Author: Rhys Gregory

New ITV Cymru Wales documentary No Body Recovered airs on Thursday, 29 July at 9pm on ITV1, and follows the investigation team, as they attempt to solve just what happened to Mike O’Leary. With exclusive access to the detectives, crime scene investigators and forensic specialists, it follows the complex and challenging rare murder investigation, without a body. There was no sign of Mike O’Leary and in the days after his disappearance the team grew increasingly concerned and suspicious. After tracking Mr O’Leary’s work phone to a derelict farm owned by Andrew Jones, they turned their attention to the local builder,…

Work to demolish the Queen’s Buildings has resumed following a slight pause. The demolition was temporarily put on hold whilst structural engineers and contractors worked to determine the safe demolition of the remaining buildings and the removal of asbestos. Although the project has made positive progress, with just over half of the buildings already demolished, the pause means the demolition phase will be completed later than initially planned. The Queen’s Buildings has been named as the ‘key catalyst’ project within the Council’s wider Rhyl Regeneration programme. Cllr Hugh Evans OBE, Leader of Denbighshire County Council and Lead Member for the…

Shoppers at SPAR stores are in for a treat next month when Welsh Food Fortnight (August 5th – 18th) takes off! For two weeks, some 230 SPAR stores across Wales will be joining with producers to celebrate and promote Welsh food and drink in-store and on social media. Social media activity featuring the #CaruCymruCaruBlas #LoveWalesLoveTaste campaign and point of sale (PoS) materials, will enable shoppers to identify a host of Welsh food and drink products easily. The #CaruCymruCaruBlas #LoveWalesLoveTaste campaign celebrates Welsh food and drink. It was initially launched last summer by the Welsh Government working in partnership with Menter…

An “alarming” number of reports were received by the RSPCA about animals being targeted by air weapons and rifles over the last 18 months – despite lockdown and Covid-19 restrictions keeping people at home for long periods. Since the beginning of 2020, 371 incidents have been reported to the RSPCA where the caller believed an air gun or rifle had been used to target an animal. However, it is believed the total number of incidents will be substantially higher – as often a bullet or pellet is discovered after the RSPCA have intervened when an animal has been found in…

New visuals have been revealed showing how Cardiff University’s Bute Building, home to the internationally-renowned Welsh School of Architecture, will look once its major refurbishment is complete. Global design practice BDP’s Cardiff studio is the project architecture and principal design practice on the project, as well as advising on acoustic design. BDP is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The £9.7 million refurbishment includes extensive renovation of the building’s interiors, the repair and upgrade to the roof and restoration of the original Assembly Hall at the centre of this Grade II listed building. It is due to complete before the next academic year begins and in…

NSPCC Cymru Wales has become St David’s Dewi Sant Cardiff’s charity of the year as it continues its fight to prevent child abuse. The new partnership between the Welsh shopping centre and NSPCC Cymru Wales has been announced following concerns about the rise in contacts from children suffering from mental health issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic. Demand for the NSPCC’s Childline service has continued over the last 16 months with children talking to trained counsellors about issues such as loneliness, depression and anxiety. Childline delivered nearly 90,000 counselling sessions to young people concerned about mental health or abuse in…

Researchers from Cardiff University have received a grant worth over £230,000 from leading men’s health charity Prostate Cancer UK. The funding will help them develop a deeper understanding of how prostate cancer affects the immune system, so it’s clearer which men could benefit from powerful new immunotherapy treatments. The grant is part of £1.7 million the charity has awarded to five exceptional projects across the UK, each investigating innovative approaches that harness the power of the immune system to fight prostate cancer. Immunotherapies have been very effective in treating other forms of cancer, but to date have had limited success…

A Macmillan Carmarthenshire Buddy service volunteer is taking on a series of fundraising challenges for Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of the lady that she helped. Paula Clarke, helped by family and friends, will be at the St Elli Shopping Centre in Llanelli on Saturday 7 August between 10am and 3pm, and will be offering a number of child-friendly activities including face painting, colouring, flags and balloons in return for donations to the charity that supports people living with cancer. Paula will also raise money through car boot sales on Saturday 31 July and Saturday 14 August at Mecca Bingo…

Parking in town centres in Neath Port Talbot will be free for the month of August 2021 to give support to town centre based businesses whose trade has been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Members of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet approved the idea at their meeting on Wednesday, July 28th  where it was argued as well as helping businesses, the move could also give some assistance to families suffering hardship during the pandemic. Neath Port Talbot Council Leader, Cllr Ted Latham said: “Unfortunately the pandemic has taken a heavy toll on businesses with many surviving but a number closing…

Bridgend County Borough Council has further extended its concessionary rent scheme for market traders and occupiers of small industrial units. The current 50 per cent discount will run until 31 August 2021, after which a 25 per cent reduction will begin. This will remain in place throughout September, and rents will return to their normal rates in October. The move will mark the conclusion of a phased series of concessionary rates introduced at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 to support small and medium-sized businesses. From an initial rent-free period, this later became a 75 per cent reduction…