CEREDIGION AM Elin Jones has been chosen by Welsh Assembly members as their new presiding officer.

The Plaid Cymru AM beat party colleague Lord Dafydd Elis-Thomas by 34 votes to 25 at the Senedd this afternoon.

The vote came after former presiding officer Dame Rosemary Butler stood down from the assembly at the election.

The presiding officer acts as the figurehead of the Welsh Assembly for Wales, chairing meetings in the Senedd chamber but is not allowed to participate in Assembly votes.

The post is the second-highest paid job in the assembly, behind the first minister.

Ms Jones, Ceredigion AM since 1999, will receive a yearly salary of £105,000.