TV presenter Fiona Bruce added a glamorous note to the climax of Tech-nology Wales 04 last Friday night.

She hosted the awards ceremony which aims to uncover Wales' most technology-savvy companies and individuals.

The day had proven a major success, attracting 100 exhibitors to Newport's Celtic Manor Resort conference suites.

Anyone who was anyone in the Wales IT sector was represented alongside all the country's enabling agencies.

Almost 2,000 visitors were attracted to the stands and attending some of the event's 17 IT-themed seminars.

Trisha Howard, managing director of organiser them ltd, said: "Everyone agreed that there was a better ambience than last year, with more buzz and more excitement. The fact that it was 30 per cent bigger really showed and it was interesting that about 50 per cent of exhibiting firms were start-ups."

Some major names were represented including Microsoft, Cable & Wireless (whose Wales-born managing director Gareth James addressed the launch breakfast) Cisco Systems and Hughes Networks.

Ms Bruce had a tough job on her hands as she was stepping into the shoes of TV colleague Huw Edwards who hosted the awards last year.

But having grown up in Carmarthen-shire, Mr Edwards understands a Welsh audience: Ms Bruce, while charming, was not able to make the same connection.