AROUND 140 war veterans and pensioners attended the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in Newport for their annual Christmas party.

Guests enjoy a special four-course Christmas lunch laid on by volunteers made up of staff from both ONS and the Intellectual Property Office (IPO).

They then enjoyed a range of entertainment, including a number of performances from singers Phoebe Wall, Jenna Bees, Holly Roberts, Soffi Edwards, Ffion Edwards and Sadie Evans from Spotlight Theatre and Vocal Academy in Ebbw Vale.

Between their acts staff from the ONS and IPO performed a few sketches, and guests were even paid a visit from Santa.

The gathering concluded the evening with a very active 12 Days of Christmas sing-along.

The event has been organised each year by ONS staff member Liz Buttigieg, who holds regular monthly cake sales at the Newport site to raise the money.

Now in its fourth year, the party was held in the ONS canteen in Duffryn, with guests made up of local veterans and pensioners, as well as visitors from across Wales, who have been nominated for the meal by the Royal British Legion and other veterans groups.

The Right Worshipful Mayor Elect of Newport, Cllr Herbie Thomas, and Mayoress Miss Jacqueline Mitchell, also attended.

Mrs Buttigieg added: "Without the volunteers on the day, and the help and support I get from the staff throughout the year, this meal couldn’t go ahead.

“Staff from across the organisation have been busy buying gifts to make up the Christmas gift bags we give to our guests."

She added that despite the hard work that goes into organising the event each year, the reactions of the guests makes it all worthwhile.

She said: “To see their faces light up when they arrive, or to see them during the 12 Days of Christmas sing-along jumping up and down like they were eight years old again, that’s why we put this on.

"Without the sacrifices these veterans have made over the years we wouldn’t be able to do any of this, so it’s only right that we give something back, and I’m proud to be able to say thank you to them for everything they’ve done.”

Mrs Buttigieg has already started putting plans in place for next year’s fifth Annual Pensioners and Veterans Christmas Party, and there is also talk of a summer day trip on the horizon.