Author: Rhys Gregory

A 27-year-old man has been jailed for two years for strangulation. Connor Gressley-Jones, of Bath Street, Rhyl, admitted intentionally strangling a teenage girl following an incident in Rhyl earlier this year. He was jailed for two years at Mold Crown Court on Thursday, 10 April and issued a five-year restraining order to protect the victim. On 24 January, the girl was walking back to a hotel in Rhyl when she was punched to the face by Gressley-Jones following an argument. He subsequently placed his hands around her neck and strangled her, restricting her from breathing. District Support Sergeant Peter Griffiths,…

Flintshire businesses have been boosting productivity, sustainability, and employment opportunities thanks to a programme delivered by one of Wales’ top research and development facilities. Based in Broughton, The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Cymru, part of the University of Sheffield, has empowered 32 companies through a mix of reports, training events, and 1-2-1 assistance. The support was offered via the organisation’s Accelerating Decarbonisation and Productivity Technology and Skills (ADAPTS) scheme and aims to accelerate growth and create more job roles amongst Flintshire manufacturers. Funded by £811K from Flintshire’s allocation of the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), the programme’s participants were…

A popular Wrexham-based tourist attraction is offering an egg-citing range of Easter-themed interactive activities suitable for the whole family. From egg and spoon obstacle-filled races to decorating bunny shaped gingerbread biscuits, Xplore! Science Discovery Centre is providing a jam-packed schedule of entertainment throughout the school holidays. The North Wales centre has already unveiled its rebranded ‘amazing eggsperiments’ live science show which hosts a variety of new demonstrations to crack open the mysteries of physics and chemistry during the 30-minute programme. Starting on the weekend, visitors will also find Xplore! hosts a dedicated tabletop ‘eggstacle’ contest in which teams can challenge each…

It was a record breaking 2025 ABP Newport Marathon Festival this weekend as thousands of runners took over the city’s streets. It was the biggest event yet with 10,000 people signed up to take part in the weekend festivities which included a marathon, half marathon, 10K and junior races, and new course records were set across all three women’s races and the men’s half marathon. Spectators lined the streets in the sunshine to cheer their friends and family around the route, which included a new city centre loop to take in the historic Newport Market and Newport Castle. Members of…

Tiger Yard is officially back for 2025, and I have to say—it’s never looked better. If you loved it before, you’re in for a treat this season. Not only have they brought back all the crowd favourites, but they’ve also made some clever improvements that elevate the entire experience. Let’s start with the biggest change: the new retractable roof. Last year’s storm damage may have been a bit of a nightmare, but it’s turned out to be a blessing in disguise. They’ve taken the opportunity to upgrade the middle section, which now matches the front of the venue with a…

A high-profile Swansea city centre development has brought work for hundreds of people – including some who’d previously been unemployed or had faced barriers to employment. The Kier Group workforce and sub-contractors attached to Swansea Council’s Y Storfa project number up to around 45 every day. Among them – helped into work by council community benefits initiative Beyond Bricks and Mortar – are a number of workers hired by the firm in the early days of the scheme. Once complete, Y Stofa will be a key part of the council’s £1bn regeneration of Swansea; it’ll be a gathering place and…

An intriguing two bedroom cottage for sale at auction is located in the heart of an area steeped in history. The charming two-bedroom end terraced house which has a garden both at the front and to the rear is listed for sale at auction with a guide price of £85,000-plus.. Alternatively, number 77, Cwmynyscoy Road, Pontypool, which has had a solid history of being rented over many years could make a good buy to let or holiday home investment. Sean Roper, who is selling the property on behalf of Newport-based Paul Fosh Auctions, said: “This fascinating cottage has been let…

Work to protect and renovate Flat Holm island’s historic foghorn station and Victorian cholera hospital is underway. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund alongside investment from the island’s owners Cardiff Council, with in-kind support from partner organisations including the Flat Holm Society and RSPB Cymru, the work has required all materials and machinery to be shipped out to the isolated island, which sits in the Bristol Channel approximately five miles from Cardiff’s coastline. Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “Flat Holm island is steeped in history and we want to make sure these important…

Cyclists with a passion for adventure can thread their way around 27 kilometres of off-road cycle track around some of Wales’ most picturesque landscapes. Swansea Council has developed an online map, setting out the off-road cycle routes in parts of Gower, including Rhossili and Llanmadoc. The new map can be downloaded to a smartphone and can be used to guide two-wheeled lovers around a network of ancient bridleways that have been in place for centuries. The routes treat cyclists to spectacular views from Rhossili Down and Llanmadoc Hill across Carmarthen Bay to Tenby and the Bristol Channel to north Devon,…

A series of presentations will take place on 30th April 2025 at The Towers Hotel & Spa for the much-anticipated Options Appraisal Report on the Neath and Tennant Canals. Neath Port Talbot Council has secured £113,850 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Heritage Places initiative for the development phase of the Canal Connections/ Cysylltiadau Camlesi project. This project aims to regenerate the canal system into an accessible community asset for active recreation and travel. Another of the project’s goals is to establish the canal system as a must-visit heritage destination which connects local communities. While the council does not own…