NEWPORT'S university is set to axe its fine art degree - with this year's first year students being the last to study the course there.

The move comes after the Assembly told universities and colleges there should be less competition over specific courses between them.

The BA programme, which has 63 students across three years, is expected to be one of a number suspending recruitment in Wales, as the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales works to deliver changes in the higher education system.

Current students already enrolled on the course at Newport will be able to complete their studies at the university. The nearest course to the city would then be in Cardiff.

Dr Kieran Lyons, who retired recently from the School of Art, Media and Design, spoke of his disappointment of the news.

He said: "The recruitment has been improving year-on-year. It's a flourishing course that is closing down and that is the difficulty. Fine Art is not an expensive course to run."

Dr Lyons said as well as benefiting students today, the course also has a lot of history behind it, which is at risk of being lost.

This includes Newport artist Thomas Rathmell, who taught at the Newport College of Art and Design from 1947 to 1972, influencing such well-known Welsh painters as John Selway.

The course used to be taught at a building in Clarence Place, until it moved to its present home on the Caerleon campus.

Dr Lyons said: "Fine Art is one of the oldest departments so there is a lot of history which disappears with it, almost impossible to rebuild."

A spokesman for the University of Wales said Newport entered discussions with neighbouring universities about where each institution would remove programmes similar in content and outlook.

He said: "The announcement before Christmas of suspension of new recruitment to these courses was a direct result of this. The proposals from universities across the region are now with the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales.

"This is not a situation that the university would have chosen and the reasons behind this have been explained to all staff and students."

Dr Philip Dixon, director of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers Cymru, said: "Given the situation imposed on Wales it is not surprising universities are feeling the crunch. However Newport has a long and proud history and it will be a pity of that expertise is lost."