A Llandeilo pub has been closed after claims of threatening phone calls and abusive behaviour.

The Cottage Inn at Pentrefelin was closed yesterday (Tuesday, October 18), with the owners saying they had been subject to “an escalation of hate crime.”

The abuse received included phone calls and threats, including graffiti on the front of the pub saying “Leave English Or Die.”

The owners shared the news via their social media that the pub would be temporarily closed, along with a picture of the graffiti on the pub walls.

Members of the community have offered their support to the pub owners.

Kathryn Jones said: “It's support you need and deserve as you have invested in the community, as opposed to letting another public place close.”

Meirion Thomas added: “This is disgusting and no one should put up with this.

"Even if you are Welsh or English, this area has welcomed incomers from all over during the past 30/50 years and more, some of our best friends are English.”

Many were urging the owners to not close the pub.

Stephen Griffiths commented: “Why should you have to suffer for some small-minded person’s extremist views?”

June Davies followed this by saying: “Please don't let these small minded bullies win,” after the pub simply said “you win” in the announcement of their closure.

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Following the support the shown by more than 100 members of the Llandeilo community, the owners announced they would be opening the Cottage Inn again at 4pm today (Wednesday, October 19).

They say they have reported the “escalation of hate crime” to Dyfed-Powys Police, who have taken on the investigation.

The support has continued to come through, even after the reopening was announced.

Members of the Llandeilo community have said they will attend the pub’s reopening even though they “are not pub people” to support the local business and act against “this unacceptable behaviour.”

Deputy mayor of Llandeilo, Christoph Fischer added his support, saying: “Don’t let an idiot get you down.”