A boss of the helpline ChildLine is to become the first children's commissioner for Wales.

Peter Clarke, 52, the director of ChildLine Cymru (Wales) will take up the £70,000-a-year post next spring. He was selected after interviews with a panel including 17 young people.

Mr Clarke, a qualified social worker, has been in his current post for five years and developed a children's support service in Wales.

Born in Llandudno, north Wales, he was, in the 1980s, the community care adviser for charity Scope before becoming the director in Wales of the National Schizophrenia Fellowship.

He sits on the management committees of a number of voluntary organisations in the fields of children and mental health and is a member of the appeals committee of the BBC's Children in Need.

He said the thought of his new job was a little daunting but added: "I can move forward with confidence that I have got the support of all the parties in the Assembly, the support of a large number of adults in Wales, the support of all the charities and children's organisations - all of whom have been campaigning for this post.

"Most importantly I have the support of the children who selected me. Initially there are going to be a lot of things to do just to set up the commissioner's office.

"But I think the fundamental thing is to make sure I involve children in that work throughout and that I am able to actually hear and seek the views of children."

His appointment, unique in the UK, comes after a new Bill, anounced in the Queen's Speech yesterday, to extend the functions of the children's commissioner.

The Bill means the commissioner will have wide-ranging powers to act as an ombudsman for children in Wales.

The appointment of the commissioner was a key recommendation of the Waterhouse Report into abuse at children's homes in north Wales.

In a statement to the Assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan said: "The successful establishment of the commissioner's office is a major achievement and a first for Wales in the UK.

"Wales can truly be said to have a champion who will safeguard and promote the interests of its children and young people.

"Wales is taking the lead in the UK in placing the rights and needs of our children and young people centre stage."

The post was originally attached to the Care Standards Bill, which meant only children in care could be covered by the commissioner but the Welsh Assembly successfully pushed for wider powers.

Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy said Government legislation to extend the functions of the commissioner would be published shortly.

The Bill is expected to expand the commissioner's role by applying his powers to review and monitor arrangements for complaints, whistle-blowing and advocacy on behalf of children to a wider range of bodies including schools and NHS hospitals.

MPs in Wales have welcomed the extra powers for the commissioner.

Jane Hutt, Assembly Minister for Health and Social Services, said: "I am delighted at this positive response from the Government to the Assembly's request.

"This new Bill will give scope to extend the Commissioner's powers to all children in Wales and a wide range of services."