GWENT actor Leslie Sands has died. He was 79. Mr Sands, who lived in Chepstow, was known to millions of television viewers in the 1960s playing the leading role in the popular Sergeant Cluff drama series, set in Yorkshire.

He was famous in the 1960s playing many other lead roles on the stage and on television.

Then in the 1980s, Mr Sands starred alongside Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson as the Archbishop in the first series of Blackadder.

He also starred in Blackadder's Christmas Carol.

The popular actor also played alongside Honor Blackman in The Avengers. He starred in the television adaptation of Dick Francis' The Racing Game, in the BBC series Wilderness Road and alongside David Jason in Stay Lucky, which was screened in the late 1980s.

Mr Sands then went on to make a name for himself as an author with his book Something To Hide. He joined the acting union Equity in 1946 and was made a life member in 1996.

He died on May 9 leaving his wife Pauline and daughter Joanne. His funeral service will take place at the Forest of Dean Crematorium on Friday at noon. Donations in lieu of flowers should be sent to to National Canine Defence League.