A CARDIGAN pub has been granted a month's reprieve after an energy company took steps to cut off its power.

NPower applied to magistrates at Aberystwyth for a warrant to enter The Eagle Inn, Castle Street, and disconnect its electricity supply on Wednesday.

The court heard that there was currently an outstanding bill of £4,174.31, and a payment had not been made since March.

Landlord and landlady Marianne and Peter Warren attended the hearing to oppose the warrant, and the court heard that they lived in the flat above the pub, which was in the process of being sold.

Mrs Warren told the bench that the reading was not accurate and she had been in touch with the company to change the meter.

She added that NPower had not visited the property, despite claims they attended the premises in July and August, but there had been telephone calls between the two parties.

She said: " We are asking for a month's leeway for the sale of the property to go through, then we can pay NPower.

"We have a buyer in place."

A representative for the utilities supplier told the court that he still wished to apply for a warrant, but would not disconnect the supply if a residential property was on site, and would install a pre-payment meter instead.

Magistrates asked the company to return to the pub to clarify the situation and adjourned the application for 28 days, stating they did not wish to see Ceredigion residents on the streets.

The bench chairman said: "We will not issue a warrant today which would affect you and your family."