Labour AM Leighton Andrews has vowed that the Assembly coalition arrangements will not stop Labour taking the fight to Plaid Cymru in its heartlands in the upcoming local elections.

Speaking at a meeting in Llanelli, Mr Andrews said: "In Rhondda Cynon Taff we will be fighting hard to expose the opportunism of the nationalists locally - I know colleagues in Carmarthenshire will be doing the same.

"The Welsh Assembly Government is a coalition, not a merger, and won't stop us fighting tooth and nail for every council seat.

"There are no 'no-go' areas for Labour in Wales. Labour can only win a majority in the 2011 Assembly elections if we strengthen our base in West and North Wales.

"Our appeal needs to go beyond our heartlands. We need to engage better with Welsh-speakers who want to see social justice.

"We must also reach out to aspirant voters, including those whose lives have been made more comfortable by Labour economic success over the last ten years, and show how Labour can improve their opportunities."