AN ILLUMINATING occasion is in store at a major festive event this weekend.

This Saturday, November 30 will see the people of Ruthin getting into the Christmas spirit and the highlight of the event is the Christmas lights switch-on, where again this year it will be supported by the Convoy of Lights.

The Convoy of Lights is organised by local truck driver Phil Hazel and fellow members of the North Wales Truck Gathering.

The 2019 convoy is promising to be the biggest yet, with 100 vehicles booked to participate in the lights parade.

It has been decided this year that each participant in the convoy is to pay to attend the event and all money raised would be given to a local worthy cause.

The money raised will be donated to a local family who have for many years supported the convoy of lights but sadly, in July 2018, their life was turned upside down when Callum, who was then only 25, suffered backache and pins and needles in his legs.

He was rushed to hospital and after an MRI scan, he was diagnosed with spinal cord compression which was found to be caused by a tumour, which doctors were sure was cancer.

Callum was rushed to Walton for surgery, which removed most of the tumour, but he was told the damage was already done and he would likely be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

It was found there was a secondary cancer, which was Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. In August 2018 after returning to Glan Clwyd for cancer treatment, they started looking for suitable places for the family to live.

There was no suitable wheelchair adapted housing locally, but eventually seven months later they were given a flat in Prestatyn.

Convoy of Lights organiser Phil Hazel said: "We... have donated over £40,000 to charities since starting our annual event, but it’s nice to help a local family by bringing lights and Christmas spirit to our town."

The trucks will gather at Ruthin livestock market from 12pm onwards on Saturday, with the convoy starting at 5pm.

The route will see the trucks leave the livestock market on to the bypass, past Tesco and then along Station Road, where the convoy will turn to go up Well Street and over the town square.

They will go down Clwyd Street and on to Denbigh Road to the livestock market, where all vehicles will disperse.