BRECON and Radnorshire’s Welsh Assembly Member Kirsty Williams has said Powys’ out vote must be respected.

But the Liberal Democrat said the county falling in line with the UK’s decision to quit the European Union means the challenges are "no longer hypothetical" and predicted a general election before Christmas.

Ms Williams, who is also the education secretary in the Labour Welsh Government, said she also thinks the decision is likely to lead to the break up of the United Kingdom in its present form.

She said: "It is a very disappointing result and the implications and ramifications for our communities and our nation are huge and we face a very uncertain future.

"What is important now is that as we begin a process to leave the EU, Wales’ needs and the needs of rural Wales can’t be ignored and we need to negotiate as strong a deal as possible that will protect Welsh jobs and the future prospects for our children but we will find ourselves living in very uncertain times for a long period.

"I fear this will be not just about our future in the EU but the future of the United Kingdom..

"I think there is an inevitably now for a second Scottish referendum which I suspect will result in Scotland leaving the UK.

"I’m very concerned to hear already voices in Ireland talking about the future of Northern Ireland in the union, that brings huge concerns for those communities and what that means.

"It leaves Wales potentially very isolated and volatile as part of a much smaller UK of which Wales will be a very small part."

Ms Williams said it had to be acknowledged Powys and most other counties, including rural areas in Wales, had voted for out - but warned of future uncertainty.

"That vote has to be respected but that doesn’t take away the very real threats to the future of for rural Wales outside of the EU.

"I’m very concerned what support for agriculture will look like outside of the EU. It is a very uncertain time for rural Wales regarding direct agricultural support and in terms of access to the markets for the produce we raise here in Powys and export to the EU.

"Those challenges don’t go away as a result of the vote, they are no longer hypothetical.

"We need to know what that relationship regarding trade with the EU, and direct support for agriculture outside the EU, will look like outside of the EU. People will need certainty as we have a prolonged period of uncertainty.

"It’s inevitable the Prime Minister was to resign, it was an inevitable consequence of a leave vote, and I don’t think people writing a letter would persuade him otherwise.

"I suspect it will not be unlikely for a new PM to seek a new mandate and there could well be a general election later on this year."

Ms Williams, who was re-elected as Brecon and Radnorshire AM in May with a 8,000 majority, "categorically" ruled herself out as a candidate should there be a snap general election.