Author: Rhys Gregory

Santa’s Toy Mine is making a magical return to Rhondda Heritage Park Museum this festive season. The much-loved Christmas attraction invites families to step into a winter wonderland and experience the magic of the underground grotto. Visitors will journey through the festive mine, meeting Santa and his helpers along the way, before receiving a special gift. Santa’s Toy Mine has become a seasonal favourite in the South Wales valleys, attracting families from near and far for an unforgettable Christmas experience. The event promises plenty of festive fun for children and adults alike, with sparkling decorations, cheerful elves, and a chance…

Three Merthyr Tydfil teenagers who broke into a supermarket in the early hours of the morning armed with a machete, and helped themselves to cake, Lucozade and a bucket of ‘empty’ vapes have been sentenced. Cody Bond, 18, was with two other accomplices, who cannot be named due to their age, when he smashed his way through a glass door and entered the Tesco supermarket in Merthyr Tydfil town centre on May 28, 2025. An alarm was activated and supermarket staff alerted police – shortly after, officers armed with taser spotted them hiding behind bins in a nearby alleyway. One…

Transport for Wales (TfW) has become the first train operator in the UK to introduce new, cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) training technology for front-line staff. The innovative VR software allows trainees to experience key, real-world scenarios from the comfort of a classroom before moving on to practical training. The VR training features a computerised replica of a brand-new Class 197 train, which now operates on the majority of mainline routes across Wales and the Borders. Developed by Denova, a Scottish based company, the training environment gives trainees full control, allowing them to change between keys, check route diagrams, and even…

In just over a week’s time, some of the world’s top cyclists will be in Newport for the final stage of this year’s Lloyds Tour of Britain Men. This will be the first time the Tour has visited Newport since 2018, when the city hosted the finish to the opening stage, won by André Greipel. The Tour will be the final race for Geraint Thomas, before he retires from the sport following a long and distinguished career. Route information The final stage, on Sunday 7 September, will start at 11.45am the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales, before heading into…

Sport Caerphilly is encouraging community sports clubs and organisations across Caerphilly County Borough to apply for support through the Be Active Wales Fund, delivered by Sport Wales with National Lottery backing. The fund is now open for applications and provides a vital opportunity to strengthen grassroots sport and ensure more people can get involved in physical activity. This investment also supports the ambitions of the Sport and Active Recreation Strategy 2019-29 which sets out a long-term vision for inclusive, accessible and sustainable sport across the borough. The Be Active Wales Fund offers grants ranging from £300 to £50,000 to not-for-profit…

Blaenau Gwent Council is delighted to announce that a steel statue of record-breaking athlete Steve Jones MBE, OLY, and Freeman of Blaenau Gwent will be officially unveiled by Steve himself in his hometown of Ebbw Vale this September. The Council is excited and honoured to have worked with its partners and the running community in Blaenau Gwent to celebrate Steve’s incredible athletic career, highlighting his achievements in a way that will inspire children and young people to always strive for the best they can be. Visiting from his home in America, Steve has expressed his joy at returning to the…

Funding to deliver a series of road safety improvements on the A494 near Clwyd Gate has been secured. The investment announced by the Welsh Government will include installation of new warning signs, road markings and hazard marker posts at the summit of the road to warn drivers of people walking, cycling and horse riding in the area. Work to deliver these improvements will begin this financial year. Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates said: “Road safety is a priority. We’ve listened to local people and are taking action to improve road safety on the A494 at Clwyd…

A series of strikes by 450 Unite members at Cardiff City Transport Services, better known as Cardiff Bus, that would have had a huge impact on bus services in the Welsh capital have been called off after workers voted to accept improvements to pay and conditions. Workers voted to accept a new deal, which gives a 5.86 per cent backdated pay rise on all elements of pay including sick pay. There have also been further improvements to sick pay, with the three unpaid waiting days for sickness reduced to one day and long-term sick pay kicking in at four weeks…

Construction work on a new children’s play area built on the Queen’s Market site has started this week. The play area at Queen’s Market will be situated close to the side entrances, adjacent to the Queen Street Car Park, and will take roughly 3 weeks to complete. After completion, commissioning and testing will commence, before fully opening to the public. The inclusive play area will include more than 20 play features, and will be able to accommodate over 40 users at any given time. The play area is designed for the ages of 0-10+, and will feature interactive, sensory and…

An idyllic detached cottage in a picture postcard setting in the heart of the Pembrokeshire countryside is awaiting the arrival of new owners. The three bedroom home in the village of Reynalton is just a few miles from the on trend seaside town of Tenby. Sean Roper, of South Wales based Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “This is truly a delightful detached cottage which is surrounded by a stunning well planted garden to the side and rear and also has a marvellous garage/workshop. “The three-bedroom property has two reception rooms and attic rooms and offers scope to extend (subject to necessary…