Elvis lookalikes have been appearing in Porthcawl

Hundreds of fans are gathering in the seaside town for a three-day festival celebrating the legendary singer.

Dozens of tribute artists will play at various venues around the town over the weekend and compete to win in The Elvis awards.

Other highlights include an Elvis-themed fairground.

Organiser Peter Phillips said the event had grown and grown since he first started.

"It started as a one-off show to reward Elvis tribute acts, but it turned into a festival," he said.

"Now it has turned into the biggest Elvis festival in Europe."

He said he was excited by the range of events.

Elvis is among the most impersonated acts in the world

"The one I really like is that the local church is putting on an Elvis gospel service on Sunday."

Over the weekend, Porthcawl mayor Phil Rixon and his wife will also be renewing their vows in a recreation of the wedding scene from the film Blue Hawaii.

"They are building an Hawaiian garden on Porthcawl seafront, and the mayor is turning up in a pink Cadillac with a troop of American cars behind and Harley Davidsons at the rear," said Mr Phillips.

Councillor Rixon said it was a great opportunity to mark 30 years of marriage.

"I wanted to get our marriage blessed in a significant way, and I thought this was the best way to do it," he said.

Devotees of The King, who died aged 42 in 1977, will also be to test their knowledge of their hero in "the ultimate Elvis quiz".