NEWPORT churches will hold prayer vigils to coincide with the Nato summit at the Celtic Manor this week.

Michael Taplin, a minister with Newport City Church, said: “It’s widely recognised that there is turmoil in the areas that concern Nato member nations. Churches from across Newport will be meeting to pray specifically for the Nato Summit to be productive and positive and for harmony and good order in Newport and Cardiff.”

Prayers will be held tonight (Weds) at St Woolos Cathedral from 6pm until midnight, with each hour led by ministers from different backgrounds.

People are welcome to drop in when they can and stay as long as they are able. .

On Thursday and Friday, the days of the Summit itself, prayers at the cathedral will be held at 9am and 10am. They will be “specific prayers for each day’s discussions and decisions to be positive in view of the various tensions that Nato countries are currently facing".

On Friday there will be another prayer session held from 6pm until midnight at St Paul’s House, followed by a communion service on Saturday from 12pm until 1pm at St Paul’s Church steps.

Mr Taplin said: “The churches in Newport are working closer together than they have for hundreds of years. We are in dangerous, difficult times in Europe particularly. Nato has proved to be a force that has given us peace for 70 years, since the Second World War. We need to pray for our leaders and that’s why Christians are attending these prayer vigils.”

He added street pastors would be out during the nights of the summit to try and ensure everything remained peaceful in the city centre.