GWENT businesses and attractions are looking forward to a double boost this month as back-to-back bank holidays look set to bring out thousands of locals as well as visitors from further afield.

Hotels and bed and breakfasts in Gwent are even turning people away because of people wanting to take advantage of the extra bank holiday for the royal wedding.

Local attractions such as the National Roman Legion, Caerleon and Big Pit are expecting to beat previous visitor figures Jenny Taylor-Jones, who owns Abergavenny's Guest House, said she is fully booked over both weekends.

She said: "People started booking in February. We have been really surprised that so many people are wanting to come away for the royal wedding."

Jana Jones who owns Hunters Moon Inn, Abergavenny, was also among those who was fully booked as was Abergavenny’s Plas Derwen hotel and Llansantffraed Court Hotel.

Kathryn Hitchings who owns Pendragon House, Caerleon, said she had people coming as far as Austria and Copenhagen over the next couple of weeks.

Staff at the Celtic Manor said the 350 places on a special Royal Wedding package they were providing was also nearly booked up.

With hotels booked up, tourist attractions are also expecting high numbers including Blaenavon’s Big Pit.

Communications officer, Kathryn Stowers said that while a usual weekend brings in around 1,500 visitors, over each bank holiday weekend they were expecting between 2,500 and 3,000 visitors.

Newport Wetlands is hoping to top Easter week last year when it brought in more than 2,600 visitors while staff at the National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, are expecting high visitor figures including around 600 people on May 2 alone when they hold an Eat, Drink and be Merry event.

Pubs are also expecting a boost. Landlord at the Coach and Horses Inn, Chepstow, Ian Meyrick said he was hoping to see trade increase by a third and said the pub's six bedroom bed and breakfast was fully booked for the first time since the Ryder Cup.

Landlady at The Ridgeway pub, Newport, Rosemary Wallis said overall trade is expected to increase by around 50 per cent over the two bank holidays and 250 people are booked in for their 12-hour Royal wedding party on April 29.