A GARDEN centre near Monmouth planned a huge barrier of compost blocking part of its premises in a protest against 'outdated' Easter Sunday trading laws.

"It is ridiculous. You can go to a massage parlour, buy alcohol, gamble or even visit our tea room but you cannot buy a plant from us," said Geoff Wright, who runs the Millbrook Garden Centre.

He put up a 50-tonne barrier blocking off the plants section of his business at Mitchel Troy, outside Monmouth, while keeping the riverside cafe on the premises open.

"You can even buy plants from a garage on Easter Day, or any nursery smaller than 280 square metres, on what should be the busiest day of the year for us," he said.

He said it was not as if the nursery business was any threat to the religious nature of the day.

"We see it as an infringement of human rights. None of our staff are forced to work on Sundays and none of our customers are forced to come here."

Mr Wright said he had written to the Welsh Assembly and local councils about the matter.

Under English and Welsh law his business, together with supermarkets, is not allowed to trade on Easter Sunday, although in Scotland it is business as usual.

He felt so strongly about the matter that last year he opened for business on the day but was forced to close when council officials called after being tipped off.