TEN thousand people flocking to Chepstow to see superstar and Welsh icon Tom Jones next week has given the town a great boost, councillors and business owners say.

Rooms are all booked up as people prepare to party with the veteran entertainer at the gig on Friday, July 11, which follows seven live horse races.

Deputy mayor Councillor Dale Rooke said: “To have someone of Tom’s calibre performing is a coup, it’s one of the highlights of the year. The hotels are full up and events like this raise the profile of the town.”

Councillor Jane Robbins added: “There’s a real buzz about the town.”

Businesses are reporting a bumper period, which follows on from cycling’s biggest stars coming through the town during the British Cycling Road Championships and the ever popular Chepstow Festival.

Due to the numbers of people attending, the racecourse is encouraging as many customers as possible to use public transport.

Those who live close to the venue are advised to walkt.

On the night, a traffic management system will be actioned to deal with the amount of cars leave the site after the concert.

The racenight is Chepstow’s second music concert racenight of 2014, after Jools Holland, Melanie C and Marc Almond lit up the venue last month. Madness was enjoyed by a sell-out crowd in 2013.

Bars will remain open an hour after the concert finishes and the Bill Bailey jazz band, performing throughout the night, will continue to entertain the revellers.

Limited tickets are still available for the concert. Please call 01291 622260 for more information.