Tenby has had to settle for second place in a nationwide competition to vote for Wales’s ‘Best Place’.

The walled coastal town in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, was beaten to the top spot by Aberaeron, which was crowned the winner in the competition organised by the Royal Town Planning Institute Cymru.

Nearly 5,500 people voted on a shortlist of 10 places, with Aberaeron emerging as the most popular place, and the Gower coming in third behind Tenby.

Presenting the award to the Mayor of Aberaeron on Monday, RTPI President Phil Williams said: “Aberaeron is a truly deserving winner of the title – ‘Wales’ Best Place’. The impact of planning is obvious here as you walk through the town which has been carefully planned in the Georgian style around the harbour. Planners have been important guardians of this town’s character as it has changed over the last 200 years – from small fishing village, to a thriving trading port and ship building town to today’s bustling business centre and tourist hot spot.

“As a Welshman I’m proud to have shone a spotlight on the outstanding range of places in Wales that have been protected, carefully planned or improved by planners,” he added.

Peter Lloyd, Chair of RTPI Cymru said: “This competition has reminded us just how important planners and the planning system are in ensuring places are protected, shaped and improved.”