Author: Rhys Gregory

A man from Merthyr Tydfil has been jailed for killing Catherine Bradford when he lost control of a car he was driving through Dowlais on September 19, 2022. Alex Rickwood, 32, of Wern Isaf, Dowlais, appeared to be sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday, June 30. Just before he was due to stand trial, in May (2025), more than two and half years after the incident, he changed his not guilty pleas to causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving an uninsured vehicle, and fraudulently using a trade plate, to guilty pleas. At the time of…

More than two million passengers have used the new Cardiff Bus Interchange in its first year since opening. The interchange, which opened on 30 June 2024, is now serving between 8,000 and 9,000 passengers a day and has 58 bus services an hour operating from its city centre location. Following the addition of 14 more routes in September 2024, the number of services using the interchange has increased from 1,830 to 3,476 each week. Gavin Hawkins, Bus Interchange Operations Manager, said: “Celebrating the first anniversary of Cardiff Bus Interchange, we’re proud to see the vision come to life — with a…

Over the Autumn months, an exciting waste and recycling campaign ‘The Recycling Showdown’ involved artist Jason Hicks, along with CCBC’s Recycling Advisors, delivering educational workshops at five schools across the borough, educating Year 5 and 6 pupils the importance of recycling correctly. During the workshop, pupils had the opportunity to design recycling themed hero and villain characters. The top hero voted by residents was announced as Recycle Flower, designed by pupils at Park Primary School, and the top voted villain was Colin the Corn, designed by pupils at Crumlin High Level Primary School. Following the announcement, Jason began to bring the…

On Saturday, June 28th, Penderyn Square transformed into a vibrant party hub, drawing in a whopping 2,000 people who were eager to soak up the energy of the most epic 80’s festival to hit our town. As the first festival of its kind, it was a celebration that left a fabulous impression on Merthyr Tydfil. “We’re absolutely thrilled with the overwhelming success of the Day Fever Festival,” exclaimed Cllr Brent Carter, Leader of the Council. “It was amazing to see our town come alive with music, laughter, and a sense of community. The festival has not only put our town…

The first young people to graduate from a pilot project to improve grassroots access into the gaming and animation sectors have secured coveted places on games development degrees and work in the industry. 80% of the 30 students who studied on Media Academy Cymru’s (MAC) initial Gêm Project progressed to FE courses in South Wales, four are studying gaming-related courses at university and one is currently working as a game tester for one of Wales’ leading game developers. MAC provide alternative education programmes for young people aged 16–25 who are not in education or employment. They are internationally known for…

A visitor levy will help support a thriving, sustainable tourism industry in Wales by giving councils the choice to introduce a small additional charge on overnight stays in their area which would be re-invested in tourism. The Bill to introduce the visitor levy reaches its third stage in the Senedd today (1 July). The Welsh Government is also supporting the tourism industry in other ways, including investing more than £70m this year. The Visitor Accommodation (Register and Levy) Etc. (Wales) Bill proposes people staying overnight in Wales and enjoying everything the country has to offer will pay a small charge.…

When navigating bustling city centres like Plymouth or Manchester, a reliable second-hand hatchback can be your perfect urban companion. These compact cars offer the ideal blend of manoeuvrability, practicality, and affordability that city dwellers need. Whether you’re threading through London traffic or hunting for parking spaces in Leeds, the right hatchback makes all the difference. Why Hatchbacks Excel in Urban Environments Hatchbacks are purpose-built for city life. Their compact dimensions make parking in tight spaces considerably easier, whilst their upright driving position provides excellent visibility in heavy traffic. The versatile boot space, accessible through the rear hatch, proves invaluable for…

How Online Casinos Use AI to Enhance Gaming The online gambling industry has rapidly evolved with artificial intelligence, transforming how players interact with digital casinos. AI now powers everything from personalised gaming experiences to fraud detection, ensuring fair play and higher engagement. Platforms like https://winspirit3.com/live  leverage these innovations to deliver seamless, secure entertainment for Australian players. The AI Revolution in Digital Gambling AI technology is changing the online casino industry and creating higher demand for online pokies at casinos in Australia and live dealer games. Machine learning algorithms can analyse player behaviour to create personalised recommendations for equipment, avatars, and…

BLUETTI, a leading innovator in portable power solutions, today unveiled the Elite 100 V2 Portable Power Station, designed for portable camping and short power outages. Building on the success of the widely acclaimed AC180, the Elite 100 V2 delivers an optimized power solution in a more compact and intelligent design. It will be available for pre-order starting 1st July . Next-Level: Portability and Power Balance As the latest innovation in the Elite Series, the Elite 100 V2 leverages the proven reliability and real-world insights from over 500,000 AC180 units sold globally since 2023. While retaining a similar 1,800W AC output…

DOUBLE awards victory at a prestigious food and drink ceremony serves to reinforce “years of commitment” to sustainability and high-quality produce. Rhug Estate won the Sustainable Values prize at the fifth Wales Food and Drink Awards. The 12,500-acre organic farm estate, near Corwen in Denbighshire, has been a driver of progressive environmental practices for decades, and for that to be recognised with such accolades is “a huge honour” said owner Lord Newborough, who was named Entrepreneur of the Year at the ceremony, held at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. Discussing this success and Rhug’s long-standing reputation with journalist and presenter Sian…