THE three candidates in the contest to become Plaid's next leader have been in Llandybie to win over local members.

Dozens of them packed into the Memorial Hall to hear Dafydd Elis-Thomas, Elin Jones and Leanne Wood make their pitch to lead the party.

Plaid's Rhodri Glyn Thomas, AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, said: "We are proud of being a democratic party and proud of our one member, one vote policy. No one in this party has a stronger voice than grass roots members.

"The attendance at the hustings here in Carmarthenshire is a clear demonstration that Plaid Cymru members are excited about the future of the party and remain fully committed to improving our communities in light of the challenges the unionist parties continue to force upon us."

He said the leadership election had generated "a tremendous amount of interest and excitement" about Plaid and the party's future.

The former Heritage Minister later revealed he is backing Elin Jones to become leader.

Mr Thomas said: "I, like many others, have been excited and inspired by Leanne's campaign. The agenda has clearly been set for the party.

"However side by side with this campaigning vision we need to re-build the party.

"I believe that Elin has the ability to put together and lead a team of people capable of doing this and I fully expect Leanne to have an important role within that team."

Mr Thomas's choice put him at odds with Carmarthen East and Dinefwr's MP, Jonathan Edwards, who is backing Leanne Wood.

When she launched her campaign in Ammanford in January, Mr Edwards said: "I'm supporting Leanne as she's a conviction politician.

"In these turbulent times people expect their politicians to offer a clear vision.

"Leanne has consistently been someone who has criticised the excesses of the failed neo-liberal economic ideology pursued by the three unionist parties which has created so much damage to our communities in Wales."