A former Carmarthenshire county councillor has received a Special Contribution Award at Plaid Cymru’s National Conference in Llangollen for his years of service and support to the party.

John Edwards, who represented Saron, was elected to the council in 1999 – winning a seat in the ward for Plaid Cymru for the first time – and remained councillor until he stood down in 2012.

During his time as councillor he was well-respected amongst all parties in county hall and remains a popular figure in his home village of Capel Hendre.

John worked for the electricity board for over 25 years and was a former trade union shop steward.

He made the change to Plaid Cymru after the Labour party campaigned against devolution in 1979.

The award was presented to John by former MP Adam Price and his son, local MP Jonathan Edwards.

Speaking at the presentation, Mr Price said John had been of great support to him during his time as MP.

He said John’s time at the electricity board meant that John knew every nook and cranny of the constituency, and that nobody on the Plaid Cymru campaign team could ever get away with not canvassing the most remote of houses.

Mr Price also told conference that John, aged 73, shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to knock doors in his son’s re-election campaign and spent a week in Glasgow in August campaigning in the Scottish Referendum.

AM Rhodri Glyn Thomas also heaped his praise on John, adding he was a deserving recipient of the special contribution award.