A FIRM searching for oil and gas in a coastal region of Newport is proposing to drill less than 200 metres away from a city beauty spot.

Sonorex Oil and Gas Ltd has applied to Newport council for planning permission to drill a 4,000ft hole in Uskmouth in a bid to see if either fuels are in rocks below the surface.

But the application has revealed the drilling rig is to be located on a site adjacent to the Newport Wetlands reserve - and Sonorex managing director David Barker said it will be 170 metres from the reserve's visitor centre.

However, the firm believes the drilling will not affect surrounding habitats.

Mr Barker said that in an "ideal world" drilling would begin this year, though he said he "tended to think" it would be late summer 2013.

Further permission would be needed from the department of energy and climate change, as well as planning permission from Newport council.

The planning applications states drilling would take 25 to 35 days - after which time the drilling rig and equipment would leave.

There would be a testing period for 60 days after, Mr Barker said.

Countryside Council of Wales, which manages the reserve, said it will respond in due course.

"Due to the proposed site’s proximity to a protected site, CCW will ensure that any concerns it has with regards to the potential threats to the integrity of the protected site are raised and dealt with," a spokesman added.

An environmental statement said the site has natural scrub and woodland which would serve to reduce noise from the site.

Although the site is located near protected areas, it is not itself protected and activities there would not impact local designated sites, it added.

Site investigations found no protected species or habitats on the designated site and proposed plans would not impact on surrounding ecology or habitat.

To avoid disruption to breeding and migrant birds, the firm has been advised to undertake the project between July 16 and December 31.

Newport council's planning committee is due to make a decision on the application later this year.