VISITOR attractions across Gwent say they attracted thousands of visitors during the Easter bank holiday, numbers boosted by the fine weather.

With the sun shining and with temperatures soaring to 18°C degrees Celsius, the footfall at castles, visitor centres and tea rooms was higher than ever before.

Raglan Castle, in Usk, had more than 4,000 people visit over the Easter weekend.

Jill Cale, 51, who as the lead custodian lives on-site, said: “Our ‘knights of longshanks’ themed weekend went brilliantly well.

“We normally have between 500 and 800 people visit on a normal day so we were really busy.

“We are having a Tudor-themed weekend during the late May bank holiday and I am hoping I will have recovered by then.”

Mandy Lewis, 42, a receptionist for Cwmcarn Forest’s visitor centre, said: “We were particularly busy on Monday.

“On March 28 we had 696 visitors which is a fairly typical number.

On Monday 952 are recorded as coming in.

This isn’t even counting the people who would have been on the camp site, or using the tracks to cycle.

Head custodian of Caldicot Castle, Ray Evans, 32, said: “Being the start of the summer season we didn’t expect to do well but we did.

“We had around 500 people in on Monday whereas we normally have 150 people visit on bank holidays and weekends.

“We hope the good weather continues as historic monuments are very weather-dependant.”

The Tintern Old Station, in Chepstow, had more than 1,300 visitors on bank holiday Monday.

Site manager John Sterry, 53, from Chepstow, said: “Monday was the best day we have had in the 12 years since I have been here.

“We were full by noon and I was having to turn away about 70 to 80 cars an hour.”

“We organised an Easter egg hunt for the children but we think the visitors came for our lavender and parsnip cake which we ran out of,” Mr Sterry added.

The Tintern Old Station won the best tea room in Wales in 2012/13 and 2013/14.