An Ebbw Vale woman described her pride at being selected to carry the ceremonial horn of plenty at her hometown National Eisteddfod.

Sarah Baker, 42, of Beaufort, will accompany the event’s custodians, the Gorsedd, at the five main ceremonies, including the chairing of the bard, will help welcome new members into the circle and offer the horn to the archdruid.

At every Eisteddfod, a local married woman is chosen to carry the horn of plenty and welcome the Eisteddfod on behalf of the homes of the area.

After being nominated, Mrs Baker was chosen for the role after two interview stages where she spoke about her family and involvement with the Welsh language.

This role is particularly poignant for Mrs Baker, as her family have fought to keep Welsh traditions and the language alive in their home.

Her father, Teifi Ebenezer, moved to the area from West Wales at the age of five, knowing only Welsh.

But, because English was the only language taught at schools, the family stopped speaking Welsh at home, to help him learn English.

While Mr Ebenezer forgot a lot of Welsh as a result, he was a page boy when the National Eisteddfod was last in Ebbw Vale in 1958, and will take part in a reunion this time.

Mrs Baker, a teacher at Ysgol Gymraeg Brynmawr, had to travel to Pontypridd before attending Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni as a child.

Her son Tomos, 14, now attends Ysgol Gymraeg Gwynllyw and Mrs Baker said: "It will be amazing for him and his sister, Megan, eight, to experience the Eisteddfod in their hometown, especially as it’s an area where you don’t hear a lot of Welsh spoken."

It will also be a big occasion for the youngsters that Mrs Baker teaches, with 270 involved in singing and performing.

She added: "I go most years, but it’s going to be extremely emotional, hearing the harp, anthem and hymns and then thinking ‘gosh, this is in the middle of Ebbw Vale’."