HUNDREDS of people came together to celebrate Polish heritage and culture at a festival in Newport.

The first ever Polish Day Festival took place at Tredegar Park on Saturday, with live bands, stalls and competitions among the attractions.

Families bathed in the sunshine to enjoy live music on a stage during the afternoon and into the evening.

Mayor of Newport, Cllr David Fouweather, officially kick started the festival, before a beauty pageant, football competition and art competition took place.

A tug of war, eating competition and charity auction also took place at the event organised by Cafe Ludek Polish community cafe and Polish women's institute, Kolo Gospodyn Miejskich Newport.

DJ Robert Robovski was among those to entertain the crowds.

Zuzka Hilton, one of the organisers, said the event proved highly successful.

"It was amazing," she said.

"There were loads of people who turned up and it was really well supported, not only from the Polish community but from other communities too including the Welsh and English."

Among those in attendance were representatives from Newport Live, the Newport Medieval Ship project, police cadets and Gwent businesses.

Foodies enjoyed Cafe Ludek's barbecue and bargain hunters browsed a range of craft stalls. The festival celebrated Polish Heritage Day which is also being celebrated at events across England and Wales.

The event, in its second year, aims to promote and celebrate Polish culture, heritage of past generations and the positive contribution made by the million members of the Polish community to the cultural, economic and social life in the United Kingdom. This year's theme to the day is celebrating 100 years since Poland gained independence.

Last year the day saw around 50 initiatives across the UK attract around 25,000 participants. This year, as in the previous one, the official symbol of the initiative is the red-and-white chequerboard, which was the symbol of the Polish pilots who fought in the Battle of Britain.