A PUB manager has said he has been forced to introduce parking charges after motorists used his car park as a free park-and-ride facility and even sell cars.

Greenhouse boss Neil Foreman said customers had been turned away after seeing his 40-space car park in Llantarnam 'jam packed'.

Mr Foreman told how a dozen spaces were at times taken before they opened the public house in Newport Road.

The pub manager said one motorist had used his free car park to sell up to six cars at any one time.

Others left their vehicles in the car park before going to work in Newport or car share to Cardiff, Mr Foreman added.

He said several self-employed workers parked their vans in the car park at weekends rather than leave them outside their front door.

Last week, the Greenhouse decided to introduce refundable parking charges for genuine customers.

Mr Foreman, 39, said on Tuesday: “I try to keep the car park for customers.

“It doesn’t actually make me any money.

“On a Friday night, I was finding even I wasn’t able to park.

“There were times during the week when it was jam packed.

“I was getting complaints from customers there weren’t any spaces in the car park.”

Customers will have to pay £2 for three hours or £5 for the whole day but the charges are refundable when parking tickets are presented at the bar.

Mr Foreman added that he would have to give 80p to a parking company for each £2 parking charge.

St Michael and All Angels Church next door has used the pub car park for Sunday services, weddings and funerals.

Church member David Everett indicated the charges may cause extra congestion on Newport Road.

However, Mr Foreman stressed church members who park at the car park and regularly go for a drink at the pub after the Sunday service would be entitled to a refund.

Mr Foreman added that he would be prepared to discuss any parking issues with the community of Llantarnam.