SITTING on the Welsh side of the Wye Valley and River Severn, the constituency of Monmouth is typical of a border area where there are strong links to both England and Wales.

Monmouthshire - which covers the same area- was the only Welsh local authority to vote no to further law-making powers for the Assembly Government in March’s referendum.

However, this was by the slimmest of margins and the near 50-50 split perhaps illustrates the mixed views of locals.

The English Democrats party even called for a referendum in the area on whether the Monmouth constituency should become a part of England.

Major towns in Monmouth include Abergavenny, Chepstow, Usk, Raglan and Monmouth itself, as well as many villages in what is a rural area that has a number of attractions and beauty spots, such as castles in Caldicot, Raglan and Chepstow, Tintern Abbey and the Wye Valley.

Green initiatives such as hydro and wind energy generation have become increasingly popular among farmers and landowners, while groups such as Transition Monmouth have brought green issues to the fore in the area.

It is a Conservative stronghold, with David Davies the MP in Westminster since 2005 and Tory Nick Ramsay triumphing in the last Assembly elections in 2007.

In 2007, 29,565 people voted, which represents 46.7 per cent of the constituency’s electorate.