Aberporth UKIP member Cllr Gethin James was jubilant this week as his party came a close second in the Euro elections across Wales.

The party also came second in Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

"It shows I am not a swivel-eyed loon but that my views are shared by a third of people across Wales," he said.

Plaid Cymru was also celebrating as they topped the polls in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion with Jill Evans returning as the party's MEP.

The party said it was "chuffed" with the result, calling it "a campaign for a positive voice in Europe" while Ceredigion AM Elin Jones called it "a great result".

But Cllr James said it was the strong showing of UKIP - 28.1% of the vote in Wales, narrowly behind Labour's 28.7% - that ensured Plaid Cymru's MEP was re-elected.

"They got in by the skin of their teeth - Leanne Wood should be very grateful to Nigel Farage," he said.

The Liberal Democrats suffered a poor showing, coming sixth in Wales, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire and fourth in the Ceredigion poll. In Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire they were outvoted by the Green party.

Cllr James said the forthcoming General and Assembly elections would be interesting.

"Just watch this space - it's unchartered territory now," he said.

Results: Ceredigion: Plaid Cymru-7,139, UKIP-4,138, Conservatives-2,698, Lib Dem-2,332; Carmarthenshire: Plaid Cymru-15,281, UKIP-12,459, Labour-11,793, Conservatives-6,686, Greens-1,889, Lib Dem-955; Pembrokeshire: Conservative-9,250, UKIP-8,965, Labour-6,808, Plaid Cymru-3,824, Green-1,444, Lib Dem - 879.

Wales has returned four MEPs - Derek Vaughan (Labour), Nathan Gill (UKIP), Kay Swinburne (Conservative) and Jill Evans (Plaid Cymru).