AN ABERGAVENNY woman is one of the finalists in this year's Welsh Learner of the Year competition at the Eisteddfod.

Originally from England, Lois Arnold, who now lives in Frogmore Street, started learning Welsh six years ago at a learners' course at the town's Hill College.

Now a fluent Welsh speaker and part-time teacher of the language at the Hill, Lois considers herself an honorary Welsh woman, even putting her nationality down on the last census as being Welsh.

"My heart is in Wales," said Lois, who was born in Surrey and runs a mental-health information business from her house.

"I do identify myself as being Welsh. I hope people do not think that I am being cheeky, but I do feel as if this is my home."

College head of Welsh Geraint Wilson-Price nominated her for the Welsh Learner of the Year Award.

Lois said: "I think the thing that persuaded me in the end was that the Eisteddfod was in Newport and we needed someone to represent the language from this area and show the world that people here do speak it."