THE Women’s Institute centenary baton arrived in Gwent on its 2,500-mile trip around Wales and England.

On Wednesday, the Gwent Federation of WI were handed the specially designed baton from the Glamorgan Federation, collected by the mayor of Newport, cllr Matthew Evans.

The centenary celebrations began on January 1, when the baton was launched in Anglesey where the first WI meeting was held in 1915.

The baton is currently travelling throughout the 69 federations in the UK, and will finish its trip at the annual meeting in June 2015 at the Royal Albert Hall, London.

The Gwent Federation has 1,450 members in 51 WI’s, who were all excited to receive the baton.

The baton was taken to Tredegar House in Newport on Wednesday by Gwent Federation chairman, Marian Martin, where around 80 members, made up of seven groups from the local area, held a craft stall event.

On Thursday it was taken to Raglan, Llandenny-Llangybi and Usk, before arriving in Caerleon for Afternoon Tea and onto Ponthir, where members welcomed it in Edwardian costume on Friday.

On Saturday morning the members of Abersychan, Cwmavon, Cwmbran Allsorts, Newbridge, Pontllanfraith, Tredegar and Talywaun took the baton on the Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway.

Arriving at Big Pit, a group then took the baton underground for a tour.

The baton was then taken to an afternoon garden party for Newbridge and Pontllanfraith, and on Sunday it headed to Shirenewton, before being taken to Gilwern and Llanfoist yesterday.

Herefordshire will take the baton over the border today.

Each federation will upload 12 photos to social media.