The BBC unveils its new community bus Click here to see pictures from the launch

A new community studio on a bus is bringing the BBC to all parts of mid Wales.

And the new Where I Live website for the area will keep people connected to the news and events in the region 24 hours a day.

The idea behind both projects which were officially unveiled by BBC Wales Controller Menna Richards in Newtown on Thursday is to get local people involved.

Both involve input from people living throughout the area - from Llanfyllin in the north to Ystradgynlais in the south and from Montgomery in the east to Aberystwyth in the west.

The bus and the website complement another project which has already started in the region - digital storytelling.

The BBC Wales bus will tour mid Wales as well as visiting key national events Menna Richards, Controller BBC Wales

BBC Wales Controller Menna Richards said: "What these projects have in common is that they give the public a voice on BBC Wales.

"More than that, they encourage people to use new media tools to create content themselves and what I've seen of that content so far is refreshing, direct and, I believe, an important addition to our existing services."

Unique facility

This is the fourth Where I Live site to be launched in Wales following the north east, south west and south east sites.

The Where I Live site for north west Wales will be officially launched later this year.

The site is part of an initiative to make the BBC more accessible to Welsh people - inviting the public to contribute and give their views about their area and issues which concern them.

As well as in-depth news, the website provides information on weather, travel, sport, events and provides a forum for local people to air their views.

The fate of KTH at Llanidloes is one of the issues covered on the site

The BBC Wales bus is a facility unique to mid Wales.

A community studio has been created in a fixed location alongside the four other Where I Live websites in Wales.

However, because of the geography of the mid Wales it was decided a studio there had to be a mobile one.

"The BBC Wales bus will tour mid Wales as well as visiting key national events," said Menna Richards.

"It will be an open door to the BBC, a way for the BBC to get closer to the audience and to keep in touch with their concerns.

"On the bus you can log on to the Where I Live site and to Cymru'r Byd, surf the net, find out what BBC digital services are about or dip into an archive of BBC programmes about the region."

Jac Morris and his jackdaw added a lighter touch to the news

Already, more than 200 stories have been reported on the site since it went live in April.

The disappearance of Esti Clayton from her Brecon home generated a huge amount of interest.

The four-year-old went missing in April with her father Simon, sparking a police search across Europe until the pair were found in Portugal six weeks later.

Esti was then reunited with her mother and returned to Powys.

Officials are now waiting to see whether Mr Clayton can be extradited to face criminal proceedings in the UK.

We have reported on efforts to save more than 200 jobs at the KTH factory in Llanidloes, which will close before the end of the year.

Despite efforts by the workforce, politicians and the local community, no buyer has yet been found to take over the car plant.

In early May, BBC News Online broke the story that up to 10 small primary schools in Powys could be closed down under a review.

Parents, teachers and governors have vowed to fight against any possible closures.

Education also featured in the story of problems at Newtown High School after a critical inspectors' report led to the school's head teacher taking sick leave.

Brecon head teacher, Colin Eves, came in to turn things around at the school, which submitted an action plan in late May to Estyn, the schools inspectorate.

A BBC News Online report on concerns raised by fisherman Garfield Parry led to Ceredigion Council re-examining if it was doing enough to get rid of gravel from Aberystwyth harbour.

A BBC News Online report on harbour gravel led to council action

Another report highlighted social issues which was exemplified by a playgroup leader's call for improved policing of a Newtown housing estate.

The leader found a hypodermic needle containing what appeared to be blood outside where the playgroup meet on the Trehafren estate.

On the lighter side, we also told the story of a jackdaw that was besotted with a nine-year-old boy at Borth.

Jac the Jackdaw followed Jac Morris around as he walked to school every morning, shadowed him at playtime and dinner time and then flew alongside the boy when he went home from school.

And this week we broke the story of how CCTV cameras in Machynlleth have their view blocked by trees that are in full bloom in the town.

We are also following the Beagle 2 Mission to Mars launched earlier this month.

Crucial to the mission is the successful operation of a robotic arm built by scientists at University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.

The mission is expected to land on Mars on Christmas Day.