Author: Rhys Gregory

Chefs from the Culinary Association of Wales, including two based in Shropshire, have launched their bid for glory at the prestigious IKA Culinary Olympics in Germany by winning a silver medal. The Junior Culinary Team Wales, which has an average age of 19, competed in the Restaurant of Nations in Stuttgart yesterday (Saturday) when they impressed the judges with their teamwork and hygiene. Team manager Michael Kirkham-Evans, a lecturer at Grŵp Llandrillo Menai, Rhos-on-Sea, said the judges rated the team’s dessert, developed by coach Danny Burke, from Olive Tree Catering, Runcorn and delivered by pastry chef Alys Evans, as the…

The RSPCA is searching for information after a skinny and lethargic cat was found in Chepstow. Officers from the charity responded to reports of a black and white cat, spotted on Heather Close in the Monmouthshire town. The female cat was microchipped – however, the residents reported to the RSPCA that they had given up ownership of the cat many years ago. An appeal for information has been launched – seeking either an owner of the cat, or anyone with information about what may have happened to the feline. The cat was sporting a blue collar, and sadly she has…

Innovative use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), satellite imagery and drone technology will have a significant impact on climate change research, according to a scientist at Aberystwyth University. Dr Joseph Cook from the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) and an international team of scientists are monitoring microscopic organisms that live on glaciers and ice sheets in the Arctic. The research is helping to establish whether there is a relationship between the speed at which glaciers melt, and the microscopic life prevalent on them. Using drones, Dr Cook has been able to map the algae covering 200m x 200m…

Elfyn Evans leads the 2020 FIA World Rally Championship after rewriting the sporting history books with an outstanding victory on this weekend’s Rally Sweden (13-16 February).  The Welshman not only becomes the first-ever British driver to win the wintry Scandinavian classic but also is the first Briton to top the WRC points table since the heady days of Colin McRae and Richard Burns nearly 20 years ago at the start of the century. On only his second outing for the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, Evans overcame the odds to lead the notorious tricky winter fixture from start to…

Customers urged to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journey today following flood damage to key routes caused by Storm Dennis. Transport for Wales’ Customer Delivery Director, Bethan Jelfs and Chris Pearce, Head of Operations, Network Rail Wales and Borders said: “As a result of flooding caused by Storm Dennis over the past 48 hours, Transport for Wales and Network Rail are strongly advising all customers to check their journey arrangements prior to travel today (Monday 17 February) and allow plenty of time to their journey. “Customers are also advised to expect significant delays on certain…

The situation is changing all the time and therefore services are likely to be disrupted across the network throughout Sunday with last minute alterations. Transport for Wales’ Operations Director, Martyn Brennan and Chris Pearce, Head of Operations, Network Rail Wales and Borders said: “As a result of flooding caused by Storm Dennis in the past 24 hours, Transport for Wales and Network Rail are strongly advising all customers to check their journey arrangements prior to travel on Sunday (16 February) and allow plenty of time to their journey. “Following very heavy rain and high winds on Saturday a number of…

Emergency Services are continuing to deal with incidents linked to the adverse weather conditions overnight and throughout this morning across south Wales. Police and fire and rescue officers, and many more skilled workers from a raft of partner organisations, have been and will continue to work together to ensure the safety of those directly affected by flooding and landslides. Hundreds of houses have been checked and searched by fire and rescue officers, and hundreds of people have been rescued from their homes. They have been looked after at one of seven rescue centres which have been set up by local…

Due to this morning’s flooding and severe weather related incident which have occurred overnight and through the course of the morning, a major incident was declared and South Wales Police is co-ordinating a multi-agency response. South Wales Police, on behalf of the local resilience co-ordination group, has declared the major incident in the wake of serious disruption caused by adverse weather across the south Wales region. The emergency services, jointly with local authority planning departments, local health boards, and organisations such as Mountain Rescue, Natural Resources Wales and utility companies, are working continuously to ensure the safety and welfare of…

The Met Office issued a Red Warning for rain – the highest level of warning – for parts of south Wales on Sunday morning. Red warnings only are issued when it is highly likely the weather will cause a high level of impact, and this warning is the first red warning for rain the Met Office has issued since December 2015. This was the scene at A48 Western Avenue this morning Spot the tennis courts at Hailey Park in Llandaff North People in Pontypridd are being evacuated to hotels Welsh Water are busy dealing with the affects of Storm Dennis South…

With Storm Ciara leaving her mark and Storm Dennis just around the corner, Towergate Insurance Brokers shares its advice on how you can protect your assets. Storm Ciara made a dramatic entrance last week, leaving heavy rain, 90mph winds and flooding in her path, and now the Met Office has announced Storm Dennis is to hit the UK this weekend, bringing with him winds of up to 70mph and almost five inches of rain. Big storms can be unpredictable and cause disruption in everyday life, but more so, can be a precarious period for businesses, which is why planning for…