A GWENT politician has said Monmouthshire had the first black sheriff almost 200 years ago, beating the appointment of Peaches Golding in Bristol.

Mrs Golding is thought to be Britain's first black High Sheriff but David Davies said that Nathaniel Wells of Chepstow was appointed Sheriff and Deputy Lieutenant of Monmouthshire in 1818.

The mixed-race plantation owner, who owned slaves in the Caribbean, he served as a magistrate and was accepted in high society in the county.

Mr Davies said: “I will be writing to Mrs Golding to congratulate her on her new role, but will politely point out that Monmouthshire was actually 190 years ahead of Bristol in appointing a black High Sheriff.