THE National Eisteddfod comes to the Conwy Valley during the first week of August and the North Wales Pioneer has 500 free tickets to give away to readers.

The Pioneer has partnered with the Eisteddfod organisers and will have 500 of the 6,000 free ticket made available through the Welsh Government to hand out to readers for the opening day of the Eisteddfod – Sunday, August 3.

Several thousands of the free tickets have already been snapped up via the Eisteddfod website and organisers have also partnered with Conwy Council so that 200 tickets can be distributed through their FUSION scheme, which works with many volunteer groups in disadvantaged areas, and with Cartrefi Conwy - working with their tenants.

North Wales Pioneer: Free tickets for the National Eisteddfod are available at the Pioneer's office in Colwyn BayFree tickets for the National Eisteddfod are available at the Pioneer's office in Colwyn Bay

Readers can collect Eisteddfod tickets free from the Pioneer offices in Penrhyn Road, Colwyn Bay, on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday next week during normal working hours. Tickets will be limited to four per person and the people will be asked to show a driving licence or utility bill to prove that they live in Conwy County.

Meanwhile, organisers are appealing to people in the Conwy Valley to plan ahead carefully for travel during the week of the event (August 3-10).

Special measures will be in place, including traffic diversions in Llanrwst and Betws-y-Coed, making some roads one-way only.

The measures are part of a plan which has been formulated by a specialist traffic management company and agreed by North Wales Police, Conwy Council, the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency and other key stakeholders.

The changes could affect residents of Llanrwst, Betws-y-Coed and nearby areas, extending usual journey times during the period of the event.

The Eisteddfod has launched an awareness campaign, and the main measures are summarised on the Eisteddfod’s website - eisteddfod.wales/local-traffic-system

National Eisteddfod chief executive Betsan Moses said: “We are extremely proud and grateful to see so much enthusiasm in Conwy county as people look forward to the opening of the Eisteddfod in early August. Tens of thousands of people will descend on the area during the week.

“Journeys could take longer than usual, but the intention is to ensure that traffic keeps flowing during this particularly busy period.

“I would like to thank everyone for their patience and their support.”