Author: Rhys Gregory

A man from Swansea has been jailed after he broke into several houses with the intention of committing a sexual offence. 20-year-old Evan Powell, from Brynmill, was identified using retrospective facial recognition software following reports that addresses had been targeted in the Brynmill area on October 31 2024. Powell was arrested later the same day. On May 1 he was found guilty of four counts of trespassing with intent to commit a sexual offence, and has today been handed an extended sentence of nine years, comprising five years in custody and four years on licence. Detective Inspector Stuart Prendiville said:…

Another tenant has been announced for a major new office development in Swansea city centre that’s now officially open. Financial company Futures First have been confirmed for the 71/72 Kingsway scheme that will accommodate up to 600 jobs. This follows on from the announcement of flexible workspace provider IWG and travel and leisure company TUI as building tenants earlier this year. Developed by Swansea Council, the 104,000 square foot scheme is being part-funded by the Swansea Bay City Deal. Futures First will take up over 4,300 square feet at the development. Tenant fitouts will now take place at the development…

On Sunday, 13 July, nearly 60 professional triathletes will head to the south coast of Wales for the first time to compete in the IRONMAN® 70.3® Swansea triathlon, the 12th event in the 2025 IRONMAN® Pro Series. The event will offer a maximum of 2,500 points towards IRONMAN® Pro Series standings, a $50,000 USD event total pro prize purse, and two slots per gender for the 2026 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship triathlon in Nice, France. The event can be viewed live in person and will be broadcast across multiple platforms for viewers around the world, including proseries.ironman.com, Outside TV in the US and Canada,…

Applications to receive up to £200 per learner to help with the cost of the school day are open. The School Essentials Grant is available for families on lower incomes and who qualify for certain benefits. Schools also receive additional funding as a result of claiming this grant. Eligible families can apply for a grant of £125 per child per year. Families with children entering year 7 can apply for £200 to help with increased costs associated with starting secondary school. All looked after children qualify for the grant. The School Essentials Grant can be used for school essentials such…

More people will be seen, diagnosed and treated at Swansea’s Morriston Hospital following a £4.8m investment in new equipment. The Welsh Government is funding the replacement of a new CT scanner to replace a 14-year-old machine. This will improve productivity and help reduce waiting times for scans. The new and advanced scanner will be more reliable and deliver clearer images quickly – meaning more people can be scanned and assessed. Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles said: “By replacing outdated equipment with cutting-edge technology, we are ensuring the NHS can deliver better outcomes for people and work…

Work to transform the Wrexham to Liverpool line has been given the green light, with upgrades on the line at Padeswood confirmed as the first major step to realise more rail services between the two cities. Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales Ken Skates and Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens visited the site today to see the planned upgrades. The UK Government committed to supporting the work at Padeswood as part of last month’s Comprehensive Spending Review. The overall UK Government investment in Welsh rail, worth at least £445 million, will see people across Wales benefit from…

As Merthyr Tydfil’s Cyfarthfa Castle marks its 200th birthday, there’s another reason to celebrate – the iconic Cyfarthfa Heritage Area is to receive £4.5million to undertake urgent conservation works to help ensure its future for many more years to come. Welsh Government – through its historic environment service Cadw – and Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council will each contribute £2.25 million to address the deterioration to the oldest part of Cyfarthfa Castle as well as protecting Pont-y-Cafnau bridge, located to the south of the wider Cyfarthfa site – reputedly the oldest iron railway bridge in the world. Standing since 1825,…

he Brecon Carreg Porthcawl 10K returns this weekend (Sunday 6 July) and residents are reminded that there will be some safety measures in place including temporary road closures and bus diversions. Entries for the 10K are sold out and local residents are encouraged to cheer on all those taking part, with 6,200 participants arriving from all over the United Kingdom. Taking in a whole host of landmarks and stunning views, the runners will set off from the Eastern Promenade before passing locations such as Rest Bay, Trecco Bay, Coney Bay, the town centre, Grand Pavilion and the iconic Porthcawl Lighthouse.…

A high-energy augmented reality sport is coming to Caerphilly and you can try it for FREE! HADO UK will be hosting a free taster event at Caerphilly Leisure Centre on Wednesday 9th July, offering schools, businesses, and individuals the chance to experience this unique, tech-powered team sport with support from Esports Wales. HADO combines physical movement with augmented reality as players wear headsets and armbands to launch virtual energy balls at opponents, creating a fast-paced, competitive experience unlike anything else. The day will include the following sessions: School Session (12:00pm–2:00pm): Up to 6 teams of 4. Schools can book their…

Bearhug, a Welsh sports and fitness brand redefining joint support through bamboo-based products and a bold community-first ethos, has surpassed the one million pound turnover mark for the first time – doubling its revenue for the third consecutive year to exceed £1.2m in 2025. The Pontypool-based company, which designs bamboo joint supports and muscle sleeves for injury prevention, pain relief, and recovery, has seen record-breaking growth, driven by a focused expansion strategy and the appointment of high-profile Welsh rugby ambassadors. Over the last 12 months, the Pontypool based business has welcomed ex Welsh international, Josh Navidi, and WRU national squad…