Hollywood star Anthony Hopkins is back in Port Talbot having selfies and visiting his old haunts

There was a very special visitor in Port Talbot today, as hometown hero and Hollywood megastar Sir Anthony Hopkins met some of his adoring fans as he revisited some of his old haunts.

Sir Anthony, aged 81, grew up in Wern Road in Margam , and has always kept a strong affection for the area after going on to have huge success in acting, including the portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in the film The Silence of the Lambs, for which he won an Academy Award for best actor.

And fans couldn't believe their eyes when they spotted him out and about visiting some of the places which he still holds dear together with his wife Stella.

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Shanti Gregory was one of the fans who managed to meet him.

"He was lovely, really down to earth," the 32-year-old, of Tal-Y-Wern in Margam said.

"I went up to him and said I'd heard he was in the area and he asked me if I was from here too, and I told him I'd lived here all my life.

"He said he'd been to see his old house in Wern Road. He'd been to a number of places, reminiscing on old times."

She added: "There was a lady standing next to us and he asked her if she could 'Take a picture of me and the young lady' I didn't even have to ask. It was really nice of him.

"I love him and think he's absolutely brilliant, and something like that today makes me an even bigger fan."

Sir Anthony also stopped by at the Port Talbot YMCA on his travels.

Sir Anthony Hopkins revisits the Port Talbot YMCA (Andy Philpin)

Sir Anthony Hopkins during a visit to Port Talbot YMCA in May 2005 (Gayle Marsh)

Chief executive officer of the YMCA, Andy Brown said: "It is always a pleasure to meet him, he always enjoys coming to the YM as it's where his career started. He has fond memories of the YM and Port Talbot itself, as does his wife Stella.

"He started his acting career here in the local amateur dramatics and it's where he found his calling for acting. It is where it all started.

"He'd come back to see us previously in 2008. He was in the area to see us and reminisce."

Sir Anthony is also thought to have visited Filco Supermarket, and Ron Evans pie shop on his tour of the area.