Dafydd Iwan and Cynog Dafis have spoken to party members

Party members met in Wrexham on Monday evening to hear from the two candidates for the party presidency and the three for the Welsh assembly leadership.

Over the next two weeks the candidates will tour Wales to rally support.

The search for candidates to fill the top jobs in Plaid began when Ieuan Wyn Jones announced after May's Welsh assembly elections that he would be stepping down as president.

Former AM and MP Cynog Dafis is trying for the presidency, as is current party vice-president and folk singer Dafydd Iwan.

Key posts

Mr Jones is standing for the leadership of the party in the Welsh assembly, but faces competition from AMs Helen Mary Jones and Rhodri Glyn Thomas.

The successful candidates for the key posts are expected to be in place for the party's annual conference, which starts at St David's Hall in Cardiff on 18 September.

In the first round of hustings for both leadership posts at Newi College, Wrexham, all of the candidates were available to answer questions from party members.

Over the next fortnight, further meetings will be held at locations including Bangor, Blackwood, Aberystwyth, Carmarthen and Swansea.

Votes will be counted on Monday, 15 September, with all votes expected to arrive before midday on that day.