A mayor has denied a video of him snorting a white powder is cocaine, claiming it is being used in a racist smear campaign against him.

Emmanuel Trailor has admitted he is the man seen in a video sniffing a line of white powder from a desk.

But the hotelier and businessman said the substance was creatine powder, used by bodybuilders to build up muscles.

The 36-year-old claims the footage shot two years ago has been dug up in a bid to tarnish his name after he was elected the first black mayor of Brecon in mid Wales in May.

Emmanuel Trailor claims a video showing him snorting powder from a desk is being used against him in a smear campaign

Mr Trailor admitted he is the man seen in the video sniffing a line of white powder from a desk, but said the substance was creatine powder, used by bodybuilders to build up muscles

Mr Trailor said the footage was shot in the privacy of his own home long before he became Mayor, adding it was a 'harmless, silly childish prank' but he 'should have known better'.

He added: 'I've never taken cocaine and I spend some of my time helping people with drug problems.'

Mr Trailor, known as Manny, can be heard whooping and saying: 'Can you imagine if this was real coke,' during the 20-second clip.

It was filmed two years ago, soon after he was voted onto the town council in Brecon.

The video was seen by police and rival councillors and everyone accepted his explanation that it was a silly prank.

But it emerged again in the same week Mr Trailor was elected as the town's first black mayor in its 500-year history.

Nottingham-born Mr Trailor, who is of Jamaican and Portuguese descent, said: 'It is malicious, vindictive and racist.

'It is no coincidence that the video is doing the rounds again now that I am mayor.

'There are people in the town who don't like me because I'm black and successful in business.

The clip emerged again in the same week Mr Trailor was elected as the town's first black mayor in its 500-year history

'This is coming from a place of malice. There are people here who would like to force me out of town - I've had bullying letters using the 'N' word.'

Mr Trailor claims the video fell into the wrong hands during a financial dispute with his former business partner at the 40-bed Castle Hotel in the town.

He said: 'I'm really embarrassed by it but I can assure everyone the powder is creatine, not cocaine.

'The video was used against me two years ago and I thought it had gone away. But clearly I have enemies who are using it to damage me.

'The video dates back to before I was mayor and deputy mayor - I didn't have the same level of responsibility.

'It was filmed by a friend of mine as a prank and he will vouch for me - it's not cocaine.'