Pembrey relives the steam days of yesteryear

The clock went steaming back 100 years in Pembrey.
Billowing clouds of steam from lovingly restored and rebuilt gleaming brassy and copper engines driven by coal stained enthusiasts whistled into Randall Square in the shadow of the Norman tower of St Illtyd’s Parish Church.
Llanelli and district Model Engineers were holding their eighth annual steam rally over two days of the weekend with the highlight a steam procession from Pembrey Country Park two miles along Factory Road, Lando Road and Edwards Terrace, Gwscwm Road to Randall Square.
There were more than 50 engines from as far afield as Cornwall on show and half of them steamed into the village for a rendezvous at the Red Lion Inn.
Landlady Rhoma Spittles said: “What fantastic colourful characters these steam folk are. They bring a lot of fun to the village twice a year.”
In the park, visitors were entertained with 22 steam model railway engines on the miniature railway.
Club chairman Rob Raynor said their 85-strong membership had put in Spring and Autumn Steam rallies since 2006 that were attracting enthusiasm from as far as Kent.
He said: “Some of the models range from £20k to £100k in value.
“We are investing £10,000 in extending our track in Pembrey Country Park and hope to shortly register as a charity to attract grants to further enhance the facility.”