A GWENT rock band member was over the moon to spend the evening with his hero recently, snooker player Jimmy White.

Phil Spokes, from Cwmbran, plays lead guitar and vocals in 4th Street Traffic group, which has released three albums and in 2010 played the warm up slot for the Stereophonics at the Summer in the City concert in Cardiff.

Mr Spokes has always been a fan of the snooker player, so the band’s lead vocalist Al Britton bought him tickets to a Gentlemen’s Evening event atBlackwood Cricket Club where Mr White was the guest speaker.

The two rock singers spent much of the evening with snooker legend, who they said regaled him with their tales.

Mike Spokes, Phil’s dad -who helps with the band - said: “Phil has met Jimmy White a few times before and he must have remembered him.

“They sat together at the dinner. At one point my phone rang and it was Phillip saying what was happening.

“Jimmy was telling him all sorts of stories, he was in hysterics. They were getting on really well, laughing and joking.

“Philip has said it was the best night he ever had. He could not get to sleep when he got home.”