CWMBRAN welcomed young musicians and singers from across South Wales this weekend as part of a regional musical festival.

The National Festival of Music for Youth is Europe’s largest youth musical festival, and takes place every year in a number of venues across the UK.

County Hall in Cwmbran invited youngsters to showcase their talents over the weekend at one of the festival's regional events.

Music director for Gwent Music Support Service Peter James, who helped to organise the festival on behalf of Music Youth, said: "It’s been fantastic, absolutely amazing.

People from the ages of four to 21 have been taking part and it’s been our busiest year with around 2,500 people."

Musical groups from all over South Wales, including Newport, Blaenau Gwent, Monmouth and Torfaen, all hoped to impress representatives from Music Mentors - the judges that decide who will be invited to take part in the national festival at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall in July.

Mr James added: "Eric Tebbit, the chief music mentor, said we were “the leading music service in the UK.”

That’s and amazing statement to make and a tribute to all the children and staff. It’s great to see that music is still part of people’s lives."