A poster for a by-election hustings has come under criticism after it used an American landmark to represent Newport.

The hustings is the first debate before voters in the constituency go to the polls on April 4.

But the Renew Party has been left red-faced after their artwork to promote the event that they organised showed the Claiborne Pell Bridge - commonly known as the Newport Bridge - in Rhode Island, USA.

Conservative campaigner Michael Enea, who spotted the image on social media, said: "Being that the parliamentary election is for Newport in Wales you’d like think they would surely know that the bridge featured in their advert (as local landmark) is not from Newport.

"It is actually located 3,199 miles away.

 "The advert displays Claiborne Pell Bridge (aka Newport Bridge) located in Rhode Island, USA."

A bridge too far: Claiborne Pell Bridge in Rhode Island
A bridge too far: Claiborne Pell Bridge in Rhode Island

He added: "I get the impression that someone has been using Google search? I suspect they've typed in 'Newport landmark' and it's thrown back an image of a bridge in Newport, USA.

"It really makes you wonder who’s running the campaign for the Renew Party? Surely their candidate should've spotted this?"

The artwork has since been changed, and now features an image of Newport's iconic Transporter Bridge.

Renew's communications officer, James Dilley, said: "I must apologise on behalf of the Renew Party for this error.

"It's obviously a busy time at the moment getting everything ready for the by-election and in the rush to organise the hustings, I signed off on the wrong image for the advert.

"The image has since been changed, but I apologise for any offence caused."

The by-election in Newport West is being held following Labour MP Paul Flynn's death last month.

The hustings

The hustings is taking place at 8pm on Thursday, March 21 , and expected to finish at 10pm.

It's being held at the Pillgwenlly Millennium Centre, in Newport.

Candidates who will be at the hustings include: 

  • Renew - June Davies
  •  
  • Lib Dem -  Ryan Jones
  •  
  • Green - Amelia Womack
  •  
  • Plaid Cymru - Jonathan T Clark
  •  
  • For Britain - Hugh Nicklin
  •  
  • Abolish the Welsh Assembly - Richard Suchorzewski
  •  
  • Democrats and Veterans - An agent will be in attendance

Organisers have said that representatives from Labour, Conservative and Plaid Cymru will be attendance, but details on whether candidates are appearing remain unclear.

However, The SDP and UKIP will not be at the event.

A Labour spokesperson said: "We would welcome invites to hustings from community organisations but it would be unreasonable to expect candidates to turn up to an event organised and run by a rival party in the by-election.

"Ruth [Jones, Labour candidate] will be attending a community event this evening."

You can read more about candidates for the Newport West by-election here.

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