Author: Rhys Gregory

A former world sheep shearing champion from North Wales will be back in action later this month as thousands flock to one of Britain’s biggest competitions. The two-day Cneifio Corwen Shears returns to Rhug Estate near Corwen on July 24 and 25, with headline sponsors Ifor Williams Trailers backing the prestigious event. Shearers from across Britain and beyond will battle for top honours at the event that’s grown into one of the UK’s leading showcases since it was established in 1989. Among them will be former world champion and two time Cneifio Corwen Shears champion Gwion Lloyd Evans, from Bylchau,…

A farmer’s son from North Wales has been crowned the best young singer in the world. Dafydd Jones, 27, was watched by his proud grandmother, Brenda Jones, who first taught him to sing, as he was named Pendine International Voice of the Future at Llangollen International Eisteddfod. The rising star from Llanrhaeadr near Denbigh was presented with the £3,000 first prize and a gleaming silver salver by Mario Kreft MBE, owner of the Pendine Park care organisation which sponsored the competition via the Pendine Arts and Community Trust (PACT). For Brenda watching her beloved grandson take the same Llangollen Pavilion…

A new strategic partnership between Welsh engineering alliance Celtico and renewable energy developer CIERCO aims to strengthen the Welsh supply chain and maximise the economic benefits created by pioneering offshore wind technologies in the Celtic Sea. The partnership brings together CIERCO, the developer behind the pioneering Llŷr Wind Farms, with Celtico, the alliance of Welsh engineering and manufacturing companies established to provide a single point of engagement for major renewable energy and infrastructure projects. Together, the organisations will work to strengthen collaboration between developers, industry, ports, government and the wider supply chain, helping to ensure Welsh businesses are well positioned…

Thousands of illegal and potentially unsafe products have been seized following a multi-agency operation across the Vale of Glamorgan, Cardiff and Bridgend led by Shared Regulatory Services (SRS). SRS operates trading standards, food hygiene, animal welfare, pollution, licencing and other functions across those three Local Authority areas. Working alongside South Wales Police, His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Immigration Enforcement, officers visited 29 business premises as part of Operation Aladdin. That was a coordinated initiative aimed at disrupting the supply of illicit tobacco and other unlawful goods while protecting consumers and supporting legitimate businesses. The operation led to 14…

Pembrokeshire County Council is introducing increased checks on black bags at its Waste and Recycling Centres as part of efforts to improve recycling rates and keep staff safe. Visitors may notice staff carrying out quick inspections of black bags after the council found that more than 48 per cent of the waste being thrown away could instead be recycled or reused. The council says the checks will also help identify hazardous items, including batteries, vapes and gas canisters, which pose a significant fire risk when placed in general waste. Officials say the inspections are designed to improve safety, reduce disposal…

Newport City Council has begun a summer programme of surface treatment works on 15 roads as part of its Fixing Our Roads initiative. The work forms part of the council’s programme, which has allocated around £20 million towards tackling potholes across the city’s road network. Rather than full resurfacing, the selected roads will receive surface treatments designed to prolong their lifespan. The council says the roads chosen are currently in better condition than those requiring complete resurfacing, and the preventative work will help keep them in good condition for longer. The programme has been scheduled for the summer months as…

Powys County Council has approved new measures to support owners of Powys self-catering holiday accommodation who have been transferred from Business Rates to Council Tax following changes to national eligibility criteria. At its meeting last week (9 July), Full Council approved a new discretionary Council Tax discount classification for eligible self-catering properties that have moved from the Business Rates list to the Council Tax list. The discount will remove the additional 75% premium charge for the backdated period, with effect from 1 April 2023. Council also approved that the estimated £1 million cost of implementing the discount will be met…

The First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth will set out the first phase of the Welsh Government’s new legislative programme in a statement to the Senedd this afternoon. Among the planned legislation will be a bill to strengthen the rights of people living in private rented accommodation. As part of its wider ambition to ensure adequate housing for all, the Welsh Government plans to introduce further legislation over the four-year Senedd term to improve housing affordability and restrict no-fault evictions by private landlords. Legislation to create a Community Right to Buy scheme will also be introduced, to enable local groups to…

A 21-year-old man has been jailed for raping and sexually assaulting a woman while she slept. Joel Hookings, of Pwllheli, recorded videos of the assault and stored them in a hidden folder on Snapchat. He appeared for sentencing at Mold Crown Court on Monday, 13 July after admitting rape and sexual assault by penetration at a previous hearing. He also admitted making indecent images of children, including 11 Category A images, one Category B image and three of Category C. Hookings was jailed for a total of eight years and four months. He was also ordered to register as a…

A man has been jailed after being found with a Kinder Egg full of cocaine. Corey Sutton, 19 from Tonyrefail was sentenced to two years and four months in a Young Offenders Institute following his conviction. The sentencing took place on Wednesday July 8 at Swansea Crown Court where Sutton was found guilty off being concerned in the supply of cocaine, possession with intent to supply cocaine and possession of cocaine. This follows officers being on a mobile patrol in Tonyrefail when they came across a car known to be involved in drug dealing. Officers spoke to Sutton who was…