A THREE-YEAR marketing campaign will see the Valleys branded as “the heart and soul of Wales” in a bid to bring more visitors to the area.

The campaign builds on a £22million Assembly project to raise the profile of the South Wales Valleys, which will see the area promoted to local people as well as visitors further afield.

It is hoped the scheme, which covers Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend, northern areas of Swansea and Neath, Port Talbot and eastern Valleys of Carmarthenshire, will build on investment which has already been made in the region while helping to shape future plans to boost the local economy for years to come.

The first phase of the campaign, which has the slogan “Go on, do us proud”, urges people living in the Valleys to have a say on what makes them most proud of the area in which they live.

Leaflets will be delivered to the 240,000 households in the area to ask people for their opinions on how money should be spent in the area and a website has also been set up.

Ambassadors have also been chosen to be the faces of posters which will be displayed around the Valleys promoting the campaign.

Torfaen's ambassador, 55-year-old Rosemary Easter, of Abersyschan, said: “I think the campaign is a brilliant idea as places like Cardiff are promoted a lot and so it will be nice to see the Valleys promoted in the same way as it has a lot to offer. I would also like to see more money spent making jobs available for people in the area.”

Members of the public will be able to suggest how money could be spent to promote the area, whether it is preserving a local landmark or improving local facilities.

Deputy Minister for Regeneration, Leighton Andrews AM said: “The Valleys has become a great place to live with an excellent environment, lots to do and plenty to be proud of. The campaign is a way of taking that message to a wider audience to attract more people to come and see for themselves.”

Valleys residents can share their views and say why they love the area by visiting www.heartandsoulofwales.co.uk or by texting VALLEYS followed by your name, town and message to 60777.