ABERSYCHAN residents have released pink balloons to celebrate their local councillor taking on the role as Torfaen mayor.

On Tuesday night, at a Torfaen council meeting at the Civic Centre in Pontypool, Abersychan ward councillor, Giles Davies, was voted in to take on the role of Torfaen mayor for the year 2015/16, after acting as last year’s deputy mayor.

In celebration of the achievement, 15 residents of the Ty-Bryn care home in Abersychan released balloons in his honour.

Each of the residents, who are in their 80s and 90s, wrote out message of good luck for Cllr Davies, which were tied to the balloons.

The idea was thought up by 77-year-old resident Mary Edwards, who took on the roll of princess for the day and donned a tiara.