British motor racing legend Nigel Mansell made a pit stop on the Cambrian coast to perform the opening ceremony at a family’s new £700,000 restaurant and bar.

Owner Gwynfor Evans and his family have worked over the winter to transform a former bar to a quality venue, renamed Nineteen57, at Islawrffordd Caravan Park at Talybont, near Barmouth.

Mansell, who has holidayed at the park for 58 years, and still has a caravan holiday home there, is a close family friend of Gwynfor and his sons, Dylan and Geraint.

He said: “I feel like part of the Evans family and I’m incredibly proud of the evolution of the park and what has been achieved here over many years.”

Gwynfor actually lays claim to setting Mansell on the road to motor racing stardom by starting him go-karting.

Mansell added: “How many people can say they have been coming on holiday to the same place for 58 years?

“I hope that I can keep coming here for many more years.

“To have the friendship and support of the Evans family is something that I have treasured all my life. Loyalty is something that a lot of people don’t understand these days.”