Author: Rhys Gregory

With fireworks season fast approaching, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has issued top tips to help owners protect their pets and livestock from possible injury and distress in the run up to Diwali (20 October), Bonfire Night (5 November) and New Year’s Eve (31 December). Signs of fireworks-related distress can vary from animal to animal. While some pets show obvious signs of fireworks-related anxiety, such as panting, drooling and attempts to escape, there are also more subtle signs that owners should be aware of, including restlessness and toileting in the house. Cats often hide, while rabbits may keep very still…

Work has started on a £14 million development at Singleton Hospital that will transform the diagnosis of cancer and some other conditions. Highly specialised PET-CT scanning was introduced at the Swansea hospital in 2020, avoiding the need for people from the Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda areas having to travel to Cardiff. A PET-CT scan combines computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET) scans. It can reveal cancer and some other diseases which may not show up on other types of scans. Its accuracy means it can diagnose cancer, find out how big a cancer is and whether it…

A haunting novel inspired by the largely unknown history of Welsh witchcraft has been published by an Aberystwyth University lecturer. Set in sixteenth century Wales, amid the relentless rain and failing crops, a midwife is accused of witchcraft and her neighbours turn against her. Through the eyes of a naïve gentry woman, associate lecturer Mari Ellis Dunning weaves a dark tale of suspicion and fear. Her magical novel rooted in tradition and realism, tells a story rich with bold feminism that will captivate readers of “witcherature” fiction. Author of the new novel and associate lecture at the Department of English…

BBC Factual Entertainment and Events and BBC Cymru Wales today announce the commission of a new series from South Shore, Matt Willis: The Recovery Project (w/t). The three-part series, fronted by musician and presenter Matt Willis, will explore addiction and could revolutionise the way the UK thinks about recovery and rehabilitation. Having openly battled his own addiction to drugs and alcohol for over a decade, Matt Willis is now embarking on a deeply personal journey to develop a bold new pilot scheme designed to help give those in recovery a second chance, find meaningful employment and challenge the stigma around…

Rugby legend Scott Quinnell is taking on a brand-new challenge – joining Wales’s night shift workforce in a new S4C series that shines a light on the people who keep the country running while most are fast asleep. Dim Cwsg i Quinnell (No Sleep for Quinnell) begins on Sunday 20 October at 8.25pm on S4C, with all episodes also available to watch on demand via S4C Clic and BBC iPlayer. The series is also suitable for Welsh learners. In each episode, the former Wales international and British and Irish Lion swaps the scrum for the shift, working alongside people in…

ANTUR CYMRU aims to strengthen its presence in South Wales, building on a strong track record of supporting entrepreneurs, start-ups and established businesses. The prominent social enterprise, based in Newcastle Emlyn, has already delivered vital guidance to hundreds of firms in Ceredigion, Powys and West Wales, helping local enterprises to grow, innovate and adapt. Building on this success, the organisation has launched a new Business Support Hub in Brecon, ensuring support is delivered across the whole of Powys. The Hub, located on The Struet, will provide free training, tailored coaching and access to resources. Services will include support for businesses…

More than two thousand people took to the streets of Rhyl this weekend to call for an independent Wales, as the seaside town hosted the tenth March for Independence – a landmark event in the growing campaign for Welsh independence. Organised jointly by YesCymru and AUOBCymru (All Under One Banner Cymru), the march drew participants from across Wales, filling Rhyl’s streets with Welsh flags, banners and music. The event began at the Rhyl Events Arena before winding through the town centre and returning to the seafront for a rally featuring live music and speeches from campaigners, politicians and performers. Families,…

The Met Office has warned of an unsettled few days ahead for Wales, with heavy and at times thundery showers expected across the country. Monday will begin windy, with coastal gales likely in southern areas. There will be sunny spells between frequent blustery showers, some of which could turn heavy with hail and thunder. Winds will ease gradually through the afternoon, with temperatures around average for the time of year, reaching highs of around 15°C. Tonight, showers will ease for a time, allowing for a few clear spells before more showers arrive from the west later in the night. These…

Former Wales internationals Duncan Jones, Dan Lydiate and Rhys Patchell will join Steve Tandy’s back-room team on an interim basis for the 2025 Quilter Nations Series. Fifty-seven-cap and double Grand Slam winner Jones has been coaching with the Ospreys since 2018. He will operate as scrum coach when he joins up with Wales this autumn on secondment from the club he made 223 appearances for as a player. Lydiate and Patchell, who both retired from professional rugby at the end of last season, come on board from Dragons where they are both part of the coaching team. Lydiate, who won…

South Wales Police are investigating an incident of disorder that took place in Trowbridge, Cardiff, on Saturday, October 18. At around 5pm, a group of three males reportedly approached a male cyclist with weapons near the junction of Aberdaron Road and Trowbridge Road before leaving the area in a white van. Officers are working to identify all those involved and are appealing for information from the public. They are also keen to trace the man on the bike to check on his welfare. He is described as white, of average height and slim build, and was wearing a grey tracksuit…