We’re working with others to clean up our environment so that more people will care for, use and enjoy their local areas. Our priorities include reducing air and water pollution; tackling environmental crime such as illegal dumping, fly-tipping and poaching; managing flood risk and climate change and protecting wildlife.

We in Environment Agency Wales are offering a great opportunity for people from all walks of life to get involved. We would like you to put your name forward to come and join two of our key advisory committees for Wales. They offer valuable advice on our work and our priorities for the environment.

We are aware that in the past their make up has not always fully reflected the communities we serve. Equality of opportunity is very important to us and we really want to see the diversity of our communities reflected in our committee membership. We want the membership to come from as varied a background as possible so that we can benefit from a wide range of views and advice on our policies.

We are currently looking for people to join our Environment Protection Advisory Committee (EPAC) and our Fisheries, Ecology and Recreation Advisory Committee (FERAC).

We need advice in many areas of our work. This includes technical advice from those we regulate and from independent experts and also general advice on how our plans will be received by local communities.

EPAC advises us on our performance, our policy development and work priorities, acting as a focus group representative of the wide range of interests affected by our activities.

FERAC helps direct our work on maintaining, improving and developing fisheries, while also advising on conservation, ecology, recreation and navigation issues.

Both committees meet four or five times a year at various locations throughout Wales.

Although Committee members do not receive a salary, we will pay travelling expenses and, where possible, financial loss allowance.

Dr Helen Phillips, Director Environment Agency Wales, said: "These committees offer an invaluable opportunity to play a part in shaping the work we do. We need committed members who can advise on our work and help design our policies. This will help us ensure that our environmental priorities meet the needs of all our communities in Wales."

Applications must be submitted by 20th January 2006 to External Relations Team, Environment Agency Wales, Cambria House, 29 Newport Road, Cardiff, CF24 0TP. Telephone Sarah Carmichael or Jill Brown on (029) 20 466250 or (029) 20 466248 for an application form.