PEOPLE from Torfaen turned out to recognise the work done by Gwent's Land Army girls in the Second World War.

Around 80 people gathered in the Parkway hotel, Cwmbran, on Friday for the afternoon tea party for around 25 of the ex-servicewomen who worked across the UK on the home front.

Land Army girls did a variety of jobs, included planting and picking vegetables, milking cows and working in munitions factories, both during and after the war.

Complete with badges recognising their work from DEFRA, the women were treated to traditional Second World War songs performed by pupils from Garnteg School and an exhibition of memorabilia from Pontypool museum.

Dorothy Mellen, 78, of Orchard Place, Cwmbran, was a Land Army girl from the age of 16, she snuck in under-age as you had to be 17 to join, and worked on farms from Newport to Ross-on-Wye, serving from 1946-1948.

She said: "I enjoyed all of it - it was the outdoor life, the company as marvellous, the girls from Wales were fantastic."

Mrs Mellen said the celebrations were "lovely."

Speeches were also given by the Mayor of Torfaen, Aneurin James, Torfaen MP Paul Murphy and older persons champion for Torfaen, councillor Lewis Jones.

Mr Jones said to country owed the Land Army girls a "great debt of gratitude," for their work.

Mary Workman, 82, of Beaumaris Drive, Llanyrafon, served for four years from 1939, joining at the age of seventeen.

Mrs Workman was based around Rumney and St Mellons, doing vegetable picking and planting.

"I enjoyed it most when it was dry," she joked, adding: "It was good, the company with the other ladies was great."

Mrs Workman said a highlight of the week would often be when the ladies got the chance to go dancing in St Mellons.

Vera Price, 82, of John Street, Pontypool, worked near Chepstow on everything from hay-making to cow milking.

Another who was just 17 when she started in 1939 for an eighteen month stint, Mrs Price is another to highlight the camaraderie among the girls.

"I liked the company and it was nice to be able to do my bit, I really enjoyed it."

She described the tea party as "wonderful"

"It’s something we didn’t expect, I’ve very much enjoyed it. It’s nice to meet up with the other ladies - we’ve all been talking together," she said.

Cllr Jones added: "The Land Army girls were very important to keep the food chain ticking over, without the work they've done, we could have suffered from deprivation."