LAURA Anne Jones praises Monmouth Lantern Parade for bringing light and hope after the recent flooding.

Regional Member of the Senedd Laura Anne Jones has praised the Monmouth Christmas Lantern Parade for bringing light, colour and renewed community spirit to the town, following weeks of disruption caused by the severe flooding.

Despite the difficult weather, Laura attended the event with her family and said she was “deeply moved” by the effort made by residents, schools, volunteers and local groups to keep the much-loved parade alive.

She described this year’s lantern display as “particularly stunning” and a powerful reminder of Monmouth’s resilience.

“This parade could not have come at a more important time. So many families and businesses had an incredibly tough few weeks after the floods, yet the community came together with creativity and joy to lift the spirits of the whole town. I was so impressed with the beautiful lanterns and the hard work that went into them. It was a wonderful celebration of Monmouth at its best.”

She also praised local traders for their determination to bounce back. Several businesses have not reopened after flood damage, including the newly launched Bar 125 which was full of customers on the night.

“Seeing our shops and hospitality venues filling up again shows how much people want to support one another, It is vital that we continue backing local businesses as they recover. Events like this help bring footfall back into the town centre and strengthen a sense of community pride.”

This years lantern parade theme was “Butterfly Ball and the Grasshoppers Feast” and town was lit up with butterflies, dragonflies and a variety of well-crafted creations.

The community spirit was demonstrated, with friends, families and volunteers all coming together during this difficult time.