Author: Rhys Gregory

Following reports of anti-social behaviour and large groups congregating at Langland and Caswell Bays a Section 35 Dispersal Order will be in place covering the area from 3pm today (Tuesday June 16). These orders under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 aims to ensure the safety of the public, and reduce the risk of any anti-social behaviour or disorder within this area. The order gives a uniformed police officer the power to exclude a person from an area for a period of up to 48 hours by the issuing of a written notice. The power is preventative and…

Greggs is to open 800 shops for takeaways on Thursday, including 11 in Cardiff. The popular bakery chain famous for its vegan rolls will finally open after closing its doors in March. In recent weeks, Greggs had trialled a partial reopening, starting with 20 outlets in the Newcastle area. Ahead of lockdown, Greggs introduced a number of safety measures to limit the number of customers in its outlets. When they reopen on Thursday, they’ve implemented additional measures for customers and staff. For customers Only one adult per household will be allowed in the shop. Children can join them if needed…

On Tuesday 23rd June, Coleg Gwent will be hosting their first ever, live, virtual open event for full-time and part-time courses. With sessions starting at 5pm and 6pm, the open event includes a timetable of live chat rooms for learners and parents, across all subject areas and support services. With the ongoing lockdown in Wales and social distancing restrictions, open events at Coleg Gwent have been on hold for health and safety reasons. However, the new virtual open event is the next best thing, allowing learners and their parents to explore the college from the safety of their own home. At the…

This year’s Llanfyllin Show, planned for Saturday, August 8, is going ahead as a virtual event due to Coronavirus pandemic restrictions. The physical show has been cancelled by the show committee due to the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19 and restrictions on mass gatherings. But show secretary Sian Lewis announced: “Due to the unfortunate circumstances we find ourselves in, we didn’t want anyone to miss out on the hard work and talent that gets displayed in our show every year. “We will be launching the virtual competitions early next week which will allow participants to take a picture or video of their…

HOSPITAL patients are enjoying ‘virtual visits’ with family thanks to the kindness of staff at Coleg Cambria. The north east Wales college has donated iPads to Wrexham Maelor Hospital so relatives currently unable to physically visit the wards due to the Coronavirus pandemic can stay in contact with loved ones. Brian Laing, Informatics Project Manager at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) thanked Cambria for the generous gesture. “The use of these iPads has been really appreciated and beneficial to our patients,” he said. “One patient received a Skype call from their relatives in Australia on their birthday, which was great…

An eight-year-old girl from Cardiff has cut her long hair and raised £880 for the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity. Katherine, who goes to Gabalfa Primary School, has wanted to raise money for the Noah’s Ark Charity since her younger sister, Megan, was admitted to the children’s hospital for Wales last January. Their mum, Bethan says: “At the time the doctors weren’t completely sure if Meg had a viral or bacterial infection. However, looking back at pictures and remembering her symptoms, I’m fairly certain she had Kawasaki disease as she had an awful rash over her body, swelling in her face and joints and red…

Pioneering work in Swansea means a complex skin cancer procedure can continue while patients are awake – for the first time anywhere in the world. Sentinel lymph node biopsies can potentially save the lives of people with melanoma by detecting at an early stage whether the cancer has spread. Until now they have been carried out under general anaesthetic. But the Covid-19 outbreak has created significant risks with this, leading to the service having to be suspended. So Morriston Hospital’s plastic surgery and anaesthetics teams have developed a technique using a series of specially-developed nerve blocks, which allows these biopsies…

Invasive plant species like Japanese knotweed cause damage across the UK, but finding them and tracking their growth can be time-consuming and expensive, especially along roads and railways.  Now, scientists from the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) and Keen AI, a Birmingham-based artificial intelligence and machine learning company, are developing a new artificial intelligence (AI) system that can quickly survey large and inconvenient areas for invasive and potentially damaging plant species. The team has been funded by Innovate UK to run a 10-month pilot project for the new system in two locations: north Wales and the Midlands. They…

GCSEs in Wales don’t reflect the needs of society as we rebuild after the coronavirus pandemic – and leave teenagers unprepared for life, says the Future Generations Commissioner for Wales. The current crisis has illustrated the need for change to education, said Sophie Howe, who is calling on Welsh Government to further consider replacing the qualifications. Year 11 pupils will this summer be given GCSE grades based on evidence, including teachers’ assessments, after exams were cancelled because of school closures. Ms Howe said she hoped such an approach would be extended when schools reopen, arguing the pandemic has provided a…

Researchers at the University of South Wales (USW) have developed an innovative blood oxygen monitor after supplies of this key device became limited as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The team of researchers have worked under the instruction of the Welsh Government’s Critical Equipment Requirements Engineering Team (CERET), led by Industry Wales, which was looking for the development of a locally-sourced product. In collaboration with Welsh Government, Panasonic UK, and clinicians at Hywel Dda University Health Board, the device, known as a pulse oximeter, has been designed to be manufactured in Wales and breaks away from the standard oximeter…