HUNDREDS of people gathered in Risca for the Famous Forties event yesterday.

Locals came together at Risca’s Tredegar Park to enjoy a 1940s-themed day of activities in the summer sunshine on Saturday afternoon.

The event included bouncy castles and slides, food and drink stalls, football games, sumo wrestling, live entertainment and much more.

Tony Hall, chairman of City of Newport Engineering, who offered a short journey on their model steam engine to visitors, said the day had been a “great success”.

Fellow member John Norman added: “The children love coming up to the steam engine and asking how it works. When we explain it to them, their eyes twinkle.

“What we offer is educational but the kids love it as well. There’s something for everyone here.”

Deborah Little, who took part in a makeshift swing dancing lesson, said: “It’s been a joy to watch these performers. They try and get you involved as well which is great.

"It’s great to have something different in Risca. All the people I’ve spoken to have been very supportive of the event. It’s just a shame that we’ll have to wait a whole year for this weather and to do it all over again.”

Anthony Holmes, of Risca, attended the event with wife Kelly and sons Joshua and Dylan.

Mr Holmes said: “There are more people here than we thought, and there’s more to do than we imagined as well.

“It’s nice to see a lot of the community all together in one place because it doesn’t happen that often in Risca, unfortunately. It’s great that people have taken advantage of this day to get together.”

Mrs Holmes added: “You see people that you haven’t seen in ages, and that’s a wonderful thing. I’ve just bumped in to my old teacher! It’s been a great day.”