Machynlleth Town Council is believed to be the first town council in Wales to declare a ‘climate emergency’ after being urged to do so by concerned residents.

The town council unanimously backed a petition with 500 signatures and a letter calling for the designation. And the town council is being asked to work with local groups and organisations in an effort to make Machynlleth net-zero carbon.

That will see the council now draw up a plan over the next six months on how the authority will work with other partners, including schools and local environmental groups on proposals that can help provide a change in the town.

The letter to the council said dire warnings over the need for urgent action to try and head off permanent global warming that will leave humanity unable to avoid extreme weather events meant that organisations and authorities across the world needed to take action.

Machynlleth mayor Richie Gaskell said the town council accepted that it needed to take responsibility to play its part.

He said: “It’s very important the town council is seen to be taking an important interest in this and get Powys County Council involved.”

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