A LOCAL man has been hailed as a hero after tackling a sailor who opened fire and killed a man and wounded three others on board a nuclear submarine in April.

Last week Winchester Crown Court sentenced Ryan Donovan to at least 25 years in jail for wielding a deadly SA-80 semi-automatic rifle and killing one man and attempting to murder three others.

Speaking after the sentence was handed down, Alistair Neill from Govilon revealed for the first time how he had a hand in stopping a bloodbath escalating on board HMS Astute.

Mr Neill, aged 53, is now chief executive of Southampton City Council and former chief executive of Merthyr Tydfil County Council and had been on an official visit with other civic dignitaries to see HMS Astute which at the time was berthed at Southampton docks when he found himself at the heart of the attack, standing next to Lieutenant Commander Ian Moluneux, who was killed when able seaman Ryan Donovan began his 'murderous onslaught'

With their one naval guide dead and the other lying seriously injured heroic Mr Neill and the leader of Southampton City Council, Councillor Royston Smith, wrestled able seaman Ryan Donovan to the ground and disarmed him before military police could arrive on the scene.

Their actions were praised by Judge Mr Justice Field, who sentenced Donovan to 'at least' 25 years imprisonment.

He described them as 'heroes' whose actions had undoubtedly prevented a much worse attack and saved countless lives.

For the full story of Alastair Neill's dramatic part in the attack on HMS Astute see this week's Abergavenny Chronicle