THE PUB industry in Monmouthshire received another blow after yet another inn closed. Time was called on Tuesday at the Hostry Inn at Llantilio Crossenny after a disastrous few years for licensees Mike and Pauline Parker (pictured).

Just two weeks ago the Red Hart Inn at Llanfapley closed, as did the Halfway House at Talycoed and the Gockett Inn at Lydart earlier this year.

Mr Parker, 59, said his regulars were saddened at the news but very understanding. "I am very sad to have to make this decision but it has been forced on me by health problems and other issues."

Mr Parker said when the rural pub trade started to decline nationally The Hostry, along with many other Monmouthshire inns, began to feel the pinch.

"When we came here 17 years ago we had a good business and we had live music and regular skittles evenings.

"But people objected to the live music and that was stopped, and our trade fell, like it did for many rural pubs."

When he and his wife Pauline, 55, the chief dietician at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, applied for planning permission to build a cottage in their grounds, there were objections from local people.

This application was allowed. A subsequent application for change of use of the public house was refused, but was allowed on appeal.

Mr Parker said the last straw was losing an appeal to the valuation tribunal to reduce their business rates.

A campaign has now been launched to prevent the Red Hart pub in Llanfapley from being changed into a home.

Campaigners want the pub to remain a part of the community and a website has been set up on the address www.savetheredhart.co.uk