‘SAMMY the seal’ is set for a starring role in a town arts festival, as part of a fibreglass model ‘sculpture trail’.

People flocked to the riverbank at Chepstow over the Christmas period to see ’Sammy’ help himself to fish.

And now the town’s arts festival is putting him centre stage again, for its July River Wye-themed event.

Ten fibreglass models of Sammy will mark the trail, painted by local schoolchildren, which will emphasise an environmental message.

“It is clear that all sections of our community are worried about what is happening to the Afon Gwy (River Wye),” say organisers.

“One of the many aspects of our beloved river that is at risk from pollution and climate change is our occasional salmon-stealing visitor Sammy the Seal.”

“The trail would aim to draw people to the top of the hill at the Dell Park, where a community group is currently working hard to turn the facilities into a “destination park”.

“It would bring them through our Town Arch and down our high street, increasing footfall in the town centre and it would continue down to our riverside where we have events at the bandstand.

“It would then lead visitors along the riverside to a newly opening stretch of path that passes the abandoned Severn Princess Ferry.

“It will then lead to the Iron Age fort remains - known locally as the Warren - which are hardly ever visited and in turn to Bulwark.

“The festival may be one day, but our hope is the trail will enhance Chepstow permanently.”

The Seal Trail has been made possible thanks to the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns Fund, with the assistance of Monmouthshire County Council’s Town Regeneration Team, and proposed seal locations include Chepstow Castle, the bandstand and Bulwark shops.

But not everyone is happy about Sammy the Seal’s ‘artistic licence’, Martin Morgan of the Black Rock Heritage Fishery taking to social media to point out that ‘Sammy’ is more than one seal, and the mammal is a successful arch predator that decimates salmon and other fish stocks.

“Salmon, twaite shad and eels are struggling and they are the food of Sammy and the gang. Cute to some of course but seals are apex predators in this environment,” he posted on the festival Facebook page.

The festival takes place on Saturday, July 16, Any artists wanting to get involved in the festival can fill out a form at https://buff.ly/33u8xWj

For more information, see the event’s website and www.facebook.com/chepstowfestivalarts/