Man of culture: Sir Bob is taking in the sights at Llangollen

Sir Bob Scott, 59, is paying an informal visit to the event but it has led to speculation that the eisteddfod could stage some parts of the competition outside Wales for the first time in its 56-year history.

Many people living in north east Wales were more supportive of Liverpool's bid for culture city status than they were for Cardiff's.

The links between the two regions could be further cemented if an idea to team up the 2008 International Eisteddfod with the Merseyside city comes to fruition.

Fighter: Sir Bob worked on Liverpool's culture bid despite having a heart attack

Liverpool beat off competition from Newcastle-Gateshead, Bristol, Birmingham, Oxford and Cardiff to land the coveted European Capital of Culture title - worth millions of pounds in tourism and arts revenue.

International eisteddfod bosses are to discuss the possibility of forging close links with the city in five years' time.

The meeting with Sir Bob, chairman of Liverpool's successful city of culture bid, will talk about teaming up in 2008 when the city becomes European Capital of Culture.

He previously headed Manchester's successful Commonwealth Games bid and its failed Olympic bid before coming to Liverpool.

A deal with him could see eisteddfod events being staged outside Wales for the first time ever, as well as leading Liverpudlian's performing in Llangollen.

Liverpool has already said it wants to host the National Eisteddfod as part of its year as European Capital of Culture.

Llangollen: Bidding for share in Liverpool's culture win?

But the move is not expected to go ahead - Cardiff council has already been awarded the 2008 event, and an eisteddfod chief said it would be "unlikely".

Cardiff's failure to be named European Capital of Culture was blamed on its failure to embrace the valleys sufficiently as part of its bid.