RESIDENTS in Pill enjoyed a two week festival where they could try their hand at a range of activities including martial arts, football and jewellery making.

The festival ran from March 30 to April 10 and alongside the various activities - which included up-cycling sessions, DJ scratching and sport coaching, health checks were provided to visitors.

Around 30 people up each day to take part in the fun held on Francis Drive basketball courts.

The aim was for the community to learn more about the Pill regeneration project.

Newport City Homes has submitted a planning application to transform the "rabbit warren" around Williams Close, Raglan Court, Coulson Close and Francis Drive in Pill into a safer, cleaner and more attractive environment for residents.

The £5 million redevelopment project has been five years in the making and has involved Pill residents both young and old.

Liaison officer for Newport City Homes, Alison Godwin, said: “It went really well. Some good links were forged and went a long way to building trust in the community, paving the way for future events.”

The event was held in partnership with Communities First, Newport City Council, Positive Futures Sports Development and IZone.

Pill was formed in the early 1900s and underwent a transformation during the 1960s and 70s when the terraced streets were replaced with, at the time, an award-winning estate.

It is now however generally thought that the design in the area has been instrumental in an increase in deprivation and crime, as well as causing access issues for emergency service vehicles.