PLAID Cymru have seized control of Carmarthenshire council forming a coalition with the Independent councillors.

The news comes after Labour leader Kevin Madge was ousted at his party’s annual general meeting on Monday after seven years at the helm.

Labour councillors at the AGM voted to replace Cllr Madge with Cllr Jeff Edmunds.

However the Independents refused to back the new leader and turned to Plaid.

Emlyn Dole, leader of the Plaid group will be nominated for election as leader of the council at a meeting next week.

Plaid councillor Alun Lenny said the party has its own manifesto and its own priorities and would be facing tough times ahead with the austerity measures from the UK Conservative Government imposed on the Welsh Government.

“Obviously we have inherited a most difficult position but we are determined to improve the image of the council and make it more open and transparent.”

But he said Plaid, whose first county councillor in Carmarthenshire was the late Gwynfor Evans, would do their utmost to protect the people of the county.

Mr Lenny said there was a feeling among councillors of all colours that Mr Madge had been treated “shabbily” by his Labour colleagues.

Welsh language campaign group Cymdeithas yr Iaith have described the move as “exciting”.