WORLD leaders, including US President Barack Obama, will be given a taste of Monmouthshire thanks to a local fudge maker.

Each of the 300 delegates – who include 60 world leaders – at the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) conference in Newport this week will receive a small 'favour' containing fudge made by Helen Beveridge who runs the Fudge Fairy shop in Chepstow Road, Caldicot.

The packs, which were made up by Helen and two local helpers, were delivered to the Celtic Manor where some of the world's most powerful people are gathering this week for the NATO summit.

Each favour contains about two ounces of Helen's best-selling white chocolate and vanilla fudge.

Helen, who started her business in her kitchen, said: "I'm absolutely chuffed to think I have a small business in Caldicot and I've had the opportunity for world leaders to eat my fudge." With a huge security operation surrounding the conference, the offer to supply the treats was, not surprisingly, a bit of a cloak and dagger affair.

Helen said: "A while back I received a phone call asking if I would like to supply fudge to an event at the Celtic Manor.

"I forgot all about it but then about three weeks ago reminding me they had been in contact. "I was a bit sceptical because it looked like a scam but I rang the number and it was the Foreign and Commonwealth Office."

Security measures for the summit are having an impact in the area with disruption to traffic expected on the M4 around Newport.

Some schools are also changing their timetables with Caldicot School and Ysgol Gymraeg y Ffin Welsh-medium primary both closing early on Thursday and Friday (September 4 and 5) and Chepstow School will close early on Thursday.

Caldicot School will close at 1.05pm on both days, Chepstow will close at 2.15pm on Thursday and Ysgol Gymraeg y Ffin will close at 2.15pm on both days.