Soap scoops mental health award

Actress Catrin Mara's depiction of post- natal depression scooped the award

The BBC's longest-running TV soap, the Welsh language Pobol y Cwm, has beaten rivals EastEnders and Doctors to a mental health award.

The series, whose title means People of the Valley, won the Mind Mental Health Award.

The accolade was for the depiction of post-natal depression suffered by a single mother, Nesta, played by actress Catrin Mara.

Producer Ynyr Williams said they were "honoured and privileged".

"It means a great deal for the series and shows that our storylines are dealing with difficult and important issues that concern society today," he said as he accepted the award at a ceremony in London.

The awards celebrate the best portrayal of mental distress and reporting of mental health in broadcast media and cover a wide range of programmes, including radio and television documentary and drama, young people's media, news and soaps.

It is important that our programmes reflect real life and issues affecting real people Keith Jones, BBC Wales head of Welsh language programmes

Keith Jones, BBC Wales head of Welsh language programmes, added: "This is a great honour for the BBC's longest running TV soap.

"It is important that our programmes reflect real life and issues affecting real people.

"Against such strong competition this award is a great testament to the quality of the team working on Pobol y Cwm."

This award comes weeks after Pobol y Cwm, which is produced by BBC Cymru Wales and broadcast on S4C, was shortlisted for the Stonewall Awards and received high praise from the organisers.

Pobol y Cwm was first broadcast in 1974, and Hollywood star Ioan Gruffudd began his career appearing as a child in the series.