A MINFFORDD Italianate village is reaping the benefits of the new Pokémon Go craze as it becomes a hotspot for rare characters such as Pikachu.

Portmeirion has seen tourists to the site increase by 13 per cent since July after high scoring characters from the game were caught there.

The number is set to go up even further after a cult Japanese character called Pikachu was recently discovered there.

Roy Stambrow, 45, from London, said he would certainly head back to Portmeirion after discovering Pikachu had been seen in the woods.

He said: “I was at the village with my fiancée shortly after the latest Pokémon Go was launched and found lots of unusual characters in and around the village.

“It was our last day when Pikachu was discovered, so I plan to come back soon with my son to find him.”

Portmeirion is now being described as a ‘goldmine’ for high ranking Pokémon characters. It has three gyms, more than 16 Pokémon stops and a wealth of the cartoon critters.

See the full story in this Thursday’s Cambrian News