POLICE fired plastic bullets for the first time in Gwent after officers were threatened by a man waving a sword.

The 36-year-old man received a minor injury in the incident but did not need hospital treatment, said Inspector Steve Taylor.

Police went to the car park at Llandegfedd Reservoir, near Pontypool, at 12.20am after being alerted by a member of the public.

"They were faced by a man who threatened them with a sword. Firearms were authorised and one baton round was discharged," said Inspector Taylor. Ten officers and the police helicopter were involved in the incident at the well-known and normally peaceful beauty spot. No-one else was injured.

The man was being held in custody this morning as police continued to investigate. Inspector Taylor said the Police Complaints Authority had been informed.

In February North Wales Police became the first force in mainland Britain to use a baton round when they disarmed a knife-wielding man in a domestic disturbance.

Deputy Chief Constable Bill Brereton, of North Wales, voiced concerns about the effectiveness of the baton rounds. He advocated looking into other options such as the electronic dart systemused by some US police forces.