TRIBUTES have been paid to a long-serving Machynlleth town councillor and former mayor who has died following a car crash.

Grandmother Sylvia Rowlands, who has been a town councillor for over 40 years, died following a crash on the A470 between Cemmaes and Llanbrynmair shortly before 11.50pm on Saturday.

Police confirmed that Cllr Rowlands was driving a grey Skoda when it was involved in a collision with another vehicle. Two passengers in the car, believed to be Cllr Rowlands’s son and his girlfriend, were taken to hospital with serious injuries as was the male driver of the other car, a silver Mazda.

The news has left residents in Machynlleth and fellow town councillors stunned.

Cllr Michael Williams, who served alongside Cllr Rowlands for decades, said he was struggling to accept it.

He said: “Sylvia was an absolutely superb councillor. Her ethos was always for the people.

“Through her work in the medical centre and as a town councillor, the people always came first.

“She was always a family person and was dedicated to her family and was just a wonderful person.

“I’m finding it very difficult to believe this tragedy has happened. It is an absolute tragedy.

“Not only has Machynlleth lost a wonderful person, but the whole Dyfi Valley was lost a wonderful person.”

See the full story in this week’s Machynlleth edition