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If you've ever tried to guess who might be running the country after the 2015 general election pay attention to Newport in south Wales.

The local election results there back in 2008 were a sign of things to come.

Four years ago, a Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition took over the running of the city council.

Thursday's local election there will be watched by all the main parties as an indication of how they're being judged by voters.

Like many places in the UK, Newport is suffering the consequences of the recession.

A number of shops in the city centre either have wooden boards over the windows or large closing down signs.

"A lot of it is down to the rates," that's the view of 27-year-old Gareth Howarth who lives in the city.

"The price the council want for you to run your shop is a fortune.

"I used to run a phone shop here. They want a fortune and the money isn't there to earn it back."

He believes not enough is being done to help businesses in the town.

"Newport needs money spent on it. This place isn't a dump but it needs investment."

Another consequence of the recession has been unemployment and it's easy to find evidence of that in Newport.

Mark Heledd, 21, said: "I left school in 2007 and ever since then I've been on training courses.

"Youth unemployment is a big problem around here."

For many voters in Newport these elections are about choosing the party they think can sort out the economy.

Labour will be hoping to rebuild support in a part of Wales where they used to be dominant.

Failing to win Newport would be a worry for leader Ed Miliband.

The Conservatives have gradually increased their support in Wales in the past few years but defeat there could be a sign that's slipping.

The Liberal Democrats have also had success in this part of the UK in recent years.

Their leader, Nick Clegg, knows defeat there and in Cardiff would put more pressure on him and his party's decision to form a coalition.

Also hoping to pick up votes will be Wales's national party, Plaid Cymru.

It's hoping to improve on its disappointing performance in the Welsh Assembly elections, when it was overtaken by the Tories.

Nicola Spencer, 21, who's out shopping with her sister, says she's unsure about who she'll vote for.

But she says that whoever ends up running the city has a big job ahead of them.

She said: "It just feels like a bit of a depressing place to live at the minute.

"Until the economy picks up I don't think any council can do much to change that."