HUNDREDS of excited men, women and children gathered outside a Newport primary school this morning to watch the arrival of US President Barack Obama.

People headed to Mount Pleasant Primary School in Rogerstone from as early as 6am after it was announced the president would join Prime Minister David Cameron to visit the school.

Father-of-two from Risca, Russell Bishop, said he allowed his sons to miss a morning of school to come and watch Obama’s arrival.

Mr Bishop said: “It’s just one of these unique moments, we have in the first US president to ever come to Wales in our neighbourhood. I think the warmth of the city will come through in Newport unlike other cities.”

The president is one of 60 world leaders attending the Nato summit in Newport today and tomorrow.

Police moved crowds from the area to both sides of the school entrance, and instead a seven-row thick line of people formed along Ruskin Avenue.

Many former students came back to watch the president’s arrival, which they said was very “emotional”.

Ex-pupil Amy Canham, whose daughter Cerys is in year six at the school, said: “It’s fantastic. My daughter couldn’t sleep last night.

“I told her to count sheep but instead she started counting the number of times Obama was running round the White House.”

Bystanders stood on garden walls to get a view of the long convoy of cars and vans, with President Obama waving from a black car with tinted windows.

Lisa Evans, from High Cross, said: “It’s very exciting and a huge buzz. We got here about 8am this morning. It’s a good school anyway so a perfect place for him to come. It’s inspirational.”