A Montgomeryshire town has become the first to officially declare it's support for Welsh independence.

Councillors at Machynlleth Town Council last week endorsed a motion from councillor Rhydian Mason supporting the Yes Cymru’s independence campaign, following a split vote that was eventually decided by new Mayor Monica Atkins' casting ballot.

"We support the idea and recognise that the campaign should exist, as it were,” said town clerk Jim Griffiths.

"The council was split fifty-fifty, but then the Mayor Monica Atkins, declared that she supported independence in a second vote.

"It means that the Council has come to the conclusion that we want to support independence for Wales and Yes Cymru.”

Proposer, Cllr Mason, said he believed that others would follow suit in supporting Welsh independence, with several other councils across the country due to debate similar actions this month.

"We're a small town and we can't raise an army as Owain Glyndwr did 600 years ago!" he said.

"What we can do however is a symbolic motion to show support for the notion of independence.

"Independence is becoming a hot topic as it's a way of getting an equal standing within the current system which we don't have at the moment.

"I know for a fact that there are other councils who are looking to follow Machynlleth's lead, which is nice, but mostly it's about showing that it's an issue which is important to the local community."

The move comes among a growing upsurge in support for a fledgling Welsh independence campaign, as last month, an estimated 3,500 people attended the first ever march for Welsh independence in the nation's capital, with Montgomeryshire 'Yes!' campaigner Ben Gwalchmai addressing the crowd.

"I think it's brilliant and it's fascinating. I believe Machynlleth was also one of the first to declare a climate emergency as well, and although, obviously, town council's don't have the power of international treaties, it's a sign of the times I think that things are changing rapidly," he told the County Times this week.

"If the Welsh Government are serious about wanting to protect our NHS and address some of the fundamentally unfair aspects of the UK, I think they are going to have to follow their lead."

Plaid Cymru leader on Powys County Council and County Councillor for Glantwymyn Elwyn Vaughan agreed and said he felt it was a reflection of dissatisfaction with the status quo.

"Of course I'm pleased about it and I welcome it. It's a reflection of the dissatisfaction with the way things are being run I think," he said.

"In a time when wealth in the south-east of England has increased by 31% since 2006 and only 6% in Wales in the same time, this is a reflection of people saying that the status quo isn't working and cannot continue."