The driving forces behind Monmouth Off Street Project (MOSP) have told the Prime Minister all about their work.

Monmouth CSO Joe Facchiano and Shirley Hughes, adventa's social enterprise development officer, were invited to a reception at 10 Downing Street to support the work being done to support the armed forces community.

The invite came after MOSP received a £69,000 grant from the MOD Armed Forces Community Covenant towards the provision of a new BMX track and skatepark off the Rockfield Road.

On Tuesday 29th October, the pair travelled to London and to Number 10 for a reception attended not only by PM David Cameron, but also the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Secretary of State for Defence Philip Hammond and HRH Prince Edward.

In all there were 150 people at the reception, including veterans and senior military officers.

Shirley said: "Going behind the doors of Number 10 was a real honour and a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"When we climbed the grand staircase to the function suite and saw all the pictures of past Prime Ministers, such as William Gladstone, Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, Harold Wilson and Tony Blair, it felt so unreal.

"We talked to representatives from worthy charities from across the country, and were so in awe of the voluntary work that they do supporting armed forces personnel returning from duties overseas.

"The Prime Minister came into the room and spoke with many of the gathered audience, and suddenly he turned and came towards us and put out his hand to me.

"I had the opportunity to tell him about the Monmouth Off Street Project and when he asked if we had managed to get any money from the Community Covenant, I said yes – £69,000, he put up his thumb and said 'well done'.

"When we left Downing Street, both Joe and I had to pinch ourselves to confirm that we had attended such a grand event and actually spoken to the Prime Minister.

"While waiting for the policeman to take our photograph outside the door of Number 10, we also saw the Downing Street cat sneaking inside."

While in London, Shirley and Joe also had a guided tour of Westminster, organised by Monmouth MP David Davies.