TUCKED away between two rows of garages in Pontllanfraith was a row of tables piled high with food.

The street party for residents from Bryn Road and Highfield Road pulled out all the stops with around 40 people having to be turned away.

The 39 children and 79 adults enjoyed a buffet which included rolls donated by resident Colin Brace from Brace’s Bakery and pasties from Colin’s Fish Bar as well as a hog roast later on.

Tables were decorated with Union Jack tablecloths, bunting blew in the wind overhead and adults were even recovering from hen and stag parties held on Wednesday night.

Residents had cleared the lane of weeds and nettles specially for the party so children could play games like splat the rat and take part in a royal treasurer hunt and were up as early as 5.30am today to get things ready.

Each child was given a commemorative coin from the Royal Mint by one of the area’s oldest residents, 92-year-old Mary Glencross.

Organiser Kristyn Harris, whose 13-year-old son Daniel was a page boy and six-year-old daughter Aimee was a bridesmaid, said: “We didn’t even know who lived a few doors away from us. This is the only chance of us getting to know each other.”

She said she know believes she has more than 100 new friends.

Further along the valley in Swffyrd, the village’s community centre was packed with children and parents many of whom were wearing royal wedding t-shirts and union jack hats and flip flops.

Around £2,000 was raised by groups and volunteers who use the centre to make the party free for the 350 people who attended.

Children had special invitations to the party and were treated to a buffet outside, entertainment, Royal Olympics, a two hour disco and a special visit from Mickey Mouse.

Each child also received a souvenir mug and goody bag.

The community was also invited into the centre to watch the royal wedding on a large screen before the party got into full swing.

The community centre’s chairman Den Hughes said many people who went along were people they had never seen before.

He said: “It was absolutely magical in here when the royal wedding was on.”

Many of the volunteers, including Val Assender and Jan Johnson, were at the centre from 7.30am to cook the food.

Today’s party marked the finale of a week of events for different groups in the community which included a game of royal bingo on Tuesday.