A Porthmadog councillor’s bid to become Plaid Cymru’s next Welsh Assembly candidate for Dwyfor-Meirionnydd has received a boost after two of the party’s biggest names backed her campaign.

Former MPs Dafydd Wigley and Elfyn Llwyd have given their support to Nia Jeffreys as party members prepare to vote next week to choose their next candidate for the 2021 Welsh Assembly elections.

Porthmadog town councillor Simon Brooks and Denbighshire county councillor Mabon ap Gwynfor are also hoping to be the candidate.

Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas currently holds the seat. A stalwart of Plaid Cymru, he decided to leave the party and become an independent in 2016.

This week, Mr Llwyd who represented Meirionnydd Nant Conwy in the House of Commons from 1992 to 2010 and Dwyfor Meirionnydd from 2010 to 2015; and Dafydd Wigley, honorary president of Plaid Cymru, have both backed Cllr Jeffreys for the nomination.

Cllr Jeffreys said: “I am delighted to have their endorsement. If successful I would be proud to follow in the footsteps of Elfyn Llwyd and Dafydd Wigley and to work side by side with our current MP Liz Saville Roberts to represent the people of Dwyfor Meirionnydd."

See this week’s Arfon/Dwyfor paper for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now