CHILDREN are set to be wowed by a giant gingerbread cottage which has appeared in the middle of a shopping centre.
Animatronic reindeer and friendly gingerbread people will wow little ones in the centre of Crowngate Shopping Centre.
The new festive addition has been in the works for the past few months and is free for everyone to come and visit.
Shoppers could also be in the chance to win their very own wooden gingerbread house that is worth £6,000.
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Michael Lloyd, centre manager at Crowngate Shopping Centre, said he just wanted to put a smile on people's faces during tough times.
He said: "The idea was inspired by a summer house we saw on Facebook.
"People can have a look and take photographs and people can enjoy it for free.
"It is about giving something to charity especially as we are a community shopping centre.
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"We've had a phenomenal response from people.
"Shoppers were stopping to have a look before we'd even finished."
Mr Lloyd said children will also be able to meet Father Christmas at the Gingerbread house free of charge on selected dates.
"Everybody is looking at their energy prices and we want to give everyone a reason to smile."
Ali Chester, from Three Counties Christmas and a professional Christmas decorator from Kempsey, said: "I think more than anything when people are really struggling and feeling really low, something like this brings them back to that magic Christmas had when we were children."
Three Counties Christmas helped put together the nodding reindeer and the huge gingerbread person perched outside the house.
Mrs Chester, aged 37, added: "I felt quite emotional when I saw it all come together, it took me back to being a six-year-old and feeling the magic of Christmas and it feels good that we are now able to do that for the next generation."
Dan Cox, aged 33, director of D+J Timber Buildings, said: "We wanted to create something that is a bit different and that stands out.
"Particularly during the cost of living crisis, it is great to have something for free for everyone to look at."
The gingerbread house is aiming to fundraise for Crowngate's charity of the year ONSIDE, which believes young people deserve access to opportunities.
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