PENMAEN ward councillor Allan Pritchard was named the new leader of Caerphilly council last night.

The 69-year-old from Oakdale will take over from Lindsay Whittle, who has resigned as leader of the authority after becoming an assembly member.

Cllr Pritchard was first elected as councillor for the Penmaen ward in 1979, serving on the then Islwyn Borough council and Caerphilly council.

Cllr Pritchard said: "When I started in politics I wanted to change the world, now the most important thing to me is changing this county borough.

"My goal is to make it the best in Wales, fit for purpose, slashing bureaucracy and preserving frontline services."

On becoming the fourth leader in the council's history, he added: "I have joined a very small band and it is one of the toughest jobs, its gruelling but its an honour".

The Plaid Cymru councillor served as mayor of Caerphilly county in 2010 and was a miner before getting into politics.

On the 20th anniversary of the miners' strike in 2004, he said the closure of collieries led to the "hearts of many communities being ripped out".

But, he has championed regeneration in the former Islwyn area and has been involved in a number of successful campaigns, including getting the former mining village of Oakdale conservation area status following a six year campaign.

His most controversial moment as a councillor came in August 2007 when he was arrested and charged with obstructing a police officer.

He was accused of pushing and grabbing a police officer after going to the scene of a fight involving a group of teenagers who he said "caused havoc" in the community with verbal and physical abuse.

Mr Pritchard said he tried to tell police about the situation, and admitted holding an officer's arm, before being told to back off. He was then arrested.

But in November that year, he was found not guilty of the charge and told the Argus "justice has been seen to be done."

Former leader Lindsay Whittle resigned his position due to his assembly committments, but will remain a councillor until the 2012 elections.

At the meeting yesterday, he said: "I have moved to the assembly for his own personal career with a very heavy heart. This is definately one of the greatest jobs anyone can have the privilege to do. I will take the fight for Caerphilly into the assembly."

Cllr Whittle will no longer claim his allowance at the authority after becoming an AM, stating his "principles would not allow it."