A GWENT council is spending £26,500 on changing its image.

Blaenau Gwent council has agreed to modernise its existing crest, which it has had since 1974, with a new logo.

The new design will have a red dragon with three green hills behind it, representing the three valleys of Sirhowy, Ebbw and Tillery.

The logo will still bear the English and Welsh names of the council.

This will be phased in on council buildings, vans, secondary schools, libraries and theatres as well as on stationery such as newsletters, leaflets, adverts and compliment slips. But the council's crest will still be used for civic purposes.

The first buildings to receive the updated look will be the new Abertillery sports centre, due before the end of October, and the civic centre in Ebbw Vale.

The council first considered employing external consultants to come up with the new design.

But it was decided work should be carried out in-house, and the logo was designed by Alan Powell, from the council's communications team.

The £26,500 cost of adopting the new brand is to be spread across all council departments' budgets.

The new signs will be supplied by Monwel Hankinson of Ebbw Vale. The council said it was re-branding as it needed to modernise and refresh its image on its "journey of improvement".

But Tredegar councillor Paul Hopkins said the council would be judged by its services on the ground rather than by "fancy artwork".

"I think it should be shelved," he said, abstaining from the vote which was agreed by all other members at the council meeting last week.

Council leader John Hopkins said: "I don't believe it is right for us at this time to be seen as old-fashioned.

"I welcome this opportunity to modernise the way we portray the council. "Our services will not suffer in any way as a result."