SANTA and a giant snow globe were just two of the highlights when Christmas officially came to Ammanford last week.

Following the weather-forced cancellation of this year’s Wonders of Christmas festival and the Guinness Book of Record snowman attempt, traders and businesses worked together with Ammanford Enterprise Partnership (AEP) and Ammanford Rotary to put on one-day festive extravaganza.

Last Thursday's event began at 3.30pm with stalls, fire rides and of course Father Christmas, filling the bottom of Quay Street and the Pensioner’s Hall and ended with a fireworks display to signal the start of the festive season.

Children were urged to don their snowman costumes for a best dressed competition and local shops stayed open until late.

Mulled juice and mince pies were on offer to warm shoppers and fun seekers and over in the Pensioner’s Hall, a 12 foot snow globe, complete with fake snow, was a star attraction allowing families to step inside and create some truly unique festive photographs.

A range of stalls were also inside offering shoppers a unique selection of Christmas gifts to buy.

After parking his sleigh at the bottom of Quay Street, Santa set up in the Hall, allowing children the chance to pass on their gift wishes and check to see if they were on the naughty or nice list. Ably helped by some elves, Santa offered a chocolate treat for visitors to his free of charge grotto.

A mini funfair and entertainer Crazy Clayton were also on hand as part of the entertainment programme and children were invited to bring homemade decorations for the tree at the bottom of Quay Street.

And then it was time for Santa to leave his grotto and head off back to his workshop to begin the final preparations for Christmas, his exit heralded with a great firework display for all to enjoy.