PLAID Cymru has retained its seat in Carmarthen East and Dinefwr as Adam Price romped to victory at last week’s election.

With 14,427 votes (48.3 per cent), Mr Price was followed in second place by Labour candidate Stephen Jeacock, who received 5,727 votes.

The Welsh Conservative Party’s Matthew Paul claimed third place with 4,489, with UKIP’s Neil Hamilton – the former Tory MP – receiving 3,474 votes.

William Powell of the Welsh Liberal Democrats received 837 votes and Freya Amsbury of the Wales Green Party picked up 797.

The turnout was 54 per cent.

The new Assembly Member for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr paid tribute to his fellow candidates following his victory. Mr Price said: “I have got to know all of you from this and believe each one of you are a credit to your parties.

“Why is it a son of a miner like me is standing here with a rosette? Because the Labour Party left us without hope, has run out of ideas and is complacent. We deserve better than this. Here in this election we have seen a glimpse of the future with positive changes of the working people of Wales.”

He added: “I am sincerely grateful to every one of the voters who put their faith in me at the election. There is no greater honour than to be an elected representative of your home communities.

“I’m very grateful to my family, friends and local activists, who have supported me and helped spread Plaid Cymru’s positive message throughout the county. Their dedication has been inspirational.

“My election pledges were ambitious.

"The hard work begins to honour those pledges and to work, on behalf of Carmarthenshire and Wales, to the best of my ability.”