Ifor Lloyd's resignation came on cob day at the Royal Welsh

Ifor Lloyd, from Aberaeron in Ceredigion, said he was disillusioned with a number of recent decisions taken by the body.

He had been a council member for 34 years and stood down during the Royal Welsh Show on Wednesday.

He resigned after the council said it would defend a High Court case against a suspended society member.

The case is being brought by Dania Leyson from Pontarddulais, who is challenging the society's decision to suspend her membership.

A spokesman for the society confirmed it had received Mr Lloyd's resignation letter.

The council held an emergency meeting at the show on Tuesday night.

His resignation the following day was during Welsh cob day in the main ring - the highlight of the society's calendar.

Elsewhere at the show on Wednesday, a petition was launched demanding an end to the closure threat hanging over small, rural schools in Wales.

Powys, Carmarthenshire, and Denbighshire are among councils reviewing schools in light of falling pupil numbers. The Association of Small Schools has been formed to bring campaigners together., and it said closing small schools undermined "social fabric".

The Farmers' Union of Wales (FUW), the Campaign for the Protection of Rural Wales, Wales Young Farmers' Clubs, Welsh language women's group Merched y Wawr and the Women's Institute all support the campaign.

Closing down a school rips the heart and soul out of these areas FUW president Gareth Vaughan

FUW president Gareth Vaughan said: "Closing down a school rips the heart and soul out of these areas.

"I'm determined that the FUW will play a major part in this campaign."

Under the current policy adopted by local authorities any school with fewer than 90 pupils on the register could be closed, said the FUW.

Mr Vaughan said the effect of the payment on farmers was hard to predict.

Ysgol Hermon, in Pembrokeshire, closed last year despite a protracted legal battle by parents to keep the 53-pupil school open. Two others nearby shut at the same time.

Cris Tomos of the Small Schools' Fund said: "From our experiences we want to help others in communities facing this problem.

"The closure of small school causes all sorts of problems such as affecting the Welsh language.

"In England, there is a presumption in favour of small schools, but that's not the case in Wales."