HUNDREDS of spiky specimens were on show in Newport on Saturday at the annual show of the South Wales branch of the British Cacti and Succulent Society.

The show takes place every year in Bassaleg Community Hall and features some of the most weird and wonderful plants on Earth.

John Marley is the chairman of the branch. He said: "The day went very well. We've had several hundred entries and some members have put in a number of plants - one guy put forward 180 on his own.

"The judges, who have visited our shows before and are very experienced, are impressed with what they've seen."

Mr Marley said some visitors come back year after year.

"We've had quite a few members of the public turn up - some of them come every year," he said.

"People think you have to know a lot about these plants to join us, but the society is for anyone interested in them or growing them.

"We have a huge amount of experience here - we've got members here who've been growing for more than 40 years.

"And if anyone wants to learn more, then they can come along to the meetings we hold twice a month."

For more information on the British Cacti and Succulent Society, visit www.bcss.org.uk or call Mr Marley on 01600 772475.