PEMBREY and Burry Port Town Council has welcomed a new clerk — 59-year-old Diane Probert.

Originally from the Rhymney Valley, Diane worked in local government for about 20 years.

She was an auditor at Caerphilly County Borough Council and later a marketing manager.

"I worked my way up through the ranks," said Diane, who lives in Carway.

"I have an interest in community affairs and obtaining the best for the community."

She takes over from outgoing clerk Louise Davies, wife of the departing vicar of Burry Port and Pwll, the Rev Paul Davies, who has been promoted to Archdeacon of Bangor in North Wales.

Diane said: "I think Burry Port is such a pretty little town.

"It has so many attractions in the area with Pembrey Country Park and people are not aware of it outside the area.

"It's like a hidden little gem."

Asked if she would be likely to bring her marketing experience to bear in her new role as town clerk, Diane said: "The area could benefit from more tourism.

"To attract more visitors is important but the main priority is the community." She added: "The area is rich in history, which I wasn't aware of until I researched it for my interview. I thought we could really make more of this. There was a specific highwayman who lived in the area."

Referring to William Emanuel, who terrorised the people of the Pembrey area for years before being hanged in 1788, she continued: "He was known as Will Manny, shortening his name.

"He had a farm on the top of Trimsaran, in between Furnace and Trimsaran.

"It was a regular thing that he would come down and waylay walkers. He was hanged for murder in the end as an infamous person.

"It was really unusual because in a rural community nothing much happened."

Diane added that she hoped her skills and the job she has now taken up would be "a marriage made in heaven".