A PLAID Cymru AM from Aberystwyth has resigned from the party and the Welsh Assembly - after being arrested “on suspicion of possessing indecent images”.

Simon Thomas, 54, has been the Assembly Member for the Mid and West Wales region since 2011, and was the county’s MP before that.

Plaid Cymru said the party accepted his resignation after being “aware of a police investigation into allegations of a serious offence”.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson told the Cambrian News: “An individual from Aberystwyth has been arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images.

“The individual has been released on police bail for 28 days.”

Mr Thomas, a married father-of-two, was MP for Ceredigion between 2000 and 2005, and is a graduate of Aberystwyth University.

A spokesperson in the Assembly on the Environment and Rural Affairs before his resignation, Mr Thomas has deleted his active Twitter page and personal website.

In a statement, Plaid Cymru said they had “received Mr Thomas’ resignation as a member of the party”.

“We are aware of a police investigation into allegations of a serious offence,” party chair Alun Ffred Jones said.

“Due to that ongoing investigation it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.”

Mr Thomas’ resignation from the Welsh Assembly was received by the Llywydd, Ceredigion AM Elin Jones.

The Assembly said that “the returning officer for the region has been notified and we are working together to administer the arrangements for electing a new representative”.