120,000 loom bands were handed out last year in Cwmbran Shopping last year as it hosted the hobby’s first UK mini-festival. The work involved in marketing the event has been rewarded with a place on the shortlist at the BCSC Purple Apple Awards.

The awards celebrate the best in retail property marketing and this year 122 shopping centres entered. Cwmbran Shopping is in the events category.

Loombran was the UK’s first ever loom band mini festival held in July 2014. The events team handed out 120,000 free loom bands to shoppers and held a day of fun-filled activities for families to enjoy.

The award finals will take place on 7 May in London, and Cwmbran Shopping will send two team members, Michael Bell, events coordinator and Paul Rich, centre manger.

Paul Rich said: “We were really proud to host the country’s first loom band mini festival. It really encouraged creativity, teamwork and helped children to work on their problem solving skills. It was really great to see children enjoy such a simple activity and children’s imaginations were really captured on the day. We have everything crossed that we can bring the trophy back to Cwmbran.”