NEWPORT residents were treated to tastes from all over the world without having to leave the city yesterday as part of World Food Day.

Taste of the World brought together more than 200 people from Liswerry, Alway, Somerton and Ringland to try different foods and learn about the various cultures in their neighbourhood.

Alison King, who is a Communities First worker based in Ringland, said: "It was absolutely fantastic. It was such a success and brought so many cultures together."

The free event, organised and funded by the Communities First Newport east cluster was held at Ringland Community Centre. It was part of the organisation's plan to involve all members of the community in group events.

All the stalls were run by volunteers and featured a huge range of foods including Indian, French, Sudanese, Jamaican and much more.

As well as being able to try traditional dishes, people were entertained by cultural dancing and performances from an African drumming group and a steel drum group.

Councillors Emma Corten and Alan Morris attended, as well as children from Ringland Primary school.

Meanwhile a Newport community project which grows its own veg served up homemade soup to mark the day.

The warming winter soup was on the menu for around 20 volunteers and Duffryn school children at Duffryn Community Link’s “plant to plate” project in the grounds of Tredegar House.

Jane Lewis, learning co-ordinator at the Community Link, which has been part of Duffryn from more than a decade, explained that since the project began in April it has seen a variety of fruit and vegetables grown at its allotment site, where volunteers are currently harvesting runner beans, pumpkins, herbs and french beans.

Funded by Oxfam Cymru and the Co-operative, the project was set up in order to develop a new allotment site in the laundry area of Tredegar House in partnership with Duffryn Community Link, the National Trust, and Growing Space.

The main aim is to increase uptake of the food co-operative by residents of Duffryn and to promote awareness of growing your own food.

Visit http://duffryngrowyourown.weebly.com to find out more.