A NEWPORT pensioner is claiming a local solicitors' firm stopped him from performing a charity concert in John Frost Square on Friday.

Bill Hooper, 70, from Bettws, was due to perform in the square in Newport to raise money for St Anne's Hospice.

Mr Hooper, who has played the organ for more than 60 years, told the Argus he was about to start playing when a solicitor from Jacklyn Dawson, whose offices are in John Frost Square, approached the nuns from St Anne's and complained that the music would breach council guidelines.

Mr Hooper said: "I went up to the hospice and told the sisters I was ready. They were going to meet me down there to go around collecting. "I took all my gear and set up, and the next thing I knew a man was speaking to the hospice organiser," he said.

"I was just starting to play and the sister came over and said she thought it was 'best I don't'."

Mr Hooper claims the solicitor objected to the performance, saying council guidelines do not allow music in the square between Monday and Friday when people are working.

David Blayney, of Jacklyn Dawson solicitors, said: "Mr Hooper hadn't started making a noise. I didn't stop him playing, the authority did. "He said the local authority gave him consent but the square is not a place for music entertainment from Monday to Friday - the projection of music makes it impossible to work.

"We support this charity and we wish it well. "If he came here on a Saturday there would be no difficulty. It's an excellent charity and we have no disrespect to Mr Hooper."

But Mr Hooper said he felt embarrassed by being forced to pack up. "I told people I was going there - even the Argus was coming to take my picture," he said.