FACEBOOK could decide the winner of both Newport seats according to research by a Welsh firm.

The findings showed the number of over 18s using the social network in up to 20 Welsh Assembly seats is more than the majority that needs to be overturned to win the seat.

In Newport East, the actual majority is 875, while the number of over 18s on Facebook in the whole of Newport is 33,800. Newport West too could be swung by Facebook users with a majority of 1401.

This research was undertaken by Dipping Bridge Communications, the Bridgend-based digital media consultancy which helps Welsh companies and organisations develop their online and mobile presences.

The say, by engaging with these Facebook users, candidates could gain enough votes to win a seat or incumbent AMs to hold on.

First Minister Carwyn Jones' seat of Bridgend - which has the fifth-highest usage of the social network in Wales - could have a new AM if any of the opposition parties speak to the near 14,000 voting adults in Bridgend on Facebook.

"There are over 700,000 over 18s in Wales on Facebook and 500 Welsh Language tweets are posted every week on Twitter. What this research proves is that the people of Wales are digitally engaged and they expect their politicians to follow suit." says Marc Webber, MD of Dipping Bridge and former Assistant Editor of The Sun online.

"Some candidates have made a strong effort on the social networking front, but others are poor. They think that just by creating a Facebook fan page, that's the job done. That's not how you engage people on Facebook - it's the equivalent of not attending a hustings because you think people will come and find your office and listen to you anyway.