Pembrokeshire County Council has elected its second woman chairman in its 13-year history.

Clr. Anne Hughes, of Milford Haven, took office at the authority's annual meeting on Friday.

A Milford Haven Town Councillor for the past 16 years, she has twice been Mayor of the town.

She has close ties not only with the port and its fishing industry, but with the Milford Haven waterway itself.

Her great-grandfather and his five sons brought the first steam trawler, 'The Sybil', into what was then Milford Haven's new docks.

Clr. Hughes, who represents the Milford Haven Central electoral division on the county council, is a former practice administrator in the town's Robert Street surgery.

She sits on a number of voluntary and community committees and is the current chairman of Milford Haven Plus. She is also secretary and trustee of the re-established Pill Social Centre Community Hall in Milford Haven since 2000.

Her husband is the well-known Pembrokeshire Radio personality, Jim Hughes, and they have been married for 37 years. They have two sons and a daughter and two grandsons.

Clr. Hughes - who succeeds Clr. Robin Evans as chairman - was proposed for office by Clr. Peter Stock, of Haverfordwest, and seconded by Clr. Rosalie Lilwall, of Pembroke.

A vote of thanks to Clr. Evans was proposed by council leader, Clr. John Davies.

The authority's new vice -chairman is Clr. John George, of St. Davids. He was proposed by Clr. Leslie Raymond, of Solva, and seconded by Clr. Clive Collins, of Lamphey.

The ceremony in County Hall, Haverfordwest, was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed, The Hon. Robin Lewis, and Mrs. Lewis.