ONE Rogerstone resident spotted Barack Obama arriving over her garden fence this morning.

Cathy King, who lives next door to the 250-pupil school and could see both Mr Cameron and Mr Obama arriving over her garden fence, described what happened on Wednesday once the visit location went public.

"We had a knock on the door and were told that there were some dignitaries arriving, and not to panic about the barriers going up," said Mrs King, who lives with husband Adrian and their twin 26-year-old daughters Leanne and Katrina.

"It's my day off work today and I asked whether I'd be able to get out. They said not to plan any trips for the morning. I'm really excited to see Barack Obama. I've lived here for 23 years and this is what we've been waiting for!"

People thronged the streets of Rogerstone this morning for a day they'd never forget - the first visit to Wales by a serving US President.

For his first public engagement during the Nato summit US President Barack Obama visited Mount Pleasant Primary School, along with UK Prime Minister David Cameron.

Once inside the school, which was surrounded at the fence by hundreds of residents and dozens of reporters and cameramen, who even stood on the roofs of nearby garages to get a better look, Mr Obama and Mr Cameron spoke to a Year 6 class of pupils who had just had a lesson on Nato from reservist Lieutenant Rachael Broughton from the Welsh Transport Regiment in Pembrokeshire.

The pair entered the room saying "Bore da" to the youngsters and two of the children read out messages of welcome to each of the visitors.

In the school hall Mr Obama and Mr Cameron sat down with Year 5 children who'd been drawing pictures of iconic Welsh scenes as part of the #myWales campaign on social media.

After around half an hour the pair decamped to a convoy of vehicles which took them back to Celtic Manor in time for a "family" photo of all heads of state, ahead of the summit officially starting.

Speaking after the visit, deputy head teacher Andy Rothwell told reporters that the school had tweeted the Nato Twitter account back in June asking for a visit.

"It must have sown a seed," said Mr Rothwell, who is deputy to head teacher Andrew Williams. "It's an historic day for Rogerstone and Newport. Barack Obama started his summit at Mount Pleasant Primary School and the memories for the pupils will last a life time."

The school received both Mr Obama and Mr Cameron's signatures and will display them alongside a big mural of the pupils' Wales-themed drawings.