LABOUR’S Shadow Justice Minister Dan Jarvis was given a tour of Penarth by local parliamentary candidate Stephen Doughty earlier this morning (Friday, April 17).

Mr Doughty, who has been the MP for Penarth and Cardiff South since 2012 ahead of this year’s general election, visited the town council offices at West House before popping in to the Penarth Pier Pavilion.

Mr Jarvis, a former paratrooper who fought in Afghanistan, Kosovo and Iraq, met the director of the pier pavilion to discuss the work going on with veterans in the local community.

Maggie Knight, who has led the £4.2milllion renovation of the pier pavilion, spoke about how they had worked with veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a bid to build links with the armed forces community.

Speaking at West House Shadow Justice Minister Dan Jarvis, the prospective parliamentary candidate for Barnsley Central, praised the work of Penarth Pier Pavilion working with veterans suffering from PTSD and said: “It’s great to be back in the Vale as I was based in St Athan for some time a few years ago.

“I was there for three months, but spent about 18 months in Afghanistan.

“I have very happy memories of my time in this part of Wales and wanted to come and support my colleague Stephen.”

He added he would also be supporting Labour’s parliamentary candidate for the Vale of Glamorgan, Cllr Chris Elmore, who had been running a “strong campaign” for the party.

After spending the morning in Penarth he went to St Athan, where he met Chris Elmore, Assembly Member Jane Hutt and Caerphilly’s Labour candidate Wayne David on the campaign trail.

During their time in Penarth Stephen Doughty praised the work of Penarth Pier Pavilion with veterans suffering from PTSD.

“The work they have been doing there for the last two years has built up some strong links with the armed forces community and local charities,” he said.

He added he had also worked with the local RAFA, RBL and SSAFA groups, and had a keen interest in Sian Woodland’s campaign for her Royal Marine fiancé Paul Woodland to be remembered after he tragically died during a Special Forces training exercise.