THE Welsh language was celebrated in Pontypool yesterday when more than 500 children took part in a local eisteddfod.

Pontypool Community Council organised the interschools eisteddfod which was held over three days at Pontypool Active Living Centre.

Padre Pio Primary School was overall winner in the infant competition on Wednesday and for the junior competition yesterday.

Today will see local secondary schools compete.

More than 500 children from years three to six from Blaenavon Heritage Voluntary Controlled Primary, Garnteg Primary, George Street Primary, Griffithstown Primary, New Inn Primary, Padre Pio Primary, Penygarn Primary and Pontnewynydd Primary took part in the junior competition yesterday.

This featured 15 categories ranging from arts and crafts and solo singing to musical instruments such as woodwind, strings and brass.

The choir category – sponsored by the Argus – saw schools singing Calon Lan.

Griffithstown Primary was hailed the winner.

Blaenavon Heritage won the Welsh folk country dancing category while Padre Pio was the winner for the group recitation category.

The inter-schools eisteddfod was compered by Lyn Samuel and is now in its 14th year after Cllr David Leek came up with the idea in the late 1990s.

The community council’s chairman councillor John Harris said it was a brilliant day and added there is a “phenomenal” amount of talent in Torfaen.