NEWPORT traders sprang to the defence of their city centre after it was branded the "most indistinguishable" in Wales.

A report released yesterday labelled the city among the UK's top ten "clone towns", where global chains take over from independent shops.

The city was ranked seventh in the UK, and number one in Wales, for its lack of local flavour in the report by the New Economics Foundation.

Andrew Simms, NEF policy director, said: "Clone stores have a triple whammy on communities: they bleed the local economy of money, destroy the social glue provided by real local shops that holds communities together, and they steal the identity of our towns and cities."

And at Newport's historic provisions market traders were quick to point out the wealth of independently owned stalls selling a variety of original products.

They say the spirit of independent trading is alive and well in the city, although they acknowledged it was increasingly difficult to compete against the multi-national chains.

Hilary Semens has run Bibs and Bobs, a children's clothing stall, for 12 years.

She said: "I get people from Cardiff, the Valleys and across the bridge coming to Newport specifically to visit my stall.

"Like other independents I offer something a bit different, something you wouldn't find in the high street stores."

Chris Palmer said the personal service was what brought customers back to her china stall time and time again.

Butcher Andrew Clayton said: "We sell things like tripe and pig's trotters that you just wouldn't get in a supermarket. That's where we come into our own."

Among the host of independent traders the Argus found in Newport yesterday were an old-fashioned sweet stall, a bookshop, wine stall, aromatherapy stall, comic book stall, china stall, art stall, cheese stall, and numerous butchers and fruit and veg stalls.

Shopper Derek Gay, 60, from Abergavenny, said: "There aren't as many independent shops in Newport as there are in Abergavenny.

"It's a shame, as traders who are committed to their shop often give a better service than the packaged kind you get from chain stores."