PLAID CYMRU's Simon Thomas has resigned as a Welsh Assembly Member and member of the party, as it has been confirmed he is subject to a police investigation.

A statement made by the party confirmed his resignation this morning.

The Mid and West Wales regional AM which includes Powys, has been replaced by Helen Mary-Jones who is next on the regional list for Plaid Cymru.

A spokeswoman for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “An individual from Aberystwyth has been arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images.

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

The Mid and West Wales regional AM which includes Powys has been replaced by Helen Mary-Jones who is next on the regional list for Plaid Cymru.

Helen Mary Jones grew up in Montgomeryshire and is a former pupil of Caereinion High School.

She is also the sister of Councillor Myfanwy Alexander, Powys County Council's cabinet member for education.

Father of two, Simon Thomas, 54 who was MP for Ceredigion between 2000 and 2005, had represented the region since 2011.

He has also deleted his Twitter page and personal website.

In a statement, the Assembly's Presiding Officer Elin Jones said that she received a letter of resignation from Simon Thomas with immediate effect.