A ROUND-UP of ponies involving a Monmouth-based charity, police, a commoners' association and the RSPCA was postponed - after organisers were threatened with legal action.

The aim of the operation on Gelligaer Common in the Rhymney Valley was to round-up more than 200 wild and abandoned ponies, roaming free across acres of land and are neglected,underweight and riddled with worms.

The round-up had been organised by a Monmouth-based charity, the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies (SWHP), the RSPCA, the Gelligaer Commoners' Association and was due to take place over several days last week.

Elin-Angharad Davies, Press officer for the RSPCA, said that some people had expressed reservations about the legal aspects of the round-up.

She said: "The organisers of the operation are currently investigating if there would be a legal problem."

But the Argus understands that a small number of owners of the horses and ponies have threatened the organisers of the round-up with legal action if they remove all the animals from the common land.

Chairman of the Society Jenny McGregor expressed her disappointment at the delay and vowed to continue the fight to save the animals.

Their plight has been highlighted for more than a year. In January, the SWHP appealed for help to save the horses and had an overwhelming response.

RSPCA spokeswoman Ms Davies said: "Caerphilly and Merthyr local authorities, along with Gwent Police are trying to resolve a way forward together with the commoners and land owners.

"The planned round-up has been cancelled because of legal reasons but we hope it will go ahead once the issue has been dealt with."

Inspector Alan Webber, Gwent Police, said: "The operation has been temporarily postponed because of legal issues.

"Once those issues are resolved the operation will be rescheduled." The police were to attend the operation for public safety reasons and have not been involved in the organisation of the round-up.

PICTURED: Helen Freeman, head girl at the Society for the Welfare of Horses and Ponies, with two Gelligaer Common ponies.