THE first black mayor of Brecon was installed by the Town Council on Monday evening in the Guildhall.

Manny Trailor, 36, who is mixed race, has been elected for the municipal year 2018/2019 following Councillor Ieuan Williams of Brecon’s St Mary ward.

He said: "It’s something that I don’t want to make a big deal out of - I was elected because of my time as a councillor.

"While it will be different for Brecon as a town, the fact I’ve been elected shows that it’s not a place where this is an issue. I feel really comfortable and at home here.

The Labour councillor from the St John West ward in Brecon, who has been living in Brecon for ten years, has been a part of Brecon Town Council since 2015 when he was elected.

Cllr Trailor, who runs the Castle Hotel in Brecon, said he wanted to continue investing in the services available in Brecon and that what the council "can do to help" they "will do" to help.

The Mayor said that he has chosen to raise funds for Brecon and District DisABLEd Club, which runs the Brecon Dial-A-Ride, as well as Brecon and District Mind.

He said he felt strongly about both charities because of the essential services they offer to the town, and that he had chosen two so that he could give them both a "good amount of support".

The new mayor was installed at a ceremony which also featured the new deputy mayor for the year, Councillor Ann Mathias, from St John East ward.

The event was attended by local leaders, guests of the previous and the new mayor, the deputy mayor, Brecon Town Council staff and past mayors and mayoresses.

For the full story read this week's edition of the Brecon & Radnor Express.