A CHEPSTOW couple are the new first citizens of the town and of Monmouthshire.

Town councillor Stephanie Dovey is the new Mayor of Chepstow while her county councillor husband David is the Chair of Monmouthshire County Council.

Both say they are honoured by the accolades – although there was a rare show of disunity among town councillors over the election of the mayor which led to one councillor storming out of the council chamber.

There were three nominees for the position of mayor – Conservative Mrs Dovey and Independents Ned Heywood and Yvonne Havard.

Cllr Heywood was knocked out in the first round of voting but Mrs Dovey and Mrs Havard could not be separated despite two more rounds of voting.

When outgoing mayor Paul Rutter voted against Mrs Havard – his deputy mayor for the last 12 months – Labour councillor Armand Watts walked out calling the decision "disrepectful and dishonourable."

Mrs Havard congratulated the new mayor on her appointment.

Mrs Dovey told the Review: "I care deeply for Chepstow, its people and its businesses and I want to unite the town council."

Mrs Dovey was born in London and was previously a district and parish councillor in Berkshire. She was also a Monmouthshire county councillor for St Christopher's ward, Bulwark.

Her husband David is county councillor for St Kingsmark in Chepstow and also a town councillor.

He was born in Tredegar but brought up in Redbrook and attended Dixton House School in Monmouth and Bell's Grammar School in Coleford.