100 Welsh Heroes Top 10 Tom Jones Aneurin Bevan Owain Glyndwr David Lloyd George Dylan Thomas Mike Peters Gareth Edwards Robert Owen James Dean Bradfield Phil Campbell

The veteran singer from Pontypridd has maintained top position in the 100 Welsh Heroes poll since the early days of the vote - launched in September.

The first stage of the voting closes at 1330 BST on Monday and already almost 30,000 nominations have been put forward.

NHS architect Aneurin Bevan is currently in second place behind Jones, followed by ancient Welsh warlord Owain Glyndwr, Liberal Prime Minister David Lloyd George and poet Dylan Thomas, who this year has been in the public eye with the celebrations to mark 50 years since his death.

Still in at number 10 is Phil Campbell, Pontypridd-born guitarist from rock band Motorhead, whose fans have been bombarding the site with votes for him.

But once nominations close on Monday, the slate will be wiped clean, say poll organisers Culturenet Cymru. The list of top 100 Welsh heroes and their biographies will then be published on 5 January, 2004 and the public will be asked to vote again

Finally, the winner will be announced at a major event in Cardiff on St David's Day 2004.

Culturenet Cymru says the last few days of voting will dictate which heroes make the "cut" and which fall off the bottom of the final 100.

The poll is divided into five different categories for voters to choose from - and to make it through to the next stage, the heroes must be in the top 20.

The poll has turned up a few surprises so far.

In the performers category - topped by Tom Jones - Hollywood star Catherine Zeta Jones and footballer Ian Rush could miss out unless they get votes in the final stages.

Catherine Zeta Jones is borderline to reach the final 100

Cerys Matthews, the singer from west Wales, who recently had a baby daughter and Jim Driscoll, the champion flyweight Cardiff boxer from early last century also need a few more votes to be certain of a top 20 place.

Merthyr Tydfil-born designer to the stars Julien Macdonald, and poet Dannie Abse are borderline to make the final 20 in the creatives category.

And in the leaders section First Minister Rhodri Morgan, former Plaid Cymru leader Dafydd Wigley, and former Plaid AM Dr Phil Williams - who died earlier this year - are currently in the top 20 - but could all drop out.

Votes for each hero amassed in this first stage will all become irrelevant from January, when polling will start afresh.