THE eyes of the world will be on Newport when Prince William celebrates his 21st birthday here tomorrow.

Organisers have been inundated by requests from camera crews from three continents wanting to film the prince and his father as they visit a centre for the homeless in Pill.

Prince William and Prince Charles will tour the Newport Action for the Single Homeless (NASH) day centre in George Street, where police expect massive crowds to gather for the 2pm visit. A Gwent Police spokesman said: "It's going to be a very popular visit, especially with it marking William's birthday.

"Barriers and cordons will be set up for the crowds on George Street and Lower Dock Street.

"We've been called by Japanese, American and German TV crews. "A traffic island en route near George Street has been especially set aside for cameras to catch the princes' arrival."

More than 50 officers from Gwent Police, including some in plainclothes mingling with the crowds, will join the royals' special protection unit.

And at the NASH centre students have been busy making two pots depicting Newport scenes to present to the princes. NASH provides homeless people with skills to help them move onto further education, training and employment.

Richard Frame, director of NASH, said: "We've been busy framing students' artwork to show to the princes.

"The students are very excited about it. Some of them are the same age as Prince William. They are going to be rubbing shoulders with someone known across the world, whereas some of them were sleeping rough a few weeks ago."

A spokeswoman for Newport council said: "There will be no road closures as a result of the visit.

"But a certain amount of disruption should be expected in the vicinity of Lower Docks Street and George Street Bridge."

The route that the royal entourage will be taking is from M4 junction 26 at the Malpas interchange, underneath the Old Green crossing, along Usk Way to the rear of Newport Centre, past Castle Bingo and finally into Lower Docks Street.