ONE of Gwent's best-loved agricultural shows has fallen victim to the foot-and-mouth crisis.

The decision to call off Bedwellty Show - held each year in August - was made a week before a case of foot-and-mouth was confirmed in Abercarn.

Organisers say the new case proves they made the right decision.

The infected farm, Lower Pant-y-Resk, lies just a few miles from the show's site on the Showfield in Blackwood.

Goronwy James is a past chairman of the Bedwellty Show council, and is now an honorary member.

He said: "We cancelled the show after great deliberation, but it was very wise with what has happened since. We left it as late as we could. Everybody has been down in the dumps."

Mr James said the show's committee had thought of having a restricted show before deciding it would be best to cancel.

He thanked the public for their support over the years. "It brings agriculture into the urban area," said Mr James. "Everyone has always supported us so well."

The show, which has been running for more than 100 years, has been called off because of foot-and-mouth disease twice before.

The first time was in 1956, when there was an outbreak in Cardiff, and the second time was just two years later, in 1958, when the disease hit in Bedlinog. Mr James said: "We are looking forward to next year, when we will be back together."

Meanwhile, the opening of Cwmcarn Forest Drive has been postponed for another week because of the case of foot-and-mouth in Abercarn.

The tourist attraction - which normally opens at Easter but remained shut as a precaution against the disease - had been due to open tomorrow.