A number of stalwart Monmouthshire councillors have decided to call it a day before the upcoming local elections.

These include Nicholas Ramsay, Chris Woodhouse, Ashley Thomas, Ted Dorel and Bill Edwards.

Verona Nelmes has been a councillor for 21 years, firstly in Croseonen, then Cantref and for the past eight years in Llanwenarth Ultra.

She said: "I've decided to call a halt to it as I'm nearly 73 and I want to pursue some of my interests.

"I love art and do a lot of drawing and painting and another passion of mine is travelling.

"I go to Greece frequently for up to months at a time and I will now have more time to learn the language as well."

Mrs Nelmes believes her greatest achievements as a councillor have been helping to set up Ty y Fenni, the first centre for people with learning disabilities in Monmouthshire.

She also helped Deri View Primary move to a new school three years ago and persuaded the authority to take on a benefits advice officer 10 years ago when she was chair of social services.

Mr Nelmes believes this helped bring in hundreds of thousands of pounds in unclaimed benefits.

"I worked as a community midwife before I became a councillor and I think that experience benefitted me as I saw how people lived.

"The best few years of my career have been the last eight in Llanwenarth Ultra. It is a really interesting and thriving community and I'd like to thank all the people from the area."

Another stepping down is Conservative John Harrhy who has been an Usk town councillor for 20 years and a county councillor for 10 years.

He said: "Before I became a councillor, I worked in local government for 36 years, so I have done my time.

"But I'll be 72 in June and have a couple of grandchildren, so just want to spend some time with my family."

Mr Harrhy says the biggest thing that sticks in his mind about his time as a councillor is the switch from the old committee system to cabinet.

"Everyone used to have their say, but now it seems a lot is done just in cabinet. But overall, I think Monmouthshire has a lot of good quality members and a lot going for it.

"I've enjoyed every minute of being part of it."