Image copyright The Checkers Image caption Restaurants are awarded with one, two and three Michelin stars

Seven restaurants in Wales have retained their Michelin star in the latest guide - including one which wanted to hand it back.

The awards on Monday night saw 155 restaurants in Great Britain and Ireland given a prestigious star.

The seven in Wales includes The Checkers in Montgomery, Powys.

Last month its owners said they no longer wanted to feature in the guide because they were "putting family first".

Kathryn Francis, one of the three owners, said it was a "bit of a surprise" to receive the award again, given the change in direction of the restaurant recently.

However she said: "To see your name in the guide for an eighth year is no less exciting - it is a huge honour and our place has been an important part of our restaurants success since we opened in 2011."

The Checkers is moving to a daytime-only breakfast and lunch venue, with B and B accommodation, while chef Stéphane Borie is expanding work for private clients.

She added: "We have treasured our star and to see our name in the 2019 guide is an unexpected bonus - Stéphane will be in the kitchen until the end of October and will join us for occasional pop-up suppers throughout the year."

Image copyright The Checkers Image caption The Checkers owners Sarah Francis, Kathryn Francis and Stéphane Borie, first won the accolade within months of opening their new restaurant

Restaurants are awarded with one, two and three Michelin stars - with the latter being the highest rated and deemed "exceptional".

The seven restaurants in Wales each have one, though Anglesey-born Tomos Parry from Brat in Hackney, London, gained another star this year taking his tally to two.

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's eponymous restaurant in London retained its three Michelin stars for the 17th year running.

Welsh restaurants featuring in the 2019 Michelin guide for Great Britain and Ireland