From Hollywood blockbusters to Cirencester Advent Market - if you need snow without having to rely on the weather, there's only one place to turn...

If Eskimos really do have hundreds of words for snow, then one Cotswold company could probably make a different type of snow for each one.

And if you're dreaming of a picture-postcard winter scene then look no further than Ebley-based Snow Business International.

Formed back in 1982, the company specialises in all things snowy. From white Christmases to white weddings, they've got it covered.

Owner and founder Darcy Crownshaw runs the show from the Snow Mill in his own centre of excellence for snow, he explained how it all started with a phone call.

He said: "I was working for a paper company and we got a call saying can you make some paper that looks like snow? I asked if I could do it and my boss said I could as long as it didn't interfere with my work.

"After three years of doing it part time I decided to go for it. In my first year I only made £985; it wasn't a good year.

"Now we make snow for everyone, there are about 128 types, made from plastic, paper, polymers, cardboard, anything."

Darcy said festive themes weren't initially part of the plan but an order for £300,000 worth of snow from Venezuela changed all that.

Snow Business now creates winter scenes for any requirement, even making white wedding dreams come true - in June!

"We can create magical snow falls and work reasonably quickly," says Darcy. "We have created snow falls outside the church while the wedding is going on inside."

The company's real expertise is in creating winter in an instant for the big screen.

If you've seen a snowy seen in a film in the past 20 years then most likely it was made by one of the Snow Business 17 teams worldwide.

Recent snowy credits in the movies include The Day After Tomorrow, Bridget Jones and the Harry Potter films.

But ask Darcy what his highlight has been and he'll opt for a blockbuster from the small screen.

"Band of Brothers was utterly fantastic." He said. "They had TV rights before they made it so it was quality without money getting in the way. We were allowed to do the job properly, with absolute trust."

Darcy explained 'Christmas' in the TV and film world usually falls outside the festive season.

He said: "Generally as a company we are doing snow somewhere in the world everyday without fail, but we tend to be busiest in November and February."

He admits his snow obsession does mean he watches his films and TV shows with an especially critical eye.

"When I watch films I'm not looking at the actors," he said. "I'm looking at the snow. But when I'm watching Band of Brothers there is not one moment where I cringe."

With yet more films in the pipeline and an eighteenth office set to open in Educador, it seems like there really is no business like Snow Business.