Ieuan Wyn Jones called for a new Welsh Language Act

Mr Jones said Welsh should have official status and also called for a language commissioner to be appointed.

The rally was organised by the Welsh language pressure group, Cymdeithas yr Iaith (Welsh Language Society).

A Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said it was committed to creating a bilingual Wales.

"After 13 years of the current Welsh Language Act, which has worked better than many thought - the time has come to move things forward," AM Mr Jones told those at the rally on Saturday.

"The weakness of the current act must be addressed by giving Welsh official status and enshrining rights for Welsh speakers in law. This is important both symbolically and in practice.

He also called on other political parties in Wales "to respond to this agenda" saying he recognised that it would need "a new political consensus to introduce these changes".

Liberal Democrat politician Lord Roberts of Llandudno also attended the rally.

A short ceremony was held recognising the contribution of Eileen Beasley, who in the 1950s, with her husband, campaigned for the right to have bilingual rate notices from Llanelli council.

An assembly government spokesperson said it wanted to see an increase in the number of people who speak Welsh.

"This is the reason why we already have invested an extra �28m for the work of promoting the Welsh language and also we are investing in Welsh medium education."

The spokesperson said Welsh speakers were already offered public sector services in Welsh under present legislation and that "new legislation is not the answer".