A LLANGADOG newsagent and post office has gained an important award from the Countryside Alliance Awards for Wales.

Morgan's Newsagent and Post Office, Llangadog, owned by Win and Richard Morgan, gained the rural village shop/post office award at the recent Countryside Alliance Awards for Wales, held at the Senedd.

The awards celebrate rural communities and the role that retailers and businesses play in keeping them together.

The evening was hosted by Assembly Presiding Officer Lord Elis-Thomas. Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones presented the awards.

The awards, now in their fourth year, have celebrated retailers and businesses the length and breadth of Wales.

Morgan's previously won best shop/post office in 2007.

Countryside Alliance chief executive Simon Hart said: "The Welsh finalists continue to promote Welsh produce and skills, and deserve huge credit for that.

"All the finalists were outstanding, and the winners simply exceptional. The Countryside Alliance is proud to be honouring a group of people who do so much for the rural economy and the communities they live and work in."

Postmistress Win Morgan said: "It's absolutely tremendous, especially because it entirely comes from nominations by the customers, mostly online."

Win and Richard took over the existing village post office seven years ago, when there were fears it was going to close, adding it to the existing newsagent.

The post office and newsagent forms a hub of the community, with Win and Richard running many local initiatives despite the 5am starts.

Win offers Kite, Cadog IT enterprise, a series of free one-to-one computer lessons to help computer novices avoid "digital exclusion", as well as digital photography lessons with the help of a local artist.

The shop also offers an internet cafe, and twice a month hosts a police surgery, providing a place for concerned residents to meet the officers and air their concerns.

Win, the daughter of a bank manager, also runs a savings club with the local primary school

Morgan's will represent Wales in the UK final next month.