The video will start in 8 Cancel

Want to keep up to date on Welsh politics? Sign up and get political news sent straight to your inbox Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Hundreds have descended on Aneurin Bevan's hometown to honour the founder of the NHS on its 70th anniversary.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Welsh Assembly First Minister Carwyn Jones were among the crowds at Bedwellty Park in Tredegar on Sunday.

The Aneurin Bevan Day festivities began with a banner parade from Bevan's former home on Charles Street with about 200 people taking part.

As minister for health in 1948, Aneurin Bevan was the leading force behind the establishment of the National Health Service in 1948.

He was inspired by the late Victorian Workingman's Medical Aid Society in Tredegar - which allowed local miners and steel workers access to medical and hospital services in exchange for a weekly subscription.

(Image: Athena Picture Agency Ltd)

Sunday's event is the last of a week of music events, walks and parades to celebrate Bevan's life.

At 3pm, the Tredegar Town Band took to the park's bandstand and a commemorative miner's lamp was lit. The lamp will later be taken to Wesminster.

Other speakers attending the event included Health Secretary Vaughan Gething and Assembly Member for Blaenau Gwent Alun Davies.

(Image: Athena Picture Agency Ltd)

Tredegar Town Mayor councillor Haydn Trollope said: "Tredegar is the Home of the NHS and Aneurin Bevan and we are proud to present the first Bevan Festival Week.

"The town of Tredegar has a long and proud history stretching back to its early iron making days that made Wales the world’s first industrial nation.

"Seventy years on we celebrate this most wonderful gift to our nation and long may it continue to help those who need it most.”