Author: Rhys Gregory

Welsh primary school attendance has improved, with new data showing a drop in the number of pupils missing school. New data shows that persistent absences – missing more than 10% of required school sessions – by primary school-aged pupils has fallen The figures also show improvements in the number of primary pupils eligible for free school meals attending school. Half-day sessions missed by this cohort decreased to 11.8% in 2024/2025 compared to 12.1% the previous school year. Persistent absences for primary pupils eligible for free school meals also decreased to 44.7% compared to 46.9% in 2023/2024. The Cabinet Secretary for…

Wales is bracing for an unsettled spell of weather this weekend as a deepening area of low pressure approaches from the Atlantic, according to the Met Office. Forecasters say the system will bring periods of heavy rain and strong winds, with the chance of some localised impacts as it moves across the country. A short settled spell is expected late on Sunday, though conditions will quickly turn wet and windy again on Monday. Rainfall early next week is likely to be heaviest in western areas, with the wider outlook remaining changeable. Friday will see early brightness replaced by frequent showers,…

Two trains per hour will be available between Chester and Wrexham following rail timetable changes this December. From 14 December, the new timetable will deliver significant enhancements across North Wales by strengthening community connections, boosting cross-border travel, and providing more flexible travel opportunities. These are further changes as part of the Network North Wales developments. Key changes for North Wales include: An introduction of a new hourly service between Chester and Wrexham, doubling the frequency to 2 trains per hour. The daily 11:23 service between Cardiff and Holyhead will now make additional stops at Craven Arms (12:59) and Church Stretton…

A North Wales hospital charity is offering its biggest-ever Christmas raffle prize – a massive £500 – as it races to raise money for vital equipment. The League of Friends at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan says the record-breaking festive windfall has only been made possible thanks to the generosity of Lock Stock Self Storage who have sites in Denbigh, Rhyl, Abergele and Llandudno. Chair Dilys Percival urged supporters to snap up tickets before the December 19 draw, praising Lock Stock for backing the charity “in absolutely incredible ways” during one of its busiest fundraising periods. The company already provides…

RHUG ESTATE is set for a busy December as it launches a full programme of festive events and food experiences for all the family. The 12,500-acre estate, based near Corwen in Denbighshire, enters the yuletide season after a thriving autumn, marked by sold-out wreath-making workshops with floral designer Kate Jordan and tasting evenings hosted by chef Jordan Richardson. This year’s Christmas Craft Fair, taking place on December 6 and 7, will welcome dozens of stallholders each day, offering handmade gifts, local produce and seasonal treats. Rhug Farm Shop will also be fully stocked with festive essentials, from ready-made hampers to…

The Budget has landed and reactions are already rolling in. To help cut through the noise, this piece from Nick Haines of Hazlewoods looks at the decisions behind the headlines and the issues they raise. With deep experience in tax and a central role in the firm’s growing presence in Wales, Nick brings a clear perspective on a Budget that will shape the year ahead. With a £30 billion black hole, up from the £22 billion the Chancellor claims she inherited from the previous government, it was inevitable that tax was going to rise, and so it did.  It had…

Osian Pryce has won the 2025 Roger Albert Clark Rally in sensational style – leading the UK’s longest and toughest event from start to finish (all bar one stage) and mastering the most challenging wintry weather conditions to score victory by 2mins 39secs in a Wales Motorsport-built and prepared Ford Escort RS1800 Mk2. Having come close to victory in 2021 and 2023, the 32-year old Machynlleth-born driver was the class of the five-day bi-annual marathon event, setting 11 fastest stage times and bouncing back from an off and a puncture to win Britain’s most gruelling gravel stage rally. It was…

The Llangollen and Corwen Railway will officially launch its 2025 Santa Specials on Saturday, 29 November with a festive celebration featuring live music, special guests and a ceremonial ribbon cutting on Platform 1 at Llangollen Station. Festivities begin at 9.30am, when the Llangollen Silver Band will perform before marching down the platform to the steam engine, which will already be positioned at the bottom of the platform ready for the ceremony. Their arrival will set the festive tone as the first Santa Special prepares for departure. At 9.45am, the band will be met at the locomotive by members of the…

Live facial recognition technology will be in use in Bridgend town centre on Friday November 28 as South Wales Police carry out a proactive operation to help locate suspects, wanted people and high risk missing individuals. The force confirmed that the deployment will be clearly signposted. The van and the zones where recognition is active will be marked so that members of the public know exactly where it is operating. Officers at the scene will also be available to explain how the technology works and why it is being used, and can offer demonstrations where possible. South Wales Police said…

A man from Neath Port Talbot has been jailed after sharing indecent images and videos of children online. 44-year-old Ian Anthony, from Penrhiwtyn, held online communications on multiple chat platforms, during which he demonstrated a sexual interest in children. Anthony pleaded guilty to three counts of making an indecent photograph of a child, three counts of distributing an indecent photo of a child and one count of possessing extreme pornographic images involving an animal. He has been sentenced to 32 months in prison. Detective Constable Martin Charles said: “The material which Ian Anthony was sharing online was depraved and was…