IT IS pleasing that Saturday's anti-Nato protest march through Newport was a good-tempered affair.

Those protesters who took part clearly came to our city with respect, and whatever we believe about the issues surrounding Nato, we should all respect their right to peaceful protest.

There was some very sensible policing - stories of protesters and locals posing with mounted police officers for "selfies" are far preferable to tales of people feeling intimidated by the way any event is policed.

If that policing by consent is damaged in any way, as it has been at other major events, its effects are long-term and very damaging to our society.

Of course, part of the reason Saturday's protest was so genial was that there were far fewer protesters than some sources had led us to believe.

The idea that "up to 20,000" protesters were to descend on Newport - difficult for police planning their operation to know how many would come to the city - always seemed a little far-fetched to me.

Particularly when we were told about the size of the peace camp in Northern Ireland for their summit - seven tents.

Let's hope that genial atmosphere continues during protests on Thursday.

For most of us, although we knew there would be a huge policing operation, the sheer number of officers on the streets of our city is, if not surprising, worthy of note.

And, of course, the number of different forces who are taking part in the policing operation.

Which, of course, has led to an entertaining Twitter game for we locals #policeforcebingo.

So far, I can report in Newport officers from Durham and Lancashire, my colleagues report Merseyside and The Met, other users British Transport Police, Dyfed Powys, Greater Manchester and Hampshire officers.

As the summit draws closer, there will be numerous opportunities for you to take part.

And, don't forget to share your Nato selfies with us on Twitter and Facebook.

As far as images of this summit go, let's ensure it's not all about staged shots of world leaders - local people should get a look-in.

WE'VE been doing stories about Debenham's potentially coming to Newport for 20 years.

So this week, finally seeing the steel for the flagship Friar's Walk store going up, made it feel real - at last.

Building work has also started on a

the multi-screen cinema.

Steel frames – which make up a fraction of the 6,000 tonnes of framing which will be used for the project – have gone up for the new Cineworld cinema behind the site’s perimeter fence.

Developers Queensberry and contractors Bowmer and Kirkland will also soon be demolishing part of the former Iceland building.

High street restaurants Frankie and Benny’s and Chiquito applied for premises licences as part of the development, which is due to open in November next year.

Couple this with the work to the city centre's buildings funded by the Vibrant and Viable Places programme, designed to drive housing-led regeneration in towns and cities, and progress is now palpable.