CALDICOT castle is set to be closed six months of the year, causing outrage amongst the towns community leaders.

The castle, which attracts approximately 34,000 people a year, will have its opening season reduced as part of Monmouthshire County Council's controversial budget cutbacks.

Mike Rice, the chairman of Caldicot Regeneration group, is furious at the closure and also the lack of consultation that went into the decision making process.

He said: "I think this it is a disgusting decision and what disappoints me most of all is that we had no correspondence with MCC before this decision was made.

"The castle is one of the biggest attractions for tourists in Monmouthshire and it is being wasted by the powers that be.

"I think it is a sad state of affairs that this has happened and it seems that this kind of thing is always occurring in Caldicot. It is as if we are the forgotten town of Monmouthshire."

Caldicot Cllr James Harris was also furious at the decision to shorten the castle's open season.

He said: "What kind of message is this sending out.? It is an absolutely grotesque decision and people should realise that the castle is a vital cog in the heritage of the area and needs to be nurtured rather than having the life squeezed out of it."

The castle was built by the Normans and developed by Royalists as a stronghold in the Middle Ages. It was restored as a family home and boasts impressive banqueting rooms.

A spokesperson for MCC said: "The Museums Service is making savings of £100,000 and Caldicot Castle's opening season will be reduced from eight months to six. The programme of events, although compressed, will still be extensive.

"Caldicot Castle and the rest of the Museums Service are making sure that the welcome visitors receive, and that all of the facilities, will remain at the high standards to which people have become accustomed."