A TASTE of Brazil came to Newport on Saturday - as more than 500 people danced the samba through the streets for this year's Maindee festival.

The procession made its way from the former Fairoak Primary School across Chepstow Road and Corporation Road to Newport Rugby's Rodney Parade, where the celebrations continued into the night.

The giant figures in the parade included a phoenix, a witch, a healthy heart holding carrots, and a bad heart covered in junk food and holding cigarettes, the Big Friendly Giant from Roald Dahl's book, an enormous Welsh red dragon, and a giant Girl Guide - all to the music of Maindee's own samba band, Batatan.

Andy O'Rourke, of Malarky Arts, helped prepare the spectacular. He said: "We've worked with probably 21 different groups to make costumes and there are 11 giant characters.

"There were 450 people involved in the preparations, but there must be at least 200 more who've turned up today."

Children from Eveswell Primary and Newport East 8th Guides all joined in the fun, and youngsters dressed as dragons, bees, leaves and unicorns took part in the parade, which was led by the ingeniously constructed and bicycle-propelled Rinky-Dink sound system.

Festival chairman John Hallam said: "The Maindee conmmunity has come together and enjoyed a brilliant day of arts and music.

"On Friday morning the Rinky-Dink sound system had just come back from Glastonbury. They needed major repairs and they didn't think they'd be able to make it, but they were on site at 7am after working through the night to get here.

"We've genuinely had more support this year than ever before and we're really pleased that Maindee is taking off with such a happy and colourful event."

* In the picture: The Rinky-Dink Mobile Bicycle Solar Powered Sound System with Dan Rinky Dink and cyclist Sabahat Ali, 11.