A TOWY Valley woman who was last week named as Women’s Institute Icon has set her sights on another goal - and has asked for as much local help as possible.

Valerie Wood-Gaiger hopes her success in being made a W-Icon - a title given to the ultimate WI member - will boost her latest project, which is to draw up a directory of cheap places to take children.

The Myddfai grandmother, who has already master-minded the education-aid hit Learn With Grandma, says her new scheme came about after her family were priced out of visiting a theme park.

“One plan is to create a directory of useful websites and cheaper places to take children,” she said.

“Theme parks are great - I love rollercoasters - but at over £100 for a day out, they are for high days and holidays.

“Throughout the country there are lots of great places to go that are either free or cost very little.

“Please tell us places you know of.”

Initially the directory will be online but plans are already afoot for it to be published.

But Mrs Wood-Gaiger admits that although the £10,000 prize money from the W-Icon competition is handy, it won’t be enough to support the project.

“If you would like to help with a donation or loan, please get in touch,” she said.

Speaking about her success in the W-Icon competition, Mrs Wood-Gaiger said: “It was amazing and humbling that so many people voted for me.

“Friends and friends of friends, people I know and love and people I have never met or am ever likely to meet, supported me.

“I know that people from eastern Ukraine to the west coast of USA voted for me and that is truly amazing,” she added.