LLANELLI Town Council has come under fire for spending more than half a million pounds on a "vanity project".

This week councillors will showcase their revamp Old Vicarage office building, in Church Street.

The authority says the work, to extend and refurbish the building, was needed to provide the appropriate space to accommodate all of its meetings.

For decades it had held many of them at the Town Hall, but decided around five years ago this was no longer suitable.

However, town mayor and county councillor John Jenkins, who estimates the total cost at approaching £800,000, has branded the makeover a tremendous waste of money.

"Councillors have spent all this money on facilities for themselves," he said.

"I voted against this extravagant spending, as I don't think we can justify it — even though it looks pretty impressive, it's still massive overkill for what is basically a community council."

When the extension was given the go-ahead, council leader Carl Lucas said the chamber at Llanelli Town Hall was no longer suitable.

"Ever since 1974, lack of room has meant the council has been unable to hold its council meetings at the Vicarage, and has used the Town Hall council chamber," he said.

"Unfortunately, the chamber can no longer be used, as access to it fails to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, and the use of Town Hall committee room is not always guaranteed."

Read this week's Llanelli Star for the full story.