THE May 7 election offers voters in Wales an "unprecedented" opportunity to influence the direction of government policy if Plaid Cymru holds the balance of power, the party's leader Leanne Wood has said.

Launching her party's manifesto in Bangor, Ms Wood said Plaid was aiming to use any influence it gains to rebalance power and wealth away from the City of London and towards Welsh communities.

Ms Wood said that Plaid would not prop up a Tory government, but would also refuse to be part of a formal coalition with a Labour Party committed to implementing austerity and replacing Trident.

The Plaid leader told supporters: "This election provides Wales with an unprecedented opportunity. There will in all likelihood be another hung parliament after May and the direction of the next government could come down to how strong a presence of Plaid Cymru MPs there are in parliament.

"If Plaid Cymru holds the balance of power, we will use that to rebalance power and wealth throughout the UK, away from the financial sector in the City of London and to those communities in Wales that need the investment."

Asked earlier about her party's positioning in the event of a hung parliament, Ms Wood told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme that it would work with the Greens and the Scottish National Party if it was "in our interests".

She said: "We've said we'll work and co-operate with the Greens in England and the SNP if the numbers - of course we've got to have an election and it's a matter for the people to decide - but depending on the numbers, if it's in our interests to work with those other parties to secure the very best deal for Wales, then we will. It may be that it's in our interests to work separately."

She added: "There's no way that we could support the Tories in government, absolutely not. Wales has never given a mandate for the Tories to rule over us and it's highly unlikely that they will next time."

Plaid Cymru, she said, had "no appetite" to see Tory policies implemented by Labour, adding: "So while we won't prop up a Tory government, we won't back a Labour government to implement austerity and Trident replacement either.

"We would not be part of a formal coalition with a Labour government prepared to renew Trident. There is no way that Plaid Cymru MPs will ever vote to support the replacement of a system which would cost £100 billion and which no government would ever realistically use."

She said Plaid Cymru has a "very close" relationship with the SNP, is in regular contact and has a lot of common ground. She added: "It makes sense for both our parties to continue working together."

Ms Wood added: "We want to end austerity, we want to bring an end to this Conservative Government and we want a better funding deal for Wales."

Party leaders, she added, "see no reason" why Wales should not be treated equally with Scotland and Plaid is the only party in Wales seeking to achieve parity with Scotland.

She said Wales "risks being overlooked again" unless there is a strong team of Plaid Cymru MPs whose chief priority would be Wales and securing the best deal on powers and resources.