FIRST Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford paid a visit to Monmouth yesterday where he met a variety of local people who are pillars of the loyal community.

Among the places Mr Drakeford visited were Ty Price Hall where he met Maggie Riches of Tommy Tiddlers and heard about their toddler group and then heard from Fran Kenny about the good work that the Reach Out support group, based at Ty Price Hall does in the town.

He began his visit to Bridges Centre and spoke to the Social Circles group.

Aileen Atkinson, Centre Manager said: “Mr Drakeford was invited into Social Circles where he talked to the guests about what they’d been up to that day - they had been making colourfully decorated name placecards.

‘‘The tour then moved onto Monmouth’s Community Fridge where volunteers explained the ethos behind the project and the value it brings to the community whilst also reducing the amount of food that ends up in landfill”

When asked if he had enjoyed his afternoon in Monmouth Mr Drakeford replied that he certainly had.

He said: ‘‘I have been very lucky to meet lots of people and had a chance to visit a couple of different projects doing fantastic work.

‘‘In what can be a hard old world it does lift your spirit hugely when you meet people making such an enormous effort for other people’s lives.’’

Local Labour councillors and members including the leader of Monmouthshire County Council Councillor Mary Ann Brocklesby accompanied Mr Drakeford on his visits to Bridges Centre and Ty Price Community Hall on St Thomas’s Square which was refurbished with Welsh Government funding.

At the end of the visit Mr Drakeford posed on Monnow Bridge with members of the community he met during the day. He was expected to later make a statement on the impact pollution has had on the River Wye.

The river has been at the heart of a campaign by supporters battling to get the ecology of the river back on track after the recent hot weather and the water affected by run-offs from land along its banks.