A COMMUNITY group in Newport officially opened two new kitchens which will be used for a host of activities.

Bettws in Bloom, based on Lambourne Way, was awarded funding from Awards for All Wales and Newport City Homes to update the kitchens.

They had been in use since the centre first opened more than 15 years ago.

Bettws in Bloom’s chairman of trustees Colin Baker said: “It was great and it went really well. The kids were there cooking for us and they made sausage baps, it was excellent.

“We have got about 40 people altogether who use them for alternative learning and we have got about 25 groups who will use them.”

And he said overall the Big Lottery Fund, who run Awards for All Wales, has given the group around £60,000 over a number of years.

Over the last few months Mr Baker said the building has had £17,000-worth of improvements.

It took about a month for the new facilities to be installed.

They will be used for healthy eating classes for Newport High School pupils, senior citizens and by any other groups who use the centre.

Bettws in Bloom is a community group that deals with environmental, educational and recreational issues on the Bettws estate.

As part of the Bettws Festival next month, Bettws in Bloom will be hosting a Downton Abbey tea party from 2pm on July 16.

For information on the festival, which runs from July 4 to July 18, visit: bettws.org.uk/bettws-festival.html