The general election campaign in Wales has stepped up a gear ahead of the expected May 5 poll.

Both Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru were on Monday launching fresh campaign pushes.

The nationalists were highlighting their pledge to scrap the council tax and replace it with a local income tax system.

According to the party, council tax hits the poorest hardest while a local income tax would be based on the ability to pay.

Simon Thomas, MP and party policy co-ordinator, said that the existing town hall tax system "centralises power because local councils depend for much of their income on sources over which they have no control".

"Those who seek to improve local public services are inhibited because of the unfairness and unpopularity of council tax - the method they have to use to raise revenue," he said.

"What we can demonstrate quite clearly is that local income tax would mean savings for a pensioner household of between £600 and almost £1,000 based on examples across Wales."

Labour tour

Meanwhile Wales secretary Peter Hain and first minister Rhodri Morgan were beginning a week of visits to key constituencies.

In an echo of Labour's national campaign, Welsh Labour was also highlighting its six pledges to "make Wales a stronger, fairer and more prosperous country".

"The close partnership between Labour in Wales and Labour in Westminster is vital to the Welsh economy and Welsh public service investment," said Morgan.

And Hain issued a warning to Labour's heartlands that staying at home could allow the Conservative leader Michael Howard "into Number 10 through the back door".

"It's too late if the wrong numbers come up and you wake the day after the election to find a Tory government. Don't have a flutter with your future," Hain added.