A PUB has decided it will not host a controversial farmers' hunt on Boxing Day this year - ending a tradition more than 70 years old.

The annual Tredegar Farmers’ Hunt has met at the Greene King-owned Tredegar Arms pub in Bassaleg since 1947, igniting passions of those for and against the event.

The 2018 meet was no exception, with hundreds of people trading verbal blows at one another. But the cheers and jeers spooked one horse which backed into a crowd of people.

And the Tredegar Arms has now revealed it will not allow its site to be used later this year.

A spokesman for the pub said: “The decision not to provide our facilities for the event later this year has been taken following feedback from Boxing Day.

“The decision has been taken purely based on the disruption to the pub and as a responsible employer we must put the welfare of our team and customers first.”

Many residents have welcomed the decision.

Thomas Mostyn, who lives in Newport, has been a frequent protester at the hunt for the last decade.

He said: “This is fantastic news for Gwent. This is a step in the right direction.

“The hunt should not be allowed to go ahead because of what it represents. It goes back to a time when hunting foxes was allowed.

“I do not know why people would support this.”

And Simon Jenkins, who lives in Bassaleg and is a former shop worker, added similar sentiments. “I know the pub came in for a quite a lot of stick for having it," he added.

“More and more people every year are going to protest against it.

“The Tredegar Farmers’ Hunt should not be allowed.”

The chairman of the hunt, Tim Jones, insisted the event would continue at a different location though.

“We were thinking of moving the hunt anyway,” he said.

“We had heard on the grape vine that the tradition could not be held there again.

“The most recent event was not as good as normal because of the saboteurs and the road not having been totally closed off.”

He added: “This year’s hunt will be bigger and better than ever before. Lots of places have come forward which are willing to host us and we are in the process of picking one.”