HIS association with Gwent is as colourful as his own life story.

Now Mr Nice Howard Marks is claiming he watched ghosts dance in a Blackwood pub car park as he researched whether he is a direct descendant of Gwent’s most famous family.

He came here ten years ago after an uncle told him he is a descendant of the Morgan family who once inhabited Tredegar House – in particular, Captain Henry Morgan, who rose to prominence as a pirate in the Caribbean.

Bridgend-born Mr Marks, perhaps the world’s most notorious drugs trafficker, turned raconteur and novelist, returns on May 4, when he will start his UK tour at the Newbridge Memo.

He came to the area after being told he was a direct descendent of Henry Morgan, while researching his autobiographical book.

Mr Marks described Captain Morgan as a hero of his, and he visited The Monkey Tree in Blackwood after being told Morgan’s sister allegedly haunts the pub. He said: “The ghost of Captain Morgan’s sister is occasionally seen there. In the car park I thought I sawa couple ballroom dancing, whether it was her or not I’m not sure.

“But I couldn’t prove or disprove that I am a direct descendant of the family, so I didn’t publish it.”

He returned to Blackwood when he was researching his 2011 book Sympathy for the Devil, and set about looking into perhaps Gwent’s greatest ever unsolved mystery – the disappearance of Manic Street Preacher Richey Edwards, who hailed from Blackwood.

Mr Marks said: “Richey is the only major rock and roll figure to just disappear. The character Owen Face in the book is based on him, although it doesn’t purport an explanation as to why he disappeared or where he is, and is only loosely based on his story.”

He has also had many a “good session” in the area, at the now-closed Newport nightspot TJ’s, which he describes as “excellent”, and at the Alternative Ryder Cup, where he played with his good friends, rappers Goldie Lookin Chain.

His latest tour will involve new tales from his life and is called Scholar, Smuggler, Prisoner, Scribe.

Details of the Newbridge gig are available by calling 01495 243252.