TAUNTON Deane MP Rebecca Pow is among the top ten most active MPs elected for the first time last May, according to The Independent.

The newspaper says she has made 139 speeches in the House of Commons, including leading a debate on ancient woodland.

Other topics she has raised in the chamber include flood prevention, fairer funding for Somerset's schools, the upgrade of the A358 and the future of the UK Hydrographic Office.

Ms Pow is also on two select committees - environment, food and rural affairs and the environmental audit committee - and heads up a number of all party Parliamentary groups.

She said: "It has been a privilege to serve as the MP for Taunton Deane, and whilst it has sometimes proved challenging, my first 10 months have been extremely rewarding.

"With hard work and a little patience, I have seen positive developments on both the personal commitments I made to electors during the election campaign as well as the wider Conservative Party manifesto.

"I would like to acknowledge that almost without exception I work in conjunction with the relevant teams and organisations in the constituency to both raise and highlight relevant issues.

"It is a two-way process from the constituency to Parliament and Parliament to the constituency."