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This car is in its element in beautiful North Wales; Top Gear screeches into town ... and tackles Brunstrom

TOWN screeched to a halt yesterday after TV programme Top Gear descended to test drive a top-of-the-range sports car.

Motormouth presenter Jeremy Clarkson wasn't behind the wheel in Conwy's narrow streets.

But his petrolhead sidekick Richard Hammond sped around the town in a pounds 115,000 Aston Martin DB9 V12.

The team had brought a couple of puppies with them for a stunt to test the sports car's appeal.

Conwy people were asked to choose between a cute puppy or the motor.

Wayne Hughes, 40, of the Blue Bell pub in Castle Street, said: 'I just walked past and I was asked which would be best for your image - the puppy or the car.

'I picked the puppy. If you've got a puppy in your arms women will come to you, while if you had an Aston Martin, people are a bit afraid of going next to a posh car like that.'

Mr Hughes' offerings of a coffee and a race against him on his Honda 900cc motorbike were not taken up.

Meanwhile after skilfully parking the borrowed beast of a car in a space specially kept for him outside Lovejoy's Antiques, Hammond leant on it while talking to the Daily Post.

He was also signing autographs, mostly for pupils of Leftwich County High, Cheshire who had come to Conwy to visit the castle.

Joining them was grandmother Ann Huckle, 60 from Bryn Pydew, Conwy, who wanted an autograph for grandson Alex Wilby, 11, of Penrhyn Bay.

The Top Gear team were spending the day in Conwy after rushing back from a whistlestop tour of Iceland, Norway and Spain.

Dressed in a leather jacket, Hammond said: 'It's just nonstop. It's ridiculous.

'We have been filming the Aston Martin and have been extra careful of speeding.

'We came to North Wales because the roads are so good.

I can't remember the names but we came to town to test its appeal asking people if they would prefer a golden retriever pup or the car' It's a bit corny really.' 'It's beautiful, in its element. We have been driving on beautiful roads on the coast and inland. We've had sunshine and we've been posing through town.'

He said they had stayed at the Sychnant Pass Hotel, which was 'absolutely wonderful.'

Mr Hammond criticised North Wales Police's tactics to reduce speed by using cameras.

He said: 'I just want to say more speed doesn't kill.'

He added that he has not yet spoken to a single police officer who agrees with speed cameras and feels sorry for officers who have been replaced by a 'camera on a stick'.

A producer chipped in to say that the new series of Top Gear starts on May 22.

The show was over and the crew sped off to a nearby car park to wolf down their fish and chips lunch

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