A FLINTSHIRE heritage park welcomed hundreds of guests to a Christmas event over the weekend.

Families braved the harsh winter weather on Saturday to see Santa at Greenfield Valley's Victorian-themed Christmas event.

Children were given the chance to write a letter to Santa after meeting him, which were sent up the chimney to Lapland. Children also did Victorian themed Christmas craft work, making Christmas cards and decorations which would have been seen during the Nineteenth Century.

There was also a self-led trail around the 70 acre country park on Sunday when the weather was kinder, which involved solving a series of puzzles to reach the end of the trail.

People also enjoyed traditional Christmas carols sung by the Hawarden Singers and Caerwys choirs in the specially decorated Victorian farmhouse.

Greenfield Valley is a countryside and heritage park owned by Flintshire Council, extending from the A548 coast road at Greenfield to the town of Holywell. The site reflects the varied and very long history of the area.

It contains some of the most significant and interconnected industrial heritage in North Wales and has a remarkable number of historic sites, including seven scheduled ancient monuments, plus a museum within its boundaries.

Pippa Gallagher, Flintshire Council countryside access and awareness officer, said: ''The turnout was great, it was sold out for both days and Saturday's weather certainly didn't anyone.

''Everyone said it was a great day out, and next year we plan to make it even bigger and better, perhaps with some reindeer.''