out the venture was privately funded.

The Chamber of Commerce would be holding a fundraising "Masquerade'' on October 30 at the Southampton Princess, starting at 7.30 p.m. It would include a raffle.

Mr. Davidson said Smith's had been reluctant initially to join the scheme.

"We weren't enthusiastic because we were worried it would increase overheads without increasing volume,'' he said. "And to a degree this was correct. We found people transferred their shopping to Wednesday evening, so we didn't actually get any extra customers. This was only natural.'' Mr. Trimingham said the Chamber had done a "fabulous'' job in organising Harbour Nights.

Visitors had long noted the need to jazz up City life.

Mr. Trimingham said the idea had not brought in extra visitors -- although it could achieve this in the long term.

Mr. Peter Cooper, general manager of A.S. Cooper & Sons, said the idea had been "well worth the effort''.

"It brought people out, both visitors and locals, into an informal atmosphere.'' Mr. Cooper said business probably only rose marginally.

Mr. Peter Darling, general manager of William Bluck & Co., said the company only opened its small shop on the corner of Reid and Queen Streets on Wednesday evenings.

"I think it was a success. I think it was a good idea to get people out on the street. I think we should do it on a more regular basis in the summer months, such as every single night, except for Sundays.'' Mr. Darling said too often Hamilton resembled a "ghost town'' at night, and needed brightening up.

"This was a very innovative idea. For the first time in many years something had been done to combat competition from the United States.''