A GWENT club owner hailed his ban on glass a "great success" as more late-night bars and clubs backed a police campaign to end violent glass assaults.

The Argus is supporting Gwent Police's initiative to convince licensees to move to plastic containers and wipe out the threat of glassings.

And Iftekhar Harris, owner of the Meze Lounge, in Newport said the club's first "plastic weekend" was well-supported by drinkers.

He added: "Nobody even noticed. The polycarbonate is of such high quality it feels like glass.

"We rarely have trouble here anyway but there were no breakages, no injuries and no risk to customers. It was a great success.

"There are a lot of people who don't come into Newport because of fear. If we can take that away then that's a good thing for Newport.

Since April 2005, there have been 94 glass attacks on drinkers in Gwent bars - around one each week. Glassings represent nine per cent of the total 1,041 assaults in licensed premises in Gwent.

Last week, MPs throughout the region backed the Police drive and urged late-night bars to go plastic.

Today, Leigh Berry, manager of Newport's Revolution bar, said he supported the idea in principle but said customers should be consulted.

Holly Edwards, manager of Reflex in Newport, said she supported the initiative but was waiting for a decision from brewers Mitchell and Butler.

Police now plan to meet with brewery companies, whose approval would be needed by many of Gwent's pubs to make the change to plastic.

PC Jim Aitken, who is leading the campaign, said officers would seek funding to support bars and clubs with the financial burden of change.