NEWPORT traders were celebrating, having been told that they could sell their food at a street food market at the Celtic Manor for the Nato summit.

Newsagent Jon Powell, who runs the Kiosk in the town centre, said he would be taking Sidoli’s ice cream from Ebbw Vale and copies of the South Wales Argus to sell. He also nabbed the job of providing national newspapers to the 1500 journalists expected to arrive.

Mr Powell said: “They are going to search everything before we are allowed in – even the ice cream tubs apparently. There are a lot of background checks. If I fail them it could all be off, but I’m working on the assumption I haven’t!

“I’m really excited. I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for us to get involved.

“We will be there on Thursday and Friday and we will supply national papers on Wednesday as well. We have to deliver them to a pre-arranged place outside the site.”

Rachel Masterman, 40, who set up Rachel’s Curry Kitchen a year ago in Newport indoor market but has been cooking curries at home for seven years, was also given a space.

“We had to apply, but didn’t think we would get in,” she said. “The foreign office rang me, I thought it was someone messing me around. I had a strict security check to go through so they only told me a few days ago. I’m told they’re looking forward to trying our samosas. It’s all hectic this week. We don’t know at the moment how many we’ll have to feed but they want the Nato samosa and I’m also doing a chicken ‘Cymru curry’ with rice. They want local Welsh produce.

“I still can’t take it all in,” she said. “It’s a bit of a blur.

“I started the business because I’m a curry addict, I was fed up of ordering takeaways which were bland or dripping with oil so I decided I was going to learn how to cook curry myself, which I did. It helped that my mother in law was born in India so she gave her recipes from her father.”

Another Newport business has secured a spot at the summit; Princess Tea Rooms, based on Cambrian Road, will be selling spicy Nato Naga burgers as well as the more traditional Welsh cakes and bara brith.

Manager Chris Hames, 24, said: “We have heard Obama likes his spicy stuff. We are feeling pretty confident. I’ve heard rumours when we want to get across we will have to get buses, we’re not allowed to drive or anything.”

He said the stall would be well prepared, with 100s of burgers in anticipation.