The first opinion poll on the state of Welsh public opinion has been published, indicating that Labour remains in a strong position in the Cardiff Central constituency.

The NOP survey for HTV puts Labour on 46 per cent, the Liberal Democrats in second place on 27 per cent, the Conservatives on 18 per cent and Plaid Cymru in fourth place on seven per cent.

The opinion poll suggests that both Labour and the Lib Dems are up two points on the 1997 general election result, while the Conservatives are down two per cent and Plaid Cymru have gained three percent - possibly gaining from the Socialist Labour candidate who stood in 1997.

Responding to the poll, Welsh Secretary Paul Murphy said: "This poll shows that people in Cardiff Central have understood that this election is a straight choice between Tony Blair and William Hague for Prime Minister. A vote for any other party is a vote to put William Hague in No 10."

Murphy added: "Of course, in the end there is only one poll which really matters, the one on June 7th."

Labour lost in Cardiff Central to the Liberal Democrats in the 1999 Welsh assembly elections, with the Lib Dems gaining 42 per cent of the vote to Labour's 30 per cent.

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader, Richard Livsey, said Labour faced a tough challenge from his party, which had improved on its showing at the last general election.

"The poll was started with three weeks to go before polling day so there is still all to play for. It is clear that people back our policies and, with many people yet to make up their minds, we will campaign out of our skins to win the seat," said Livsey.

A Liberal Democrat spokesman added that it would be wrong to extrapolate from the Cardiff Central seat to the rest of Wales as there were many independent factors at work in other constituencies.

Putting their fourth place showing in the opinion poll behind them, Plaid Cymru continue their campaigning by highlighting their education policies. In particular, tuition fees and student poverty will be their focus.

Plaid's leader Ieuan Wyn Jones will be at the University of Wales College, Bangor, to meet with students.

Plaid's policies on education include increasing teachers' basic pay rather than introducing performance related pay, the abolition of tuition fees, regular assessment of children's needs with a move away from a target setting culture and an end to the naming and shaming of schools.

Leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh assembly, Nick Bourne, faces a busy day of campaigning as he visits the constituencies of Ceredigion, Montgomeryshire, Meirionydd Nant Conwy, and Brecon and Radnor to meet with local residents.