ABOUT 150 Newport school children are preparing to take part in a re-enactment of the 1839 Chartist uprising as part of the town's bid for city status.

The re-enactment will take place at midday this Saturday when the children march down Stow Hill to Westgate Square, chanting the original demands of the Chartists.

Once there, they will join Chance Encounter theatre group and soldiers from the 104th Regiment Royal Artillery (volunteers) to re-enact the events which took place outside the Westgate Buildings.

Val Williams, of Chance Encounter, which specialises in historical re-enactments, has been helping prepare the children from Rogerstone Primary, St Mary's RC Primary, Duffryn Juniors, St David's RC Primary and St Julians Infants.

She said: "Over the past few weeks I have been visiting schools to help the children prepare for the day.

"They will all be dressed in traditional costumes and have been about learning to chant the demands the Chartists made.

"They are very excited about taking part in the re-enactment which forms such an important part of Newport's history."

The Chartists are important to Newport's case for city status since the demands they made now form the basis of parliamentary democracy throughout the world. Ben Hoppe, chairman of the city status bid committee, said: "We take it for granted that we have voting rights, secret ballots and wages for MPs.

"These were the demands made by the Chartists here in Newport, for which local people gave their lives.

"The Chartist uprising is an important and significant part of local history and we believe that it helps strengthen our case to be made a city."

*A copy of Newport's city status bid an be found at www.newport.gov.uk/city

*PICTURED: Pupils from Duffryn Junior School, Newport, learning about the chartists.