THE decision to withdraw wardens from Tredegar Park in the evening came after a series of incidents including an assault, stone throwing and drug taking, the Argus can reveal.

A male warden was taken to hospital with facial injuries after trying to break up a row between two youths on Monday night.

Council chiefs told how last week stones were thrown at wardens in the park, which is popular with youths who use its skatepark.

Gwent Police are still hunting the person who assaulted the warden.

A police spokesman said they had been called to the park after reports of youths drinking or smoking cannabis in the skatepark area.

Police records show there have also been a couple of calls in relation to off-road bikes.

Newport council said on Tuesday the park wardens would stop working at the park every evening after 6pm until July 10.

The park off Cardiff Road shuts at 10pm.

This will also apply to wardens at Beechwood Park.

Newport council said there had been anti-social behaviour in both parks involving youths with “taunting” and “verbal abuse” directed at staff.

Tredegar Park ward Cllr Trevor Watkins backed the decision to withdraw the wardens, saying the council had a duty to protect its staff.

This decision will be reviewed on July 10.

A Newport council spokesman said yesterday [June 25]: “There have been instances of anti-social behaviour in both Tredegar Park and Beechwood Park with youths, on occasions, taunting and verbally abusing staff.

“An incident occurred in Tredegar Park last week where stones were thrown at the wardens.

“Newport City Council has a duty of care to its employees to provide a safe working environment – something that all staff should rightly expect from their employers.”

Cllr Watkins told the Argus: “As far as I am concerned I would agree with it in the short term until they review the situation.

“You have got to think of the safety of the employees of Newport City Council."

The warden was attacked near the children’s area of the park at around 8.30pm.

He intervened when an argument broke out between a male and female youth and was assaulted by another older male who was among a group of young people.

The warden was taken to hospital with superficial facial injuries as a precaution before being discharged.

A spokesman said on Wednesday enquiries are ongoing to locate the attacker.

Anyone with information regarding the assault is urged to call 101 quoting the log number 505 22/6/15".