Author: Rhys Gregory

Where would you find a Stormtrooper costume, a trumpet, a marriage certificate, six Bridesmaid dresses and a Galleon made of matchsticks? Where else but Travelodge’s Lost & Found offices in Wales! Today, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, Travelodge, has revealed some of the interesting items left behind in its 582 hotels over the last 12 months incorporating its 26 hotels in Wales. With millions of people annually staying in a Travelodge hotel across the length and breadth of the UK, detailed below are some of the unusual treasures that have been left behind in Welsh properties: A lucky Buddha…

Today, Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Wales has donated a total of £102,930.50 to two chosen charities ― the housebuilder’s charity of the year, Mind Cymru (receiving £43,930.50), and children’s charity, KidsOut (receiving £59,000.00). The financial impact of the pandemic has been especially devastating for the charity sector, with Barratt Developments South Wales taking the early decision to extend its 12-month partnership with Mind Cymru by another year ― to maximise fundraising opportunities. The South Wales housebuilder is also a longstanding supporter of KidsOut ― the fun and happiness charity which provides positive experiences to disadvantaged children in refuge.…

Sero, a Cardiff-based energy technology and services company, has secured a £5.5m investment from Welsh business Hodge and leading finance services provider Legal & General to support the transition to net-zero across the residential housing sector in Wales. The investment will help support Sero in its next stage of growth, as well as its aims to support the delivery of net zero financial products with institutional partners. Sero develops industry leading digital tools and expertise to design and deliver cost effective low carbon solutions for both new build and existing homes. In November 2020, Sero was one of a major…

Three house styles are now on show at a new neighbourhood which is taking shape in Lisvane, near Cardiff. The three-bedroom Birch, plus the four-bedroom Chestnut and Sycamore showhomes have been unveiled at Bellway’s Longwood Grange so potential homebuyers can get a feel for the spacious layout of typical properties at the development. There has already been a lot of interest in the site, off Maerdy Lane, which will provide 270 new homes for the area – comprising a mix of 216 two, three, four and five-bedroom houses for private sale and 54 one, two and three-bedroom affordable homes available…

COLEG CAMBRIA is in pole position to train the next generation of electric and hybrid vehicle mechanics. Learners at the college’s sites in Deeside and Bersham Road, Wrexham, have been undertaking Hybrid/Electric Vehicle Repair 2 and 3 qualifications to meet unprecedented demand for skilled technicians to work on zero-emission transport. And with new Knowledge and Practical programmes to be unveiled in 2022 – including Electrical Diagnostics, Electrical Testing, and Engine Management – Carl Black, Curriculum Director for Engineering, Automotive and Electrical Technical at Deeside said the time is now for independent garages to shift gears and join the trade’s ‘green…

New analysis has found that Barry is the easiest place to pass your driving test in Wales. The study by  A-Plan Insurance examined the pass rate percentage of each major driving test centres in Wales – since April 2020 – to determine the one with the highest pass rate. Barry came out with the highest percentage of pass rates out of all test centres in the Wales. This test centre has an average pass rate of 64.78%, when analysing the passes of all tests from April 2020 to June 2021 – of 1096 tests conducted, 710 were passed. Placing second is Llantrisant, coming in just below Barry with a pass rate of 64%. Llantrisant test centre has assessed 2,089 prospective drivers since April…

Four years after the business was first founded, the Cardiff-based Tidy Kitchen Company has acquired a lease for a 980 sq ft city-centre unit at 16 Museum Place. The Tidy Kitchen Co is expanding from private catering towards a new ‘grab and go’ business model, which will invite customers to pick up a wide range of luxury, healthy, and freshly assembled meals. Fresh salads, soups and sandwiches will be available for those needing to eat on the go or grab something delicious to take back to the office / home. Catering to all diets, these will be primarily plant-based, with the option to…

A bearded dragon has died after being abandoned in a layby near Maesteg Golf Club. The reptile was found by a member of the public just off the B4282 on Sunday evening (January 9). He was lethargic, dehydrated and in a very poor bodily condition. The finder posted about the incident on a local social media group and an experienced reptile keeper got in touch with her to say he had an empty vivarium with the correct equipment. He kindly collected the bearded dragon and placed him under a heat lamp, drip-feeding him hourly throughout the night with a syringe,…

BHF staff and volunteers in clean-up operation after theft causes flood damage The British Heart Foundation Home Plus store in Crwys Road, Cardiff, has been forced to close temporarily after a break in and theft of water pipes at the adjoining vacant shop unit led to extensive flood damage. It’s likely that the store will remain closed for several weeks, but the charity has stressed that a clean-up operation is underway so the shop can reopen as soon as possible. Lawrence Turner, Area Manager at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), said: “Unfortunately, on Saturday morning [8th January] the Crwys Road…

RUNNERS are being invited to get their entries in for the 2022 Admiral Swansea Bay 10k. Swansea Council is planning for this year’s event to take place on Sunday, September 18. An early bird entry offer runs until January 31. Last year’s event marked the 40th edition of this highly popular race that always offers a flat, scenic coastal course. The event has consistently won awards and the council wants the event to continue as a high-quality event, attracting runners of all ages and abilities. Swansea Council established the run in 1981 and has continued to organise it ever since -…