Author: Rhys Gregory

Schools across Ceredigion have been recognised for their outstanding achievements in the 2025 Welsh Heritage Schools Initiative (WHSI). The WHSI, now in its 35th year, is one of the largest annual history competitions in Europe. It celebrates schools that excel in teaching and learning about heritage, encouraging pupils to explore and share their local and national stories. This year’s competition saw a record-breaking 12,000 pupils from across Wales take part. The awards ceremony was held at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea on 04 July 2025. Ceredigion schools received a number of awards, including: Ysgol Gymunedol Ceinewydd – £800, sponsored…

An array of new Welsh food and drink businesses will feature on the Cywain Stand in the Food Hall at this year’s Royal Welsh Show (July 21st-24th). From concept to counter, the Cywain stand has been the launch-pad for countless up-and-coming food and drink producers, eager to showcase their products to a broad audience. Four different producers will take to the stand per day, each bringing their unique style and flavours to an audience looking to try and buy something new. Cywain is a programme run by Mentera and funded by the Welsh Government, working with food and drink producers…

Don’t leave nature’s future to chance, warns Future Generations Commissioner as he urges action on Wales Environment Bill. A landmark opportunity to protect and restore nature in Wales could fail without crucial targets to save our wildlife, the Future Generations Commissioner is warning, as a new piece of legislation lacks the legal force needed to guarantee long-term action. The draft Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill, currently under scrutiny in the Senedd, does not include a legally binding target to drive the recovery of nature—a gap that environmental advocates and the commissioner say must be addressed before it…

Six entrepreneurs from across Wales have been recognised for their creativity, impact and progress after completing the Business Wales Start-Up Accelerator – an intensive programme designed to help high-potential start-ups fast-track their growth. Delivered through the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP), the Start-Up Accelerator equips early-stage founders with the essential tools, expert support and valuable networks needed to grow and scale their businesses. To date, AGP has played a key role in driving entrepreneurial success in Wales, supporting an increase of £486 million in investment, £550 million in export sales and the creation of 13,440 jobs. This latest cohort…

A man who attacked a woman with a hammer and strangled her has been jailed for life, following a South Wales Police investigation. Following guilty pleas, Connor Probert, aged 26, of Penygraig, was sentenced to life with a minimum of two years and 283 days for Grievous Bodily Harm with intent on July 11 at Cardiff Crown Court. He also received concurrent sentences for intentional strangulation (two years and three months) and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place (one year). Probert will also be subject to a lifelong restraining order. This followed an incident on February 17,…

A 47-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman have today been convicted of the murder of their two-year-old grandson, Ethan Ives-Griffiths. Ethan’s mother, Shannon Ives, 28, was convicted of causing or allowing his death. Michael Ives and Kerry Ives, both of Kingsley Road, Garden City, Deeside, and their daughter, Shannon Ives, of Nant Garmon, Mold, were all found guilty of cruelty to a child. Michael Ives Kerry Ives The jury of seven women and five men delivered their unanimous verdicts on Tuesday, 15 July, following a six-week trial at Mold Crown Court. All three will be sentenced at Mold Crown Court…

Transport for Wales (TfW) has made significant progress on its intensive eight-month programme to transform and electrify the Rhymney Valley railway line. The second six-week railway line closure will start on Saturday 19 July, with no rail services running between Caerphilly and Rhymney until 31 August. Since construction on the upper Rhymney line began in March 2025, teams have upgraded over 15 kilometres of railway track. A significant milestone was achieved in June when the last of the 693 planned foundations from Caerphilly to Rhymney was completed. These foundations will support the Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) that will power the…

The Vale of Glamorgan Council is considering a number of investment opportunities in Barry town centre as part of a plan to bring vacant buildings back into use. The Council has secured a low interest loan from Welsh Government to buy commercial properties and is now working to develop investment ideas that could support the forthcoming Barry Placemaking Plan. Cllr Lis Burnett, Leader of the Council, said: “We know how important our town centres are to residents. This is not just because of the economic benefits they bring to the Vale but also the sense of community and place that…

Asda Stores Ltd has been ordered to pay over £655,000 after pleading guilty to selling food past its use-by-date at two of its Cardiff branches. The case followed customer complaints, prompting officers from the Shared Regulatory Services (SRS) to carry out inspections at two Asda supermarkets in Cardiff on six separate occasions between January and June 2024. During these visits, more than 100 food items were discovered to be past their use-by-date and were subsequently removed from the shelves. The affected stores were located at Capital Retail Park, on Leckwith Road, and the Pentwyn Superstore, at Dering Road, Pontprennau. Some…

Traffic controls near a city centre shopping park in Swansea are being upgraded to help improve traffic flows. Swansea Council is due to replace ageing traffic signals at the entrance to Parc Tawe in the city centre as part of a £150,000 investment. The new equipment will feature the latest in Extra Low Voltage (ELV), energy-efficient traffic signal technology. The lights will also incorporate advanced vehicle detection systems and modern traffic monitoring CCTV, all designed to enhance traffic flow and improve overall network efficiency in the area. Work to replace the old traffic lights will start on Monday 14 July…