Keeper of 1,000 year old Ludlow Castle is just 23

She may only be 23-years-old but Bethan Williams has just been handed the keys to one of the oldest landmarks in Shropshire.

Miss Williams has taken over as the custodian at Ludlow Castle – making her only the second person to hold the title.

And she now hopes to bring more young people to the castle believed to be around 900-years-old.

Miss Williams takes over the role previously described by her predecessor Helen Duce as the 'best job in the world'. Ms Duce has retired.

Officials at Powis Castle Estates, which owns the castle, said they were delighted with the appointment and said Miss Williams would bring fresh ideas to the role.

She has become only the second custodian in the castle's history – the role was created as little more than a caretaker's post when Ms Duce started working at the castle in 1995 and has since grown to include supervising major events such as concerts and the town's medieval festival.

Miss Williams, from nearby Little Hereford, said: "I studied at the University of York but am originally from Little Hereford so I know the area quite well."

She added: "I'm really looking forward to the new challenge."