Snow completes Christmas fun (From Stroud News and Journal)

Snow completes Christmas fun

HARRY Potter mania broke out in Nailsworth on Friday for the Christmas Evening celebrations.

Hoards of children dressed as their favourite characters from the wizard stories joined a huge procession through the town centre.

Miniature Harrys, Rons and Hermiones on extravagantly decorated floats waved to crowds gathered along every pavement in the main streets.

The vehicles carried people of all ages, from babies to one definitely full-grown Hagrid, the hairy caretaker at Hogwarts, Harry Potter's magic school.

But the cutest were those, barely out of nappies, wearing Harry's tiny round glasses or in Christmas costume.

The parade was headed by town mayor Lesley Williams-Allen, town crier Tony Evans Chamber of Trade president Steve Taylor and, of course, the guest of honour - Father Christmas himself.

Children watching the show could hardly believe their eyes when, before Santa appeared, the streets were lined with snow courtesy of Nailsworth company Snow Business.

The firm, which has provided nearly-real snow to blockbuster films like Bridget Jones's diary, is currently working with Gwyneth Paltrow in a biography of Sylvia Plath. But it took time out from its schedule to begin the Nailsworth procession with a float complete with snowpeople.

At first the lorry just seemed to house a traditional snowman, but as it went past a more risque figure was revealed - a snow woman with Pamela Anderson-type curves. The hundreds who flocked to the event were entertained by a huge fairground provided by Maureen and John Conely.

There was a ski run in the Mortimer Gardens for those hoping to get in some early slope practice and two markets for Christmas gift shoppers.

A grand raffle gave away tickets to see Dick Whittington starring Jim Davidson at the Bristol Hippodrome, dinner for two at the Egypt Mill hotel and lots of other Christmas goodies.

And there were all kinds of treats and festive foods on offer, from mulled wine to mince pies and even candyfloss at the fair.

Boys and girls queued across the town centre to see their favourite winter visitor in his special grotto.

But the highlight of the evening was Santa's sleigh - the real sled used in the latest Harry Potter film.

Lesley Williams-Allen said: "The people who brought the sleigh along told me how wonderful the atmosphere was.

"They said they had never been anywhere like it before."

The evening was the most successful yet.There were more people than ever and everyone was overwhelmed, some were almost moved to tears.

"The town was really warm because there were so many people and all the shops were full. Everyone enjoyed themselves.It was just an amazing night."

Mrs Williams-Allen said she was very grateful to Daphne Bruton, Clare Uzzell and Tina Hathaway, who organised the event.

She said: "They worked really hard to make the evening a tremendous success. "They did a great job."