THE Newport pub where father-of-three Lemy Bullock was murdered failed to sell at auction yesterday.

Harvey's bar in Pill had a guide price of £175,000, but despite encouragement from auctioneer Mansel Edmunds only one bid of £150,000 was made.

Before starting the bidding process Mr Edmunds told the packed salesroom he thought Harvey's Bar had "tremendous investment potential" and suggested it could be demolished for redevelopment. But of the more than 200 people at the standing-room only auction, only one made a bid. Mr Edmunds told the sole bidder he could not accept such a low offer and the property remained unsold.

Harvey's Bar was closed and placed on the market almost immediately after 36-year-old Mr Bullock was stabbed with a samurai sword last March.

The bar was rented to tenants by owner Frank Sheahan, who also runs the West Usk Lighthouse bed and breakfast in St Brides Wentlooge. He had hoped to invest any profit into another pub. But after the bar failed to sell yesterday he said he was thinking about boarding it up for a couple of years.

He said: "There are a lot of big plans for Newport and this is a prime location. I think it will sell eventually but for now it is proving a bit of a financial burden."

He said he thought the pub would be suitable for redevelopment as flats or a takeaway.

Pill-men Mohammed "Mo" Nasser, 44, of Kirby Lane and Martyn Bruce, 38, of Courtybella Gardens, were both jailed for life after being convicted of the murder of Mr Bullock.

Nasser was told he would serve 24 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole and Bruce was given a 16-year tariff.

A third man, Aaron Kent, 24, of Livale Court, Bettws, had earlier pleaded guilty to the murder and was jailed for life with a tariff of 20 years.