Hundreds of stewards are needed for the eisteddfod

The week-long festival in Newport starts in just five weeks time but out of the 300 stewards needed only 100 volunteers have signed up for the job.

Stewards are vital to the running of the festival for general safety.

But organisers say they are positive that enough people will come forward for stewarding duties.

We have never had to make a national appeal before and I very much doubt we will have to this time Betsan Williams, National Eisteddfod

Betsan Williams from the National Eisteddfod team said she was confident that enough volunteers could be recruited to man the festival which is held at Tredegar House in Newport.

She said work was being undertaken to encourage people to volunteer as a stewards and said that a national appeal would only be made if there was still a shortage two weeks before the event began.

"We have never had to make a national appeal before and I very much doubt we will have to this time," she said.

"I'm certain we will get the 300 we need for the event this year."

The stewards are needed to ensure the safety of the crowds and are necessary in order to stage events like the eisteddfod.

Ms Williams said that the organisers were trying to get the message out to potential stewards that no formal training is required before signing up.

"I think many people think that they need to have training before they become stewards but that is not the case," she said.

"You don't need to have had any training to volunteer because we will provide all the training needed.

"Anyone who volunteers to steward will be sent on a day course where they will learn everything they need about first aid and fire safety.

Organisers are appealing for help from non Welsh-speakers, with the festival being held in a more anglicised area.

"You don't need to be a Welsh-speaker to be a steward but you do need to be over 18 and in good health," she added.

The eisteddfod runs from 31 July until 7 August and thousands are expected to attend the event.