THIS month's European Parliament election could be the most important yet for Britain. They are certainly the most talked-about.

In the past, Euro elections have produced a collective yawn among the British electorate along with spectacularly low turnouts at the polling stations.

There is already a feeling that this election has something different about it.

Partly this is because the UK Independence Party thinks this will be its breakthrough election - and there is no doubt the three main UK parties are fearful of the prospect of a substantial number of UKIP MEPs representing Britain in Strasbourg and Brussels.

But it is also because the subject of a referendum on Britain's future membership of the European Union is higher on all parties' agendas than it has ever been.

This newspaper began its coverage of the election in earnest this week as the parties, including Plaid Cymru, launched their manifestos.

As polling day on May 22 draws nearer, we will give all the parties with candidates standing in Wales an opportunity to tell our readers why they should vote for them, and we will explain their policies in detail.

But, as always, there will be no advice from the Argus to its readers on which way to vote.

National newspapers may urge you to vote for one party or another. We never will.

We certainly urge you to use your vote on May 22 - but where you place your cross is a matter entirely for you.