Get the biggest stories sent straight to your inbox Sign up for regular updates and breaking news from WalesOnline Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

It has been a decade now since filming wrapped up on one of Britain's best-loved sitcoms.

And this weekend there was a Gavin & Stacey reunion of sorts – but not one that you'll find on the small screen.

After retracing the journey back over the border from England Smithy's trusty Volvo is making an appearance for one time only as part of a family holiday back to Barry .

But while Smithy, Nessa, and baby Neil are nowhere to be seen the vehicle's Surrey-based owners are wasting no time taking Smithy the car on a trip down memory lane.

(Image: Richard Swingler) (Image: Richard Swingler)

David Webb, Smithy's new owner, said: "There's a few places that will be interesting to go to – we'll definitely get photos with Gwen's house and go along that terraced street.

"To be honest I get asked for photos [at home]. I get in the Sainsbury's down here and I'll normally offer parents to let their kids sit in the car for a photo.

"I imagine people in Barry will be bigger fans of Gavin & Stacey already so it will be a busy day for him."

(Image: Richard Swingler)

With family connections across south and west Wales, insurance syndicate worker David originally jumped at the chance of owning the slice of comedy history while looking for a car to help move house last year.

Complete with the original roof rack, air freshener and iconic 'tilin', roofin', plasterin', & feng shui' advert still on the windows, the dad-of-two is never quite sure what people's reaction will be.

(Image: Richard Swingler) (Image: Richard Swingler) (Image: David Webb) (Image: BBC)

Speaking previously David, from Woking, said: "I really like classic cars so I was originally looking for a 1970s Volvo estate but found this one. Being a Gavin & Stacey fan, and also being Welsh myself, I thought this would be great fun.

"Whilst I was waiting in the vets a lady saw Smithy parked outside and moaned for five minutes about how she had been asking her husband for five years to do some tiling and all he does is sit and watch the TV before she asked me if I could give her a quote.

"When I told her I wasn't Smithy and it was the car from Gavin & Stacey everyone in the vets who overheard, including the receptionist, went out to photograph it for their Facebook page.

"I have a mask of Smithy (James Corden) I sometimes put on at traffic lights – it makes people laugh. They then mouth at me: 'Is that the real car?'"

(Image: David Webb)

While David grew up spending his summers on the beaches of Barry Island this will mark the first visit for his daughter Jessica and son Max.

To mark the occasion the family even arranged to meet up with Dave's Coaches – now, fittingly, a Gavin & Stacey tour bus – and follow the vehicle around the sights.

(Image: Richard Swingler) (Image: Richard Swingler) (Image: Richard Swingler)

Speaking before his visit David, 47, said: "My mum is Welsh and lived down in Cardiff so my uncle used to take us as kids to the big amusement park.

"I used to go in the 80s when it was at its peak and I've taken my wife to Barry but my kids have never been.

"Hopefully [Smithy] will get us to Barry and back – that's the biggest challenge. He's done 150,000 miles and has just had a service and a cam belt changed so hopefully he's up for the job."