Organisers say they are "very, very pleased" with the turnout

The sunshine brought tens of thousands of visitors onto the field each day as temperatures soared.

On Friday, nearly 24,000 people came through the gates - 7,500 more than at last year's festival at St David's, west Wales.

But at the beginning of the week, organisers warned that they might need to make cuts next year unless an extra �100,000 is found.

This week has definitely given us confidence - it is clear that there is support for the National Eisteddfod Director Elfed Roberts

Last year, the Eisteddfod made a loss of �180,000 as the weather got progressively worse during the week - money which had to come from their reserve funds.

And although the success of the Montgomeryshire and the Marches festival is probably not enough to bring the Eisteddfod back on an even keel financially, organisers say it has helped them regain their confidence.

As the event drew to a close on the weekend, Director Elfed Roberts said it had been "an exceptional week".

"This week has definitely given us confidence," he said.

"It is clear that there is support for the National Eisteddfod.

Twm Morys was awarded the chair in a sweltering ceremony

"We had some concerns at the beginning of this year's event, particularly after the poor weather we had here last Tuesday and Wednesday.

"But thank heavens, everything turned out well.

"We've had very few problems. Most Eisteddfod-goers, competitors and stall-holders, as well as myself, have been very, very pleased."

As well as the setting at Meifod, described as "one of the best Eisteddfod sites ever", its success is largely due to the good weather.

Difficult choices

The sweltering heat inside the Pavilion was apparent on Friday during the Chairing of the Bard ceremony.

Last year's winner, Myrddin ap Dafydd seemed to be visibly melting as he read out the adjudication, while the newly-chaired bard, Twm Morys, kept himself cool with a fan.

And Elfed Roberts revealed that thousands of barrels of water had been consumed on the Maes, compared with only 60 last year.

But when the flush of success cools down next week, the team running the festival will have to face difficult choices.

They have warned that next year's show will be a smaller event unless they get more funding towards the �2.5m cost of staging each National Eisteddfod.

Unless the extra �100,000 can be found, some attractions could be dropped, they say.