A GIANT dragon was introduced to shoppers in Newport over the weekend in an attempt to breathe some fire in to the campaign.

The mythical beast was part of an event organised by Welsh Communists to test public opinion on the renationalisation of Llanwern steelworks. The "people's referendum", held in Maindee shopping centre, Newport, on Saturday afternoon, saw 228 votes cast in favour of taking the giant steel plant back into public ownership. Just four were against.

Rob Griffiths, general secretary of the Communist Party of Britain and an election candidate in Newport East, said the afternoon had been highly successful.

"As far as we're concerned this is further evidence there's overwhelming support from the people of Newport for the Communist policy of public ownership of Llanwern," he said.

He dismissed suggestions that the idea might not be realistic. "It would be realistic if we had the kind of mass, united campaign that we saw with Rover in Birmingham where unions, local authorities, business and the political parties were united to save the car plant.

"The government could afford it. It's got billions of pounds in the coffers. "In our view it is a viable option but only mass political pressure could force the government to consider it."

The question put to shoppers was: "Corus has refused to withdraw mass redundancy notices, so should Llanwern be taken back in to public ownership?"

Mr Griffiths plans to hold similar referendums over the next two weeks on fat cat salaries and the euro.