EVENT organisers from across Gwent pulled out all the stops to provide entertainment to families over the Easter weekend.

Raglan Castle hosted an Easter medieval weekend with combat displays, sword decorating, have-a-go archery, medieval games and trails for kids. There were also living history displays and talks for adults.

Custodian Jill Cale said the event went "brilliantly".

She added: “Over 1,000 visitors came to the event on Saturday and it looks to be hitting the same figure on Sunday.”

The Easter Bunny also had time to hitch a ride on the train at the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway.

Volunteer at the railway, Mary Mahabir, said that ticket sales for the Easter event had been amazing with around 2,000 people taking a ride on the train over the four day event.

Her locomotive, RSH Mech Navvies Steam Locomotive 71515, was on the tracks ferrying passengers to their destination, while children could feed the Easter Bunny carrots and receive a chocolate gift.

She said that the heritage station's tea rooms had also been busy with people taking the opportunity to enjoy hot cross buns and cakes.

There was also an Easter Egg Hunt held at Tredegar House with the activity seeing people searching through the gardens for clues so that they could solve the Easter puzzle to win a chocolate prize.

Visitors took the opportunity to don their Easter bonnets and take part in a variety of games.

On Good Friday, there were also fun and games at Pontypool Indoor Market with another children’s egg hunt taking place throughout the day.

At midday there was a bonnet parade and prizes were awarded for the most imaginative creation.

There was also face painting and many of the stall holders put on special offers.

To mark one of the most important events in the Christian calendar around 100 people witnessed a re-enactment of the crucifixion in Brynmawr on Good Friday.

The Valleys Family Church performed their 10th Passion Play in the town which gave the audience an insight into the Easter story.

Around 20 volunteers from the church took part in the play, beginning with the Last Supper at the top of Beaufort Street, the betrayal in Market Square and finally Jesus’ crucifixion on the top of the hill by Asda.

The audience grew as Jesus dragged the cross past busy shops up to the site of the crucifixion.