A FIRST of its kind event for Abergele will give residents the opportunity to commemorate their late loved ones this Christmas.

St Kentigern hospice in St Asaph will host its first tree of Lights event in the town tonight at 6pm.

Working alongside Abergele Town Council, the ceremony will see lights on the tree at the Town Hall switched on in remembrance of those who have been loved and lost. To mark the occasion, their will be a service from Rev Kate Johnson, music provided by the popular Beulah Brass band and Abergele and Pensarn mayor cllr Shirley Jones-Roberts will be on hand to welcome everyone to the service.

Lindsey Thomas, community and events fundraiser for the hospice, said: "St Kentigern Hospice is delighted to be working with Abergele Town Council to host the first ever Tree of Lights Ceremony in the town. The purpose of the ceremony is to celebrate the lives of those who are no longer with us at Christmastime.

"We are so pleased to have the opportunity to hold this ceremony at the Town Hall. The Abergele community have always been staunch supporters of the hospice and it is lovely to give people the opportunity to celebrate their loved ones near their home town."

A collection will be taken at the end of the service for St Kentigern Hospice. A similar event in Rhos-on-Sea saw about 1,000 people turn out on the Cayley promenade on Sunday, November 21, and has raised £263,000 for St David’s Hospice since its inception in 1999.

Ms Thomas added: "St Kentigern Hospice is looking forward to 2020 when the new building will be open once more, helping even more people in need of hospice care in future."