Police, fire and ambulance crews in Welshpool have got into the festive spirit by syncing their vehicle lights to Christmas music.

Retained firefighter Chris Birdsell-Jones said they wanted to find a way to put a smile on people's faces after a year of coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions.

The video of five emergency vehicles flashing their lights to 'Merry Christmas Everybody' by Shakin' Stevens outside Welshpool Fire Station has so far been watched by more than 50,000 people from around the world.

Chris said: "For us it's about the local community. All we want to do is raise a smile.

"It was about the services coming together telling the community that we are here for you and thinking of you, and to stay safe".

He said that he was inspired by a viral video by American street performer Jared Sampson of Streets and Beats. And after the video was published online on Saturday (December 12), Chris described the feedback has been "wow".

"We wanted to get a couple of hundred views and then very quickly we found ourselves with 500, then 5,000 views. It's now been seen more than 50,000 times around the world. We're getting messages from the United States and New Zealand."

Chris said he could not have done it without the support from Theo Lawrence of the Montgomeryshire Youth Music, Gwyn Cole from Still River Films, DJ Mark Williamson and photographer Phil Blagg.

He said: "Despite the pouring rain, it was heartwarming to see the commitment people will go to do this."

Chris added that some of those featured in the video were off-duty, and that crews were ready to respond at a "drop of a hat" if they were called to an emergency.