HOLYWELL town centre will be covered in snow during the big Christmas lights switch-on.

Despite Friday’s unpredictable weather forecast community leaders have guaranteed it will “snow” during Friday’s event.

Town centre manager Medwyn Roberts has drafted in a snow cannon especially for the occasion, which it is hoped will attract thousands of people.

Mr Roberts said: “It’s going to be a white Christmas in Holywell. If it’s not snowing anywhere else it will certainly be snowing in the town centre.”

The artificial snow machine will be blasting out snowflakes outside the town hall and it’s expected to “stick” for at least two hours.

Mr Roberts added: “Holywell will be the first town in North Wales to use artificial snow as part of its celebrations for the switching on of its Christmas lights and it will add a new dimension to the start of the festive season in the town.

“The snow cannon will be firing out snowflakes which disappear themselves after a couple of hours so there is no problem with people having to clear it up the next day.”

Thousands of visitors are expected to turn out to see the town disappear under a blanket of snow and transformed into a winter wonderland.

The “snow” is due to start falling at 3pm ahead of the Christmas light switch on at 5pm.

Mr Roberts said: “How much ground the ‘snow’ will cover depends on how strong the wind is on the day so in a way, I’m hoping it’s going to be a bit windy but dry of course.”

Town Mayor Peter Curtis will flick the switch with the help of five children from each of the town’s junior schools.

The young volunteers include Liam Potter, 11, from St Winefride’s RC School; Anwen Williams, 10, from Ysgol Gwenffrwd; Deanna Evans, 10, from Ysgol Maes Glas; Rachel Jones, five, from Ysgol Perth y Terfyn and Selphie Simpson, eight, from Ysgol y Fron.

The festivities will also include entertainment from Ysbty Glan Clwyd radio from 2pm, children’s rides and a fairground from 3pm with Father Christmas arriving at 6pm on the Flint and Holywell Rotary Club float.

The grand finale will be a fireworks display at 6.30pm. The best viewing spot is Fron Park Road and the road will be closed to traffic while the display takes place.