MONMOUTHSHIRE council’s cabinet has approved a new Welsh-language scheme for the county which, according to the 2001 Census, had a Welsh-speaking population of nearly ten per cent.

It will see the introduction of a fully bilingual council website and the scheme will run until 2015.

The county has had a Welsh-language scheme for the last 14 years.

Cllr Phil Hobson, Monmouthshire Council’s deputy leader with responsibility for the Welsh language, said: “Nearly ten per cent of our population speaks Welsh and the county’s rich linguistic heritage is reflected in our place names and history.

“This new scheme recognises the additional weight given to supporting the language by the Welsh Government, and it also underlines our commitment as an authority to supporting and promoting Europe’s oldest living language and an intrinsic part of our heritage, whether or not we speak it.”