RE-ENACTMENTS of the Passion of Christ took place in Newport and Brynmawr today.

People in Newport watched as members of the King's Church dressed as Roman soldiers led a bloodied Jesus, played by Ric Turner, through the city centre.

Now in its 12th year, the Passion Play attracted around 100 people who watched and then followed 20 actors along Commercial Street. The procession started from St Paul’s Church and depicted Jesus’ final journey before crucifixion.

More than 40 people gathered to watch members of the Brynmawr Family Church in their Passion Play. This is the fourth year it has been performed in the town.

With Stuart Wheatman,40, playing the role of Jesus, crowds followed the actors who carried a cross as the play progressed from entrance to the Welfare Park to the picnic site by the lake on the Asda retail park.

With Chris Harris narrating, singers, dancers and actors from the Family Church re-enacted the trial before Pontias Pilate (played by Dafydd Robbins), the mockery of the soldiers (played by Fraser Allibone and Steve Makepeace) and the crucifixion.

The scenes were followed by the singing of hymns such as Amazing Grace, Let there be Joy and Thank you for the Cross Lord.

Mr Wheatman, pastor of Brynmawr Family Church, said: "For us it gets the real message of Christianity and why Jesus died on the cross over to our audience. "When you see it happening it makes you realise how horrific it was."

Calvin Bythel, 68, a minister at the Pentecostal Church in Brynmawr was among those watching the performance. "This is the fourth time I have watched the play," said Mr Bythel.

"I think it’s important to tell the story of the crucifixion for the children that don’t understand what Easter is really about." ends