NINE women behind a multi-million pound scam which took in a number of local victims have been jailed.

Organisers of the 'Give and Take' pyramid selling scheme found a rich source of victims in Caldicot although other local people were also lured into it.

The scheme relied on existing members recruiting others to join and was organised into a series of pyramids of 15 people.

When eight new members signed up they were placed on the bottom row of the pyramid and paid a £3,000 joining fee to the person at the top, who was referred to as the 'bride'. The bride received £23,000 with the remaining £1,000 going towards purported administration costs and to a charity of the bride's choosing.

The pyramids would then be split with the two people below the bride, the 'bridesmaids', becoming the new brides, with eight new people needed to join each pyramid.

In theory, at least, each member had the chance to rise to the top of a pyramid and net £23,000 although it would need an unlimited supply of new people.

The scheme had expanded to over 900 pyramids by the time it was closed by Bristol Trading Standards.

Participants were encouraged to invite their family, friends and colleagues to large promotional events where the cash payouts were awarded to the brides.

The events were designed to generate excitement around the scheme and give the impression that people would lose out if they did not join.

Monmouthshire county councillor Dave Evans (Lab, Caldicot West End) said: "There was a lot of talk about it in Caldicot."

Alex Chisholm, chief executive of the Competition and Market Authority, which brought the prosecutions against the women based in the Bristol area said: "As the convictions make clear, pyramid selling schemes where money is generated primarily by recruiting new people to join in, are illegal and criminal. Anyone thinking of organising or promoting such a scheme risks a criminal record and a spell in prison.

"The case will be a warning for consumers. The vast majority of consumers stand to lose their money from such schemes. The adage remains, that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."