Merthyr pub shuts early over football violence fears

Park View Inn, Brecon Road, Merthyr Tydfil

A pub a stone's throw from Merthyr Town's Penydarren Park has shut early over fears of violence around this evening's game against Hereford.

The Park View Inn in Brecon Road, a short four-minute walk from Merthyr's ground, shut at 5pm.

In a post on Facebook, a person connected with the pub said that as Merthyr were hosting Hereford in the National League North, they "agreed with the local authorities and licensing to be shut by 5pm".

With more than 3,000 fans heading to the sold-out fixture, the post said: "If the usual plan was to come to our place before kick off, we are sorry for any inconvenience.

"This is all down to this exact fixture and the violence it created in the past."

When Hereford played Merthyr over the Christmas period in 2017, police cautioned 11 people for their part in the disorder.