AN INAUGURAL summer event held in Newport on Saturday was so successful it will be held again next year.

The Bettws Big Picnic was attended by about 500 people on Bettws Social Club’s field and was organised by cllr Kevin Whitehead.

There was a dog show, judged by cllr Whitehead and Newport council’s mayor cllr Herbie Thomas, and representatives from the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Gwent Police and Newport City Homes attended.

Aspiring DJs were also able to speak to members of Newport’s EnergiZe Radio.

Cllr Whitehead said he was taken aback by the “unbelievable” response to the event – which closed just before rain arrived in Newport. Fortunately awnings for the event borrowed from Newport council were not required and cllr Whitehead said the only people affected by the rain were his son, his brother and himself in clearing up afterwards.

Before the Big Picnic returns next year, he said he hopes to arrange a Christmas fair in Bettws with help from the community.

And he added: “For the next one so many people have approached me that it will be spectacular – if [Saturday’s] wasn’t already.”

He said he had been determined to help people in Bettws get to know each other.

He said: “People were talking to other. People on the estate could have been strangers but today they’re not.”