The Eisteddfod will be held in Newport next year

The 2004 Eisteddfod is being carefully prepared by a team of four who are co-ordinating nearly 1,000 volunteers to make the event run as smoothly as possible.

It is being held in the south of the country in Wales' newest city Newport after an absence of 16 years, and is expected to bring in at least �6.5m to the local economy.

This year's week-long event is being held in Meifod, mid Wales, starting on 2 August.

The approach of this year's event has not prevented organisers of the Newport Eisteddfod continuing their work for next year.

The Newport Eisteddfod will be held in the grounds of Tredegar House

One of the organisers, Sioned Davies, said she was expecting a very busy time as the fundraising begins in earnest and the competition classes are decided.

"The organising really began in January 2002 after a public meeting was held," she said.

"We weren't really sure how the meeting was going to go because it seems there is less Welsh spoken in this part of the country.

"But, we were overwhelmed by the support we had and we are really excited about it," she said.

The event is to be held in the grounds of Tredegar House starting on 31 July 2004.

"The last time we came to Newport it was absolutely brilliant and it is going to be a hard act to follow.

"But there is going to be something for everyone there and I hope that people come along.

"Newport is only 10 minutes away from Cardiff and we hope people will come from far and wide.

Sioned Davies is part of a team of four co-ordinating the planning

"It is not a bit like what it is on the television - it isn't just about competitive events.

"We are going to have about 350 trade stalls there, there is going to be a rock stand and there is definitely something for everyone - Welsh speakers or non-Welsh speakers," she said.

Ms Davies said she is confident that the organising of next year's event is going to plan but says that the hard work has yet to come.

"We have hundreds of people who are fundraising at the moment and we are trying to sort out the competitions."

The team are expecting around 180,000 people to descend on the city during the Eisteddfod week.

But the one big thing the organisers are hoping for is good weather after atrocious conditions in the 2002 festival held in Pembrokeshire.

"We are all crossing our fingers and toes that the weather is good for the Newport Eisteddfod - I think we are due a few good weather years for the event," said Ms Davies.