Author: Rhys Gregory

A man has been jailed after an armed robbery at a service station in Swansea. 34-year-old Samuel Harris, from West Cross, was charged with robbery, possession of a bladed article and assault on an emergency worker following the incident in February. He has this week been sentenced to four and a half years in prison. Detective Sergeant Angie Mitchell said: “This would have been a traumatic experience for staff, to be threatened with a knife at their place of work. “As soon as this incident was reported to us, our officers acted quickly to find Samuel Harris, arrest him and…

A 34-year-old man has been imprisoned after admitting domestic violence and stalking his former partner. Zachary Engen, of Maes Garnedd, Tregele, Cemaes, was sentenced to four years at Mold Crown Court today (Wednesday, 12 March). He was also given a restraining order for 20 years from contacting the victim. At an earlier court appearance, Engen admitted assault causing actual bodily harm, engaging in controlling and coercive behaviour and stalking his former partner. He subjected the victim to years of physical and mental abuse, controlling what she could do, isolating her from family and friends and causing her to live in…

Senior men’s head coach Matt Sherratt has named the Wales team to play England in the final round of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations at a sold-out Principality Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday 15 March (KO 16.45h GMT, live on BBC and S4C). There are two personnel changes to the starting line-up that faced Scotland in Edinburgh last weekend. In the back row, Aaron Wainwright is named at blindside flanker with captain Jac Morgan moving to openside flanker. Taulupe Faletau is again at No. 8. Joe Roberts is selected on the left wing to make his first start of the 2025…

Site investigation works will soon be carried out as construction of a new office development in Swansea city centre edges ever closer. Taking place in the area of the former St David’s Shopping Centre site, the works are due to start on Monday March 17 and could take over a week to complete. They’ll help pave the way for a new Public Sector Hub scheme that’s aimed at helping boost city centre footfall. The grassed area outside St David’s Church Hall will be fenced off while the works are ongoing and every effort will be made to minimise disruption. The…

Monmouthshire County Council has welcomed the announcement from the Welsh and UK Governments of a £1 million fund dedicated to transforming the River Wye. The new joint research initiative aims to address water quality issues in the River Wye by investigating pollution sources, assessing the impacts of farming practices, and developing innovative solutions to improve water quality. As part of its commitment to environmental sustainability, Monmouthshire County Council continues to work collaboratively with the Welsh and UK Governments, neighbouring councils within the Wye Partnership, the Wye Catchment Nutrient Management Board, and local stakeholders. These efforts align with the council’s Climate…

Pupils at Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi in Holyhead are celebrating Pi Day, Friday 14 March, by decorating a giant Pi symbol on the playground and competing in the annual Pi memory competition (last year’s winner recited pi to 120 digits from memory). At the school the Mathematics Support Programme Wales (MSPW) are supporting the maths department with a range of exciting maths activities, inspiring pupils and raising standards. A popular lunchtime maths club has been established, giving pupils the opportunity to explore maths outside of the regular curriculum through problem solving, group work and games. The school runs transition sessions with…

The historic Blackwood Miners’ Institute has had its future secured thanks to £210,000 in funding support. The cultural cornerstone faced uncertainty last year when the local council, Caerphilly, consulted on potentially mothballing the site. However, the Institute will now remain operational whilst its future sustainability is being fully explored. Minister for Culture, Jack Sargeant, visited the Institute yesterday [Thursday 13 March] to see first-hand how Welsh Government funding, channelled through the Arts Council of Wales’ Resilience Fund, will support the venue over coming months. The Resilience Fund provided £3.6 million to 60 arts organisations across Wales at the end of…

Howden, the global insurance group, has appointed Sian England as account executive as the firm continues its accelerated growth into 2025. Sian has been working in the corporate and commercial insurance sector for over 30 years and joins Howden having previously worked at Marsh Commercial and Thomas Carroll. In her new role she will be responsible for client relationship management, bringing a wealth of expertise to understand client needs and provide solutions to their risk exposures by evaluating and advising on their insurance programme. To continue the upwards growth of Howden’s south Wales offices, Sian will pursue new sales opportunities…

Prepare to be dazzled as Disney On Ice: 100 Years of Wonder twirls back into the UK for its final run, bringing an unforgettable celebration of Disney magic to Cardiff. This enchanting production is a spellbinding treat for families, blending nostalgia, spectacular skating, and jaw-dropping special effects into a show that truly sparkles on the ice. It had been a while since our last Disney On Ice experience, and this latest edition did not disappoint. From the moment Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy took to the ice, the excitement was palpable. The show follows Mickey as he embarks on a…

AN ICONIC adventure attraction is celebrating a wet and wild 40 years in business. Launched in 1985, Canolfan Tryweryn, the National White Water Centre in Frongoch, Gwynedd, is one of the most popular activities in North Wales, welcoming up to 40,000 visitors annually. Employing a team of eight full time and 40+ freelance staff, the beloved not-for-profit organisation – on the banks of Afon Tryweryn – looks set for one of its busiest seasons yet, with a series of events and activities planned to celebrate the landmark anniversary. In addition to a wide range of white-water adventure sports, Canolfan Tryweryn…