For South Wales, Aberfan was a story of enormous significance.

And for Evening Post photographer Alan Trethewy, the urgency in the newsroom that day was clear.

Alan, of West Cross, who was aged 24 at the time, remembers the importance of getting to the scene as soon as possible.

It was a baptism of fire for the young photographer, who went on to work his way up to become the Post’s chief photographer before retiring in January last year.

He said: "I was in our then office in Castle Bailey Street and I’ll always remember our news editor John Lowe running up the stairs to tell us there had been a landslide on a school in Aberfan.

"I went straight away and at the time we did not all have our own cars — we had drivers to take us in a van.

"When we arrived there, it was absolute chaos. We had just come across a scene of utter devastation."

Alan, ever the professional, managed to maintain his composure to start snapping away while putting his emotions at such a gut-wrenching scene to one side.

He said: "The camera acts like a barrier between yourself and the reality of what is going on around you.

"At the end of the day you have a job to do, and you have to get on with it.

"But, of course, you had to be sensitive about it.

"I do remember I was on duty in the evening as well that day and I had to cover a dinner at the Langland Bay Hotel.

"It just seemed a complete contrast — almost surreal — going from something like Aberfan to this event where people were enjoying themselves.

"The tragedy is something I will never forget — I remember it like it was yesterday.

"It is just burned into my memory.

"It was the most horrific thing I covered throughout my whole career."