A SMALL Port Talbot trail paying tribute to a big Hollywood legend is attracting attention across the pond.
Since the new part of the Richard Burton trail opened in Taibach, the attraction has been hitting the headlines in America.
Articles promoting the new walk — which allows visitors to find out more about the actor's childhood and teenage years — have featured in the Orlando Sentinel and Chicago Tribune.
The Orlando Sentinel story, which was printed in the travel and arts section, was spotted by Evening Post photographer Andrew Davies while he was on holiday in the States.
"It was a paper left in our hotel room along with USA Today," he said. "Wherever we go my wife likes to read the English language papers to see what is going on.
"She was reading the Orlando Sentinel and found the article about Richard Burton and Port Talbot. We were amazed to see it being promoted over there."
Council leader Ali Thomas said the authority has been working with Visit Wales.
"In particular, the American audience has been really receptive to the news about the launch of the new Richard Burton Trail and as a result of the coverage in the US, we have received a number of enquiries from American visitors," he said.
"Richard Burton has enabled us to put Port Talbot on the map as a visitor destination for visitors both from the UK and overseas."
Taibach councillor John Rogers said: "I know people have come from all over the world to visit Pontrhydyfen.
"I think sometimes his life in Taibach has been overlooked. So I hope we will see lots of visitors to Taibach."
Burton, who was born Richard Walter Jenkins, lived in Pontrhydyfen until just under the age of two.
But following the death of his mother Edith in 1927, he moved to Taibach to live with his older sister Cecilia and her family.
Highlights of the trail include a memorial flowerbed which has been created within Talbot Memorial Park and displays an unpublished poem written by Burton.
The first section of the trail was opened in Pontrhydyfen in June 2011.
In October The Richard Burton Diaries, edited by Swansea University professor Chris Williams, were launched in Port Talbot New York and Los Angeles.
