TODAY Gwent welcomes Europe's largest cultural festival - an event which is expected to attract more than 150,000 visitors and bring a £7 million boost to the local economy.

Tonight sees the opening ceremony of the Newport and District National Eisteddfod at Tredegar House - 16 years after the festival last visited the city in 1988.

Set over an impressive 31-acre site, with more than 325 trade stands, 200 competitions and thousands of performers, the Eisteddfod is an artistic melting pot.

As well as the main pavilion, the Eisteddfod also houses a theatre, a literature pavilion, a dance studio, rock pavilion, Welsh learners' pavilion and a lecture theatre.

Eisteddfod chairman Dr John Hughes told the Argus the local economy can expect to benefit to the tune of £7 million and the local tourist industry is already feeling the benefits of the surge in visitor numbers.

David Isaac of the Manor Hotel in Stow Hill said: "This is the busiest year the hotel has ever had. People have booked a year in advance to come to this year's event and we have had to turn our usual professional clients away. Seventy per cent of our guests will be attending the Eisteddfod." And Maria Couglen of the King's Hotel in High Street is also positive about the effects of the festival on the city. She told the Argus the Eisteddfod was "great for business".

At the Eisteddfod campsite today visitors were gearing up for the event which concludes on August 7 and includes such highlights as the crowning and chairing of the Bard ceremonies and assemblies of the Gorsedd.

The Thomas family from the Gwendraeth Valley arrived yesterday at 8pm and and were up making bacon sandwiches for breakfast at 6.30am today.

Stephen Thomas, father of 15-year-old Aled and 13-year-old Gwenan, who are both performing in two theatrical productions, said: "Everyone is so excited. I think it will be one of the best Eisteddfods ever. The caravan site is so close to the site and is easy for people from all over Wales to get to."

Aled said the festival is a chance to allow people to celebrate their Welshness with friends from all over the country.

Day tickets are £10 for adults, or £6 on Sunday; £2 for under-12s and £6 for over-12s and students. The Eisteddfod is signposted from the M4. Turn to page 12 for details of how to get there.