A Barry councillor has been elected as the new Mayor of the Vale of Glamorgan.
Cllr Naomi Marshallsea, who represents the Illtyd ward, takes on the role for the next twelve months, succeeding Elliott Penn.
The Labour councillor returned to the Vale after spending a decade in London as teacher.
Her deputy will be Carys Stallard, a former BBC journalist who is now a Labour county councillor representing St Brides Major.
The new mayor and deputy mayor were selected at the council's annual general meeting earlier this month.
Cllr Marshallsea said: "When people ask me where I’m from, I’m proud to say I’m from Barry."
“I have lived other places - including London where I spent over 10 years as a teacher - but the Vale of Glamorgan is my home."
“While in London, I met a Barry boy and persuaded him we should put down roots here. I knew I had made the right decision, when I started working with my local community to regenerate a neglected park."
"Setting up the Friends of Chickenwood and seeing the energy with which people wanted to come together and make something we could all be proud of, has shown community at its finest."
“The Vale truly is the best place in the world and my forever home and I’m so fiercely passionate about helping to make it the best place for everyone.”
The new mayor's duties will include presiding over prinicipal Vale of Glamorgan Council meetings, along with numerous ceremonial roles as an ambassador for the county, while also raising awareness of community events and initiatives.
The mayor added: "I stood for election to represent each resident where I live, knowing that each individual has an equal voice, and now I hope to do the same across the Vale for the year as it lays out future aspirations."
“As the first mother of young children appointed as Mayor of the Vale, I stand for all women as I take up this role.”
Cllr Stallard, the new deputy mayor, said: "I am very happy to support Naomi in her new role. I’d like to use this next year to highlight the amazing work done by Vale volunteers, from St Bride’s in the west to Penarth in the east."
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