DAYS before the opening of the Newport and District Eisteddfod, its chairman has admitted that organisers "could have done more" to attract non-Welsh speakers to the festival.

Now Dr John Hughes is urging the people of Gwent to support the festival and "not to worry about the Welshness".

Dr Hughes, who is chairman of the festival for the second time, told the Argus: "We could have done more. I think maybe we should have targeted more organisations that are non-Welsh speaking.

"But when you have a Welsh festival and 95 percent of the local people are not Welsh speakers, you will always feel you could have done more. "However, we have tried very hard to engage non-Welsh speakers but we have not found it easy."

Despite Dr Hughes' admission, many Welsh language campaigners have criticised organisers for 'anglicising' the Eisteddfod.

Welsh language campaigners Cymuned have criticised plans to relax the festival's monoglot traditions by introducing bilingual signs and have accused organisers of "diluting" the Eisteddfod.

And new measures to modernise the festival such as allowing alcohol to be served on the site for the first time have also angered some Eisteddfod supporters.

But Dr Hughes said the Eisteddfod had to modernise its image. "We don't want lose our traditional values but it has to move with the times.

"We are hoping it will be a great success." And Dr Hughes admitted that Gwent's non-Welsh speakers and growing number of Welsh learners would make up a key part of the Eisteddfod audience.

"There are more Welsh learners in Gwent than anywhere else in Wales and Ysgol Gwynllw (the Torfaen Welsh comprehensive school) is bulging at the seams - even though 95 percent of parents are non-Welsh speakers.

"That shows parents want their children to have a bilingual education. "My message to the people of Newport is to come and have a look. "There is something for everyone and don't worry about the Welshness." The run-up to the festival was hit with funding problems as local groups failed to raise the large sums of cash needed for the festival.

"We have collected a lot more money now in recent weeks and the excellent organisation has helped us to make a large amount of savings. "The transport infrastructure is already in place for us with a great location and Newport council have allowed us to have the office in Bridge Street which has saved us money.

"They have bent over backwards to help us and I must pay tribute to them."