IT was a birthday party - but one with a difference, as Duffryn residents marked the 30th anniversary of the Newport estate's creation.

Some 500 people turned up to the party held in Sandpiper Park on Saturday to celebrate the occasion.

Singers, dancers and gymnasts took to the stage during the day, which was organised by by Duffryn Local Partnership Board, a cross-community group with representatives from local schools, employers, police, Duffryn Community Link and Duffryn Residents and Tenants Association (DRATA).

The entertainment started at midday and went on into the afternoon, with brass bands, a DJ, stalls, and a raffle.

The estate's younger residents were not left out of the fun either, with face-painting, a bouncy castle, a tug-of-war and junior football tournament.

Duffryn Community Link Development Officer, Bob Barry, said he was delighted that so many people turned up to the celebrations.

Organisers praised the local residents for making the day such a success.

The stage was paid for by semiconductor firm International Rectifier as the company, based at Tredegar Park Business Park, employ numerous people from the estate and hold a place on the local partnership board.

Jean Watkins, DRATA secretary, said it was a fantastic day and said dancers, the Teeny Tribe, were the stars of the show.

The group of boys and girls aged 3-10 performed two slots over the course of the day and Mrs Watkins described them as "extremely talented".

And despite the large numbers of people, local officer Pc Darren Morgan said the day was trouble-free.

He said: "The celebrations at the park all went really well and there were no dramas during the day."

Serpentine estate won awards Duffryn's first houses went up in 1978 and the estate was finished within a year.

On completion, the estate's innovative design won awards from both the Civic Trust and the Welsh Office's Good Design in Housing.

The distinctive serpentine lay-out of the estate is made up of terraced houses undulating around a central wooded area.

Since it was built, Duffryn has grown with a number of private developments springing up on the outskirts of the estate in recent years, taking the total number of houses to around 1,200.