CROWDS are expected to flock to Pontypool this weekend as a family-friendly event sweeps across the town.

On Saturday, February 18, community group Friends of Pontypool Town and Mother Earth Crafts will host “Love Pontypool”, an arty crafty daytime event.

From 11am there will be craft stalls and workshops in Pontypool Indoor Market and Crane Street Church alongside entertainment for children and live music.

In the indoor market there will be a packed roster of events, including face painting, a green screen, craft workshops and performances from Amanda Ellis Street Fit dance group.

Mother Earth Crafts will also invite visitors to try their hand at craft making in the market between 11am and 2pm while Brother Hipster Productions will provide a photo area with green screen.

Hairstyling and make up will be provided by Rockabella's while Mr Chips Magician — sponsored by Osbourne Lodge Nursery — will appear between 11am and 2pm in the market.

Crane Street Church will host craft stalls, craft workshops, art displays and demonstrations by Pontypool Arts Club and Pontypool Road Camera Club between 11am and 2pm.

Live music will also be provided from Heart2Heart starting at 11.30am.

Pontypool-based art gallery — 76m2 based in Commercial street — will also get in involved in the event, offering workshops with the artist behind their first show “Full Fathom Five”.

The exhibition, by University of South Wales photography lecturer Celia Jackson, showcases a collection of seascapes taken with a pinhole camera and the photographer will attend the gallery on Saturday, giving tips and advice on her methods.

The Friends of Pontypool Town was started with the mission of “making Pontypool town centre a vibrant, safe and attractive place to live, work and visit”.

With a committee of business owners and community figures, the group have organised several successful events from the Hallowe’en Zombie Dance Off in 2016 to Pontypool’s first antiques fair.

The group meet on the first Tuesday of every month at Pontypool Tesco's cafe at 5.20pm.

For more information on the group or the event, search “Friends of Pontypool Town” on Facebook.