Language campaigners have welcomed the announcement that Powys County Council is to establish a working group that will tackle the decline in the number of Welsh speakers in the County.

On behalf of the Maldwyn branch of Cymdeithas yr Iaith, Elwyn Vaughan said:

"It is good to hear a public pledge from the Council to take to strengthen the language here. Wewelcome the long awaited establishment of this working group. We were pleased to hear, too, that it willbe a cross-party working group looking at all aspects of the Council's work.

"With the Eisteddfod coming to Powys in August, the eyes of Wales will be on Powys and the situation of the language here - it is essential, therefore, that the working group moves quickly from discussion to action. The working group should announce, in advance of the Eisteddfod, what they intend to do inpractice in fields such as planning and education - looking at this announcement, one must ask what is the working groups timetable for action? We cannot wait another six months until the next announcement.

"We look forward to hear more about working group's plans, and working with them for the benefit of the Welsh language in Powys."