A COMPETITION to find Gwent’s unknown heroes has been launched in recognition of South Wales' Armed Forces Day next month.

On Saturday, June 25, thousands of people are expected to flock to Caerphilly as hundreds of Armed Services personnel, cadets and veterans march through the town.

The event will take place at the Owain Glyndwr Playing Fields with military stalls and marquees, demonstrations and events in a celebration of forces past, present and future.

In the build up to the event, charity Royal Air Forces Association are looking for your Armed Forces Day Hero, in an appeal to young people across Gwent.

From veterans, cadets and volunteers to teachers, shopkeepers, parents and siblings, the competition is about nominating the heroic people who make a difference to your life.

It will be open to three age ranges – 4-7, 8-11 and 12-16 – and invites entrants to produce a drawing or a poem about their own Armed Forces Day hero.

Lucky winners will receive a £30 gift voucher and a VIP pass to attend the June event where they will receive food, have their entry publicly displayed and receive their prize in front on stage.

In the past the Cardiff-based event has drawn crowds of 10,000 people and 2016 will be the first year the event will visit Caerphilly.

Winners will be decided by a judging panel and will also be recognised in an awards ceremony in Caerphilly town before the big day in June.

The competition is open to all young people across South Wales and you can submit your entries via post to Barbara Howells, the Wales area welfare officer.

The deadline is Tuesday, May 31 and all entries should be addressed to Celynen Collieries Institute and Memorial Hall, High Street, Newbridge, NP11 4FH.

For further information on South Wales Armed Forces Day, visit southwalesarmedforcesday.org.

In addition to the Caerphilly event, a supper dance will be held from 7.07pm to 11.11pm at the Garndiffaith Millennium Hall on the same day.

Members of the Varteg Old Time Dance Club will be meeting and dancing together in honour of their relatives who fought during World War II.