Tesco Llandrindod Wells has welcomed a new community champion, who is hoping to make a big impact in the town.

Richard Vellacott, 51, has taken the role, after working for the company for over five years.

Raised and educated in Porthmadog, North Wales, Richard went to Coleg Meirionydd in Dolgellau to train as a chef. He first came to Llandrindod Wells in 1988 as a student on a two-week work experience at The Hotel Metropole.

Upon completing his exams in catering, Richard returned to the Metropole to work full time as a chef for three years before traveling around the country working in several top quality hotels.

Richard, who Welsh speaking and married with two children, returned to Llandrindod, again to the Hotel Metropole in 1997 as Sous Chef.

He started working at Tesco in 2017, firstly in the petrol filling station, then into the main store on Waterloo Road as a customer assistant on checkouts.

Richard said: “The opportunity came to apply for the position, and I went for it. I needed something to get my teeth stuck into and to kick my brain into gear. It’s also time for me to grow up and put something back into my community.

“I will always and forever be a ‘Porthmadog boy’, but Llandrindod is now my home.

“My endeavours would be to support the Tesco charities - British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK - and also other local organisations, supporting our Armed Forces and volunteering within the local community.”