ANTI-abortion campaigners say they will sue Gwent Police after being cleared of a public order offence yesterday over their use of a graphic election campaign poster.

Abergavenny magistrates acquitted Fiona Pinto and Joseph Bidd-ulph following a two day trial in which they denied the public order offence of using insulting behaviour.

Miss Pinto, aged 23, of Potters Bar, London, and Mr Biddulph, aged 52, of Eben-ezer Street, Pontypridd, were arrested on April 24 this year when they displayed a poster of a dismembered, 21-week-old foetus outside Boots the chemist on Commercial Street, New-port, as part of their campaign as ProLife candidates in May's Assembly elections.

The prosecution had claimed passers-by had been insulted by the picture and that it had even brought two women to tears.

But, returning the not guilty verdict, chairman of the magistrates Sally Ann Fleming Jones said: "The poster could be seen as being in poor taste and we feel it's display in a public shopping area during school holidays could be seen as unwise.

"However, taken in the light of modern-day images used daily in the media, and with regard to the laws of freedom of expression, we do not find the charge of causing insult proved."

After the verdict, the pair said they would now sue Gwent Police for alleged false arrest, false imprisonment and breach of human rights.

Miss Pinto said: "We are delighted with this resounding victory for free speech and campaigning at election times.

"I'm definitely going to press on and see it as a vindication of our method of campaigning, carrying on showing people the truth.

"It was quite a shock when we were arrested and an incredible shock when we were charged.

"We were election candidates campaigning on a sensitive election issue. "We will now be suing the police for the way they treated us."

She added: "It's been like a big black cloud hanging over us.

"It's quite a lot to take in and I think it will take a while to get used to the fact we've been acquitted."

Mr Biddulph said: "I still feel bitter that we were taken off and a lot of our campaigning time was wasted.

"This has affected me psychologically. I would quite happily not have gone through the experience. I would not have sought it for the world. "But I will certainly be back campaigning in Newport."