MEMORIES of the old Severn Tunnel Junction yards were reignited when former workers gathered to mark the 25th anniversary of the closure of the complex.

Despite a large campaign by railway workers, the local community and councils British Rail closed the yards on October 12 1987.

Around 80 railway workers gathered at the Severn Tunnel non-political club in Rogiet to reminisce about their time at the yards.

Organisers Tony Rakes and Tommy Rees were delighted with the turnout with former workers from all over south Wales and south west England marking the anniversary.

Mr Rees said: "Our numbers dwindle with each passing year but it's great to see so many make the effort to come."

The evening included an exhibition of photographs of the yards at work and there was a video of the final train departing.

Mr Rakes, who was an assistant train driver for 10 years at the depot, said: "We'd been told about a year before that it was shutting and originally it was supposed to have closed in early '87.

"We got a reprieve and it closed in the October but it was still a shock.

"There were 130 drivers based there, 80 guards and then you had signalling and permanent way (track) men and others. There must have been 500 people working there."