Monopoly will reach its 70th birthday this year

The manufacturers of the 70-year-old board game are in Swansea on Wednesday to canvass public opinion on which city landmarks should be included.

The game will be identical to the original, but with traditional London landmarks replaced by sites in Swansea.

The Swansea edition is expected to be in the shops by October 2005.

Canvassers from Monopoly's manufacturers will spend Wednesday in Swansea collecting public opinion on which locations should be included.

Swansea Bay and Mumbles are in the running for inclusion

Landmarks, tourist spots and sporting and art institutions will all appear on the new Swansea version of the property development board game.

Mark Marriott of Winning Moves UK, the games company producing the new edition, said: "We will be spoilt for choice replacing traditional Monopoly landmarks like Mayfair with much loved Swansea ones.

"We are looking mainly for landmarks but we are open minded about how the board looks.

"The underlining factor is that it reflects the essence and spirit of Swansea."

Monopoly has been sold in 80 countries since it was invented in 1935.

The new Swansea stadium could be a featured location

It has sold more than 200m copies worldwide in 32 different languages.

The manufacturers of the Swansea edition said the city was chosen for the new Welsh edition of the game ahead of Cardiff due to Swansea's association with Catherine Zeta Jones.

Mr Marriott added: "The profile of (Swansea) is soaring, helped by Catherine Zeta Jones.

"It virtually came down to the roll of the dice it was so close as to which city would pass go to land its own game.

"In the end the celebrity factor swung it."