More than 70 women attended a special launch event in Abergavenny for the Monmouthsire 'I Am Woman' business club.

Club director Michelle Wilmott, said: "It was an incredible event with a great mix of women all coming together to enjoy cocktails and canapes, a fashion show from Alison Tod and Charles and Patricia Lester and three fantastic speakers, who included Dame Rosemary Butlet, the presiding officer for the Welsh Assembly.."

Monmouthsire is the fourth I Am Woman franchise, sitting alongside those in Cardiff, Cheltenham and Swindon. The club offers a monthly programme which is accredited by ILM, together with coaching, workshops and dedicated facebook groups to provide additional support.

Michelle said: "There was a wide age range and women from both independents and corporates. I could already see new relationships forming at the launch as women in the group look to collaborate and do business together."

Sarah Debnam, local editor of Mumsnet Gwent, who was at the event, said: "I was a little unsure as to what to expect. I knew of the bubbly and a few guest speakers but that was all. What I wasn't expecting was the incredibly supportive and warm environment that I discovered in that beautiful room."

The launch event was held at The Angel Hotel, Abergavenny.