NEWPORT'S mayor put on his'bling' gold chains and told rap stars from the GLC:'Big up our city'.

Eggsy and Adam Hussain, of hit Newport band Goldie Lookin' Chain, had afternoon tea with mayor Councillor Paul Cockeram.

Over salmon sandwiches and cake, the mayor urged the rappers to be nicer about Newport, while they gazed at his 120-year-old 18-carat mayoral gold chain.

Bling', or heavy gold jewellery, is de rigeur in the rap world, and a baffled mayor said: "They were very impressed by my chains, they couldn't take their eyes off them."

The rappers were treated to a tour of the mayoral residence, the Mansion House, and even given Newport council pens to write lyrics with.

But it wasn't all fun and games, and the mayor had a serious message for GLC, who shot to fame with hilarious hip-hop skits about life in Newport - mentioning places such as Mecca Bingo, John Frost Square and the Hypervalue on the Kingsway.

Councillor Cockeram said: "I asked them to be more positive about Newport.

"I wanted to invite them to my home after hearing a news item that connected our city with drugs by making references to the band.

"GLC's album covers seem to picture the more run-down, graffiti covered areas of Newport, but the city isn't all like that.

"I thought I was going to be in for a rough time but they were very nice lads.

"We had a good banter and I was giving as good as I got. They have agreed to be more positive about the city in the future."

GLC manager Conal Dodds agreed that the lads were "very impressed" by the mayor's bling, and said: "The mayor asked for his photo to go on the band's next album cover, but that might be pushing things a bit."

He said that GLC, who played tsunami relief concert in Cardiff at the weekend, would not be changing their stance on life in Gwent, and added: "They tell it how it is.