From clown heads to magic mirrors - pieces of much-loved seaside funfair up for sale

Coney Beach amusement park shut for good earlier this month

From huge clown heads to magic mirrors, dozens of pieces of history from a much-loved seaside funfair have gone up for sale after its closure.

Coney Beach amusement park in Porthcawl, Bridgend shut its gates for good earlier this month after attracting generations of families for more than a century.

Its closure marked the end of an era but now artefacts, including vintage signs and even a Michael Schumacher statue are looking for a new home after being bought by a reclamation yard.

Owner David Redmond said there had been huge interest in the memorabilia, with crowds of people turning up to claim their own slice of nostalgia.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales Drive, Mr Redmond of Valleys Reclamation in Llanbradach, Caerphilly, said he was "surprised" when he was approached by the Evans family who own the amusement park asking if he wanted to buy the items to sell on.

"We've been back down there three or four times now," he said.

Mr Redmond said they had bought items including "loads" of vintage hand-painted signs, a giant bell, mirrors from the mirror maze.

They were even offered a ghost train which they decided not buy.

The rides from the park will go to other amusement attractions.

According to Mr Redmond, "half of Porthcawl turned up" to the reclamation yard last week after he shared photos and videos of the items for sale online.

He said the company's social media page listing the items has had more than five million views.

"There was two women fighting over one of the signs, it was quite funny actually," he said.

While the business has "spent a fortune buying this stuff", the businessman said he hoped he will be able to sell it all on. And he plans to return to the amusement park on Tuesday to buy more items.

People have been able to find pieces of their own personal history at the reclamation yard

Personal favourites of Mr Redmond's include a pair of 6ft (1.8m) clown heads which have been bought by a local artist.

"We had a lady....she used to work there for years and we had a few signs with the Manor Suite on there, she just wanted to buy it as she worked there," he said.

Meanwhile, another woman managed to find a sign with her dad's old stage name on, he added.

Porthcawl amusement park back in August with the Beach Party ride in the background

What is happening next to the Coney Beach fair site?

When the amusement park opened in 1918, George V was monarch and the country was in the final days of World War I.

It is thought that it was built to entertain American troops returning from the war and took its name from New York's pleasure park on Coney Island.

What helped cement it in the minds and hearts of many was their childhood trips during miners' fortnight.

This saw the south Wales valleys' numerous coal mines close for two weeks in the summer, prompting families to head to the coast for their annual holiday.

Now, a different future lies in store for the seafront site. The fair that has dominated the town for 100 years will make way for a 1,100-home housing development with the amusement park starting to be torn down next year.