NEWPORT  Transport bus drivers claimed tonight that they were told  not to wear poppies until Saturday.

They said they were told of the move via their radio communication system when an inspector broadcast to all drivers: "All poppies have to be taken out and not to be worn until 1st of November due to management say so."

The company's managing director, Trevor Roberts, released a statement after the Argus received calls from several drivers.

He said: "Our staff can wear poppies from now and our uniform is being brought into line with that of the BBC."

When we contacted him again and asked him about claims that one driver had been sent home for refusing to take off his poppy, he replied: "I would be very surprised at that, I would be amazed if that was the case."

He then went on to say that he had issued an instruction to go out that all staff can wear poppies, but refused to be drawn on why he had now done that..

But last night drivers  who called the Argus said they were disgusted and it was an "insult to the memory of the war dead."

One driver said: "Why should we remove them? It's just a little poppy. I've have been there for years and have never come across anything like this."

Another said he was reluctant to remove something which he felt was so important to him.

One more driver added: "I don't think its right, I'm proud of what my grandfather did during the war."

The Argus was unable to establish from the BBC what its policy on poppy wearing was.