The research will be presented at the National Eisteddfod in Meifod

Schoolchildren in Powys are helping uncover the history of their towns by taking part in a project to find the roots of local street names.

Six primary schools will take part in the research, part of which will be presented at the National Eisteddfod in Meifod this August.

The project is aiming to compile a list of Welsh street names which will be used by the council, the Post Office and the Ordnance Survey.

As a reward for their work, the pupils will receive workshops in history and arts and crafts, given by experts in the field.

One of the schools taking part is Ysgol Cwmtwrch, in Cwmtwrch near Ystradgynlais.

Head teacher Ann Evans said the school was halfway through the project, and would resume it after tests and half-term were over.

"What we have done so far is receive a grid of street names in our area and we have gone out and had a look to see if they correspond with the actual street names in our area.

We had one street called Golden Lion Terrace which we found was named after a pub that was there Ann Evans

"We have seen if they are in English or Welsh or bilingual.

"If they are just in English we have suggested names in Welsh," she said.

"It can be simple things. For example, with Bethel Street, we have suggested Heol Bethel.

"We have looked at what the origin of the street names might have been."

The children will also work with an artist-in-residence who will visit the school.

"Hopefully, the history of the street names might inspire the children to do some good artwork," said Mrs Evans.

'Pretty Town'

The school is also consulting local history enthusiasts about the possible background to names.

"Some is quite obvious - Bethel Street was called after the chapel there.

"We had one street called Golden Lion Terrace which we found was named after a pub that was there.

"And Heol Tredeg, which we thought might have come from the name "Pretty Town", was actually named after Lord Tredegar who owned the land around the area," she added.

"I think [the project] has raised awareness of the local area.

"I don't think we do take in enough about the world around us and the history of how things have developed and why they are there."