CWMBRAN has been taken over by more than 1,000 modified and high-performance cars tonight.

Organisers of the '100% Legal' event, Valleys Cruise, said there were 800 cars packed into Avondale Industrial Estate with another 700 parked around the area as there wasn't enough room for them to get on the site.

Organiser Dai Sadler estimated there are around 5,000 people there.

Mr Sadler said it had been a massive success with the warm weather bringing out three times as many people as expected.

People wandered around listening to modified stereos and gazing at the interiors, bodywork and alloy wheels on show.

Among the most popular were Lightning One, Lightning Two and Mater from Pixar's film Cars.

Friends Anthony Bindon, 31, and Matt Stanton, 39, from Newport and Rob Swain from Cwmbran have spent thousands on their cars and take them to charity events around the UK.

John Stone, 23, from Bristol, said: "There's nothing like this over the bridge, it brings so many car enthusiasts together. The cars are a bonus really, the main thing is all the friendships you make."

Car enthusiasts started gathering at the site ahead of the scheduled 6.30pm start time, meaning the industrial estate was packed out.

Gwent Police officers patrolled the event.