GWENT'S Manic Street Preachers (pictured) returned to the charts yesterday with their new single The Love of Richard Nixon.

The Blackwood band narrowly missed out on the number one spot with their homage to the disgraced former US president.

They failed to dislodge Eric Prydz with Call on Me, which has been at the top for several weeks.

When promoting the single, Manics' bassist Nicky Wire said: "I've always been fascinated by him (Nixon) anyway because of his indiscriminate hatred of people.

"He was paranoid about everyone. It's purely a love song.

"I suppose I feel empathy with paranoid megalomaniacs."

Radio One DJ Huw Stephens described the political song as a "great comeback single".