Town councillors in Llanfyllin say a grant scheme to help Powys towns recover from the pandemic has had a "massive effect" on the area.

The Transforming Towns grant, secured by Powys County Council from Welsh Government last year, was intended to be a funding package to help Powys town centres recover from the pandemic.

But the Town Council say not only have the changes allowed businesses to re-open safely, a host of improvements to the town centre such as amendments to street layouts and new planters have given Llanfyllin a lift.

Elements of the Transforming Towns 2020/21 budget was repurposed to allow Town Councils, working with businesses, to apply for funding to support social distancing changes required in town centres in Powys as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The town council has also used reserve funding to top up the scheme.

"Each business that applied for the money have put plans to town council and are now well underway with their spend which included buying and building adaptations to meet the new reality we find ourselves in to successfully carry on with their business," said town councillor Jane Carrington.

"We hope you all appreciate the work that has gone into this and that you are as proud of our community as we are," she added.

The scheme has seen businesses cleaning up, painting, moving planters and benches, and generally tidying up in preparation for reopening, while benches and parasols have also been added on the square for community use, originally to maintain bubbles while shopping, eating and drinking and generally enjoying the area.

Mayor of Llanfyllin and County Councillor Peter Lewis says the project, which saw businesses put plans to the town council as part of their application, has also helped businesses to use extra outside space for use of customers.

"It's fantastic, I've never seen the town so busy," he said.

"The scheme has been administered by the town council and we're very proud of how it's been received by the local businesses in the town.

"We're trying to make Llanfyllin more of a destination town and the outside seating has helped to create a 'cafe culture' feel to the place and it's been brilliant really.

"With the increase in tourism in the area sometimes you can have an extra 40 or 50 people in the town which is a lot for a small place like Llanfyllin, and with the new outside benches it gives it a real busy feel."