Author: Rhys Gregory

A Welsh great-grandfather is celebrating a life-changing £291,000 win with The Pools, after selecting eight score draws, including Manchester United’s 4-4 Premier League December classic with Bournemouth. Peter, 77 from Pontypridd, has played The Pools for over 40 years and enjoyed a magical Christmas and New Year to remember after securing the lucrative jackpot via his Classic Pools selections last month. Seven correct selections from a rollercoaster weekend of European football in December saw Peter go into the Monday evening fixture at Old Trafford needing a score draw to land a life-changing sum. A topsy-turvy affair saw eight goals scored,…

New research has uncovered how Wales sustains a little-known commercial moss picking industry. The study, conducted by researchers at Bangor University and the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia, analysed the factors affecting its sustainability as an established small-scale forest activity helping farmers diversify their income. Their academic paper, published in Small-scale Forestry, warned the delicate ecosystem supporting the trade could become fragile if overlooked in potential policy restrictions. Focusing on moss pickers in Mid-Wales, the study noted that they had limited formal knowledge of the species of moss and instead relied on accumulated experience of how it responds…

A farmer from Caerphilly will be attempting to break a Guinness World Record at the 2026 ABP Newport Marathon Festival for being the fastest person to run a half marathon in a pair of wellies. Neil Johnson, 47, will also be taking on the challenge to raise funds for the Farm Community Network(FCN) – a charity that supports farmers and families within the farming community going through difficult times. The father-of-five said: “I’ve done a lot of running and taken part in marathons and half marathons for charity, but I’ve never attempted anything in costume. I was looking for my…

Multi-award-winning comedian, writer and actor Mark Watson returns to the road with his brand-new stand-up show Before It Overtakes Us, visiting The Riverfront Theatre and Arts Centre in Newport on Friday 27 February at 7.30pm. Now marking 20 years in stand-up comedy, Watson is best known as the cheeky-texts icon from Taskmaster, a long-time Radio 4 favourite, YouTube cult figure and, most recently, for his appearance in Netflix hit Baby Reindeer. The new show follows hugely successful seasons at the Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Edinburgh Comedy Festivals. Sparked by a recent encounter with a stranger, Before It Overtakes Us sees…

Prices of the UK’s most in-demand used electric and hybrid vehicles have fallen for the fourth straight quarter, according to the latest AA Cars Used Car Index. The average cost of the top 20 most searched for EVs and hybrids on AA Cars dropped by 1.5% to £16,826 from £17,085 in the final three months of 2025. Prices were also down 9.3% year-on-year.The biggest fallers in the last quarter of 2025 include the Hyundai Ioniq (-18.7%), Hyundai Tucson (-6%) Nissan Qashqai (-5.9%) and Nissan Leaf (-5.5%). Although average prices continued to fall in Q4, the pace of decline has slowed…

A father from Maesteg, in Bridgend, has stepped into the boxing ring to fight against mental health and turn his own life around after crippling anxiety resulted in a panic attack while driving. Anthony Trubridge, 28, who works as an HGV driver, took part in an Ultra White Collar Boxing (UWCB) event at the Vale Sport Arena in Cardiff to raise funds for Movember after his own mental health had taken a turn. Movember raises awareness and funds for issues that specifically impact men including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide. Anthony decided to take part to improve…

A leading Wrexham-based hotelier says Labour is “setting the hospitality industry up to fail” and warned things are harder than they’ve been for many years. Hospitality expert Steven Hesketh, the MD of The Hospitality Hero and of The Savvy Hotel Group,  fears last year’s  Budget is set to have a devastating impact on businesses across the UK. Outlining his concerns, Hotel Wrexham owner Steven said: “I’m furious about the recent Budget because businesses like mine are being completely screwed by this government. The anger is so intense it’s hard to even put into words.” Steven, who runs hotels across the north west of England…

Chris Gunter has been appointed the Cymru MU19s head coach for the remainder of the 2025/26 season, leading the team for the UEFA U19 EURO finals taking place in north Wales this summer.  A UEFA Pro Licence holder, Gunter brings a wealth of international experience to the role following an outstanding 15-year playing career with Cymru, during which he won 109 senior caps. Gunter was a central part of Chris Coleman’s side that captured the imagination of the nation by reaching the semi-finals of UEFA EURO 2016. He played every minute of all six matches at the tournament, memorably delivering…

Emergency services are at the scene of a collision on the A4061 Blackmill Road in Bridgend, with the road currently closed in both directions. South Wales Police confirmed the closure is in place between Cefn Carafan Road and Danycoed while officers deal with the incident. Motorists are being advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible, as delays are expected. A map showing the affected stretch of road has been shared to help drivers plan their journeys, which can be viewed here. Police have thanked the public for their patience while the incident is being dealt with.…

A man from Powys has been jailed after pleading guilty to using a bottle to attack a man who he had seen speaking to his former partner. 27-year-old Craig Cole, from Ystradgynlais, launched the attack inside a Swansea city centre nightclub, leaving the victim with four wounds to the top of his head, one of which required to be glued back together. The attack took place during the early hours of New Year’s Day in 2025. Cole pleaded guilty to Section 18 wounding with intent and has been sentenced to 30 months in prison. PC Matthew McGowan said: “Craig Cole…