Author: Rhys Gregory

The last two men convicted for drugs offences as part of Operation Bluebell have been sent to prison. Mirsad Nerguti, 21, Qazim Hodollari, 38, both from the London area, appeared before Cardiff Crown Court on Monday, January 29, where they were sentenced to six years and six months and seven years and eight months respectively. The men will join seven others in prison who were sentenced earlier this month to more than 82 years behind bars for similar offences. During the investigation by Tarian, the Regional Organised Crime Unit for southern Wales cash, drugs and suspected drug dealing paraphernalia was…

BlasCymru/TasteWales 2023 saw a record high for Welsh food and drink businesses as confirmed and potential sales reached £38 million, Rural Affairs Minister Lesley Griffiths has announced. The biennial event, which took place over two full days at the International Convention Centre (ICCW) in Newport, saw companies in the sector showcase their high-quality products to buyers and industry professionals from home and abroad. In total, 122 Welsh food and drink businesses took part in the event, accompanied by 15 Rising Stars. These are new business start-ups in Wales who have developed their business in the last 12 months. Wales welcomed…

Two of the best known companies in North Wales have joined forces in a new partnership. Ifor Williams Trailers (IWT) has taken on Mona Tractor Co as a distributor for Gwynedd, Anglesey and down into West Wales as far as Tregaron, south of Aberystwyth. Mona are the latest to sign up as part of the trailer maker’s 50-strong network of distributors across the UK. IWT also has global reach with their market-leading products – made in their six factories in Denbighshire and Flintshire – being sold in outlets across Europe and as far afield as Australia and New Zealand. According…

Recent storms have damaged Haverfordwest Castle’s two flagpoles leading to their temporary removal. Due to the imminent start date for conservation works at the Castle, replacement flagpoles will not be erected until the Castle development project is complete. The site will be closed off for safety reasons during the regeneration project work. Works at Haverfordwest Castle will include a new flagpole solution, which will be more durable and easier to replace when needed. A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman said: “We will continue to fly flags at County Hall, marking all official dates, but look forward to the completion of the…

Hospitality businesses across Wales are losing sales and customers if they don’t use Welsh food and drink products on their menu. That’s the wake-up call from Arwyn Watkins, OBE, president of the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW), an organisation representing chefs and butchers across Wales. He highlights market research undertaken by the Welsh Government Food and Drink Insight Programme, which has been exploring the attitudes of customers towards Welshness since 2017. “The pivotal question asked is: Does Welshness matter? The answer is a resounding ‘yes’,” Mr Watkins told the Welsh International Culinary Championships Awards Dinner at the International Convention Centre…

Scent training could make pet dogs better behaved, a new study by Aberystwyth University academics suggests. The research suggests that pet dogs trained to detect smells have improved mental ability and capacity to carry out certain tasks. Training is known to improve dogs’ ability to solve cognitive tasks, but previous research has focused on comparing highly trained working dogs, like those trained in search and rescue or assistance dogs, with untrained pets. The study by researchers from Aberystwyth University, in collaboration with Emma Stoker, owner of Puppy Plus in Newtown, suggests that even pet dog training can alter how our…

A 37-year-old from Maesteg has discussed how an apprenticeship has given him a new lease of life after he left school with no qualifications to pursue a career as a professional snooker player. James Matthewman is supporting the ‘Genius Decision’ campaign this Apprenticeship Week Wales, and hoping to encourage more people who are looking to upskill, gain qualifications or change careers later in life to consider an apprenticeship. Despite enjoying school, James focussed on becoming a professional snooker player when he was younger, which saw him travel the world competing in countries such as Latvia and Russia. After struggling to…

The average price of a home in Wales fell to £234,086 at the end 2023 following continued economic and financial pressures, making this the fourth consecutive quarter that prices have fallen in Wales. The figures have been released from Principality Building Society’s Wales House Price Index for Q4 2023 (October-December), which demonstrates the rise and fall in house prices in each of the 22 local authorities in Wales. House prices in Wales are now down 6% – or £15,000 – when compared to the same period the previous year when the peak price of £249,076 was recorded. Despite this being…

Wales’ most senior healthcare scientist has taken on a new role to help Wales become a world leader in cancer outcomes. Dr Rob Orford, who has been Chief Scientific Adviser for Health for Wales since 2017, will become chief executive officer of Moondance Cancer Initiative in April 2024.  Currently a member of the National Diagnostics Group, UK Genomics Board and UK Life Science Vision Delivery Board, Dr Orford led the Welsh Government scientific and technical response to Covid-19.  He was recently recognised in the New Year Honours list 2024, receiving an OBE for services to health sciences and evidence in…

A book loving five year old boy is “bringing joy” to the residents in a care home by reading exciting adventure stories to them. Young Harri Shone is a firm favourite at Pendine Park’s Highfield care home in Wrexham where he regularly pops in on his way home from school Harri just loves to read, whether it is imaginative stories or non-fiction, and says it’s his number one hobby. So, he takes along his schoolbooks to read stories out loud to residents with whom he has become big mates. The visits have become so successful that Pendine is now hoping…