Master thatcher Alan Jones says his work has been dealt a severe setback by the loss of his machinery.

The Newport-based craftsman has been cutting local reed beds for 27 years, and travels throughout the UK and beyond with his craft.

He is frustrated that the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) has now withdrawn specialist machinery which he used to cut and collect local materials to be used on traditional thatched roofs.

Mr Jones is keen to use home-grown materials such as organic straw and reed, rather than cheaper imports which have a greater carbon footprint, and do not represent vernacular styles.

He said: “It’s been quite upsetting. I had been trying to get this particular machinery in Wales for 12 years.

“It’s taken the wind out of my sails to have this snatched away after trying to get it in west Wales for so long. Some days I feel I can’t be bothered to do it anymore, and I should just import reed like everyone else.”

He added: “All this was supposed to benefit the Welsh thatching industry, and I represent that industry.

“CCW is interfering with my work by withdrawing the machinery. It is playing with people’s lives.”

CCW Pembrokeshire senior conservation officer, Matt Sutton, said: “We have been very supportive of Alan and his thatching business.

“We’ve arranged access for him to cut reed-bed sites across Pembrokeshire, provided volunteers to help with harvesting the reed, and allowed him free use of our specialist reed harvesting kit.

“Unfortunately, we’ve been unable to develop the full potential of our Thatch It! project, and communication difficulties have played their part in this.”

Mr Sutton added: “We’re still waiting to talk to Alan about a way forward for the project.

“In the meantime, we’ve asked for the machinery to be returned so that it can be used by other partners in our wetland conservation work.”