THE winner of an official Newport city bid cake says hopes that the town will be as lucky as he is when the Queen makes her announcement.

BBC journalist Owain Clarke won the centrepiece of the luxury cake in a draw at the National Assembly yesterday.

The Argus is backing Newport's bid to become a city for the Queen's Golden Jubilee year, and the latest push to raise the bid's profile was to take a luxury cake made by Newport firm Gemellis to the National Assembly yesterday.

Mr Clarke, 23, from Gorseinon, who is part of the team that puts out Assembly coverage on digital channel S4C2, has only been working at the Assembly for three weeks. He said: "I'm elated. It's a very exciting time for me, with starting a new job and now winning a fabulous cake."

He wished Newport all the best in its bid for city status. "I only hope that Newport does as well as me in their quest," he added. Caerphilly council chairman Councillor Angus Donaldson was among the politicians visiting the city bid stand hosted by Newport AMs Rosemary Butler and John Griffiths to put the case for their town at the Assembly yesterday.

Councillor Donaldson, even traded his deerstalker hat for a Celtic Manor baseball cap to show solidarity with the bid.

"I'm completely in agreement with the Newport bid. Everybody must support it. It would be great for the valleys and Wales as a whole."

The official city status campaign cake was baked and decorated by Newport cake makers, Gemellis who have a reputation for producing highly decorated confectionery. AMs from all parties, senior politicians from a number of valleys authorities, journalists and various lobbyists all put their name in the draw.

The company produces quality desserts for the catering industry throughout South Wales, the West Country and the Midlands and also has a patisserie in Bridge Street, Newport. The cake was given away in parts - winners included former Welsh Secretary Ron Davies and Barbara Ginson, the mother of the mayor of Rhondda Cynon Taff, who was at the Assembly for the launch of the valleys dance initiative, and Angela Pulman, director of Community Enterprise Wales.

*PICTURED: Pasquale Cinotti, left, and his brother Renzo, of Gemellis.