A seaside resort has banned a classic Punch and Judy show - because councillors fear it trivialises domestic violence.

The traditional puppet show was supposed to be part of the Barry Island Beats, Eats and Treats festival in south Wales next month.

But the performance was scrapped after officials and some councillors decided it would be at odds with the county council's standpoint on domestic violence.

Ian Johnson, of Barry Town Council, which agreed to give £2,500 to support the festival, said: 'The issue was that it was treading a fine line between entertainment and recognising that some of it was inappropriate.

The traditional Punch and Judy show has been banned from Barry's summer festival by the town council

'It has elements of hitting people and that is not something that we would want to promote.

'If the county council allowed the puppet show to feature at the weekend event in Barry it would have been at odds with its and the Welsh Government's standpoint on domestic violence.'

The decision has come under criticism from the Punch and Judy Fellowship.

'Punch and Judy does not encourage wife bashing - no child of a Punch and Judy man has ever grown up to be violent - and they've seen hundreds of shows,' a statement on its website said.

'If Punch and Judy should be banned because of violence then so should performances of Shakespeare as well as Tom and Jerry cartoons.

'Banning Punch would be like banning wine gums because there are alcoholics in the world.'

Barry Town Council is not the first to decide to ban the popular puppet show, with performances being dropped from Cornwall to Kent in recent years.

A Vale of Glamorgan Council spokesman said: 'While planning events for the weekend, a host of traditional activities have been considered to ensure the event caters for everyone.

'The Punch and Judy show that had been considered will not be taking place.'