A new guide book to Wales has painted a mixed picture of Newport.

The Lonely Planet's second edition of its guide to Wales, due out next week, has proclaimed that Wales is 'ready to take on the world' with its mix of old world charm, natural beauty and hip cities like Cardiff.

For Newport the news is not so rosy. The guide says: "Newport is one of Wales' busiest industrial and commercial centres, and not the most enticing of towns, though the centre retains handsome Victorian buildings. The busy shopping streets have an almost sticky feel underfoot, as if the weekend's alcopops have permeated the paving stones."

However the news for Newport was not all bad with the Transporter Bridge described as 'elegant and strange' and the Roman Fortress at Caerleon is also praised.

And it escaped the mauling the guide reserved for Swansea, calling it "an ashtray of a place".

Sights of Newport mentioned in the guide include the Newport Museum, the Westgate Hotel, the Steel Wave, In the Nick of Time and Newport Castle.

A spokeswoman for Newport council said: "There is much more to Newport than meets the eye and the tourism industry here is going from strength to strength." She said its value to the local economy was now £153m per annum.

She said there was investment in upgrading accommodation and new venues such as the Newport City Live Arena and the new Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre with many planned events coming up for the city.