A FIRST World War bayonet and letters sent from the front were among the artefacts and stories shared by Gwent residents at a recent roadshow held in Newport.

The ‘Welsh Voices of the Great War Online’ project paid a visit to Newport Museum where locals were invited to bring along their information and items from the First World War to be assessed, photographed and recorded.

Around 40 people visited with items including photographs of relatives from the war, boxes of letters and postcards sent from the front, prints of a battle scene from the war and the bayonet.

A casing from a large shell which had been transformed into an umbrella stand was also among the items.

Gethin Matthews, a lecturer in Welsh history at Cardiff University, who is running the project is holding seven roadshows in Wales to collect the information.

The material will then be catalogued before it is made available to the public through The People’s Collection website.

Mr Matthews said: "The roadshows have brought up some really interesting items and even the small pieces tell a great story."

Another roadshow is being held at Blaenavon’s Big Pit on September 18 from 10am until 4pm which locals are invited to take their artefacts to.

Alternatively you can make a contribution online at www.welshvoices.com