The bird had been spotted flying high up in the rafters of the city centre market, making it difficult for anyone to safely guide it back outside. Swansea Market is the largest indoor market in Wales.

Concerns for the gull’s welfare began to grow, with animal lovers sharing their worries online and contacting market security, the RSPCA and other organisations for help.

It is understood attempts had been made since at least Friday to encourage the bird to leave through the market’s loading doors, but these efforts were unsuccessful. During its unexpected stay, the gull was reportedly taking fish and other food from stalls belonging to local traders.

The bird was also seen looking through windows near the top of the market, appearing to search for a way out.

Thankfully, Swansea Council has now confirmed that the seagull’s time inside the market came to an end on Monday morning after it managed to find its own way out.

A spokesperson for Swansea Council said: “We’re happy to say the seagull is fine after its stay at the market and found its own way out Monday morning.”

Temperatures could climb as high as 38C in some parts of the country, with amber and red weather warnings in place until Thursday, June 25. The red warning for extreme heat is due to begin on Wednesday morning, June 24, and remain in force until Thursday evening.

A red weather warning means conditions could become dangerous, with possible damage to property and a risk to life. People are normally advised to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary.

The areas covered by the red warning include Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Because of the warning, Tennis Wales in the Park, which manages a number of tennis courts in Cardiff, Swansea and the Vale of Glamorgan, has confirmed that its sites will close later this week.

In a message sent to members, the organisation said: “Due to the red weather warning in place on Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th June, we have made the decision to close all Tennis Wales in the Park sites on health and safety grounds.

“All pay and play bookings during this period will be fully refunded.

“As well as health and safety concerns, court surfaces that are still early in their lifespan can also be affected by long periods of high temperatures. Some materials used on the courts may soften in sustained heat, which could lead to damage.”

According to the latest annual report from the Senedd’s Standards Commissioner, the number of new complaints submitted against Members of the Senedd (MSs) fell significantly during the last reporting year. Between 2025 and 2026, a total of 86 complaints were received, compared with 136 during 2024-25 – a decrease of 37%.

However, outgoing Standards Commissioner Douglas Bain has warned that the recent increase in the number of elected members, many of whom are new to the Senedd, is likely to lead to a higher number of complaints in the future.

The report covers complaints received between April 1, 2025, and March 31, 2026. Of those, 21 related to members’ activity on social media platforms, while 12 concerned the misuse of resources. Another 12 complaints involved failures to update registered interests within the required four-week deadline, and nine focused on the standard of service provided by individual members.

A number of other complaints covered a broad range of issues, including matters linked to Welsh Government policy and subjects that fell outside the commissioner’s area of responsibility.

The report noted that many complaints were deemed inadmissible because, even if the allegations had been proven, they would not have amounted to a breach of the Senedd’s rules of conduct.

During the reporting period, only one member was found to have breached the relevant standards rules. Conservative MS Janet Finch-Saunders was determined to have committed a breach.

Reflecting on the findings, Mr Bain said the expansion of the Senedd and the arrival of many first-time members would almost certainly result in an increase in complaints in the years ahead.

He said: “The increase in the number of Members and the fact so many of them have not previously been Members will almost certainly result in an increase in the number of complaints received.”

A rare pair of bank notes with a printing error have been sold for almost 10 times their original value after both notes were missing the portraits normally seen on the front.

The £5 and £10 notes were sold together on eBay for £149.42, attracting interest from collectors due to the unusual mistake.

Both notes feature a rare printing error where the main front design failed to print correctly. As a result, only the top section of the notes and the words "Bank of England" can be seen.

The mistake means that the portraits of King Charles III and Queen Elizabeth II, which should appear on the front of the notes, are completely missing.

The seller described the notes as being almost identical, with both showing similar printing faults, including errors on the silver security features.

The listing stated: “Please look carefully at the pictures and observe these error notes. Both notes show very similar printing errors and have matching faults on the silver areas. They are packaged in a glass airtight container for display and protection.”

A collector purchased the pair using the Buy It Now option for £149.42, with an additional £3.42 paid for postage.

The sale highlights how rare printing mistakes can significantly increase the value of bank notes, and may encourage people to check their own cash for similar errors.

Polymer £10 notes featuring Queen Elizabeth II and author Jane Austen first entered circulation in 2017.

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Bank of England notes featuring King Charles III were officially introduced on June 5, 2024.

Bank notes showing Queen Elizabeth II remain legal tender and continue to circulate alongside the newer King Charles III notes.

Emergency services were called to Ferry Boat Lane, near the River Don in Mexborough, at around 8pm on Saturday evening.

South Yorkshire Police said Mackenzie was seen entering the river but was not seen leaving the water, leading to a large-scale search operation involving multiple agencies.

Officers confirmed that a body was discovered shortly after 11pm on Monday night. Mackenzie’s family have been informed, and formal identification procedures will take place in due course.

Police Send Condolences to Family

Doncaster District Commander Chief Superintendent Pete Thorp said:

"First and foremost, on behalf of everyone involved in the search for Mackenzie since Saturday, I want to express our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

"The loss of a child is every parent's worst nightmare, and I know this devastating news will have a profound impact on the wider community, especially Mackenzie’s school."

Major Search Operation

The search, which lasted more than 48 hours, involved South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, specialist underwater search teams and mountain rescue crews.

Chief Superintendent Thorp added:

"The search for Mackenzie was a true multi-agency effort. While we are extremely grateful to our emergency service colleagues and underwater search specialists, I would also like to recognise the dedication of Woodhead Mountain Rescue.

"Many of their highly trained team members are volunteers who give up their own time to assist search operations when they are needed most."

Earlier Fears Raised

On Sunday, police said they had been forced to have the heartbreaking conversation with Mackenzie’s family that if he had not been seen leaving the river on Saturday, he was unlikely to have survived in the water for such a long period.

Investigators found no evidence to suggest he had managed to get out of the river.

Residents told reporters that the section of the River Don where Mackenzie disappeared is known locally as a dangerous area, with shallow water quickly giving way to much deeper sections.

Open Water Deaths Increase During Heatwave

The tragedy comes amid a series of fatal incidents involving open water across the UK during the recent spell of hot weather.

By Monday, the number of suspected open-water deaths nationwide had reached at least 17.

The record-breaking temperatures encouraged many people to swim in rivers, lakes and coastal areas, with fatalities reported in South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Cornwall, Hampshire, Warwickshire, Cheshire, Pembrokeshire and Lincolnshire.

Other Recent Incidents

On Sunday, a 13-year-old girl died after being rescued from the River Wharfe near Burnsall, according to North Yorkshire Police.

In a separate incident the same day, Lancashire Police said a woman died and a man was left in a critical condition after entering the sea off Rossall Beach in Thornton-Cleveleys.

The pair, both aged in their 60s, encountered difficulties in the water while attempting to rescue their dog. The dog was later recovered safely.

The Tidenham Tunnel, which links Tintern and Sedbury along the Wye Valley Greenway, is a vital habitat for lesser horseshoe bats. Around 26% of the entire UK population of this rare species lives in the surrounding area, making the tunnel one of the most important bat roosts in the country.

Because of this, the tunnel is closed every winter to protect the bats during their hibernation period. Even when it reopens for the summer months, the lighting is kept deliberately low to avoid disturbing them. Visitors are asked not to use torches or flash photography, and not to look for bats as they pass through.

A historic railway reborn

The tunnel first opened in 1876 as part of the Wye Valley railway line. After decades of disuse, it was restored in 2019 thanks to volunteers and local charities, before reopening to the public in 2021. Today, it forms part of the five‑mile Wye Valley Greenway — a flat, scenic route that has become a favourite for families, cyclists and walkers.

Inside, the tunnel’s high arches and soft, dim lighting create a hypnotic atmosphere. The bats roost in alcoves that run the entire length of the structure, and their presence is the reason the tunnel feels so dark and peaceful.

Jeremy Cowen, volunteer coordinator for the Wye Valley Greenway, said around 50 bats currently live in the tunnel. They are protected by law, meaning any deliberate disturbance of the bats or their habitat is a criminal offence.

A route designed around nature

The tunnel is free to enter and open daily until 8pm throughout the summer season. It will remain accessible until October 1, 2026, when it will close again for the bats’ winter hibernation.

Visitors are advised to keep left to avoid collisions with cyclists, and on bright days, the Greenway team even recommends wearing sunglasses for the final half‑mile before entering the tunnel so your eyes can adjust to the darkness.

Kevin Ford, destination manager for Monmouthshire, said the Greenway has become a hugely popular route:  

“It’s the best way to cycle between Tintern and Sedbury because it’s completely flat,” he said. He added that those passing at dawn or dusk may be lucky enough to see bats entering or leaving the tunnel.

A rare blend of wildlife, history and adventure

The Tidenham Tunnel is more than just a walkway — it’s a remarkable example of how historic structures can be brought back to life while protecting the wildlife that depends on them. Its reopening each summer offers a unique chance to experience a piece of railway history, a thriving bat habitat and one of the most atmospheric tunnels in Wales.

More information and opening times can be found on the Wye Valley Greenway website.

Claire Thomas, from south Wales, had been cycling through Denbighshire and was excited to visit the iconic Horseshoe Falls in Llangollen — a 140‑metre weir designed by Thomas Telford and considered one of the jewels of the Wye Valley.

But when she arrived, her excitement quickly turned to disappointment.

“I was so excited to visit the beautiful and iconic falls,” she told Pulse Media. “But it was with great sadness that I found it had succumbed to the amazing weather and people’s laziness — there was litter everywhere. Such a very sad sight to see.”

‘I picked it up myself’

Claire, a keen outdoor enthusiast, said she couldn’t walk away without doing something. She began gathering the rubbish herself, filling bags with discarded waste.

“As part of my journey I’ve been doing small litter‑picks — but nothing on this scale,” she said. “To my shock there were no public bins in the area. It would be fantastic if the local authority examined the ongoing problem of litter at Horseshoe Falls.”

She urged for both landfill and recycling bins to be installed to help keep the area “in pristine condition”.

Council: bins at the river are ‘not feasible’

Denbighshire Council said bins are available at Llantysilio Green car park, which provides access to the falls. However, installing bins at the bottom of the slope beside the river is “not feasible due to access and resource issues”.

A spokesperson said rangers regularly litter‑pick the site, with one staff member recently removing five bags of rubbish in a single visit.

“We urge people visiting Horseshoe Falls and other countryside sites to be respectful,” the council said. “Littering is a form of anti‑social behaviour and is a criminal offence.”

The council added that rangers routinely remind visitors to keep the area clean, and signage makes clear that camping, fires and BBQs are prohibited.

A world‑renowned heritage site under pressure

Horseshoe Falls is a key entry point to the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal World Heritage Site, an area recognised internationally for its industrial and cultural importance.

But with its rising popularity has come increasing pressure. Volunteers often work alongside council teams to tackle the constant stream of rubbish left behind by visitors — a battle they say they frequently lose.

The council said it will continue promoting responsible tourism and encouraging visitors to take their litter home.

“There is no excuse for dumping litter anywhere in the county,” a spokesperson said. “We encourage the public to report any incidents of littering or fly‑tipping.”

‘A beautiful place deserves better’

For Claire, the experience was a stark reminder of how easily natural beauty can be spoiled.

“Horseshoe Falls is stunning,” she said. “It deserves to be looked after. People need to respect these places — they won’t stay beautiful unless we do.”

The proposed site, located at Upper Broughton Farm near the Shropshire–Powys border north‑west of Bishop’s Castle, would provide around 500 burial plots and may also include space for domestic pets.

Natural burial grounds — sometimes called woodland or green burial sites — focus on sustainability and minimal environmental impact. They avoid concrete vaults, steel caskets and toxic embalming fluids, instead using biodegradable materials and encouraging the land to return to nature.

The applicants estimate the site would host five to eight burials a year. They plan to plant native wildflowers to boost biodiversity and maintain the peaceful, rural character of the area.

A design and access statement says visitors would park at Camlad Barns and walk across the lane to the burial ground. The existing field gate, already used for overspill parking during events at the Barns, can “readily accommodate vehicles and persons arriving for a burial”.

The statement adds:  

“The natural burial ground is intended to provide a more sustainable alternative to traditional burial practices… avoiding the use of traditional embalming methods that utilise toxic chemicals that can leach into the wider environment.”

It also highlights concerns about the emissions and fuel use associated with cremation, as well as the environmental impact of stone memorials.

The burial ground would be managed by Mr and Mrs Leeke as part of their wider farm operations, with maintenance including hedge cutting, fencing repairs and care of wildflower areas.

The applicants say they have spoken extensively with neighbours and local residents, and feedback so far has been “extremely positive”.

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The dolphin appeared over the weekend near Church Island, a popular walking spot between Anglesey and Gwynedd. Bottlenose dolphins are relatively common around the UK coastline, but sightings tend to increase during the warmer months.

They can be identified by the unique nicks on their dorsal fins and are most often seen in areas such as Cardigan Bay, the Moray Firth in Scotland, and the coasts of Cornwall and Devon.

This latest sighting adds to several recent dolphin appearances off the north Wales coast. In March, skipper Barry Williams captured video footage of dolphins swimming alongside his fishing boat in Dulas Bay, Anglesey.

According to the Sea Watch Foundation, bottlenose dolphins are highly intelligent and social animals. They often travel in pods, swim in synchronised groups and are known for leaping clear of the water. The dolphins found around the British Isles are believed to be the largest of their kind in the world.

They are present around much of the UK coastline, including north Wales, although sightings vary depending on sea conditions and the time of year. The southern half of Cardigan Bay is considered an important summer feeding and breeding area, where dolphins nurture their young, socialise and rest.

In Wales, dolphins are most commonly spotted between April and November, particularly around New Quay and Mwnt.

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Officers from the Metropolitan Police executed a warrant at the premises after intelligence suggested the shop was being used to supply Class B drugs. When they forced entry into a padlocked area inside the building, they discovered shelves stacked with hundreds of mobile phones.

Body‑worn footage captured officers saying there were “loads of phones” as they uncovered the haul.

Four men aged 22, 25, 34 and 63 were arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods, possession of drugs and intent to supply. Three have been released on bail, while one has been released under investigation.

Inspector Yu Zhang from the Met’s local policing team in Brent said mobile phone theft remains a major concern for Londoners, and operations like this are aimed at tackling both thieves and those who profit from stolen devices.

He said: “Seizures such as this show that we are not only targeting individual phone snatchers, but also those who handle and profit from stolen devices.”

The Met is increasingly using intelligence and new technology — including drones and high‑powered electric bikes — to track and intercept offenders. Police say their efforts have contributed to a drop of around 10,000 reported mobile phone thefts in London over the past year.

In March, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley warned that if tech companies do not introduce stronger measures to make stolen phones unusable worldwide, the force will ask the government to legislate.

The investigation into the Kilburn shop and the seized devices is ongoing.

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Plans have been submitted for a hydroelectric system at Treforest Weir, just south of the Broadway/Glyntaff interchange. If approved, the scheme would generate a large chunk of the Lido’s electricity using the natural flow of the river.

How the scheme would work

The proposal includes:

- A 215–300kW hydroelectric turbine  

- A new hydraulic channel built alongside the existing weir  

- A replacement fish pass  

- A turbine house, screens, outfall and new access route  

- A transformer and cabling to link the system to the Lido  

Most of the existing Victorian weir structure would stay in place, but listed building consent is needed because part of the old fish pass would be replaced.

Local business would be affected

The plans say Riverbank Car Sales, a business next to the site, would need to temporarily shut during construction. Its garage building would be demolished to make space for access and a construction compound.

The business has objected, saying the proposal threatens their livelihood and has caused stress, and that discussions with the council have been unclear so far.

Why the council is recommending approval

RCT planning officers say the scheme would:

- Help Wales move toward its target of 70% renewable electricity by 2030  

- Have only a modest visual impact  

- Use an existing watercourse rather than creating a new one  

- Preserve most of the historic weir structure  

They say the benefits outweigh the heritage concerns, especially as the works are reversible.

What happens next

Both the planning application and the listed building consent will go before RCT’s planning committee on Thursday, April 16.

If approved, the River Taff could soon be helping to power one of Pontypridd’s most popular attractions.

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The incident happened at around 11.55am on Friday, March 6, on the footpath next to the A40. Gwent Police has launched an investigation and is urging anyone who may have seen what happened to come forward.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Officers are investigating a report of indecent exposure on the footpath next to the A40, Monmouth, at around 11.55am on Friday 6 March. This man was seen nearby at the time and may be able to assist with enquiries.”

Police say enquiries are ongoing and are asking anyone with information — including dashcam or CCTV footage — to get in touch quoting log reference 2600070728.

Information can be reported by calling 101, sending a direct message to Gwent Police on social media, contacting the force via its website, or anonymously through Crimestoppers.

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The device — a term used for military explosives such as shells, bombs or landmines — was found at a residential address, prompting South Wales Police to put safety measures in place.

Roads closed as bomb disposal teams called in

Officers shut sections of Old Road and Thorney Road, from Baglan Lodge care home to Crawford Road, while specialists assessed the device. A cordon remained in place for a short time as a precaution.

Residents were asked to keep clear of the area and plan alternative routes while the incident was dealt with.

A police spokesperson said:

“Parts of Old Road and Thorney Road, Baglan, have been closed as a safety precaution following the discovery of an unexploded ordnance at a nearby property. Please keep clear of the area while officers attend to this incident.”

Controlled detonation carried out

Bomb disposal teams carried out a controlled detonation, allowing the roads to reopen shortly afterwards.

Police later confirmed:

“The road has now reopened following a controlled detonation.”

No injuries were reported, and the incident is now resolved.

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For more breaking news visit Pulse Media.

David Toropu and his mum, Christina, were due to fly back from a family rugby trip to Venice last week. But when they tried to check in for their return flight from Milan on April 2, staff told them David couldn’t board because UK border systems showed no record of him having the right to live in Britain.

Born in Cardiff — but caught out by rule changes

David was born in Cardiff in 2016. His parents are Romanian nationals who moved to the UK before he was born. His dad has settled status and his mum has pre‑settled status.

Christina says she believed David automatically became a British citizen after seven years of continuous residency — something that used to be the case before Brexit.

She said she had no idea she needed to apply for his own immigration status.

Family split across Europe

With David unable to travel, Christina stayed behind with him while her husband and stepson flew home so school and work weren’t disrupted.

They spent two extra nights in Italy before travelling to Romania to stay with family while they try to sort things out.

Christina says the situation has been “terrifying” for her son:

“He heard everything at the airport. He thought they were going to send me back to the UK and leave him behind.”

She says she’s had panic attacks and is worried about missing medical appointments back home. She’s also already spent around £2,000 on hotels, flights and applications.

Why he was refused entry

In February, the UK government introduced a new travel system. Under the changes:

- Dual nationals must show a British passport or  

- A digital certificate of entitlement proving their right of abode  

Without one of these, airlines can refuse boarding.

Previously, people in David’s situation could travel using their non‑UK passport without any issues.

The certificate of entitlement isn’t automatic — and costs £589. A British passport costs around £100.

Christina tried applying for an ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) at the airport, but because David’s home address is in the UK, officials said it wasn’t valid for someone returning to live here.

MP steps in

David’s MP, Alex Davies‑Jones, says her office is working urgently to help bring him home:

“This is clearly a very distressing experience for both David and his mum. We’re doing everything we can to resolve it quickly.”

Home Office says documentation now granted

A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that the necessary paperwork has now been approved — meaning David should finally be able to return home soon.

The incident happened at Rock Park at around 6.15pm on Wednesday, April 1, and left a man in his 80s with a facial injury that required hospital treatment.

A 21‑year‑old man from Newtown has been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 wounding with intent. He has since been released on police bail while enquiries continue.

Dyfed‑Powys Police are now appealing for anyone who saw what happened to come forward.

A spokesperson said officers are keen to speak to witnesses who were in the area at the time. Anyone with information is asked to contact the force quoting reference 26*261810.

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Court documents reveal the London‑based employee is suspected of creating a script that allowed him to access users’ photos without detection. The Metropolitan Police’s cybercrime unit has launched a criminal probe, and the engineer is currently on police bail.

Meta discovered breach and reported it to police

Meta — the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp — confirmed it uncovered the breach more than a year ago and immediately:

- Terminated the employee  

- Notified affected users  

- Referred the case to law enforcement  

- Upgraded internal security systems  

A Meta spokesperson said:

“Protecting user data is our top priority… We immediately terminated the individual, notified users, referred the matter to law enforcement and enhanced our security measures.”

The company has not disclosed how many users were affected or how the breach was first detected.

Court records: 30,000 private images accessed

Highbury Magistrates’ Court recently granted a request to vary the suspect’s bail conditions. Court filings state he is accused of:

- “Accessing and downloading approximately 30,000 private images belonging to Facebook users”  

- Creating a custom computer script to avoid Meta’s internal security checks  

The engineer has not been charged at this stage.

ICO monitoring investigation

The Information Commissioner’s Office confirmed it is aware of the case and is in contact with Meta.

An ICO spokesperson said:

“Social media users should be able to trust that their personal information is handled responsibly.”

Meta already facing legal and regulatory pressure

The investigation comes at a time of heightened scrutiny for Meta:

- A US jury recently found Meta and Google liable for contributing to a woman’s social media addiction, awarding $6m in damages.  

- In 2024, Meta was fined €91m in Ireland after millions of passwords were improperly stored without encryption.  

- Facebook has previously suffered major data incidents, including a 2018 bug that exposed photos of up to 6.8 million users to third‑party apps.

The latest case raises fresh questions about internal access controls at one of the world’s largest tech companies.

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For more news visit Pulse Media.

Walker Smith, who worked at the Clapham Junction branch for 17 years, was dismissed two days after getting into a brief struggle with a thief attempting to flee with chocolate. He told The Guardian he apologised to his manager after the incident, but the matter was escalated and he ultimately lost his job.

Now, Iceland’s executive chairman Lord Richard Walker has stepped in — posting on LinkedIn:

“You’re welcome to a job with us. We even share the same name…”

It’s not yet known whether Smith has responded to the offer.

Waitrose defends decision, citing ‘danger to life’

Waitrose has faced mounting criticism over the dismissal, with senior Conservatives urging the supermarket to reinstate Smith. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the sacking “sent entirely the wrong message” and “penalises those who act”.

But Waitrose insists the decision was made to protect staff, saying:

“We refuse to put anyone’s life at risk. Nothing we sell is worth risking lives for.”

The supermarket said its policies are designed to prevent serious harm, noting that some employees have previously been hospitalised after confronting shoplifters.

Retailers warn shoplifting is becoming more violent

The row comes as major retailers warn of a surge in aggressive and organised shoplifting.

Marks & Spencer retail director Thinus Keeve said crime in stores is becoming “more brazen, more organised and more aggressive”, with some branches now forced to security‑tag everyday items like chocolate, butter and meat.

M&S chief executive Stuart Machin has also written to the home secretary following recent antisocial behaviour in Clapham, where crowds attempted to storm shops.

Half a million shoplifting offences recorded — and many more unreported

The Office for National Statistics says more than 500,000 shoplifting offences were recorded in England and Wales last year — the highest on record. Retailers believe the true figure is far higher, with many incidents going unreported due to a lack of police action and weak penalties.

Iceland boss calls for tougher security powers

Lord Walker has been outspoken about retail crime, recently suggesting security guards should be allowed to carry truncheons and pepper spray to deal with violent offenders.

His offer to hire Smith adds further pressure on Waitrose as the debate over staff safety, shoplifting and corporate responsibility intensifies.

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For more news visit Pulse Media.

The former Love Island star, 26, appeared on Good Morning Britain to promote his upcoming boxing match against strongman Eddie Hall — a fight scheduled for June 13, just one day after Molly‑Mae’s due date.

‘That’s a family matter — we’re dealing with it’

As the interview wrapped up, presenter Charlotte Hawkins asked the question everyone was waiting for:

“Tommy… the fight is on June 13, and Molly‑Mae is due on June 12. How is she feeling about the timing?”

Tommy immediately shut it down.

“I just want to thank the Lord for blessing me with another child. That is a family matter — we’re dealing with that fantastically. Everything will be perfect, and we’ll deal with it as a family. Thank you.”

He offered no further details, making it clear he wasn’t willing to discuss the situation publicly.

A turbulent first year of parenthood

Tommy and Molly‑Mae welcomed their first child, Bambi, in January 2023 — a period Molly‑Mae has since described as emotionally overwhelming.

She previously revealed she carried “a lot of trauma” from early motherhood, relying heavily on her sister Zoe and mum Debbie while Tommy spent four weeks in Saudi Arabia for a training camp shortly after the birth.

The couple briefly split before reconciling later in the year.

Baby number two — and a name people ‘won’t like’

The pair announced their second pregnancy in February with a video filmed at home, captioned:

“Soon to be four.”

Molly‑Mae has been sharing updates through her YouTube channel, recently teasing that the baby’s name will divide opinion.

“I can’t wait for everyone to hate it,” she joked.  

“It’s a different name — we were never going to choose something ordinary.”

She added she has only ever heard of one other baby with the same name.

Tommy focused on fight night

Despite the tight timing, Tommy insists he’s fully committed to his bout with Eddie Hall — joking that some of the challenges in training “shouldn’t even be legal”.

The fight will take place just 24 hours after Molly‑Mae’s due date, leaving fans wondering whether he’ll be racing from the delivery room to the ring.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.

For more news visit Pulse Media.

Data obtained from all 49 UK fire services shows 432 e‑bike fires were recorded in 2025 — a 38% increase on the previous year. E‑scooter fires also rose sharply, climbing to 147 incidents, up 20% on 2024.

Fire investigators say the majority of these incidents are linked to failing lithium‑ion batteries, often found in cheap or unregulated products bought online.

‘Always cut‑price products’ — expert warns of dangerous batteries

Nick Bailey from BatteryIQ said the devices involved in fires are almost always low‑cost imports with poor quality control.

He warned of a growing black market in DIY and counterfeit batteries, particularly among delivery riders, with some packs even being built from reclaimed vape batteries.

Bailey said:

“I wouldn’t keep a battery in my home without continuous monitoring — regardless of what the manufacturer’s sticker says.”

London remains the UK’s biggest hotspot

London Fire Brigade recorded the highest number of incidents by far, with Greater Manchester and Nottinghamshire also identified as major hotspots.

Lithium‑ion battery fires are especially dangerous because they:

- Ignite extremely quickly  

- Burn at intense temperatures  

- Release toxic vapours  

- Can re‑ignite even after appearing extinguished  

The risk has become so severe that e‑bikes and e‑scooters are now banned from the London Underground.

Electrical Safety First says the surge in fires is becoming a national emergency.

Chief executive Lesley Rudd warned:

“Poorly made batteries and accessories are a major route through which dangerous devices enter people’s homes. Without strong, enforceable changes, further loss of life is inevitable.”

Consumer group Which? also warned that unsafe products are “increasingly saturating” online marketplaces, undercutting retailers who follow safety laws.

Government plans crackdown on unsafe online sales

In response to the rising threat, the government has launched a consultation aimed at tightening product safety rules.

Under the proposals, online marketplaces would be legally required to:

- Prevent dangerous products being listed  

- Identify unsafe items  

- Remove them quickly  

The move comes as private e‑scooters — still illegal to ride in public — continue to be widely used in cities across the UK.

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For more news visit Pulse Media.

The unlicensed gathering erupted late on Saturday night near East Lulworth in rural Dorset, with more than 100 vehicles flooding into the area before midnight. Officers were called at 11.45pm and remained on scene throughout the weekend in an effort to bring the situation to a “safe conclusion”.

Officers attacked as they tried to disperse crowds

Dorset Police confirmed that officers faced a “violent and hostile reception”, with missiles thrown at them as they attempted to break up the rave.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Lyne said:

“Violence in our communities and against our officers will not be tolerated. These events are illegal and cause significant disruption — and it is unacceptable that we are faced with violence while doing our job.”

Ten people were arrested on suspicion of offences including:

- Assaulting an emergency worker  

- Driving under the influence  

- Other public order and criminal offences  

Police also seized sound equipment under Section 64 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

‘Significant impact’ on residents and visitors

Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick thanked the local community for their patience as officers and partner agencies worked to disperse the rave.

He said:

“This has had a significant impact on residents and visitors. Authorities took swift, proportionate action as soon as it was possible. We will not tolerate unlicensed music events because of the risks they pose and the disruption they cause.”

Operation involved officers from across the country

Dorset Police confirmed that officers from other forces were drafted in to help manage the incident, which stretched resources across the region.

The force is now reviewing evidence from the scene to identify further suspects and offences.

For more news visit Pulse Media.

Walker Smith, 54, worked at the Clapham Junction branch for 17 years before being dismissed just two days after tackling a man attempting to steal a bag of chocolate eggs. The incident led to a brief struggle before the shoplifter fled.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has condemned Waitrose’s decision, calling it “disgraceful” and accusing the supermarket of punishing staff while thieves “run unchecked”.

‘I was so frustrated — I just snapped’

Speaking to The Guardian, Mr Smith said he confronted the shoplifter after years of witnessing daily thefts. During the scuffle, one of the chocolate bunnies smashed, and he admitted throwing a piece of it towards the trolleys in frustration — not at the thief.

He said he immediately apologised to his manager, but the matter was escalated and ultimately cost him his job.

“When I got home I was punching myself thinking, ‘Why did I do that?’” he said.

Waitrose: ‘Nothing we sell is worth risking lives for’

Waitrose insists the reporting of the case does not reflect the “full facts”, but said it would not discuss the specifics of Mr Smith’s dismissal.

In a statement, the supermarket stressed that staff safety is the priority:

“There is a serious danger to life in tackling shoplifters. Nothing we sell is worth risking lives for. We refuse to put anyone in harm’s way.”

The company said it has had incidents where staff were hospitalised after confronting thieves and that strict policies exist to prevent further injuries.

Waitrose added that it followed the “correct process”, including an appeals procedure.

Tories: ‘Reinstate him — and give him a bonus’

In a letter to Waitrose managing director Tom Denyard, shared publicly on X, Chris Philp urged the supermarket to reverse the dismissal.

He wrote:

“Dismissing a long‑serving employee in these circumstances sends entirely the wrong message. It penalises those who act, while offenders are left unchecked.”

Philp argued that staff and the public should be supported — not discouraged — when intervening in shoplifting incidents.

Shoplifting on the rise

The row comes amid a surge in retail crime, with shoplifting offences rising 5% in the year to September 2025.

Retailers across the UK have reported increasingly brazen thefts, prompting calls for tougher enforcement and better protection for frontline workers.

For more news visit Pulse Media.

Kate and Prince William joined Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for an unexpected walkabout on the Long Walk in Windsor, where they viewed floral tributes and spoke with mourners gathered outside Windsor Castle.

Among the crowd was Banita Ranow, 28, who overheard Kate gently explaining the news to a group of children beside her. She revealed the heartbreaking reaction of four‑year‑old Louis when he learned his great‑grandmother had passed away at the age of 96.

According to Ms Ranow, Kate said:

“Louis said, ‘At least Grannie is with Great‑Grandpa now.’”

She added that the Princess appeared visibly emotional, “welling up” as she spoke.

A close bond with the late Queen

Prince Louis is one of the late Queen and Prince Philip’s 12 great‑grandchildren. He was memorably seen alongside Prince George and Princess Charlotte during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, delighting crowds with his expressive balcony moments.

Following the Queen’s death, Prince William released a statement saying his children were lucky to have spent holidays with their great‑grandmother and to have created “memories that will last their whole lives”.

A rare reunion between the royal couples

The Windsor walkabout marked the first time William, Kate, Harry and Meghan had appeared together publicly since the Commonwealth Day service in 2020 — the Sussexes’ final engagement before stepping back from royal duties.

A royal source later confirmed that William personally invited Harry and Meghan to join him, with both couples living in Windsor at the time.

The appearance was also the first public outing for William and Kate as the newly appointed Prince and Princess of Wales.

Tensions set aside — briefly

The reunion came despite long‑reported tensions between the brothers and their wives. Meghan previously claimed Kate made her cry during wedding preparations, while Harry has described William as “trapped” within the institution.

But on this day, the focus was on the late Queen — and on the small but powerful words of a young boy trying to comfort his mother.

For more news visit Pulse Media.

Prince William and Kate Middleton had just four months to organise their 2011 wedding, and despite their best efforts to keep every detail under wraps, one of the most closely guarded secrets of the day was leaked: the identity of Kate’s wedding‑dress designer.

The dress leak that caused ‘tears at the Palace’

Kate had gone to great lengths to keep her chosen designer hidden. But weeks before the big day, news broke that Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen had been selected to create the gown.

The Sunday Times reported at the time that the dress would blend Kate’s ideas with Burton’s high‑fashion expertise.

According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, speaking in Channel 5’s Secrets of the Royal Dressmakers, the leak left Kate devastated:

“Behind the scenes I think that caused tears at the Palace because Kate had done everything she could to keep the wedding dress a secret.”

Burton denied involvement until Kate stepped out of the car at Westminster Abbey, confirming the rumours in spectacular fashion.

A gown that still gives people ‘butterflies’

Despite the leak, Kate’s dress became one of the most celebrated royal gowns in history.

The ivory creation featured:

- A satin bodice  

- Hand‑cut Chantilly lace sleeves  

- Lace appliqué of roses, thistles, daffodils and shamrocks  

- A 2.7‑metre train  

- A skirt designed to resemble a flower opening  

- A veil embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework  

Designer Caroline Castigliano said the moment Kate emerged from the car remained unforgettable:

“Everybody loved Kate’s dress… she looked sensational. Even now it gives me butterflies.”

A design rooted in tradition

Burton incorporated Carrickmacross lace, a technique dating back to the 1800s, as Kate’s “something old”. She was present at the Abbey on the day, ensuring every detail was perfect before Kate walked down the aisle.

Kate is said to have first noticed Burton’s work at the 2005 wedding of Tom Parker Bowles, where Burton designed the gown worn by Sara Buys.

For more news visit Pulse Media.

The postal service has already faced criticism in recent months over slow or inconsistent delivery times. Now, following the Good Friday suspension of services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, further disruption is expected.

No deliveries on Easter Monday

Royal Mail has confirmed there will be no deliveries or collections on Monday, April 6, due to the Easter Monday bank holiday.

A spokesperson said:

“We aim to deliver to all addresses we have mail for, six days a week. In a small number of local offices, this may temporarily not be possible due to issues such as high sick absence, resourcing or other local factors.”

They added that delivery rotations may be used to minimise delays and apologised for the inconvenience.

Among the Welsh areas affected today is Pontyclun (CF72), with Deeside (CH5) also listed.

Weekend services still running

Despite the Easter weekend, Royal Mail says:

- Saturday deliveries and collections are operating as normal  

- Customer Service Points remain open for parcel collection  

- Sunday parcel deliveries are expected to go ahead as usual  

Last week, Royal Mail owner Daniel Křetínský appeared before MPs to address concerns over delays, saying he was “deeply sorry” for late letters but rejected claims the situation was worsening.

Stamp prices rising this weekend

Customers are being urged to buy stamps before prices increase on April 7:

- First Class: £1.80  

- Second Class: 91p  

(First Class stamps cost 76p in 2020.)

Postcodes facing delays today

- Banbury (OX15–OX17)  

- Birmingham East (B8–B10)  

- Deeside (CH5)  

- Erskine (PA7, PA8)  

- Grimsby (DN31–DN37)  

- Hockley (SS5)  

- Lichfield (WS7, WS13, WS14)  

- New Ferry (CH32, CH62, CH63)  

- Petersfield (GU31–GU33)  

- Pontyclun (CF72)  

- Prenton (CH43)  

- Selsey (PO20)  

- Yate (BS37)

Royal Mail’s Easter schedule at a glance

Saturday, April 4

Normal weekend deliveries and collections. Customer Service Points open.

Sunday, April 5 (Easter Sunday)

Sunday parcel deliveries expected.

Monday, April 6 (Easter Monday)

No deliveries or collections.

For more news visit Pulse Media.

South Wales Police had warned earlier in the day that military personnel would be stationed at St Athan Airport in the Vale of Glamorgan for a pre‑planned operation designed to test responses to major incidents. The exercise involved HM Forces and police working together to rehearse contingency plans.

The training comes as the UK’s terror threat level remains substantial, meaning an attack is considered likely.

Residents report explosions and aircraft overhead

Despite the advance notice, many locals said they were shocked by the scale of the activity.

People living in Rhoose reported a loud explosion shortly before midnight that “shook” their homes, while others in Pencoedtre, on the outskirts of Barry, also heard bangs echoing through the night.

Some residents said their children were excited after spotting what they believed were Apache helicopters flying overhead.

Officials: ‘No cause for concern’

Police stressed that the exercise was routine and not linked to any specific threat:

“It is not in response to any recent incident, intelligence, or threat. The threat from terrorism remains at substantial, which means an attack is likely.”

St Athan, once a major RAF base, was transferred to civilian control in 2019 and is now owned by the Welsh Government, though it continues to be used for military training.

For more news visit Pulse Media.

The unusual six‑hour running challenge will take place at the Tesco Extra in Bridgend, where 140 runners have signed up to complete anything from a 5km to a full marathon (or even an ultra) by repeatedly lapping the store and its car park.

A marathon… inside a supermarket

The quirky course, created by Phoenix Running, will:

- Start in the store foyer  

- Loop outside around the car park  

- Re‑enter the store  

- Require runners to walk on the travelator for safety  

- Complete a lap of the first floor  

- Head back down and start again  

Organisers say the final lap distance will be around 0.4–0.5 miles, meaning runners could end up doing dozens of loops within the six‑hour limit.

Participants can run as many or as few laps as they like — and everyone gets a finisher’s medal.

Huge interest from runners

Tickets cost £47.95–£49.95 and sold out quickly. Social media reaction was a mix of excitement and disbelief:

- “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard, I’m definitely interested.”  

- “The two loves of my life. Running and supermarkets.”  

- “One of the daftest runs I’ve ever seen — I’m checking my diary.”  

Raising money for Help for Heroes

Tesco confirmed the event will take place on June 28, starting at 4.30pm, outside normal opening hours. A full risk assessment has been completed, with staggered starts and safety rules in place — including mandatory walking on the travelator.

A Tesco spokesperson said:

“It’s not every day runners get to follow a course that goes through a supermarket, so we’re not surprised it’s proved incredibly popular.”

The event will raise funds for Help for Heroes, Tesco’s armed forces network partner charity.

For more news visit Pulse Media.

Cerys Nomi, who worked at The Rookery care home in Newcastle Emlyn, Carmarthenshire, was accused of allowing a male resident — referred to as User A — to grind against her and place his head in her breast area while she was supposed to be supervising him.

A Social Care Wales fitness‑to‑practise panel heard that Nomi was laughing, giggling and making a “shimmying movement” with her chest during the incident, which took place while a colleague stepped out for a cigarette break.

Witness described ‘grinding movement’

Support worker Amanda Hands, who was in the room at the time, told the panel that Nomi got down on the floor with the resident, who then placed his body against her. She said Nomi pushed out her chest and continued to engage with him as he became increasingly excited.

Ms Hands said their legs became intertwined and the pair began moving back and forth in what she described as a grinding motion. She told the panel the incident lasted four to five minutes and that Nomi made no attempt to use de‑escalation techniques, despite staff being trained on how to safely reposition the resident.

Incident reported after safeguarding training

The incident was reported to management around a week later following safeguarding training. Nomi was dismissed after an internal investigation.

She did not attend the hearing and disputed the accounts given by colleagues, telling an interviewing officer she had “problems with personal boundaries” but insisting her behaviour was not sexual.

Panel rules behaviour was serious misconduct

Panel chair Alison Walker said Nomi’s actions posed a risk to a vulnerable resident and breached fundamental professional standards:

“She did not follow his care plan and did not follow training on how to use a safe breakaway technique. The panel could not be satisfied she would not act in this way again.”

The panel found allegations relating to inappropriate physical contact proven, but did not find that her behaviour was sexual in intent.

Nomi has been immediately removed from the Social Care Wales register and will not be able to reapply for five years.

For more news visit Pulse Media.

The item was found on Lyme Regis beach in Dorset on Tuesday afternoon, with HM Coastguard confirming it was alerted at around 1pm. Dorset Police and a specialist bomb disposal team were also called to the scene.

A spokesperson for HM Coastguard said:

“A report of suspected ordnance at Lyme Regis beach was made at about 1.05pm. Coastguard Rescue Teams from Lyme Regis and West Bay are attending, as well as Dorset Police. An Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team has been sent.”

Beach closed as precaution

Lyme Regis Town Council confirmed that part of the beach had been cordoned off:

“A section of the beach is currently closed following guidance from HM Coastguard. There is no immediate cause for concern, however we kindly ask members of the public to avoid the area while this is being managed.”

Police said they were assisting with the cordon but that the coastguard was leading the incident.

Not the first scare in the area

Lyme Regis is a hugely popular seaside destination, attracting more than 20,000 visitors during peak season. It has seen similar alerts before.

In March last year, a suspected bomb discovered on nearby Charmouth beach triggered a major emergency response — only for experts to later confirm it was a “very old straight‑sided saucepan”.

Coastguard teams say ordnance washing up on the coastline is not uncommon and urged the public to report anything suspicious.

“If there is any doubt, please call 999 and ask for the coastguard.”

For more news visit Pulse Media.

Edwards, once one of the BBC’s highest‑paid and most recognisable newsreaders, fronted News at Ten for decades before pleading guilty in July 2024 to making indecent images of children. He received a six‑month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

His downfall was recently dramatised in a Channel 5 series starring Doc Martin actor Martin Clunes — a portrayal Edwards has strongly criticised.

‘I will challenge the misleading or fabricated claims’

In a statement released on Thursday, Edwards said:

“Much has been written and reported in the past week following Channel 5’s one‑sided account.  

Other opportunities will arise later this year for me to state my case and to challenge the misleading or fabricated claims made in recent coverage.”

He added that “serious questions” remained unanswered and said he would not comment further until he produces his own account — believed to be a documentary or podcast.

Criticism of Channel 5 drama

Edwards previously accused the production company behind the Channel 5 drama, Wonderhood Studios, of failing to verify the “truth” of the narrative portrayed in the series. The programme revisited allegations first reported by The Sun in July 2023, claiming a “top BBC star” paid a teenager more than £35,000 for sexual images.

Channel 5 defended the drama, saying:

“Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards is based on extensive interviews with the victim, his family, the journalists who revealed his story, text exchanges between the victim and Edwards, and court reporting.  

All allegations made in the film were put to Huw Edwards via his solicitors six weeks before transmission.”

‘Reckless, shameful and damaging’

Edwards has previously expressed “deep regret and remorse” for his offences, admitting his behaviour was “reckless, shameful and damaging”.

For more news visit Pulse Media.

Police confirmed on Thursday (April 2) that a girl and three boys were killed inside the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Program School in Kampala’s Makindye Division. A 34‑year‑old man has been arrested, though detectives say the motive remains unclear.

According to Uganda’s Daily Monitor, the suspect allegedly tricked staff by posing as a parent, entering through an office before stepping outside, locking a gate and beginning the attack.

Parents in tears as police fire warning shots

Footage broadcast by NTV Uganda showed distressed parents rushing to the school, with some breaking down in tears. Officers were seen firing shots into the air to disperse an angry crowd reportedly attempting to lynch the suspect.

The Uganda Police Force said in a statement:

“We confirm a tragic incident at the Ggaba Early Childhood Development Program school… where a male suspect brutally stabbed and killed four juveniles. The suspect has been apprehended, and the motive behind the killings is still under investigation.”

Detectives remain at the scene, with further updates expected as the investigation continues.

For more news visit Pulse Media.

The King and Queen arrived at St Asaph Cathedral on Thursday, April 2, where Charles presented traditional Maundy gifts to 77 men and 77 women — one for each year of his age — recognising outstanding Christian service and community contribution.

What the recipients received

Each person was given two leather purses:

- A white purse containing specially minted silver Maundy coins totalling 77 pennies  

- A red purse containing:  

  - A £5 coin marking 100 years since Queen Elizabeth II’s birth  

  - A 50p coin celebrating the 50th anniversary of The King’s Trust  

These coins are rarely produced and highly collectible. The Royal Mint currently lists Maundy sets priced between £120 and £785, depending on age and condition — meaning this year’s recipients have been handed gifts potentially worth several hundred pounds.

‘It was just so, so special’

Jean Carthy, 81, from Towyn, said she initially thought the nomination letter was a scam:

“Even this morning I was wondering why I was there. It was just so, so special… He gave me the purses and said ‘thank you for the work you do’.”

Colin Pengelly, 77, from Castle Caereinion, described the moment as “humbling”:

“The King put the purses in my hand and said ‘thank you for all you have done over the years’. I said to him ‘thank you too, keep doing it’.”

Crowds, protesters and a cleaned‑up message

Supporters lined the streets with Union and Welsh flags to greet the royal couple. Further up the road, protesters from Republic held banners calling for transparency around royal conduct.

Hours before the visit, graffiti reading “Not our King” was scrubbed from a wall in the cathedral grounds.

A historic service

The Royal Maundy tradition dates back to 1210, commemorating the Last Supper and the distribution of alms. This year’s bilingual service featured specially composed music, including A Sacred Benediction sung by soprano Rebecca Evans.

As they left the cathedral, Charles and Camilla greeted schoolchildren and well‑wishers. The Queen wore a navy Dior ensemble with a sapphire and diamond brooch once owned by the late Queen Elizabeth II.

For more news visit Pulse Media.

Speaking on the Vogue & Amber podcast, which she co‑hosts with her sister Amber Wilson, the presenter said she was struggling with nerves as she prepares to travel with Theodore, Gigi and Otto.

‘Guys, I am scared… I’m absolutely sg myself’

Vogue told listeners:

“Guys, I am scared. I know it’s first‑world problems — we’re going on holidays tomorrow — but I have to get up at half three in the morning and I’m pushing the kids out. I’m absolutely sg myself.”

She explained that the travel schedule itself is what’s worrying her:

“We’re flying to Paris, then Paris to St Martin, then St Martin to St Barts. It’s a lot of flights. I’m never usually like that with them, but it’s such a full‑on day and I don’t feel very well at the moment.”

Amber tried to lighten the mood, joking that Paris airport is where Home Alone 2’s Kate McCallister famously realised she’d left Kevin behind.

Life with Spencer and the kids

Vogue shares her three children with husband Spencer Matthews, whom she met on Channel 4’s The Jump. The couple married in 2018 and split their time between London and Ireland.

Over the years, Vogue has built a successful career across TV, radio and podcasting. She first appeared on Irish reality series Fade Street, later competing on Dancing with the Stars Australia and winning Bear Grylls: Mission Survive in 2015.

More recently, she’s become known for her candid podcasting style, regularly sharing honest insights into parenting, work and family life.

Candid stories and past awkward encounters

Her latest admission follows another recent revelation in which she recalled being “completely ignored” by a “rude” celebrity early in her modelling career. Amber said she’d had a similar experience with the same unnamed person while handing out flyers in Dublin.

 The Trainer’s Key Point

Adam Spivey from Southend Dog Training says the classic line — “Do you want to go walkies?” — is basically a disaster switch.  

It spikes the dog’s excitement, which:

- Makes them harder to control  

- Causes overstimulation  

- Leads to pulling, barking, and reactivity  

- Sets the walk up to fail before it even starts  

The Fix: Silent, Calm Walk Prep

Spivey recommends a calmer, almost ritual-like approach:

- Call the dog quietly  

- Clip the lead on without hype  

- If they get overexcited, sit and wait 5 minutes  

- Only move forward when they’re calm  

- At the door, keep them behind you  

- If they rush out, close the door and reset  

- Do the entire walk prep in silence

The idea: you control the energy, not the dog.

Why It Works

A calm dog:

- Listens better  

- Reacts less  

- Walks with more focus  

- Is less likely to bark at everything that moves  

Owners in the comments back this up — especially those with working breeds like border collies who thrive on routine and calm cues.

---

 Dogs Trust Adds Another Tip

To stop pulling, they recommend:

- Stop immediately when the lead tightens  

- Stay still and quiet  

- Only move again when the lead is slack  

- No jerking, no scolding  

- If needed, walk a few steps the opposite way to regain attention  

This teaches the dog that pulling gets them nowhere.

The King and Queen are due to attend the service, where Charles will present gifts to 77 men and 77 women from Wales and other dioceses across the UK in recognition of outstanding Christian service and community support.

Workers in hi‑vis jackets were seen attempting to remove the paint on Thursday morning ahead of the Royal arrival.

The first recorded Royal Maundy service took place in 1210 under King John and commemorates the Last Supper, with the distribution of alms becoming a long‑standing tradition.

Charles will give recipients two purses – a white purse containing specially minted silver Maundy coins totalling 77 pennies, matching the King’s age, and a red purse containing a £5 coin marking 100 years since the late Queen’s birth and a 50p coin celebrating the 50th anniversary of The King’s Trust charity.

The King is traditionally assisted in distributing Maundy Money by the Lord High Almoner, currently the Bishop of Norwich, the Right Rev Graham Usher.

This year’s service is the first held in Wales since 1982 and will feature specially commissioned music by Welsh composers and musicians.

For more visit Pulse Media News.

The disorder unfolded outside a semi‑detached property on Well Road, Buckie, where locals first appeared on Sunday, March 29. By Monday, a larger group had assembled, chanting “Get the beast out now!”. The situation escalated further on Tuesday as more people arrived, leading to a tense confrontation with police that continued into the early hours of Wednesday.

Riot vans vandalised and fireworks launched at officers

Footage from the scene showed flares and fireworks being thrown towards officers and the property, with riot vans vandalised during the unrest. Dozens of officers equipped with shields and batons were deployed to regain control.

Police confirmed a 45‑year‑old man had been arrested and charged in connection with the disorder and possession of an offensive weapon. He is due to appear at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on April 2.

Occupant removed from property for safety

It is understood the man living at the address — a 44‑year‑old recently convicted of possessing child abuse images, including Category A material — was removed from the property by police in the early hours of Wednesday.

He had pleaded guilty and was placed on the sex offenders’ register for three years.

Police condemn ‘utterly unacceptable’ violence

Chief Inspector Mike McKenzie, Local Area Commander for Moray, said officers faced “horrendous levels of aggression”.

“A number of items including flares and fireworks were thrown at officers and police vehicles were vandalised. This is the third such incident since the weekend, but the first to descend into violent disorder.  

This behaviour is utterly unacceptable and posed a serious risk to neighbouring properties. We are thankful there were no serious injuries.”

He confirmed further inquiries are underway to identify everyone involved, including reviewing extensive video footage.

Police presence to remain

Officers will continue patrolling the area in the coming days, with police working alongside partner agencies to address community concerns.

The Hawk and Buckle in Llannefydd has applied to Conwy Council for a variation to its licence, with director Paul Harris seeking permission to serve alcohol until midnight and remain open until 1am. He has also requested extended hours until 2am on New Year’s Eve.

The application will be considered by the council’s licensing sub‑committee.

Residents complain of late‑night noise and vomiting

One resident wrote to the council claiming customers were leaving the pub noisily, vomiting in the road, and even knocking on doors in the early hours.

Another, Marian B Hughes, said she had heard reports of people being sick on nearby doorsteps:

“It’s a terrible situation — stepping out of the house and into vomit early in the morning. I’m concerned that extending the hours will lead to more anti‑social behaviour.”

She also raised concerns about the pub’s location next to a cemetery and a Grade I‑listed parish church.

Landlord: ‘It was a one‑off incident’

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, landlord Paul Harris strongly denied that such behaviour was common.

“It was a one‑off incident, which we do not condone.  

We went round ourselves, cleaned it up, and apologised to the residents. The person responsible has been spoken to.”

He said the pub has received overwhelming support from villagers and that only one local resident had objected.

Harris added that pubs are “closing left, right and centre” and that the extended hours would help the business remain viable and support local events.

Strong support from the community

Several residents submitted letters backing the pub:

- Nansi Davies described it as “an important part of the local community”  

- Amy Moss called it “the heart of the community” and said businesses like it were essential for small villages  

Decision due this week

The licensing sub‑committee has the power to approve the application, amend the conditions, or refuse it entirely.

Councillors will meet on Thursday, April 2, at Conwy County Council’s Coed Pella offices in Colwyn Bay.

Pembrokeshire Council, through agent Asbri Planning Ltd, submitted an outline application to redevelop the former Hakin Infants School on Picton Road, Hakin, Milford Haven. Councillors have now given the scheme the green light, subject to a detailed list of conditions.

School site to be cleared for redevelopment

The school closed several years ago and has since fallen into disrepair. Last April, planners approved a separate application to demolish the buildings, create an ecological enhancement area and construct a dedicated bat house.

A supporting statement at the time described the site as boarded up, with overgrown gardens and play areas. Hakin Infants was one of three local schools to close in the past decade, alongside Hubberston VC School and Hakin Junior School — both already demolished.

Up to 14 homes planned

The outline proposal includes:

- 4 one‑bedroom flats  

- 6 two‑bedroom houses  

- 4 three‑bedroom houses

The development would also incorporate:

- Green infrastructure  

- Open spaces  

- Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)

The council says the aim is to create a well‑connected, attractive residential area that reflects the character of Milford Haven while making productive use of a redundant site.

“High‑quality, sustainable homes”

A planning statement said the project offers an opportunity to deliver high‑quality, well‑designed homes that meet modern living standards while respecting the surrounding environment.

The development is intended to support local housing needs while also attracting new residents to the area.

Approval granted with conditions

Milford Haven Town Council backed the application, and county planners have now approved it subject to a number of conditions that will need to be met before construction can begin.

MOMA Foods has issued an urgent recall covering nine porridge pots and sachet ranges, with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warning shoppers not to eat the affected products. They have been deemed unsafe and should be returned to the store for a full refund.

Point‑of‑sale notices are being displayed in all retailers stocking the items, and details have also been published on the company’s website.

Full list of recalled MOMA products

Below are the affected products, including pack sizes, lot numbers and best‑before dates.

MOMA Almond Butter & Salted Caramel Porridge Pot 55g

Pack size: 1pk, 8pk, 12pk  

Lot numbers: M5296, M5297, M5303, M5304, M5315, M5339, M5342  

BBE: 23/10/26 – 05/12/26  

MOMA Apple, Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Porridge Pot 65g

Pack size: 1pk, 8pk  

Lot numbers: M5261, M5328, M5329, M6026, M6027  

BBE: 18/09/26 – 26/01/27  

MOMA Banana & Peanut Butter Protein Porridge Pot 65g

Pack size: 1pk, 8pk  

Lot numbers: M5248, M5251, M5304, M5307  

BBE: 05/09/26 – 31/10/26  

MOMA Blueberry & Vanilla Porridge Pot 65g

Pack size: 1pk, 8pk  

Lot numbers: M5283, M5284, M5285, M5335, M5336, M6027, M6028  

BBE: 10/10/26 – 27/01/27  

MOMA Cranberry & Raisin Porridge Pot 70g

Pack size: 1pk, 8pk, 12pk  

Lot numbers: M5293, M5294, M5295, M5321, M5322, M5329, M5330, M5331  

BBE: 20/10/26 – 26/11/26  

MOMA Golden Syrup Porridge Pot 70g

Pack size: 1pk, 8pk, 12pk  

Lot numbers: M5241, M5244, M5245, M5261, M5293, M5311, M5314, M5346, M5349  

BBE: 29/08/26 – 12/12/26  

MOMA Plain No‑Added Sugar Porridge Pot 65g

Pack size: 1pk, 12pk  

Lot numbers: M5279, M5280, M5281, M5308, M5309, M5310, M5311, M5345  

BBE: 06/10/26 – 11/12/26  

MOMA Almond Butter & Salted Caramel Porridge Sachets 7×40g

Pack size: 1pk, 5pk  

Lot numbers: M5289, M5290  

BBE: 15/10/26  

MOMA Apple, Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Porridge Sachets 6×40g

Pack size: 1pk, 5pk  

Lot numbers: M5293, M5294, M5295  

BBE: 19/10/26  

What shoppers should do

- Do not eat any of the affected products  

- Return them to the store for a full refund  

- No receipt is needed  

MOMA Foods says no other products are affected by the recall.

The Japanese Bridge, one of the park’s most recognisable landmarks, has been cordoned off while the council assesses the extent of the issue. A notice placed on the fencing apologises for the inconvenience and asks visitors to use alternative routes.

A historic centrepiece of Clyne Gardens

The bridge forms part of the estate originally developed by William Graham Vivian, who bought Clyne Castle in 1860 and invested heavily in its gardens. His nephew, Algernon ‘The Admiral’ Vivian, took over in 1921 and shaped much of the landscape seen today — including the Japanese Bridge, the Admiral’s Tower and the gazebo.

Visitors express frustration

Regular visitors have voiced disappointment on social media, with some questioning why repairs have not already begun.

One wrote:  

“I walk in Clyne most weeks and this sight makes me angry every time I go past. Surely there should be a plan in place by now?”

Another added:  

“What a shame. So many fond memories — let’s hope they repair it soon.”

Council: Dead tree damaged the structure

A Swansea Council spokesperson said the closure was necessary after a dead tree impacted the bridge, causing structural concerns.

They said:

“Unfortunately we have had to close access to the Japanese Bridge due to a dead tree that had impacted the structure. The tree has been removed and we are currently assessing options for repair or reinstatement works.”

The council added that any work must be carefully planned to suit the bridge’s historic setting.

“The bridge is a valued and much‑loved feature of Clyne Gardens and we will provide further updates when work is ready to start.”

The lunar spectacle will be visible for three nights, from Tuesday, March 31, through to Thursday, April 2, with the moon reaching peak illumination in the early hours of Thursday morning.

When to see it

The Pink Moon will appear at its fullest at 3.12am on Thursday, April 2, meaning the best views will come late at night or just before dawn.

On Wednesday night, the moon is expected to take on a more orange hue, caused by its light passing through a thicker layer of Earth’s atmosphere. This scatters blue and violet wavelengths and allows warmer red tones to shine through.

Why is it called the Pink Moon?

Despite the name, the moon won’t actually appear pink. The term comes from Native American seasonal traditions, marking the springtime bloom of wild ground phlox — a pink flower that emerges in April.

What to expect this year

Last year’s Pink Moon was a micromoon, appearing smaller because it was at its furthest point from Earth. This year, it will be average in size, but still bright enough to dominate the night sky.

How to get the best view

For the clearest sighting:

- Look east at moonrise  

- Choose a spot away from tall buildings or trees  

- Bring binoculars for extra detail  

- Hope for clear skies  

The Pink Moon is one of the most reliable and striking full moons of the year — and a welcome sign that spring has truly arrived.

Here’s your at‑a‑glance guide to every Welsh local authority so you don’t end up putting the bins out on the wrong day.

(Information for Caerphilly will be added once confirmed.)

---

Anglesey

No changes to collections.

Blaenau Gwent

All waste and recycling services — including nappy, hygiene and green waste — running as normal.  

Household recycling centres open as usual.

Bridgend

- Good Friday (April 3): Collections as normal  

- Week starting April 6: Collections one day later than usual

Caerphilly

To be confirmed.

Cardiff

No changes over Easter.

Carmarthenshire

- March 30 – April 3: Collections one day earlier  

  (e.g. Thursday April 2 → Wednesday April 1)  

- April 6 – April 10: Collections one day later  

  (e.g. Thursday April 9 → Friday April 10)  

Applies to all waste streams including nappy, hygiene and garden waste.  

Recycling centres open as normal.

Ceredigion

- Friday April 3: No change  

- Monday April 6: Moved to Saturday April 4

Conwy

No changes.

Denbighshire

No changes.

Flintshire

Collections operate as normal on bank holidays except Christmas Day and Boxing Day — so no Easter changes.

Gwynedd

No changes.

Merthyr Tydfil

No changes.

Monmouthshire

No changes.

Neath Port Talbot

- Week starting April 6: Collections one day later  

  (e.g. Wednesday April 8 → Thursday April 9)

Newport

No changes.

Pembrokeshire

No changes.

Powys

No changes.

Rhondda Cynon Taf

No changes to kerbside recycling or waste collections.

Swansea

No changes to bank holiday collections until Christmas.

Torfaen

No changes.

Vale of Glamorgan

No changes.

Wrexham

No collections on Good Friday (April 3) or Easter Monday (April 6).

What this means:

- Recycling due Friday April 3: Put out extra recycling on Friday April 10  

- Black/blue bin + recycling due Friday April 3:  

  - Black/blue bins → Tuesday April 7  

  - Extra recycling → Friday April 10  

- Black/blue bin + recycling due Monday April 6:  

  - All collected Monday April 13  

- Recycling due Monday April 6:  

  - Extra recycling collected Monday April 13

The sign reads:

“I HAVE A DOG.”

“Please wait whilst I secure my dog before opening the door.”

The postal service says the notice can make a crucial difference by alerting postmen and postwomen to pause before approaching a door, giving owners time to safely secure their pets.

A downloadable template is available on Royal Mail’s website.

---

Dog attacks on postal workers remain “unacceptably high”

Royal Mail’s latest figures, released in June 2025, show:

- 2,197 dog attacks on postal workers in one year  

- That’s 42 attacks every week  

- 46% happened at the front door  

- 28% in gardens, drives or yards  

- 18% through the letterbox  

- Attacks caused 2,700 days of staff absence, with the longest lasting 108 days  

While serious injuries dropped by 10% compared to the previous year, Royal Mail says the overall numbers remain far too high.

Some incidents have led to private prosecutions against dog owners under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

---

How dog owners can help keep postal workers safe

Royal Mail has issued several pieces of advice:

- Keep your dog in another room or the back garden before opening the door  

- Never open the door with your dog behind you  

- Close off access from the back garden to the front  

- Give your dog a toy or treat during delivery times  

- Wait 10 minutes after the post arrives before letting your dog back into the hallway  

- Install a wire letterbox cage if your dog attacks mail  

- Consider a secure external mailbox if you cannot keep your dog away from the door  

---

Legal consequences if a dog bites a postal worker

Royal Mail says it continues to push for stronger legal protections for staff. Since changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act in 2014, the organisation has brought over 30 private prosecutions against owners.

Two High Court cases have also confirmed that postal workers posting mail through a letterbox are not trespassing, meaning owners cannot use that as a defence if their dog bites.

Witnesses reported seeing more than 10 police vehicles, including armed units and officers carrying battering rams, at Rossett Hall Hotel in Wrexham. The large‑scale response prompted speculation online before both the hotel and North Wales Police released statements.

Police: “A male was detained”

Chief Inspector Wes Williams confirmed officers were called to an incident involving a man at the hotel.

He said:  

“Officers were called to an incident at a hotel in Rossett earlier today where a male was detained. I would like to reassure the community that this was an isolated incident, it was brought to a safe conclusion, and to thank them for their patience.”

Hotel: “A vulnerable individual”

Rossett Hall management said the incident involved a vulnerable person and praised police for their swift response.

In a statement, the hotel said:  

“Following an incident at Rossett Hall this afternoon involving a vulnerable individual, we would like to express our sincere thanks to North Wales Police for their swift and professional response. The situation has now been fully resolved and the hotel is operating as normal.”

On Tuesday morning, a spokesperson added that all guests and staff were “absolutely fine” and that it was business as usual.

The company confirmed that while its air network ran as normal, problems in the road network and at a major London distribution centre have caused knock‑on delays to mail due for delivery on Tuesday, March 31.

Breakdown delays mail heading to Scotland

Royal Mail said a vehicle travelling from its Midlands Hub to the Glasgow Mail Centre broke down overnight.

Mail was transferred to contingency transport, but some items missed their onward connections, meaning post sent yesterday and due for delivery today in the following Scottish postcode areas may arrive late:

- G  

- KA  

- ML  

- PA

Technical issues delay post heading to Swindon

A separate technical fault at the Princess Royal Distribution Centre in London delayed mail destined for the Swindon Mail Centre.

As a result, post sent yesterday from London and the southeast may be delayed in:

- OX  

- RG  

- SN

Royal Mail: “We’re sorry for any inconvenience”

The company said it aims to deliver to all addresses six days a week but admitted that some local offices are struggling due to staff sickness, resourcing issues or other local factors.

Royal Mail said it rotates deliveries in affected areas to minimise disruption and is providing “targeted support” to offices under pressure.

The update comes amid ongoing criticism over delivery performance and ahead of stamp price increases next month. From April 6, First Class stamps will rise to £1.80, while Second Class will increase to 91p.

Royal Mail delays today — full list

The following delivery offices are reporting disruption:

- Abercarn DO (NP11)  

- Barry DO (CF62, CF63)  

- Birmingham East DO (B8 – B10)  

- Dursley DO (GL11, GL12, GL13)  

- Erskine DO (PA7, PA8)  

- Huntingdon DO (PE26 – PE29)  

- Leatherhead DO (KT21 – KT24)  

- Lisburn DO (BT26, BT27, BT28)  

- New Ferry DO (CH32, CH62, CH63)  

- Prenton DO (CH43)  

- Yate DO (BS37)

Swansea Foodbank says the flyers were not produced or authorised by the organisation, which provides emergency food parcels to people in crisis. The leaflets list donation items, drop‑off locations and even include unrelated claims about bowel cancer, quoting national newspaper articles.

They also direct people to external websites offering advice on money, benefits and debt — none of which are connected to the foodbank.

“They contain false information and should be thrown away”

In a statement, Swansea Foodbank said:

> “It has been brought to our attention that this leaflet has been pushed in letterboxes throughout the Sketty area.  

>   

> Can I please stress these have not been authorised by us. We have no idea who created them and they did not have our permission to post them through your door.  

>   

> They contain false information and should be thrown away.”

The foodbank is urging residents to ignore the leaflets and only follow information shared directly by the organisation through its official channels.

The incident happened at around 3.55pm on Tuesday, March 24, as the child was walking along Scarrowscant Lane, close to Furzy Park.

Dyfed‑Powys Police say a shiny blue car, similar in size and shape to an Audi A4, pulled up alongside her. The passenger got out, placed his hand on the girl’s arm, spoke to her briefly, then returned to the vehicle before it drove off towards Furzy Park.

The child was not injured and immediately went home to tell her parents, who alerted police.

Description of the suspect

The man who got out of the car is described as:

- White  

- Around 5ft 11  

- Short dark brown hair  

- Brown beard  

- Believed to be in his 40s  

- Wearing a black T‑shirt, black jogging bottoms and white trainers

There is currently no description of the driver.

Police appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage

A Dyfed‑Powys Police spokesperson said:

> “Local officers have been carrying out a number of enquiries since this matter was reported and are now appealing for anyone who may have information that could assist our investigation.”

Officers are particularly keen to hear from anyone who:

- Saw the shiny blue car in the area  

- Has dashcam footage from Scarrowscant Lane or Furzy Park around the time of the incident  

- Recognises the description of the suspect  

Anyone with information is urged to contact police quoting reference 26*235970 via:

- Online reporting  

- Email: 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk  

- Direct message on social media  

- Phone: 101

Gwent Police is looking for Georgina Dyke, who was last seen almost a week ago

Officers are looking for a 33-year-old woman from south Wales who has been missing for almost a week

• Gwent Police is appealing for information to help them find Georgina. The 33-year-old, from Bedwas, was last seen in the shopping area of Lansbury Park heading in the direction of Porset Park on Tuesday, March 24, at around 5.15pm.
• Georgina is described as white, about 5ft 2, slim-build with straight long dark brown/black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black gilet, a grey top and black jeans.
• The force said she has links to Caerphilly, Bargoed and Cardiff.
• Gwent Police said: "Anyone with information on Georgina's whereabouts is asked to call us on 101 or send us a direct message on Facebook or X, quoting log reference 2600091548. Georgina is also urged to get in touch with us to confirm that she is safe and well."

In a report published Monday, the Welsh Affairs Committee said it recognises the wider need for more prison places across the adult male estate. But it warned that expanding the Bridgend jail now would distract from essential safety improvements still being embedded.

The recommendation follows two years of scrutiny triggered by the deaths of 17 inmates in 2024, which exposed serious issues around violence, suicide, drug misuse and inadequate support services at the category B/C prison.

Inspectors still concerned despite progress

A full inspection in January 2025 found:

- High levels of violence  

- Widespread illicit drug use  

- Significant self‑harm  

- Under‑resourced mental health and substance misuse services  

- Staffing shortages  

A follow‑up inspection in January 2026 noted improvements and praised staff and leadership, but warned that more than half of inspectors’ concerns had not been sufficiently addressed.

Despite this, the UK Government’s 10‑year prison capacity strategy includes 345 additional places for Parc as part of its plan to create 14,000 new spaces nationwide.

Committee: Expansion risks undoing progress

The committee concluded that the scale of failings uncovered in 2024 — and the ongoing work to stabilise the prison — mean expansion should not proceed at this stage.

Committee chair Ruth Jones MP said:

> “The deaths of 17 inmates in 2024 have shone a light on the problems with suicide, self‑harm and drug use that have been plaguing HMP Parc.  

> Every preventable death is a tragedy. Improving the safety and wellbeing of men serving sentences at the prison must be at the forefront of any decisions made by management and government.”

She warned that expanding the prison now would be “an unwanted distraction” that could jeopardise progress and compromise safety.

> “The expansion of the prison estate is needed, but Parc is not currently the place for it.  

> Prisoners deserve safe environments that support rehabilitation, not violent settings that threaten their physical and mental health.”

Government urged to rethink plans

The committee is calling on the UK Government to reconsider whether Parc can safely absorb hundreds of additional inmates while still addressing the deep‑rooted issues highlighted by inspectors.

A final decision on the expansion has not yet been announced.

The mess was spotted on Friday, March 27, just days before families are expected to flock to the coast for the Easter holidays. The substance has not yet been officially identified, but environmental campaign group Surfers Against Sewage currently lists an active discharge alert at the Saundersfoot car park overflow.

“Absolutely disgusting” — locals warn beachgoers

Local resident Leigh Mears, who came across the sludge while walking his dog, said the scene was shocking.

> “It’s absolutely disgusting. There are no warning signs anywhere,” he told Pulse Media.  

> “I had to warn several people because they were throwing balls for their dogs straight into what looks like thick piles of poo.”

He said the sludge was spread across much of Coppet Hall Beach and raised concerns about children coming into contact with it during the busy half‑term weekend.

> “Kids will be using the beach — imagine if they ingest it.”

Mr Mears has since reported the incident to Natural Resources Wales (NRW).

Authorities now investigating

An NRW spokesperson confirmed the report and said officers are looking into the matter.

> “This issue has been reported to NRW and we are investigating.”

Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water also confirmed it is examining a possible storm overflow spill in the area.

> “We’ve received a report from Natural Resources Wales of a possible storm overflow spill in Saundersfoot,” a spokesperson said.  

> “Our team is on site to investigate and understand the cause.”

Further updates are expected once testing and inspections are complete.

Westbridge Furniture Limited, based in Holywell, Flintshire, and its sister company Belfield Leisure Limited have both entered administration, with Chris Pole and Will Wright of Interpath Advisory appointed as joint administrators this week.

Westbridge designs and manufactures sofas and upholstery for high‑street and premium retailers, while Belfield Leisure — headquartered in Ilkeston, Derbyshire — supplies soft furnishings to the UK leisure industry and employs around 200 staff. Both companies operate under The Belfield Group.

Operational disruption and loss of major customer blamed

The two firms were created in February 2025 following a pre‑pack acquisition of assets from Westbridge Furniture Designs Limited and Belfield Furnishings Limited. But administrators say the newly formed companies were hit by significant operational disruption soon after the takeover.

Westbridge was further impacted by the loss of a major customer and weak trading at the start of 2025, putting severe pressure on cashflow.

Belfield Leisure, meanwhile, struggled with falling consumer confidence across the leisure sector. Despite cost‑cutting and attempts to regain market share, the company was unable to return to breakeven and required urgent capital to stay afloat.

When efforts to secure new investment or refinancing failed, directors made the decision to seek administration.

Companies continue trading while buyers sought

The administrators say both businesses will continue operating for now, with certain orders being completed while a potential sale of the companies and their assets is explored. Most staff will remain in place to support ongoing operations, though a small number of redundancies have already been made.

Interpath managing director Chris Pole said the wider furniture industry has faced intense pressure.

> “After a spike in demand during Covid‑19, the sector has since been hit by falling sales, high interest rates and inflation,” he said.  

> “Both Westbridge and Belfield Leisure had made progress on their turnaround plans, but further capital was needed. Unfortunately, despite management’s best efforts, funding could not be secured.”

Pole added that administrators intend to trade Belfield Leisure as a going concern while maintaining operations at Westbridge long enough to complete existing work.

> “We invite any interested parties to contact us as soon as possible.”

Other Belfield Group companies unaffected

Interpath confirmed that other businesses within The Belfield Group — including Tetrad Furniture Limited and Clinchplain Foam and Fibre Limited — are not in administration and continue to operate as normal.

Michelle Morgan, who keeps several horses on her small holding near Pontardawe, says her 21‑year‑old mare Lass became trapped after being spooked by off‑road bikers riding across common land. The incident unfolded on Saturday evening near Gwrhyd Road, where Lass became stuck thigh‑deep in freezing mud for around four hours.

Three crews from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were called to the scene and managed to free the horse using specialist equipment. But despite hopes of a recovery, Lass suffered a seizure shortly after being loaded into a horse box and was later put to sleep.

“Everyone was hoping for a happy ending”

Ms Morgan described the heartbreaking final hours with her mare.

> “We couldn’t move Lass because she couldn’t stand. She took a couple of steps and collapsed,” she said.  

> “She seemed bright at first. The vet was with me for seven and a half hours. But her body went into severe cramps — atypical myopathy — and things went the wrong way.”

Lass, who was nine weeks away from giving birth to what would have been her final foal, suffered a seizure inside the horse box.

> “It would have been cruel to take it any further,” Ms Morgan said.  

> “I wasn’t going to drag her off the box across a stony track. It’s not fair.”

She described standing in the freezing bog water for hours, refusing to leave her horse’s side.

> “I was shaking so badly. People were giving me their jackets, but I wasn’t leaving her.”

Long‑running issues with off‑road bikers

Ms Morgan, who has kept animals all her life, says the tragedy is part of a wider problem with off‑road bikers riding across Gwrhyd Mountain and surrounding common land.

She claims riders regularly cut through areas where horses, cows and sheep graze, frightening animals and putting them at risk.

> “It’s got out of hand,” she said.  

> “People are trailering bikes up from Swansea. I’ve been told that instead of going around the horses, they went straight through them. Lass must have taken one stride too far and ended up in the bog.”

She says other animals have already been harmed.

> “A friend of mine lost a foal last year because of scrambler bikes. It cut its stomach open on wire fencing after being spooked.”

Ms Morgan described spending hours last summer blocking a gate at Tairgwaith to stop bikers entering the land.

> “Some of them were understanding, but others didn’t grasp the danger. There are cows calving up here — calves hidden in reeds — and they’re flying over embankments on bikes without knowing what’s underneath.”

“Enough is enough”

Ms Morgan says many farmers are too afraid to confront riders, worried it will only make the situation worse.

> “But they’re chasing the animals anyway. Enough is enough,” she said.  

> “It’s been reported to the police and I hope they take note and police it better.”

South Wales Police has been contacted for comment.

The aircraft, carrying a pilot and four passengers, went down near Kalalau Beach, a remote stretch of coastline on Kauai’s famous Na Pali Coast — an area known for its dramatic cliffs and popular helicopter sightseeing tours.

Emergency crews were alerted at around 3.45pm, but the rugged terrain and limited access made the rescue operation extremely challenging. Responders were forced to reach the crash site by both air and sea.

Three killed, two survivors rushed to hospital

Kauai Fire Department officials confirmed that three people died at the scene.  

The two survivors were transported to Wilcox Medical Center, though the extent of their injuries has not yet been released.

The helicopter involved in the crash was operated by Airborne Aviation.

Remote coastline complicates rescue efforts

Kalalau Beach sits along one of the most isolated stretches of coastline in Hawaii, accessible only by boat, helicopter or a strenuous hiking trail. The Na Pali Coast is a hotspot for aerial tours, offering views of towering cliffs, hidden beaches and waterfalls.

Multiple agencies responded to the emergency, including:

- Kauai Fire Department  

- Kauai Police Department  

- Kauai Emergency Management Agency  

- US Coast Guard  

- American Medical Response  

- Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources  

Cause of crash still unknown

Investigators have not yet determined what caused the helicopter to go down. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been notified and are expected to launch a joint investigation.

Second fatal helicopter incident on Kauai’s coast in recent years

This tragedy follows another deadly crash in July 2024, when a Robinson R44 helicopter operated by Ali‘i Kaua‘i Air Tours & Charters plunged into the ocean near Hanakoa Valley — also along the Na Pali Coast. Three people died in that incident, with two victims initially reported missing before the search was called off days later.

Chloe Tyrell, who runs Chloe’s Little Treats on Alexandra Road in Gorseinon, woke up in the early hours of Thursday morning to a flood of messages from neighbours and customers alerting her that the shed’s door had been damaged overnight.

The small business, which sells homemade brownies, blondies, cookie bars, cheesecake jars and classic school‑style traybakes, has only been trading for five days — and now faces an unexpected repair bill of around £300.

“I was upset and disheartened”

Chloe said she couldn’t rush to the scene immediately due to caring for her newborn and her severely autistic son, but headed straight down later that morning.

“I’ve only been open five days,” she said. “I woke up to loads of messages from neighbours and customers who had been passing late at night. When I got there, the doors were damaged beyond repair.”

She removed the broken doors herself before heading to B&Q for replacements — an extra cost she hadn’t planned for so soon after launching the business.

“To replace the doors and hinges is about £100, but to redo the whole setup would be over £300,” she explained. “It’s really upsetting. The community has been so positive about the shed, and every time I’ve restocked, it’s sold out. To have this happen so soon is disheartening.”

Business continues despite setback

Determined not to let the vandalism stop her, Chloe continued trading the next day, even leaving the shed temporarily without doors while replacements were being fitted.

She chose not to report the incident to police, saying the CCTV inside the shed didn’t capture the culprit and neighbours’ cameras hadn’t picked up anything useful.

“It would just be a waste of time,” she said.

Appeal for information

Anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area is encouraged to contact the business directly. Chloe’s Little Treats can be found on Facebook.

The company, which has been operating since 1995, supplies a wide range of industries — including food processing, industrial, pharmaceutical and medical sectors — with both food‑grade and non‑food polythene products.

Administration halts creditor action while options explored

The administration process temporarily stops creditors from taking action, giving the business time to assess whether restructuring, refinancing or a potential sale is viable.

Reform Polythene specialises in:

- Extrusion, printing and conversion of polythene  

- Food‑grade bags, liners and sheeting  

- Standard and heavy‑duty polythene bags  

- Clear plastic bags and sheeting rolls  

- Tear‑off polythene bag rolls  

- Thin‑film and eco‑friendly products containing 30% recycled consumer waste  

All of the company’s polythene products are fully recyclable.

Three decades of manufacturing heritage

Founded in Derby — a city known for its strong manufacturing base and home to major employers such as Rolls‑Royce, Toyota and Bombardier — Reform Polythene has supplied customers across the UK, Ireland and beyond for more than 30 years.

The future of the business remains uncertain as administrators review its financial position and explore next steps.

Pulse Media has contacted Reform Polythene for comment.

Yvette Cooper’s Iranian counterpart stated that the UK making its military bases available for US use is seen as "participation in aggression". Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed this message during a telephone call with Cooper, who responded that UK operations in the region are a response to Iran’s own attacks on Gulf nations. She also criticised the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key international shipping route, as the UK ramps up support for its Gulf allies.

Public health expert Irwin Redlener (Columbia University, specialising in disaster preparedness) told Insider that the first 24 hours are the most critical: individuals should shower immediately and stay indoors until further instructions, per the Express. Nuclear science professor Kathryn Higley (Oregon State University) noted that while radiation damage can often be treated with substances like potassium iodide, "there are certain dose levels that you can't do anything about". In a disaster scenario, there may also be a shortage of doctors and hospital beds. Tara Drozdenko (director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Global Security Programme) added that the US doesn’t have enough burn beds to handle even one nuclear attack on a single city.

Detailed safety steps include: showering quickly with warm water and soap (avoid harsh scrubbing to protect skin’s natural barrier; cover any cuts), skipping lotions, conditioners or hair treatments (which can trap radioactive particles), blowing your nose and wiping ears/eyelids to remove lodged particles. The CDC recommends placing outer clothing, used tissues or cloths in a plastic bag. Sealed container food, fridge or pantry items are safe if containers/cookware are wiped first—never eat food left outside. After these steps, stay indoors for a full 24 hours.

University of Buckinghamshire professor Anthony Glees urges Britons to go underground if a strike occurs: "If you are not obliterated, the safe thing to do is go underground if you possibly can—tube station, cellar, under the stairs—and don't go out for 72 hours." He also criticised the lack of official government guidance for nuclear strikes (unlike for nuclear plant explosions), calling it "fairly disgraceful". He warned that those in central London, near military targets (like Faslane or RAF air bases), high-rise areas or apartment blocks face extreme risks—"the higher you are, the greater the danger"—and advised against heading for the hills.

Military historian Dr Mark Felton stated on his YouTube channel Mark Felton Productions that the UK is "not prepared for any such attacks", highlighting the absence of an Israeli-style Iron Dome defence system or surface-to-air missiles to protect infrastructure or nuclear facilities (per the Express). Prof Glees echoed this concern.

Last week, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard held talks with representatives from 13 major UK defence firms, plus Gulf ambassadors and military chiefs, to explore new industry support for regional partners. This follows the MOD’s announcement that the UK will acquire more Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs)—made by Thales UK in Belfast, already proven in Middle Eastern air defence operations—to equip British forces and support allies, including UK-based training where needed. Discussions focused on potential new protective equipment and technology UK firms could quickly provide to counter Iranian drone and missile attacks. Attendees included major contractors and innovative emerging companies, plus representatives from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Iraq and Jordan.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: "Iran's indiscriminate attacks are a threat to Britain, our allies and our partners in the region. That's why our dedicated Armed Forces are taking defensive action in the Middle East. A nation's Armed Forces are only as strong as the industry that supports them. I'm proud of how our military and industry is stepping up together—just as we are for Ukraine—to offer rapid support to our Gulf partners. This is the best of our British industry, innovators and military in action."

Minister Pollard added: "As Iranian attacks against our partners in the Gulf continue, the UK is stepping up our support—both military and industrial. We are committed to defending British people, interests, and partners across the region. This event showcases a new approach: actively pulling in allies and industry to drive the pace on the defence kit the Middle East needs. We are bringing in British expertise to help our partners, removing barriers, and championing innovative UK-based industry."

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched formal investigations into AutoTrader, Feefo, Dignity, Just Eat, and Pasta Evangelists. According to the CMA, online reviews influence billions of pounds in UK spending every year, making transparency a matter of national economic importance. Research from Which? reinforces this, finding that nearly 9 in 10 people use reviews to research products—making it essential that the information provided is genuine.

The Brands in the Crosshairs

The CMA is currently investigating whether these five businesses have infringed consumer law through several specific practices:

- AutoTrader & Feefo: Investigators are looking into whether a number of 1-star reviews—moderated by Feefo—were suppressed on AutoTrader’s platform and excluded from overall star ratings.

​

- Dignity: The funeral and crematoria provider is being investigated over allegations that it asked staff to write positive reviews, potentially painting an inaccurate picture of customer satisfaction.

​

- Just Eat: The delivery giant is accused of inflating star ratings for certain restaurants and grocers on its app.

​

- Pasta Evangelists: The CMA is examining whether customers were offered discounts on future orders in exchange for leaving 5-star reviews on delivery platforms.

New Legal "Banned Practices"

This crackdown comes as the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCC Act) officially made several review-related actions "banned practices" in April 2025. These are now automatically deemed unfair and illegal, including:

- Posting or obtaining fake reviews.

​

- Paid-for reviews that aren't clearly marked as incentivized.

​

- Manipulating star ratings or hiding negative feedback to mislead customers.

The CMA now holds the power to decide if consumer laws have been broken without going through the courts, and they can impose staggering fines of up to 10% of a company's global turnover.

"The Time to Get it Right is Over"

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the CMA, issued a stern warning to the industry: “Fake reviews strike at the heart of consumer trust. With household budgets under pressure, people need to know they’re getting genuine information—not reviews or star-ratings that have been manipulated. We’ve given businesses the time to get things right. Now we’re deploying our new powers to tackle some of the most harmful practices head-on.”

While the CMA notes it has not yet reached a final conclusion on whether law has been broken, the investigation brings the total number of businesses currently under review to 14.

Pulse Media will continue to track this story as the evidence unfolds. Whether these cases end in massive fines, forced changes in business practice, or case closures, the message to UK brands is clear: the era of the "fake 5-star" is over.

The incident occurred on the slopes of Moel Famau during a multi-agency operation to save County Councillor Huw Williams, who had been crushed by his quad bike after it struck a rabbit hole. While the Wales Air Ambulance and mountain rescue teams were on the scene, it was the council's brand-new "green" flagship that became the center of a terrifying secondary drama.

"The Paramedics Decided to Walk!"

Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the Munro 4x4 attempted to navigate the hilly terrain. Fellow councillor Merfyn Parry, who was at the scene, recounted the moment the vehicle lost control:

"The driver veered up a bank as if to slow it down... It continued downhill, knocking over a post and running into a wooden fence some 75 metres down the slope," Parry told Pulse Media. The situation was so alarming that the two ambulance staff on board opted to exit the vehicle and finish the journey to the casualty on foot.

"I've contacted council officers asking if the vehicle is fit for purpose," Parry added. "This could have ended up with two ambulance crew in hospital."

The "Unstoppable" Electric 4x4?

The Munro M280 was a point of pride for Denbighshire Council when it was unveiled last August. As the first electric 4x4 of its kind in the UK, it was specifically chosen for its supposed ability to tackle 40-degree gradients and harsh off-road conditions at Loggerheads County Park.

However, this real-world test has raised serious questions. While the manufacturer, Munro Vehicles, stated they are "not aware of any malfunction," the council has launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash.

The Rescue Outcome

Despite the vehicle mishap, the primary rescue was a success. Huw Williams was transported to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, where he was treated for two fractured vertebrae. Fortunately, he is now on the mend.

A spokesperson for Denbighshire Council confirmed that no one was injured in the 4x4 incident but stayed tight-lipped on the details: "We have launched an investigation and we do not know the cause at this time."

Pulse Media will continue to investigate whether this £80k investment is truly "mountain-ready" or if the council’s push for a zero-carbon fleet has hit a very expensive roadblock.

A Small Space with Big Ambition

Faced with the staggering costs of traditional London real estate, Benedettini spotted an opportunity in the disused kiosks. Recognizing that renting these iconic structures was far more viable than a standard storefront, he invested £1,000 into a DIY renovation.

By August 2020, the 18-square-foot operation was open for business. While the space was too small for a full kitchen to produce pizza or pasta, it was the perfect size for specialty tiramisu. Today, Walkmisu serves four varieties—including pistachio and Biscoff—priced at £6.95, sticking to a traditional alcohol-free recipe that sets it apart from competitors.

Scaling Through Intelligence

While the storefront is vintage, the back-end operation is cutting-edge. Benedettini credits much of his operational success to Artificial Intelligence (AI), describing the technology as a "gamechanger" that saves him hours of administrative labor.

He isn't alone in this digital shift. New research from Accio Work (Alibaba’s AI agent for small businesses) reveals that 40% of SMEs have already adopted AI to handle the increasing complexity of modern commerce. With 12% of business owners feeling they are doing the work of an entire team solo, AI is becoming an essential "digital employee" for:

- Automating marketing and sourcing

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- Managing complex VAT and tax filings

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- Negotiating with international suppliers

Overcoming the "Hated Tasks"

For Benedettini, the most frustrating aspect of the job is managing international suppliers and fluctuating prices. "Managing international suppliers can be really stressful," he notes. "They are always changing things, and the prices are always increasing."

To combat these hurdles, he plans to further integrate "agentic AI" into his business model. These autonomous agents can forecast demand and manage supplier communications, allowing him to focus on the creative side of the brand.

The Future is Fragile and Fast

What started as a creative solution to high rent has evolved into a scalable franchise model. With an online shop offering nationwide delivery and click-and-collect services, Walkmisu is proof that physical size doesn’t limit market reach.

As a spokesperson for Accio Work noted, Daniele’s success highlights how talented entrepreneurs can use a "customizable fleet of AI agents" to digitize and scale. For this Roman expat, the future of the British phone box isn't just about heritage—it's about high-tech hospitality.

Morgan’s story united communities, sports stars and public figures in grief and admiration. Today, his legacy lives on through the charity set up by his family — supporting children with cancer and helping parents navigate the darkest moments of their lives.

On April 12, that legacy becomes the heartbeat of Gorseinon.

More than 800 runners are expected to take part, but organisers say the day is about far more than miles or medals.

> “This event means everything to us,” said Morgan’s mum and charity founder, Natalie Ridler.  

> “It’s about remembering Morgan and other children taken too soon… and showing families they are not alone.”

The event has become one of the most emotional and unifying days in the local calendar — filled with tributes, moments of reflection and a community determined to stand together.

Running for a Cause That Matters

Every pound raised will help Morgan’s Army continue its vital work — offering emotional, practical and financial support to families facing childhood cancer. Funds will also help Tŷ Hafan, which provides essential care for children with life‑limiting conditions.

A Growing Community Event

The Gorseinon 10K has rapidly evolved into a major local highlight. Alongside the main race, the 2K Fun Run opens the day to children, families and runners of all abilities — ensuring everyone can be part of something meaningful.

Expect a buzzing race village, a huge turnout and a wave of colour and emotion sweeping through the town.

Backed by headline sponsor Brisco Williams and supported by partners including Sinclair Group UK, the event is a testament to what community spirit can achieve when people come together.

Every Step Is for Morgan

At the heart of it all is one message:  

Every runner, every cheer and every finish line crossed is for Morgan — and for the families still fighting the battle he never got to finish.

The Gorseinon 10K & 2K Fun Run takes place April 12, with entries filling fast.

Swansea’s iconic seafront is gearing up for a lively season as several much‑loved, council‑run attractions officially reopen this Friday, March 27.

Families heading to the prom can expect the full line‑up: the Swansea Bay Rider land train, colourful crazy golf courses, and the ever‑popular pedalos at Singleton Boating Lake — all returning to action as the city shakes off winter and steps into brighter days.

🚂 Swansea Bay Rider Back on Track

The Bay Rider will once again be rolling along the seafront, offering visitors a scenic coastal trip with stunning views across the bay. It’s fully accessible and even welcomes dogs on leads, making it a perfect option for family days out.

⛳ Crazy Golf & Family Fun

Both the Singleton Park and Southend Gardens courses are reopening, giving budding golfers the chance to take on vibrant, quirky layouts that have become a staple of Swansea’s outdoor entertainment.

🦢 Pedalos Return to Singleton Lake

Kids (and adults who refuse to grow up) can take to the water in a fleet of themed pedalos — from dragons and swans to unicorns — bringing a splash of colour back to the boating lake.

🛠️ Ready for a Big Season

Council teams have spent recent weeks preparing the attractions for what’s expected to be a busy spring and summer.

Cllr Elliott King said the city is ready to welcome visitors back:  

“As the days get brighter and warmer, our attractions are getting ready to welcome visitors for another fantastic season. If you’re planning a day out for the family, look no further than Swansea Prom.”

🕙 Opening Times

All attractions will run daily from 10am to 5pm throughout the Easter holidays, up to April 12.  

After that, they’ll switch to weekend openings, with daily sessions during school holidays.  

Blackpill Lido is also set to reopen in May.

Full details on opening times and prices are available online.

The Stradey Park Hotel in Llanelli first made headlines in May 2023 when it announced it would cease operating as a traditional hotel and instead accommodate around 240 asylum seekers under a Home Office arrangement. The proposal sparked sustained protests outside the site, a well-known spa and wedding venue, before the plans were formally withdrawn in October 2023.

The hotel reopened in 2024 under new ownership, with assurances that efforts would be made to rebuild its reputation within the local community following the fallout.

Ownership had transferred to Ullcom Limited, a Hounslow-based company, which acquired a majority stake from the previous operators, Sterling Woodrow Investments and Gryphon Leisure Limited.

However, earlier this month the hotel closed once again, this time without any formal announcement. The shutdown appears to have been sudden, with no prior communication issued to staff or customers. Weeks later, there has still been no official statement released via the hotel’s website or social media channels.

While the hotel’s website remains active, bookings are currently unavailable, with dates inaccessible to users. Gift vouchers, including those for dining experiences, continue to be advertised, further compounding confusion.

Attempts to obtain clarification from those connected to the hotel have proved unsuccessful. The Home Office has confirmed it is not in discussions regarding the use of the site for asylum accommodation, either currently or in the future.

Customers affected by the closure have described difficulties in obtaining both information and refunds.

One local resident, who had booked a family celebration at the hotel for the end of March, said he paid £900 in total for an event package that included catering, entertainment, and accommodation.

“I received no communication from the hotel,” he said. “I only became aware of the closure through a post on Facebook.

“Repeated attempts to contact the hotel were unsuccessful, and when I visited the premises, I was told the manager was unavailable. I’ve since had to make alternative arrangements.”

A woman from Carmarthen, who had secured the venue for her wedding in 2027 and paid a £500 deposit, reported a similar experience.

“Initially, I thought the reports online were incorrect,” she said. “When I contacted the hotel, a staff member told me they had only just been informed of the immediate closure and were unclear about their own situation.

“I was assured someone would follow up regarding our booking and a refund, but I have not received any further communication.”

Another customer, who booked accommodation via a third-party platform, said he has encountered difficulties obtaining a refund, as confirmation of the closure is required directly from the hotel.

The situation is further complicated by legal developments involving Gryphon Leisure Limited, the hotel’s former owner, which is now subject to a High Court winding-up petition.

Company records indicate that Ullcom Limited, which took a majority stake in 2024, shares a director — Ahsan Ullah — with Gryphon Leisure Limited. Mr Ullah is also associated with several other companies registered at the same Hounslow address.

Separately, a company listed as “Stradey Park Hotel #77 SAPL LTD” is registered with a correspondence address in Singapore and incorporated in the British Virgin Islands. Mr Ullah is not listed as being connected to this entity.

In a brief video statement issued shortly after the closure, Mr Ullah said: “This is an ongoing matter, and it would not be appropriate to provide further details at this stage.

“I recognise the significant impact this has had on staff and customers, and I am doing everything within my capacity to safeguard the long-term future of the hotel.”

No further updates have been issued since.

Mr Ullah has responded to some queries on X, directing affected individuals to contact an email address. However, several customers have stated they are still awaiting responses and refunds.

The Carmarthen bride added: “I was asked to send my details via email, which I did, but I’ve received no reply.

“Many people are in similar situations involving weddings, events, and other bookings. Even if the hotel were to reopen, we would not consider using it again.”

Pulse Media has made repeated attempts to contact Stradey Park Hotel, Ullcom Limited, and Mr Ullah via telephone, email, and social media. No responses have been received.

It was late September 1990, a time of year when summer quietly gives way to autumn. The air was cooler, daylight hours shorter, but one thing hadn’t changed at Nantycaws landfill — the ever-present smell that drifted along the nearby A48.

For decades, the site had served as a final destination for the county’s waste. Like many landfill sites of its time, it was largely unremarkable — until one lunchtime changed everything.

A worker, taking a break from his machinery, noticed something unusual among the piles of rubbish. At first glance, it seemed out of place. As he moved closer, the reality became horrifyingly clear.

It was part of a human leg — belonging to a baby.

The man, a machine operator at the site, was no stranger to the unusual sights that often turned up in landfill during that era. Before strict recycling regulations, almost anything could end up there. But this was different.

Shaken, he carefully moved the limb aside to prevent it being disturbed further and immediately alerted authorities.

Police quickly descended on the site, sealing off the area and launching an extensive search. For days, officers combed through tonnes of waste, hoping to find more remains or clues that could explain the grim discovery.

The limb was later identified as the left leg of a baby girl, only a few months old. It appeared to have been cleanly severed at the thigh with a sharp instrument, raising troubling questions about what had happened.

Investigators worked tirelessly to trace the origin of the waste, examining delivery records and questioning drivers. They considered every possibility — from medical waste mishandling to foul play.

Health officials ruled out the idea that the limb had come from a hospital, deepening the mystery. Rumours began to circulate locally, ranging from tragic accidents to more sinister theories, though many were dismissed by police.

As the investigation continued, one key question remained unanswered: had the child died before the limb was removed, or was something far more disturbing at play?

Despite a nationwide appeal for information and cooperation from police forces and social services across the UK, no further remains were ever found. No missing child was definitively linked to the case.

Weeks of searching and forensic analysis led to no clear conclusion. Eventually, the case went cold.

More than three decades later, the events at Nantycaws remain unresolved — a chilling chapter in Carmarthenshire’s history that has largely faded from public memory.

Yet cases like this are not as rare as many might think. Across the UK, hundreds of unidentified remains and body parts are still under investigation, some dating back decades.

The questions raised in 1990 still linger today. Who was the baby? How did she end up there? And perhaps most hauntingly — is it possible the story behind that discovery has never truly been uncovered?

After all these years, the answers may still lie with someone, somewhere.

The incident, shared online, quickly sparked debate after the driver said the sticker — positioned behind the rear-view mirror and barely visible — was enough to result in an instant failure.

But while it may sound harsh, experts say the tester was simply following the rules.

Under current MOT regulations, visibility through the windscreen is a key safety check. The area covered by the wipers is divided into zones, and anything that obstructs the driver’s view — including stickers, permits, dashcams or phone holders — can lead to a fail if it’s deemed too large or poorly positioned.

In this case, the sticker was located within the wiper-swept area. After removing it in the test centre car park, the vehicle was reportedly reassessed and passed shortly afterwards.

Motoring experts say it’s a rule that often catches drivers off guard.

A spokesperson for Indigo Car Hire said many motorists wrongly assume small items on the windscreen won’t matter, particularly if they’re out of direct sight behind the mirror.

However, MOT testers are required to apply strict visibility guidelines, and anything considered an obstruction — no matter how minor it seems — must be marked as a failure.

The sticker incident highlights just how easily drivers can be tripped up on test day.

Other common but unexpected MOT failures include empty windscreen washer bottles, which must be able to clean the glass effectively, as well as illuminated dashboard warning lights such as engine, ABS or airbag alerts — all of which can trigger an automatic fail.

While many of these issues are quick fixes, they continue to catch out thousands of motorists every year.

With more than 30 million MOT tests carried out annually across the UK, drivers are being reminded that even the smallest detail could be the difference between a pass and an unexpected trip back to the garage.

South Wales Police said its firearms officers were sent to the scene shortly before 1.30pm to reports of threats made towards a person in the building.

A 23-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of making a false report. 

A spokeswoman for South Wales Police said: "Officers were called to the Princess of Wales hospital at 1.20pm on Thursday (March 19) to reports of threats made towards a person in the building.

"Firearms officers attended and, following enquiries, a man aged 23 has been arrested on suspicion of making a false report."

A spokesperson Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board confirmed that the hospital is back open and operating as normal.

"Important shortcomings" at the school in Powys "prevent pupils from making suitable progress", the education watchdog said as it put it into special measures. 

Urgent improvement is needed – particularly in leadership, the quality of teaching, skills development and attendance, the report says. Powys Council said the education authority and the school had accepted the report and an action plan would be launched.

On a recent monitoring visit to the 700+-pupil school, which was placed in Estyn review two years ago, inspectors found that absence rates had got worse in that time.

Recommended actions to improve teaching, progression and attendance had not been acted on sufficiently.

In a separate matter, not referenced in the Estyn report, Llanidloes High was cleared of promoting religious beliefs in January this year after complaints were made about what children were being taught.

On the school's website headteacher Daniel Owen gives a glowing description of the "smashing progress pupils make regardless of their starting point". The just published Estyn monitoring inspection paints a different picture.

The "initial introduction of a plethora of strategies", after the school was put into review two years ago, "stalled meaningful progress", inspectors found.

Llanidloes High's self evaluation of its work, a cornerstone of Wales' education reforms, was "over generous".

Work to improve the quality of teaching in the last two years had seen "very little discernible progress", inspectors found.

In fact, "the proportion of lessons where pupils make only limited progress has increased slightly since that inspection".

The damning report said the school's leaders involved in the restructure to improve "are still coming to terms with their new roles at a time when urgent, sustainable improvement is required".

It continues: "In the two years since the core inspection, the school has been supported by the local authority.

"However, there has been very little progress in other key areas identified by that report, in particular improving the quality of teaching and the coordination of the school’s provision for skills. In addition, there has been a decline in pupils’ attendance during this time."

In a dire description of the standards of teaching inspectors said that only in about half of the lessons they saw had teachers planned meaningful activities with clear instructions and explanations to meet the needs and interests of their pupils.

"In close to half of lessons observed, there continue to be important shortcomings very similar to those seen during the core inspection, that prevent pupils from making suitable progress," they warned.

As a result of these shortcomings "a significant proportion of pupils do not make enough progress in developing their knowledge, skills or deeper understanding," Estyn found.

Currently, not all pupils in the Welsh language stream in Years 7-9 go on to study Welsh First Language at GCSE and "too often" pupils continue to "make limited progress in developing their literacy, numeracy and digital skills".

On pupil absence, Estyn found that attendance of pupils eligible for free school meals had also fallen at Llanidloes High, since the core inspection in 2024, and was now below the average for this group of pupils in similar schools.

Rates of persistent absence have varied over this period, but, overall, did not compare well to those in similar schools, the report noted.

On a more positive note inspectors said that in the lessons observed during their visit in February, most teachers demonstrate sound subject knowledge.

Teachers they observed had "generally positive working relationships with their pupils and manage behaviour effectively" . In many lessons, teachers "establish purposeful routines which ensure that pupils settle well to the starter task".

In about half of the lessons seen teachers "frequently monitor pupils' knowledge and understanding appropriately by circulating the classroom or by asking basic questions".

Putting Llanidloes High into special measures Estyn said it had made insufficient progress in relation to recommendations to improve. The school was ranked eighth best secondary in Wales in the 2025 Sunday Times Parent Power guide.

Describing the report as "disappointing", Powys County Council said a team of senior education officers was already working with Llanidloes High.

"The findings have been accepted by both the school and the council and will underpin a joint, detailed action plan to drive improvement," the council said in a statement.

"Council officers, the school and its governing body will work together to identify the reasons behind the inspection outcome and ensure the required changes are delivered.

"Staff, pupils and parents will be fully supported throughout the improvement process."

Cllr James Gibson-Watt, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a Learning Powys, said: “This is a deeply disappointing outcome for everyone connected with Llanidloes High School, and I fully recognise the concern this will cause for parents, learners and staff.

“The Estyn report offers a clear and honest assessment of where urgent improvement is needed – particularly around leadership, the quality of teaching, skills development and attendance. These challenges are significant, but they are also surmountable.

“By focusing firmly on Estyn’s recommendations and building on the school’s strengths – such as positive teacher–pupil relationships – we will ensure that teaching and learning improves and that the school moves forward on a stable and sustainable footing.”

Clare Bound, chair of the Llanidloes Schools’ Federation, said: “While we are disappointed by the content of the report, we accept its findings and see this as an important opportunity to reset and strengthen the school’s direction.

“The governing body, senior leadership team and staff are committed to working tirelessly alongside the council and Estyn to ensure rapid and sustained improvements across the school.”

The council will now work with the school to develop an action plan, which Estyn will review.

Inspectors will revisit the school within the next four to six months to monitor progress.

4Chan has refused to pay all previous fines from Ofcom.

Ofcom responded to the BBC's request for a reply to Byrne's posts with a statement from Suzanne Cater, its director of enforcement.

"Companies – wherever they're based – are not allowed to sell unsafe toys to children in the UK. And society has long protected youngsters from things like alcohol, smoking and gambling. The digital world should be no different," she said.

"The UK is setting new standards for online safety. Age checks and risk assessments are cornerstones of our laws, and we'll take robust enforcement action against firms that fall short."

She did not comment on the image 4Chan had published in response to the fine.

In the letter, they confessed that they and another student took a temporary PVC banner hanging outside the shop on St Helen's Road after a night of drinking. The former student had a guilty conscious over the theft which happened over a decade earlier and sent the apology as well as five £20 notes.

The note reads: "Some 15 years ago as a student, following a night of drinking, I and another came across a temporary PVC banner hanging from your shop. 

NCP has suffered economically since the pandemic with the need for parking decreasing especially in city centre car parks. Commuter locations have also taken a hit as less people travel to the office and have continued to work from home since 2020.

PwC said: "The company’s performance has deteriorated over a number of years post Covid-19 as demand for parking has not recovered to historic levels, particularly across city centre and commuter locations.

"Continued shifts in commuting and customer driving patterns have impacted site occupancy while the high concentration of long-term inflexible leases has meant the company has been unable to reduce costs in line with revenue or to exit loss-making sites resulting in ongoing trading losses."

They also clarified that NCP "now has insufficient cash available to meet its financial obligations and the directors have therefore taken the decision to appoint administrators".

Site closures across the 340 locations could be possible according to the administrators.

All NCP car parks are open and staff currently remain as the potential sale of all or part of the business is discussed.

Zelf Hussain, joint administrator and PwC partner, said: "NCP has faced a challenging trading environment over several years with changing consumer behaviours impacting volumes and a high fixed cost-base leading to trading losses.

"Our priority on appointment is to ensure continuity of service while we undertake a detailed review of the business. All sites are open, staff remain in post, and trading continues as normal.

"We will be engaging with landlords, employees, and other stakeholders as we explore all options, including the potential sale of all or part of the business, to secure the best possible outcome for creditors."

NCP operate car parks across Wales including in city centres such as Cardiff, Newport, and Swansea.

Two demountable classrooms at the school in Fairwater used to provide accommodation to “support pupils’ emotional health needs” but have “exceeded their operational lifespan and are no longer fit for purpose”.

The planning application reads: “The structures suffer from persistent water ingress through the roof and external envelope, and despite repeated repair attempts, these defects have not been successfully resolved.”

It continues: “The ongoing leaks have resulted in electrical failures on multiple occasions, presenting a clear and unacceptable health and safety risk.” 

The loss of these classrooms has “created an immediate and critical shortfall in teaching accommodation” as the school has no alternative internal spaces to repurpose for this need and “continued delivery of education is therefore being adversely affected”.

As such, Cardiff Council has approved the installation of a portable building to serve as a temporary classroom.

According to the application, this temporary classroom is “urgently required” and is considered to provide “essential accommodation”.

The classroom will be in place while a “permanent solution is developed and delivered”.

Documents read: “It is anticipated that the temporary classroom would be required for a period of approximately three years, reflecting the timescales associated with securing funding, design, and construction of a permanent facility.”

The building will not be occupied by additional staff and pupil numbers, no car parking spaces will be lost nor will any public rights of way be affected.

According to the document: “[The proposal is] a wholly sustainable method of providing functional classrooms quickly with minimal disruption to the surrounding area, off site prefabrication and fit out ensure both quality and material /energy wastage are stringently monitored.”

The school will continue to safeguard pupils through the installation and management of “control authorized access systems”.

The 36-year-old was asleep in his hotel room in early September when he woke at 3am to the sound of fire alarms going off in his hotel room.

He said: "At first I thought it was just protocol and that someone must be smoking. It was such a big hotel I thought someone had just triggered the activation alarm.

"Then as time went by I heard people rushing down the hallway so I got changed, came out of my door, and looked up to my right-hand side. They said: 'There is a fire in this hotel room'.

"The door was on the emergency latch – it was open a couple of inches. I pushed the door open slightly and started shouting to hear if there were any voices.

"There was no response but there was a massive amount of water from the sprinklers coming from the ceiling and coming out underneath the door. There was also a lot of steam so I wasn't too sure if there was a fire or not."

The police officer asked staff whether they had an emergency key but they did not. He then made the decision to enter the room to preserve life as he believed there was someone in there due to how it had been blocked.

PC Gravell-Williams said the staff didn't want to damage the door but he said the damage could be replaced and his intincts kicked in prompting him to kick the door down.

As him and another officer tried to find their way through the pitch-black room they had to contest with "steam and sprinklers going off everywhere".

When he got into the main room he found a woman during an apparent suicide attempt. He leapt into action and led her out down the fire escape.

PC Gravell-Williams said his actions had just been "natural instinct".

After his heroic rescue he then completed a 24-hour shift.

Reflecting on when he met up with his colleagues afterwards he said: "When they saw me, because of the sprinkler system and the dirt, I was absolutely stinking and soaking.

"When I have come back to Wales at my home station I got a good reception. I think what happened spread like wildfire if I am honest."

Hours after the rescue he was sitting with colleagues when Metropolitan Police commissioner Mark Rowley approached their table to personally recognise PC Gravell-Williams' actions.

He said Mr Rowley told him: 'I just want to congratulate you on what happened this morning."

PC Gravell-Williams added: "Following that the assistant chief, who is also gold command, came up and asked me to come down to meet everyone but I couldn't as I was being deployed.

"Mark Rowley said he would be writing a letter to the chief constable at Dyfed-Powys and he would be passing on his thanks and that he would be recommending me for a commendation.

"It caught me off-guard. I never expected to meet him – it felt like a big achievement. I think it was my proudest moment."

Chief constable Ifan Charles of Dyfed-Powys Police praised the officer for his "exemplary bravery and quick thinking".

He added: "Demonstrating unwavering commitment to duty PC Gravell-Williams thereafter continued his shift, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the community.

"This remarkable display of dedication and resilience reflects the highest standards and PC Gravell-Williams serves as an inspiring example to all."

Aspiring DJ Christian St Louis, 22, from Middleton, Greater Manchester, invited the King to try his hand on the mixing table.

As he put Charles through his paces, Mr St Louis explained: “First, you load up the tracks and then play this one … there are so many buttons. Once you know what to do, it’s easy.”

The King moved to the groove as an onlooker said: “It’s not as easy as it looks, is it?”

Charles laughed and replied: “You just have to get the hang of it.”

Mr St Louis, formerly from east London, told the King that taking a DJing course through the trust had been “more than helpful”.

He said: “I always wanted to DJ. Now I know I can do it.”

He said he was looking for a job to save up and buy his own decks, with a goal of bringing out his own EP music recording.

In 2024, the King’s Trust joined forces with the Elba Hope Foundation, a public charity founded by actor Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina to launch Creative Futures, a range of free courses designed to inspire young people through the arts, building their skills and confidence to work in the creative industries.

Elba was supported by the King’s Trust, formerly the Prince’s Trust, when he was a teenager.

Another beneficiary from the King’s Trust, Mariama Jallow, 19, from Manchester, read her own poem to the King.

Ms Jallow undertook a creative music course and went on to learn about health and social care.

Charles told her he had already seen an example of her poetry which Elba had shown him on a piece of film.

He said: “It was fantastic. Really, really good.”

Charles also met young people who had learned skills in stage construction such as lighting, sound and production through the Factory Academy based at Aviva Studios.

Creative Futures has helped more than 100 young people across Manchester and is now supporting young people in other parts of the UK.

Launched in 2018 by Factory International, the Factory Academy aims to provide accessible career pathways into the creative industries and boost creative skills across the region.

The Factory Academy has collaborated with the King’s Trust to deliver programmes from Creative Futures.

Charles unveiled a plaque to mark his visit before he was treated to a performance outside by a choir from the Royal Northern College of Music.

The King spoke briefly to members of the public who gathered outside the city-centre venue including child-minder Jodie Pownall, from New Mills, Derbyshire, who brought along one-year-old twins Teddy and Kuba, two-year-old Jackson, and Ronnie, Stevie and George, all aged one.

Next on the royal visit, Charles spent time at the launch of Circularity in Practice, a new initiative repurposing and resuing pre-loved items to reduce waste.

The nationwide project invites UK firms of all sizes and sectors, to cut waste and promote the circular use of materials that would otherwise go to waste.

“Let’s hope you can make a real movement out of it, now you have signed up,” Charles told business leaders gathered at the event.

And the King got his hands on the tools at the launch of the project at the Renew Hub on Trafford Park, run by waste and recycling firm Suez.

The King handled a compression staple gun to finish off a French-style settee, reupholstered with fabric from London’s Royal Opera House.

Paul Cunliffe, 56, from Winstanley, Wigan, teaches volunteers about the craft of upholstering and renewing furniture and invited Charles to use the staple gun.

He said afterwards: “It was all right, I was just, obviously, you don’t want him shooting himself.

“I think he’s supportive, very supportive.”

The Renew Hub, launched in 2021 by Suez, is the UK’s largest reuse and repair facility, located at Trafford Park in Greater Manchester.

The King viewed the thousands of items salvaged from local council dumps which will now be repurposed, including thousands of electrical items, bicycles, vacuum cleaners and all types of furniture.

These are then resold, with the money donated to charity.

The hub said it had already refurbished and recycled 500,000 items, sold through shops in Altrincham, Oldham and Salford and online, and had raised £1.6 million for good causes over the last four years.

Earlier, Charles was greeted on arrival by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Councillor Jane Brophy, Mayor of Trafford, and Michelle Pinggera, chair of the Circularity in Practice Initiative, before being given a tour of the facility.

John Scanlon, chief executive of Suez, who accompanied Charles during the tour, said: “So today we’ve had a launch of an initiative, a task force, Circularity in Practice, it’s about bringing together lots of people from different industries to look at how can we do things smarter with what other people would normally throw away as waste.

“How can we give it a second life? How can I either sell that into members of the public or how can we then reuse that in industry or to make sure that we don’t need to take raw materials out of the earth.

“And what’s been very clear from the outset is, His Majesty has been super passionate about the environment and really wanting to champion how we can make sure that items that other people discard become a real valuable raw material going forward.

“So it was really great to see how interested he was.

“I think I can say, you know, he was here to be scheduled for a certain amount of time and that overran quite a lot because he was really keen to talk to lots of the volunteers who work here to understand what they’re doing and how they’re making things more circular.

“A great privilege for me, personally, and for our company.

“And for everybody that works here, all the team, to have their kind of work recognised in such a manner.”

Later in the day, the King visited the Greencore food manufacturing site in Warrington, Cheshire, where he was shown meals on the production line which will be donated to communities in need through the Coronation Food Project.

The project, inspired by the monarch, led to the formation of the Alliance Food Sourcing initiative which has “rescued” more than 10 million meals from surplus food and production capacity, as well as donations from the industry.

While touring the site, which makes Italian ready meals, the King spoke to factory worker Leanne Scott, 42, who was monitoring a production line of lasagnes which will be donated.

She said: “I’ve worked here for 20 years and I’ve never met a king before, so it’s one for the memory box.

“He was really pleasant and a really nice guy. I think what he’s been doing for charity is great.”

Members of staff waited outside to see Charles before he left.

Leah Ellis, 44, said she asked the King what his favourite Italian dish was.

She told the Press Association: “He didn’t say but he did say he likes a good parmesan.

“He asked if we get to travel to Italy to try the dishes and we have been to Italy to look at products.

“It’s been very exciting today since we found out he was coming, we’ve been watching out of the window.

“It was so lovely he came out and spoke to us.”

Chief executive of the Greencore Group Dalton Philips said: “It was a privilege to welcome the King and to showcase the innovation happening across Greencore.

“From pioneering new ways to reduce food waste to developing the highly skilled engineers of the future, our teams are proving just how dynamic and forward‑thinking the food industry can be.”

The cash is designed to help local authorities recover from the “devastating” floods of November 2025, which saw emergency rescues and widespread damage across West Wales.

It follows a major incident declaration at the height of the storms, which saw fire crews and lifeboats called out to save residents from rising waters.

The funding comes as a lifeline for the region, which has already seen £100k drainage grants used to tackle persistent flooding issues in the city and surrounding areas.

Among the most heart-breaking stories from the 2025 floods was the rescue of 34 animals from a Carmarthenshire dog sanctuary after it was completely submerged.

Jayne Bryant, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, said: “The storms of late 2025 caused real hardship for communities right across Wales.”

She added: “I am determined that no council should be left to bear those costs alone.”

The new funding will be used to repair infrastructure, clear debris, and support ongoing recovery efforts in the hardest-hit areas.

It builds on previous support, including £2.5 million already made available to communities in Monmouthshire following Storm Claudia.

The announcement is a major step forward for Carmarthenshire, which has been at the forefront of the battle against extreme weather.

Ms Bryant concluded: “I want residents in Carmarthenshire to know that the Welsh Government stands with them as they continue to recover and rebuild.”

The funding will be officially allocated in the 2026-27 financial year, which the Welsh Government say will provide long-term security for the county’s recovery plans.

The former Hendrefoilan Student Village, which closed its doors in 2023, is being reborn as a 248-home estate featuring a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom properties.

Developer St Modwen Homes — now part of Miller Homes — says work will start “imminently” on the final selection of houses, which will be “wrapped around” a significant area of existing woodland.

James Mulcahy, managing director of St Modwen Homes, said: “We have made a significant commitment to this area of Swansea with a simple outcome — to help develop the former student village into desirable new housing.”

The project has already seen nearly £1 million paid by the developer to fund a major extension at Hendrefoilan Primary School and improve local traffic junctions.

The final phase will include 10 affordable homes, bringing the total number of affordable properties on the estate to 25, alongside a brand-new play area for local families.

While the approval was unanimous, the committee did raise questions about the completion of “missing” footpaths onto Dunvant Road and the management of construction dust on the site.

Planning officers confirmed that the developer would be pressured to finish the outstanding paths, while three replacement trees will be planted for every one cut down during the final build.

Prospective buyers can already register interest in the Hendrefoilan Park development, with a new showhome expected to open later this year as the final phase of the landmark project nears completion.

The force said it has not taken the decision "lightly" and added that it did so in conjunction with the city's council ensure the safety of pupils.

The nature of the report, which it has not been disclosed, remains under investigation according to police. 

A statement from South Wales Police read: "Two Cardiff schools will remain closed on Monday (March 16) following a report made to South Wales Police on Sunday evening.

"Llanishen High School and Eastern High School will close as a safety precaution whilst investigations are undertaken, following discussion between the police and Cardiff Council."

Superintendent Mark Kavanagh added: "We have come to the decision, with support from Cardiff Council, to keep these schools closed on Monday in order to avoid risk, following a report which was made to police on Sunday evening.

"This report is currently under investigation.

"This decision was not taken lightly but was made with the safety of pupils, staff and the wider school communities in mind."

Organisers admit the night went “slightly off script” when the First Minister was found in a huddle with young people in the bar, posing for photos before her formal speech.

Ms Morgan arrived quietly and without fanfare, joining more than 80 people gathered for the launch of Welsh Labour’s new Gwyr Abertawe candidates.

Alison Martin, Club Secretary of Penlan Social Club, said: “Our regulars had no idea she was coming and were delighted to have the First Minister posing for photos in the bar.”

She added: “It’s not every day the First Minister drops in for a fish and chip supper and we’re very proud to have been part of such a special evening.”

The First Minister used the visit to set out her party’s election pledges ahead of the Senedd vote on May 7, promising a “new chapter” for Wales.

The evening also marked a changing of the guard for Swansea, with Ms Morgan paying tribute to long-serving MSs Julie James and Rebecca Evans, who are both standing down.

The new candidate list for the region is led by Mike Hedges MS, followed by Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart, who has spearheaded the city’s regeneration.

In a move that delighted the room, Ms Morgan stayed on after the formal speeches to enjoy a supper of fish and chips supplied by local Swansea chip shop, Roma.

She also took time to meet local business owners, including Nicky Romanello from the popular chippy, who had supported the event.

The First Minister’s unannounced stop in Penlan is seen as a key moment in the lead-up to the May elections, as parties begin to ramp up their local campaigns.

It argues the move fits in with its plans to "stimulate the ongoing regeneration" of the city centre. Following the proposed deal, the council expects the next steps would be a swift demolition of the building, which is currently empty.

The aim of the project would be "improving public space along Commercial Street after demolition", according to the report.

No detailed proposals for that improvement have been set out, but the council's placemaking plan – adopted last year – sets out general proposals for improving the look of the city centre, attracting more prosperity and footfall, and increasing the number of events.

The new report states "responding to vacant sites where the market is unlikely to deliver a solution is a central objective of the placemaking plan".

The purchase of the Commercial Street property will come with some risks, however, including the possible presence of asbestos.

Shared walls with neighbouring properties will also have to be secured if the building is knocked down, and there are also safety concerns given its location in a prominent shopping street.

It is estimated the demolition project would cost nearly £40,000 on top of the purchase price. Cabinet members are due to meet on Wednesday March 18 to discuss the proposals and make a decision on the property deal.

The development management committee for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park was asked to back delegated authority for prosecution proceedings to be brought before the magistrates' court. This was in respect of land south of Parc Yr Eglwys, Brynhenllan, Dinas Cross, which has been made subject to an enforcement notice.

A report stated a complaint had been received by the park in May 2023 regarding a green field being stripped of its vegetation by the new landowners and turned into a mobile home park. 

A planning contravention notice was served, following a site inspection, for the removal of hedge banks and hedgerows, the existing access to be widened, ground level alterations, track construction and storage container siting.

A planning application was retrospectively received by the park in 2024, for the retention of the hardstanding area siting of storage container and additional landscape works, but that was refused in May of that year.

The report said: "“As no voluntary steps were taken to remedy the breach of planning control and no appeal made against the refusal of planning permission, the authority considered it expedient to issue and serve an enforcement notice as the development and use of the land resulted in an unnecessary incursion into the rural countryside which causes a significant visual intrusion to the detriment of the special qualities of the National Park."

In January last year, an enforcement notice was served and the landowner lodged an appeal the following month with the Planning & Environment Decisions Wales. That was dismissed in June, and the enforcement notice took effect.

In June 2025, a further application was received, for a small scale seasonal campsite on the land, which was refused in October that year.

The landowner was told by officers that the enforcement notice remained in place until January 3, 2026.

Three days after that date, a site inspection was carried out and confirmed the breach of planning control. A further planning application to regularise the development was received on January 21, which was refused on March 9.

The report concluded: “The landowner has had multiple opportunities to regularise the development through both retrospective applications and an appeal against the enforcement notice. Those processes have not resulted in permission being granted nor compliance being achieved.

“The continued failure to comply with the enforcement notice undermines the integrity of the planning system and public confidence in its proper operation. “It also results in an unnecessary incursion into the rural countryside which causes a significant visual intrusion to the detriment of the special qualities of the National Park. “Officers therefore consider it expedient and in the public interest to pursue prosecution proceedings should the breach remain unresolved.”

The recommendation was backed by the park.

Mr Davies said the posts used images taken inside the school without permission and described many of the videos as “deeply upsetting, abusive, unkind and entirely untrue.”

Police contacted

The headteacher confirmed the posts had been reported to both TikTok and the police.

He warned that if the person responsible is identified, they could face severe consequences.

In the letter he wrote:

“If the originator is identified, the seriousness of these posts means that permanent exclusion is a possible outcome.”

Posting harmful or defamatory material online could also amount to harassment, defamation or malicious communications under UK law, he added.

Account deletes videos

The TikTok account believed to be linked to the posts has since removed all of its videos.

However, the account page still displays a message saying: “the videos have to be deleted im sorry but i will have a comeback and it will be 10 videos per day but not anytime soon.”

Its profile description also appears to challenge anyone reporting the account, stating: “snitch if u want they wont catch me | i take requests for teachers and students.”

“Cowardly behaviour”

In his letter, Mr Davies criticised the person behind the posts for attempting to remain anonymous online.

He wrote:

“What is particularly troubling is that the individual responsible appears to be taking pleasure in remaining anonymous, boasting that they ‘won’t be caught’. This behaviour is cowardly and has no place in our school community.”

Pupils who shared posts could face consequences

Although the creator of the videos has not yet been identified, the school said it can see the names of pupils who have liked, commented on or encouraged the content.

Those students could also face disciplinary action under the school’s behaviour policy.

Parents urged to check social media

Parents have now been urged to check their children’s social media activity and discuss the seriousness of the situation.

Mr Davies said:

“If they know who is responsible, the most honourable and responsible action is to ensure the posts are removed immediately and to inform the school.”

He added that while social media can be positive and creative, the posts circulating in this case were “offensive, harmful and completely unacceptable.”

Growing concern about children’s online lives

The incident comes amid growing national concern about how social media is affecting young people.

Earlier this month, Swansea Bay News reported how Llanelli MP Nia Griffith backed calls for tougher rules on children using social media, warning many parents are unaware of what their children are doing online.

Separate research highlighted on Safer Internet Day also revealed a stark gap in parental awareness. A government-backed campaign found half of British parents have NEVER spoken to their children about harmful online content, even though most 11-year-olds now own a smartphone and regularly use social media.

The findings warned that many parents simply do not know what their children are seeing on their screens.

Experts say regular conversations between parents and children about online behaviour are one of the most effective ways to reduce risks such as cyberbullying, harmful content and online harassment.

Samantha Thomas admitted taking the money which people had donated to the fundraising page she set up for Bryce Jones, who had been diagnosed with a soft tissue cancer in 2023 aged 13.

Bryce died from the aggressive cancer a year later and his mother Linsey Cowell told Pulse Media she has been left "disgusted" by Thomas' actions.

Thomas wasn't close friends with Bryce's family. She lived in the local area and had come to find out about the boy's heartbreaking story, and she decided to set up a fundraising page via GoFundMe which she named “Little Bryce” on May 27, 2023.

Thomas, 41, raised more than £1,300 over several months as the page was widely shared on social media and was reported on by Pulse Media at the time.

GoFundMe paperwork shows how Thomas withdrew the money via 20 bank transfers before September 2023 when Linsey became suspicious and contacted South Wales Police.

Although she paid back around £650 to the family, she pocketed the remaining £700 which Linsey says she still has not received.

Earlier this month South Wales Police confirmed Thomas had admitted liability to the offence through signing a community resolution. A spokesman for the force said: “South Wales Police received a report in August 2023 of fraudulent activity involving a GoFundMe page.

“After consultation with the victim, a woman has signed a community resolution, admitting liability to the offence. She has also paid back £650 from the fund to recipients.”

According to the electoral roll Thomas lived in Cemetery Road, Treorchy, until 2025 but it is understood she has since moved away. Bryce, from Treorchy, died aged 15 in August 2024.

Linsey said she feels “angry” about what Thomas did. “I’m disgusted, absolutely disgusted,” Linsey said. “It was his money to spend. Of course I was angry, especially when he passed away.

“I hate the fact she doesn’t have to pay the money back now she signed [the community resolution], but I just wanted it to be over and done with to be honest. This happened in 2023 and a year later Bryce passed away. She’s still got her life.

“It’s not about the money; he’s not here to enjoy it now. But if the money ever did come back I would donate it to the children’s hospital where he was, so that every child on that ward could get some of that money. It would be nice to give back.”

Linsey explained how Thomas sent over the £650 in “bits and bobs” while the page was still active. She said: “It would be £18 here and £28 there. What annoyed me, there were two big payments of [around] £240 and £150. They were the biggest amounts.

“She knew they had been cleared into her bank and she still didn’t send them over. I can’t understand why anyone would do that to a child.”

Although the admission won’t bring back Bryce or the money, Linsey said it brings her a small sense of closure. “All the times that people doubted it and said perhaps she didn’t do it, that says it does. Now people know the truth," she added.

Speaking to Pulse Media Linsey paid tribute to her “cheeky” son who was “loved by everyone”. She said: "When he first got diagnosed [in 2023] he could hardly walk. He bounced back around Christmas time he could do a lot more, but nobody expected it to end the way that it did, as quick as it did.

"He was very dry, extremely dry, he would use the cancer card at home. So if I said you can't do something, you can't go out with that or you'll catch a cold, that kind of thing, and he would say: 'Really? I'm going to die anyway, so what difference would it make?' He would say: 'Oh you're picking on the cancer kid now'. But that is just who he was anyway.

“He has touched more than just the few. That's what he said: 'When I leave this world I'm going to be a legend, I am,' and he certainly has made that. He made that all by himself and he was still very brave."

According to the restaurant, an unknown individual is believed to have deliberately set fire to rubbish bins at the back of the premises. The blaze was reported quickly by nearby neighbours at Lunacy Boutique, who alerted emergency services before the flames had a chance to spread further.

The restaurant thanked the neighbouring business for their quick action which helped prevent more serious damage. 

CCTV footage that has since circulated on social media appears to show a woman standing next to the bins as the fire begins. The individual is described as having dark hair tied back with a scrunchie and looks to be holding up a phone, while the flames start.

Further footage later shows the woman walking away from the scene wearing black heeled ankle boots, skinny jeans and carrying a small sparkly bag, which hangs from her shoulder.

Pictures shared online also show the aftermath, including piles of burned cardboard, melted plastic and scattered cans across the enclosed area.

In a public appeal, Burger Boyz asked anyone with information about the incident to come forward. The restaurant added that the individual appeared to record the fire on their phone, raising the possibility that the footage may have been shared with others.

"If anyone has information on who set our bins on fire in Port Talbot at midnight (Tuesday, March 10), please reach out," the business said in a statement.

South Wales Police confirmed officers were made aware of the incident through the fire service. A spokesperson from the force said: "Officers have been made aware, through the fire service, of a rubbish fire on Commercial Road, Port Talbot, which is believed to have been set deliberately in the early hours of Tuesday, March 10.

"No injuries were sustained due to the fire. Officers are currently reviewing CCTV in order to identify a suspect."

The Kings Local convenience store will be on King Edward, Brynmill, near Truffle restaurant, and owner Jenan Ragunathan applied to Swansea Council for a new premises licence allowing the sale of alcohol from 6am to 2am seven days a week.

South Wales Police objected, saying such late opening hours would attract an element of anti-social behaviour and encourage people from outside the area to drive there late at night. The force requested a closing time of 11pm and two additional conditions: no single cans of alcohol above 6.5% strength to be sold; and a personal licence holder to be on duty at all times for the purpose of selling alcohol.

There were six other written objections, including from a Truffle member of staff. 

A council licensing sub-committee heard further representations when it met to consider the application, including from a police representative who said a 2am licence would have a detrimental impact on families, elderly people and students in a densely-populated residential area, although she said some students would make use of the late opening.

A Truffle representative said he was concerned that the late sale of alcohol could lead to people congregating outside the shop, potentially deterring restaurant customers. He also raised parking and litter concerns. He said Truffle, which has an 11pm licence, didn’t have large parties and limited the amount of alcohol customers could bring themselves. “We find our clientèle are less rowdy, and more inclined to come and enjoy the food,” he said. “It is a quiet street at the end of the night.”

The owner of a nearby café said people were worried that the late sale of alcohol proposed would attract “the wrong type of people”. She added: “I’m not opposing there being a shop, it’s just the late licensing – that’s my problem.”

Mr Ragunathan’s legal representative said his client would amend the proposed sale of alcohol to 11pm instead of 2am and that the shop would also close at the earlier time.

He said Mr Ragunathan was investing quite a lot of money in the new convenience store, that he knew how to run them, and that an operating schedule had been drawn up. He also described the area, which several has shops, pubs and other businesses on adjacent Brynymor Road, as having a commercial mix.

“People are concerned about people congregating – I would say it’s not unmanageable,” said the legal representative. He added that CCTV would cover an area outside the shop as well as inside, that Mr Ragunathan would install a bin outside and make sure the area was clean, and also have lighting in keeping with nearby businesses.

The legal representative accepted the police’s recommended condition not to sell single cans of alcohol above 6.5% strength, but felt the request that a personal licence holder be on duty at all times for the purpose of selling alcohol was not “proportionate or fair”.

The sub-committee retired to consider the evidence and awarded the amended licence setting out the 6am to 11pm hours. Sufficient litter bins at the exit or just outside must be provided for customers, CCTV must cover directly outside the shop, and clear notices must be displayed requesting customers don’t loiter or congregate outside or in the immediate vicinity.

The attraction had been at the heart of Porthcawl for 100 years, with families "gutted" that their children wouldn't be able to grow up going to the fair as they had done when they were youngsters. Its closure came after the Welsh Government purchased parcels of land near Coney Beach for a mixed-use redevelopment in the area that is expected to feature a new housing estate, retail business facilities, a new primary school, and a number of recreational and leisure opportunities.

However, Bridgend council announced on Monday that Porthcawl was set to get another fair this year as part of the its plans to regenerate the waterfront area of the town.

Fun Land Porthcawl, operated by Studt's Events, is set to open within weeks at Salt Lake on the Eastern Promenade.

The council said the funfair will be set up in time for Easter and will remain in place throughout the summer season. Studt;s Events said Fun Land will be open daily from Saturday, March 28 to Sunday, April 12 and then will be open for weekends and school holidays "throughout the season".

Entry to the fair will be free, with rides operated by tokens which will be available to buy. As well as the funfair rides, Studt's said there will be free event days and "gigantic" fireworks displays.

"As a family-run business with a long heritage in the funfair and events industry, we have extensive experience in delivering both small community attractions and larger-scale events," said Henry Studt, of Studt's Events.

"We are genuinely delighted to be bringing a family funfair to Porthcawl and are looking forward to playing a positive part in the town’s seasonal offer for residents and visitors."

The council said Fun Land is designed to be "accessible and inclusive" and will be staffed by professional stewards. "With ample on-site parking, a secure fence will help ensure access is carefully managed, and arrangements are in place to help keep the fair clean and free of litter," the announcement from the council added.

Fun Lane will share the Salt Lake site with the NoFit State contemporary circus, which will also be in the town from April 11 to 19.

Cllr Neelo Farr, cabinet member for regeneration said: "This fantastic opportunity reinforces our commitment towards delivering high-quality leisure and cultural attractions for Porthcawl that can be enjoyed by both residents and tourists alike.

"We want to provide family-friendly activities that add to what Porthcawl already offers while also supporting local businesses by bringing more people into the town and county borough. I am pleased that the funfair will be inclusive and accessible for all visitors, and it is great to see how our plans for Porthcawl are starting to come together as part of the wider regeneration programme."

Health visitors work with families for regular reviews from birth to three-and-a-half years. Ms Emmanuel works with 140 families in her patch, she said.

She is one of those who say they are being systematically underpaid for their role. Unite members have been on strike since February 23, with the strike to continue until March 20, but it could go longer.

The union say the health board has refused to acknowledge its own job descriptions and pay health visitors accordingly which, the union say, is costing health visitors between £8,000 and £9,000 per year dependent on where workers are on their pay scale.

Ms Emmanuel said: "My families have been so supportive, they're all behind me.

"I want to apologise and say sorry that I'm not in work at the moment, I'm not there supporting them like I am usually, five days a week, I've got such excellent relationship with my families, I am so lucky.

"So I do apologise to them but they're all behind and I do miss them and I can't wait to get back to work.

"Everybody who knows me, knows how much I love my job. I said to my son on first day of the strike 'do a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life' and that is how I feel about my job and it makes me feel quite emotional.

"I just want to get back to work but everyone's so supportive, all the families are supporting me, they came to Ponty Park on Friday, they came down on the train, they've turned up to play groups and have spoke on my behalf so I'm so lucky but we just need the health board now to come back around the table and get us all back doing what we love because we just all want to get back work," she said.

Being on strike was, she said, a last resort for her and her colleagues who worried for their families.

"This is not something we've taken lightly. This is the last resort and we've been pushed into this with no other option.

"We did action short of strike two years ago but unfortunately that hasn't got us anywhere, so we had no other options than to do a full strike this time and it wasn't a decision that was taken lightly.

"We've been so upset. The first Monday, on the 23rd of February. I didn't know what to do with myself, I was lost. I just wanted to go to work. But everyone is behind us and we will be back and it won't be long, hopefully, but it's time to contact now, to come forward and do the right thing."

She said she worries issues are being missed, in an area which has deprivation. 

"In the early days is when we build our relationship with the families and unfortunately we're not in work now to build those relationships.

"I drove through the community yesterday and could see balloons outside a window of a house that I know one of my mums have had a baby and that upset me.

"I should be there now visiting weekly supporting her, getting to know her and the baby and that isn't happening.

"But it's down to the health board now to recognise our value. They need to appreciate what we do day in, day out, supporting these families. Also as well we live in quite a vulnerable area so the deprivation is quite high and we definitely are being missed I know that I just hope that you know nothing catastrophic happens really and we all get back soon."

The striking workers walked across Cardiff Bay, protesting at the Senedd.

Hours later, the issue was brought up in the Senedd, with Plaid Cymru MS Heledd Fychan raising it with the First Minister.

Ms Fychan said "it cannot continue".

The First Minister said they had a "critical role" and they should be given the "honour and distinction they deserve".

"I want to see both parties finding a resolution to this dispute that is fair to health visitors, to patients and to the NHS," the First Minister said.

She was criticised for refusing to get involved in the dispute.

"I'll repeat that this is a local employer-led dispute. This is unilateral local rebanding, that would have system-wide consequences. I just want to be clear about what you are saying here, just so that the people of Wales understand that, if Plaid Cymru ever got into power, if ever there were a local issue, Plaid Cymru would step in. You would step in for health boards, for education, for all of the issues that they're responsible for. Have we all heard that? Let's just understand what you are saying and what you're committing to, because that is not how Government works."

A spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said: "The health board has been in discussion with Unite and health visiting staff since a formal dispute was lodged in February 2024.

"The dispute, at that time, asked for the Band 6 health visitor job description to be updated to reflect the duties of the role, and to re-evaluate the job. A process to review and agree the revised job description took place, facilitated by NHS Wales Employers.

"The job description, which was agreed in social partnership, was re-evaluated, and came out at the same band, Band 6. The job description was issued to health visiting staff and remains in effect. A Band 7 job description has not been agreed in partnership to date at CTMUHB, or on an All-Wales basis by NHS Wales Employers.’

“It is important to recognise that the pay banding for health visitors in Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is the same banding for health visitors across England and Wales.

“It would therefore be inappropriate for CTMUHB, as an individual health board, to work in isolation to re-band its health visitor workforce.

"The health board is aware that, over recent years, there have been changes made to education requirements for health visitors, as a result of decisions taken by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which have more recently impacted national profiles for health visitor roles across the UK.

"The health board is committed to working through the implications of these changes in social partnership with trade unions, and an expert partnership group has been established in NHS Wales to take these discussions forward.

"We respect the rights of colleagues to take industrial action and will work with teams to minimise disruption to families across our communities as required."

At least two of the cars hit in the incident appeared to be very badly damaged. It happened at Maesglas Crescent in the Maesglas area of Newport in the early hours of Monday morning at around 12.25am according to officers.

The footage shared by resident Vicki Eaves appeared to show two men exit the car and run away before shouting from concerned residents is then heard in the background of the video which has been viewed thousands of times online.

On Tuesday police said they were investigating the incident although no arrests had been made. A spokesperson for Gwent Police said: "We had a call at about 12.25am on March 9 reporting the collision on Maesglas crescent where a car collided with parked cars on the roadside.

"Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with any information that could help can call police on 101, quoting 2600073505, or you can direct message police on social media. You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

Darren Cooper was absent on sick leave for anxiety when his regional director published a post celebrating the male leaders who "all show up for work each day, put on a name badge and provide support, guidance and leadership".

Upon discovering his exclusion from the public display of appreciation Mr Cooper felt "excluded, humiliated and violated", an employment tribunal in Cardiff was told.

The tribunal determined that he had been "humiliated" by the post and he succeeded in his claim for harassment related to disability and unfavourable treatment because of something arising in consequence of disability.

He will receive £11,852 in compensation including £7,500 for injury to feelings. 

Mr Cooper started working at Sainsbury's in 1993 and said he had "orange blood" – a reference to the colour of the chain's branding – the tribunal was told.

In 2010 he became manager of the Pontypridd store. He went on sick leave due to anxiety in July 2022. In November his line manager Matt Hourihan posted on Yammer and LinkedIn to mark International Men's Day, it was heard.

Mr Hourihan wrote: "I'd like to take a moment to celebrate the male leaders in my team and say thank you for all that you do to help make our stores across south Wales, Gloucestershire and Worcester places where colleagues love to work and customers love to shop.

"All of you do this whilst leading busy lives outside of work too, dealing with health, family and personal issues in the same way that everyone else does, yet you all show up for work each day, put on a name badge and provide support, guidance and leadership to the thousands of colleagues that work on our region. Thank you and happy International Men's Day everyone. Matt."

Alongside the post was a photograph tagging every regional store manager with the exception of Mr Cooper, the tribunal was told. The tribunal heard that he endured "untold further damage" to his health, coupled with the "angst" of responding to queries from friends and colleagues about whether he had left Sainsbury's.

Mr Hourihan said that since Mr Cooper had removed WhatsApp and expressed a desire not to be contacted, he deemed it best to exclude him from the post. He also said he didn't possess a photo of Mr Cooper and felt it would be inappropriate to request one.

Following numerous discussions regarding Mr Cooper's return to work, he was dismissed in June 2023. He filed a lawsuit alleging disability discrimination, harassment, unfavourable treatment, and unfair dismissal.

The panel concluded: "The cause of the treatment was the conscious thought process of Matt Hourihan to not include (Mr Cooper) from the post as he was absent and therefore this amounted to unfavourable treatment because of something arising from disability."

The tribunal dismissed Mr Cooper's allegations of disability discrimination and unfair dismissal.

After finally finding out he would be on a flight home and making his way to the airport a fresh drone hit the travel hub, threatening to jeopardise his flight further and saw him shelter in the basement area of the airport.

The global transport hub initially said all operations had been suspended after the drone hit on Sunday, but flights later began partially resuming.

After his new flight had been delayed for seven hours, Ian was finally on his way home.

Ian, from Cwmgwrach, had originally travelled to Dubai to enjoy a week watching the Dubai Tennis Championships with his friend Michael, from Ireland.

He was supposed to fly back to London Heathrow at 1.40pm on Sunday, March 1, but his travel plans were thrown up in the air when he had an email on Saturday evening telling him his flight would be cancelled after the Iran war broke out.

The carer was then left in the dark, with no idea when or how he would be able to get home. Alongside this he was having to stump up hefty hotel fees each night, scared there would be nowhere else to stay if he left.

Last week he told Pulse Media his hotel was completely full with people sleeping in the reception, and mattresses being added to rooms to accommodate more guests.

He said: "There's people sleeping on the floor of the hotel in reception and come Saturday I might be one of them because of the money. They are even putting extra mattresses in people's rooms for people's friends who are stuck and they are even charging for that.

"Once people are in a room they don't leave it because there's nowhere else to go. Some people are just walking around with suitcases so I don't know where they're going.

"It's awful, I wish I'd never come for the tennis now and it's completely put me off coming back to Dubai again."

While he was waiting for an update from Emirates, Ian heard jets flying around above and witnessed a drone hit his neighbouring hotel.

On Friday, the airline giant announced it would be resuming a limited number of flights from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to the UK following a partial re-opening of the regional airspace.

The following day Ian received an email from Emirates to say he was on a flight in six hours. The last minute call-up meant he lost out on two days at the hotel which he had pre-booked, assuming he would still be staying for a little longer but in the end he was just grateful to have made it home.

Ian joked: "The icing on the cake was emirates served me a meal with chicken in by mistake, been vegetarian for 40 years so was pretty devastated, so after missile strikes and delays that was the last thing I wanted! Had better days!"

He was responding to a CCTV query by another councillor, Will Thomas, who said some constituents he’d spoken to didn’t feel safe in the city centre, especially in the evening.

Cllr Stewart said: “I understand the perception that Cllr Thomas has highlighted there but it doesn’t match the reality, and in fact the data that is publicly available now shows that anti-social behaviour and crime in the city centre has fallen by over 50% in the last two years.”

Two days later, in a cabinet meeting, the Swansea Labour leader was talking about various council and private schemes coming to fruition in the city centre, and added: “And again, perceptions are important. I know and see the comments online from time to to time of people concerned about safety in the city centre, and whether or not there are issues in terms of crime.

“Well again, the figures tell a very telling story. Crime has fallen in the city centre by 50% in the last two years. Great work is being done by our police colleagues and our teams of rangers and others.”

Asked about the figures at the time by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, given the extent of the fall and how well it reflected on the city centre, Cllr Stewart indicated that they referred to anti-social behaviour reports and that he would look to provide wider crime data for the city centre and correct the record if required. 

The council did put out a press release last October about reports of anti-social behaviour in the school summer holidays dropping by 12.1% in the city centre, following a 38% reduction the previous summer.

The press release, which had quotes from Cllr Stewart and a South Wales Police inspector, highlighted work by the two organisations and other groups to get young people involved in various activities, workshops and events at a pop-up area in St David’s Square.

While this was undoubtedly positive news and there are different types of anti-social behaviour, crime has many more components. 

And figures now obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service from South Wales Police give a fuller picture of recorded crime in the calendar years 2023, 2024 and 2025.

The Freedom of Information Act response by police said there were 6,353 recorded crimes in 2025 where the location was recorded as Swansea city centre.

The figure was 6,635 in 2024 and 6,427 in 2023. This shows a 4.4% drop between 2024 and 2025, and a 1.1% per cent drop between 2023 and 2025.

The details reveal, among other things, that possession of controlled drugs rose during the three years, as did drug trafficking, while shoplifting rose then fell.

Assault with and without injury fell then rose, although in the case of assault with injury it increased by only one incident.

Burglary of “business and the community” and theft from a person dropped, while harassment increased as did robbery of business property. Public fear, alarm or distress increased and then decreased. Bike theft fell.

You can look at all the data here:

Meanwhile, the council has introduced two public spaces protection orders in the city centre to clamp down on anti-social behaviour. These orders give the authority, supported by police, extra powers to deal with the issue.

Swansea also has Purple Flag status – a scheme run by the Association of Town and City Management denoting a safe, thriving evening and night-time economy.

In response to the new crime figures provided by police Cllr Stewart, who has led the council since 2014 and is standing as a Labour candidate for the Gŵyr Abertawe constituency in May’s Senedd elections, said: “My reference was to the significant drop over two years in anti-social behaviour (ASB). The broader crime figures also show reduction but not a big a drop as in ASB.

“The increased level of policing in the city centre and the public space protection order has assisted in reducing the level of crime and ASB in the city centre.”

Andrew Douglas, the manager of business group Swansea BID, said organisations across the city worked hard to ensure it remained a safe and welcoming place for local businesses, visitors and investment.

He said: “Recent figures show a reduction in crime in the city centre, with shop theft down 14.5% year on year and anti-social behaviour down 6.2%.”

Mr Douglas added: “The latest figures from December show a 63% positive outcome rate for reported shop thefts in the city centre, up from 39% in 2024. Positive outcomes for anti-social behaviour have also risen significantly, reaching 87% in December compared with 32% the previous year.”

He said positive outcomes referred to when a case had been resolved, such as when an offender was found, charged, cautioned or appropriate action taken.

The business provided energy consultancy and data services to multi-site property portfolios, landlords, and infrastructure operators across the UK. It had traded strongly in 2024, but experienced cash flow challenges and a decline in revenues through 2025.

Matt Whitchurch and Jonathan Dunn, of specialist business advisory firm FRP, were appointed joint administrators.

Prior to appointment, FRP said it undertook an accelerated marketing process to explore options for the business and its assets. While there was initial interest from a number of parties, only limited asset sales were ultimately achievable. A solvent sale was explored, but did not proceed after interested parties withdrew. 

Immediately following their appointment, the joint administrators completed the sale of certain assets.

However, the sale did not provide for the transfer of the wider workforce and 138 of the company’s 143 employees have been made redundant. The joint administrators are supporting those affected with claims to the Redundancy Payments Service.

Mr Whitchurch, partner at FRP, said: “Amber Energy Solutions had established a well-regarded offering in its sector but was unable to overcome sustained cash flow pressures.

“We explored options to secure a wider going concern solution, however this was not achievable in the circumstances. While sales of certain assets have been completed, the majority of roles have unfortunately been made redundant.

"Our focus now is on supporting employees through the claims process and working to maximise recoveries for creditors.”

Its last published financial accounts with Companies House, for its 2024 financial year, showed the business experienced a strong rise in revenues on the previous year from £9.51m to £11.43m. It also posted an improved profit of £1.51m.

The business was set up in 2009 by Nicholas Proctor. It had featured in the Wales Fast Growth 50 initiative, an annual league table of the fastest-growing indigenous firms in Wales based on revenue growth.

The incident unfolded after Flint Town secured their spot in the Welsh Cup semi-final with a 5-1 win over Bangor at the Go Goodwins Stadium in Llandudno. North Wales Police said five people were arrested in connection with the "serious disorder" which happened outside a pub in the town following the match.

Footage shows police detaining a number of fans, with one officer pulling out a taser before asking people to step back. 

Bangor City said it was aware of the incident and the "ongoing police action". "CPD Bangor City 1876 has established policies and procedures to address any issues raised and will follow those processes should they be required," a statement from the club said.

The FAW said "violence has no place in football", adding that the association would assist with the police investigation if necessary.

North Wales Police said officers were called shortly before 4pm to an incident involving a large number of people outside the Nevill public house in Vaughan Street, Llandudno.

Five people were subsequently arrested on suspicion of public order offences, section 47 assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assaulting an emergency worker.

In a statement, Bangor City said it was aware of footage of the incident being circulated on social media.

"We understand the matter is currently subject to ongoing action by North Wales Police, therefore, at this time, the club is unable to comment further," it said.

"CPD Bangor City 1876 has established policies and procedures to address any issued raised and will follow those processes should they be required. Further updates will be provided if and when appropriate, until then the club will be making no further comments."

A spokesperson for the FAW said: "The JD Welsh Cup Semi-Final between Flint Town United and Bangor City 1876 at the Go Goodwins Stadium in Llandudno was played without incident.

North Wales Police asked anyone who recorded footage of the incident to contact officers.

Police have asked people not to speculate about the incident or post personal information, including names and photos, of those involved.

A police statement read: "Following the Welsh Cup semi-final between Flint Town United and CPD Bangor 1876 on Saturday (March 7), officers were called at 3.59pm to an incident of serious disorder involving a large number of people outside the Nevill public house on Vaughan Street, Llandudno.

"Five individuals were subsequently arrested on suspicion of public order offences, S.47 ABH and assaulting an emergency worker. This remains a live investigation including the reviewing of video footage and CCTV.

"We are aware of considerable interest on social media, including widespread sharing of recorded footage by people present, and we would ask anyone who recorded the disorder to send the video to us to assist in our ongoing investigations. You can contact us via our live webchat https://orlo.uk/MFpGN or on 101 quoting ref O035019."

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed today (March 6) the boy had been arrested on suspicion of sending digital communications conveying threats of death or serious harm with the intent to cause fear. He has since been bailed pending further enquiries.

Officers were first called to the school at around 10.45am on Monday, March 2 after a telephone threat was reported. The school implemented its lockdown procedures while police carried out enquiries.

Police said a second threat was later sent to the school via email on Monday evening.

As a precaution the school was closed to pupils and staff on Tuesday while investigations continued and officers carried out patrols in the area. On Friday, police from the force were still maintaining a presence locally.

Powys Superintendent Gareth Grant thanked the community for its support while enquiries were carried out.

He said: "I'd firstly like to thank the parents, teachers, staff and the wider community for the support and patience you have shown whilst we have carried out our enquiries in relation to this incident.

"I understand this will have had a profound impact. Our neighbourhood officers will maintain a local presence for reassurance, and we will continue to work with our local secondary schools and partners to ensure our local community are supported."

A cordon was erected outside the school and a large police presence was maintained at the site throughout Monday. Pupils and staff were eventually allowed to leave the premises on Monday afternoon, and a decision was made to close the school on Tuesday while investigations continued.

No arrests have been made, police have confirmed. 

On Tuesday evening it was revealed that a second threat was received by the school in the form of an email, which was reported to police on Monday evening.

Superintendent Gareth Grant of Dyfed-Powys Police said: “We understand this is a very unsettling time for the school’s pupils, teachers, parents and wider community.

“I want to reassure the public that there is no evidence to suggest any threat against any other schools or businesses in the local area.

“Our priority is to ensure the safety of pupils and teachers at the school, and we are working closely with Powys Council and the senior leaders at Ysgol Maesydderwen to this end.

“I want to thank the community for their understanding and patience while we carry out our enquiries. The impact of school closures on parents and carers cannot be underestimated, and I extend my thanks to everyone who has supported us to this point.

“You will see an increased police presence in the area as we continue our enquiries and provide reassurance to the local community.

“We will continue to share more information as soon as we are able to.”

Ysgol Maesydderwen will reopen on Wednesday, police added.

• South Wales Police have appealed for information after 13-year-old Olivia was reported missing. The force has said that there is concern for her welfare.

• Olivia was last seen in Llanrumney, Cardiff, on Tuesday, February 24, almost a week ago.

• The schoolgirl is from Shropshire but was last seen in Cardiff. She has links to Splott and Tremorfa.

• If you have seen Olivia or have any information that could help police, contact the force quoting reference 2600059400, 2600059400.

A statement released by the council said it "does not recognise the suggestion that there are ongoing governance failings" and that it operates in accordance with its rules, statutory legislation, national regulations and its code of conduct.

Four of the five had walked out of a council meeting in October, expressing frustration that bodies responsible for upholding standards on local volunteer councils — which are permitted to employ their own staff — indicated they either wouldn't, or couldn't, pursue their complaints.

The dispute is believed to stem from the appointment of council clerk Mark Tredwin in September 2024, initially on a probationary basis, before being confirmed in a permanent role in 2025.

Complaints had been lodged against the clerk, who is understood to have the backing of a majority of councillors. The council has a full membership of 16, though it now faces six vacancies following the resignations and the recent death of a fellow councillor.

Amongst the concerns highlighted was a claim that a member of staff had been prevented from returning to their duties following sick leave, alongside internal personnel issues and tensions between the clerk and dissatisfied councillors.

The situation has now intensified following the departures of councillors Jill Bond and Rachel Grumach, who represent the West End ward, Tony Easson representing the Dewstow ward, and Castle Ward councillors Robert Wilsher and John Woodfield.

Three of the five were originally elected as Labour councillors, although Tony Easson, who also serves as a Monmouthshire County Councillor, was latterly listed as independent after his suspension from the Labour Party, whilst Rachel Grumach and John Woodfield stood as independents.

In a joint statement, the five said: "The decision reflects shared and long-standing concerns about governance, organisational effectiveness, and the overall working environment within the council, impacting delivery to the Caldicot community."

They said that over the previous 15 months they had attempted to tackle the matters through "proper channels" within the council and external bodies including the Welsh Local Government Association, Audit Wales, Public Services Ombudsman for Wales, the Information Commissioner's Office, One Voice Wales – the umbrella organisation for town and community councils – and Monmouthshire County Council's monitoring officers, as well as local Members of Parliament and Members of the Senedd.

"While these engagements were undertaken in good faith and in the interests of securing improvement, the councillors do not believe that sufficient progress has been achieved to address the underlying issues," the statement issued by the five said.

Caldicot Town Council's statement said resignations are "always a matter of regret" and thanked the five for the service but said there would be no detrimental impact on how the council functions.

It said: "Like many councils, Caldicot has experienced periods involving employment matters which have placed pressure on administrative capacity.

"Members have consistently been advised that the greatest risk to the council's effectiveness arises not from governance structures themselves, but from divisions within the membership and any failure to adhere collectively to agreed governance procedures, standing orders and the code of conduct.

"The council remains committed to transparent decision-making and to serving the residents of Caldicot. Work continues to ensure stability, continuity and effective service delivery."

Reports suggest the incident has taken place at Akrotiri, one of two UK Sovereign Base areas on the Mediterranean island, at around 10.30pm.

Some witnesses described an 'explosion' during the incident, which came just after Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the US could use British bases to launch attacks on Iran, as Israel and America continue to target the country.

No one is reported to have been hurt. It is unclear if the drone had hit the base directly or after it had been shot down.

The Cyprus Mail, a newspaper on the island, is reporting personnel at the two sovereign bases, which also includes Dhekelia, received a 'security alert' - and that personnel were told a 'small drone' had struck the site.

The newspaper reports that workers on the bases were told to return to their homes and stay inside.

It is unconfirmed whether Iran, which has fired rockets and drones at a number of neighbouring countries in retaliation for the Israeli-US attack which has killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamanei and many other senior officials, is involved in the incident at Akrotiri.

However it has struck at a number of other bases being used by the US, including in Bahrain and Qatar.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Keir Starmer ruled out the UK joining the strikes against Iran, saying the country had learned its lessons from the Iraq war.

Britain has also been involved in preventing Iran hitting targets elsewhere in the Gulf, with an RAF Typhoon destroying an Iranian drone that was heading for Qatari airspace.

Iran has launched strikes against a number of countries around the Gulf, as well as Israel itself, with all flights cancelled to many and the British government working to support hundreds of thousands of citizens in the affected countries.

Detectives investigating the incident praised a woman who witnessed the incident and stopped to intervene and she is urged to get in contact with police.

The police reassured locals by saying such incidents are "extremely rare" and the 33-year-old man who was arrested within hours of the incident remains in police custody.

A spokesperson for South Wales Police said: "A man has been arrested following what is being treated as an attempted abduction of a 18-year-old woman in Pontprennau area of Cardiff on Saturday, February 28.

"A local man, 33, was arrested within hours of the incident being reported and remains in police custody.

"The incident happened at around 6.30pm on the junction of Clos Nant Mwlan and Heol Pontprennau, after the 18-year-old victim got off a bus - she is believed to have been followed by somebody on foot.

"Detectives investigating the incident are trying to identify a woman motorist driving a black car who saw the incident and stopped to intervene – she is urged to make contact."

Detective Inspector Laura Parsons, said: "Incidents such as this one are extremely rare and I would like to reassure people that we have arrested a suspect who is in police custody.

"I would like to praise the woman who stopped her car to intervene. It's really important that we identify who she is so she is urged to get in touch'

"Anyone with information is urged to make contact – please give reference 2600064068."

You can contact the police through their website or by phoning them on 101.

Several Cardiff schools have this weekend written to parents both to reassure them and ask them to discourage their children from attending the fights apparently being organised for Monday, March 2, with other fights throughout the week.

Nick John, the headteacher of Whitchurch High, one of Wales' biggest secondary schools, wrote in a letter to parents: "We would ask parents and carers to actively discourage their children from engaging with or sharing such content, and to remind them of the serious consequences of involvement in or promotion of violence.

"Any behaviour that places pupils or others at risk would be treated as a serious breach of the school’s behaviour and safeguarding policies and could result in sanctions, as well as potential involvement from external agencies."

The videos and still graphics circulating on social media are entitled "Cardiff War" and attempt to put schools into different teams for the organised fights. They list one side as the red team and one side as the blue team. They are directed at children in years 9 to 11 - aged 13 to 16. It lists a location for the fight.

A separate graphic is entitled Trowbridge/Rumney War and is directed at years 7-11, aged 11 to 16. It again lists the names of the schools and a time and location for the supposed fight. A separate page lists "the rules" as "Be Violent" and encourages pupils to use weapons such as metal protractor spikes.

St Illtyd's Catholic High School posted on social media to say: "We are aware of a TikTok post which is being shared widely on Snapchat and other social media platforms. This post is inciting violence within Cardiff schools and the wider community.

"Please make your children aware that encouraging others to commit acts of violence is a criminal offence and anyone who shares, reposts and encourages this behaviour could face police action.

"We have informed the police, the local authority and other relevant agencies of this post. We urge parents to check your child's phone. Monitor their interactions, especially related to this post and speak to them about the criminal nature of this type of action. We thank those parents who have reached out and brought this to our attention."

Ysgol Glantaf also wrote to parents to express similar sentiments.

Mr John of Whitchurch High said that the organised fights were "not specific to our school or to Cardiff alone, but reflects a national trend currently being monitored across the UK."

In London, the Metropolitan police has asked social media platforms to ban accounts promoting “school wars”. Other accounts are promoting fights in Northampton, Bristol and other UK cities.

Commander Neerav Patel, from the Met, said the force was aware of the posts and was in contact with several London boroughs to offer reassurance.

He said: “We continue to closely monitor online spaces and have worked with platforms to request a dozen social media accounts to be disabled where threats or violence were planned or encouraged.”

In a message to pupils, he said: “I would like to remind young people of the serious consequences of getting involved in matters like this.

“An arrest, charge and conviction for violence and carrying weapons could mean imprisonment, with a significant long-term impact on future opportunities.”

John Healey said the government did not believe they were targeting the bases intentionally, but said “it shows how indiscriminate” the Iranian retaliation to Saturday’s US-Israel strikes was.

He also said that 300 UK military personnel were close to targets that were hit in Bahrain.

John Healey told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme: "This is a really serious and deteriorating situation, (with) rising risks of increasing Iranian indiscriminate retaliatory attacks.

"Let me give you a couple of examples. Yesterday, we had 300 personnel on that Bahrain base that was attacked by Iranian missiles and drones, some of them within a few hundred yards of where they landed.

"We had two missiles fired in the direction of Cyprus. We don't believe they were targeted at Cyprus, but nevertheless, it's an example of how there is a very real and rising threat from a regime that is lashing out widely across the region, and that requires us to act."

The revelations came a day after Sir Keir Starmer said the UK had ordered “planes in the sky” over the Middle East on defensive operations to protect our allies.

Mr Healey repeated the prime minister’s calls for Iran to end its missile strikes and “steps back from its increasing uncontrolled indiscriminate attacks in the region” and “gives up its weapons programs.”

It came as the US and Israel launched waves of missile strikes on Iran in preemptive actions, taking out military infrastructure and the country’s leadership, including the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei.

Mr Healey added: “Few people will mourn the Ayatollah’s death.”

The defence secretary said he was now more concerned about the repercussions of the attacks on Iran in the wider region.

He noted the 20 terror plots on the UK’s streets organised by Iran, the death of tens of thousands of its own citizens and the supply of 50,000 drones to Russia to attack Ukraine.

“Make no mistake that this is a regime which harasses other countries and can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon.”

Mr Healey declined to comment on whether the US-Israeli strikes on Iran were legal.

He told Sky News: "No one who has seen the way that Iran has menaced us and sponsored terror around the world, been a source of instability in the region, is developing a nuclear weapons program, can be under any doubt about the character of this regime, and the threat it poses."

Asked again whether the US action was legal, he said: "That is for the US to set out and explain. It's not for me, as defence secretary of the UK, I'm here to speak for the UK.

"I can speak for the very active participation that we have in coordinated defence across the region."

He noted that “everything the UK does is within international law”.

But Mr Healey also declined to say whether the UK may be drawn into joining the US and Israel in direct operations on Iran.

Describing UK operations, Mr Healey said: "When our UK planes fly from Qatar, they are protecting against any missiles or drones directed towards Qatar.

"When they fly from Cyprus, they're doing the same for Cyprus.

"But of course, when our planes are in the air and they see things, missiles or drones directed towards other countries, they'll take them down.

"So when I talk about Britain playing a role in reinforcing regional stability as part of co-ordinated regional defensive operations, that's what I mean."

Now consultant-led, with four helicopters and a fleet of rapid response vehicles, it delivers 24/7, hospital-standard care to people across Wales, wherever and whenever they need it. The service is a mobile emergency department.

More than 56,000 missions have been conducted since the first flight a quarter of a century ago.

Dr Sue Barnes, the charity's chief executive, said: "Wales Air Ambulance was created by the people of Wales, for the people of Wales. You are a big part of this Welsh success story, helping us grow into the world-class service it is today.

"It costs £13 million each year to keep our helicopters in the sky and rapid response vehicles on the road. We cannot do what we do without your generosity and kindness.

"As we mark our 25th anniversary, we give thanks for all those who continue to support Wales Air Ambulance.

"Whether through regular or one-off donations, playing our lifesaving lottery, fundraising, offering services in kind, or using our shops, it all helps save lives across Wales.

"Of course, the service also owes much to those, past and present, who have been directly involved; Charity employees and volunteers, medics, pilots, engineers, allocators and patient liaison nurses. You can all take pride in the service you helped to create.

"We will be marking this special occasion throughout the year."

Dr Barnes added: "Our silver anniversary deserves a moment of reflection, but equally, it is an opportunity to look to the future. We have a duty to the people of Wales to improve our service and ensure its security for our future generations. We can only achieve this with the continuation of the incredible support we receive from across Wales."

"There have been many 'milestone moments' during the past 25 years", says Mark Winter, operations director for the charity's medical partners, the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS). Mark was a medic on the very first mission in 2001.

He continued: "Being on the first aircraft to take off, and the camaraderie among the first crew to make it work, is among my highlights.

"If anyone had said at the launch event for Wales Air Ambulance Charity that in 25 years, we would have four aircraft covering the whole of Wales, working overnight, with the most advanced interventions, I wouldn't have believed them."

Wales Air Ambulance takes hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transfers them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. It is delivered via a unique third-sector and public-sector partnership.

The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £13mi required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.

EMRTS supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the charity's vehicles.

This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.

As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.

Lead consultant, Dr Ami Jones, was awarded an MBE in 2017 for her contributions to military and civilian pre-hospital critical care. She has worked on board the charity's vehicles for over 10 years.

She said: "As a doctor, you often treat one patient at a time. But being part of the team that helped set up the development of the consultant-led service in 2015 was a great privilege.

"You touch every single patient via your colleagues because if the service had not been put in place, no one would be receiving the care."

Past patient, Joanna Hicks, was on holiday in Pembrokeshire when she got into difficulty whilst swimming on Newgale Beach. Joanna was caught in a rip current and given just a 1% survival rate after being rescued. She spent 10 days fighting for her life in hospital.

A grateful Joanna said: "I cannot thank these amazing, truly impressive people enough. Without the Wales Air Ambulance, I really would not be here today to tell the tale."

At the time, Ashleigh explains that she was missing the creativity of teaching and wanted something to keep her busy during maternity leave. Her content initially focused on affordable days out for parents.

But Ashleigh realised documenting family activities quickly became expensive which ultimately led her to turn to her weekly shop.

“I was on statutory maternity pay, which was diabolical, and the days out were costing me about £50 each time,” she explained. “I wanted to keep doing them because I loved it, but I couldn’t afford it.”

“I just looked at my food shop and thought, I’ll make sure I only spend £25 this week so I can still afford to do the days out,” she said. “I didn’t think much of it I just shared ingredients across meals.” After posting the idea online to her small audience, something unexpected happened.

"I literally just put it up and I only had a few followers and it randomly went viral,” she said. Within weeks, her following increased immensely from around 10,000 to over 100,000.

By 2020 she had built a six-figure online audience and secured a partnership with the supermarket Aldi, becoming an ambassador and in-house recipe writer producing monthly “five meals for £25” plans.

Her growth accelerated during the cost-of-living crisis, when more families began searching for ways to reduce grocery bills.

“I think people were panicking and looking for help, and the media started picking it up,” she said. “Lots of people became aware of my page and my followers just went through the roof.”

Before developing her system, she admits she regularly threw away unused ingredients.

“I used to do fridge clear-outs and just chuck loads in the bin half bags of spinach, cherry tomatoes, crème fraiche,” she said. Now, Ashleigh praises her ability of cutting down food waste at home and shopping for meals in a savvy way.

Her approach focuses on buying versatile ingredients that can stretch across multiple meals. “It becomes a way of life,” she said. “You start looking at ingredients differently how they can work in more than one meal instead of just one.”

Her first cookbook, Thrifty Feasts, released in 2022, became a bestseller, reaching number one in the Amazon charts and the Sunday Times list.

This year, Ashleigh now has released her second book, Five Meals for £25, which she says took around 18 months to complete and features 16 sets of meal plans.

“It’s about learning the skills,” she said. “The price might vary depending on where you shop, but the idea is teaching people how to stretch ingredients and plan properly.”

The success of her platform has also transformed her family’s circumstances. She lives with her partner and their three children aged six, three and one and says the opportunities created by social media have been life-changing. “I work with amazing brands and I’ve built this community of mums online. It’s honestly my dream job.”

Ashleigh's success was completely unplanned. “I didn’t even mean for this to happen,” she said. “It was just something to keep me busy while I was on maternity leave.”

Now, she remains focused on helping families navigate rising food costs and says she still feels grateful every day. “Not a single day goes by where I don’t feel lucky,” she said. “I work so hard because I don’t want this opportunity to slip through my fingers.”

Just days ago, shoppers and staff were shocked by the decision to close the long running store which celebrated its 123rd birthday in 2025. Marks and Spencer has always been a staple in Swansea, and as shops have come and gone over the years it was one of the rare locations that locals expected to stay.

As I'm sat in the cafe on a grey Thursday morning, the saying "death of the high street" has never felt more apparent as there's a sense of mourning in the air. 

Like a typical day the store is busy, and the restaurant is filled with old biddies catching up over a coffee. There's lingers of "I still can't believe it" and apologies to the staff who are set to lose their jobs. One woman shared that she is so upset about the news, and was really shaken when she read that her favourite store would be closing.

Over 90 members of staff will be losing their jobs when the store closes later this year and they have no idea what is coming next for them. I spoke to one staff member, who has worked for the company for over 20 years and there are still questions lingering for those facing unemployment. Will they be relocated? Will they have to look for a new job? Will this happen to other stores?

Meanwhile, punters are wondering where is the nearest location to get their M&S fix.

"Well, we can do our food shop in Fforestfach or Mumbles, but if we want to get some clothes we'll have to trek all the way to Trostre in Llanelli or even Cardiff."

When you see the usual hustle and bustle, you can't help but wonder why would they be closing. There's a clear demand from regulars who will have just months to find somewhere new to get their weekly afternoon teas, with rumours swirling that the shop will close in May.

Despite the sad news you can still hear ripples of laughter from tables of locals and staff, as everyone is making the most of what could be considered the hub of Swansea before it vanishes.

There's a real sense of community here, and honestly that is what makes it so sad. For some, heading for their weekly coffee catch up with their mates in Marks may be the highlight of their week and could even be the only time they really leave the house.

As a child, I would look forward to the occasional trips to M&S with my grandmother or my auntie. I'd feel so grown up. But then as I got older, that excitement faded and it became uncool. That was until I reached my mid 20s and began to truly appreciate the fact that this was a store that had everything in one place- good food and rather trendy clothes.

What used to be considered a shop for OAPs to get their quarter zip jumpers and their comfortable shoes, has become a hot spot for Gen Z to pick up good quality fashionable garments (I couldn't help but pick up a top in the sale during my visit).

With so many stores in Swansea disappearing due to financial pressures, like Woolworths, Wilko, Zara, Debenhams, Miss Selfridge, David Evans and now Marks & Spencer, I can imagine the footfall in Swansea will soon disappear too. This will inevitably have a knock on impact on other businesses in the area, and they're bound to be scared, especially if a big shop like M&S is closing, what hope do small independent alternatives have.

Walking through Swansea city centre feels quite bleak, as what used to be a bustling city full of clothes shops has been replaced with endless fast food chains catered to those nipping in on their lunch break. Gone are the days where you could spend a day shopping, as people pop in to town for an evening meal, head to the cinema or head down Wind Street on a night out.

It's such a shame that after money has been funnelled in to the likes of the arena, and the refurbishment of Castle Gardens, Swansea's high street feels almost like it is beyond repair. Those of us who are used to shopping online may not feel as impacted, but the biddies in Marks will definitely feel the loss.

It became the world's "Original Frying Range manufacturer", according to its website, and has continued to supply "bespoke" frying equipment to fish and chip shops across the UK ever since.

Its most recent clients include:

• Bennett's Fish and Chips (Weymouth)
• Donelli's (Loughborough)
• The Chippery (St Asaph)
• JB'S Fish & Chips (Poole)
• Shortstown Foodbar (Bedford)
• Ocean Blue Fish & Chips (Llandybie)

After 161 years in business, Henry Nuttall Ltd entered administration earlier this month.

Richard Oddy and Jonathan Mark Amor of Azets Holdings Limited were appointed as administrators on February 12 to oversee the process, according to Companies House .

However, it appears the business has been rescued, and is now a part of the RGM Leeds Group.

In a post on Facebook, Henry Nuttall Ltds said: "We’re pleased to share an important update with our customers and wider Henry Nuttall community.

"Henry Nuttall is now part of the RGM Leeds group, alongside Hopkins.

"This is a positive step that strengthens the long-term future of our business, while allowing us to continue operating as the independent brand you know and trust.

"For our customers, nothing changes. The same people, products, values and commitment to service remain firmly in place.

"Day-to-day operations continue as normal, with the added benefit of long-term investment and support behind the scenes.

"We’re excited about what the future holds and grateful for the continued support of our loyal customers, partners and community. More updates will follow as we move forward together."

Turbulent start to 2026 for UK high street

It has been a rough start to 2026 for the UK high street, with several retailers entering administration and others announcing widespread store closures.

Major high street retailers, including River Island , Primark, and Poundland , have been forced to close stores already in 2026.

Revolution owners The Revel Collective also closed 21 bars across the country in January after falling into administration, resulting in the loss of 591 jobs.

Several other retailers have fallen into administration in recent weeks, including:

• Russell & Bromley
• Moores
• Claire's and The Original Factory Shop
• Quiz

Meanwhile, four UK travel companies have also closed in the opening weeks of 2026:

• Tesco also recently revealed plans to cut 380 jobs in stores across the UK, while its been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.

It's not been all bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, Superdrug, and Lidl.

Which recent shop closure has affected you the most? Let us know in the comments below.

Violence broke out late on Saturday’s fixture between Aberkenfig BGC and Trefelin BGC, with video footage widely shared on social media showing adults running onto the pitch and becoming involved in a physical altercation in front of children.

The match, held at Coleg Cymunedol Y Ddderwen in Tondu, was abandoned by the referee after fighting continued for around 90 seconds.

Onlookers could be heard shouting “it’s just a game” and “you’ve got your boys watching” as several adults grappled and threw punches.

Both clubs confirmed over the weekend that internal investigations were under way. Trefelin BGC has now announced its investigation had concluded, with individuals involved handed lifetime bans.

In a statement posted on social media, the club said: “Following the incident on the weekend an internal investigation has been conducted and individuals involved have been handed a life ban by Trefelin BGC.

“Further investigations are in the hands of the relevant governing bodies.

“We will not be making any further comments.”

Aberkenfig BGC previously described themselves as “extremely disappointed” by the incident and apologised to match officials, players and the wider football community, confirming they would compile a full report for the relevant authorities.

In a statement released on Sunday evening, Trefelin BGC said: "As a club we have been made aware of an incident on social media.

"Trefelin BGC certainly don't condone this behaviour and are awaiting reports from the relevant match and league officials.

"We are also conducting an internal investigation. Updates will be made in due course."

The governing bodies are now understood to be examining the matter, with potential further sanctions possible following their review.

The incident is believed to have occurred shortly after a player was sent off late in the game, though both clubs have now stressed that investigations are ongoing.

The footage prompted widespread condemnation online, with many expressing concern at the example set in front of young players.

Further updates are expected once the governing bodies conclude their inquiries.

The Hapello Power Train has been recalled because of a choking hazard for small children, whilst the Stretcherz Stretch Squad Assortment may be contaminated with cancer-causing asbestos. Customers are urged to return the items to Asda or contact Asda's customer services if they cannot visit their local branch.

Those who return the items will receive a full refund.

Stretcherz Stretch Squad Assortment

• Barcode: 5050837662419
• Purchase dates: January 2024 to February 2026

Slammerz Assortment Toys

• Barcode: 5050835105345
• Purchase dates: January 2025 to February 2026

Both the Slammerz and Stretcherz toys have been recalled amid concerns that they may contain asbestos, a banned substance as it's a known carcinogen that poses a serious risk to health – even at low levels of exposure.

The items have now been removed from shelves and recalled by Asda, and the Office for Product Safety and Standards have warned that other retailers may have stocked the toys, with further guidance to be issued shortly.

Issuing the recall notice, Asda said: "Testing has shown that the sand-like material inside some products may contain trace levels of asbestos. The overall risk is considered low, but because asbestos should not be present in any amount, we are recalling the affected items as a precaution.

"While we have received no reports of harm, we are taking this action out of an abundance of caution and in line with our commitment to the highest standards of safety and quality."

Customers should return the products at the earliest opportunity to receive a complete refund.

Hapello Power Train

• Barcode: 5063089308547
• Purchase dates: August 2024 to February 2026

The Hapello Power Train has been withdrawn from sale because it presents a choking hazard. Asda said: "We have found that in some cases this product may release the orange steam dome from the top of the train, which could pose as a small part choking hazard. We have taken the decision to recall the product."

Customers who own the toy have been urged to return it to their nearest Asda branch. The retailer stated: "If you have purchased the Hapello Power Train, please bring it back to your nearest store where you will be given a full refund.

"You do not need your receipt. The product was sold between 2024 and 2026. We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused. If you would like any further information, please contact: Asda Customer Relations on 0330 053 0111."

• Officers are looking for 16-year-olds Roxy and Lacie, who were last seen on Saturday, February 21. In an appeal for information about their whereabouts, South Wales Police said "there is a concern for their welfare."

• The girls have links to Cardiff city city centre, the Rhondda Valleys, the Cynon Valley and the Caerphilly area. Roxy and Lacie were last seen on Saturday afternoon in Mountain Ash.

• Roxy was wearing black leggings with white socks and white sliders with a pink jumper and black body warmer. Lacie was seen wearing black combat trousers with a black jacket.

• Officers looking for the girls have asked anyone who has seen Roxy or Lacie or has any information about their whereabouts to contact the force, quoting reference numbers 2600056340/ 2600056356.

• You can contact the police force via its live chat platform by clicking here or via an online form by clicking here. You can also call 101. Alternatively, information can also be given via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or its online form by clicking here. Always call 999 in an emergency.

The trial will see round-the-clock parcel lockers installed outside selected Post Office branches, enabling customers to access services beyond normal opening hours.

Anna Malley, Director of Partnerships and Acquisitions at Royal Mail, said: "Post Office is one of Royal Mail's most important partners, and this is an exciting step forward in how we work together.

"The trial reflects our commitment to meeting a wide range of customer needs whilst also maintaining existing options."

Neill O'Sullivan, Mails and Parcels Director at Post Office, said: "We are delighted that after a 370-year partnership with Royal Mail, we continue to innovate and ensure parcel services meet the needs of customers who want the flexibility of using a locker for their parcel collection and delivery.

"We will evaluate this trial, and in particular the benefits it has brought to our postmasters and look forward to working with Royal Mail over the next few months on this trial."

This announcement comes nine months after Royal Mail and Sainsbury's revealed a long-term partnership introducing parcel lockers at Sainsbury's stores across the country.

Sainsbury's has become the first supermarket chain to partner with Royal Mail on its rapidly expanding network of parcel drop-off and collection points.

Royal Mail launched its parcel locker network in December 2024 in response to rising demand for convenient parcel drop-off and collection facilities, as well as to support the growing number of second-hand marketplace sellers.

At the time of the launch, Jack Clarkson, Group Strategy and Transformation Director at Royal Mail, said: "Partnering with a retailer with the scale and popularity of Sainsbury's is great news for our customers and the UK public, who will now have even more ways to drop off and collect their parcels in convenient locations.

"Due to the relentless growth in online shopping and secondhand marketplaces, there is increased demand from our customers for more parcel drop off and collection points.

"To meet our goal of making sending and receiving parcels as easy as possible, we must considerably expand our network.

"This is the start of an exciting partnership with Sainsbury's that will help us to meet that goal at pace."

According to The Sun, preparations were under way well in advance, with senior officers fully aware that they would be taking the former Duke of York into custody on the day he turned 66. After his arrest, he was reportedly offered a single cup of Yorkshire Tea while in custody.

In the run-up to the operation, many staff at Aylsham Police Investigation Centre in Norfolk — roughly a 50-minute drive from Sandringham — were warned not to report for duty on the Thursday of the arrest. It is understood that Andrew was the only detainee processed at the site that morning.

The decision to limit attendance at the custody suite was communicated “days before the arrest”, according to reports. Those officers and staff who were required on site were informed only on the morning itself that a “notable person” would be arriving.

Residents in the area later described an unusually subdued atmosphere around the centre while Andrew was inside. Normally regarded as North Norfolk’s principal custody facility, it is typically a “hive of activity”. Instead, locals said it appeared “eerily quiet” during the high-profile detention.

A source told The Sun: “This raid was planned days in advance and the fact they knew it was his birthday and went ahead shows they were doing their jobs properly - policing without fear or favour. It shows nobody is above the law.”

Officers were said to be acutely conscious of the sensitivity and prominence of the arrest, which has been described as the most significant of its kind in recent memory. As a result, every aspect of the operation was carefully managed to avoid disruption or security concerns.

Andrew was detained on suspicion of misconduct in public office following allegations that surfaced after the release of files connected to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The claims relate to assertions that Andrew shared sensitive information with Epstein during his tenure as the UK’s trade envoy.

He spent approximately 11 hours in custody before being released under investigation. The arrest came despite Andrew having previously denied any wrongdoing in connection with Epstein. While he has strongly refuted past allegations concerning his links to the disgraced financier, he has not directly addressed the most recent claims.

Search activity continued on Friday at Royal Lodge in Windsor, Berkshire — Andrew’s former residence — as detectives pursued further lines of inquiry.

The political ramifications of the arrest could extend beyond the criminal investigation. Although Andrew was stripped of his royal title last year, he remains eighth in line to the throne. Removing him from the line of succession would require primary legislation passed by Parliament.

The Government, led by Keir Starmer, is understood to be considering its options once the police investigation concludes. Any alteration to the succession would also need the consent of other Commonwealth realms that recognise the British monarch as head of state, including Australia, Canada and Jamaica.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray indicated that ministers were keeping all possibilities under review. He told Sky News: “The Government is considering any further steps that might be required, and we’re not ruling anything out. But at this stage, it would be inappropriate for us to go any further because there is a live police investigation under way.”

She has since appeared in a host of television shows, including competing in the recent series of Celebrity Traitors. But throughout her career she has also found herself as a target for the tabloids.

However Charlotte, who celebrates her 40th birthday today, is said to be “happier and freer” than ever now. It comes after she founded a healing retreat in the heart of the Welsh valleys.

A two-hour drive from her home in Barry, Charlotte told The Guardian she “breaks down” whenever she arrives at The Dreaming. She opened the retreat in 2023, two years after buying what was then Rhydoldog House near Rhaeadr, in Powys.

She says she feels she can go “two to three weeks” without heading to the retreat before she starts yearning to go back. She said: “As I get closer, I feel myself relaxing, a calm coming over me, my nervous system resetting.”

It is then Charlotte says the tears start streaming down. She added: “This land holds me like nothing else. It feels like coming home; I’m enveloped here.”

According to Charlotte, spending time in the wild can help improve mental health while reducing stress-related cortisol levels. She said: “By slowing down and allowing ourselves to witness the rhythms and complexity of the natural world we can arrive at a peace that has become virtually impossible to achieve with the incessant and often exhausting pace of modern life.”

She says she bought Rhydoldog House after being “awestruck” by the property. She enjoyed the “vibrant energy” of the land and the “mystic waterfalls, rocks and caves”.

The singer however says she had “no idea” that it would become such a huge part of her life. She says the decision to spend her life savings on the property “changed my life”.

After an 18-month renovation, which was captured on the Discovery+ series Charlotte Church's Dream Build, she was able to open the retreat. She now offers a series of wellness courses and day retreats focusing around holistic wellness.

The property sits on a sprawling 50 acre plot, of which 33 acres are taken up by the Celtic woodland. It is home to the Nant Gorwen waterfall as well as the rolling forests.

Charlotte says the retreat has given her a place to go and “heal my wounds” after a life of exposure. She admits that for a long time people simply saw her as a “celebrity”.

She added: “A p**s-head celebrity, really. It was a time with lots of misogyny flying about, especially towards working-class women, or women who were outspoken.”

After opening The Dreaming, which is hosting a special queer retreat next month, Charlotte realised she “hadn’t a f*****g clue” about running her own business but says it “taught me a lot”.

Charlotte, who lives with her three children and husband Jonathan Powell, concludes that The Dreaming gave her a “place to shelter and take refuge” from life. Day retreats at The Dreaming start from £170, with a three-night retreat starting at £688.00 per person.

Dry slopes became hugely popular in the UK in the 1970s, offering a way to learn skiing without travelling abroad. At their peak, reports suggest there were around 120 dry ski slopes across the country.

According to the BBC, many closed in the 1990s and early 2000s, due to falling out of favour or simply mismanagement.

Today, that number has been halved, with just 53 recorded across the UK and six in Wales. Morfa was part of that wave, providing a local space for people to try skiing and snowboarding long before indoor snow centres became common.

Opened in 1989, Morfa was one of the later dry slopes in the UK. The 3.48-acre plot of land with it's 125-metre slope welcomed beginners trying out skis for the first time and more experienced youngsters honing their turns.

A key part of day to day life on the site was Harold Thomas, father-in-law of owner Roger Bateman and a familiar face to anyone who spent time there. 

For a generation, Morfa was a place to learn and compete. Ski Council of Wales race days were a highlight for many, while others simply came for the chance to try something new.

Children from across the country would come for a test run before school trips abroad. It was part of the rhythm of life in Swansea for nearly two decades.

However, by 2006, the slope's future was uncertain.

There were ambitious proposals to replace it with Wales's first indoor ski centre, complete with a restaurant at the top offering panoramic views of the Swansea Valley, and a 100-bed budget hotel.

Speaking in 2010, Swansea businessman Roger Bateman said contracts had actually been exchanged in 2006 with the developer behind the scheme.

But despite the plans, there was little sign of progress.

"For some reason the scheme has gone off the boil," Mr Bateman said at the time. Around the same period, a London-based developer also explored the idea of building a wooden bicycle track on the site.

Yet, none of these plans went ahead and for more than a decade, the site was largely forgotten. What had once been a busy, familiar place slowly became just another empty plot of land.

In 2019, plans resurfaced to transform the derelict land with a drive-through restaurant and shops, but drainage issues stalled progress. 

Then, in 2021, there was a promising step forward as Swansea Council's planning department approved proposals for seven industrial units, put forward by Carman Developments. The original plan detailed a single-storey building made up of seven units built on the land, as well as 40 car parking spaces and a loading bay behind the units - which would offer a linked trip with shopping at the adjacent Morfa Shopping Centre

Despite this - five years on - the slope has remained largely untouched, with the last major update being in 2024 when the site was put up for sale for £295,000.

Today, the great slope is a muddy hill - silent and stripped of purpose.

Metal barriers fence off its base, litter gathers where skiers once queued and weeds push through the tatty ground.

It is a far cry from the laughter and nervous chatter that once echoed there, as people slid along the hill's plastic bristles.

Since Andrew's arrest, there has been increased activity surrounding the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where Andrew relocated after departing Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate.

Hundreds of members of the public and journalists have descended upon the vicinity around Sandringham. Local residents, already familiar with royal sightings nearby, expressed frustration – though for different reasons.

"Residents, used to seeing the royal family, were fed up by the news that Andrew had been arrested," wrote The Times' Lara Wildenberg, Jessica Sharkey and Bill Curtis. "Younger ones because it felt like too little too late; older ones because they felt it was a 'witch-hunt'."

Window company owner Luke Schrier, 47, remarked to the publication: "If we went back 200 years ago, he'd have been beheaded. It's an embarrassment to England because this is going to be worldwide."

Meanwhile, bricklayer Jamie Jackson, 31, emphasised local perspectives regarding the Royal Family: "My mum and my nan all follow [the royals] - anyone my age doesn't care. I don't know anyone that supports him round here."

Other locals voiced a more general view on the Royal Family and the situation at large, expressing sympathy for the family. One individual commented that it was unfortunate, but simultaneously fortunate that the late Queen wasn't present.

Another local, a retired teacher who wished to remain anonymous, stated that the community held strong loyalty towards the Royal Family.

Unmarked police vehicles were seen arriving at the Royal Lodge, Andrew's former home, on Friday morning.

Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright released a statement regarding the investigation on Thursday, he said: "Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.

"It is important that we protect the integrity and objectivity of our investigation as we work with our partners to investigate this alleged offence."

Andrew has consistently denied any impropriety relating to Epstein.

In response to his younger brother's arrest, King Charles, 77, issued a statement on the matter on Thursday.

He said: "I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office.

"What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities."

The King further added: "In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and co-operation. Let me state clearly: the law must take its course.

"As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all. Charles R."

Thames Valley Police issued a statement on Thursday evening updating the public on their investigation.

They said: "Thames Valley Police is able to provide an update in relation to an investigation into the offence of misconduct in public office.

"On Thursday we arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

"The arrested man has now been released under investigation. We can also confirm that our searches in Norfolk have now concluded."

On Friday, one of the largest private car park operators was given a £473,000 fine by industry regulators. Euro Car Parks, which itself dished out 1.9 million penalty tickets to motorists in a single year, received the fine from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

The CMA stated that the fine was levied due to the company's failure to provide requested information. The firm reportedly ignored seven requests for information over a three-month period, sent via registered post, email, and hand-delivered letter.

The CMA noted that numerous drivers had accused the company of unjustly demanding payment for alleged breaches of car park rules. However, Euro Car Parks did not respond until the CMA indicated that a fine was being considered, 

But what are your rights when parking in a private car park, and when can you contest an unfairly issued ticket? In June 2024, a new Single Code of Practice was jointly introduced by the British Parking Association (BPA) and International Parking Community (IPC), the UK's two Accredited Trade Associations for parking.

The code establishes certain requirements that registered private car parks must adhere to. Regrettably, not every company is affiliated with the two organisations, but whilst this exempts them from following their Code of Practice, it also prevents them from obtaining your address information from the DVLA.

Nevertheless, most of the larger operators will be affiliated with one of the two bodies. Euro Car Parks Ltd, for instance, is registered with the BPA.

The updated code:

• Introduces an Appeals Charter, creating clear parameters for motorists to appeal against a parking charge
• Mandates a 10-minute grace period for motorists
• Provides consistent rules for private parking operators
• Requires clear signage to help motorists navigate parking on private land
• Ensures the protection of the most vulnerable in society, with no decrease to the deterrent for abuse of Blue Badge bays or those who choose to park selfishly, putting their own convenience above the needs or rights of others.
• Maintains a cap on the parking charge at £100 reduced to £60 if paid within 14 days.

Private Parking Operators will adopt the new unified Code by October 1, 2024, with all existing locations requiring updates by December 2026. The new sector Code is available for download here.

What constitutes a private parking ticket?

Several categories of parking ticket exist, though not all represent "fines". When the ticket is issued by a public authority such as the local council or police, it takes the form of a Penalty Charge Notice, Excess Charge Notice or Fixed Penalty Notice, and that constitutes a fine.

A ticket issued for parking on private property would be a Parking Charge Notice, which is not a fine. According to consumer specialist Martin Lewis, it is simply "an invoice".

Verify whether the parking company belongs to an ATA

But what if you receive a ticket in a private car park and believe it is unjustified? According to Citizens Advice, there are certain measures you can pursue.

It's first word of warning however is that if the parking firm issued the ticket on your vehicle and isn't an ATA member, "don't contact them unless they write to you first. They probably won't be able to find your details - only ATA members can get your name and address from the DVLA".

Verify whether a parking company belongs to an ATA by checking the British Parking Association (BPA) or International Parking Community (IPC) websites. Alternatively, you can telephone the BPA on 01444 447 300 to confirm a company's membership status. Calls typically cost up to 55p per minute from mobiles and up to 13p per minute from landlines. It should be free if you have a contract that includes calls to landlines - check with your supplier if you're not sure.

If you receive a ticket through the post from a non-ATA member

Should you receive a ticket by post from a non-ATA member, they have obtained your address and you should respond. They may have acquired your details unlawfully.

You can lodge a complaint with the DVLA regarding potential illegal data sharing by writing to Data Sharing Strategy and Compliance Team, DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1DY.

Contact the parking company in writing

If the firm is registered with a trade association, Citizens Advice explained you can locate a parking operator's contact information on the BPA or IPC websites or on the Parking Charge Notice. It added: "Check on the notice if you must use the parking company’s website or if you can write to them with your reasons for objecting.

"You must write to them before you make a formal appeal to an independent appeals service." You can use the Citizen's Advice template letter to write to the parking company. Include any evidence you have, for example:

• a valid pay and display ticket
• photos of signs that are hard to see or understand, or where the information is misleading
• a letter from someone who was with you saying what happened – write ‘Witness statement’ at the top of this
• a repair note, if your car broke down
• permission from the landowner

For a hospital parking ticket, you should submit evidence to the parking operator if your appointment overran. Request the hospital receptionist to print a note on headed paper, confirming there were delays.

Appeal to an independent appeals service

If the parking operator isn't a trade association member, there's no formal appeals process. However there are alternative options available.

If the parking operator is a trade association member, you can appeal to an independent appeals service. Citizens Advice said: "It's free to do, so it's worth trying if you still think your ticket was unfair.

"They might see things differently to the parking company and agree that your ticket should be cancelled. They won't cancel a ticket because of an unexpected event, for example if you were delayed because you were feeling unwell."

The appeal process will vary depending on whether the parking company that issued your ticket belongs to the BPA or IPC approved operators scheme. Make a formal appeal to Parking on Private Land Appeals (POPLA) if they’re a BPA parking company. If they’re an IPC member, make a formal appeal to the Independent Appeals Service.

For a ticket issued by a BPA member, you have 28 days from the rejection of your informal appeal to submit a formal appeal. For a ticket from an IPC member, you can lodge a formal appeal free of charge within 21 days.

Beyond 21 days, you can still appeal within one year of your formal appeal being rejected if you pay a £15 fee. Ensure you include any evidence that supports your case.

If your formal appeal is rejected or you're unable to appeal

There are still options available to you, but you'll risk having to pay more money ultimately. You might be better off simply paying your parking ticket.

Alternatively, you can allow the parking company to take you to court. You can opt not to pay your parking ticket and the parking company will decide whether it's worthwhile pursuing you through the courts.

If you are taken to court and you lose:

• you’ll have to pay the fine, which could go up by then
• you might have to pay court costs - these could be expensive

However if you win:

• you won’t have to pay the fine
• the parking company might have to pay court costs

Reporting the parking company

If you believe your ticket was unjust, you can report the parking company to Trading Standards. To lodge a complaint with Trading Standards, get in touch with the Citizens Advice consumer service.

In a letter seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service they claim one of three older people’s wards at Ysbryd y Coed – an £18.5 million unit at Cefn Coed Hospital which opened in 2012 – is closing and that one consequence will be female patients transferring onto a male-only ward. They allege the focus of the decision is more about saving money than patient care.

Swansea Bay University Health Board said it was reducing its older people’s mental health bed capacity from 78 to 58 on a temporary basis, that current bed provision exceeded demand a lot of the time, and that Ysbryd y Coed continued to play a key role in providing specialist care for older adults with complex mental health and dementia‑related needs.

Patient watchdog organisation Llais Wales said it was due to meet health board officials this week to seek clarity on the decision process. 

The staff letter claims that Onnen ward at Ysbryd y Coed will be losing its beds and that the resulting mix of male and female patients on another older people’s ward will impact dignity and present risks which don’t exist on a same-sex ward.

According to the letter, “there was little to no communication” with staff who had “no opportunity” to express concerns or provide feedback. It also alleges families of patients have not been informed.

“As staff we feel that we have no other option but to express our frustration in this manner as we have had no formal avenue or even invite to do so in any other way,” says the letter.

In response, the health board said no decision had been made to permanently close older people’s mental health or dementia inpatient services in Swansea or Neath Port Talbot.

It said: “Ysbryd y Coed remains operational. It continues to play a central role in delivering high‑quality, specialist care for older adults with complex mental health and dementia‑related needs.

“However, it is only one part of the health board’s overall service model for older people’s mental health services. A recent review confirmed current bed provision exceeds demand for a significant period. We have therefore recently implemented a temporary, phased reduction in capacity, from 78 to 58 beds across the health board.”

It said the move had been developed with the service’s clinical teams and “carefully managed to ensure safety and service continuity”. It added. “Although it is not about financial savings it does form part of good clinical and financial governance.”

The health board, which will keep the change under review, didn’t specify where the 20 beds would be lost from but did say they were at one of Ysbryd y Coed’s wards.

And, asked to clarify if the move would mean female patients transferring to a male-only ward, it said: “This change will result in mixed gender wards, but all wards in Ysbryd y Coed have individual single bedrooms with ensuite facilities within them.”

Llais Wales said temporary urgent changes by health boards required a clear clinical or safety reason, according to Welsh Government guidance.

The patient advocacy group said it had concerns about the process followed in this instance and would seek clarity on the evidence underpinning the decision, how long it was planned to be in effect for, and what impact assessments had been carried out, particularly regarding a move from single-sex to mixed ward arrangements.

“Older people with mental health needs and their families deserve clarity and reassurance,” said a Llais Wales spokeswoman.

Swansea City posted the update on social media, wishing “our very own Kev Johns all the best” and saying he is recovering well. The club added it looks forward to welcoming him back to the Swansea.com Stadium soon.

The news has prompted a wave of support from fans, performers and people across the city who have grown up with Kev’s voice, humour and warmth — whether on stage, on air or on the terraces.

A giant of Swansea culture

Kev is one of Swansea’s most recognisable figures: a radio host, panto star, charity champion and the long‑serving club chaplain at Swansea City.

In 2022 he was awarded the Freedom of the City, recognising decades of work in the community, on stage and in local broadcasting.

He has also been open about his previous health battles. In 2023 he thanked the NHS after undergoing cancer treatment, telling Swansea Bay News at the time that he was determined to keep performing and “make the show go on”.

‘Get well soon, Kev’

Messages of support have poured in since the club’s announcement, with fans calling him “a Swansea legend”, “the voice of the Liberty” and “part of the fabric of the city”.

Kev is understood to be recovering well following the stroke last week.

Swansea City said:

“Wishing our very own Kev Johns all the best after suffering a minor stroke last week. He is recovering well and we look forward to seeing him back at the stadium soon.”

A community figure who means a lot to Swansea

From Christmas pantomimes to charity fundraisers, school visits and matchday announcements, Kev’s presence has been a constant in Swansea life for more than 30 years.

His absence from the stadium this weekend was immediately noticed by supporters — and his recovery will be watched closely by a city that has taken him firmly to its heart.

The military‑grade kits, which have saved lives on battlefields and in major trauma incidents, are already widespread across Swansea and Neath Port Talbot. Hundreds have been installed through an initiative led by former High Sheriff of West Glamorgan Melanie James and the Heartbeat Trust charity.

Llanelli town councillor Shaun Greaney says Carmarthenshire needs to catch up — and fast.

He said the kits could be rolled out across every primary school in the county for less than £10,000, adding that the price of a single kit is just £95.

“Llanelli and Carmarthenshire is lagging behind our neighbours,” he said. “The lives of adults and children here could be saved at a price of just £95 per kit. For less than £10,000 all 94 Carmarthenshire primary schools could get that extra protection.”

Thirteen secondary schools in the county have recently received kits thanks to sponsorship from Morgan Laroche solicitors. Several Llanelli businesses and residents have also bought kits for vehicles and private defibrillator cabinets.

Greaney said Llanelli Town Council had already installed kits in its nine defibrillator cabinets, most of them outside community centres and public buildings. He hopes other councils and community groups will follow.

‘These kits save lives’

The push for bleed control kits in Wales was inspired by the work of the Daniel Baird Foundation, set up after 26‑year‑old Daniel Baird was stabbed to death in Birmingham in 2017. It was later established that his life may have been saved if a publicly accessible kit had been available.

Melanie James, now a trustee of the Heartbeat Trust, said catastrophic bleeding can happen in many ways — not just violence.

She said: “Catastrophic bleeds can happen after a car accident, a work‑related injury or a fall. There are 30,000 bleed control kits in England and just hundreds in our part of Wales. I think they should be available in all secondary schools.”

James said the charity also provides awareness sessions to give people confidence in using the kits.

“In less than an hour people will be equipped with skills that could save a life,” she said.

Free training sessions announced

Free CPR, defibrillator and bleed control kit training will take place at:

• Wesleyan Community Hall, Campbell Street, Morfa – Tuesday 24 February, 6–7pm
• Paddock Street Hall, off Station Road, Llanelli – Monday 16 March

To book a place, residents can contact Llanelli Town Council on 01554 774352.

An appeal has been made after 44-year-old Stewart was reported missing on Wednesday (February 11) after his vehicle was found parked in Cerrig Cwplau near Claerwen Dam in the Elan Valley, Powys.

A large search for Stewart has begun in the area, stretching across to Ceredigion. 

Stewart is described as around 5ft 10ins tall, of medium build, with black hair and a long beard.

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: "While officers continue their enquiries, residents in Powys and Ceredigion are encouraged to share any sightings or information with police either online, by e-mailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk, or by calling 101, quoting reference DP-20260211-104.

"Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by visiting crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555111."

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's concerning links to Jeffrey Epstein represent merely the most recent in a series of substantial challenges for the monarchy, from the death of the much-loved Queen and the dramatic consequences of Harry and Meghan's exit, to King Charles and Kate's individual cancer diagnoses.

With intense scrutiny focused on the royals, the King this week took the unusual step of releasing a statement as further disclosures about his brother's relationship with the convicted sex offender emerge. The Prince and Princess of Wales followed suit.

Certain commentators have raised questions about the monarchy's prospects following such a controversy. However, others contend it remains in capable hands, largely due to the future King and Queen, William and Kate.

The pair represent a formidable force, both in the public eye and away from it, with William reportedly having adopted a firm position on managing his uncle. Now a new book pledges to reveal details about some of the most significant stories surrounding the Prince and Princess of Wales in recent years - including the 'Andrew problem' - alongside an extraordinary insight into their personal lives, 

'William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story' has been written by the Mirror's royal editor Russell Myers, who has drawn upon his extensive years of experience covering the royal couple. Set for publication on 26th February, it marks the first joint biography of the Prince and Princess of Wales in more than a decade.

Before its launch, we examine some of the most significant revelations contained within its pages....

William's major disagreement

"In a clear sign of his wish for further harmony in his family, Charles invited his former sister-in-law, Sarah, Duchess of York, to join the royal family and walk alongside her ex-husband Prince Andrew to church at Sandringham.

"It would be the first time she had participated in this tradition in 32 years. The King’s decision to bring his brother back into the family fold was an issue William fundamentally disagreed with, to such a degree that he challenged Charles directly.

"A source with knowledge of the conversation said that William was 'very much put in his place', and that while he did not agree with the view that Andrew's exile should be limited, he did not provoke his father further.

"William's negative view of his uncle Andrew had predated the Duke of York's fall from grace. For years the Prince of Wales had questioned what benefit his uncle was to the wider operation. 'Long before he was embroiled in the scandal [involving Virginia Giuffre], he'd always thought his uncle was a bit of an ignoramus,' a palace source revealed. 'He would question 'what does he actually do?'

"But it was more than that. He'd seen how Andrew behaved in front of staff, ordering people about, the aggressive or dismissive manner, they'd never seen eye to eye.

"William has a relationship with his cousins [Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie]… so he takes no umbrage with them, but there's no love lost for Andrew or Sarah.

"In an alternate dimension Andrew probably thought there would be a way back into public life if the scandal or the headlines died down, but it would have always had to be while his brother was King. William didn't think either of them [Andrew or Sarah] should be anywhere near the family, publicly or otherwise, but he was overruled by his father."

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has expressed regret over his links to Epstein, but always vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

William's true thoughts on uncle

"William and Catherine joined the family at Sandringham alongside the King and Queen. Here, for the first time, in an arrangement familiar to many blended families across the country, Camilla's children and grandchildren were present for the extended festivities.

"The harmonious scenes were to last only slightly longer than the Christmas leftovers. As soon as the new year had begun, Andrew was once again in the spotlight, facing a raft of lurid allegations.

"His fate was sealed following the release of court documents related to a New York defamation case brought in 2015 by Andrew's accuser Virginia Giuffre, against Ghislaine Maxwell, the duke's former friend who procured underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein to abuse.

"Details in the legal papers suggested the Duke of York had indulged in 'daily massages' during frequent visits to the late paedophile's Florida mansion, had committed 'acts of sexual abuse' and took part in an 'underage orgy'.

"William again implored the King to act: to strip Andrew of his titles and banish him from the family for good in order to protect the reputation of the institution.

"While Andrew had always vehemently denied the allegations, both publicly and privately to his family, one palace source close to William said: 'The Prince of Wales was adamant the whole episode would never go away and, despite how others may have felt, there was absolutely no upside in Andrew being protected.

"His view was crystal clear, Andrew shouldn't be anywhere near the family under any circumstances, not by association, not at family functions, anywhere.

"Every single time there was a new revelation, which no one knew when it was coming or what the next one would be, it was a stain on all of the family'."

Kate's part in Andrew's banishment

"William and Catherine's personal view has been that their best option is to keep their distance from the source of the problem. They knew that the disturbing claims of sexual abuse that have pursued Andrew for more than a decade, allegations he has always vehemently denied, had permanently damaged him in the public’s eyes.

"And his now famous BBC Newsnight interview, where he failed to apologise for his connection to Epstein, or acknowledge the victims of sexual abuse, was, for William and Catherine, terminal for their relationship with him.

"The late Queen sought to protect her son from complete banishment, clinging to the hope that he would one day be exonerated. Similarly, while acknowledging that his brother could never return to public duties, Charles attempted to honour his mother's wishes and for a long time stopped short of pushing for Andrew’s complete banishment. By contrast, William made it clear that once he became king there would be no such mercy.

"Since 2019 the ever more depressing drip of information relating to Andrew and Epstein has presented a serious challenge to the institution. Buckingham Palace has not acted for the prince since he stepped down from public duties, suggesting he was a private individual, and in doing so sought to further distance itself from him.

"But with every Balmoral meet-up or Christmas walkabout that came around, questions were raised as to how close to the King, or William, Andrew actually was. Did the royal family think this would all blow over if they kept quiet, or kept him close? William and Catherine have never seen it that way."

While the start of the year usually represents a gentle beginning to the royal calendar, 2024 was about to change all that.

"William was left in an extraordinary position. Suddenly, with three children to care for at home and no live-in staff at their Adelaide Cottage home, and with his wife and father in hospital, his future was looking decidedly different.

"When the Princess of Wales entered hospital on 16 January, and was then ghosted out two weeks later to disappear completely from public view for potentially months on end, it created an incredible vacuum of information.

"'When Catherine went in, he was fairly resolute,' said a close aide. They both very calmly told the children what was going on and how long Catherine would need to be away for, but explained other than that everything would continue as normal and when she came home, she would need to rest up for a bit."

"Catherine was able to keep in touch with her family through video calls from her bedside, catching up on what George, Charlotte and Louis had been doing at school and asking if ‘Papa’ had been able to cook for them while she had been away.

"At that time it seemed to all be perfectly in hand, they were the calmness in the storm certainly. But away from the children he was of course incredibly pensive. His father's illness brought into focus just how quickly his life, and that of his family as well as the whole landscape of the institution, could change very quickly."

The family states that they experienced ongoing service issues and were unable to reach a satisfactory resolution despite repeated attempts to engage with the company’s customer support team. They say the situation caused significant disruption and frustration within their household.

A case was sent to the Ombudsman which was won by the family but YouFibre still refused to help the family,

“We believe customers should be able to rely on clear communication and timely support,” the family said in a statement. “In our case, we do not feel our concerns were handled effectively. We are sharing our experience so others can make fully informed decisions.”

YouFibre is also telling customers that they will pay customers out of there old contract if they switch. However this is not the case as we have had reports from a number of customers that they don’t send out the payments as promised and will keep asking for more documents.

The matter has been formally reported to Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, for review.

The family is encouraging other consumers to:

Review broadband contracts carefully before signing

Understand cancellation terms and complaint procedures

Keep written records of any service issues

Escalate unresolved concerns through official regulatory channels

While experiences with service providers can differ, the family says greater transparency and accountability are essential in the telecommunications sector.

Pulse Media has reached out to YouFibre for a comment. But YouFibre haven't responded. 

Club officials say “a small group of individuals attempted to set fire to our artificial playing surface”, adding that it was a “deliberate attempt” to cause damage. 

The club has taken action in the hours that have followed the incident by banning unauthorised attendance at The Wern. Police have been made aware of the vandalism and an investigation is underway.

Merthyr RFC posted on social media: “Earlier this evening (Saturday), a small group of individuals attempted to set fire to our artificial playing surface.

"This isn’t just ‘kids being kids’ - it was a deliberate attempt to damage a facility that costs hundreds of thousands of pounds and serves the entire community.

"Due to this incident, we are forced to move to a zero tolerance policy. No unauthorised attendance at The Wern, only those here for arranged training or match days are permitted to enter the facility.

"Only those playing, permitted to enter the field of play. Mandatory Adult/Parental supervision for all Under17s.

"We are working closely with South Wales Police and reviewing multiple CCTV sources. If you live on the Ynysfach Estate and saw anything this evening (Saturday) or have information that could identify those involved, please message us directly.

"If you are a parent/guardian please ensure you discourage visiting, without a reason to do so. The Wern facility is not a meeting point - unauthorised attendance will be treated as trespass. Don’t let a minority spoil it for the majority.”

What it means for Trump. Mandelson’s future. The artist formerly known as Prince Andrew. It’s a masterclass in looking the wrong way, and I reckon that’s exactly the point.

Because if we actually talked about what this scandal is fundamentally about – the systematic abuse of women and girls by influential men who thought they were untouchable – we’d have to confront some deeply uncomfortable truths.

I know this playbook all too well. I’m a survivor of sexual violence. I watched this behaviour unfold up close; powerful men rallying around a predator like they were protecting a mate who’d had one pint too many, not someone credibly accused of abusing their position. Careers protected, reputations laundered, victims quietly undermined.

The machinery doesn’t just live in shadowy cabals at the upper echelons of society; it operates in plain sight. It’s there in the whisper networks women build to survive – the unwritten maps of which rooms not to be alone in, which colleagues to avoid at the Christmas party, who to avoid getting in a lift with. And it’s there in every news cycle where we somehow make the story about anyone except those harmed.

Every woman I know has witnessed or experienced the attitudes that make this possible. The boss who kept promoting the sleazy manager because “he brings in the sales”. The colleague who laughed off inappropriate comments as “banter”.

The friend who was told she was overreacting when she complained about being groped by a senior colleague at a work event. These are the foundations that let the whole rotten edifice stand.

What gets me about the Epstein files isn’t just the depravity, it’s the casual ordinariness of how it was enabled.

Take Steve Bannon, who now calls Epstein a “globalist child molester” but once helped him brainstorm a PR strategy.
“What about establishing THE major centre for human trafficking, teenage prostitution etc” Bannon suggested in emails. A Jeffrey Epstein Foundation to tackle the very crimes Epstein was committing.

You couldn’t make it up, except we’ve seen this playbook before. The predator who becomes the champion. It works because we’re desperate to look anywhere else.

Melinda French Gates said something on a podcast this week that stuck with me. When asked about Bill Gates appearing in the Epstein files, she responded: “Those questions are for those people, and for even my ex-husband. They need to answer to those things, not me.”

The women connected to these men have become collateral damage in a story that should never have been about them.

But the real collateral damage? The survivors. The women and girls who were trafficked, abused, and treated as disposable by men with enough wealth to build an iron fortress around their behaviour.

Where are their voices in the media coverage? Where are the conversations about what justice looks like for them? Where’s the reckoning with the systems that made this possible?

We’re having yet more conversations about influential men’s reputations while the people who were harmed remain what they’ve always been, footnotes in their own story.

Centring victims means believing them. It means their right to justice matters more than protecting powerful men’s legacies. Simple as that.

As a survivor, I can’t begin to express what it’s like to watch this play out. It’s exhausting. It’s infuriating. And it’s depressingly familiar. Sexual violence thrives in environments where victims are treated as inconvenient complications in stories that are really about something else. Politics. Power. Money. Access.

When the Epstein story broke properly in 2019, I thought: finally. Finally, we’re going to have that reckoning. We’ll stop obsessing over his little black book of the global elite and ask the only question that matters: how did so many men with power enable, participate in, or turn a blind eye to this?

Seven years on, we’re still not asking it.

The scandal isn’t about Mandelson or a disgraced royal. It’s about a system that made all of this possible and remains entirely intact.

Until we finally centre victims in these conversations – until we listen to them, and let their voices drive the narrative – we’re a long way from having that reckoning. We’re just caught in another news cycle. And when this one ends, the cycle will grind on. The next set of victims will be sidelined. Another scandal will be about anything other than the abuse at its core.

I’m sick of it. Every woman I know is sick of it. Duw, we’re beyond sick of it.

So here’s what I want to know: In a story about the systematic sexual abuse of women and girls, why are we centring everyone except those who were abused?

Why are the most powerful voices in this conversation still men? Why is Mandelson gracing the cover of broadsheet magazines in his slippers? Why are we letting them control the narrative of their own complicity?

The victims deserve so much more than being extras in someone else’s bloody political drama. They’re human beings whose lives were shattered by men who believed money and connections made them invincible.

Every day spent dissecting Mandelson is another day proving the abusers right. There will always be something more important than victims. Another political crisis. Another reputation to defend. The systematic abuse itself is just the messy backdrop to the real story – the one about power, access and male protection rackets.

Victims are wallpaper. We have always been wallpaper. At least now nobody’s pretending otherwise.

The application reads: “The rationale for the proposed development is to deliver a new long duration energy storage facility, which will improve the stability of the National Grid electricity network and facilitate greater use of and reliance upon renewable energy sources.”

It continues: “The former power station site benefits from existing electrical infrastructure, making it a prime location for the delivery of further energy storage development.” 

The old power station was operational until 2019 but has since been decommissioned and largely demolished.

Battery storage facilities are used to store energy generated from renewable sources, such as wind or solar, during low demand periods.

This energy is then released back into the national grid when it is needed most, reducing the need to rely on fossil fuels.

The Barry facility uses “vanadium flow” batteries which allow for longer duration energy storage while being “more stable and safer”.

The construction period is anticipated to start in 2030 and for a duration of two years.

The application reads: “It is anticipated that construction traffic will generate a maximum of 50 two-way trips for staff and 30 two-way trips for LGVs and HGVs at the peak of construction.

“There will be no construction vehicle movements at any time on Sundays or on public or bank holidays.”

During the February 12 meeting to approve the development, some Vale of Glamorgan councillors expressed concerns about the safety of vanadium batteries and electrical interference caused by the battery store.

However, Ian Robinson, head of sustainable development at the council, reassured councillors that vanadium batteries were “industry recognised as being a fundamentally less problematic technology than the lithium-ion batteries”.

He also said that the development met standards to limit electromagnetic interference.

The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) stated it levied the penalty because the company failed to provide information to the regulator. It reported that the firm did not respond for three months to seven requests for information, sent via registered post, emails and hand-delivered letter.

This marks the first time the regulator has utilised its new fining powers. The CMA further noted that Euro Car Parks sought an injunction from the High Court to prevent its name from being disclosed, but this request was denied earlier this week.

Several drivers have accused the company of unjustly demanding payment for alleged breaches of car park regulations. Euro Car Parks did not respond until the CMA informed it that a fine was being considered.

The company then responded and started to supply information, informing the regulator that it had blocked its emails as it suspected they were fraudulent and scam attempts. The CMA stated it "did not consider this a reasonable excuse", leading to the imposition of the fine in December last year, 

Hayley Fletcher, senior director of consumer enforcement at the CMA, said: "We are an evidence-based authority, and information notices are essential tools that help us understand the facts and get to the bottom of potential infringements of the law. It is a legal obligation to comply with them. They are not optional.

"This is the first time we've used our new powers to fine a company for failing to respond to such a notice. It sends a clear message: firms that don't reply to our requests or refuse to comply risk facing penalties like this one."

Lisa Webb, from consumer group Which?, described private car park companies as "often perceived to be the bane of motorists' lives". She added: "We frequently hear from those engaged in disputes with private parking companies who feel frustrated, confused and stressed out by what they consider to be a nightmarish ordeal.

"If these companies want to improve this perception, it's essential they offer transparency to both consumers and the regulator." The CMA confirmed it does not currently have a consumer enforcement case open against Euro Car Parks "at present" and stressed that "no assumption should be made" that it has breached consumer law.

Press Association analysis of Government figures reveals Euro Car Parks issued nearly 1.9 million tickets in the 12 months to the end of September 2025. Euro Car Parks was approached for comment.

Familiar with the highest standards of etiquette, the ex butler understands precisely what's required to establish the ideal romantic atmosphere.

Offering his perspective on Valentine's Day, Grant suggested one of the most substantial mistakes individuals make is simply overlooking the occasion.

"So many people forget, or leave it to the last minute, so they don't have enough time to do something special or meaningful," 

"You need to think ahead so you can make sure you make a proper effort.", 

In Grant's view, not dressing appropriately also represents a "big red flag" during a romantic event.

Whether it's a first date or an established relationship, he stated: "They should be trying to impress you, not just throwing on whatever they had on yesterday.

"The other big mistake people make is not taking their date somewhere appropriate. It's important to put the effort in when finding the perfect place - and that doesn't just mean the most expensive."

For individuals still getting to know their romantic interest, Grant says it's crucial to know their dietary requirements if dinner is on the cards.

"If it's a first date, have they dropped any hints about their favourite type of food? Is there anything they hate? Also, check if they're vegetarian before booking a steak restaurant," he continued.

While we exist in an era where photographing meals prior to eating has become commonplace, Grant maintains this practice ought to be excluded from intimate dinners.

"No phones at the table," he emphasised. "You need to make sure it stays romantic. Some people get so carried away with Valentine's Day social media posts - you see it all the time.

"They've got their phones at the table so they can take pictures - but it's so important to give the person you're spending it with your full attention.

"Put your phone away. You're not on a date with your phone - you're on a date with the person you love, or with someone you're trying to impress," he continued. "Make sure they know they are your main priority in that moment."

Grant, who's also written The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life of Royal Service, attended to Charles and fellow members of the Royal Family at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire.

Previously giving an insight into the monarch's culinary tastes, he disclosed: "He champions both traditional and modern food. He loves vegetables and has a vegetable garden at Highgrove. Vegetables are always on the menu.

"If he's having a snack, he's not going to be sitting there with a packet of crisps."

Last year, Charles reportedly treated Queen Camilla to a Valentine's dinner - although not in the conventional, romantic fashion.

According to Hello! magazine, the couple, who celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary in April, were accompanied by 10 of their nearest and dearest.

"It was a quiet dinner for close friends - about 12 in all. The King and Queen then spent the whole weekend in Windsor, which is quite unusual," a source revealed to the publication.

It was given the go-ahead by council planning officers as part of their delegated decisions made between January 7 and February 2, 2026 in the unit that previously held the former Wilko retail store.

Plans say this particular first-floor unit had been left empty ever since the chain’s closure in 2023.

Documents submitted as part of the application said its aim was to create a “thriving 24-hour fitness facility” in Port Talbot that would also encourage further footfall into the wider shopping centre.

The report said: “The application is submitted by the Foundry Gym Franchise who create contemporary gyms, having successfully opened gyms in 20 locations and continuing their expansion at a rapid rate.

“The Foundry Gym Franchise seek to provide a thriving 24-hour fitness facility to promote physical and mental well-being in the Port Talbot area, offering a flagship franchise in the Wales region.”

They added that the gym would be created within the current limits of the unit with no external changes proposed.

The approval comes as the Aberafan shopping centre, located close to Neath Port Talbot Council’s civic offices, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

The Port Talbot centre was first opened by Princess Anne in 1976. It is known locally as being a popular community hub and shopping destination.

The official launch of the celebrations will take place on February 20, with an exhibition on the history of the centre running until September 30.

A lack of available "move-on" accommodation means people are often housed in the meantime at hotels or bed and breakfasts – piling financial pressure on the council while also leading to longer stays in what are meant to be temporary arrangements.

Councillor Shayne Cook, the cabinet member for housing, said the trend is affecting all local authorities, and Caerphilly is developing specialist accommodation for people with additional needs. 

He said helping people to move on to a permanent home is being made more challenging because a growing number of residents require "more complex" housing support and may "find it difficult sustaining a tenancy".

Between April 2025 and January 2026, single-person households accounted for 70% of the council's temporary accommodation users – but only 20% of the council's housing stock is one-bedroom accommodation.

Speaking at a recent scrutiny committee meeting, Nick Taylor-Williams, the council's director of housing, said rising demand for single-person housing was "not just a Caerphilly issue necessarily, it is a Welsh issue".

Compounding the issue are legislative changes, leading to "a lot of private landlords exiting the market, putting more pressure on people that were in private rented accommodation who are now being priced out" because there is more competition for fewer homes.

Fewer private landlords means councils are "more reliant" on temporary accommodation as a stop-gap, he explained, adding that a lot of people in that situation are single men.

This year, Caerphilly Council is forecasting a £774,000 overspend on housing, which a report states is "mainly" down to increasing demand for temporary accommodation – an "ongoing issue for the past few years".

Mr Cook said the local authority had "expanded" its temporary accommodation options "to include more tailored, cost-effective solutions that better meet the needs of individuals with specialist requirements".

These include a transitional scheme for supported accommodation, designed for people leaving staffed housing.

Mr Cook said this six-unit scheme "significantly reduces staffing costs and supports smoother transitions into permanent housing".

Another scheme has been developed specifically for people moving on from mental health supported accommodation, he added.

The council has also set up some properties for people who no longer require support, which "provide safe, stable housing without the need for ongoing intervention, helping to free up supported accommodation for those with higher needs and significantly reducing long-term reliance on temporary accommodation".

Mr Cook said the council also commissions psychology services and works with two GP surgeries to run drop-in clinics and appointments specifically for people in temporary accommodation, and in the next 18 months hopes to start a new housing initiative for people who have "complex co-occurring needs", supported by specialist staff.

The Russian authorities have previously strenuously denied any involvement in his death.

There is no innocent explanation for the toxin Epibatidine being found on Mr Navalny's body, the Foreign Office said.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has met with Mr Navalny's widow Yulia Navalnaya at the Munich Security Conference this weekend.

Mrs Navalnaya announced her husband's death at the gathering in 2024. 

Ms Cooper said: "Since Yulia Navalnaya announced the loss of her husband here in Munich two years ago, the UK has pursued the truth of Alexei Navalny's death with fierce determination.

"Only the Russian Government had the means, motive and opportunity to deploy this lethal toxin against Alexei Navalny during his imprisonment in Russia.

"Today, beside his widow, the UK is shining a light on the Kremlin's barbaric plot to silence his voice.

"Russia saw Navalny as a threat.

"By using this form of poison the Russian state demonstrated the despicable tools it has at its disposal and the overwhelming fear it has of political opposition."

A joint statement by the British Government and its allies in Sweden, France, Germany and The Netherlands said the nations "are confident that Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a lethal toxin".

It added: "This is the conclusion of our Governments based on analyses of samples from Alexei Navalny.

"These analyses have conclusively confirmed the presence of epibatidine.

"Epibatidine is a toxin found in poison dart frogs in South America.

"It is not found naturally in Russia.

"Russia claimed that Navalny died of natural causes.

"But given the toxicity of epibatidine and reported symptoms, poisoning was highly likely the cause of his death.

"Navalny died while held in prison, meaning Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to administer this poison to him."

The allies also pointed to an attempt to poison Mr Navalny with the nerve agent Novichok in 2020, which followed the Salisbury poisonings in 2018.

"Russia's repeated disregard for international law and the Chemical Weapons Convention is clear," the five nations said.

They added: "In both cases, only the Russian state had the combined means, motive and disregard for international law to carry out the attacks."

The Foreign Office also insisted that Russia had not destroyed all of its chemical weapons, as Moscow claimed it had done in 2017.

Britain will continue to expose the Kremlin's use of chemical and biological weapons, the Foreign Office added.

According to police, a flock of sheep were “chased and driven down an embankment into a river”. Eleven of them were discovered by the owner lying dead in the water at the bottom of the embankment. Images of the deceased sheep have been shared online, some of which are too graphic to include in this article.

Police want anyone with any information to contact them by e-mailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk or by calling 101. 

A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Our Rural Crime Team Officers are investigating a report of livestock worrying which occurred on grazing land in close proximity to Alltycnap Road in Carmarthen.

“The incident happened sometime on the morning of February 8 where a flock of sheep have been chased and driven down an embankment into a river and 11 found drowned by owner.

“Livestock worrying is a criminal offence and comes under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953. ‘Worrying’ is where a dog attacks or chases livestock causing injury or suffering.

"This isn’t just a threat to a farmer or land owner’s livelihood, it’s also a dangerous situation for the animals involved, and could lead to more risk if the animals get onto the road.”

The publisher Penguin Random House UK has issued an urgent product recall of specific printings of Peppa Pig and Hey Duggee books.

The books affected by the recall include a glitter varnish finish on the covers that is lifting and can be peeled off.

It warns that small flakes of glitter varnish could present a choking hazard to small children.

A report issued by the Office for Product Safety and Standards last week states the books pose a particular threat to children under 36 months who have a natural curiosity to place objects in their mouths.

Safety chiefs warn that the product does not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005.

Shoppers are being urged by both the Office for Product Safety and Standards and the publisher to remove the book from small children and return it to the retailer for a full refund.

A Ladybird spokesperson said: "As a precautionary measure, Ladybird are voluntarily recalling copies from specific printings of the above Peppa Pig and Hey Duggee books because of the discovery of a manufacturing fault where the glitter varnish finish on the cover of the books is lifting and can be peeled off.

"Small flakes of the glitter varnish could be a choking hazard to small children.

"The issue relates to a limited number of printings dating from 2020 and 2021 which were manufactured at a specific printer in the United Kingdom."

The affected ISBN number for Peppa Meets Father Christmas is 9780241321539, Peppa's Night Before Christmas is 9780241448625, Peppa Loves Easter is 9780241476406, Peppa Goes to Hollywood is 9780241476772 and Duggee and the Christmas Badge is 9781405947350.

The issue affects a number of printings from 2020 and 2021.

Levi was tragically found dead last week, with his family stating that he took his own life. He was raised in Colwyn Bay, attending Ysgol Pen Y Bryn in Colwyn Heights, followed by Ysgol Bryn Elian in Old Colwyn.

He later moved to the Wirral with his family, but maintained a wide circle of friends in both areas. He attracted people from all walks of life with his interests in fitness, music and dancing, as well as his knack for cooking.

Levi's family and friends said they want to use his death to raise awareness and encourage others to seek help if they are struggling. A Gofundme to raise money to support his family and also collect funds for mental health charities has already raised more than £9,000,

Friend Terri Williams shared the following tribute to Levi, with the blessing of his family.

She said: "Levi was passionate about fitness, boxing, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. After school, he went on to college and worked hard in a variety of jobs. Levi had an infectious smile and a warm personality that drew people from all walks of life to him. He loved music, festivals, and dancing, and he had a real flair for cooking, always making sure every dish had flavour.

"He was deeply loyal and kind to those closest to him. Levi leaves behind his mother, sister, two younger brothers, and an older brother.

"Those who knew him remember his beautiful soul, big heart, and the joy he brought to their lives. Levi also, like many young men, struggled with speaking openly about his feelings. He often kept his struggles private, which is why it's so important to raise awareness about mental health and create safe spaces for people, especially men to reach out for help.

"Levi's struggles with mental health began at a young age and became more challenging during his teenage years due to life events. He attended CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), but in his own mind, he felt he could only truly open up to his mother, and later, his sister.

"The loss of his grandfather had a massive impact on him, and he often didn't feel able to accept help from strangers or services, keeping much of his pain to himself. Despite this, Levi had an amazing way of always putting a smile on his face, a reminder that a person's outward appearance can never fully reveal the story inside."

She added: "Levi's story highlights the importance of talking openly about mental health and breaking the stigma that prevents many, especially young men, from seeking help. If you are struggling, or know someone who is, there are people who understand and want to help. You are not alone.

"Support resources in the UK: Samaritans: 116 123 (free, confidential, 24/7) Mind: 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 Reach out to local mental health services, or a trusted friend or family member.

"Sharing Levi's story is about encouraging open conversations, reminding people to seek support, and honouring a young life that brought joy to so many."

The couple had arrived at her dad Kris Harrison's home on December 28 flying out from Heathrow.

Lucy and Sam had bought their first home in Warrington together just nine months earlier and had welcomed family round for their first Christmas there days before they left the country.

According to a medical report seen by the ECHO, Lucy was shot in the chest by another person, with five witnesses present in the house. During an inquest into her death at Cheshire Coroner's Court in Warrington yesterday, February 10, it was heard how Kris Harrison had taken her by the hand into his bedroom shortly before he was due to drive her and Sam to the airport.

Sam told the court how around 15 seconds later he heard a bang before Mr Harrison shouted his wife Heather's name. Sam, Mrs Harrison, her two daughters and a neighbour who was in the home ran to the downstairs bedroom where they found Lucy on the floor.

It was heard how Mr Harrison had drank 500ml of vintage chardonnay without his family knowing, with him claiming to have pulled his 9mm Glock handgun from its case, retrieved from his bedside cabinet under a stack of books, and as he lifted the firearm it discharged and killed his daughter.

It's accepted he had consumed alcohol but stated he was not "under the influence", with it being revealed how he was an alcoholic. Evidence from Lucy's friend Ella Gowing stated that Lucy had told her how Mr Harrison had suffered from an alcoholic seizure before being placed in an induced coma in 2023 before being admitted to a rehab facility.

A grand jury found no-one would be prosecuted over her death on June 10 last year. 

A grand jury in Texas consists of 12 people who determine whether there is probable cause to believe a person committed a felony, assessing all evidence in private. Despite the person accused of committing a crime being charged by police, they are not named if the grand jury decides to conclude criminal proceedings.

As senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish summed up the facts of the case, she said: "Texas police failed to take any blood or perform breath testing. Lucy was tested for alcohol, drugs and prescription medication and she was clean. I considered the bullet in the chamber of the gun. I accept that Kris Harrison did not load the magazine into the handgun.

"I accept that he did not know the gun was loaded. I do not accept that the gun just went off as he removed it from the box - this is due to the room lay out and location Lucy's body was found.

"To shoot her through the chest whilst she was standing would have required him to have been pointing the gun at his daughter without checking for bullets and pulling the trigger.

"I find this action to be reckless. Was the death intentional or accidental? His actions have killed his own daughter and in the cold light of day I hope he recognises the risks he posed to her life."

She further stated she believed Mr Harrison had been drinking throughout the morning after he admitted to drinking before his daughters woke up. He later purchased two cartons of wine at a 7/11 store after he told his family he was going to collect cookies. He drank one of the two cartons before driving home.

Handing down her conclusion today, February 11, senior coroner Jacqueline Devonish said: "[Kris Harrison] was a functioning alcoholic who had been drinking and driving that day with immediate plans to drive Lucy and Sam to the airport.

"Whilst I accept there was lack of intent for the reasons stated, I do find that his actions were truly, exceptionally bad and reprehensible to amount to gross negligence. Lucy Harrison died due to unlawful killing on the grounds of gross negligence manslaughter."

In evidence from Mr Harrison, read on behalf to the court due to his absence from proceedings, it said while others sat on the couch, Mr Harrison said he and Lucy spent time alone.

In his statement read to the court, he said: "Lucy and I moved to the kitchen area and watched a news segment about gun crime in the US. We began chatting generally about the segment.

"I then said that I had a gun, 'do you want to see it?' and she did. We went to the bedroom where I had the gun."

He continued to say he had never had any "formal training" and had "never fired a gun", with the dad having bought the firearm from a colleague at work. He said: "As I lifted the gun to show her I suddenly heard a loud bang. I didn't understand what happened in that moment but Lucy suddenly fell to the ground."

He continued: "I lost my daughter and my best friend, there is not a day that goes by where I do not relive these events."

Despite an exit wound being identified on the body of Lucy, no bullet was ever recovered from the scene, and the house was handed back to Mr Harrison later that day.

Earlier in proceedings, Lucy's mum, boyfriend and friend all spoke of her views against bearing arms, with a statement from her friend Ella Gowing stating: "She was concerned for her younger siblings, she did not want them to be around something so dangerous.

"She said that there was some volatility in Kris's household which Lucy witnessed when she visited the States and [which] made her feel extremely anxious. She talked about these worries to me."

When mum Jane Coates spoke at the inquest, she was asked what her daughter had been like. She said: "It's so hard to answer that with words. To capture the essence of her you had to see her to believe her - she was a force of life, sensitive, energetic, intelligent, funny and a really great human being."

She revealed her daughter had sent her a text message just 15 minutes before she was shot to say she was packed and ready to travel back to the UK.

She said: "Whenever Lucy was over in America my contact with her was more limited and she would often wait until she got home to tell me things because she didn't feel right to text me about things going on over there.

"The previous Christmas she texted me on the 9th of January to say she was going out with the neighbour and when she got back she told me the conversation she had had with the neighbour. A Iot was about her dads gun and she shared concerns [about it]."

Jane added: "She was not happy he had a gun - Lucy was anti-guns, guns are not our culture and she did not like him having a gun in the house."

Ms Devonish stated earlier in proceedings how Mr Harrison had previously lied to police about his drinking after shooting his daughter at his home in Prosper.

Ms Devonish said: "When I received the police statement he had lied about his drinking and had not admitted to being an alcoholic."

Mr Harrison's counsel, Ana Samuel, told the court how her client had not misled police and there was no indication of that.

Lucy's mum, Jane Coates, paid tribute to her daughter when she sat down for an emotional interview with the ECHO. She said: "It's so hard to capture who she was, and who she still is, using words because they just don't come close.

"She was full of energy and life, and she was bold and brave. She was so emotionally intelligent, she was able to feel everything and she wasn't ashamed of feeling everything."

Drawings from children detained by ICE in South Texas have sparked outrage and revealed worrying conditions behind bars.

ProPublica received a handful of written letters from young children detained at Dilley Immigration Processing Centre in Texas, where some detainees have been behind bars for six months or more.

It’s the same facility where little Liam Ramos was held with his father before a judge demanded his release.

There have been reports that food served to those inside is contaminated with mould and worms, and the facilities are said to be overcrowded.

The centre is also the only ICE facility which is holding families – some 750 of them – with hundreds of children.

In the letters from children inside Dilley’s walls, they drew their families, rainbows and wrote about missing their lives before ICE detained them.

Susej, a nine-year-old girl, wrote: ‘I have been 50 days in the Dilley Immigration Processing Centre…I miss my family in my country, so now I want to go to Venezuela.

‘But my mom does not want to leave because she wants a better future for me. Seeing how people like me, immigrants, are treated changes my perspective about the U.S. My mom and I came to the U.S. looking for a good and safe place to live, and my mom was looking for a Good job.’

14-year-old Ariana has been detained for 45 days, and said her younger siblings haven’t been able to see their mother in a month.

‘All kids are being damaged mentally, I witness how they’ve been treated. They don’t have schools, doctors; all they have are nurses… people are always sick.

‘Serious situations happen, and the officers don’t take them seriously enough; there are no consequences, they don’t care.’

‘The officers have a bad manner of speaking to residents when they are asking anithing the workers treat the residents inhumanely, verbally, and I don’t want to imagine how they would act if they were unsupervised,’ Gaby, 14, wrote.

Maria, a nine-year-old, said: ‘I have fainted 2 times here inside. When I arrived every night, I cried, and now I don’t sleep well. I felt that being here was my fault…’

The US government has claimed that the Department of Homeland Security has already ‘removed more than 700,000 illegal aliens’.

The heartbreaking letters were revealed as ICE agents have been accused of using more outlandish tactics to ensnare illegal migrants.

In the past, immigration authorities have sometimes used disguises and other deceptions, which they call ruses, to gain entry into homes without a warrant.

As the sweeping immigration crackdown continues in the US, legal observers and officials say they have received a growing number of reports of federal agents impersonating construction workers, delivery drivers and in some cases anti-ICE activists.

Colleen, 48, is one of 14 people facing the daunting challenge of climbing a mountain in the Alps of New Zealand’s south island, in a bid to win a share of a potential £200,000 prize.

Explaining why she is taking part in the show, fronted by This Morning's Ben, she said: "I’m just ready for it! Last year and the beginning of this year, so much has changed for me. I was ready for something to change in my life. I just want to regain myself and take control of who I am."

"I lost myself for a bit over giving other people control of my life," Colleen continued. "This is my chance to take control and prove to myself ‘you’ve got this'."

With just 14 days to reach the summit, the contestants have to navigate treacherous terrain, wild conditions and overcome extraordinary challenges - set by the mysterious Mountain’s Keeper - that block their path to the peak.

They will also have to be good at strategising, as eliminating their competitors along the way is part of the game.

Colleen said her biggest strength is that she "can adapt to any environment", but revealed that if the sea is involved, it may be a weakness.

"I don’t like the sea," she said. "I live by the beach and there’s just something about it I’m not confident with. I come from a sporting background and for some reason I’m just not good with it." "Boats are a real phobia," she added.

Colleen revealed that while she will miss her children - who are aged 22 and 24 - they will help her to stay motivated when she's on the show.

"My children will keep me going," she said.

"I need to give them something back. This is a massive chance for me and they are really supportive of me doing it."

The Summit starts Tuesday February 10 at 9pm on ITV1

Tributes are flowing in for a police officer who died in a car crash in a quiet Cheshire village.

PC Alice Mayo, 29, was off-duty while she was driving a blue Fiat 500, which was involved in a collision with a white Land Rover Defender on Saturday morning in Arclid, Cheshire.

Mayo, who worked in Macclesfield and served with Cheshire Constabulary for more than six years, died at the scene of the crash, her force said.

In a statement issued by police, the 29-year-old’s family paid tribute to her as ‘beautiful inside and out’.

They added: ‘Alice meant so much to so many. She was a daughter, a sister, an auntie, a niece, a dog-mum to Ned the Cocker Spaniel, and a friend to so many.

‘She was beautiful inside and out. She will leave a huge hole in our lives, but also a legacy of laughter, fun, and sunshine. She achieved so much in her short life and leaves behind a heartbroken, but incredibly proud, family.’

Her family said Alice was at a point in her life where she was ‘really happy’, and said she had been taken far too soon.

Mark Roberts, the chief constable of Cheshire Constabulary, said: ‘This was a tragic incident, and my thoughts are with Alice’s family, friends, and colleagues at this difficult time.

‘I want to pay tribute to our professional and courageous colleague. She was a dedicated professional who will be missed by all those who knew her.

‘We are supporting Alice’s family and colleagues at this extremely difficult time. I would ask that people not speculate about the collision and the circumstances around it. Please let our experienced and professional investigators carry out their work.’

The force said its investigation into the crash is ongoing.

A 77-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of causing a death by dangerous driving has since been released on conditional bail pending further inquiries.

One well-wisher wrote online: ‘I had the pleasure of meeting Alice a few times over the years. Always full of laughter and kindness.’

Another added: ‘Alice did so much work with our King’s Trust programmes in Macclesfield and Cheshire East, educating the young people of our local communities.

‘Thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues. May she rest in peace.’

I’m really not an NFL fan. In fact, I mostly hate all sport.

I watched my first (and so far only) Super Bowl last year, when I was invited to a party after moving to the US. I knew no one and wanted to make some friends.

I’m immensely grateful to the friend who invited me, but outside the experience of meeting people, the show itself was hours of stop-start action, inane commentary, endless sponsorship, ad breaks that feel like the main event, and a spectacle that felt designed to test the limits of mental endurance.

Safe to say, I was not converted.

And yet, Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show managed to worm its way even to someone like me, not because of how political it was, but because of how political it wasn’t. 

It wasn’t a lecture, stump speech or celebrity wagging a finger.

It was pure joy. Spanish-language lyrics, Puerto Rican music, and a stadium full of pride.

And, right at the end, a simple line in capital letters on the big screen: ‘the only thing more powerful than hate is love.’

The fact that this simple positive message managed to cut through to an anti-sports person like me – and at the same time sending Trump flying into a pathetic tantrum on Truth Social – tells you everything you need to know about who he is.

Trump called the show  ‘absolutely terrible’ and ‘an affront’ to American greatness because ‘no one can understand a word this guy [Bad Bunny] is saying.’

The President’s rant seems to suggest a performance in Spanish is somehow a hostile act.

A man who has spent years whipping up hate, mistrust and division saw a message about love beating hate and reacted like he’d been personally attacked.

A celebration of Latino culture on the biggest cultural stage in America was enough to trigger his grievance reflex.

What were your thoughts on Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show? Comment Now

Bad Bunny did not name him, nor his opponents, but clearly any rational interpretation of the event would conclude celebration, not confrontation.

But for Trump, he heard what he wanted to and flew into a sulk. As he often does. Claiming that it didn’t represent American ‘standards of Success, Creativity, or Excellence’.

This is the trick he has pulled for a decade: anything that isn’t exclusively white, English-speaking, his, and approved by him, is a problem.

He treats the mere presence of other Americans – not even his much-maligned ‘foreigners’ or ‘immigrants’, but other Americans – as a provocation.

The real ‘culture war’ is not the existence of culture, but the insistence that only one version counts.

Bad Bunny is a Puerto Rican artist and Puerto Ricans are US citizens. That’s not up for debate. It’s basic civics. 

Yet Trump’s reaction sits in that familiar territory where ‘American’ quietly seems to mean ‘people like me’ and, more often than not, that means white. 

Everyone else has to prove they belong. 

It’s the same ‘othering’ instinct that powered the Obama birther conspiracy and his recent jaw-dropping – even by Trump’s deplorable standards – racist video on social media that depicted the former President and his wife Michelle as laughing monkeys.

Trump has turned immigration into a permanent national panic, complete with out-of-control thugs on the streets, and a worldview that makes a Spanish-language celebration a threat, rather than what it actually is: a language spoken by tens of millions of Americans in their homes, workplaces, churches, schools and stadiums.

It isn’t that ‘nobody understands’, as Trump ranted. It’s that he doesn’t want to hear it.

The subject may be new, but the pattern is the same: pick a target, frame them as un-American, harvest outrage, and enjoy the attention.

That’s the sad genius of it. Trump doesn’t need to be ‘insulted’ to respond like he’s been slighted.

He simply needs a moment in which America looks like it’s trying to move on without him. This time, it’s a stadium enjoying something he didn’t authorise and a crowd singing in a language he can’t be bothered to understand.

What an utterly abysmal indictment that a message about love being stronger than hate triggers outrage in the President of the United States.

In Trump’s America, joy is suspicious, solidarity is malicious, and cultural integration is a threat to the division and fear he has proudly built. 

Anything that suggests America is big enough to contain more than his small-minded, exclusionary mindset is an act of aggression.

That’s why this moment matters more than the usual ‘celebrity v Trump’ bust up.

It exposes just how small Trump’s vision for America really is. He resents his own country when the ‘others’ can feel at home, even if only for one evening.

And it shows something else too: fear. When nine words on a screen feels like an attack, it’s a reminder of how brittle his version of America is.

For a few minutes, amid the corporate auction for attention, America looked like it might be finding itself: loud, mixed, diverse, messy, joyful, and bigger than one man’s resentments.

Trump saw a glimmer of the country that once was – and maybe can be again one day – and he couldn’t stand it.

Share your views in the comments below. 

Ring Doorbells are home security systems that act a bit like a digital peephole – allowing you to snoop on who’s standing outside your door.

Now, Ring is hoping you not only use it to check if the delivery driver stole your parcel or not, but to see if there’s a missing canine outside your door.

The ad, ‘Search Party from Ring | Be A Hero In Your Neighborhood’, opens with a young girl receiving a puppy named Milo.

But Milo became one of the 10 million pets that go missing annually in the US, Ring founder Jamie Siminoff says.

While the girl is out nailing ‘Missing Dog’ posters to telephone poles, her parents post a photo of Milo to the Ring Neighbors App.

Siminoff explains: ”One post of a dog’s photo in the Ring app starts outdoor cameras looking for a match.

‘Search Party from Ring uses AI to help families find lost dogs.’

The ad shows dozens of people in the local area have video doorbells, each on the lookout for missing canines.

When a missing dog report is posted, nearby outdoor cameras begin scanning for matches, Ring says on its help webpage.

If one finds a similar dog, the owner can review the footage alongside the missing dog’s photo. Ring and non-Ring camera owners can take part.

Users can alert the pet owners if they decide a filmed dog is theirs. Ring says there’s no obligation to do so for privacy purposes.

The Super Bowl ad, which aired yesterday, ended with Milo running into the arms of his family.

Viewers, however, weren’t sure how to feel about this.

Online streamer and political commentator Hasan Piker said on X: ‘How much longer till the always-on remote AI capabilities of your Ring camera isn’t “optional”.’

Another user added: ‘Ring offering to turn your neighbourhood into an AI-fuelled surveillance state under the guise of “helping you find your lost dog” is CRAZY.’

On YouTube, a user commented: ‘This is like the commercial they show at the beginning of a dystopian sci-fi film to quickly show people how bad things have gotten.’

Ring said that since the launch of the tool in November in the US, Search Party for Dogs has helped reunite one dog a day with its owners.

Users were emailed about the upcoming feature, which said the function is enabled by default, saying: ‘You can always turn off Search Party.’

The smart security company has insisted the function does not scan human faces.

Mimi Swain, Ring’s chief commercial officer, told Forbes ahead of the ad airing that Ring not covering the technical specs was a deliberate choice.

Swain said: ‘The goal wasn’t to overwhelm viewers with product details. It was to show Ring’s bigger purpose.’

Amazon, which owns Ring, said in a blog post: ‘Search Party’s expansion reflects a meaningful step forward in Ring’s mission to make neighbourhoods safer – including for all our four-legged family members.’

Mountain leader Kelly Duffy made the peculiar discovery whilst trekking up Moel Eilio between Llanberis and Betws Garmon. Unsure of its purpose, and concerned it might be significant, she posted a photograph on social media seeking explanations. Early suggestions missed the mark entirely.

It wasn't, as one individual proposed, belly lighting from a Boeing 747 ("probably off the wing, happens all the time"). 

Neither was it a wing mirror from a Star Wars Millennium Falcon as one person jokingly offered. Another walker mused wistfully that it could be a "speed camera for fell runners and walkers who make many of us feel inadequate".

The find risked becoming the greatest enigma since a boat appeared on Moel Tryfan near Rhosgadfan, a few miles to the west, 

Being plastic, measuring 2ft in length, and featuring a photo sensor on top the Moel Eilio object was quickly recognised as the cover of an LED street lamp. But what was it doing there?

Some individuals attempted to claim ownership. "I always carry one, great for when it gets dark," joked one man.

Another chimed in with: "I also carry a car door so I can wind the window down if it gets too hot."

Once identified as a street light speculation turned to how it ended up there. A former Conwy Council worker explained that the canopies were prone to detaching, leaving their lighting units exposed.

"They're only held on with, like, four bolts," she explained online. "When I worked for Conwy's ERF (Environment, Roads and Facilities), we did occasionally lose canopies after stormy weather – which is plausible for how this one got separated from its column.

"But how that particular one subsequently got up there I couldn't say."

Fellow regular hikers reported the canopy had been present for several weeks. More peculiarly one person insisted it was initially discovered still connected to its lighting unit, implying it had been tampered with later.

Kelly, from Llanberis, typically collects rubbish while hiking as she runs walking tours through her Kelly Duffy Adventures brand.

On this occasion she decided against it as the item was unwieldy, she was undertaking a 15km trek and, given its proximity to a rural track, it might have been intentionally left by workers. "It made me a bit nervous to move it," she said.

Believing it to be the result of "drunken revelry" she has now initiated a campaign to find the street light's rightful place. "I'll be having a look down the high street later when it's dark," she said. "It's my mission."

Back in December 2024 remnants of a small boat were discovered abandoned near the peak of Moel Tryfan near Rhosgadfan. The incident was suspected to be a case of fly-tipping, which infuriated locals who cherish their landscapes.

In a similar vein to this week's discovery on Moel Eilio the woman who found the boat remarked: "Pretty sure Storm Darragh wasn't bad enough to blow a boat up to the top of our little mountain."

A 48-hour dispersal order, which is granted under Section 35 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, went into force at midday today, Friday, February 6, and ends on midday Sunday, February 8.

Extra powers have also been given for police to issue notices to under 16s, due to what police described as "recent incidents". 

Under Section 35 of the Act, police officers can instruct anybody who is causing, or is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress to leave the area.

They also have the power to seize any property which officers suspect is being used to cause anti-social behaviour.

"The order is a preventative measure following increased reports of anti-social behaviour in the area. There will be an increased police presence during this time," the force said.

"South Wales Police continues to take a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour."

The area covered by the notice includes the city centre. It runs from an area including the Tesco and Sainsbury's superstores near the waterfront up to Caemarthen Road and North Road.

The authority is recruiting a new wave of seasonal staff to help keep the city looking picture‑perfect through the busy summer months, when thousands of residents and visitors flock to Swansea’s beaches, parks and beauty spots.

Four Seasonal Floral Decorations Operatives and thirteen Seasonal Cleansing Operatives are up for grabs, offering the chance to spend the warmer months working across Swansea Bay’s coast and countryside as part of the teams that keep the city blooming and spotless.

‘Our seasonal staff make an enormous difference’

Cllr Cyril Anderson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Neighbourhood Services, said the roles are vital to the way the city looks and feels during its busiest season.

“Every summer, our seasonal staff make an enormous contribution to the way Swansea looks and feels,” he said. “Their work helps keep our streets clean, our parks vibrant and our floral displays thriving. These roles are ideal for people who enjoy practical outdoor work and want to take pride in helping their community look its very best.”

Flower power and frontline cleaning

Floral operatives will help install, water and maintain the city’s much‑loved summer displays — from hanging baskets to park borders — ensuring Swansea bursts with colour right through the season.

Cleansing operatives will take on frontline duties including litter picking, sweeping, emptying bins and supporting the wider clean‑up effort during peak visitor periods.

Both roles offer competitive pay, the chance to work as part of friendly, hardworking teams, and the opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in one of the council’s busiest services.

Applications now open

The deadline for applications is 24 February 2026, with full details available on the Swansea Council website.

Hackers create group chats on the app, and once a user accepts the invitation, the file is sent to their device without them even knowing it.

Malwarebytes adds: "The bug affects WhatsApp on Android and involves zero‑click media downloads in group chats.

"You can be attacked simply by being added to a group and having a malicious file sent to you."

WhatsApp launches new privacy protection feature

WhatsApp has now launched a new, lockdown-style feature called Strict Account Settings.

If you turn this feature on, it will lock certain account settings on the app to the most restrictive.

WhatsApp explained: "It will limit how your WhatsApp works in some ways, like blocking attachments and media from people not in your contacts."

How to turn on Strict Account Settings on WhatsApp

Strict Account Settings began rolling out on WhatsApp late last month.

To activate, head to settings, click privacy, then advanced. And that's it, easy as that.

WhatsApp added: "Strict Account Settings is one of many ways we’re working to protect you from the most sophisticated of cyber threats.

"We’ve also rolled out a programming language called Rust behind the scenes to help keep your photos, videos, and messages safe from things like spyware, so you can share and chat with confidence."

It continued: "At WhatsApp, we think you should be able to have a private conversation online, just like you would in-person.

"We will always defend that right to privacy for everyone."

Another way to prevent unwanted files from being downloaded onto your phone via bugs on WhatsApp is to switch off auto-download (for media), according to Malwarebytes.

To do that, head to settings and click chats, then switch off 'Media visibility' (Android) or 'Save to Photos' (Apple iOS).

Contractors started moving onto the site this week to begin tearing down the long‑disused buildings, Swansea Council has confirmed. The neighbouring former Ysgol Gynradd Gymraeg Tirdeunaw will also be demolished as part of the same programme.

The council said the clearance is being jointly funded with the Welsh Government, with Tom Prichard Contracting Ltd appointed to carry out the work. According to the authority, the demolition phase is expected to take around six months.

Site earmarked for future Bishop Vaughan rebuild

Swansea Council said the cleared land is planned to become the future home of a new Bishop Vaughan Catholic School under the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Communities for Learning programme. The council stated that the project has been agreed “in principle” but still requires further approvals before construction can begin.

The authority added that Bishop Vaughan will continue operating at its current site “without any disruption” to pupils or staff until a new building is ready.

“A big step forward” — Cabinet Member

Cllr Robert Smith, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, said the demolition marks progress in the wider school investment programme.

“The demolition of these empty, outdated buildings that are no longer fit for purpose is a big step forward for our future plans for Bishop Vaughan,” he said.

“Working with colleagues in Welsh Government, we are seeing record investment in our school buildings in Swansea. More than £400m is earmarked for the next phase of investment to create state‑of‑the‑art facilities at many of our schools and to give pupils the best possible support to reach their full potential.”

The council clarified that the £400m refers to investment across multiple schools, not this single project.

What happens next?

Once demolition is complete, the council says the site will be prepared for the next stage of planning and approvals before any construction work begins.

Roxy was last seen wearing green leggings, white socks and white sliders, along with a black Nike jacket. Lacie was wearing a black hoodie with a red decal, black jeans and white trainers.

Police are urging anyone who may have seen the teenagers, or who has information about their whereabouts, to come forward as soon as possible.

A spokesperson said there is concern for both girls’ welfare, and enquiries are ongoing to locate them.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police quoting reference numbers 2600037433 (Roxy) or 2600037452 (Lacie).

• 💻 Report information online
• 📞 Call 101
• 📞 In an emergency, call 999
• 📞 Or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Police continue to ask the public to share information responsibly to help bring the teenagers home safely.

The recall, last updated on 6 February 2026, covers multiple batches of First Infant Milk and Follow On Milk formula, following concerns about the possible presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause rapid illness. It extends an earlier Aptamil recall issued on 23 January 2026.

Danone says anyone who has bought the affected products should not feed them to babies under any circumstances, even if no symptoms have appeared.

What are the risks of Cereulide and why is it particularly dangerous?

Cereulide is a toxin produced by some strains of Bacillus cereus.

Health officials warn it is highly heat resistant, meaning it is not destroyed by boiling water, even when prepared according to NHS guidance. This makes it particularly dangerous when present in baby formula.

If consumed, the toxin can cause sudden symptoms, including nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

Which baby formula products are affected?

The recall affects specific best before dates only, across a wide range of Aptamil and Cow & Gate products, including:

• Aptamil 1 First Infant Milk in 700g 800g and 1.2kg packs

• Aptamil 1 Hungry and pre measured tabs

• Aptamil 2 Follow On Milk in standard big pack and tab formats

• Cow & Gate 1 First Infant Milk in multiple pack sizes including Hungry and Big Pack

• Cow & Gate Anti Reflux formula

The affected best before dates range from June 2026 through to February 2027, depending on the product.

The full recall is listed here.

Parents are advised to check packaging carefully, as only the dates listed in the recall are included.

What parents should do now

All recalled products can be returned to the store for a full refund, with or without a receipt.

Parents can also check affected batches online via:

• Aptamil customers at aptaclub.co.uk or by calling 0800 996 1000

• Cow & Gate customers at cgbabyclub.co.uk or by calling 0800 977 8880

If the formula was prescribed by a healthcare professional, parents should speak to a pharmacist or medical professional before switching products.

Anyone worried about a baby’s health after using the formula is advised to seek medical advice via their GP or NHS 111.

With card fraud continuing to rise, experts warn that this small oversight could lead to serious financial headaches.

Why signing your bank card still matters

While many people now rely on contactless and digital wallets, a physical card signature is still an important security step. If your card is ever stolen, an unsigned card can be easier for criminals to misuse — and harder for you to dispute if fraudulent transactions occur.

Between January and June 2025, the UK recorded over two million card fraud incidents, with ‘card-not-present’ fraud rising sharply, highlights MoneySuperMarket.

Victims typically lose around £300 per incident, and recovering stolen money is becoming increasingly difficult as fraudsters use more sophisticated tactics.

How to create a more secure, fraud-resistant signature

To help people protect themselves, handwriting expert Tracey Trussell has shared her top tips for creating a more authentic and secure signature.

1. Keep your signature natural

Don’t overthink it. Writing as you normally would creates natural quirks and patterns that are difficult to replicate.

2. Write quickly

Speed matters. A fast, flowing signature is harder to forge, as fraudsters tend to copy slowly and carefully.

3. Make it slightly more complex

Think of your signature like a password. Using your full name — or adding a small distinguishing mark like a dot or flourish — makes it much harder to imitate.

Tracey explains that overly simple signatures or quick scribbles are often easier to copy, while natural complexity and individual quirks make a signature more secure and trustworthy.

The simple step that could save you hundreds

Signing your bank card takes just seconds, but it could give you valuable protection if your card is ever lost or stolen. With fraud levels high and reimbursement becoming tougher, it’s one of the easiest ways to reduce your risk.

What you should do now

• Sign the back of your credit and debit cards
• Keep your signature natural and flowing
• Avoid overly simple or rushed scribbles
• Add small personal details to make it harder to copy

Expert warning: unsigned cards leave you exposed

Kara Gammell, Credit Expert at MoneySuperMarket, recaps: “Your signature might feel like a small detail, but it’s an important layer of protection.

"It helps confirm that you authorised a transaction and can make a real difference if something goes wrong.

“Even in an age of chip-and-PIN and contactless payments, an unsigned card is far easier for someone else to misuse — and much harder for you to challenge.”

VISPA informed its customerbase that they will need to “immediately” find an alternative broadband provider. ISPreview reported that several VISPA customers have received an email from the company’s boss, informing them “that Vispa Limited has ceased trading and decided to commence liquidation proceedings”.

“As a result, we regret to advise that Vispa will no longer be able to continue providing broadband services,” 

“To avoid any interruption to your connectivity, you will need to immediately choose a new Internet Service Provider (ISP) as soon as possible.”

VISPA director James Ormerod, who signed off the email, advised customers to “cancel your direct debit”.

“Most providers on the Openreach network are able to take over your existing line with minimal disruption,” he wrote.

At the time of writing, the VISPA website’s service status page reads “down for maintenance”.

The site shared a list to the Openreach network, which states: "Below is the full list of service providers on our network.

"Please select the one that sends you your bill and contact them directly for any broadband, telephone or Wi-Fi issues.

"If the service provider you are looking for is not on this page, check out the bill they send you for their contact details."

It comes days after rats have forced a major UK broadband provider into administration after they reportedly destroyed fibre cables by chewing them.

G Network, a high speed internet provider in London, had been in financial difficulty and a rescue bid was being prepared to help save it.

Community Fibre were potentially due to purchase the firm's assets, but they were forced to change their minds on acquiring their competitor as they feared the repair bill for the extensive damage.

Some trees could also be removed entirely. Cardiff Council said ash dieback, a disease which affects ash trees, is known to be present in the area.

"If dead or dying trees are identified following vegetation clearance work, then these will be removed to help limit the spread of the disease to other trees and ensure public safety," it said. 

The work is part of a plan developed for the ancient semi-natural woodland at Blackweir and aims to enhance biodiversity in the woodland, improve its structure, manage ash dieback to ensure public safety, and maintain the features of the historic park.

Cardiff Council cabinet member for parks, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said that woodland management processes can look "alarming" but said they "are tried and tested methods, used in woodlands across Cardiff and the rest of the UK, to help create the diverse and thriving habitats we all want to see."

The initial improvement works in Bute Park will focus on two sections of woodland – one area following the dock feeder canal south of the ambulance station, and a second area on the opposite side of the park, close to the River Taff.

The work will be funded using income from last summer’s Blackweir Live concerts and will be completed ahead of the bird-nesting season.

The work will include:

• cutting back areas of bramble
• invasive species management work – such as the removal of Rhododendron
• selective thinning and respacing of trees, if required
• coppicing, if required – this process involves cutting healthy trees back to ground level to encourage regeneration and regrowth over time. It does not kill the trees

The council said that the processes will help improve light levels at the forest floor, encourage ground flora and the shrub layer, improve water flow through the dock feeder canal, and increase overall biodiversity.

They will be followed by selective underplanting of native species. Underplanting is the planting of smaller trees under the existing tree canopy.

Cllr Burke, said: “Our new management plan for this important woodland aims to improve its overall health and will deliver real long-term benefits for nature.

“This is work we’ve wanted to be able to do at Blackweir woods for some time. Now, with the help of income generated through last summer’s Blackweir Live events, we can.

“To the untrained eye, woodland management processes such as vegetation clearance and coppicing can sometimes look alarming – but they are tried and tested methods, used in woodlands across Cardiff and the rest of the UK, to help create the diverse and thriving habitats we all want to see.”

It continues: “The site is located within Corpus Christi Catholic High School main campus and will be tucked away out of view from public walkways/streets.”

The application goes on to say that there will not be any noise impact. 

The council planning officer’s report reads: “[The works] are located within the central area of the site and will not have any impact on neighbouring occupiers.”

It continues: “The works relate to the provision of accessible and additional toilets and associated facilities and do not facilitate any increase in pupil numbers.

“The addition of these improved facilities is welcomed and is consistent with relevant policy requirements and legislative standards.”

It also outlines that the extensions are “considered acceptable and compatible with the character of the wider site”.

The extensions will be no more than 18m tall and will use “Equitone fibre cement cladding” to provide a lightweight cladding solution for “speed/ease of construction”.

The officer’s report called this acceptable as it is “consistent with more recent additions to the site”.

The existing “material palette” at the school includes yellow bricks with circular white framed windows.

An existing extension on the site uses “dark grey fibre cement cladding”.

Mechanical ventilation for the extensions is “only for the purposes of extracting moist air from the interior” and would “pose no impact” on the nearby public.

Cardiff Council approved plans for the works on February 2.

According to the application, the new extensions will be divided into two separate compartments with each comprising new toilets, changing areas, “wet areas”, shower rooms and cubicles, “all user access facilities” and a plant room. A roof extension to the side of the building has also been approved by the council.

The application reads: “The design has sought to reflect the character of the existing building, whilst ensuring that the form is subservient to the existing building by virtue of the rear recess.” 

The existing pavilion is set at the outer edge of the immediate playing areas, which are used for cricket and tennis courts.

The current roof on the playing field side has a longer overhang than the building’s other side, this provides coverage from the rain and sun for spectators, with the proposed extension roof matching this overhang.

The planning officer’s report reads: “It is considered that the proposal would not cause unacceptable harm to the character and quality of the landscape and setting of the city.”

It reads: “Whilst the resulting building will be significantly larger than the existing with a more intensive internal configuration, the extension is considered to be appropriate development in this location as it is required in association with an existing recreational use."

Some of the benefits of the pavilion’s overhaul include providing upgraded facilities for sport and exercise, enhancing community facilities and meeting places and providing a “sense of place” for local provision.

The project was started by the local Communities Trust and, according to the application, has been supported by the community.

According to the council officer, it was considered that the works would “not have a detrimental impact on the amenity of neighbouring occupiers”.

Cardiff Council approved planning permission for the pavilion on Wednesday, February 4.

The error was discovered at a Tesco store in Helston, where aisle signs designed to reflect local culture mistakenly used Welsh terms rather than Cornish. Customers were directed towards bwyd môr - Welsh for seafood - instead of the correct Cornish term boos mor. Elsewhere, tatws melys appeared in place of the Cornish aval dor melys for sweet potatoes.

Signs for meat and poultry, which should have read kig and yar in Cornish, instead displayed the Welsh cig a dofednod, while sausages were labelled selsig rather than the Cornish selsigen.

The mistake did not go unnoticed, particularly among those familiar with Cornwall’s linguistic heritage.

Dr Garry Tregidga, co-director of the University of Exeter’s Institute for Cornish Studies, described the error as embarrassing but ultimately positive.

“This is obviously unfortunate for Tesco,” he said, “but it is encouraging that there was an intention to use Cornish in the first place. I hope replacement signs will now be installed in the correct language.”

He added: “The fact this was spotted so quickly shows how many people now recognise and use the language.”

“If anyone from Tesco needs help putting together new signs, there are plenty of people who would be glad to assist.” 

Cornish, also known as Kernewek, is officially recognised by the UK Government on the same level as Welsh and Scottish Gaelic. Dr Tregidga said this status offered opportunities to strengthen Cornish identity across cultural, economic and political life.

Councillor Loveday Jenkin, Cornwall councillor for Crowan, Sithney and Wendron and a member of the Cornish party Mebyon Kernow, told the BBC that bilingual signage could help normalise the language in everyday settings.

She added that Cornwall had a long tradition of bilingual signs, which were generally well received by residents.

Cornish has taken a significant step forward on the international stage, after being brought under the protection of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

The change places the language on an equal footing with the other Celtic tongues of the British Isles, including Welsh, recognising its cultural and historical importance.

Known as Kernewek, Cornish belongs to the Brythonic branch of Celtic languages and is closely related to Welsh and Breton, reflecting a shared linguistic heritage stretching back centuries.

While the number of fluent speakers remains small (estimated at several hundred), thousands more have at least a working knowledge of the language, and interest continues to grow.

A Tesco spokesperson confirmed they made a mistake, apologised, and said the incorrect signage had been removed.

Tyisha, Glanymor and Llanelli town centre will share the cash over the next decade in what ministers say is a bid to “rebuild community pride” and help neighbourhoods that have been left behind.

The area — home to nearly 14,000 people — ranks among the 20% most deprived in Wales, with Tyisha 1 listed as the sixth most deprived neighbourhood in Wales for community safety. Deprivation is also high across income, employment, health and education.

‘People here have been ignored for too long’

Dame Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli, said: “I am pleased to have been able to secure this additional £20m of long‑term investment for Llanelli which these communities can now use to address issues that they raise with me day‑in, day‑out.

“It will be for the people who live there to decide how this money will be spent, based on what they feel is most important — whether it be improving the places that their families live, work and grow up in, supporting better local facilities and community organisations, helping people access skills and training or making our streets safer, cleaner and more welcoming.”

She said residents had been “overlooked for far too long” and needed a fair deal that reflected their priorities, not someone else’s.

New Neighbourhood Board to take control

A new Neighbourhood Board will now be created to oversee the project. It will include Carmarthenshire Council representatives, Dame Nia Griffith, local residents, community leaders and businesses.

Griffith urged people to get involved. “I can’t stress enough how important it will be for everyone living and working in these areas — as well as the wider Llanelli community who want to help revive our town centre — to make their voices heard over the next few months,” she said.

“I will be insisting residents are involved in the decision‑making process throughout so that it properly reflects their needs and delivers the improvements and the fair deal they rightfully deserve.”

Crime, deprivation and a town centre in decline

The targeted area includes Tyisha, the core of Glanymor and Llanelli town centre — a stretch long associated with anti‑social behaviour, empty units and stalled regeneration schemes.

Officials say the town centre remains the “functional economic area” for the wider community, linking key regeneration sites including the route to Pentre Awel via Llanelli railway station.

The funding is expected to focus on community safety, cleaner streets, better facilities, skills and training, and support for local organisations — but the final priorities will be set by residents.

Part of a wider regional funding battle

The £20m for Llanelli comes from the UK Government’s Pride in Place scheme — a nationwide programme aimed at reviving struggling neighbourhoods and restoring pride in local communities. But across South West Wales, the rollout has already sparked fierce debate over how the money should be carved up and who gets to decide where it goes.

In Neath Port Talbot, councillors have backed a decade‑long regeneration plan for the Upper Afan Valley, while Carmarthenshire’s allocation has triggered political clashes over transparency and control. Swansea MPs have also warned that Pride in Place funding must be shaped by residents, not handed down from above, with calls for open decision‑making and clear priorities.

Against that backdrop, Llanelli’s £20m package becomes the latest test of whether the decade‑long programme can deliver real change — and whether local people will genuinely be put in charge.

These refurbished showers, alongside ones at the top of the ramps leading down to the beach, increase the number of showers free for visitors to the Island to use.

New changing rooms are also under construction under the Eastern Shelter, giving visitors a space to change into their swimwear before braving the cold seas.

This means that the there will be a dedicated space for visitors to use instead of the toilets, which usually find themselves covered in sand during the summer months, despite signage asking users to not use the space as a changing room.

Councillor Bronwen Brooks, cabinet Member for sustainable places, said: “We are thrilled to see the new shower facilities at Barry Island fully installed and open for visitors. This new addition is the latest example of how we working to make a real difference for residents and visitors alike by enhancing comfort and accessibility while supporting the continued popularity of our beautiful seaside resort.

"These improvements demonstrate our ongoing commitment to investing in infrastructure that ensures that the Vale continues to be a welcoming, enjoyable place for all."

Funding for these projects comes from £530,000 worth of funding that the Vale of Glamorgan Council was awarded by the Welsh Government to enhance visitor experiences across the county.

The Barry Island Visitor Experience Improvement Project secured £233,813.62 to be able to support a range of new facilities, including the showers and changing rooms, as well as beach wheelchairs and digital water quality displays.

Speaking in May, when the funding was announced, councillor Bronwen Brooks, deputy leader and cabinet member for sustainable places, said: “We’re delighted to have secured over £530,000 in this fresh round of Brilliant Basics funding to support improvements at some of the Vale’s most popular destinations.

“These projects demonstrate the strength of partnership working across the Council, and this latest successful bid builds on our ongoing commitment to investing in infrastructure that helps make the Vale more inclusive, welcoming and enjoyable for everyone.”

Another £300,000 was granted at the time to Countryside Services to refurbish the toilet facilities at both Porthkerry and Cosmeston Country Parks, helping to enhance visitor comfort and accessibility.

Emergency services were called to the area at around 7am on Thursday, February 5, after police received a concern-for-welfare report involving a man on Chepstow Road.

Gwent Police confirmed officers attended the scene alongside the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and the Welsh Ambulance Service.

A police spokesperson said:

“We received a concern-for-welfare report for a man in Chepstow Road, Newport, at around 7am on Thursday 5 February.

Officers attended along with the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Welsh Ambulance Service.

The man has been taken to hospital for treatment.”

Witnesses say that a man was seen on scaffolding at the location from the early hours of the morning. Emergency services worked to bring the situation to a safe conclusion and ensure the man received appropriate medical help.

One witness said the man appeared to be experiencing a mental health episode.

The road was closed for several hours, with traffic diverted from the area near a local stitch shop, as emergency services dealt with the incident.

Public transport was also affected, with Newport Bus advising that inbound services were diverted via Wharf Road and Corporation Road earlier in the morning.

By late morning, all road closures had been lifted, and emergency services had left the area.

Residents packed into the Y Storfa community hub last week as Swansea Council and regeneration firm Urban Splash unveiled early ideas for one of the most high‑profile redevelopment sites in Wales.

The proposals — still at an early stage — include new cafés and bars overlooking the bay, beach‑sports shops, apartments, workspaces, a dedicated events venue, and even a brand‑new aquarium on the waterfront.

It’s the boldest vision yet for the huge seafront plot, which the council says could become a “once‑in‑a‑generation” destination for locals and visitors.

First Minister drops in for a look

Among those getting an early peek was First Minister Eluned Morgan, who visited Y Storfa during the two‑day exhibition. The hub itself is part‑funded by the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme.

For anyone who missed the event, the full proposals — along with a feedback form — are now available online, with more public engagement promised in the months ahead.

“Shaping something special for Swansea”

Urban Splash, the award‑winning regeneration specialists appointed to deliver the 20‑year partnership across seven Swansea sites, said the turnout showed just how much appetite there is for change.

Development director David Warburton said the response had been “fantastic”.

“We’re at the very start of shaping something special for the Civic Centre site,” he said. “Local insight is invaluable, and there’ll be plenty more opportunities for people to have their say.”

Council: “People care deeply about this site”

Council leader Cllr Rob Stewart said the early reaction proved how important the location is to Swansea residents.

“This is a landmark site and people care deeply about its future,” he said. “Working with Urban Splash gives us a once‑in‑a‑generation chance to reimagine the Civic Centre as a vibrant destination for residents, businesses and visitors.”

He added that the council is committed to keeping local people “at the heart of the project”.

Part of a wider city shake‑up

The Civic Centre revamp is just one of several major schemes being brought forward under the Urban Splash partnership.

Last autumn, the company revealed plans for a seven‑acre riverside neighbourhood in St Thomas, including more than 150 homes — half of them affordable — a landmark six‑storey building, shared gardens, improved river walkways and new space for shops, cafés and leisure.

The Civic Centre proposals are expected to evolve over the coming months as more public feedback is gathered.

The update comes from Cllr Peter Black, who said work at the former Cwmfelin Social Club has now exposed the culvert and cleared the first blockage. But instead of flowing cleanly through the system, water is diverting into a huge, fractured brick tramway running alongside it before dropping back into the culvert “further down the line”.

According to Cllr Black, the exact point where the water re‑enters the culvert is still unknown.

Fears over collapse risk

Cllr Black warned that the tramway route could become blocked if another collapse occurs inside the structure, which already has a break where water is spilling back into the culvert.

Because of that risk, he said pumps will remain on site “until such time that the council are content that the risk of flooding has been removed”.

The discovery adds yet another layer of complexity to a problem that has plagued the area for years, causing repeated flooding around Cwmbwrla roundabout and forcing the demolition of the Cwmfelin Club building after it was left teetering on the edge of the sinkhole.

Four‑month operation ahead

Cllr Black said contractors will now remove material from the site to allow phase two of the operation to begin. That includes excavating down to a second collapse, clearing it, and assessing the damaged section between the two failures before re‑establishing the watercourse.

He added that the council is currently negotiating an agreement with Network Rail to allow the next stage of work to proceed.

The projected timescale for the operation is “potentially up to four months”, with Cllr Black describing the next phase as “a lot more complex than the initial dig down”.

Meanwhile, he said the council will continue monitoring Cwmbwrla for flooding during periods of heavy rain.

New figures show fire crews across Britain have been called out 15,849 times since 2020 to help people who are stuck, trapped or unable to be moved because of their size — the equivalent of a rescue every 3 hours and 20 minutes.

And Wales is right at the centre of the surge.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service — covering Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Powys — handled 656 of these incidents, making it the fifth‑highest total in the UK.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service — which covers Cardiff, Newport, Bridgend, the Vale of Glamorgan and the Valleys — recorded 1,174 callouts, the second‑highest in Britain.

A growing “heavy‑lift” problem

In Mid and West Wales, the number of people needing specialist rescue because they were “too heavy to handle” has more than doubled in four years — rising from 59 in 2020 to 136 in 2024.

Crews spent 33,620 minutes on these jobs — that’s 560 hours, or 23 days of non‑stop work.

Across the UK, firefighters have spent the equivalent of 384.5 days on these rescues since 2020.

“It’s exhausting, dangerous and takes hours”

A frontline firefighter with London Fire Brigade, who took part in several bariatric rescues, said these callouts are among the most physically demanding jobs crews face.

The firefighter said:

“Jobs that would be simple with a healthier‑weight casualty become exhausting. You’re using more air, staying longer in dangerous conditions and risking heat exhaustion or collapse.”

He described one rescue that lasted ten hours and required an extraordinary multi‑agency response.

Instead of a straightforward lift, the operation drew in five fire engines, multiple specialist rescue units, four ambulances, a heavy‑duty bariatric ambulance and police support.

Crews had to dismantle part of the property — removing a balcony and three sets of doors — before building a reinforced ramp and using rope systems to lower the casualty safely to the roadside.

Even then, it took nine firefighters just to move the patient onto a stretcher, and one crew member suffered a back injury during the lift.

“These jobs push us beyond safe limits,” he said.

Callouts rising fast — but may now be slowing

The number of “too‑heavy‑to‑move” rescues rose 76% between 2020 and 2024 — increasing from 1,804 incidents to 3,183 across the UK.

However, the study also found that between 2022 and 2024, bariatric incidents fell by 13%, dropping from 3,653 to 3,183. Researchers suggest this may be linked to the rapid rise in weight‑loss injections, now used by an estimated 1.6 million adults.

“Obesity is putting huge pressure on emergency services”

ZAVA — the online healthcare provider that commissioned the UK‑wide FOI study — said the findings highlight the growing strain obesity places on frontline responders.

Dr Crystal Wyllie from ZAVA said:

“Obesity puts huge pressure not just on the NHS but on fire and rescue services too. These callouts are risky, physically demanding and take crews away from other emergencies.”

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service response

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said bariatric rescues — the callouts where someone is too heavy to move without firefighters and specialist kit — are becoming an increasingly common part of their workload.

A spokesperson for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said:

“Although fire and rescue services in Wales have no statutory duty to carry out bariatric rescues, we remain committed to supporting the people we serve and our emergency service partners whenever they need us.

“Bariatric incidents are increasing across the UK, and while these situations can be complex, our crews continue to respond with professionalism and compassion to ensure the safety and dignity of everyone involved.

“Our priority is always to help our communities and we will continue to work closely with colleagues in health and ambulance services to provide the best possible support where it is safe and appropriate to do so.”

Attendees included the chair, Councillor Watts, vice-chair, Councillor Cleeve, and councillors Sayer, Morris, Tarr, Williams, Grant, and Roe. There were seven members of the public in attendance.

Councillor Watts confirmed that bookings were at an all-time high.

In response, it was proposed that a dedicated working group be established to manage the centre's operations more effectively.

The proposal to incorporate the centre's finances into the main Graig Community Council (GCC) remit and switch the bank account from Barclays to Unity Trust Bank was unanimously agreed upon.

Councillors Williams, Tarr, Grant, Cleeve, and Morris expressed interest in joining this working group, with Councillor Watts tasked with initiating a change of signatories for the Barclays account.

Councillor Appleton, who was absent from the meeting, has expressed her intention to resign as a councillor while maintaining her involvement in community activities.

The council said 'her contribution to GCC will be missed and her contribution in the future would be appreciated.'

In other updates, an early February delivery of new planters around Bassaleg Bridge by Newport City Council was confirmed. It was also confirmed that a delay in the upgrade of the Bassaleg postbox outside the Post Office was due to incorrect measurements being taken.

A possible reduction in the number of GCC councillors from 15 to 12 was recommended by Newport City Council, with member recruitment in the Lower Machen ward planned in response.

Approval was sought and given for a £550 expenditure to improve a reported medium risk issue with the play area gate mechanism at Bassaleg Bridge.

Approval was also given to spend £280 so installation of planters could be completed by Greenleaf Landscapes.

"The new planters by the Fox and the replacements for Lower Machen (4 in total), plus those by Bassaleg Bridge (provided by Newport City Council) were in storage with the contractor and approval was sought to spend £280 so installation could be completed by Greenleaf Landscapes."

The need to keep Pentrepoeth and Penylan Roads gritted during frosty weather was also discussed, following three separate accidents on these roads.

No reason had been given by NCC as to why these roads had been removed from the gritting plan, contributing to public safety concerns.

A potential new gritting route will be proposed, subject to Newport City Council's feedback.

Additionally, a proposal for a task and project management monitoring tool was accepted unanimously.

Councillors were requested to actively seek new initiatives and update the project tracker.

A dashboard view will be added which can be shared with residents and budgets could be discussed and allocated at the February meeting.

Planning applications should be logged centrally in a document that all councillors could view.

Concerns were raised that action was not being taken by the city councillors on Bassaleg Bridge. Councillor Watts had written to express his disappointment and a further letter to Newport City Councillors would be sent.

Other items discussed included a recent meeting held between NCC, Forge Mews residents, and GCC on January 21, where aesthetics improvements like fencing removal and waste removal and parking permits were discussed.

The next meeting will take place on February 25.

In a blistering pre‑action letter sent to both organisations — and released publicly “in the interests of the people of Swansea” — the council says it is prepared to take the WRU and Y11 to court to stop the Ospreys being wiped out as a top‑tier regional team.

The move marks the most dramatic escalation yet in the battle over the future of Welsh rugby, following weeks of anger, protests, petitions and political pressure.

“Shocking prospect” of losing pro rugby from Wales’ second city

According to the council’s Chief Legal Officer Lucy Moore, the authority believes the WRU’s restructuring plans — which would cut the number of professional men’s teams from four to three — have been carried out in a way that is “unfair, secretive and unlawful”.

The council says it was left stunned after a meeting on 22 January, where WRU Chief Executive Abi Tierney and Ospreys boss Lance Bradley allegedly confirmed that:

• The Ospreys would not play professional regional rugby at St Helen’s after the 2026/27 season
• The team could merge with Swansea RFC and drop into the semi‑pro Super Rygbi Cymru
• Y11, already owners of the Ospreys, are the WRU’s preferred bidders for Cardiff Rugby

Council officials say they left the meeting with a “clear understanding” that the Ospreys would cease to exist as a URC regional side if the Y11 takeover of Cardiff goes ahead.

The council calls this the “shocking prospect” of losing professional rugby from Swansea entirely — something it says would devastate the city’s economy, identity and sporting heritage.

Council accuses WRU of conflicts, secrecy and “distorting competition”

In its legal letter, the council sets out a series of concerns about how the WRU has handled the restructuring process. It argues that cutting the number of regions from four to three is, by its nature, a restriction of competition, and that the way the WRU has gone about it has been neither fair nor transparent.

The authority says the process for allocating regional licences created an uneven playing field that effectively protected Cardiff and Dragons while placing the Ospreys at a disadvantage. It also claims the WRU had a clear conflict of interest because it owned Cardiff Rugby at the time it was making decisions about the future shape of the professional game.

The council goes further, suggesting that allowing Y11 to buy Cardiff while already owning the Ospreys undermines the spirit of World Rugby rules designed to prevent one entity controlling multiple clubs. It says the arrangement appears to rely on an understanding that the Ospreys would withdraw from competing for a regional licence — something the council describes as both anti‑competitive and unlawful.

£1.5m of public money at risk

The council says it has already committed around £1.5 million to preparatory work at St Helen’s, including relocating cricket to make way for the Ospreys’ proposed return. That investment, it warns, is now at risk of being wasted.

Beyond that, the authority says the loss of the Ospreys as a professional team would cause significant economic harm to Swansea, pointing to independent analysis showing the region generates up to £12 million a year in direct and indirect economic activity.

WRU under mounting pressure as deadline looms

The legal threat comes after weeks of escalating tension across Welsh rugby. Clubs have demanded clarity over the Y11 deal, Plaid Cymru has called for Welsh Government intervention, supporters have packed public meetings, and fans from Ospreys, Dragons and Cardiff have united to launch a petition against the restructure.

Swansea Council has now given the WRU and Y11 until 13 February to respond — and has not ruled out seeking an injunction to block the Cardiff takeover if its concerns are ignored.

South Wales Police officers arrived at the scene and found the flames had engulfed the front of the former Barry and District News office and the front of the pub – which was being renovated at the time ahead of re-opening as the Two Bells.

The officers also found a smaller fire in a bin outside Iceland across the road – which they extinguished.

Mr Stanway said an underground gas leak made it more difficult for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service to put out the fire.

Police searched the area and arrested Gareth Marsden, who matched the suspect’s description. Marsden had a lighter in his pocket and burn marks on his clothes.

CCTV footage showed Marsden lighting something and placing it into a large pile of rubbish outside the buildings. He then walked across to outside the Iceland store, before wandering down the street and sitting on a bench.

Mr Stanway said the pub underwent “extensive repairs” which cost the business around £70,000 and delayed the pub’s re-opening by a week.

The owner of the former Barry and District News office said the damages meant the building could no longer be used as intended, which led to a £250,000 grant being withdrawn. He said the repairs costs around £138,000.

Marsden made “full and frank” admissions to starting the fire when he was interviewed by police, and he later admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

The court heard the 38-year-old defendant, of Cei’r Dwyrain in Barry, had no previous convictions.

Sol Hartley, in mitigation, said Marsden “struggled with alcohol and substance misuse” and this incident showed “evidence of the downturn in his life”.

“He lit a piece of paper that was on the pile of rubbish,” he said.

“He saw it as a meaningless act. Of course, it wasn’t.

“This incident is a result of drunkenness.”

Addressing the defendant, Judge Paul Thomas KC said: “Your act of senseless vandalism last August in a commercial street in Barry had huge repercussions for several people.

“Quite why you did something so utterly senseless, or mindless, has never been explained.

“The public house had to be repaired. The neighbouring premises was also badly affected.

“On any view, the financial costs, let alone the human costs, were very significant indeed.”

He jailed Marsden for three years and four months.

Pets at Home is relaunching its popular free Pet Pals sessions across the UK.

The 45-minute workshops will start at 2pm and will explore how playtime supports pets’ natural behaviours and overall wellbeing.

Each session will include hands-on activities and fun facts about a variety of animals, including cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and hamsters.

Children will also have the chance to handle small pets.

Dr Samantha Butler-Davies, veterinary services director at Pets at Home, said: "Another break from school means another Pet Pals workshop!"
"This programme provides children across the UK with valuable insights into pet care, guided by our experienced Petcare Advisors."

"Over the years, more than 700,000 children have participated in the Pet Pals programme, demonstrating our commitment to providing responsible pet ownership education to the next generation."

Pet care advisors will demonstrate different types of toys and explain how they help keep pets entertained, helping children understand how to care for animals at home.

Children will be able to take part in colouring activities and even design their own pet toys.

Each child will also receive an activity sheet, certificate, character headband and stickers to take home.

This year’s theme focuses on all things pet behaviour and how playtime can help pets exhibit their natural behaviours, which is vital for their wellbeing.

The workshops will run during half-term from February 15 to February 22.

Bookings can be made online at petsathome.com/workshops.

Cereulide is a toxin produced by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Cereulide is highly heat stable meaning it is unlikely to be deactivated or destroyed by cooking, using boiling water or when making the infant milk. If consumed it can lead to rapid onset of symptoms.

Symptoms caused by this toxin include nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

These are all the Nestle products affected by the recall and their batch codes:

SMA Advanced First Infant Milk – 800g

• 51450742F1, 52319722BA, 52819722AA – Best Before May 2027
• 53390346AB – Best Before December 2027

SMA Advanced Follow-On Milk – 800g

• 51240742F2 – Best Before May 2027
• 51890742F2, 52879722AA – Best Before July 2027

SMA Anti Reflux – 800g

• 52099722BA – Best Before April 2027
• 51570742F3, 52099722BB, 52739722BA – Best Before June 2027

SMA ALFAMINO – 400g

• 51200017Y3 – Best Before April 2027
• 51210017Y1, 51220017Y1, 51250017Y1, 51390017Y1, 51420017Y2, 51430017Y1, 51460017Y1 – Best Before May 2027
• 51690017Y2, 51690017Y3, 51700017Y1, 51710017Y1, 51740017Y1 – Best Before July 2027
• 52760017Y5, 52790017Y1, 52860017Y1 – Best Before October 2027
• 53100017Y3, 53110017Y1, 53140017Y1, 53140017Y2, 53150017Y1 – Best Before November 2027

SMA First Infant Milk – 800g

• 51170346AA, 51170346AB – Best Before April 2027
• 51340346AB – Best Before May 2027
• 51580346AA, 51590346AA, 51590346AB – Best Before June 2027
• 52760346AB, 52760346AD, 52780346AA, 52750346AE – Best Before October 2027

SMA First Infant Milk – 400g

• 51350346AA – Best Before May 2027
• 52750346AD – Best Before October 2027

SMA First Infant Milk – 1.2kg

• 51340346BE – Best Before November 2026
• 52740346BA, 52750346BA – Best Before April 2027

SMA LITTLE STEPS First Infant Milk – 800g

• 51220346AD – Best Before May 2027
• 51540346AC – Best Before June 2027
• 52740346AD – Best Before October 2027

SMA Comfort – 800g

• 51240742F3, 51439722BA, 51479722BA, 51769722BA, 52049722AA – Best Before May 2027
• 52620742F3 – Best Before September 2027

SMA First Infant Milk – 200ml

• 52860295M, 52870295M, 52870295M, 53030295M, 53040295M – Best Before October 2026
• 53220295M, 53230295M, 53070295M, 53080295M – Best Before November 2026

SMA First Infant Milk – 70ml

• 53170742B1 – November 2026

SMA Lactose Free – 400g

• 51150346AB, 51719722BA, 51759722BA, 51829722BA, 51979722BA, 52109722BA, 53459722BA – Best Before April 2027
• 51500346AB – Best Before May 2027
• 53299722BA – Best Before August 2027

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: “Nestlé is recalling the above products. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products.

“These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the products.

“If you have bought any of the above products do not feed it to babies. Instead, share a photo of the product and the batch code via https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/getintouch or call the careline on 0800 0 81 81 80 for a refund.

“Nestlé have also added a tool to their website that will help to identify if a batch is or not under the scope of the recall. You can access this at https://www.smababy.co.uk/product-recall.

“If you have fed this product to a baby and have any concerns about potential health impact, you should seek advice from healthcare professionals, using the most appropriate route depending on where you live, (i.e., visit your GP, call NHS111).

“Even if you have not identified ill-health in your baby as a result of consumption of this product, it is essential to stop using it.

“If the infant formula or follow-on formula was prescribed by a health professional for your infant, consult a pharmacist or other medical professional before changing formula.”

A Nestle spokesman added: “There have been no confirmed reports of any illness associated with consumption of the products concerned.

“Nevertheless, out of an abundance of caution, Nestle has decided to perform this voluntary product recall in line with our strict product quality and safety protocols.

“All other Nestle products and other batches of the same product that are not in the scope of this voluntary recall are safe to consume.

“We understand that this news may cause concern for parents, and we sincerely apologise for any concern or inconvenience caused to parents, caregivers, and customers.”

Williams, who represents Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend, said the Ospreys were “widely understood to be at particular risk” as the WRU looks to reduce the number of regions from four to three.

She told the chamber that the consequences would stretch far beyond elite rugby, affecting schools, community clubs, local businesses and regeneration projects across the region.

“Over the last two weeks there has been growing frustration and anger at proposals by the WRU which would put the Ospreys at risk,” she said.

“This is not just a debate about elite sport. From schools to cafés, from community rugby clubs to local councils, there is deep concern about the wider impact of removing a professional rugby team that underpins participation pathways, local pride and regional identity.”

Williams said the threat also cast doubt over the future of the planned redevelopment of St Helen’s in Swansea, warning that losing the Ospreys would “damage both local economic ecosystems that rely on sport‑related activity and the city’s sporting profile”.

She asked ministers to confirm what discussions they had held with the WRU, what steps they would take to protect communities in South Wales West, and whether they would require the WRU to publish a full impact assessment before any decision is made.

In response, Welsh Government minister Jane Hutt said the matter was “for the WRU”:

“This is, of course, the Ospreys, in terms of impact, particularly on Swansea and the surrounding area region and Wales. This is a matter for the WRU, of course, but it is important that elected representatives, indeed at local and national level, can raise these issues.”

This prompted an angry reaction from Williams afterwards:

“It’s disappointing that the Welsh Government has failed to recognise its role in the matter,” she said. “Welsh rugby as we know it, and all that it signifies for my region, is being eroded on their watch, and it’s not good enough for them to wash their hands of the matter.”

Plaid Cymru says the Welsh Government cannot distance itself from the issue, pointing out that ministers have invested almost £5 million in the WRU since 2020 and still hold a £12.4 million loan to the governing body.

Williams said that level of public investment meant the Government had a responsibility to ensure decisions were based on evidence, transparency and the interests of communities.

“It’s important that Welsh Government demonstrate they are in full receipt of the facts about the impact to South Wales West before any decisions are made to reduce the number of regions,” she said.

The WRU has not yet confirmed which region is under threat, but speculation has centred on the Ospreys amid ongoing financial pressures and stalled talks over the future structure of the professional game.

A working Pembrokeshire woollen mill had a royal visitor this afternoon, Tuesday, February 3, who tried her hand at many of the stages required in producing a heritage Welsh wool blanket.

Her Royal Highness the princess of Wales visited Melin Tregwynt in north Pembrokeshire to learn how the mill produces its eye-catching Welsh wool blankets from start to finish.

Fittingly she wore a Welsh wool tapestry coat in autumnal tones, perfectly offset by smart olive-green trousers and top. Her outfit and the presence of a princess in their midst drew gasped of admiration from the crowd, who had gathered at the mill as the princess alighted her car.

HRH was greeted by Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed Sara Edwards and mill director Louise Clarke.

She first visited the weaving shed where Holly Williams, who has been working as a weaver at Tregwynt for five years showed her how the individual strands of wool are gathered at the beginning of making a blanket.

She then moved onto one of the looms where weaving supervisor Sean Jenkins, showed her how the loom worked and let her have a go at operating it.

Sean was present in 2012 when the Princess’ father-in law, King Charles visited the mill and also showed him how the looms work.

The princess then met weavers Lydia Dunn and Georgina Scorey who showed her how they hand tied new threads to create a new warp in the fabric. Again, the princess was keen to try her hand at this stage of the fabric’s creation.

HRH then met other workers in the weaving shed before visiting Paula Harding, the third generation of her family to work in quality control at Melin Tregwynt. Paula’s nan worked at the mill for 33 years, retiring at the age of eighty. Her mother still works with her in quality control.

Paula showed the Princess how to repair a fault in the fabric, and again she was keen to have a go.

“Is that how you fix a jumper?” she asked Paula.

“It’s a big responsibility,” she said of Paula’s role at Melin Tregwynt. “Does it become second nature?”

Then it was onto the sewing room where HRH met sisters Cindy Davis and Laisely Perrin. Their job is to stich and edge the blankets and cushions and put the finishing touch of a Melin Tregwyn label on them.

“You make it look super easy,” said the Princess. “It is lovely to do something so tactile with your hands.

She asked the sisters if they had always enjoyed making things and learnt that it is a skill that has been passed down the family; their grandad was a tailor, and their mum made wedding dresses.

The Princess then made a private visit to Melin Tregwynt’s shop, where she was presented with a king-sized Vintage Star blanket in the clay colourway.

She spent some time talking to the staff and the crowd before getting into the royal cavalcade to travel to her next engagement at Hiut Denim in Cardigan.

In the crowd she chatted with local youngster Luca Couzens telling him he was just like her son for not wearing a coat in winter, and posing for a photo.

“It was a huge privilege, we are so fortunate to have her come to visit us,” said Melin Tregwynt site manager James Lamb.

“The way she engaged with everybody was incredible. It was amazing. She was very natural and very interested in all the staff and what they do.

“It has been a fantastic opportunity for the business.”

Melin Tregwynt director, Louise Clarke added:

“It was lovely. She was interested in every part of the process, what everyone was doing and why and how each process affected the next.

“She was fantastic, she is just so easy to talk to. I’ve just been really relaxed from the moment that she came, it was just that feeling that you could say anything.

“She was so down to earth and natural and really wanted to be here.

“That she endorses what we do is lovely. Having someone like the Princess come gives us that different reach.”

A major investigation by the Countryside Alliance has exposed how councils across Wales are relying on frozen chicken shipped thousands of miles around the world, even in rural areas surrounded by farms and food producers.

The data shows that Swansea Council sourced just 2.33% of its school‑meal chicken from the UK. The rest came from the EU and from China, Thailand and Brazil — with 31.96% imported from outside Europe.

Carmarthenshire Council admitted using frozen chicken from outside the EU but refused to say how much or from which countries. Pembrokeshire Council also declined to provide percentages, saying only that it used “some” UK and EU chicken.

Neath Port Talbot Council did not respond at all.

Bridgend was one of only two councils in Wales able to confirm that 100% of its chicken came from the UK.

The Countryside Alliance said the findings show a “systemic failure” to support Welsh farmers, with procurement rules and large contracts favouring cheap imports over local produce.

Across Wales, the worst figures were recorded in Merthyr Tydfil, where 99.35% of chicken served to pupils came from China and Thailand. Conwy reported 94% from Thailand and Brazil. Gwynedd — a predominantly rural county — reported 87.62% from Brazil, Thailand and China.

The report also revealed that not one council in Wales could say what proportion of its school‑meal chicken was actually Welsh.

The figures have caused uproar among farming families.

Hefin Jones, a father of three and a farmer in Conwy, said he was “deeply disappointed and frustrated” to learn that 94% of the chicken used in his local schools came from Thailand and Brazil.

“As parents we do our best to feed our kids nutritious healthy food, while our council disrespects the health and safety of our kids,” he said.

The Countryside Alliance said the situation made no sense in a country that prides itself on high food standards and strong farming communities.

Rachel Evans, Director of Countryside Alliance Wales, said:

“As a mother and a farmer, I’m shocked and disappointed. When we have such high‑quality Welsh and British produce, so much of the chicken our children are eating is being shipped in from the other side of the world.”

She said the Welsh Government’s own sustainability policies were being undermined by public bodies serving imported chicken “flown or shipped in from as far away as Thailand, China and Brazil”.

The Alliance said procurement rules were stacked against Welsh farmers, with councils tied into large contracts that favour cheap imports over local produce. It also warned that many councils could not trace where their chicken came from, calling the lack of transparency “deeply concerning”.

The Welsh Local Government Association defended councils, saying imported chicken was sometimes used because of cost pressures and availability, and insisted all chicken must meet UK food safety standards.

The Welsh Government said it was working with councils and suppliers to shorten supply chains and increase the use of Welsh food in schools.

But the issue has now erupted into a political row, with the Welsh Conservatives accusing Plaid Cymru and Labour of presiding over a system that imports chicken from thousands of miles away while Welsh farmers struggle.

Welsh Conservative Shadow Education Secretary Natasha Asghar MS said:

“Food for our children should be sourced within Wales wherever possible. Local authorities should be supporting Welsh farmers and producers, not shipping frozen chicken halfway around the world.”

She said the current approach “undermines food security” and raised questions about value for money and standards.

Welsh Conservative Shadow Rural Affairs Secretary Samuel Kurtz MS said:

“Welsh farmers are being undercut here. Plaid and Labour are importing frozen chicken from thousands of miles away while Reform would prioritise chlorinated chicken from the US. Using locally sourced Welsh produce would strengthen farm incomes, support rural jobs and shorten supply chains.”

The Countryside Alliance is now calling for urgent reform of school‑meal procurement, including mandatory reporting on where food comes from and new rules that allow councils to prioritise Welsh and British produce.

It aimed to give Kenyan delegates first-hand experience of Welsh education policy, inspection frameworks, and school-level practices.

The officials, from Kenya’s Ministry of Education and Teacher Service Commission, visited schools across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan to see how quality assurance and leadership are applied in different settings.

Ruth Cocks, director at British Council Wales, said: "Wales has a strong and distinctive story to tell about how inspection can support improvement, professionalism, and equity across an entire education system.

"This programme was designed to be practical and hands-on, connecting Kenyan education leaders directly with Welsh inspectors and policy makers.

"By opening our doors to international partners like Kenya, we’re not only sharing Welsh expertise, we’re also building lasting relationships that strengthen education globally.

"This exchange shows how Wales can act as a confident, outward-looking nation, contributing practical solutions to shared challenges in education."

As Kenya reviews its National Education Quality Assurance and Standards Framework, lessons from Wales are expected to inform the country's ongoing education reforms.

The delegation toured Fitzalan High School in Leckwith, Stanwell School in Penarth, Ysgol Gymraeg Dewi Sant in Llantwit Major, and Hywel Dda Primary School in Cardiff.

They also met with Estyn, the Welsh education and training inspectorate, to discuss inspection frameworks, data use, and professional standards.

Owen Evans, chief inspector of education and training in Wales, said: "The dialogue with Kenya’s delegation reinforced the value of international collaboration.

"By sharing practice and reflecting together, inspection systems can better support improvement and positive outcomes for learners."

The government is recruiting additional quality assurance officers who will benefit from insights gained during the visit.

Ambassador Prof. Julius Bitok, Principal Secretary, State Department of Basic Education Kenya, said: "Quality assurance sits at the centre of Kenya’s Education Reform; it informs decisions which shape pedagogy, curriculum alignment with national priorities, and ultimately learning outcomes. As a government, we are recruiting and inducting more Quality Assurance and standards officers who will benefit greatly from the outcomes of this study visit to Wales."

A woman was taken to hospital after reports that she had suffered stab wounds which caused injuries to her torso and hand. According to police, the incident took place just inside the park and the injured woman escaped through an entrance which backs onto Picton Terrace, where she called for help.

The day after the attack, Dyfed-Powys Police released an image and a description of a man they are actively searching for. The suspect was named as 57-year-old James Mckenna. 

Mr McKenna is local to Carmarthen and has known links to Ireland. He is described as a white, British male, who is around 5ft 7ins tall. He is bald with white facial hair. Police said he was known to the injured woman, who is still recovering but whose injuries are not life-threatening.

Over the weekend a police presence was seen in and around the Carmarthen Park area, with searches taking place at allotments, wooded areas and wetlands near to the park.

Police dogs and drones were used in the searches, and a knife believed to have been used in the incident together with a rucksack have been recovered.

As well as physical area searches, officers and staff from specialist departments at Dyfed-Powys Police continue to carry out digital and financial enquiries.

The suspect remains at large and enquiries have been made with local transport providers to seek to establish if he has attempted to leave the area via any form of public transport.

Detective chief superintendent Ross Evans of Dyfed-Powys Police said: “I assure that we are doing all we can to locate James McKenna, and that our work has been continuous over the weekend and into today.

“Having processed the initial scenes of interest inside and immediately outside Carmarthen Park, our search areas have expanded to include large wooded areas, the Towy river bank and places he is known to frequent.

“We do not believe at this time that he has used any mode of transport to leave the area, however if anyone has any information that could suggest otherwise, we urge them to get in touch using the dedicated link below.

“I am pleased to be able to confirm that despite being subject to a very serious attack, the victim is not believed to have sustained any life changing injuries, and is expected to make a full recovery.

"We wish her well as she recovers, and are ensuring she is supported both by our officers and external organisations.

“Finally, we are aware that our work has resulted in some disruption in the local area, and we would like to thank members of the community for their cooperation.

"I am sure you can understand how serious an incident like this is treated, and we will continue to have Neighbourhood Policing and Prevention Teams in the area should you need to raise any issues.”

Police are asking anyone with any information regarding last Thursday’s incident to contact them online, by e-mailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk, or by calling 101.

The group is funded by the local health board and operates across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, offering hubs, peer support and community projects aimed at helping isolated men. Dyfed-Powys Police said they were called to Carmarthen Park at around 4pm on Thursday afternoon following reports of an assault.

A spokesman said a woman was taken to hospital with stab wounds to her hand and torso. On Monday officers confirmed that she is expected to make a full recovery. 

On Sunday Men2Men shared on social media that officers are seeking one of its former colleagues in connection with the alleged incident. It comes after police shared that officers are searching for 57-year-old James McKenna in connection with a reported attempted murder.

The full statement from Men2Men reads: "Men2Men Network CIC is aware of reports that the police are seeking a former employee in connection with a serious incident. We recognise that this news may be distressing for many.

"Our first and deepest concern is for the person who has been harmed. Our thoughts are firmly with them, and we sincerely hope they are surrounded by care and support as they recover.

"At this time, we respectfully ask our community to refrain from speculating or sharing unverified information. We believe it is important to allow the proper processes to take place, with compassion and integrity for all involved.

"Men2Men Network CIC is cooperating fully with the authorities. The safety, wellbeing, and trust of our community, service users, staff and volunteers remains our highest priority, and we are taking this responsibility with the seriousness it deserves.

"Thank you for your understanding, care, and sensitivity during this difficult time."

Anyone with information can contact police online, via the designated portal: Public Portal, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk, or by phoning 101, or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

Safety concerns have also emerged regarding elements of the two-year project, which is scheduled to begin this summer. Local people are have called for changes to the proposals that would allow the town's promenade to flood during storms, effectively functioning as a reservoir-like water storage area.

Cyngor Gwynedd is finalising designs for the new coastal defences along Barmouth's north promenade. Partial promenade collapsed in 2020-21 underscored the urgent need for upgrades to prevent potentially devastating flooding. 

Council consultants YGC dismissed the option of raising the primary wall and revetment along the seafront, as this this would create a "significant visual impact" on a town heavily dependent on tourism. The alternative approach focuses on raising a 1.2km-long secondary wall, positioned away from the seafront in front of residential areas.

The proposed concrete recurve wall will range in height from 1.55 to 1.7 metres (5.1ft-5.6ft). Local resident Kye Smith said he was shocked when he discovered this was the plan.

"Residents will feel like they are in a maximum security prison," he fumed. "The extreme height of this concrete wall will obstruct light and views. It will also invite anti-social behaviour such as graffiti and poor driving as it's so high no one can be seen behind it."

To prove his point, the 38-year-old construction worker propped up 1.7-metre planks next to the current stone wall. Taking photos, he then overlaid coloured blocks on the images to produce an "accurate" representation of the wall's visual impact.

It was at this point that he discovered the wall would appear even more imposing when seen from the promenade. Given that this sits 550mm further down the slope, he worked out a total height of 2.25 metres from the seafront perspective.

Kye described the proposed secondary wall as "unnecessary and impractical" – particularly since consultants claim the beach's new rock armour will "significantly reduce wave overtopping at the primary wave wall".

He continued: "It may be appropriate to consider improving the secondary wall with a more structural design supported by piles. However there is no clear justification for the proposed 1700mm height – or for introducing a wave-return curve that would detract from the character and visual appeal of the existing stone wall and the Wales Coast Path."

Not everyone is on board: some residents point out graffiti is not currently an issue in Barmouth and a higher flood defence wall will screen passing traffic. The initial plans featured a 10-metre wide rock revetment stretching along nearly the full length of the promenade north of Heol Idris.

Additional rock armour north of the prom was examined but subsequently dismissed as surplus to requirements. Further proposed works include:

• Groynes to be removed where possible, subject to environmental surveys.
• Primary wall to remain at the same height but with some localised modifications and repairs
• Central stone-faced wall (to delineate the prom from the seafront road) to be replaced with a similar height 0.4-metre concrete wall.
• Flood gates to replace stop logs across key openings, with goal to reduce the number of temporary defences.
• Introducing rock pods to enhance marine biodiversity.
• Improving public spaces with new seating, raised planters and better lighting.
• New art installations and cycling amenities.
• Traffic calming features with parking improvements and better access to the beach. These could include a new parking layout on Marine Parade and refurbishment of the northern car park.
• Designated locations for commercial activities such as food and drink trucks.

Maintaining the primary wall at its current height, to preserve seafront vistas, will inevitably result in increased overtopping as sea levels climb. YGC confirmed this is an integral element of the strategy.

"The promenade including the road (Marine Parade) will still flood and is part of the defence solution," YGC's specialists explained. "This area will be closed during a flood event.

"Allowing the promenade to flood balances the need for flood protection with maintaining the character of the town."

Rock armour fears

The proposed rock armour should reduce both the severity and regularity of promenade flooding. Yet Kye remains unconvinced, advocating for what he views as a superior alternative – one that's less obtrusive and "less dangerous".

To raise awareness of the scheme's ramifications and present alternative proposals, he established Facebook page Barmouth Flood Defence Scheme to voice community concerns. The page has already drawn nearly 600 members in a town of 2,500 residents that expands five-fold during the summer tourist season.

Whilst rock armour may be unattractive, its effectiveness is proven – it's currently employed in most coastal defence projects across North Wales. Nevertheless, Kye harbours concerns about its shortcomings.

"You are essentially putting an obstacle course akin to a climbing frame on the beach," he stated. "Barmouth is one of the busiest tourist towns in Gwynedd with many visitors coming from cities in England – one reason why they call this place Little Birmingham.

"After a long journey of two to three hours, the driver often drops off the rest of the family at the seafront before looking for somewhere to park. The kids are excited, they want to get on the sand and it's inevitable some will start clambering over the rock armour."

In addition to slips and falls, there have been instances of people getting stuck in rock armour. Kye refers to several examples from across Britain – but one incident closer to home stands out.

In April 2024, a young girl got trapped while playing on rock armour on Tywyn beach. As the tide was rising, a multi-agency rescue operation involving Coastguards, fire teams, paramedics and an air ambulance was initiated.

Heavy-lifting machinery was deployed and the girl was rescued after approximately three hours.

"People will do anything to get to the beach," Kye commented. "I can foresee similar incidents occurring in Barmouth that happened in Tywyn that day."

Artificial reef

Approximately 86,000 tonnes of rock will be required for the revetment. Transporting this material through the town's narrow roads would present a significant logistical challenge, necessitating roughly 20 round trips daily over a 10-month period, totalling 4,400 HGV journeys.

The project team is evaluating various transportation routes. Maritime delivery of the rocks is another possibility under consideration. This option has considerable advantages: just four barge trips carrying up to 25,000-tonne loads would suffice.

Should this latter approach be selected, Kye would prefer the rocks to be deposited at sea. He advocates for an offshore reef positioned at a 15 to 20-metre depth.

This is being explored as a long-term strategy for Barmouth's coastal defences, when certain parts of the resort may need to be surrendered to the ocean.

Currently, an artificial reef isn't being proposed: the objective remains to strengthen defences as much as feasible to postpone the future "managed realignment" of north Barmouth.

Rather than maintaining the existing hold-the-line strategy, Kye argued an artificial reef would provide superior protection by "advancing the line".

"It would not only support marine life, it would also act as a natural wave barrier at a safe distance," he said. "By the time the waves reach the shore, their energy will have been dispersed, greatly reducing their impact on the beach and sea defences."

Loss of sand

Kye believes that an offshore reef could offer a solution to the ongoing issue of sand loss from north Barmouth, which has led to significant voiding that severely damaged the promenade in 2020. Much of the sand drifts southwards, and each autumn, council diggers and trucks are tasked with retrieving it from the south beach.

The deterioration of beach groynes, coupled with the construction of a causeway to Ynys y Brawd at the mouth of the Mawddach estuary, is blamed by locals for these issues. The causeway was built as a response to numerous drownings in the fast-flowing channel between the beach and the island.

While it made Ynys y Brawd accessible to walkers, it also blocked the channel, which many believe led to the harbour silting up.

Kye suggests that this also hindered the northward drift of sediment, resulting in a sand-deprived north beach and, ultimately, the proposed flood defence upgrades we see today. He believes that maintaining and restoring the groynes could provide a partial solution.

He's aware that the planned rock revetment has been extended to a width of 18 metres, taking up more of the remaining beach. "It will claim around 21,600 square meters of usable soft sand beach space," he stated.

"Removal of the groynes would then allow what's left to move freely down south like it historically has done since the creation of the causeway to Ynys y Brawd.

"In an ideal world, and for the benefit of Barmouth, its residents, businesses and visitors, it would be more effective to create an artificial reef, reinstate the groynes and properly renourish the North Beach – something that has not been done for many years."

'Eight million litres of water'.

YGC has no plans to nourish – or extend – the beach. However there is little doubt that upgraded flood defences are needed. Current analysis shows much of the resort being flooded – in places more than two metres deep – in the event of a one in 200-year storm.

Beyond the threat to approximately 757 properties, crucial transport infrastructure including the Cambrian railway line could face inundation. YGC has stated that safeguarding property, businesses and infrastructure remains the primary objective when designing the proposed scheme.

Kye acknowledges the requirement for improved defences but disagrees on the methodology. Drainage along the primary wall provides another case in point.

Currently, drainage holes are positioned at five-metre intervals but possess only a 110mm diameter, which he argues is "insufficient". Furthermore, none feature non-return valves, permitting water to flow back inland.

"It's difficult to see how more than eight million litres of water could drain efficiently through such limited outlets," he said. "What's needed are larger drain-offs equipped with non-return valves."

Also on his agenda is a fire emergency plan, as navigating through the crowded streets of north Barmouth can be challenging. He's also seeking clarity regarding the proposed floodgates between properties and roads.

"We don't know how long they remain closed before and after a storm," he stated.

The project is set to commence this summer and conclude in summer 2028. Modifications to the design may be revealed during this period.

To minimise disruption to tourism and local residents, the 7am-7pm working hours will be halted during the school summer holidays.

The woman's lawyer, Brad Edwards from the US firm Edwards Henderson, told the BBC that after spending the night with Andrew, she says she was also given a tour of Buckingham Palace and tea.

"We're talking about at least one woman who was sent by Jeffrey Epstein over to Prince Andrew. And she even had, after a night with Prince Andrew, a tour of Buckingham Palace," the lawyer said. 

BBC News has asked Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor for comment, but so far he has not responded to these accusations. Andrew has previously vehemently denied any wrongdoing.

Buckingham Palace routinely records the names of tour guests but the BBC said it has not been possible to corroborate the woman's visit without revealing her identity.

The woman's account of spending the night at Andrew's home is the first time an Epstein survivor has alleged a sexual encounter occurred at a royal residence.

It comes as pictures appearing to show Andrew crouched over an unidentified woman were featured in the latest disclosure of files linked to Epstein.

The latest pictures, released in a document of 100 pages of photographs, also appear to show the former duke touching the woman’s abdomen. Another unidentified person’s feet are up on a table in the background.

Elsewhere in the document dump, screenshots and scans appear to show the former prince exchanged emails with Epstein about a “beautiful” Russian woman and invited him to Buckingham Palace

Mr Edwards represents more than 200 Epstein survivors worldwide, and represented Virginia Giuffre, who alleged that she was brought to London to have sex with the former prince in 2001 when she was 17.

Giuffre said she was forced to have sex with Andrew two more times between 2001 and 2002 - once in New York and once on Epstein's private Caribbean island.

The lawyer, who is based in Florida, also told the BBC that there were communications between his client and the former prince before the encounter where she says she spent the night with him.

Edwards said he had been in contact with "certain legal counsel" of the former prince in the United States, but said Andrew had "seemingly been disconnected from his lawyers".

Communications stopped after King Charles formally removed Andrew's "style, title and honours", he said.

Andrew was stripped of his royal titles in October last year. It was also announced that he would leave Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, which had been his home since 2004.

A statement from Buckingham Palace read: "His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the Style, Titles and Honours of Prince Andrew. Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.

"His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence. Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.

"These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.

"Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse."

The lawyer said he is now considering filing a civil lawsuit on the woman's behalf against the former prince.

The Hall family, who had owned the site for 43 years, put it up for sale after it closed in 2022. The local pub group Stange and Co, known for owning The Cottage Loaf in Llandudno and The Erskine Arms in Conwy, purchased the property in 2024.

They announced plans to create 35 jobs and add a sun terrace and new garden room after securing a substantial funding injection of £850k from NatWest to support its latest investment. 

Redevelopment work, which began last year, has involved a major revamp of the premises.

Recruitment for a new team to manage the site is underway. The positions of general manager and head chef have been filled, and additional staff members are being hired in preparation for the reopening.

Stange and Co told Pulse Media this week that they aim to open the pub later in the spring. The target is the end of April but there is no set opening date at this stage.

Located on the bustling A525, the pub was originally an 18th-century water mill that sourced its water from the Afon Ystrad.

In a previous statement, Stange and Co said: "The pub has all the attributes to be a cracker and we're sure after a little work to get it back open, it will become a pub we and Denbigh can be proud of once again."

Officers from South Wales Police a street in the Cogan area of Penarth on Thursday evening. It was today confirmed that emergency services had been called to the sudden death of a teenage boy at a property in the area. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "South Wales Police can confirm the sudden death of a teenager at a property in Cogan yesterday afternoon (Thursday, January 29).

"The family has requested privacy at this difficult time.

"There are no suspicious circumstances, and an investigation is on-going on behalf of HM Coroner."

The force said two of the people involved were wearing balaclavas. Locals and users of the park that is between Rhiwbina and Whitchurch have been asked to remain vigilant and to keep their belongings on their person at all times, if possible.

People accessing the park by car have also been advised not to leave any valuables on show after the incident. 

A police statement said: "Should a member of the community have any information with regards to the theft could they please contact 101, quoting occurrence 2600027410, or contact local officers directly (lee.powell2@south-wales.police.uk / laura.rhoden@south-wales.police.uk)"

Local Rhiwbina councillor Jayne Cowan shared the police appeal with local residents.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, she said she believed he had died when she discovered him. She said: "When I opened the box I thought he was dead because he was curled up in the foetal position and wasn't moving.

"He was cold, shivering, his skin was pale and his face, mouth and nostrils were covered in grit.

"When I picked him up he was disorientated and just slumped into my arms. And once we were inside he didn't appear to be his usual self and he was shivering and gulping down water.

"I didn't know how this could have happened or how long he had been in there or how much salt he had ingested. I don't understand how nobody noticed that he wasn't there anymore." 

He was subsequently taken to A&E with raised salt levels but was released following additional tests.

Under an arrangement between the school - Maybury Primary School in Edinburgh - and his parents, his mum claimed he was meant to be under tag-team supervision - a system where staff communicate his whereabouts throughout the nursery.

The 36-year-old claimed: "They still haven't told me what actually happened to my child on that day (Friday, January 16.). They described it as an unfortunate incident but that is just completely not acknowledging how serious this situation actually was. After everything that's happened I can't send him back there. No-one has actually admitted to what went wrong on that day.

"I asked to see the CCTV on the day that it happened so I would have more information to give the doctors.

"They said they would check it but I didn't hear anything back. The next week I was told the CCTV didn't cover the area where the grit bin was and then a few days after that they told me that the CCTV hadn't been working that day - it just doesn't make sense," she claimed.

Following a brief return to the nursery last week, the young boy has now been kept at home. The distressed parent explained that multiple factors, including a breakdown of trust, had prompted the decision.

The Care Inspectorate has been notified of the incident.

City of Edinburgh Council leader Jane Meagher commented: "I was shocked to hear about this awful incident and can only imagine how frightening it must have been for the child's mother and family. I'm so sorry they had to go through this.

"It's simply unacceptable that such a young child could be unaccounted for and put at risk, particularly in a place where they should be safe and cared for.

"I want to reassure the family that the Care Inspectorate were immediately informed, and urgent improvements have already been made at the nursery. I am insisting that these are independently reviewed to make sure all lessons have been properly learned and that this can never be allowed to happen again."

While removing bins from lay-bys might be expected to result in more rubbish, the opposite seems to have happened. “Lay-bys are much tidier without bins,” said Cllr Neil Lewis, a member of the council’s place, sustainability and climate change scrutiny committee.

Cllr Arwel Davies agreed, but he and Cllr Lewis said litter was an issue on tourist routes and at public events on bank holiday weekends, with Cllr Lewis saying he emptied an overflowing bin himself on one occasion.

The committee was examining the impact of the council’s recent litter bin policy which identified 463 bins for removal and was driven by efficient use of resources and a desire for better-managed public spaces, among other things. 

People in Carmarthenshire asked for 92 new community litter bins last year and wanted 15 others removed. High priority areas for new bins generally include busy retail areas, park entrances and near fast food outlets. Household and commercial waste should not be put in them.

Bins will only be installed in places which are safe and where there is a genuine need, according to the policy. It added that bins vandalised more than once won’t be replaced, and that no dedicated dog waste bins will be provided.

Committee chairman, Cllr Kevin Madge, called for a campaign to remind people not to dump household waste in community bins. He also said town councils sometimes got the blame for overflowing county council bins and vice-versa, and that it was an issue “members of the public have been boxing our ears about”.

Cllr Madge also agreed with a comment by Cllr Lewis that community litter picks were “an untapped resource”. Cllr Madge said a man in his 80s in his ward regularly picked litter and that people like him ought to be recognised by the county council.

“I’ve been doing it (litter picks) for years and years,” added Cllr Madge. “It’s good exercise as well.”

The gathering was organised before a Home Office decision to abandon plans for asylum accommodation at Plas yn Rhos in the village of Rhosllanerchrugog.

Protest organiser, Wrexham Unite, confirmed the march would proceed as planned in the city to draw attention to broader concerns regarding the potential use of Wrexham accommodation for asylum dispersals.

Specifically, the event is intended to highlight a proposed HMO (House in Multiple Occupation) in the small village of Sydallt, near Gwersyllt. The demonstration is scheduled for Saturday, January 31, commencing at 12pm.

Protesters have been requested to assemble in Yorke Street for a "peaceful march" through High Street and Hope Street before returning to Llwyn Isaf via the library and Guildhall. The event is expected to conclude around 4pm following speeches. 

Wrexham Unite emphasised the gathering was designed as a family occasion. Participants are requested not to wear face coverings and to avoid "kicking off".

In a social media statement, the organisers declared: "We have pensioners attending. We have children attending. People from all walks of life will be there. Keep your head together and represent Wrexham properly. Show people what Wrexham is really about. North Wales Police are aware of the proposed plan and will facilitate a lawful and peaceful protest.

"We are aware of a counter-protest. If you encounter anyone from the counter-protest winding you up and trying to pick a fight, don't rise to it. Let them look stupid. Check your mates. If you see anyone starting to get riled up, keep them in line."

It's yet to be determined whether Welsh folk anthem, Yma o Hyd, will be played during the march after music icon Dafydd Iwan instructed protest organisers against using the song, stating he didn't wish to be associated with a "hate-driven campaign".

The anthem commemorates the endurance of the Welsh language and culture. Via social media, Wrexham Unite declared Yma o Hyd was a "song for everyone who calls Wales home".

A digital petition opposing a proposed HMO at Oak Alyn Hall, a former care facility in Sydallt, has now attracted nearly 4,400 signatures in under two weeks.

The building's proprietor, Manchester solicitor Bilal Babar, has rejected claims it's designated for asylum accommodation as "lies", insisting he simply wants to "deliver much-needed affordable accommodation" for the Wrexham region.

Opponents to the HMO have installed multiple roadside placards expressing their opposition regardless of its proposed use, arguing local services are already overstretched.

Meanwhile, Wrexham Council has confirmed an Extraordinary General Meeting for Friday, February 6. A motion will address the "lack of fairness and transparency and accountability" within the Home Office's asylum dispersal system.

This comes after the Home Office dismissed concerns submitted by the local authority regarding recent asylum applications in Sydallt and Rhosllanerchrugog.

A council meeting this week heard it's had a knock-on effect on school budgets and the current situation isn't sustainable for some of the borough's schools. It comes as members of the council's education committee agreed to back a new working group assembled to investigate the worrying trend.

Rhydri Primary School in Rudry closed last summer and Cwm Glas Infants School in Llanbradach shut the previous year. Both schools were closed due to declining local birth rates which left them confronting rising expenses.

The Rudry situation sparked controversy amongst local residents who maintained the council ought to have taken greater steps to keep the school operational.

On Wednesday, January 27, the committee voted to back the working group which will comprise four committee members and six additional councillors representing different areas of the borough. School heads and council officials will also participate in the group "to ensure broad and balanced representation".

A document outlines a "continual falling birth rate" declining from 2,000 births annually to approximately 1,400 over a decade.

"Significantly fewer" pupils are joining the primary school system as a result, generating "surplus places across many schools", the meeting heard.

The council contends it must modernise its educational framework "to one that is more efficient, provides a higher quality of outcomes, and is sustainable".

"Without a strategic review of primary educational provision there is a risk that our school infrastructure will not reflect future demand leading to inefficient use of assets and missed opportunities to improve outcomes for learners," the report warns.

The local authority maintains that creating the working group "will enable a structured, evidence-based approach to developing primary school reorganisation proposals".

One consequence of this move is Caerphilly's school-building programme. The council plans to delay any schemes that haven't progressed to the Welsh Government's full business case stage until the working group completes its assessment.

It maintains this delay is "prudent" considering the substantial sums involved in constructing new schools. Some of the funds previously allocated for a new joint bilingual campus in Rhymney have been redirected towards contributing to the A469 road repair project.

Coral Jones' words were used in a debate in the Senedd, as politicians discussed proposals to make a new criminal offence of desecrating a body.

Plaid Cymru MS Cefin Campbell read words from Coral Jones. "As she said, 'My little girl is still missing in the eyes of the law'. The funeral took place, but the coffin was almost empty. Inside were only a few small pieces of bone and some personal items that Coral placed there herself. There was no body to lay to rest, no real goodbye."

He explained how she avoids visiting her daughter's grave, knowing she is not there.

"Instead, she has created a garden at home, a place where she can feel close to her child, because the law cannot give her that peace. She lives every day with the knowledge of what was done to her daughter's body after death, knowledge that continues to haunt her. It shapes her grief and damages her health."

"The offences that the daughter's killer was convicted of do not reflect the true horror of what he did and Coral conveyed to me last night that she supports the creation of a new offence of desecrating a body, because while her daughter's killer will never be released, others will be," said Mr Campbell. 

"Families should not be forced to live with this added cruelty, unrecognised and unnamed in law. Now, Coral's words are simple and devastating: 'I still want to put April to rest properly'.

Helen's Law requires the parole board to consider whether offenders have disclosed the location of a victim’s remains or identified child victims when making parole decisions, but there is a call for it to go further and reform burial and sentencing laws, including the creation of a new criminal offence of desecrating a body.

The law is named after Helen McCourt, a 22-year-old, who disappeared in 1988 and whose body has never been found.

Mr Campbell also spoke about Mike O'Leary, from Carmarthenshire, whose sister Lesley is also backing the law.

"Mike O'Leary, who I knew as a kind and colourful character, full of life, was murdered in a planned deliberate attack six years ago yesterday, as it happens. His killer lured him to a remote location, caused his death and took steps to conceal the body.

"As Lesley says, all we have at the grave is the 6cm of Mike's lower intestine that was found at the murderer's property. There was no proper burial, no way to say goodbye and no closure," he said.

The family are impacted every day, he said.

Mr Campbell said: "I've met Lesley on many occasions and she's spoken about how this continues to affect the family every day.

"They live with the severe trauma, anxiety and grief. Sleep is disrupted, daily life is overshadowed by memories of what happened, and the emotional burden is a constant. The mental health impact is profound and ongoing but as the law does not recognise the deliberate destruction and desecration of a body, it leaves the suffering it causes invisible to the system."

The law was debated in the Senedd today (January 28). The area is not devolved, but there was a call for the Welsh Government to work with the UK Government on the new proposals.

Senedd members from across political parties agreed the motion, without any objections. Welsh Government minister Julie James said she would write to the UK Government, spelling out the Senedd debate.

Bob Fenwick, a senior council officer, said the design and business case process was “difficult” and “long-winded” but that a funding bid had very recently been submitted. He said the project could cost some £5 million to complete.

Brockhole Stream flows down Clyne Gardens, past Roman Court and The Woodman pub and then under Mumbles Road and onto Swansea beach. A small number of properties on Mumbles Road have been affected by flash-flooding from the stream during particularly heavy rainfall.

Mr Fenwick, the council’s highways maintenance group leader, said the authority hoped to submit funding bids for two other flood mitigation projects, including West Street in Gorseinon, next year.

He was speaking at a climate change and nature scrutiny panel about flood risk management. The council was responsible for road drains, ditches, streams and some very small rivers, he said, while Natural Resources Wales had flood risk responsibility for larger rivers and marine areas. 

Planning permission for the Brockhole Stream re-engineering project was granted nearly two years ago but the council submitted amended proposals last month to improve the standard of flood protection. It’ll include widening work, a new culvert, and new stone-filled gabions. Some new trash screens will be added, others will be removed. 

In the meantime, council staff have sought to keep the stream flowing efficiently during heavy rain to prevent flooding. Cllr Chris Evans said: “It has made a huge difference this winter.”

Another panel member, Cllr Will Thomas, said a separate scheme completed in Caswell had been welcomed by four stressed householders whose properties had been repeatedly flooded. And Cllr Sara Keeeton said drainage work carried out in West Cross after “terrible flooding” had been very well received by residents there.

A report before the scrutiny panel said around 20 drainage schemes had been completed by the council over the past year and that extra tankers had enabled tens of thousands of additional road drains to be cleared.

Mr Fenwick said flooded driveways were a private issue for householders, and added: “That’s not easy to explain to people.” But he said the council would help where it could and had installed humps at the end of people’s driveways to prevent flooding from roads.

Providing sandbags was not, according to the panel report, a statutory duty. Mr Fenwick said councillors had been able to apply for sandbags as a one-off a while back and that more could be provided for a small charge. He added that residents could collect sandbags from a council stockpile if they were desperate.

Cllr Michael Locke asked what the council was doing about a national shortage of drainage engineers. Mr Fenwick said it was a good question and that councils poached them from one another, which wasn’t ideal.

He said the council would be offering lectures about flood risk management to third-year Swansea University students and talking about the job security and satisfaction aspects of working with the authority, although he acknowledged that the private sector could offer graduates more money.

Its main purpose is to attract high-tech companies keen to locate to Swansea or those based in the area which might otherwise leave due to a shortage of good quality office space.

A report looking at what has gone well and what could have been better was discussed by city deal leaders at a meeting on January 27. 

It said the council-led building has created space for 600-plus jobs and that 366 people currently worked there with more expected to come over the next 12 to 18 months. These were mainly what the report described as “jobs sustained” rather than new jobs in Swansea.

The report said the building was 80% let but hadn’t been able to attract a ground-floor coffee retailer. Despite not achieving full occupancy to date, rental income achieved £22 per sqm, considerably more than the £14 per sqm modelled for.

One of 71/72 Kingsway’s tenants, e-commerce business Veeqo, has grown and been acquired by tech giant Amazon. Swansea Council leader Rob Stewart said Veeqo had more than 100 employees and that it might potentially require more space at the building. “That’s what we want to see,” he said. “We should take confidence from that.”

The council produced a design brief for the building in 2018 and a contractor, Bouygues UK, was appointed during the Covid pandemic in 2021.

Comments in the report from Martin Nicholls, the council’s chief executive, said risks had been well managed and that the new building was an “exceptional final product which will be a huge asset for Swansea and its businesses for years to come”.

The report also said the procurement process could have been better, and more flexibility allowed for in the building’s design. It added that the council itself experienced “resource issues” relating to the project and that several sub-contractors had gone into liquidation. Some snagging issues remain.

The cost of the development was expected to be around £48.5m, with contributions of around £13.7m from the UK Government, £29.8m from the council and £5m from the private sector. The report said £5.5m had in fact come from the private sector.

Veeqo has said that moving to 71/72 The Kingsway from its smaller office in Swansea showed the city’s potential to compete as a national technology hub and gave the company scope to attract top talent to the region.

Set to open later this year, the new store will be located on the upper level of the Grand Arcade, close to River Island and Zara, and just a short walk from the recently opened Sephora store.

The confirmation follows weeks of speculation after a Cardiff-based job listing appeared online advertising for a store manager role at St David’s Centre, fuelling excitement among fans.

Pop Mart has built a huge global following thanks to its immersive retail experiences and sought-after designer collectibles. Cardiff shoppers will be able to explore some of the brand's best-selling ranges, including The Monsters, home to the cult-favourite Labubu figures, alongside Hirono, Skullpanda, and more. 

Labubu figures became a viral internet sensation last year, driven largely by influencer popularity.

These "so-ugly-they’re-cute" monster figurines and keychains have captured the attention of collectors worldwide. The original designs were created by artist Kasing Lung and are sold by Pop Mart.

High demand and limited stock have often resulted in long queues whenever Labubus go on sale. Last year, when pop culture retailer Forbidden Planet announced via social media that it would be stocking Labubus at its Cardiff store, fans queued for hours. Shoppers reportedly began lining up outside the store opposite Cardiff Castle from 7am, ahead of the 10am opening.

Pop Mart currently operates more than 500 physical stores across more than 30 countries worldwide. In the UK, the brand has 13 locations, five of which are in London, with others in cities including Birmingham, Manchester and Cambridge. Until now, Welsh shoppers have had to travel outside the country to visit an official Pop Mart store.

In light of the news, Helen Morgan, centre director of St David's Cardiff, said: "Following strong demand from our guests, we’re thrilled to be bringing Pop Mart to St David’s.

"With its loyal global following, Pop Mart’s arrival reflects our long-term commitment to bringing exciting, world-class brands to Wales. We know the brand will be hugely popular and that there will be a great deal of anticipation for its arrival."

A Pop Mart UK spokesperson added: "We're so excited to open our first store in Wales and bring the Pop Mart magic to Cardiff. We know this location has been long anticipated by our fans and we are thrilled to officially confirm the news. All updates will be revealed through our socials.”

An official opening date for the St David’s Cardiff store is expected to be announced soon.

Officers for South Wales Police have released a description of her appearance and what she was last seen wearing.

They home it will lead to anyone who has seen her to come forward with information on her whereabouts. 

A statement read: "We are appealing for you help to locate a teenage girl who is missing in Cardiff.

"Lillie-May hasn’t been seen since 6.45pm on Monday, January 26.

"Lillie is 5ft 6 with a large build and was last seen wearing her hair in a ponytail, She was wearing a black coat over a grey tracksuit.

"Have you seen her? Please make contact – give reference 2600027362."

You can contact South Wales Police via its website or by calling 101.

South Wales Police says it receives, on average, more than 8,000 missing persons reports every year.

It says a missing person is defined as someone whose whereabouts cannot be established, and that they will be considered missing until they care located and their wellbeing or otherwise is established.

Its website reads: "Often the missing person themselves does not consider themselves ‘missing’, however until they are sighted safe and well by police as a result of the concerns raised for them, they will be classed as a missing person.

"While we appreciate our communities’ concerns when a person goes missing, and the genuine offers of help and support, we kindly ask that the public don’t conduct their own searches.

"We ask this for a number of reasons; our searches are coordinated by highly-trained, well-equipped search experts who take an intelligence-led, methodical approach which everyone involved understands and follows."

The company remains engaged in discussions regarding a potential sale, noting that these talks were "well advanced" and that it anticipates making a further statement "in the coming days", while continuing negotiations over a possible acquisition.

The business operates three locations in Wales; Revolution in Cardiff city centre, Revolución de Cuba, also in Cardiff city centre, and Founders & Co in Swansea.

The Revel Collective, led by former Pizza Express chief Luke Johnson, put itself on the market in October 2025 as its financial difficulties intensified and turnover declined. 

It cautioned two months later that shareholders were likely to lose their investments as part of any transaction. In a statement released on Monday the company said: "Since the transactions being contemplated are not expected to deliver any return to shareholders, the board has resolved to take action to protect creditors.

"Unless circumstances change, and in accordance with statutory requirements, the board intends to appoint administrators within 10 business days.

"The business will continue to trade and the company will continue to work alongside advisers in order to preserve as much value as possible for all stakeholders as it advances a potential sale of all or parts of the business."

The group carried out a significant restructuring in 2024, closing 15 loss-making bars in an attempt to improve its fortunes. However, the transformation efforts stumbled and it initiated a strategic review last autumn, examining funding options and a potential sale of all or parts of the operation.

It operates from approximately 62 locations and employs more than 3,000 staff as of the end of June 2024. Company executives revealed in October that takings had been lower than anticipated as younger patrons tightened their belts and due to hot weather during the summer months.

Takings fell by 7.4% to £26.3 million over the three months to September, fuelled by a 10.5% like-for-like drop in its bars division. The firm also revealed that its borrowings increased further, climbing to £25.3 million from £22.1 million at the end of June.

Mr Iwan's song is famously sung by Welsh football and rugby fans, but he is angry that it has recently also been used to promote a march opposing proposed asylum seeker accommodation in Wrexham.

A group known as Wrexham Unite is arranging the demonstration in the city centre at midday on Saturday with ongoing discussions with police to confirm the arrangements. A counter-demonstration is also being planned.

It comes after a proposal to use former care home Plas yn Rhos in the village of Rhosllanerchrugog for asylum seeker accommodation.

Wrexham council has also stated that Clear Springs has submitted an application for Oak Alyn Hall, Sydallt, Gwersyllt, to be utilised for asylum accommodation - though the property's owner has dismissed speculation that it is designated for asylum seekers.

In a post on X Mr Iwan told followers: "Whoever is organising the right wing protest next Saturday in Wrecsam, STOP USING MY SONG!!!! I do not want to be linked to your hate-driven campaign."

Yma o Hyd translates to We Are Still Here in English and was recorded by Mr Iwan and the folk band Ar Log in 1983. The song celebrates the survival of the Welsh language and culture over the centuries.

One follower said: "Well said Dafydd. Yma O Hyd and the right wingers go together like oil and water."

Another added: "You tell 'em Dafydd! There's no place for their hate in Cymru."

Although one person said: "Protecting Welsh speaking communities from English settlers/retirees was never 'far right' or 'hate-driven' in the eyes of Welsh nationalists but the same people label anyone opposing mass migration as racist or 'far right'. I think you're all f****** hypocrites."

Wrexham Unite replied: "Thank you for the music."

This isn't the first occasion Mr Iwan has addressed this matter, as the song has been previously appropriated at other anti-migrant demonstrations across Wales.

He previously said: "Yma o Hyd is a song of hope for everyone who calls Wales home. No one has my permission to use it to promote hatred."

In a statement to the House of Commons on Monday night home secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled what is set to be the most significant overhaul of policing in two centuries in Wales and England. On Monday the home secretary promised a "new model of policing" for Wales and England which will radically change the way police forces work.

This includes cutting the number of police forces, potentially by two-thirds, and establishing one National Police Service (NPS) which Ms Mahmood likened to the "British FBI". The number of forces which will effectively be merged have not yet been revealed.

On the merging of police forces the Home Office said the precise number and nature of each force will be the subject to a review that will report back to Ms Mahmood in the summer. Currently in Wales there are four police forces while there are 43 in total across the UK.

The white paper released on Monday reads: "There are currently too many organisations overseeing different elements of policing, none of whom have the necessary powers to drive change.

"The NPS will bring together existing national bodies, including the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the College of Policing, the National Crime Agency and Counter Terrorism Policing, into a single organisation with a clear mandate and the powers to get things done."

Meanwhile local forces will focus on what Ms Mahmood calls "everyday crime" such as "shoplifting, theft and antisocial behaviour". 

However, police chiefs have been calling for the creation of 12 "mega forces" across Wales and England to save money and boost crime-fighting efforts.

Monday's white paper continues: "The [UK] Government’s long-term ambition is to have fewer, larger police forces. An independent review of police structures will give further consideration to the governance of merged forces, including ensuring the principles of strong local accountability are maintained.

"We will set up an independent review of police structures immediately which will report in the summer. The independent review will examine the optimal configuration of regional police forces and the best approach to implementation."

The white paper emphasises that accountability will improve, with a new "licence to practice" introduced to raise standards and promote professional development.

Forces will be set a target to answer 90% of 999 calls within 10 seconds while they should attend 90% of the most serious incidents within 15 minutes in urban areas or 20 minutes in rural areas.

The UK Government states that it will invest £115 million over the next three years to allow forces to adopt AI technology, while £5 million will be invested into operation Opal over the same time period - which tackles crimes such as organised shoplifting and high-value burglaries.

In her statement on Monday Ms Mahmood wrote that such plans are "overdue" as the UK faces an "epidemic of everyday crime".

She wrote: "The crimes that tear at the fabric of our communities – like shoplifting, theft and anti-social behaviour – often go without consequence. Criminals know this. In the years since 2010, shop theft has risen by 72% and phone theft by 58%.

"Meanwhile, crime itself is evolving. Criminals are operating with more sophistication than ever before within this country, across our borders and in the online world. Serious and organised crime is growing and nine in every 10 crimes now have a digital component."

The UK Government has said current policing costs are "too high" and that the new plans will save money by creating a "more streamlined system".

However this has raised some questions about how this will affect Wales with the current situation still unclear for forces across the country.

First Minister Eluned Morgan last week called for the devolution of policing, while in the Commons on Monday Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts said three independent commissions had recommended policing be devolved to Wales.

Ms Saville Roberts asked Ms Mahmood whether now would be the right time to devolve policing to Wales. She said: "The white paper recognises that changes to policing governance and crime prevention in Wales will have to reflect the existence of over a quarter of a century of devolution. Meanwhile, three independent commissions have recommended that justice and policing be devolved to Wales.

“Considering around 56% of our police funding already comes from devolved sources – does she not agree that this package of radical changes is exactly the right time for the devolution of policing to Wales?”

Ms Mahmood replied: “No, I do not.” Speaking after the session Ms Saville Roberts added: “The home secretary talks up these proposals as radical reform yet continues to block the devolution of policing to Wales, despite this being an evidence-based position endorsed by three independent commissions over more than a decade. Her response is an ideologically-driven blanket denial of the needs of Wales."

Last week Eluned Morgan said Sir Keir Starmer's government should help stop pro-independence parties from forming a majority at the next Senedd election by giving Wales more powers. "Yes, I want to see devolution of policing," she said.

On Monday the First Minister added that the white paper presents an opportunity to align policing with Wales' "unique identity and geography". She said: "The changes to policing proposed by the home secretary present significant opportunities to align policing with Wales’ unique identity and geography.

"Also to reflect the make up of our communities and the strong partnerships that we’ve built between the Welsh Government, our police forces and our wider public sector. We will expect the independent review to take account of current policing in Wales and we will seek the best possible model to ensure accountability, strong governance and alignment with modern Wales’ social and political landscape.”

Meanwhile Welsh Liberal Democrats' Westminster spokesman David Chadwick warned that any plans that would see Wales' forces merged into one would be a "serious mistake". He said: “The [UK] Government has not yet made clear exactly what its reforms will mean for Wales but any plans that would see Wales’ four forces merged into one would be a serious mistake.

"We’ve seen the risks of centralisation before. After the police merger in Scotland communities ended up with fewer staff, more officers behind desks, and policing that felt more distant and less responsive.

"People in Wales want local, visible policing, officers who know their communities and can focus on the crimes that affect people day to day. A one-size-fits-all model risks pulling officers away from neighbourhoods, particularly in rural areas.”

Dyfed-Powys Police chief constable, Ifan Charles, added: “Police leaders are united in calling for bold and ambitious reform which delivers a world class service for our communities, officers, staff and volunteers.

"The priority for policing is and will always be victims of crime, and the services and support we provide to victims and the communities we serve. In that sense, it is business as usual for now.

"Crime is changing, technology is evolving, and we need to be set up in the best possible way to tackle crime in the modern world, relentlessly focused on good quality neighbourhood policing alongside national threats.

“I am committed to doing my utmost to ensure any changes to policing are right for the people of Dyfed and Powys, and together with my fellow Chief Constables in Wales, ensuring we deliver the best possible service to Welsh communities."

The FSA said the item affected was Snaktastic Multigrain Bites Sour Cream & Black Pepper multipacks of 150g - six bags of 25g each - with a batch code of 207345. They have a best-before date of April 4, 2026. The recall affects stores in England, Scotland and Wales.

The FSA explained: "This product may contain pieces of foil which makes it a possible choking hazard and unsafe to eat.

"Lidl GB is recalling the above product. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

"If you have bought any of the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to a Lidl GB store for a full refund. For further information contact Lidl GB’s Customer Care team on 0203 966 5566 or at customer.care@lidl.co.uk."

About product recalls and withdrawals

The FSA said: "If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product). The FSA issues Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. In some cases, a 'Food Alert for Action' is issued. This provides local authorities with details of specific action to be taken on behalf of consumers."

Officers were called to a Spar on Caer Street in Swansea city centre at around 8.30pm on January 24.

Four teenage boys have been arrested and are in custody tonight, January 25.

South Wales Police said the teenagers are from Swansea, Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ceredigion. The force said all four were arrested on suspicion of robbery and remain in custody after the incident on Saturday night January 24.

The force has also released a CCTV image of another man they want to speak to in connection with the robbery.

South Wales Police is asking the individual in the CCTV image, or anyone who recognises him, to contact them quoting reference 2600025230.

Official TV Licensing guidance warns that the £174.50 annual fee is mandatory in four streaming situations that go beyond simply viewing live channels on your television. While you won't require a TV Licence for on-demand Netflix material, such as the newest series of Stranger Things or David Beckham's documentary, you will need one for viewing WWE or NFL events.

These represent just two of the many live events accessible across all Netflix subscriptions, which can be watched on devices from televisions to mobile phones and gaming consoles. TV Licences are similarly essential for viewing any live channel on Amazon Prime Video, Now TV, Sky Go, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and comparable platforms.

The TV Licensing website explores four key scenarios where you need a licence to stream. These include but aren't limited to:

• Champions League matches or live channels on Amazon Prime Video
• WWE or NFL events on Netflix
• News or sports channels on YouTube
• Last year's Christmas specials on BBC iPlayer

The site further advises: "A streaming service is a website or app for watching videos online. Many have on-demand content, so you can choose what to watch. Some also show live TV or events as they happen - you need a TV Licence for these."

It also adds: "You need a TV Licence to watch any live and on-demand programmes on BBC iPlayer. You don't need a TV Licence to watch on-demand programmes on other services such as Netflix, ITVx or YouTube."

From April 1, 2025, the standard TV Licence fee rose by 2.9% in line with annual CPI inflation. This represents a modest daily rise of just over 1p and constitutes only the second fee increase since April 1, 2021.

Most households must now pay £174.50 annually for a colour licence or £58.50 for a black-and-white licence. Nevertheless, some households may be entitled to a free or discounted licence if they fulfil specific criteria.

This encompasses individuals receiving Pension Credit, who may qualify for a complimentary TV Licence upon reaching 75. Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), boosting weekly income to £227.10 for singles or £346.60 for couples.

Furthermore, care home residents or those in sheltered accommodation may qualify for a £7.50 licence if they are retired, over 60, and/or living with a disability. Those registered as blind, or living with someone who is, could also secure a 50% discount on their licence fee.

Official UK Government information adds: "You need a TV Licence to watch or record programmes on a TV, computer or other device as they're broadcast, and to watch on-demand BBC programmes on iPlayer."

It continues: "If your business offers overnight accommodation, for example, a hotel, you need a TV licence for guests to watch TV in their room. A single TV Licence will cover up to 15 rooms or accommodation units."

You may face prosecution if it's found that you have been watching, recording, or downloading programmes illegally. The highest penalty is a fine of up to £1,000, along with possible legal costs and/or compensation you may be required to pay. The fine in Guernsey is £2,000.

For more information, head to GOV.UK or the official TV Licensing website.

People at the rally said Turkish backed jihadist militia in Syria are currently killing civilians and attacking areas of the Autonomous Administration of North and Eastern Syria (AANES), also known as Rojava to its large Kurdish population.

The protest was part of a national week of action, coinciding with other demonstrations in Bristol, London, Manchester, Leeds, Norwich and other places around the UK and Europe.

"Scores of civilians, including children have been killed - with footage emerging of plated women’s hair and cut off ears being waved as trophies of battle and over 150,000 displaced already. A genocide is imminent," protest organisers said in a statement.

Demonstrations want the UK Government to pressure to stop the attacks against civilians and call for a ceasefire.

They are also calling on the UK to end all political, military, and logistical ties to groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda, ISIS, or the Syrian Transitional Government.

The UK should "take a clear position against the threat of ISIS - the release of ISIS members and policies that enable them to reorganise," the statement added.

"Over the past few weeks, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which includes the YPG and YPJ, defends the territory of North and East Syria, known for its peaceful political project: Democratic Confederalism. The area is facing an existential threat as STG forces, supported by jihadist militias backed by the Turkish state, launch a large-scale invasion.

"The STG, under the leadership of Ahmed Al-Sharaa, has demonstrated a blatant disregard for democratic ideals and diversity.

"Since its emergence in Damascus last year, the government—dominated by members of the al-Qaeda offshoot, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)—has targeted religious and ethnic minorities across Syria and has shown horrific, violence particularly towards women.

"In stark contrast, North and East Syria has fostered a multicultural and democratic system grounded in women's rights, ecological sustainability, and grassroots power. This revolutionary movement is now facing an existential crisis due to ongoing STG attacks, conducted in collaboration with Turkish-backed jihadist militias and supported by Turkish Army drones.

Ana, a speaker at the demonstration from Kurdish Solidarity Cymru said Rojava the semi-autonomous, socialist and democratic Kurdish territory in north-eastern Syria "is a direct threat to the current fascist climate and the real capitalism that fuels it".

"Rojava is a direct hope against the nation state as we know it and the erratic institutions that sustain it," she said.

She said despite a ceasefire declared on January 18, STG forces are actively advancing and encircling the city of Kobane, which is currently without electricity or water supplies, she said. This is a site of the stand against the ISIS caliphate in 2015.

Hundreds more gathered in the city centre to raise their voices against the continuing violence in Iran after demonstrations against the Islamic Republic were brutally crushed there earlier this month.

Among those taking part in the protest was finance manager Ellie Borzouei from Newport. She said she has not been able to speak to her family in Iran for some time and is concerned for their safety.

She said: "The protestors in Iran want justice and a better life. They are screaming for freedom. Machine guns are being used on them. The blood of innocent people is being spilled.

"I'm particularly worried about the people detained and put in prison - the government is not afraid to hang people.

"The internet has been shut down to stop the truth coming out, and there is no independent media. The truth needs to be known. I've seen some videos of what is happening. They are horrific, heart-breaking."

She added: "I'm not an activist. I'm not a journalist. This event was to raise awareness - to give a voice to people who have been silenced."

The blaze caused long traffic delays for drivers in the area, heading both into and out of the capital on Sunday January 25.

firefighters tackled the large fire to fly-tipped rubbish on the grassland next to Rover Way and the mess left in the aftermath.

South Wales Police officers had to block off part of the road.

Drivers were diverted and local residents advised to keep all doors and windows shut.

A spokesperson for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said crews had put out the fire and left the scene of the fire at Rover Way Caravan Site in Pengam Green, by 2.30pm.

A fire service spokesperson said the cause of the fire was not known and an investigation into any possible cause had not been requested.

The road was re-opened by the highways authority after emergency crews left the site.

Two engines and a water bowser were sent to the scene. The fire saw thick smoke affecting a wide area.

The woman, who asked not to be named said she feared more vulnerable individuals could be seriously distressed by such encounters.

Taking to Facebook, she wrote: "This afternoon at (about) 4.30pm in Tesco I experienced an incident that needs to be taken very seriously and shared with the wider community."

She added: "A group of around 10-12 teenagers were gathered...selecting a cake and they came around me. One individual reached towards my coat pocket so close that I genuinely believed they were attempting to remove my phone."

The shopper continued: "At that moment a 'banking notification' sound was played and the group immediately ran off laughing," 

She went on: "Two girls stayed behind. When I challenged them about what had just happened they denied any knowledge and 'played dumb'. I later saw the entire group again in the store foyer, laughing and joking. I approached them to confront the behaviour.

"It was clear who had initiated it yet the group continued to laugh, pass blame and treat the situation as a joke."

Following this, another troubling episode unfolded. She explained: "What followed was even more concerning. Several of the teenagers took out their phones, reached towards me again, and played the same banking sound claiming they had 'stolen £60' from my bank account."

In her post, she stated: "This behaviour is not funny, not harmless and is not acceptable. I have since been informed this is apparently a TikTok trend.

"Regardless of its origin it involves intimidation, invasion of personal space, and the suggestion of theft, which can cause genuine fear and distress."

The woman highlighted that elderly individuals could be especially vulnerable to such encounters. Should they believe they've fallen victim to robbery, it might trigger panic attacks, severe anxiety or medical crises including "falls, heart issues or shock", she warned.

She continued: "This is not a prank. It is behaviour which could have very real and dangerous consequences."

The woman explained she's speaking out because if these perpetrators target the "wrong person it could escalate into a serious incident, confrontation or someone getting seriously hurt".

She called on parents and guardians to discuss with young people the importance of respectful conduct and the very real impact their actions can have on others". It appears that Tesco was not informed about this incident when it occurred.

The supermarket chain has previously emphasised its commitment to the safety of its customers and staff, encouraging shoppers to report any concerns during their visit for thorough investigation.

Tesco also warns people to be vigilant against "phishing" attempts where cyber criminals employ QR codes, login pages, and malicious downloads to gain unauthorised access. Any such issues should be reported to Physhing@tesco.com.

The line up will be headlined by Ben Nicky, along with Basshunter, Will Atkinson, Ultrabeat and Andy Whitby. Also performing at the event will be Hixxy, Flip n Fill, featuring Karen Parry, Kaos Brothers, Brad Pickle, Ed Kurno, Kyes, Finchy and Shocker.

The second stage, named 'Stage 2', hosted by Classic Anthems, will feature names including Swankie, Rennz, Chaos Theory, Lomas, Stu Grady, Trampy and Sean Furlong. 

Also taking to the stage will be Andrew Davies, Ryan Rees, Mark Loannides, Eddie Swales and Trance Mam, Pedz, Kai, and April Maizie.

It is the latest event to be announced for the park, with three others already announced, including the Ibiza Orchestra Experience on Friday, July 31.

The Ibiza Orchestra is a 26-instrument ensemble with amazing vocalists and an incredible DJ. This group has performed all over the UK and internationally, with their own unique take on a number of classic dance music tracks that have been made iconic from DJs and nightclubs across Ibiza.

The ensemble will be performing tracks from producers and DJs such as Rudimental, Ian Van Dahl, Daft Punk, Robert Miles, Baby D, Tiesto, Fatboy Slim, Prodigy, Shapeshifters and many more.

On Saturday, August 1, Swansea Sausage and Cider Festival will be held there, featuring a vast selection of 20 plus types of sausage and more than 30 varieties of cider sold by food vendors, with vegan options available.

There will also be live tribute acts, for bands such as Queen, Oasis, The Killers, Fleetwood Mac, Stereophonics and Coldplay, along with DJ performances. The event will feature the final Barrioke UK tour, featuring Shaun Williamson - or Barry from Eastenders - and Pat Sharp's Funhouse party DJ set.

And on Sunday, August 2, Summer In Nashville will take place, a country music festival with a line up featuring Shania Twain and Luke Combs tribute acts, and Howdy, 'a country and western pop extravaganza'.

There will be line dancing, American barbecue and street food, a rodeo bull, country fancy dress, axe throwing, tin can alley, and 500 free cowboy hats given away.

Tickets information for Logic in the Park will be advertised here.

Mr Trump has created anger across the world after suggesting in an interview with Fox News that Nato allied troops "stayed a little off the front lines" in Afghanistan. The president also claimed America had "never needed" its Nato partners, despite being the only member state to have ever invoked the alliance's "all for one, and one for all" clause, in the wake of 9/11.

Former soldier Harry, who carried out two frontline tours to Afghanistan, said in a statement on Friday evening: "In 2001, Nato invoked Article 5 for the first - and only - time in history. 

"It meant that every allied nation was obliged to stand with the United States in Afghanistan, in pursuit of our shared security.

"Allies answered that call. I served there. I made lifelong friends there. And I lost friends there.

"The United Kingdom alone had 457 service personnel killed. Thousands of lives were changed forever."Mothers and fathers buried sons and daughters. Children were left without a parent. Families are left carrying the cost.

"Those sacrifices deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect, as we all remain united and loyal to the defence of diplomacy and peace."

During his decade-long full-time military career, the duke fought the Taliban in 2007 and returned to Afghanistan for a second tour of duty in 2012, and qualified as an Apache aircraft commander.

He began training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in May 2005. He became a Cornet in the Blues and Royals, joining the Household Cavalry regiment and, in May 2006, began training to become a troop leader of an armoured reconnaissance unit.

Harry also spent four-and-a-half months learning how to be a recce soldier at Camp Bovington in Dorset.

In February 2007, the Ministry of Defence confirmed Harry would be heading to Iraq on a six-month deployment, making him the first royal for 25 years to serve in a conflict zone.

Yet three months later, just before Harry was due to leave, he was pulled out of the tour of duty after intelligence revealed insurgents were specifically planning to target him and it was too dangerous to allow him to go.

The duke was reportedly devastated and considered quitting, but the hope of going to Afghanistan in the future kept him in the Army.In late 2007, he was able to undertake a 10-week tour of duty fighting the Taliban in dangerous Helmand Province, operating as a battlefield air controller behind enemy lines.

The secret mission, however, ended early after it was leaked on the internet.

Upon his return, Harry was dubbed the "Warrior Prince", "Harry the Brave", and "One of Our Boys" by the press for fighting for his country. The duke was promoted from second lieutenant to lieutenant in April 2008.

Hoping to go back to Afghanistan, he retrained and qualified as an Apache helicopter pilot after rigorous training in Britain and America.

He was promoted to the rank of captain in April 2011 and and also awarded his Apache Badge from the officer in command of his Squadron at the same time.

In September 2012, he made it back to Afghanistan for a 20-week stint which gave him the chance to use his Apache flying skills and head out on operations in his role as co-pilot gunner.

Kensington Palace officially confirmed Harry's departure from the Army in March 2015, marking the end of 10 years of service. Mr Trump's recent remarks have drawn widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum in the UK, with critics pointing to both the number of UK deaths in Afghanistan and highlighting Mr Trump's avoidance of military service in Vietnam.

Speaking in Downing Street, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the comments were "frankly appalling" and signalled the US president should apologise.

He said: "I consider President Trump's remarks to be insulting and frankly appalling and I am not surprised they have caused such hurt to the loved ones of those who were killed or injured and, in fact, across the country."

Sir Keir further said he would apologise if he had said the words used by Mr Trump.

A photo of the damage was shared by UK Southwest Storm Chasers, who described it as the aftermath of wave debris striking a carriage. They said the line would be closed for high tide, with many services cancelled and others replaced by buses or not running at all.

The damage occurred as a weather front brought strong winds to the Devon coastline, creating what Network Rail described as a "significant risk" of water breaching the sea wall at Dawlish.

On Friday, January 23, Network Rail issued a rare black alert for the region, where waves reaching up to 12ft are anticipated. This maximum warning level remains active from 8.30pm to 10.30pm.

Consequently, the railway will remain shut until at least 2pm on Saturday, January 24, Great Western Railway announced. Rail services are predicted to face disruption until approximately 4pm.

Met Office chief forecaster, Andy Page, commented: "Unsettled weather continues for many across the UK with persistent and heavy rain in parts of Scotland with snow over higher ground, and strong winds and heavy rain in southwestern England and southern Wales.

"Elsewhere while it'll be a breezy weekend there will be brighter and drier spells with occasional showers passing through fairly quickly." 

A weather warning for heavy rain and strong wind remains in effect until 9am on Saturday. The forecaster warns: "Periods of heavy rain and strong winds are likely to cause flooding and disruption to travel in places."

Meanwhile, a flood alert has been in place for a large stretch of the Welsh coastline as Storm Ingrid affects Wales.

The storm, named by the Portuguese weather service, has brought heavy rain and strong winds on Friday, with impacts continuing into Saturday (January 24). The Met Office warned that flooding was possible, particularly as ground conditions were already saturated following a week of unsettled weather.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) issued the flood alert for the Pembrokeshire coast between St Dogmaels, Cardigan and Amroth, citing the "combination of high tides and weather conditions" as the main risk.

A yellow weather warning for rain and wind across Wales is due to end at 9am on Saturday, although further spells of rain and strong gusts are expected later in the day.

The Met Office forecast for Saturday says: "Another wet and windy start, with a continuation of heavy showers through the day. Remaining windy, with coastal gales possible, though winds fading inland through the evening. Maximum temperature 9°C."

Stoke (24%) ranked second, followed by Swansea (24%), Manchester (21%) and Edinburgh (16%), according to British Gas. Four in ten (42%) Britons report feeling more depressed in January than during any other month, driven by the cold (47%), relentless hours of darkness (37%) and an absence of natural sunlight (34%).

More than half (54%) desire January to be a more uplifting month, with 57% longing for additional light in their lives - to such an extent that 76% say they would welcome owning a SAD lamp to help elevate their mood.

In response, British Gas is bringing genuine light to the nation's darkness by installing giant SAD lamps in Norwich, the town identified as experiencing the winter gloom most severely. By highlighting where Britain faces its greatest challenges, and quite literally brightening it up, British Gas seeks to demonstrate it's not merely there to warm homes, but to help boost morale as well.

David Moody, Operational Heritage Manager at British Gas, remarked: "For more than two centuries, British Gas has helped light and heat homes across the country - from maintaining London's iconic gas lamps to powering homes nationwide."

January can prove a challenging month for numerous individuals. Around a quarter of Britons (25%) experience feelings of despair about how many months remain until warmer weather arrives, whilst half (50%) acknowledge finding others slightly more irritating than usual during this period.

The 10th of the month, in particular, has gained notoriety as one of the most demanding days, often feeling both gloomy and frustrating.

When the winter doldrums hit, many people retreat indoors - 41% confess they have found themselves sitting on the sofa for hours, whilst 36% have stayed in bed all day. A third (34%) avoid social situations, ignore phone calls (24%), doomscroll on social media for hours (22%) and leave people on 'read' for days (14%) during their low mood.

British Gas consulted psychologist Dr Becky Spelman about how people can best cope with the winter months, when SAD can truly impact us significantly. She said: "January is often one of the hardest months of the year for many people across the UK.

"The festive period is over, routines feel disrupted, and the days are cold, dark and short. After weeks of reduced daylight and increased pressure around the end of the year, it is very common for mood, energy and motivation to dip. For many people, this can show up as tiredness, low mood, irritability or a desire to withdraw socially.

"Seasonal Affective Disorder is linked to reduced exposure to natural light, which can affect the body's internal clock and the hormones that regulate mood and sleep.

"Even people who do not meet the criteria for SAD, often experience a milder version of the winter blues. This is not a sign of weakness. It is a very human response to environmental changes that are largely outside our control."

The expert continued: "One of the most important things I encourage people to do in January is to be kinder to themselves. Winter is not the time for unrealistic expectations or pushing yourself to feel upbeat all the time. Instead, focusing on comfort, routine and gentle support can make a meaningful difference. "Light plays a key role in how we feel during winter. Increasing light exposure in the morning can help signal to the brain that it is time to wake up and feel more alert.

Using a SAD lamp can be particularly helpful when natural daylight is limited. Spending time outdoors during daylight hours, even briefly, can also support mood and energy.

"At home, creating a warm and comforting environment matters more than people often realise. Feeling physically warm, relaxed and safe can help regulate emotions and reduce stress. Simple comforts such as soft lighting, warm drinks and cosy spaces can have a real psychological impact.

"Connection is another protective factor. Even when motivation is low, short interactions with friends or family can lift mood. Gentle movement, regular meals and consistent sleep routines all help support emotional wellbeing during the winter months."

Although the line up of aircraft displays for the show has not been announced yet over 250,000 people often head down to the beach to watch an array of stars like the Red Arrows and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Named the biggest free event of the year in Wales, the air show not only includes the displays in the sky above but also a range of stalls and activities on the ground. 

Swansea council has said it is working with its partners on a range of new and improved attractions in the air and on the ground to add an even greater wow-factor for returning crowds.

Rob Stewart, leader of Swansea council, said: "We want the Wales Airshow to be bigger, better and more exciting than ever. We’re in the planning stages for this year’s events and we’ve got lots of great new ideas to keep the crowds entertained over the two-day event.

"We’ll be announcing more changes over the coming months as we develop our plans. But we want to give businesses, residents and our communities six months’ notice so they can start planning their summer now.

"Over the years we’ve welcomed millions of visitors to the show and we want this year’s event to be one of the most memorable ever. That’s why our team is working on a range of surprises we’ll be unveiling closer to the date that will make it an extra special occasion for families."

The change in date means the show will take place during the summer holidays and will not clash with the Ironman 70.3 event taking place in the city on July 11 and 12.

It raised concerns that jet ski users and some irresponsible dog walkers were disturbing nesting and feeding birds and it also raised concerns about sewage pollution in the area.

The petition says: “Saltwater marsh is one of the rarest habitats in the UK. The Old Harbour’s saltwater marsh supports wintering red listed species such as curlew and whimbrel. 

“It also supports other waders and seabirds such as shelduck, grey heron, little egret, knot, and redshank.

“We call on the Vale of Glamorgan Council to declare this area a local nature reserve which can contribute to the Welsh Government’s aim of protecting 30% of Wales for nature by 2030.

“We are concerned that jet ski users and some irresponsible dog walkers are disturbing resting and feeding birds.

“We are also concerned at the sewage pollution currently being discharged into this harbour. Please help us protect our local wildlife.”

But council officers have responded saying the council currently faces several challenges in undertaking the proposal to declare the Old Harbour in Barry as an LNR including resources such as changes in staffing, workload, and funding with budget pressures on council departments meaning other sources of funding would be needed and this could not be guaranteed.

The reason given within the petition as to why this was important was due to wildlife throughout the UK facing the destruction of much of their habitat and therefore a desperate need for more LNRs to reverse this trend.

In terms of support there were 604 signatures received for the hard copy version of the petition, plus three signatures for a previous E-petition on this topic meaning a total of 607 signatures had been received.

In response to the petition council officers had been asked to provide information regarding the council’s position and proposal and they say the proposal could not be pursued at this time and should be reconsidered in the next financial year.

They say in principle this location could be considered as a LNR but it would have to have sufficient wildlife value to warrant designation. An initial search on Aderyn reveals there are about 20 or so species identified under section seven of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 which are of conservation concern.

Most of these are estuarine birds or birds of prey though there are a few butterflies and moths.

They also say the bay represents one of the only opportunities for seagrass planting in the Vale, which is known for prodigious carbon capture.

There have been discussions with the Seagrass Project about such opportunities as part of the coastal development project but officers say due to lack of funds the coastal project is in abeyance at this time.

They add the guidance is clear that the council should have aims and objectives in declaring an LNR, an idea of how it will manage it, monitor it, engage the public, opportunities for education, and what the costs are.

Officers say the potential for this location to be declared an LNR should be considered in conjunction with other possible locations within the county which may, for various reasons, be considered to be a higher priority for such a designation, such as Rhoose Point.

They add funding for the proposed LNR, and the challenges around it, needed to be considered and this would need to rely on potential sources of external funding, such as the Local Nature Partnership (LNP), although this could not be guaranteed.

They also say funding for the current Vale LNP would only be secured until March 2027 due to both the Place and Neighbourhood Services departments being under severe budgetary pressures and therefore having to look for outside financial support to take this forward.

Officers added that “due to the previous points raised this proposal could not be pursued at this time and should be reconsidered in the next financial year”.

The petition was discussed at a meeting of the council’s place scrutiny committee on Tuesday, January 20. The committee agreed in principle with the LNR designation and that additional work was needed to identify the resource requirements of designating the site as part of a process that will consider any other sites that might also warrant being designated as an LNR.

They recommended that officers work with Barry Action for Nature and other relevant groups to identify and address and immediate risks to wildlife at the Old Harbour site and any immediate actions to address those risks.

They also recommended Welsh Water Dwr Cymru and Natural Resources Wales are invited to attend the committee in March to address bathing water quality and the impact of sewage discharge on wildlife in the Vale.

The incident took happened shortly after 9pm on Wednesday, January 21. Police said they received report of a collision involving a pedestrian and a vehicle on the A493 in Bryncrug, Tywyn. A statement read said: "A 78-year-old man was airlifted to hospital in Cardiff with serious injuries, where he remains."

It added: "The road was closed for initial collision investigation but has since been re-opened."

Detective inspector Timothy Evans of the serious collision investigation unit, said: "I am asking anyone who witnessed the collision and hasn't already come forward to make contact with officers.

"I am also asking anyone who may have CCTV or dashcam footage of a beige coloured Renault Modus being driven in the Tywyn area, prior to the collision between 8.45pm and 9.10pm, to get in touch at the earliest opportunity."

Anyone with information that could assist our investigation should contact officers at the serious collision investigation unit by calling 101, quoting reference number 26000058199.

Steve Yemm, Labour MP for Mansfield, brought up the case in the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session at the House of Commons said: "Sadly, on Christmas Day, my constituent, Beryl Barrett, passed away after tragically falling into an unrepaired pothole".

He said there were "literally thousands" of potholes on the roads of his constituency, criticising Nottinghamshire County Council and asked Keir Starmer to meet her family.

The Prime Minister expressed his condolences and said he would ensure the roads minister would meet her family. "It shows why tackling potholes really matters," he said.

He has launched a petition calling on improvements which it is said her family and friends are backing.

Local newspaper Mansfield and Ashfield Chad has reported on the pensioner's death. They quoted Mr Yemm saying: "I am angry that another member of our community in Mansfield and Warsop has suffered physical injury and in this case death as a result of the degradation of our roads in the area, and I have met with Beryl’s family to offer my condolences.

A statement from Warsop Parish Council said: "Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with Mrs Barrett's loved ones at this difficult time.

"The Parish Council recognises and shares residents’ concerns regarding the condition of local roads and pavements, which have been raised with our County Council representative and noted at the Parish Council meeting on 19 January 2026.

"A large number of residents attended this meeting to discuss the roads in Warsop Parish.

"While the Parish Council has no legal powers to fund or carry out road repairs, we will continue to raise residents’ concerns with Nottinghamshire County Council, support discussions regarding potential next steps and advocate for answers and action.”

They say a minute's silence was held in memory of Mrs Barrett at the Warsop Parish Council meeting on Monday.

Nottinghamshire council was contacted for comment. Previously, David Langford, director of highways at the authority said: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of a resident in Warsop in December, and our thoughts are with their family and friends.

“Any reports of incidents on our highway resulting in injury are taken extremely seriously and are investigated to establish the circumstances in which they occurred.

"“In this case, we do not feel that it is appropriate to comment further until any relevant investigations have taken place."

A letter has been sent to parents and carers in Carmarthenshire outlining the council’s “ongoing commitment to the safety and wellbeing of all pupils” in primary and secondary schools. The council has stressed that the drills to be carried out are “designed to test and refine our emergency procedures and strategies” and are “standard practice and an essential part of ongoing efforts to keep everyone in school communities safe”.

The letter has been sent just over a month after one of Carmarthenshire’s biggest schools - Ysgol Bro Myrddin in Carmarthen - was placed into a full lockdown after reports that threats were made against a pupil. Following the incident a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill and released on bail.

Fourteen months earlier, in October 2024, the same school went into lockdown mode due to a similar incident. 

Meanwhile, in October 2025, Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford was placed into lockdown as a “precautionary measure due to a potential offsite threat”, with police later confirming that a 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill.

That incident came less than 18 months after Ysgol Dyffryn Aman was the scene of a stabbing. On April 24, 2024, a 15-year-old girl, who can not be named for legal reasons, stabbed two teachers and a pupil and was later sentenced to 15 years' detention.

The procedures to be carried out in schools are not just related to lockdowns, but will also include fire drills, preparation for gas leaks, and “other relevant safety exercises”. Whether pupils will be directly involved in any of these drills will be down to individual schools across the county.

The letter sent to parents and carers, written by Aneirin Thomas, Carmarthenshire Council’s head of education services, says: “The safety of your children is our highest priority and we have robust and proven procedures in place to respond swiftly and effectively to any emergencies that may arise.

“As part of our commitment to maintaining these high standards, our schools will be conducting a series of well-prepared and carefully planned exercises throughout the year.

“We understand that some children may find such drills unsettling. Please be assured that schools will approach these exercises with sensitivity and will do everything possible to minimise any stress or anxiety for pupils.

"Each school will determine how to approach these exercises, including deciding when and how to explain the purpose of each drill to pupils and how to provide reassurance before, during, and after the event.

“It is important for all parents and carers to understand that these exercises are not cause for alarm. There is absolutely no need to be concerned or to contact the school during these drills.

"They are simply a precautionary measure to ensure that everyone is prepared and that our procedures are effective in safeguarding your children.

“Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding as we work together to maintain the safest possible environment in our schools.

"Should you have any general questions about our emergency procedures, please feel free to contact your child’s school at a convenient time - but there will be no need for any action from parents and carers during the drills themselves."

The works included creating an access route up a steep bank from a single-track lane and levelling part of the bank for the 23-metre long, nine-metre wide barn. The barn, made of a steel frame and wooden cladding, has a pitched roof just over 5m high.

Simon Pritchard, a planning officer at Torfaen Borough Council, said that only limited information had been provided to justify retaining the barn, built between July and September 2024.

He added that the application failed to demonstrate why the claimed employment benefits should override protections against new development in open countryside. 

The applicant, known as 'Tunley' from Blaen y Cwm Farm, argued that the barn had created one full-time equivalent job and would safeguard two additional full-time equivalent positions.

Mr Pritchard's report highlighted that the barn was built on land associated with Blaen-y-Cwm Farm in a rural area of Henllys, south of Cwmbran.

This area forms part of the South West Uplands Special Landscape Area and is surrounded by trees and agricultural land that extends into the ancient semi-natural woodland.

His report concluded: "No justification has been provided for the isolated location of the building, and the application has failed to provide sufficient information/evidence regarding its impact upon ecological features of the site and nearby sites.

"The proposed would also, by virtue of its unwarranted intrusion into an ancient woodland, have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the Special Landscape Area. The suggested loss of employment would not outweigh the harm highlighted above."

The report indicated that the barn is approximately 270m east of the main farm building, which contradicts Welsh planning guidelines that agricultural buildings should be located near existing structures. It's also visible from fields to the east and a public right of way.

The council's ecologist stated that insufficient information had been provided in support of the application.

Furthermore, construction, clearance and engineering works have negatively affected several important habitats, including trees within an area of the ancient woodland and a site of significance for nature conservation.

The building is located in The Parade in Neath town centre next to The Castle Hotel and directly opposite the Ambassador Hotel. It is also just a stone’s throw away from the town’s railway station as well as the well-known Neath General Market.

The three-storey building which was listed in 1989 is currently said to be unoccupied but is described as retaining features "associated with its previous banking function". 

It was highlighted as being "significant for its architectural quality, materials, and its contribution to the historic townscape of Neath" within the submitted plans.

A section of the application said developers were proposing the change of use for the ground floor of the site with the development of a bar and restaurant inside along with a beer garden at the back of the property.

It read: "The proposal involves internal alterations to facilitate the new use and limited external alterations to the rear to provide access and amenity space for patrons.

"No changes are proposed to the upper floors. The site is a Grade II-listed building within the Neath town centre conservation area."

It added the plans would aim to preserve the special character of the listed building with inside changes limited to fit-out works for the kitchen and bar areas and no alterations to the front elevation.

The decision to approve the change of use for the site was made by Neath Port Talbot council officers as part of their delegated decisions between December 1, 2025, and January 7, 2026.

They were presented to council members at a planning committee meeting in January and come after the Neath town centre bank was closed by Barclays in April 2024.

This came alongside approved plans for a new 120 lodge resort near Tonna and a new school development at Llangatwg Community School in Neath.

Today's (Tuesday) crash has occurred just two days after a catastrophic train collision in southern Spain that resulted in 42 fatalities and numerous injuries. Authorities confirmed this most recent derailment occurred after a retaining wall collapsed onto the railway line.

Regional media reports suggest at least 20 individuals sustained injuries in the incident. The development emerges as the country commenced three days of national mourning today for those who perished in Sunday's devastating rail disaster.

Two trains - one travelling northbound, the other southbound - carrying almost 500 passengers combined, collided near Adamuz in Spain's Córdoba province, resulting in widespread carnage and devastation.

Today's Barcelona incident prompted the deployment of fifteen ambulances and 35 fire brigade units to the crash site, according to Spanish news agency EFE. Emergency responders were required to extract individuals trapped within the carriages.

The collision occurred on a suburban service operating between Sant Sadurní d'Anoia and Gelida, approximately 40 kilometres from Barcelona, during torrential downpours across the area.

Sunday's tragedy struck at 7:45 p. m.

when the rear section of a service carrying 289 passengers travelling from Malaga to Madrid came off the rails and struck an oncoming train bound from Madrid to Huelva, another southern destination, railway operator Adif confirmed.

Amongst the victims of the two-train collision were the mother and father of a young child, who had been returning from the Spanish capital following an evening performance of the Lion King musical on Sunday. Fidel Saez lost his mother in the collision, though his two children, brother and nephew made it through alive.

The family had been returning from watching "The Lion King," he informed journalists.

"My brother has been taken off respirator. He told me that it was a miracle that he is alive. He had to get the children through a window," Saez told national TV broadcaster TVE. "He also asked me to tell the story of our mother, how good she was."

The front section of the Madrid to Huelva train suffered the worst of the collision, derailing its first two carriages and sending them tumbling down an embankment, with victims thrown hundreds of metres from where the trains met, according to Andalusia regional President Juanma Moren.

Estyn inspectors paid a visit to the school last November – where they were greeted by protesting parents. Their report into the school, placing it in special measures, has now been published.

Inspectors concluded the school is failing to deliver an "acceptable standard of education". The report outlines failings – ranging from inadequate safeguarding of pupils to broken relationships amongst staff at every level. Six recommendations have been issued to drive improvement at the school.

James Forber has been appointed as interim executive headteacher for both Flint High School and Connah's Quay High School to guide the school through improvement.

Flintshire Council said that following the inspection swift action has been taken to tackle the most pressing safeguarding issues highlighted by Estyn.

Estyn's report reads: "In recent years the senior leadership team has failed to provide Flint High School with adequate leadership. As a result the school does not provide its pupils with an acceptable standard of education.

"Systemic weaknesses in leadership, teaching and wellbeing provision mean that too few pupils, including those with additional learning needs (ALN), feel safe in school, enjoy their learning or make sufficient progress in the development of their knowledge, understanding and skills.

"Senior leaders have failed to secure a culture of safeguarding. Although many staff are committed to improving the wellbeing of pupils, overall the school does not support pupils' behaviour, attendance or engagement in their learning well enough.

"There are significant shortcomings in how attendance is recorded and monitored, how disruptive behaviour and bullying are managed, and how well the school ensures that pupils are safe. As a result, the safety of pupils is a serious concern.

"Senior leaders do not support the development of effective teaching successfully. In particular, they do not help teachers to manage pupils' behaviour well enough. Teachers are also hampered by a poorly designed curriculum and the inefficient deployment of staff."

The inspectorate added: "In a minority of cases teaching helps pupils to make adequate progress and develop suitably positive attitudes to their learning.

"However, in many instances low expectations, ineffective behaviour management and weak planning limit pupils' progress. Pupils do not develop their independence and resilience sufficiently well. Provision to develop pupils' skills across the curriculum is notably underdeveloped.

"Leadership has limited impact on all aspects of the school's work and has not addressed national priorities well enough. It has failed to promote unity, trust and a sense of collaboration, and in too many instances fractured relationships between staff at all levels promote a culture of distrust.

"Insufficient attention is given to the well-being of staff and supporting middle leaders to carry out their roles effectively. As well as not demonstrating sufficient strategic leadership, senior leaders do not carry out their operational responsibilities successfully, so the school does not function efficiently on a day-to-day basis.

"Senior leadership roles are not sufficiently clear, well-balanced or equitable. Senior leaders and governors do not hold staff accountable for their responsibilities. Leaders at all levels do not evaluate provision well enough, so are unable to plan for improvement satisfactorily.

"Professional learning to improve teaching and leadership is inadequate. The school does not manage its resources carefully enough, nor does it communicate or engage sufficiently well with parents and the local community."

The school will now draw up an action plan to tackle the recommendations. Interim executive head Mr Forber said: "I agree with Estyn's findings. There are clear and serious weaknesses, particularly in safeguarding, leadership and the consistency of systems and expectations."

The school is now collaborating with Flintshire County Council and Estyn to produce a comprehensive post-inspection action plan. This plan will say how the school intends to rectify safeguarding failures, bolster leadership, enhance behaviour and attendance, raise teaching standards, and restore confidence among pupils, families and staff.

Estyn will review the school's progress on a regular basis, typically every four to six months. Senior education officers at the council will oversee and support the school throughout the process.

Chair of governors Brian Harvey said: "The governing body fully accepts the findings and is committed to working with the executive headteacher, the local authority and Estyn to secure rapid and sustained improvement.

"The safety, wellbeing and education of pupils remain the school's highest priorities. While this report will understandably cause concern, decisive action is underway and leadership is firmly focused on securing improvement for the Flint community."

Claire Homard, chief officer for education and youth at Flintshire County Council, said she was disappointed with the Estyn inspection results at Flint High. The council fully accepts the recommendations for improvement, she added.

"The school had been identified as needing additional challenge and support through the council's school improvement processes and interventions were in the process of being delivered.

"The council has acted swiftly to stabilise leadership and staffing arrangements at the school and is working closely with the interim executive headteacher and governing body to deliver the necessary improvements at pace.

"There have already been a number of positive changes since the inspection in November and the council will continue to monitor the school's progress, providing additional resources as necessary."

In a submission endorsed for consent at the January 28 gathering of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park's development management committee Lowri Silver from Kilgetty is requesting permission to convert the ground floor section of Saundersfoot Harbour's Coastal Schooner into an indoor mini-golf tourist facility. The schooner was constructed to celebrate Saundersfoot's maritime legacy and forms part of the £10m Wales Coastal Centre scheme.

The structure is a reproduction of a traditional coastal schooner ship which sailed from the harbour during the coal mining period to carry coal from Saundersfoot. 

Last July a proposal by Jonathan Thomas of Schooner for a pirate-themed establishment at the location was rejected by the national park development management committee.

That rum bar proposal had sparked objections from the community council, stating it was "considered to be at odds with the current family venue and heritage elements".

An officer's report advocating rejection indicated that proposal was deemed to fall beyond the seaside village's designated retail zone and raised concerns about the impact on local amenity, particularly neighbouring residential properties.

During that gathering councillor Alec Cormack, a local county councillor and community council member, advocated for a more family-oriented development for the location.

A supporting document attached to the fresh application states: "The maritime theme will be maintained as the attraction will maintain many of the existing interpretation information and the maritime theme. The Schooner operated as an interpretation centre and high ropes offer for a year from October 2023 to October 2024.

"It has been open through the summer of 2025 on Tuesday and weekends. However it has proved not to be a viable option to run the Schooner as an interpretation centre alone and an additional use is sought to maintain the interpretation element of the Schooner and to offer an all-weather attraction for local people and residents alike."

The document continued: "The proposal will allow for the Schooner to be maintained and be open to the public thus protecting and enhancing the community facilities to meet the needs of local people and visitors alike.

"The proposal would also sustain the future of the interpretation element of the Schooner which in turn will protect and enhance the harbour, which is one of the key attractions in Pembrokeshire."

The most recent proposal is "strongly supported by Saundersfoot Community Council, particularly regarding the provision of an indoor family attraction; this was a unanimous decision."

The application states: "The proposed works will apart from planters, be fully contained within the existing structure, and provide an indoor facility for residents and visitors, which is considered to enhance the visitor economy of the area, not just through the tourist season but also outside of the peak season with the facility being an indoor facility with scope for all year-round operation."

We've delved into our archives and found some precious memories of the Swansea community in 2003 and 2004.

Here, you'll be reminded of buildings which are no longer there, some very old-fashioned looking cars, and you might even recognise a picture of yourself or your friends looking a lot more youthful.

Click the arrow next to the main picture at the top of the article to click through the photos.  📸 

The mum of one of the pupils involved said she has since thought about moving house so her daughter doesn't have to take the bus again.

The pupils, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, were travelling on the bus to their secondary school when an adult male passenger is alleged to have performed a sex act under his trousers after starting a conversation with pupils. 

A girl who witnessed the incident said she had boarded the public bus with other children on their way to school when the man started speaking to them.

Her mum said: "The man had got on the bus and had been drinking and was high and was a nuisance and started making conversation and asking the children whether they'd been drinking and said drinking and drugs were more fun than school," said the mum explaining what her daughter had told her.

"He also offered them sweets and said they should come to Chepstow Racecourse with him for a pint and then started being a bit more aggressive and my daughter became more uncomfortable and he took a bite of one girl's chocolate bar."

Though some of the children had moved to the top deck of the bus the woman said her daughter had remained on bottom deck as she would have felt "trapped" on the upper deck.

Some boys on the bus noticed the man was making her feel uncomfortable, said the mum, and attempted to stand between them. At that point the man continued trying to make conversation and appeared to perform a sex act on himself, though he wasn't exposed, and had his hands down his trousers.

He then got off the bus at Chepstow bus station and appeared to relieve himself in a bush.

Gwent Police said it is looking for a 61-year-old man, from Newport, previously arrested in November, on suspicion of engaging in sexual activity in front of children, following a report he had breached bail conditions.

The mum praised the "phenomenal" response of teachers at her daughter's school but has since sought to raise concerns over safety of children travelling to school by public bus with Monmouthshire County Council.

The mum, who cannot be named to protect her daughter's identity, said: "I just burst into tears when I got the call from the school."

She had felt guilty about putting her daughter on the bus to school and had considered moving home to avoid her daughter having to make the bus journey again.

She said: "I feel like I was the one who put her in danger and I've thought about moving, and putting my house up for sale, so she could walk to school."

Monmouthshire council uses public buses as home to school transport for some secondary school pupils but the girl was travelling as a paying passenger rather than her transport having been arranged by the council.

Her mum said she while she is willing to pay for transport she would like the council to consider providing a dedicated child only bus for pupils who don't qualify for home to school transport or allow parents to pay for vacant seats on school buses. She also said she has been concerned about overcrowding on the buses that, she said, are well used by school children.

The girl has now returned to using the bus, since the incident in November, and her mum said: "We made the decision and she was comfortable to go back on the bus and I would not want her living her life not being able to go on a bus."

Gwent Police said: "We received a report of a man engaging in sexual activity in front of children on a bus heading towards Chepstow at around 8am on Wednesday, November 26.

"Officers took a number of statements from children who were on the bus.

"A 61-year-old man from Newport was later arrested on suspicion of the above offence, and was released on conditional bail as enquiries continue.

"We've since received a report that this person has not complied with their bail conditions and arrest enquiries are ongoing to locate him."

Monmouthshire County Council said it was "aware of the distressing incident" and had liaised with the bus operator.

A spokesman said: "We take the safety of all our learners on home to school transport extremely seriously. None of the children who Monmouthshire County Council provides school transport for are allocated to this route.

"Students are eligible for home to school transport to their nearest or catchment secondary school if it is more than three miles walking distance away from their home. In this instance it wasn't their nearest or catchment school and consequently transport is not provided."

Caerphilly council’s planning committee heard residents of Aberbargoed’s Chapel Street fear allowing more people to live at the property will worsen the scramble for parking. One of those fighting the application, Stephen Fox, said there were already traffic problems from parents dropping children off and picking them up from a nearby primary school.

Services at a local chapel of rest also contribute to parking pressures, he said. 

"We are frightened to move out of the street because you can’t actually get back into the street when there’s a funeral taking place," Mr Fox added.

“Many complaints have gone in. Nothing is ever done."

Mr Fox was speaking in opposition to the conversion of 10 Chapel Street from a three-bedroom home into a HMO for four people.

Paul Parsons, the agent for landlord Vidya Giri, argued “issues to do with the school, or issues to do with the chapel, are nothing to do with this application”.

He said the HMO would be managed by a not-for-profit housing association and that the tenants would be "very unlikely to own a car, so the whole issue to do with parking should not be an issue".

Senior planning officer Carwyn Powell said the change from three to four bedrooms would result in “no change in car parking requirements”.

“I appreciate the concerns of the residents in terms of indiscriminate parking,” he said. “We have to look at the numbers in terms of what is required. The numbers are the same, therefore it’s difficult to justify a refusal on that basis.”

HMOs are typically properties for single, unrelated adults who have their own bedrooms but share other communal areas, such as kitchens or bathrooms.

A council report shows the application attracted 26 letters of objection during public consultation.

Concerns included potential antisocial behaviour, the HMO being overcrowded, a frequent turnover of people living there, and the loss of a family home.

Councillor Mansell Powell told committee colleagues the matter felt like "déjà vu" and had prompted "similar questions to what we get with every other planning application for a HMO".

“These are popping up all over the ward,” he said. “They are popping up everywhere. Unfortunately from a planning point of view, there is very little we can do.”

Other committee members shared similar thoughts about the impact of HMOs.

Councillor Nigel Dix said such properties “can be problematic”, adding: “Neighbours don’t like them, communities don’t like them. The companies who buy these properties are taking away family houses.”

The committee voted to approve the conversion, subject to conditions.

Both firms have struggled financially in recent years and were bought by Modella Capital last year to save hundreds of stores. However, the investment firm subsequently initiated administration proceedings following attempts to turn the fortunes of the two companies around.

Claire's UK and Ireland operations were bought up by Modella last year shortly after its American parent Claire's Holdings LLC initiated bankruptcy proceedings across the pond. Claire's other operations outside of the UK and Ireland are not directly impacted.

A partial rescue deal saw around 156 stores bought with some 1,000 jobs saved, though around 145 branches were not included in the deal. But despite the tough cost-cutting measures, the overall UK & Ireland brand continued to face difficulties.

Modella Capital bought TOFS UK the same year before initiating a restructuring programme to try and turn it around. But it also went into administration in January this year, with a spokesperson saying: "Very sadly, we have had to initiate insolvency proceedings for The Original Factory Shop (TOFS).

"This has been a very tough decision. We have worked intensively in an effort to save the business, having made last-ditch attempts to rescue it, but there isn't a realistic possibility of trading profitably again.

Claire's employees a total of some 1,355 people across the UK and Ireland across 154 locations, while TOFS has around 1,220 workers across 140 stores, as per The Sun.

Referring to the decision to initiate insolvency proceedings for both brands, a spokesperson for Modella Capital said it was due to "extremely challenging" climate faced by high street businesses.

"It's a simple fact that if retailers can't make money, they risk having to close - and jobs across the country are lost," they added.

It means a total of 2,500 UK employees are at risk of redundancy across the two brands' 300-odd stores, as administrators for both brands seek buyers to save them.

Recent reports that will delight countless Royal enthusiasts suggest Harry is preparing to invite the King to assume a prominent position at next year's Invictus Games, which returns to British soil for the first time in over a decade. Royal insiders revealed last week that Harry "desperately wants Charles at Invictus", preferably to launch proceedings on stage with him.

An appearance by Charles – standing beside his son – would undoubtedly thrill supporters of the Royal Family and cast an even greater spotlight on the poignant event, which celebrates injured service personnel and veterans.

Whilst attention centres on Harry and his bond with his father, the Games' return to the UK inevitably prompts speculation about whether Meghan will accompany him. The Duchess has previously stood by Harry at Invictus occasions and, according to BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond speaking to the Mirror, she wouldn't want to appear dismissive of a cause so dear to her husband.

"Meghan is a savvy woman," Jennie observed. "She must know that she's likely to encounter a degree of hostility in the UK, but in the bubble of the Invictus Games she is safe."

"They love her, so perhaps that's a reason she would come – to support Harry as she always has at Invictus. To stay away would inevitably become as newsworthy as her presence. The headlines would scream: "Proof, if it were needed – Meghan can't stand the UK!"

Harry and Meghan dramatically departed from Royal duties six years ago and have since settled in Montecito, California, with their children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four. However, following his September meeting at Clarence House, the prince departed Britain appearing notably upbeat, with a representative subsequently confirming he had "loved" returning to his homeland.

His discussion with Charles proved considerably more constructive than their previous encounter, which occurred when Harry rushed to London in February 2024 after learning of the King's cancer diagnosis.

The meeting has also sparked optimism that Harry may contemplate additional trips home – something that appeared increasingly improbable less than a year ago after his failed High Court challenge to restore his taxpayer-funded police protection.

The Duke of Sussex had attempted to reverse the ruling to reduce his security arrangements whilst in Britain, which took effect after he relinquished his working Royal status. In the wake of that judgement, Harry publicly held his father accountable for "this security stuff" and declared he "can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK".

However, he is awaiting a Home Office review of the decision, and Jennie suggests this could prove crucial in determining whether future visits to Britain are worthwhile for the Sussexes. It might also pave the way for a long-awaited reunion between the King and his grandchildren, Archie and Lilibet, whom he last saw during the late Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.

"If the security review results in the protection level Harry is demanding, there will be no obvious reason to prevent them coming over as a family," Jennie explained. "And I'm sure King Charles would relish the chance to get to know his grandchildren."

What remains uncertain is whether Prince William – whose relationship with Harry has been characterised as irreparably damaged – would welcome any Invictus-related family gatherings.

The Prince of Wales attended the inaugural games with his wife, Princess Catherine, in 2014, but is understood not to have communicated with his younger sibling since their grandmother's funeral in September 2022. The brothers' relationship fractured dramatically following Harry's publication of his memoir, Spare, three years ago, which included criticism of Kate and graphic accounts of acrimonious disputes with his brother.

According to Jennie, backing Harry therefore creates a predicament for Charles, as he will be wary of appearing to favour one son over the other. She said: "Invictus has become pivotal. It is Harry's great cause and his greatest achievement and any father would want to support his son as the games come to the UK. But it's not straightforward for the King – sadly for him, his family matters never are.

"It could become a classic case of a father having to choose between his warring sons. We can only imagine how William might feel if Charles publicly threw his support behind the games and Harry.

"William has bitten his lip, risen above the accusations and knuckled down to the job, in spite of the brutal cancer diagnoses for both Catherine and Charles. To see his father stand on a very public platform and salute Harry's achievement would be tough. But that's the dilemma the King might face."

Despite this, those behind the Games – previously held in the United States, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and Germany – have suggested they anticipate a strong showing from senior members of the Royal Family. A spokesperson said last week: "The royal family have been longstanding supporters of the Invictus Games since its inception in 2014.

"While it is too early to confirm who will attend in 2027 as invitations have not yet been sent out, organisers of the Invictus Games Birmingham 2027 will issue invitations to members of the Royal Family in due course, and we would very much welcome their presence."

The week-long event is set to begin at Birmingham's NEC on 10 July, concluding on 17 July – which happens to be Queen Camilla's 80th birthday. Whilst this creates a potential diary dilemma for the King, a source revealed last week that organisers are fully aware of the clash and remain optimistic that Charles could still participate in the opening ceremony and other events "while still honouring commitments" to his wife.

The insider continued, "Harry is across every detail of what is going on with Invictus. He is buoyed with the thought of opening the games with his father, and there are hopes that other royals will attend."

The Duke has previously described the games as embodying the "spirit of unity", yet even if they prove instrumental in mending his fractured relationship with the Royal Family, Jennie suggests that more substantial discussions will need to occur privately.

"I think these issues are best worked out in private, so any reunion between the King and Harry and his family should take place quietly and behind closed doors," she explained. "It remains the most sensitive of situations and the King will have to take everyone's feelings into account."

This time last year it was revealed the area occupied by the beloved venue and adjoining promenade had been earmarked for a new development project featuring hundreds of new homes as well as shops, restaurants, and leisure facilities.

In July the Evans family, the owners of the park, announced last summer would be the final hurrah for the park ahead of an emotional final day in October.

That brought down the curtain of 107 years of history at the funfair which saw its first visitors in 1918 and had staff who had become part of the furniture.

Since the park closed its doors people have been battling to get their hands on treasured memorabilia from the site as it is dismantled.

Work has not finished at the Glan Llyn project with around 3000 more homes are yet to be developed as well as another primary school and a railway station. For over four decades the 600 acre site was home to one of the UK's biggest steel works sites, Llanwern Steelworks from 1962 until it was closed down in 2001.

The closure of the site was controversial as the cease in operation meant that 1,3000 jobs were lost. In 2004 the suite was nothing but rubble as the blast furnaces were demolished.

Over 20 years later, a community thrives on what was once a vacant brownfield site following the closure and demolition of the steelworks.

The £1bn redevelopment plan of the site is expected to be complete by spring 2028 eventually including 4,000 homes, schools, a police station, pub/restaurant, supermarket, and community centre as well as open spaces, new lakes, new access roads, a GP surgery, and health and leisure facilities.

So far 1,330 homes, district centre, Glan Llyn Primary School, and the west lake have been constructed along with a number of employment units on the business park, including Amazon.

Welsh Water’s plans for the project were passed by Cardiff Council in 2022 despite local uproar from residents, community groups and councillor's complaints over potential of high noise levels, pungent smells and affects on the park’s biodiversity.

The completion of tunnelling, part of the project that initially started in February 2025, has now seen a year beset with delays. 

Local campaigners raised thousands of pounds towards a legal challenge rejecting the development. They ultimately fell short, losing their legal battle in 2023.

Since then, the development has been plagued with delays, with Welsh Water previously stating work was to commence from October 2024 to April 2025.

The water supplier then pushed back the timeline further, with tunnelling starting around February 2025.

Following the prolonged delays, tunnelling work began early last year, but residents were then told in September 2025 that once again had been delayed "due to unforeseen circumstances".

In a letter to residents, locals were informed that significant flooding and damage to the tunnel-boring machine, that had begun work on a new sewer pipeline, required the machine to be extracted from the tunnel for off-site repairs.

The September 2025 update from Welsh Water stated: "We currently anticipate that work will resume in January 2026 and will take around seven months to complete with reinstatement of the site to follow."

However, in an update to the sewage saga, Welsh Water has told Pulse Media that tunnelling won’t resume until the end of February 2026.

A Welsh Water spokesperson stated: "The removal of the machine is taking longer than originally anticipated, however our project team are continuing to work hard to complete this as safely and quickly as possible.

"We currently anticipate a delay of between four to six weeks and are optimistic that tunnelling will resume at the end of February 2026, once removal of the machine is complete.

"We are unable to confirm an exact date when the work will be complete until the machine is removed and the replacement tunnelling machine operational. As soon as we have more information, we will share the update with the local community."

Community group, Friends of Hailey Park meet regularly with Welsh Water but it has voiced its "disappointment" at the further delays.

The group said: "We attend meetings with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water every two months. We have requested input into the reinstatement of the north entrance once WW work is complete.

"We are very disappointed that the project is running 18 months late, impacting the use of the rugby pitches, park users' enjoyment of the area, and on wildlife, especially as 24/7 work is being mooted."

However, some members of the community are angered by the delays of the initially controversial plans for the park.

A resident living near the park, Steph Wilkens, who also used to be the chair of the residents' association said: "I think disappointed is putting it mildly, we're angry. It just seems like a disaster as if the preparations and the engineering surveys beforehand just didn't account for the nature of the land there.

"It doesn't benefit Llandaff North. We're having to put up with all the inconvenience of it."

When challenged on the local concern that has seen the focus shift from underground to ongoings above the surface, Welsh Water affirmed: "We continue to work closely with the community and provide updates on the pumping station and working through any concerns associated with the work at Hailey Park."

Full council on Monday, January 12 agreed to increase council rents by an average of 4.3%, which is the maximum allowable uplift set by the Welsh Government for 2026-27.

Council also agreed to the levels of service charges for things like grounds maintenance, cleaning of communal areas, lighting of communal areas, laundry facilities, window cleaning, lift maintenance, door entry, intercom, CCTV, sewerage treatment plants and cesspools with some increasing and others decreasing.

The council says the proposal reflects the current financial situation, with high interest rates and inflationary cost pressures in delivering current priorities and commitments.

It also says it will ensure it can deliver its ongoing ambitions to build new council housing at pace and scale and decarbonise the council housing stock by 2040, and will ensure funding is available to meet the requirements of the new Welsh Housing Quality Standard (WHQS).

Analysis shows an extra £70m will need to be invested in existing council homes in the next 10 to 15 years to bring them up to the WHQS (Welsh Housing Quality Standard), and £95m is required over the next 30 years to directly respond to decarbonisation.

A council report says this capital investment is only possible if sufficient income is received through rents.

As well as spending on existing stock, the council spends its rental income to build new council homes, the report says.

It says there are huge pressures on existing social housing, with more than 7,600 households on the housing waiting list and more than 300 homeless people living in temporary accommodation. It says additional council housing “is the only way that we can end homelessness and ensure that households have a safe, secure, affordable home”.

In 2025-26, the council’s housing development team will have completed 61 new homes across three sites in Barry and construction will continue or start on a further five sites which will deliver a further 241 homes.

The report says: “Lower increases in rents have a significant financial impact on the housing business plan and threaten the council’s ability to maintain, improve and build new homes.”

The basis for rent increases is set by the Welsh Government policy for social housing rents and in order to comply with the rent policy, social landlords must ensure their average weekly rents for their general needs and sheltered housing provides value for money and affordability to tenants, the report says.

Comparison of rents with other landlords is carried out annually and shows council rents for three-bedroom homes are 37% lower than private rents for comparable properties and 20% below the local housing allowance for the Vale of Glamorgan. 

The difference for smaller properties such as one-bed flats is smaller, with council rents being 28% lower than private rents and 6% below the local housing allowance rate, although there are currently no properties of this type available in the Vale of Glamorgan to rent at the local housing allowance rate.

The report said council rents also remain less than the average housing association rent for the area.

The report says the council’s housing income team supports tenants to pay their rent and specialist money advisers assist with budgeting advice, claiming benefits, income maximisation and securing grants and other support.

The Welsh Government recently announced the social rent settlement for 2026-27, alongside a package of support for social tenants who are struggling financially.

Cllr Dr Ian Johnson, leader of the Plaid Cymru group on the council, said there is a complication with people paying in for many years and paying more than is needed for the council to build more homes.

He said he understood the argument on a social level but on an individual level it becomes much more difficult to justify.

He said: “I do support the council’s plan to build a significant number of council houses here in the Vale. I welcome the changes put forward by Welsh Government considering the substantial impact of inflation on tenants.”

This change involves a 0.5% CPI ceiling as opposed to the previous 2.1% but he said it’s still unfair perhaps because it uses an inflation metric which differs substantially from the true expenditure which is needed year on year.

Cllr Johnson said he understands why the council is asking for the maximum increase allowed by Welsh Government and that a lot of tenants aren’t paying a very large rent but he said “it still strikes me as unfair that it’s the people footing the bill for this and we are not sure what sort of situation they are facing.”

Cllr Mark Wilson, Labour cabinet member for neighbourhood and building services, accepted that if they were mortgages they would have been paid off but added that if you’re an owner you pay for repairs.

He said the building services department pays for repairs in council housing and that the rent helps pay off those repairs.

Cllr Wilson said: “We do it in a very efficient and speedy manor” adding “I am very proud of building services and what they do.”

He said rental levels are very low and lower than other registered social landlords in the area, adding it’s “very laudable and that’s something I will continue to support.”

He said the housing revenue account has to be resilient and sustainable for the future.

Cllr George Carroll, leader of the Conservatives, said it was important that fairness and equity are the principles behind decisions they take on setting council rents.

He said there had clearly been increases in costs to the council of providing accommodation including CPI inflation which is up on the past year.

He said: “I think it is reasonable to increase the rents to take account of that but from a personal point of view I am uncomfortable with the idea of increasing rents at a rate above inflation.”

Cllr Carroll said when he looks at council tax he approaches it thinking they should freeze it in real terms so it increases by the CPI rate of inflation and he thinks that should be the approach on this matter and that he would be opposing the proposed increase.

The changes are due to come in from April 2026, with the first week of April being a non-chargeable rent week. Increase notices will be sent to tenants two months in advance of the new charges coming into effect.

The van is emblazoned with Enterprise branding, which is a rent-a-car company. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and South Wales Police attended the scene. A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

A spokesman for the fire service told Pulse Media that a fire crew from arrived Cardiff Central arrived at the scene at 9.14am. 

It performed a "safety role at the scene."

A statement from South Wales Police read: "A single vehicle collision occurred on Cowbridge Road at approximately 9.30am in which a van came to rest on its side.

"A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving.

"The road was closed so that the vehicle could be recovered."

Every day, millions of dog owners across the UK take their furry companions for walks through parks and nature reserves. However, recent changes and updates to regulations by numerous councils across the UK over the past several months, with more expected, mean that failure to demonstrate you have an adequate supply could cost up to £100 each time.

Community enforcement specialists at Kingdom Local Authority Support (LAS) are urging dog owners to ensure they carry at least two dog poo bags each time they take their dog for a walk. This follows an increase in updates to Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) being implemented nationwide.

The regulations would legally require owners to clean up after their dogs and make them liable to be asked for proof of poo bags by council officials or enforcement officers. This means that if you fail to show evidence of a poo bag while walking your dog in a public space, you could be handed a £100 fixed penalty notice (FPN) on the spot. The amount could escalate to £1,000 if the case is taken to court, reports the Mirror.

Dog fouling remains a persistent problem across the UK, with local councils dealing with hundreds of cases annually, and enforcement proving notoriously challenging. Research conducted by pet insurance firm Petplan revealed that between 2017 and 2021, there were more than 88,000 reported incidents of dog fouling, though the actual figure is believed to be considerably higher.

Chief Services Officer at Kingdom Local Authority Support (LAS), John Roberts, said: "Given these new rules are being increasingly adopted by councils across the country – our advice, at Kingdom, is to bring at least two bags on each dog walk. Unfortunately, there are a portion of people who intentionally and repeatedly breach these rules.

"We want people to be aware a PSPO could have been brought into their local area, and a breach of these rules would constitute an immediate FPN of up to £100. To not get caught out, we'd advise bringing at least two to avoid receiving a fine, even if you're just out for a short walk. It's important people think and ensure they are being responsible. Your dog's waste is your responsibility and will be recognised as such by enforcement officers."

Across multiple locations throughout the UK, new regulations known as Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) now require dog owners to carry waste bags and produce them upon request. These measures are currently in force in areas including East Lindsey, Boston in Lincolnshire, Canterbury, Westmorland and Furness in South Lakes, Merthyr Tydfil, and certain London boroughs, such as Hammersmith and Fulham.

Dog owners who fail to comply with these regulations could face fines, generally in the region of £100. Such orders are designed to tackle dog fouling and unacceptable conduct, empowering council officers to issue penalties if people don't carry bags or neglect to clear up after their pets.

That said, how strictly these rules are enforced can differ considerably across different areas. Across the UK, there's no legislation stipulating a precise number of dog waste bags - such as two - that must be carried under Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs). The essential requirement is simply to have sufficient bags or an alternative method to clean up after your dog should an authorised officer request this.

Take Rushcliffe Borough Council, for instance, which states: "There is no set limit of dog bags you should carry at any one time, however it is advisable that you carry more than enough to make sure you're covered for any unforeseen circumstances."

In Wales, you can check specific rules for different Welsh council areas on their official websites. These include Cardiff Council, Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, or Monmouthshire County Council. Cardiff Council says: "A PSPO can be modified and will be reviewed at least every 3 years to ensure any controls remain appropriate."

Numerous councils throughout the UK are either implementing or mulling over fresh Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to combat anti-social behaviour across various sites. Preston City Council, for example, intends to introduce a new PSPO in Inner East Preston from 23rd December 2025, targeting persistent anti-social behaviour in the St Matthews and Fishwick neighbourhoods.

Similarly, Reading Borough Council is poised to approve a new PSPO after receiving encouraging responses during public consultation. Malvern Hills District Council, which has implemented Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) for several years, provides online guidance for dog walkers.

The council advises: "We would urge dog owners to take a handful of bags with them on every walk –you never know when your dog might decide to go twice. However, officers will take a common-sense approach to the new powers. The FPNs are not in place as a money-making scheme or to 'catch-out' responsible owners.

"Officers will generally approach people at the start of their walk – at the entrance to parks or in car parks at popular dog walking spots – when owners would be expected to have a supply of bags with them. Officers will also be reasonable when considering any explanation offered as to why a person is not carrying bags."

Public Spaces Protection Orders

Certain public areas in England and Wales are governed by Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs), formerly known as Dog Control Orders (DCOs). In public spaces with PSPOs, you may have certain obligations.

• keep your dog on a lead
• put your dog on a lead if told to by a police officer, police community support officer or someone from the council
• stop your dog going to certain places - like farmland or parts of a park
• limit the number of dogs you have with you (this applies to professional dog walkers too)
• clear up after your dog
• carry a poop scoop and disposable bags

Dog fouling can be reported to your local council. Ignoring a PSPO could result in an on-the-spot fine of £100 or up to £1,000 if the matter goes to court. Local councils must inform the public about where PSPOs are enforced.

For instance, if dogs are prohibited in a park, there should be signs indicating this. If the council intends to implement a new PSPO, it must post a notice and publish it on its website. The notice should specify where the new PSPO will be enforced and if there's a map and where you can view it.

Even when they've been introduced to countless different foods from six-months-old or have previously devoured whatever was placed before them, it's typical for youngsters to test limits during mealtimes. Toddlers are notorious for boundary-pushing, and Lucy, a paediatric dietitian who shares useful clips on TikTok, has explained that food-related fussiness follows the same pattern.

She outlined that there's arguably no better opportunity for toddlers to challenge boundaries and demonstrate autonomy and independence than whilst seated at the dining table. Rejecting meals, insisting on alternative foods and becoming upset when things don't go according to plan isn't merely another aspect of development - it's instinctive, according to Lucy.

She explained: "Toddlers eating behaviours change so much and, spoiler alert, it's absolutely nothing to do with you and everything to do generally with what's going on with their growth and development. Whilst toddlers are getting bigger, the amount of energy they need per kilogramme of body weight actually drops after one year of age and you can see this with clothing sizes that suddenly slow down in how quickly they go up.

"Children also often grow in spurts so they might have more rapid periods of growth and then level off for a period of time. What this looks like is often children eating less, maybe even less than they did when they were a baby, which is very very normal.

"Periods of time where you feel like oh my god they're living on photosynthesis and then maybe other periods you think that they're acting like an angry warthog who hasn't been fed for three weeks. This lack of predictability can be quite a stressor for lots of parents but my advice is always to grab a surfboard and accept the fact that children at this age are brilliant at listening to their appetite and we want to trust that."

Lucy emphasised that parents ought to demonstrate understanding towards their toddlers' development, stressing that they aren't being difficult or mischievous deliberately.

She explained: "When it comes to eating behaviours there are a couple of things that really mean they can shift around food, and around mealtimes. One of the first things is the fact there is this increasing desire for independence, autonomy and wanting to do it themselves. Let's face it, mealtimes are a great time to assert some of this independence.

"This lovely developmental throwback that we have courtesy of the caveman era is something known as food neophobia, which directly translates as fear of new foods.

"Actually lots of toddlers don't just go off new foods, they go off foods they used to accept before. This will feel illogical to you but is very logical to them.

"Let's remember they don't have a fully developed brain that can process logic. They live in their bodies and they live in the moment. And actually they are primed and wired now with this alert system to say is this thing safe?".

Lucy went on to explain that this is precisely why youngsters will turn their noses up at numerous foods whilst consistently gravitating towards beige options such as toast, chicken nuggets and pasta.

She continued: "Increasingly independent toddlers who may have gone and had the bitter poisonous berries or the rotting carcass could have been at risk. So the brain primes them to be more cautious around foods.

"This is why predictable foods things look the same, feel the same, and look the same every time. Like beige foods are often preferred over things that are less predictable, harder to decipher.

"I want to finish with is that this isn't your fault. Do not take your toddler's food refusal personally. Even if you did everything by the book, followed the weaning books, ticked it all off and think I've nailed this.

"Remember biology development are largely what's in the driving seat here and actually yes, there are things we can do as parents to support them going forward."

Beneath the video, numerous mothers revealed they faced identical struggles with their little ones "surviving on air" or consuming only a handful of "safe foods". One woman shared: "My son used to eat EVERYTHING and literally overnight... he switched to only eating beige foods and 3 different vegetables."

Another person commented: "My little one is doing this now! I'm planning on still serving meals as normal and not offer alternative if she doesn't eat it, still offer fruit and Yoghurt after as we do this after every evening meal and offer a couple of snacks a day, is this right?"

To which Lucy responded: "Sounds spot on."

A third individual remarked: "He's gone from eating everything to basically air at this point."

It was followed by a number of other letters from some neighbours and their relatives about disruption associated with the venue. According to public documents on the council's website there have been a number of complaints about the pub in Navigation Street including over noise from patrons, noise from an extractor fan, and alleged anti-social behaviour.

However speaking to Pulse Media earlier this week Mr Perkins insisted the pub was a well-respected institution at the heart of the community which is relied upon by many. 

A licensing and gambling sub-committee meeting took place in relation to the dispute to assess whether changes should be made to the venue’s operating hours.

The pub currently operates on an old licence and can open between the hours of 9am and 1am but the closure time could be cut to 11.30pm with last orders at 11pm.

Committee chair councillor Shane Williams heard representations from a nearby resident called Ms Preece.

She told the committee she lives next door to the premises and had experienced a number concerning incidents associated with it including “intimidation” and people “urinating” in the vicinity.

She explained she had lived at the property for around 20 years and had known of incidents at the former premises before it was taken over by its current owners. However she said these weren't regular. “We have never faced the disruption and intrusion that we have in the last year,” she said.

She said the owner told her to begin with the premises was going to be run as a community pub but that hadn’t been reflected in practice.

She described one occasion when she had received an intimidating phone call from the current licence holder following complaints her family had made as well as “witch hunt” social media posts which circulated on the venue’s social media accounts.

The chair asked if things were "on a different scale" with the new premises, which she agreed with.

She said on one occasion she witnessed a patron urinating on her gate while she was walking home with her young daughter one evening at about 6pm.

On another occasion she said she was in her garden with her daughter when she saw another patron urinating outside the premises.

Giving his representations to the chair PC Jonathan Taylor of Gwent Police said officers were called to an incident outside the pub on November 5.

He told the meeting: “It was reported at [10.12pm] and the caller heard shouting and screaming going on, gang in [the] car park that had come from the club.”

However he went on to tell the hearing that based on the evidence he had seen, he wouldn’t describe Navigation Street as a “known hotspot” to the police.

Reading from his log he said that two of the incidents recorded showed “due diligence from the premises”.

He said they showed this by proactively calling the police when an incident arose. This included one incident in February 2025 when a member of door staff was allegedly assaulted and another on April 17 when staff reported a banned male.

“We don’t consider this a black mark against the premises – we encourage premises if they cannot manage a situation to call police,” he said. “I wouldn’t call this a high-demand area or premises.”

Rhian Cross of Trading Standards said while the team “have not had any previous engagement with the licence-holder directly" they "fully support the review application brought forward by environmental health" and they “share the same concerns as the licensing authority".

She said Mr Perkins seems "relatively inexperienced” and said he “did not appear to have day-to-day control of the premises prior to this review”.

Mr Perkins told the committee "we have turned the club around" with very limited funding. He said the venue had done a lot for the community. "It's a busy place – we understand that,” he said.

He said from his perspective the accusation that management were not running the club correctly was untrue, adding: "There have been issues but we have addressed them."

He said CCTV had been put in place and staff had undertaken training. In addition he said benches from the smoking area had been removed while regular checks are carried out around the perimeter of the pub and the smoking area to reduce noise.

Ms Preece accepted improvements had been made but stressed these had only been noticeable since December which she described as at a “late stage”.

The sub-committee retired to consider the representations made. The outcome will be circulated within five working days, it was heard.

The Naked Ground gym and cafe opened in 2024 at a site spanning 16,000 sq ft of Splott's Portmanmoor Road industrial estate. It charged £34.99 a month for standard membership and £59.99 for premium.

The brand also had coffee shops in Ibiza and London and, according to its website, was "co-founded" by England international cricketer Tom Curran. His brother Sam Curran MBE, also a star for the national team, was listed as a "strategic brand partner".

It is more than two months since the Cardiff gym shut, and six weeks since members were assured refunds had already been actioned and would arrive in accounts "within one to three working days".

But customers are still waiting and their messages have been ignored by Naked Ground. Some, in disbelief, saw their monthly membership fee debited from their account again this month without any explanation.

A spokesman for the Curran brothers told Pulse Media: "Sam and Tom Curran were investors in the business and not responsible for its management or operations." When asked if they still owned part of the company, and if members could expect to ever be refunded, they declined to answer.

When we first reported on the issue last month, Naked Ground ignored our questions. This week we sent another enquiry, which bounced back because the gym's email address is no longer active. Yet its website is still live and advertising membership deals.

The Cardiff site shut without warning on November 4 when bailiffs changed the locks under the terms of the lease. Perplexed customers questioned why the gym had just three days earlier accepted membership fees for that month.

The business has not answered whether it knew it would be closing when it took the November payments. The law requires bailiffs to give seven days' notice before visiting a debtor's property.

Over the following weeks, members complained their messages to the gym were going unanswered. Their anger intensified on December 1 when payments were again taken from their accounts. Although the gym had described the closure as "temporary", customers were sceptical it would ever reopen, particularly as it had been emptied of equipment.

Their suspicions proved well-founded when Naked Ground emailed members on December 4 confirming it had permanently closed. In that email, the gym claimed it had already refunded that month's payments and would be "processing" those from the previous month.

Yet members say they have received no refunds at all – and we have seen evidence that Naked Ground charged some members their January fees. One woman's Monzo banking app shows the business made seven attempts to take payment between January 1 and 15.

The money did not leave her account because she had blocked the business on the app, but she was already owed a £69.98 refund. "The emails no longer go through and I've messaged on Instagram to get no replies," she told us.

Since the email to members in early December, the business has been silent despite a wave of mounting rage on social media. One man, who is owed £125 having paid upfront for future months, tried to raise the issue in the comments under an Instagram post by Tom Curran. "He instantly deleted it and blocked me," said the customer. "Zero accountability."

Another customer said: "Never received the refunds we were promised and I’ve just been charged AGAIN for January despite me removing my card details from the payment system. Website and social media pages are all still live for a gym that has been closed since November. All emails and texts I send asking for an update on the refund of MY money are ignored. How is this legal? It’s an absolute embarrassment."

The tenant company named on the Cardiff bailiffs' paperwork, My Positive Daily Habit Ltd, lists a 43-year-old businessman, Gavin Wright, as its only director.

Mr Wright, who has not responded to our approach for comment, is also the sole active director of a firm called Naked Ground Ltd. Last month Tom Curran ceased to be 'a person with significant control' of that company, although he and his brother were still listed as shareholders.

In last month's email to members, Naked Ground stated: "It is with great sadness that we must let you know the gym will not be reopening. Despite our best efforts over the past few weeks we have been unable to reach an agreement with the landlord regarding ongoing access to the facility.

"This is incredibly disappointing for everyone involved and we are genuinely sorry to share this news. We understand this has been a frustrating and uncertain period for many of you and we want to thank you for your patience while we tried to resolve matters behind the scenes."

A Naked Ground press release from 2024 described the Curran brothers as "not just champions on the pitch but also building a successful business". It told how they were focused on "winning big – whether it’s in the stadium or in the coffee cup".

Naked Ground Ltd received a notice for compulsory strike-off on November 4 but this was discontinued last month after papers were filed confirming its shareholders, a list which included the Currans.

The £21 million project, led by Linc Cymru, part of the Pobl Group, with support from Caerphilly County Borough Council and the Welsh Government's Transforming Towns programme, promises to deliver 72 apartments, seven commercial units, and public spaces designed to enhance the town's appeal and vibrancy.

Yet for many locals and business owners, the excitement of the future contrasts sharply with the reality of the present. Since the indoor market closed in January 2023, the surrounding area has been described by those who work nearby as "left to die."

Business owners report losing hundreds of pounds in profit each week, as the derelict site has become a magnet for anti-social behaviour. Vandalism is a constant problem, they say, with four-foot weeds overtaking the buildings, shattered glass littering the floor, police tape flapping in the wind, and the lingering smell of cannabis contributing to a sense of decay.

"The area has become an eyesore," one business owner told Pulse Media. "It's not just a building; it's a part of the town that's been forgotten." 

The closure of the old indoor market made way for the modern container-style market, Ffos Caerffili, which opened 18 months later. The new venue, complete with a food court, has quickly established itself as a destination, earning praise from the Sunday Times as one of the UK's best food halls.

While Ffos Caerffili thrives, the old market and its surroundings remain a stark reminder of what happens when parts of a town are neglected. For locals, the question now is whether the promise of the Caerphilly Town 2035 plan can restore life to this long-forgotten corner, or if the old market's derelict shadow will linger a while longer.

Wes Beynon and his uncle Mark had been travelling along the A465 towards Merthyr Tydfil when they noticed a distressed woman stood on the hard shoulder with smoke coming from her car. They pulled over and ran up to her to help, that's when they realised her baby was trapped inside.

"Me and my uncle Mark saw a young girl, probably in her early to mid 20s by the passenger door, she appeared to be distressed. I thought, well, you know, that's not a safe place to be, so I pulled into the exit.

"Myself and my uncle both jumped out of my vehicle, and I started running down to her, because you could see flames coming out of the side of the bonnet, and up to the centre of the bonnet.

"All we could hear was some horrific screams off the girls, she was screaming that her baby is in the car. She was trying to open the passenger the door, but it was clearly locked or jammed shut.

"I ran around to the driver's door, opened it, climbed in, and pushed the passenger door open with help from my uncle who was outside the vehicle.

"I unclipped the baby, and my uncle then pulled the baby out the passenger seat. At this point, the baby's mother was absolutely hysterical.

"The way she was screaming, well, they were the most horrific screams I've ever heard in my life.

"30 seconds to one minute later, it would have been a different story. So you can obviously understand it.

"All the engine bay, the bonnet, everything was on fire. Me and Mark sort of worked together as a team, quite naturally, without thinking.

"The mother, her name is Alex, was distraught, as you'd imagine. We got out of the way of the fire and you could hear mighty bangs and smashing sounds from the glass."

Alex and Wez then phoned the emergency services, and directed traffic into the fast lane to keep things moving.

"I would do the same thing for someone else again tomorrow, because I hope that if I was in that position, somebody would do it for me.

"It's not the first time I've saved someone. A lot of people would look at me in my appearance - I am covered in piercings and tattoos, I'm a motorcycle club member - and say, oh, he's trouble, you know?

"But I guess this just goes to show, people should never judge a book by its cover."

What the Prince of Wales disclosed about how he and his wife sleep might not seem unusual to most of us, but for the future King and Queen, it appears rather... commonplace. Yet that's precisely what makes them so appealing, isn't it? Their working-class relatability.

During a visit to Duchy College Stoke Climsland last July, Prince William shared that he and Kate allow their beloved dog Orla to sleep in their bed with them.

This highly personal insight into their sleeping habits was disclosed by Irish actress Louisa Harland on Hits Radio Cornwall, as she revealed to thousands of listeners: "[Prince William] said that his little dog sleeps on the bed with them at night, with him and Kate."

Whether this sleeping arrangement continues at their new home, Forest Lodge in Windsor, remains to be seen, but it was certainly the case at Adelaide Cottage.

Following this revelation, a sleep expert has explained exactly what Prince William and Kate should do to ensure their time in bed remains restful (and hygienic).

Sammy Margo, a sleep expert at Dreams, explains: "Sleeping with your pets can reduce anxiety by lowering blood pressure and releasing melatonin, which helps regulate your circadian rhythm and synchronize the sleep-wake cycle with night and day.

"It can also help encourage routine, pets often have daily routines, meaning it could help you stick to the same bedtime and wake-up time. It's also been proven to reduce nightmares: some dogs can be trained to aid nightmares because they can recognise your physical symptoms. If they are taught, they'll respond to your symptoms by lying on your body, which will soothe you back to sleep."

So how can you safely share your bed with pets? Sammy offers three key tips:

Take them outside before bed

"Make sure they have been outside for the toilet so that they're comfortable for the night. This will reduce the risk of accidents in the bedroom and them waking you up at night to ask to go out," shares Sammy.

Keep them clean

Sammy offers straightforward guidance for pet owners who allow their furry friends to sleep in their beds: "If you're going to share a bed with your pet, it's important to stay on top of their grooming. Make sure that they are clean and dry before getting on your bed, and be vigilant for unwanted pests.

"As well as regular flea and tick treatments, check your pet's fur, feet, and ears for any stowaways they may have picked up when outside. You should also try and wash your bedsheets at least twice a week if your pets sleep on them.

"This will ensure you're getting rid of dead skin cells, dust mites, germs and even bedbugs. Regular mattress cleaning will help extend the lifespan and also provides a hygienic and safe place to sleep for you and your pet."