The archive aims to save Welsh vinyl records before they deteriorate

Co-ordinator Craig Owen Jones said it needed to be established quickly as old vinyl and tapes did not keep well.

It will be open to the public and organisers are appealing for old recordings, posters, discs or memorabilia.

Welsh pop took off in the 1960s and was often used to express political, linguistic and creative standpoints.

It will show students what was important to people in the 60s and 70s Hefin Ellis, formerly of Edward H Dafis

The Welsh Pop Archive aims to collect, store and provide an online catalogue of magazines, fanzines, memorabilia, singles and LPs, cassettes and CD's videos and television programmes.

"I feel that this music is important socially, historically, politically and musically," said project director Dr Pwyll ap Sion.

He believed the archive could boost interest in the subject, and musicians whose work will be included in the archive have welcomed it.

"So many people are interested in all things historical, and I think this is a good idea," said Hefin Ellis, who used to be a member of 1970s band Edward H Dafis.

"It will show students what was important to people in the 60s and 70s," he added.

Neville Hughes, who used to sing with Hogia Llandygai, who got together in the 1950s, said: "Being in a pop 'archive' means we are old, although I like the idea of keeping the history going.

"Hogia Llandygai called it a day in 1996, but I still enjoy it when someone requests that one of our records is played on the radio," he said.

"It is also nice to hear other people sing our songs at concerts.