Brexit will hit Pembrokeshire harder than the Sea Empress disaster, according to a comparison made in a report for Cabinet next week.

The Director of Development’s report ahead of an agenda item called 'Planning for Brexit' outlines a proposal that the County Council prepare for the change in financial circumstances likely once the UK “terminates” its membership of the EU.

The report acknowledges the likely impact on Pembrokeshire is difficult to assess but looked at the findings of a study carried out by the London School of Economics.

That study found that the drop in Gross Value Added - the value generated by any region engaged in the production of goods and services - as a result of the effect on trade in Pembrokeshire would amount to more than £19million if a soft Brexit is adopted and more than £35million if hard Brexit is followed.

This is compared to a net economic impact of more than £14million in the 1996 oil spill disaster.

This is the equivalent of 957 full-time jobs, the report states.

It adds: “EU programmes will not operate after 2021. Although replacement funding has been promised, this may feed through the Barnett formula and so be less than the EU programmes.

"This promised replacement funding may not be forthcoming or suited to our needs."

The report lists eight potential impacts on the local authority post-brexit including reduction in external funding, reduction in income and increases in costs.

Five further potential impacts on the county are highlighted, including reduction in spending power, increase in business failures and increased unemployment.

Under 'brexit benefits', the report adds: "These are yet to become clear."

The report recommends that a working group be set up to enable the council to “anticipate, assess, plan for and respond to the impact of Brexit on the council’s services and Pembrokeshire more widely”.

Cabinet will discuss the report on Monday, October 9.

It can be accessed here.