A collection of letters including the military and personal correspondence of FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan - who served as the military secretary to the 1st Duke of Wellington - have been accepted for the Welsh nation in lieu of inheritance tax.

FitzRoy Somerset, who died near Sevastopol in the Crimea, was one of the most distinguished British military commanders of the 19th century.

The letters provide an insight into his relationship with Wellington after the Battle of Waterloo.

Also in the collection, which will go on display at Gwent Archives, are a series of letters from Wellington to his brother William.

County archivist Tony Hopkins said the Raglan archive was a collection of national and international importance and a huge boost to the cultural resources of the area. The people of Gwent could take great pride in it.

The Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) scheme enables taxpayers to transfer works of art and important heritage items into public ownership in full or part payment of their inheritance tax.