LOVERS of the great outdoors have been assured the Afan Valley will not be left stripped bare because of a tree-killing virus.

Swathes of the valley's hillsides have been cleared of larches to combat Phytophthora ramorum.

An outbreak has been found in Japanese larch trees in the Penhydd and Michealston woodlands areas on the western side of the Afan Valley.

It's home to some of the best mountain bike routes in Wales such as the Skyline, attracting around 170,000 visitors a year.

Aberavon AM David Rees has voiced concerns about the impact the clearance could have on tourism and business, and has raised his fears in the Senedd.

Now he has met senior officials from the Forestry Commission Wales and officers of Neath Port Talbot's tourism team to discuss the future of forestry in the Afan Valley.

Mr Rees said commission chairman Jon Owen Jones and director Trevor Owen had confirmed their commitment to redeveloping woodlands following the outbreak.

"They presented a strong vision for the valley which would envisage woodland being planted around trails and building upon the existing facilities," said Mr Rees.

"This will allow the tourism, economic and leisure developments we have in the area to look to the future with confidence and move forward."

He added that Neath Port Talbot's head of economic development Gordon Andrews had also highlighted the authority's involvement in promoting tourism in the Afan Valley.