After more than two years of debate the Welsh Assembly has reached a decision to keep a major north Wales tourist town within Denbighshire.

Many residents and local politicians had argued that Llangollen - home to the international musical eisteddfod - should be moved into the county of Wrexham.

This is positive news for the people of Llangollen and Llantysilio and indeed the whole of Denbighshire

Eryl Williams, Leader of Denbighshire County Council

Local people maintained they had more in common with the town and used their facilities including the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

A referendum on the issue was held two years ago, but a margin of just nine votes to maintain the status quo did little to quell the debate.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales was called in and recommended that the county's boundary should stay the same.

On Tuesday the Welsh Assembly announced that they agreed with the decision.

Eryl Williams, Leader of Denbighshire County Council, has welcomed the step.

"This is positive news for the people of Llangollen and Llantysilio and indeed the whole of Denbighshire.

"It would have been extremely unusual for the Assembly to go against the recommendation of the Boundary Commission's report."

Llangollen will not be served by Wrexham

This ends the long-running uncertainty as to whether the popular tourist town and the neighbouring community of Llantysilio should remain with Denbighshire or become part of Wrexham.

Clwyd South MP Martyn Jones had campaigned to move the areas into Wrexham and said he was disappointed by the announcement.

"I remain convinced that the governance of the people of Llangollen should have been the only criteria that mattered in this debate.

"If this had been the case, then they would have chosen Wrexham.

"However, given that the decision has now been made, I hope that Denbighshire County Council will maintain the extra services they have provided for Llangollen over recent years."

The review was ordered two years ago by Peter Law who was then the Local Government Minister in the Welsh Assembly.