A BLAENAU Ffestiniog schoolboy has been chosen to play a crucial role in a major new tourist attraction for North Wales.

11-year-old Gwion Williams from Ysgol y Moelwyn will star in a brand new deep mine tour which opens at Llechwedd Slate Caverns in March.

The new tour promises to be a completely unique experience, and a substantial departure from what Llechwedd has offered to its visitors in the past.

It promises ‘extraordinary light projections, enhanced reality technology and explosive special effects to transport visitors to another time and place’.

Gwion will play the role of a 12-year-old Victorian miner called Meirion – he and his family form the heart of a new story which really brings the mine’s history to life.

Over the coming weeks he will make a number of audio recordings with other actors which will be edited together and used on the tour along with new video footage. Gwion’s voice will be heard by tens of thousands of visitors per year, in English and in Welsh.

Eleri Moss, deputy head at Ysgol y Moelwyn said: “We are absolutely delighted to be involved in what is such an exciting project for North Wales and we’d like to thank Llechwedd for this wonderful opportunity.

“Many of our students’ parents work or have worked at Llechwedd and in the local slate industry, and so it’s just great that we are able to have this tangible link with our community’s heritage and history.

“We’re all really excited about the launch of the new tour in March, and Gwion’s entire year group has been invited to go up to the caverns for a preview ahead of the grand opening. We’ll all be very eager to hear his contribution.”

Gwion was initially shortlisted by his classmates before auditioning in front of the senior team at Llechwedd.

Michael Bewick, managing director of Llechwedd Slate Caverns added: “Gwion had some strong competition from his classmates but we’re thrilled that he will be able to take on the role of Meirion. We always think that the mine wouldn’t exist without the town and so we are very proud of our association with it”

“We are in the process of building the new tour which will absolutely astonish our visitors when we open in March.”

Llechwedd Slate Caverns is also working with pupils at Maenofferen School and Manod School in Blaenau Ffestiniog, to help shape the content and visuals used in the tour.