Newtown's youngest mayor wants to make the town the best place to live, work and play by "building back stronger" with regeneration projects.

Richard Williams, who is 26 years old, is understood to be the youngest person to be elected as mayor of Powys' largest town.

He has served on the town council since 2017 and said that he "can’t wait to continue working with our residents, businesses and visitors to rebuild Newtown as we come out of the Covid-19 pandemic".

The newly-elected mayor said: "I am proud that this Council is taking the lead in defining, branding and marketing our town to the rest of Wales, the UK and abroad. Our new brand – Discover Newtown will play a key part in building back stronger from the pandemic. Working with Open Newtown, we should also hopefully see the opening of the new Riverside Venue in the next 12 months, which will be a modern and green gateway to our fantastic green and blue spaces.

"Alongside the pandemic, the usual challenges in Newtown still exist – David [Selby] highlighted to us in 2019 that two of our wards were among the top 20 in Wales for child poverty. We must do what we can, within our powers to enact change for all – young, old, rich or poor.

"The tiers of government in Wales can be confusing many and I will work hard to educate and inform residents and visitors, of the Town Council and the unique role we play in Newtown."

The mayor is now taking this opportunity to consider future plans for the town and surrounding area.

He said: "As we move out of the Covid-19 pandemic, into a period of regeneration and building back stronger, I know we will make a lasting legacy through our many projects.

"Our Five Year Business Plan and Place Plan has a number of projects to make Newtown the best place to live, work, play, eat and relax. Alongside this, if our recent submission to the UK Community Fund is approved, we will be enhancing our town even further.

"We are a Council who is committed to working with partners where required, and I am proud that this brings about outside investment and opportunities."

However the mayor added that there is "still lots of work to do" to turn Newtown into a zero carbon town after the town council declared a climate emergency in May 2019. "Our work and projects needs to align to this same vision," he said. "We are working with partners such as Powys County Council to create green environments in our town centre and I’m sure we are all excited to see changes to High Street and Severn Square."

Mental health service Ponthafren has been chosen as the mayor's charity, which Cllr Williams said provides "excellent services to all ages, especially when mental health support is vitally important."

Cllr Williams takes on the role of mayor from Cllr David Selby, and will be joined by deputy mayor Cllr Joy Jones for 2021/22.

He said: "I’d like to thank David for his service, not only to the Council but to the entire of Newtown during his time as mayor. David is a hard working, determined and thoughtful person and I will try my best to emulate his qualities and continue with his excellent work.

"I would also like to pay tribute to outgoing Deputy Mayor, Cllr Richard White for his hard work and dedication to the Council and the town. First elected in June 2004, he has served Newtown for the last 16 years."