RHUDDLAN has edged out Lapland as the centerpiece of festive celebrations for Denbighshire families this Christmas.

In its first "trial run" offering a Santa's grotto, the High Street's Village Sweet Shop sold out each of its spaces welcoming 160 people to the village.

Among the guests across the two day event were a child as young as seven weeks and multiple pensioners, as well as a family who made a two hour round trip to visit Rhuddlan for the first time.

Business owner Rhiannon Petrou, 26 of Prestatyn, said: "There wasn't anything like this in Rhuddlan, and there's not much variety in the Winter months, so it means the world to me and my amazing team for the event to be such a success.

"It also means a lot to the High Street, people often just drive through Rhuddlan without stopping so the community has been so supportive. It's definitely a new tradition for the village."

Alongside Santa, Miss Petrou - who took over the business from friend Paige Hall in April alongside running character entertainment company A Little Magic Parties and starring in Theatr Colwyn's Christmas panto Aladdin - also introduced visitors to original characters including Mrs Mary Christmas and well known Rhuddlan "mischievous elves" Speedy and Marmalade.