There are tighter controls on visas being issued

he summer festival - this year taking place 2-8 July, has always been a great success, but this year's planning has been plagued by administrative hitches.

The main problem is the expense of visas in countries like the Ukraine, where they cost �33 a head - more than a week's salary.

A group from Algeria had other visa problems.

They would have had to travel 1,000 miles to Tunisia - because visas are not issued in their own country.

A further setback is that there are no concessions for children applying for a visa.

TV coverage

As a result organisers say the festival has seen a reduction in the number of children's groups attending.

The multi-cultural eisteddfod is in its 55rd year.

It has been held every year since 1947 - when it was set up as a means of promoting international harmony in the wake of the Second World War.

It regularly attracts more than 6,500 competitors representing some 47 countries - and an audience of nearly 100,000.

Hundreds of thousands more also enjoy the festival through the television coverage.

The organisers have now contacted local MP Martyn Jones for help.

He has been in touch with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is awaiting a response.

Last summer there were concerns that potential asylum seekers from eastern Europe had attempted to use the eisteddfod as a way of getting into the UK.

Members of dance groups from Armenia and Romania were refused entry after questions were raised about their visa applications.

Two folkdance groups which should have performed were forced to stay at home.

British Embassy officials in Armenia became suspicious when several young single men - who had joined a folkdance group the previous November - applied for visas to compete at the eisteddfod.

When their requests to enter the UK were rejected the entire group pulled out of the trip.

Members of a Romanian group were also refused visas after questions were raised about some of their members' reasons for wanting to come to Wales.