In an exclusive interview with The County Times, the First Minister for Wales, Rhodri Morgan, dismissed accusations that the centre of the country is overlooked by the Welsh Assembly in favour of north and south Wales.

Mr Morgan insisted he was proud to represent Wales - the whole of Wales - and insisted Mid Wales enjoys equal standing with its northern and southern counterparts with the Welsh Assembly Government.

"My job as First Minister is to look after the whole of Wales, and in doing that I take Mid Wales very seriously," insisted Wales' most important politician.

"Wales is a very odd country because of its sharp divide between rural and urban communities. Mid Wales is a very sparse area, and where Welshpool and Newtown are considered to be big towns around here they would be seen as a medium sized council estate in Cardiff.

"Because of this things are obviously very difficult, but nevertheless I do have a very strong interest in Mid Wales."

During his visit to Welshpool, he took a tour of the County Times offices and a walk up and down Broad Street, before stopping for lunch at The Royal Oak Hotel. He discussed important local issues, including, wind turbines, the possibility of a Newtown bypass and his view on proposed school closures.

To read all of the interview with Rhodri Morgan, make sure you buy this week's County Times which is in the shops tonight.