They were the days long before pubs were open almost all of the day and night and, in Wales, it was a case of "Never on a Sunday". NIGEL HEINS recalls a day almost half-a-century ago when a border pub hit the headlines.

IT was a very special pint that the locals downed at the old Nelson Inn, Cusop, on Easter Sunday 46 years ago.

They packed into an eager queue at the door and reporters and cameramen were there in force for the great occasion in 1960.

It was the first time in 57 years that the Nelson had opened its doors on a Sunday.

Back in 1903 the then licensee gave up his seven-days licence after trouble between customers and the Salvation Army.

Just 25 yards from the Welsh border into Hay, the Nelson became the only public house for about two miles with a Sunday licence. And the locals said: "It's a blessing."

The Nelson's oldest "regular," 77 years-old Albert Gundy, who remembered having a Sunday pint there in 1901, had the historic first drink, pulled by the chairman of Rhym-ney Breweries, Col Harry Llewellyn.

Taking a long, delicious pull at the frothing ale, Albert told reporters with a grin: "I only live over the border and it's downhill all the way to the pub."

The licensee, ex-police Sergeant Tom Williams, provided the customers' first drinks on the house.

Among the crowds which packed the two small bars was a party of TA men, undergoing Easter training in the mountains nearby. They heard about the opening and went down to make good use of it.

Officers of the Wales and Monmouthshire Sunday Opening Council were there, too. One of them, Mr JR Thomas, of Merthyr, said: "This just goes to show how stupid the law is.

"The people of Hay have now only to walk over the border to get a Sunday drink. Anywhere else in Wales the people have to get their Sunday drink in a club."