SINCE the Eisteddfod last visited Newport 16 years ago, it has expanded to become one of the UK's largest music and arts festivals.

And for visitors to the festival, which opens in Newport this Friday, that means more singing, dancing, performances and competitions than ever before.

Since the Eisteddfod was last in Newport in 1988, the site has almost doubled from 17 to 31 acres.

The centrepiece is the impressive 3,500 seater main pavilion which will host more than 200 competitions during Eisteddfod week, ranging from brass bands to choral battles and the famous ceremonies including Tuesday night's Crowning of the Bard and the Chairing of the Bard on Friday, August 6.

The festival starts this Friday with an opening ceremony and an evening of entertainment with local artists, including the Tredegar Town Band, Risca Male Voice Choir, Maindee Festival Community Performers and the Gwent Children's Choir.

And on Saturday night a host of local primary school children will perform a show which has developed from a series of workshops directed by Gwent Theatre.

Away from the centre visitors will find plenty to keep them entertained with exhibitions and fringe activities taking place.

The arts and crafts exhibition has already had a record number of entries and exhibitions with a special feature on the Chartist Uprising and is expecting as many as 40,000 people to visit the pavilion during week.

Add performances by Julian Lloyd Webber with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales on Sunday night, Aled Jones' first appearance at the National Eisteddfod on Monday with Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion, and the winners of the Wales Choir competition and there is sure to be something for everyone during the week - with around 150,000 visitors expected.

For information about tickets to performances call the hotline on 0845 1221176.