Two rural pubs in Ceredigion have told to improve their coronavirus safety measures by Friday.

The Ffostrasol Arms in Ffostrasol and the Vale of Aeron in Felinfach have both been served with an improvement notice after visits by officers from Ceredigion County Council’s Public Protection Team and Dyfed-Powys Police.

The Premises Improvement Notice, served under the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No 2) (Wales) Regulations 2020, was issued at both pubs on Wednesday, 14 October.

During their visit to the Vale of Aeron, officers found that insufficient measures were in place to maintain the required distance between customers, and that alcohol was being served at the bar, rather than via the mandatory table service for licensed premises.

Their improvement notice requires steps to be taken to ensure that seating is moved and its use controlled to ensure that customers in different extended households are seated at least two metres apart, and that they only serve alcohol at the customers’ table, rather than at the bar area.

During their visit to Ffostrasol Arms, officers again found that insufficient measures were in place to maintain the required distance between customers and staff, where customer were seen seated at the bar area, with staff behind the bar not wearing a face mask.

Their improvement notice requires steps to be taken to ensure that stools at the bar area are removed so that customers cannot sit at the bar, and that staff should wear face coverings.

Both pubs are required to put the measures into place by Friday, 16 October.

Failure to do so may result in a Premises Closure Notice being served, prosecution, or both.

In all, four pubs in Ceredigion have been issued with improvement notices or forced to close.

The Mill in Aberystwyth was forced to close last month for two weeks whilst the owners made improvements to adhere to coronavirus rules.

The Vale of Rheidol in Aberystwyth was also issued with an improvement notice last week.