Plea to legalise flags on plates

How a number plate with the Welsh flag might look

A campaign calling on the UK Government to allow national flags such as the Welsh dragon to be displayed on car number plates has been launched.

Plaid Cymru, who have set up an online petition, said the transport minister promised to make it legal in 2001.

The Department for Transport said the regulations were under review.

Plaid AM Janet Ryder, who made the plea as the new 08 registration plates were released, said some motorists were already flying the flag illegally.

Ms Ryder, North Wales AM, said that drivers had been warned by garages that putting Welsh dragon on their number plates was illegal.

She said: "I'm launching a petition to put pressure on Gordon Brown to listen to the people on this matter.

"Thousands have already voted with their feet on this and are proudly flying the flag but many more would no doubt join them if they knew they would not be breaking the law."

A Department for Transport spokeswoman said the Road Vehicles (Display of Registration Marks) Regulations 2001 did not provide for national flags to be displayed on number plates.

She said: "With regards to permitting the display of national flags and symbols on vehicle number plates, these regulations have not been introduced to date and are currently under review."

Meanwhile, events planned to mark St David's Day included plenty of opportunities to taste the country's famous culinary delights.

GIANT WELSH CAKE RECIPE Self-raising flour: 10lb (4.5Kg) Sultanas: 2lb (900g) Eggs: 20 Lard: 2lb (900g) Margarine: 2lb (900g) Caster sugar: 4lb (1.75Kg) Plus baking powder and mixed spice

At Bridgend College, catering lecturers and students were making a 5ft (1.5m) Welsh cake for Carwyn Jones AM and had dug a 5ft (1.5m) fire pit outside on which to bake it.

Elin Griffiths explained: "Our engineering department liaised with Corus to provide metal which could be fabricated for the cooking plate and the woodwork team have made a wooden base on which it can be transported."

The finished product was broken up at the Celtic Crusaders match by Mr Jones AM and sold off in aid of the Bridgend Samaritans and Porthcawl Counselling Service.

Meanwhile, performing arts students performed a Welsh version of the haka - a ceremonial war dance - to Calon Lan at the Senedd in Cardiff Bay.

The First Battalion Welsh Guards held their annual distribution of leeks ceremony Enlarge Image

At the nearby Wales Millennium Centre, the George Thomas Hospice Care invited people to bring in a batch of home-made Welsh cakes with the best chosen by judges Julie Morgan MP, West End star John Owen Jones and stars of BBC Wales' Belonging.

A more savoury Welsh delicacy was the star of the celebrations in Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, where the eighth annual Cawl Cooking Championship of the World and Elsewhere was held.

Organiser Andrew Evans, who said up to 600 people were taking part, said: "You judge whether the cawl was good, outstanding or world class and we tally up the points."

Sausages were under scrutiny in Wrexham where the final of the Wrexham Champion Sausage Competition was among the highlights of activities.

And on Anglesey, a new heritage trail taking in 10 churches on the south of the island, was launched at St Maelog's Church, Llanfaelog.

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