NEWPORT's bid for city status is following up a successful trip to Westminster with a visit to the Assembly tomorrow.

The announcement of which Welsh town will win the honour of city status for the Queen's Golden Jubilee will be made very soon and the Assembly event is the latest to push the Newport case.

Last Wednesday Newport's city status supporters stated their case at a reception at Westminster. Now they are hoping the Assembly event will also help the bid. Gwent AMs from all four major parties have already added their voices to the Newport case as it does battle with Wrexham and four other towns.

Newport East AM John Griffiths said that tomorrow's event was an excellent opportunity for his colleagues from around Wales to find out more about Newport's bid.

"It will allow Rosemary Butler and myself to encourage even more of our Assembly colleagues to add their weight to the already considerable body of support for Newport's cause," he said.

Newport's formal bid was presented to Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy back in October. It is now in the hands of the Lord Chancellor, who will advise the Queen.

The official city status campaign cake has been baked and decorated by Newport's famous cake makers, Gemellis.

All AMs have been sent an invitation to visit the display, which will enter them into a free draw to win the cake.

Ben Hoppe, chairman of Rowecord Engineering, is leading the campaign. He said that he was delighted that Assembly members were getting the chance to hear about Newport's case.

"Newport has a very strong case to be the new Welsh city. We easily meet all of the necessary criteria and what's more, we feel like and act like a city. For more than a decade we have consistently argued that Newport should be granted city status.

It has been fantastic the way people from across the community have come together and taken part in the range of events and activities organised during the campaign."

The display takes place between 12.45pm and 2.00pm tomorrow at the National Assembly.

*PICTURED: Backing Newport's bid are AMs, from left, Jocelyn Davies, John Griffiths, Rosemary Butler, Mike German, Phil Williams and William Graham.