LOCATED in a town which nestles in the Usk Valley caressed by the majestic Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains, it is no wonder that Victoria Street in Abergavenny is such a sought after place to live.

Gone are the days when long-term residents claim they knew every name residing in the 70-odd houses, as home owners now come from far and wide, as Todd Clamp, 24 from Kent and his girlfriend Katherine Woolford, 24, from the Forest of Dean can attest.

Mr Clamp said: "We really like Abergavenny, and when I got a job working in the Brecon Beacons we decided to move down here.

"It's a lovely town surrounded by countryside but has lots of amenities, so it's the best of both worlds.

"Victoria Street has a good mix of born and bred Welsh and people moving from England and other parts.

"When we first arrived, we were a bit wary of nationalism, but we only get a few light-hearted jokes and I agree with most of them," laughed Mr Clamp.

Anna Batten, 25 moved to the street from Raglan with her new husband five years ago, but while their faces were also new to the street, the Batten name certainly wasn't.

She said: "When I got married to my husband Chris who is 30, we moved into the old family house.

"His grandfather and a few generations grew up here, so it has probably been in the family for eighty plus years."

While the couple's 16-month-old son Thomas should ensure that the Batten legacy continues at the house well into the future, the growing popularity of Abergavenny as a shopping destination is having its effect on Victoria Street.

"It gets a bit frustrating when I go out in the morning and then can't park when I come home.

"It is worst on market days and I end up having to carry Thomas from wherever I can park the car to the house.

"We always seem to get the overspill from those who can't find space in the town parking areas," Mrs Batten added.

Faces are changing as in any area, but according to Annie Ransom, 50, the charms of Victoria Street mean that residents are now very rarely looking to sell their property.

She said: "I've lived here 20 years and it is a great location near town and it is also a very sought-after area. I went into the estate agents and was told that people are looking for houses here all the time, but they don't sell very often."