Ann Mathias has taken over the reins as the Mayor of Brecon for the next 12 months.

The former senior director of BBC News’ Wales Today programme has been a member of Brecon Town Council since 2016, representing the St John’s Ward East, and the chair of the Environmental Committee for the last two years.

Cllr Mathias, 55, who is originally from Anglesey, spent more than 20 years working for BBC Wales before moving to Brecon with her family in 2001.

The fluent Welsh speaker used to run Oriel Pen y Fan art gallery, which specialised in Welsh contemporary art.

Cllr Mathias is serving her first term as mayor, covering the financial year for 2019-20, after taking over from former mayor Manny Trailor at a ceremonial meeting on Monday evening at Brecon Guildhall.

Her deputy will be Christopher Walsh, the councillor for St John’s Ward East who was the mayor in 1999 and 2005.

Cllr Mathias said: “I am excited, and a bit nervous because Manny has done such a good job and we’ve got on so well. I know it will be the same with Cllr Walsh.

“I’m planning to keep working with the council and to keep up the good work in creating good changes.

“I’m looking forward to the results from plan 2020 and to being part of that development from the results. Hopefully we’ll be developing green spaces and making them more accessible for all.”

The mayor said she and the council plan to continue their “hands-on” approach in the town, which recently has seen such measures being brought in as extra street cleaning, tackling dog fouling, cigarette butt ballot bins and clearing pigeon droppings.

Cllr Trailor said one of his personal highlights as mayor was twinning with Dhampus in Nepal in February. He said: “I have enjoyed it. We’ve had a really busy year on the council and the council has done a lot of good work like Brecon with Bells On, the extra street cleaning and the Christmas lights.”

During the meeting on Monday night, Cllr Trailor donated funds to his two chosen charities, Brecon Dial-a-Ride and Brecon and District Mind, and the new mayor announced her chosen charities – Brecon Mountain Rescue Team and South Powys Youth Music.