THE people of Newport may have felt disappointed by claims that Welsh Euro MPs are all backing Wrexham's bid for city status.

What about our MEPs, you ask? Aren't they, like the South Wales Argus, backing Newport's bid?

Well, if you delve a little deeper into matters, it appears Wrexham's claims were a little premature.

Two MEPs told us they were supporting neither Wrexham nor Newport. Two said they were supporting both.

And one said he would support the Gwent town if he was officially asked. Eurig Wyn, Plaid Cymru MEP, told us he is supporting both Wrexham and Newport. He said: "Newport has always been the Cinderella to Cardiff and Swansea, and it deserves recognition because of the work that's gone in there by so many people to improve the prospects of the town.

"Newport is the gateway to Wales, that's one of the important things, and a lot of work has been done in the middle of the town.

"Every time I go there, something new is developing."

Jill Evans, another Plaid Cymru MEP, also said she was supporting both towns. "Wrexham wrote to me first and I said I'd support them, then I had very impressive information from Newport, which is obviously a very strong bid. "I've written back to Newport, giving my support to them, and explaining that I support Wrexham too."

Which is all a lot more promising than it seemed. However, when it comes to the Glenys Kinnock, who until recently lived in Pontllanfraith, she is remaining firmly on the fence.

She told us she had not formally backed the bid for Wrexham and, for the same reasons, could not give formal backing to Newport.

She said: "As a North Walian resident of South Wales - representing the whole of Wales as an MEP - it is not really appropriate for me to give formal backing to either bid. "And to give formal backing to both bids defies common sense.

"You can say that I have my foot in both camps. I wish both campaigns the best of luck." Eluned Morgan, Labour MEP, echoed Mrs Kinnock's sentiments and said that, being an all-Wales Euro MP, she did not think it was fair to back one town against another.

But a spokeswoman for Conservative MEP Jonathan Evans, who is formally supporting Wrexham, said: "He hasn't had a direct approach from Newport requesting his support, but he did have a letter saying they're applying for city status.

"If he had a letter asking for support I'm sure he would be delighted to." Emlyn Jones, chairman of Wrexham 2002 group, said: "We have letters of support from all five Euro MPs for Wales. Copies of these have been passed to the Secretary of State for Wales in support of our bid."

Aberystwyth, Newtown, St Asaph and Machynlleth are also bidding for city status.