A GWENT Women's Institute is getting a celebrity speaker to spice up one of their meetings.

Pop star Melanie Chisholm, better known as former Spice Girl Mel C, is set to swap the stadium arena for a smaller venue for her guest spot.

She was spotted taking a leisurely run in Gwent by fellow Catbrook resident and president of the Catbrook and District WI, Marion Griffin.

The chart-topping ex-Sporty Spice is a familiar face for Ms Griffin and other Catbrook residents after buying a house in the area, with partner Tom Starr, last year.

Ms Griffin said: "I spoke to her one day when she was running and said 'how are you enjoying living here?'

"I asked her about coming to the group to meet everyone and talk to us and she said 'why not?'"

An exact date for the meeting has not been decided yet although residents say the superstar will be made very welcome.

Ms Griffin said: "We have agreed in principle but no further arrangements have been made."

Mel C was also interviewed recently by New Woman magazine - and she talks about enjoying her new life int he Wye Valley.

In the article she says: "I'm an independent woman, but Tom made my life better straight away.

"We've bought a house in Wales, I feel so much more positive."

In the interview, the ex-Spice Girl talks about her new life. She says: "In the past year or so I think I've found myself again. I might not be as famous as I was but I'm genuinely happy!"

The singer lit up the village of Tintern with the official Christmas switch-on last year and began house hunting last May.

Residents who have met her say she is 'absolutely lovely, very quiet and polite'.

Her numerous visits to Gwent were mysterious until we revealed in June that she had chosen to buy an £850,000 mansion in Catbrook.