Tuck into the town's big food festival this weekend

* Crowds at last year's food festival.  

Foodies are expected to come flocking to Llangollen this weekend to tuck into the town’s famous Food Festival.

With over 90 stalls spread throughout various locations in the town, Saturday and Sunday will boast a bumper menu filled with culinary delights, chef demonstrations, tastings, and live music.

An impressive line-up of local and regional producers on a diverse range of stalls will showcase products including artisan cheeses, handmade chocolates and street food.

The food court, located at Riverside Park, will be the heart of the festival, providing a perfect spot for attendees to relax and savour delicious bites.

Throughout the weekend, local chefs will host live cooking demonstrations, sharing tips and techniques that inspire culinary creativity.

There are plenty of things for children to enjoy including a Foodie Treasure Hunt, starting from the Town Hall and a special show entitled Disgusting Digestion.

Tomorrow (Saturday) evening sees a Real Ale Train running on which beer fans can sample a range of brews from the region as they head through the scenic Dee Valley.

The steam train departs Llangollen station at 6pm with two round trips to Carrog and returns at around 9pm.

Ticket price includes two beer tokens and additional tokens can be purchased for £4 each.

To book, go to: https://llangollen-railway.co.uk/real-ale-train/

Venues for the live entertainment on both days of the festival are the bandstand in Riverside Park and Centenary Square.

* Some of the entertainment at the festival.

Denbighshire County Council is offering free parking in all of its car parks - Brook St, East St, Hall St, Market Street, Mill Street and the Eisteddfod Pavilion - during both days of the festival weekend. 

Sponsors this year are Rhug Estate, Vale of Llangollen Golf Club, The Corn Mill, Riversdale House B&B, The Clwydian Butcher, Llangollen Oggie Shop & Fine Foods and Llangollen Railway.

"We're delighted to bring together so many fantastic food and drink producers together for another year. Whatever the weather brings, join us in celebrating the rich flavours and talents of our community," said Pip Gale, chair of the Food Festival. 

"Whether you’re a dedicated foodie or just looking for a fun day out, the Llangollen Food Festival promises something for everyone."

* For more information, check the Llangollen Food Festival Facebook page or website.

Liberty Tavern quiz donates £250 to town's Christmas festival

        * Chem, left, receives the cash donation for the Christmas Festival from                            Liberty Tavern quiz organiser Mike Callaghan.

Llangollen Christmas Festival was presented with £250 by Mike Callaghan on behalf of the weekly quiz at Liberty Tavern in Market Street. 

The quiz takes place on Tuesdays from 7.30pm and all cash raised goes to local charities and community groups.

 

The Christmas Festival is organised by a group of volunteers from the community and is aimed at local people and families.  

This year’s Christmas Festival will be held on Saturday November 30. 

Families can come along and children can see Sion Corn, have their faces painted, have a balloon sculpture, use the bouncy play, take part in a circus school and be entertained all for free.

There’s a Christmas Market, a wide range of entertainment and the traditional grand parade through the town at 1pm.

 

Austin "Chem" Cheminais, who is chair of the organising group, said: “We’re really grateful for the generous contribution to our funds from Liberty Tavern.

“In recent  years we have managed,  thanks to the generosity of individuals, groups and businesses, to make the festival and its attractions  free to all who attend.”

 

* Anyone out  there who  would like to donate funds or sponsorship to help keep Llangollen Christmas Festival free for all who attend can call Chem on 07813 761766.  or email: chemshouts@gmail.com

2024 Llangollen Christmas Appeal launched

Year five of the annual Llangollen Christmas Appeal has just been launched in conjunction with the town's Food Share.

The aim is to support local families over the festive period. 

Announcing the latest appeal on its Facebook page, the Food Share says: "The Llangollen community donated 117 gifts last year to assist local families. Every child and adult deserves a gift to open at Christmas.

"If you can and are able to we kindly require your help in any way you can this year."

A list of suggested gifts includes:

* Children's gifts in new condition of toys, teddys, books, arts and crafts for girls and boys aged two to 10 years.

* Teenage boys' and girls' gift sets

* Male and female gift sets

* Toiletry sets/Lynx set/socks

* Hot water bottle/scarf and gloves

* Chocolate and biscuit treats

The Food Share post adds: "Anything would be gratefully received and make someone's Christmas.

"Drop off point Wingett's Monday to Friday 10am-3pm, Saturday 10an -12noon.

"We are also taking cash donations for us to shop and wrap gifts."

#llangollenfamily #helpingeachotherthisxmas #5years

Llangollen's mayoress becomes Big Brother housemate

* Sarah, Llangollen's mayoress, is in the Big Brother House.  

The mayoress of Llangollen is one of the 2024 Big Brother housemates.

Sarah Griffiths, the long-term partner of Mayor Aled Morris, went into the famous house last Sunday following months of preparation by ITV producers.

And she appeared on Late and Live, the revived reality show’s spin-off show, last night to talk about herself – and give a mention to Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

Partner Aled, a member of Llangollen Town Council who became town mayor last May choosing her as his consort, told how Sarah, a spa account manager based in Shrewsbury, moved into the house last Sunday alongside 15 other occupants.

He said: “She applied online early this year and since then has had to go through a really lengthy process.

“The TV people arranged for her to have psychoanalysis, medicals and things like that. It’s all been going on since April or May.

* Sarah, in her role as mayoress of Llangollen, at the opening of this year's summer fete with her partner Aled Morris, the mayor.

“Of course, it all depends on how the viewers react to the housemates but she could be in there for anything up to eight weeks.

“I’m really excited for her and will obviously be watching how she does.

“You can tell by watching that there are quite a few strong characters in there with her. Sarah’s character is a bit fight-or-flight. Everyone is still settling down but I predict there might be a bit of drama developing before too long.”

Aled said that Sarah is originally from Shropshire where she grew up on one of the chicken farms run by her family in the Church Stretton area – a bit ironic, he pointed out, because she is a vegetarian.

She also spent five or six years working on cruise ships, beginning as a therapist and rising through the ranks to manage onboard spas on a number of ships.

Aled, who farms near Llangollen and also gives lessons in agricultural engineering at Coleg Cambria’s Llysfasi site,  added: “On Late and Live last night she was speaking a bit about herself and how she was Mayoress nof Llangollen.

“She also gave a mention to the Eisteddfod and how it has attracted people from across the world to Llangollen since the days after the Second World War.

“It’s been an emotional ride for us over the past few days but with the show now being screened and I’m anxious to see how everything goes for her in there.”           

* You can catch Sarah’s progress in the Big Brother house every night of the week on ITV2 at 9pm.

New heritage group to launch at Christmas festival

At its second meeting, in September, the newly-formed Our Historic Llangollen/Hanesyddol I bawb agreed to publicly launch its existence by taking part in the town's annual Christmas festival on Saturday November 30.

The co-operative group of heritage sites and projects will take part in the stalls and events during the festival.

Spokesperson Sue Hargreaves said: "We will be having a stall on Centenary Square specifically devoted to Our Historic Llangollen/Hanesyddol I bawb  -abbreviated for convenience to OHLlHib - with new leaflets in Welsh and English giving a brief summary and illustration of each of the key heritage sites in Llangollen.

"We will also have available any current leaflets, posters and fliers from our member organisations. 

"We hope that a number of our member heritage sites in the town centre will be open, with tours and talks, information sessions or story-telling.

"We will compile these into a programme, ensuring that people can progress from one site to another without timing clashes."

Sue added: "Our Historic Llangollen/Hanesyddol I bawb is assisted in this initiative by grant-aid from the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley National Landscape Sustainable Development Fund. 

"This funding will also support the creation of an OHLlHib logo to aid developing a recognisable brand for Llangollen’s historic sites, and the development of a sharing of resources, information and co-operative initiatives going forward into 2025."

Llantysilio Community Council seeks new clerk

 

Council says: Let us know if you still need assisted refuse collections

Denbighshire County Council (DCC) has asked residents to urgently confirm whether they still need assisted refuse collections.

The council recently wrote to over 1,000 properties it has identified as having been registered for the service for three years or more, asking them if they still required this form of collection or not.  

People were informed in the letter that if the council hadn’t heard from them by September 27 they would be removed from its system.  

Details were provided in the letter of how to contact DCC should the property/resident wish to continue the service.

However, the council says response rates have been "relatively low" and that the original date has now passed.  

In a message sent to local county councillors earlier this afternoon (Tuesday) a senior officer says: "Given the difficulties we have faced in recent months, we’ve taken the decision to issue a further letter to the properties as a final reminder. This will be going out to the properties we’ve had no response from in the next 24 hours.

 

"If we receive no response following both letters, the service will be removed. I’m letting you as a group know in advance so you are forewarned on this matter."

Contact us online

Contact us by phone

01824 706000

Customer Contact Centre (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm).

 

Yet another Chinese contender makes bid for slice of UK market

Omoda launch by Steve Rogers

To get noticed and get ahead are the challenges facing the latest Chinese car brand to hit our shores.

Futuristic design and obscure names are the starting point so enter Omoda, another Chinese company you are unlikely to have heard of.

First the house keeping. The cars are produced by Chery, the country’s top car exporter and currently the world’s fastest growing car brand. As for the name, the O stands for life and vitality while Moda comes from fashion trends. That must have taken some thinking up.

For now the range is made up of the electric E5 and petrol Omoda 5 with a choice of Comfort or Noble variants. Hybrid and plug-in models will follow.

Like fellow Chinese brands MG and BYD the idea is to undercut just about everyone so typically you get a C segment SUV (e.g.Ford Kugar) for B segment SUV (e.g. Ford Puma) money with a lot of kit thrown in and a seven-year warranty to sweeten the pill.

They do not want the cars to be tagged as bargain basement so along with eye-catching design the interiors have a definite up market finish with lots of synthetic leather, a nod to the company’s eco ambitions.

With the 2030 electric deadline edging closer the main focus is on the E5. The starting price of £33,055 for a SUV the size of the Nissan Qashqai is competitive given the level of equipment, warranty and safety features.

Interestingly the company has turned to fellow Chinese car company BYD for the ultra thin ‘Blade’ battery. Its 61kWh output has a range of 257 miles which is down on the likes of Kia EV6, Skoda Enyak and Volkswagen ID.5 although they all have batteries with a greater output. I applaud the addition of a heat pump which reduces energy taken from the battery pack to heat the car. On a cold day turning on the heating can take 20 odd miles off the range.

Driving E5 is on a par with electric rivals. The extra weight of the battery pack can make them feel a little cumbersome on twisting B roads but it is not uncomfortable.

Omoda has gone to extraordinary lengths to satisfy UK drivers shipping the cars to a plant in Germany where everything from spring and damper rates, steering ratios, anti-roll bar stiffness and bush rates are tuned either for the UK or mainland European roads, shipped back to China for approval and brought back.

The ride is firm and a tad lively on those B roads but refined cruising the motorway. This is when you can relax and take in the classy ultra modern layout.

It has the now common ‘widescreen TV’ set up with twin 12.3in screens. There are graphics galore for the driver showing the position of surrounding vehicles while the adjoining touchscreen handles infotainment, and everything else barring heating, thank heavens. There is a lot to take in without having to work out how to adjust the heating when the windscreen is misting up so physical switches are welcome.

If electric is still a no-no then the petrol Omoda 5 is a tempting proposition with its starting price of £25,235 (Noble £27,035). This, too, feels like a more expensive car with a nice quality look to the fixtures and fittings. With the twin screens reduced to 10.25in it loses some of the dramatic effect but retains a futuristic layout.

The 184bhp 1.6 litre engine is punchy and carries the car to 62mph in a brisk 7,9 seconds through a seven speed dual clutch automatic gearbox. It also shows up the vagaries of electric versus petrol with a more settled ride and nimble handling.

It has the same seven year warranty along with a high level of equipment and safety features.

Next year will see the introduction of posher Jaecoo models, larger SUVs with sights set on the premium end of the market, think Lexus-Toyota and Genesis-Hyundai. To complete the name game Jae is a derivation of the German jager (hunter) and the coo our very own ‘cool’ so why not just call it Jaecool?

You can’t help thinking Omoda is using Kia as its guiding light. It would not mind mirroring the Korean company’s rise from bit part player to super star although its sales plan is even more ambitious with a target of 40,000 cars by 2026.

Oliver Lowe, the company’s product manager set out the company’s stall when he told me: “We want to be a significant player in the UK market.”

This looks like a story worth following.

Fast facts

Omoda E5 Noble

£34,555

Range: 257 miles

61KWh battery; 204bhp

0-62mph 7.2secs

30-80% top up: 28 minutes

Battery warranty 8 years

Boot: 380-1075 litres

Latest local roadworks bulletin from Denbighshire County Council

Latest local roadworks bulletin from Denbighshire County Council is:

NR 1 THE BEECHES MARKET ST JNC BERWYN ST AND HALL ST LLANGOLLEN LL20 8 MARKET STREET 18/10/2024 18/10/2024 Gwaith BT/ BT Works SUNBELT RENTALS (DCC)

Llandyn Hall Farm Culvert TRACK TO LLANDYN HALL FROM A539 02/09/2024 11/10/2024 Gwaith ar Gylfat/ Culvert Works PHILIP BILLINGTON (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

GREEN LANE, LLANGOLLEN, DENBIGHSHIRE GREEN LANE 22/10/2024 22/10/2024 Gwaith Carthffosiaeth/ Sewer Works MORRISON WATER SERVICES LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

A539 LLANGOLLEN ROAD 14/10/2024 17/10/2024 Gwaith Draenio / Drainage Works DCC

A539 NR 1 THE BEECHES MARKET ST JNC BERWYN ST AND HALL ST LLANGOLLEN LL20 8 HALL STREET 18/10/2024 18/10/2024 Gwaith BT/ BT Works SUNBELT RENTALS (DCC)

Hill Street, Pengwern, Llangollen, Denbighshire, LL20 8EU HILL STREET 27/10/2024 27/10/2024 remedial DEFECT TAR ALUN GRIFFITHS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Goleuadau Traffig Dros Dro/ Temp Traffic Lights

 

MP and MS 'optimistic' that town's public toilets will stay

* The Market Street public toilets. 

Llangollen’s Member of the Senedd and MP say they have stressed the need for Denbighshire County Council to explore all options to keep the town’s toilets open. 

Ken Skates and Becky Gittins have held a number of meetings with senior figures at the authority and say they "remain optimistic" that the public conveniences on Market Street won’t close. 

The county council needs to find £10.4m of savings as part of its 2024/25 budget, and a proposal to review public toilets across the county was one of the potential savings identified. A public consultation was launched to allow residents, business owners and visitors to have their say. 

Both Mr Skates and Mrs Gittins have been contacted by Llangollen residents and visitors to the town, but the council has repeatedly reassured the community that no decisions have been made. 

Clwyd South MS Mr Skates said: “Becky and I have met with Denbighshire County Council a number of times to discuss the need for options to be developed and considered. We have said previously that we want to leave no stone unturned, and that hasn’t changed. We want to help find a way to keep the public toilets in Llangollen open.” 

Mrs Gittins, who was elected as the new MP for Clwyd East in July, attended the public meeting in Llangollen Town Hall earlier this year. 

She said: “Our meetings with the council have been productive and we remain optimistic. We are still keen to meet with town councillors as well, as they clearly have an important role to play. 

“The county council’s aim throughout this process has been to work with the town council and the community, and they’ve been meeting with town and community councils throughout the county where areas have public toilets to try to find solutions. We have stressed the need for all options to be explored, and I think everyone’s on the same page.”

The issue is now due be be discussed at Denbighshire’s scrutiny committee meeting in December.

In a recent email to Mr Skates and Mrs Gittins, Denbighshire's Head of Highways & Environmental Services, Paul Jackson, said: “Again, I must be clear, no decision has been made on this issue and we are still working through options and going through democratic processes.”

MS voices concern over future of eye care in Wales

Sam Rowlands, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales (pictured) has expressed concern over the future of eye care in the country.

Mr Rowlands, Shadow Health Minister, last week raised the issue that people in Wrexham, were waiting three years for glaucoma operations while across the border in Cheshire, it was only four weeks.

 

Opening the Welsh Conservative debate on eye care he said: “'A tidal wave of blindness'—that's a stark warning from a leading doctor on the state of eye care here in Wales. As it stands, more than 80,000 people in Wales are at the highest risk of irreversible sight loss, with eye care accounting for one in every eight patients languishing on a Welsh NHS waiting list. 

 

“The number of ophthalmology patients waiting beyond their target date has more than doubled in the past five years, and in the last decade, referrals to ophthalmic services have increased by over 50%.

 

“The numbers are staggering, but it's the personal stories that I'm sure we all hear of in our inboxes and on phone calls that are tragic.  A person got in touch with me just this week saying that they're on a list for a cataract operation at a hospital in North Wales and they've been told that the wait for the surgery is two and a half years. That can have a massive impact on a person's life and they can lose their sight.

 

“Let's not forget that this loss of sight, many times, is treatable, but people are losing their sight because they're waiting too long on these lists, which is ultimately the responsibility of Labour Ministers in this place.

 

“I recently visited Specsavers in North Wales, in Broughton, who are working to treat people with eye problems. And at a national level, they want to be able to support, with the training and development of optometrists, as they have done in other parts of the UK. It's organisations like this that can help take the strain off the NHS, and make sure that people are seen as quickly as possible instead of waiting, literally, for years.”

 

Mr Rowlands called on the Welsh Government to adopt measures to tackle the deep-seated issues that impact eye healthcare in Wales and for Ministers to set targets and deadlines for improving waiting list backlogs.

 

Jeremy Miles Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care said although progress has been made to reduce long waiting times for eye care, there is still work to be done in order to deal with the backlog that built up during the pandemic.

Events planned to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week

Members of the local community are invited to remember this year's Baby Loss Awareness Week, from October 9-15, at special events in Llangollen next Tuesday (October 15). 

A Tree of Remembrance will be placed in St Collen's Church for anyone who wishes to write the name of a baby or child, honouring their memory.

The same day, as part of the global Wave of Light, Llangollen Town Hall and Centenary Square will be lit up in pink and blue to raise awareness and show solidarity with families affected by baby loss. 

Organisers say: "Please join us in lighting a candle at 7 PM, either in person or from home, as we remember those little lives taken too soon." 

Denbighshire Citizens Advice column for October

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice is:

Q: I don’t have a will, but I wonder if I should make one? The problem is, I have no idea where to start or how to make it official.

A: Making a will can seem daunting, but it’s important to make one whether or not you consider yourself to have many possessions or much money. This is because there are certain rules which dictate what will happen to your money, property, or possessions after you die and without a will they may not go to the people or places you would have wanted.

It’s a good idea, although not strictly necessary, to use a solicitor, or to have one check a will you draw up to make sure it’ll have the effect you want. This is because it’s easy to make mistakes which could cause problems after your death and result in costly legal fees.

A solicitor will charge for their services, but they should tell you how much their help will cost before they start working with you. Charges vary and will depend on the complexity of the will. Before making a decision on who to use, shop around and speak to a few different solicitors to find the best price.

Before you approach a solicitor, you should think about the major points you want to include in your will. This will save you time and help to reduce costs.

Things to think about include: how much money and property you have and if any of your possessions are especially important to you; whether you want any of your money or possessions to go to specific family or friends after your death; and what you’d like to happen to the rest of your assets, including whether or not you’d like to leave any gift to charities. If relevant, you should also decide who should look after any children you may have who are under 18.

You’ll also need to decide who will sort out your estate and carry out your wishes, as set out in the will. These people are known as the executors. It’s common to appoint two executors, in case one is unable to carry out the task. People often choose either relatives or friends, solicitors or accountants, banks, or the Public Trustee, which is an official body, to be an executor.

For a will to be valid, it must be made by someone who is 18 or over and of sound mind, meaning someone who is capable of rational thought, making and understanding decisions. It must also be drawn up without any pressure from another person. It must also be made in writing and signed by the person making the will, in the presence of two witnesses, who must also sign the document in the presence of the person making the will. Lastly, it should be dated. As soon as the will is signed, dated, and witnessed, it is complete.

Once a will has been made, it should be kept in a safe place and other documents should not be attached to it. This safe place might be at home, with a solicitor or accountant, at a bank, or at HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) for safekeeping.

* You can find out more information about making a will on the Citizens Advice website.

Cycle Bus takes young riders on safe trip to school

* Cycle bus riders assemble in the community hall car park.

To mark this year's Cycle to School Week Drosi Bikes, in conjunction with the local primary schools and Sustrans, organised a community Cycle Bus event in Llangollen. 

Around 30 pupils from Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Y Gwernant took part in the fun ride which aimed to help give families the confidence to ride to school, whilst demonstrating the need for safer routes for children to cycle, walk, scoot and wheel around the community.

Starting from St Collen’s Community Hall, the short route, which was led by the now-infamous Drosi Bikes cargo bike, took the young riders briefly along the A5 before turning into Pengwern and heading towards the school sites. 

Though not a great distance, the busy roads and congested school gates can be daunting for any road user, but are additionally hazardous when cycling with young children. 

* Riders head along the A5 at Regent Street. 

By coming together and moving as a much larger unit, the cycle bus looks to reduce these barriers, and provides a practical and fun way to reduce traffic congestion around schools, whilst encouraging more children to cycle safely.

Drosi Bikes is a community workshop based in Llangollen, with a mission to promote inclusive and eco-friendly travel for everyone. 

Its Beth Ward said: "The cycle bus initiative is growing rapidly across the UK and though a few have been run in the town previously, we were keen to get involved and help spread the word.

"The cycle bus ethos of promoting active travel and encouraging physical activity is something very akin with our social enterprise. 

"There is a real need for safer cycling within Llangollen as this event clearly demonstrated. We were really pleased with the turn-out and a big thank you has to go to the schools for their support, St Collen Church for offering free parking for the event and to all the drivers who gave us heaps of time and space. And of course, a huge thank you to all the kids and parents who got involved and helped make our impact.

"It's hoped the cycle bus will become a regular feature going forward and we’re hopeful it will continue to grow momentum."

Get a slice of Operatic's Charity Cake Afternoon

 

Llangollen Food Festival returns next weekend

Llangollen Food Festival returns to the town centre over the weekend of October 12 and 13, bringing a delectable array of flavours and festivities.

With over 80 stalls spread throughout various locations in the town, organisers say food lovers can expect a weekend filled with culinary delights, exciting chef demonstrations, tastings, and live music at Riverside Park.

This year’s festival will feature an impressive line-up of local and regional producers showcasing their finest offerings. 

Visitors can explore a diverse range of stalls, including artisan cheeses, handmade chocolates, fresh produce, and mouth-watering street food, all while enjoying the vibrant atmosphere.

"We're delighted to bring together so many fantastic food and drink producers together for another year. Whatever the weather brings, join us in celebrating the rich flavours and talents of our community," said Pip Gale, chair of the Food Festival. 

"Whether you’re a dedicated foodie or just looking for a fun day out, the Llangollen Food Festival promises something for everyone."

The food court, located along Riverside Park, will be the heart of the festival, providing a perfect spot for attendees to relax and savour delicious bites. Throughout the weekend, local chefs will host live cooking demonstrations, sharing tips and techniques that inspire culinary creativity.

To make a visit even more convenient, Denbighshire County Council is offering free parking in all of its car parks - Brook St, East St, Hall St, Market Street, Mill Street and the Eisteddfod Pavilion - during both days of the festival weekend. 

* For more information, check the Llangollen Food Festival Facebook page or website.

Garden railway festival steams back into Pavilion next June

* Crowds at last year's successful garden railway festival in the Pavilion.

One of the UK’s most successful garden railway festivals will be making a  return journey to Llangollen Pavilion on Saturday, June 7.  

The Llangollen Garden Railway Festival is one of the UK’s biggest model garden railway events.   

The event, which has been held since 2021 is once again expected to bring in thousands of garden railway enthusiasts to North east Wales. It is also a great day for families and kids as well as hobbyists and enthusiasts.

Over 40 of UK’s leading retailers have already confirmed their attendance at the event.  

The day-long festival will feature a selection of outstanding layouts of the larger scale in railway modelling, catering for all tastes and showing garden railways from different periods and countries.

The event is organised by Llangollen-based garden model railway enthusiast Keith Potts.  

Previous festivals have been hugely popular in the town, which is world-famous for its annual International Eisteddfod and its own heritage steam railway. 

Keith said: “Our garden railway festival is one of the most popular in the UK.  We’ve been running the event since 2021 and are delighted to announce the date for our festival in 2025.  

"Garden railways continue to be extremely popular and our festival in 2024 drew thousands to Llangollen and in doing so helped raise money for local charities.  

"Not only will you get to see some amazing model railways in action, but there will also be plenty of opportunities to meet fellow enthusiasts and learn about different railway models and layouts.

“The festival is again being held at our spacious and iconic pavilion. Tickets are now on sale at £14 each and accompanied children can attend for free.”

* The event is held at the Llangollen Pavilion LL20 8SW on Saturday, June 7 from 10am until 4.30pm.