THE outgoing mayor of Aberystwyth Town Council has lost his seat, as voters overhauled the authority with under half the incumbent members returning to serve next term.

Brendan Somers lost his seat in the Rheidol ward after serving as the town’s mayor last year, while fellow Plaid members, Kevin Price (Penparcau) and Jeff Smith (Central) also lost their seats.

Jeff Smith, who also lost out in the Central ward county council elections, joins Martin Shewring (Independent) as the two people to lose two elections in one day, as Mr Shewring failed to win either the county or town elections for Rheidol ward.

Welsh Labour will now have two seats on the new-look town council after victories for Alex Mangold (Penparcau) and Claudine Young (Rheidol).

The Welsh Liberal Democrats walked away with six of the 15 seats from the four wards up for election, with the party sweeping Central ward, returning Michael Chappell, David Mark Lees and Emily Jayne Price.

Brenda Haines and Charlie Kingsbury were elected in Penparcau, while Mair Benjamin was returned in Rheidol.

Plaid retained seven seats, sweeping the north ward through Talat Chaudri, Sara Hammell, and Mark Strong.

Also elected for Plaid were Dylan Lewis and Steve Davies (Penparcau), and Rhodri Owain Francis and Mari Rhian Turner (Rheidol).

The results mean the council will have nine new members at their first meeting next month - a turnover of more than 50 per cent.

Endaf Edwards, Lucy Huws, Sue Jones-Davies and Alun Williams were all returned unopposed to the town council’s Bronglais ward.