PEMBROKESHIRE county councillors are to remain in office for an extra year.

Local authority elections were due to take place in May 2003. But, because the polls would have clashed with National Assembly elections, they have been posponed until May 2004.

It is the first time that the councillors usual four-year term of office has been extended to five.

The change-of-date had been proposed by the Assemblys Minister of Finance, Edwina Hart, before its summer recess and was ratified by her colleagues at the Assembly on Thursday.

An Assembly spokesman said the change had been made to avoid confusion among voters.