A St Davids councillor has offered to resign over racially-insulting remarks he made at a recent city council meeting, which left councillors disgusted and appalled.

The remarks made by Councillor Jim Braby overshadowed the first general meeting this month, since the election of the new mayor in the city.

The comments were made in regards to Zimbabwean Theatre Group Grassroots, who are to visit St Davids in August of this year.

The remarks were made during a discussion in which Cllr Sian Williams suggested the Theatre group be offered tea and refreshments in the City Hall after their performance, to which Cllr Jim Braby was heard to say "I'm sure they would prefer cups of ox blood and some skinned animal."

Cllr Braby insisted on referring to the Zimbabwean Theatre group as a 'tribe' and further comments were made to other councillors.

During the discussion none of the councillors tackled Jim Braby about the remarks. Recently-elected deputy mayor Bethan Price said: "I was aware of the incident and now wish I had spoken up. What he said was just pure stupidity. I was appalled and disgusted at the comments. You just do not joke about things like that.

"Hopefully, the matter will be resolved. I know he didn't mean what he said, he just didn't think.

Cllr Jim Braby said: "I apologise unreservedly for what I said. They were just light-hearted comments. I grew up in Singapore and have lived in ethnically-diverse communities. I have been at the butt of many anti-English jokes working in a pub down here and I never took any of it personally. I will resign immediately if this has caused any offence, that is how serious I am."

St Davids City Council released a statement saying: "At the May 10th, 2005, meeting of the city council, comments made by a councillor, as an aside to the main debate, were subsequently noted as being unacceptable.

"The councillor concerned has apologised for the remarks and for any offence given and immediately offered to resign as a member.

"The city council has accepted the apology and will not be accepting the resignation."