BLAENAU Gwent AM Alun Davies has said the UK leaving the European Union would have a potentially damaging impact on the environment.

The Labour AM was speaking after a report by the Institute for European Environmental Policy said the so-called Brexit would “leave the British environment in a more vulnerable and uncertain position”.

Mr Davies said: "Being an active player in Europe has real, clean and green benefits for Wales and its people.

"It has helped shape ambitious recycling policies which will benefit future generations and is helping to fund innovative marine energy projects that will reduce our reliance on the kind of fossil fuels which historically scarred the landscape in Wales.

"EU measures have also helped deliver cleaner air, rivers and beaches - these are all vital to the Welsh tourism industry, which brings around £5.1bn into our economy every year.

"I fail to see how walking away from our European partners would do anything other than risk all of this."

The referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU will be held on Thursday, June 23.