Author: Rhys Gregory

Spring Clean Cymru has officially come to an end, and communities across Caerphilly have once again shown their pride in their local area by coming together to tackle litter. Throughout the campaign, a total of 98 registered litter‑picking activities took place across the county borough, supported by 180 participants who generously gave their time to make a visible difference to their neighbourhoods. Together, volunteers contributed 275 volunteer hours, collecting 20 bags of recycling and an impressive 292 bags of waste, helping to improve local streets, parks and green spaces for residents and wildlife alike. The Council worked alongside environmental charity…

A Blaenau Gwent–based specialist health and safety training provider has taken a major step towards expanding into the fast‑growing wind energy sector, thanks to support from the Blaenau Gwent Business Development Grant. Pulse Safety Solutions Ltd delivers high‑level technical training to industry, alongside providing specialist technical rescue support to high‑risk industrial environments. Its work helps ensure employees across a wide range of sectors can operate safely in challenging conditions, supported by professional responders trained to manage complex and time-critical rescue situations. With funding from the Business Development Grant, the company has invested in new Working at Height equipment, Sea Survival…

A Merthyr Tydfil woman has been jailed after admitting selling counterfeit designer goods through social media platforms including Facebook and Telegram. Gemma Chinnery, 35, from Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil, was sentenced at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on 7 May 2026 after previously pleading guilty to 21 offences under the Trademarks Act. Chinnery received a three-year immediate custodial sentence for each offence, with all sentences to run concurrently. The prosecution followed an investigation by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council Trading Standards, which identified a Facebook page called “Gemma G’s Fashion Factory” advertising counterfeit products for sale. Investigators established that Chinnery was…

Cardiff Council has announced a major new three-year literacy initiative aimed at reducing the reading attainment gap across schools in the city. The programme will provide universal access to the Monster Phonics Systematic Synthetic Phonics (SSP) programme for all Welsh and English-medium schools in Cardiff, including primary, secondary and special schools. The initiative forms a key part of Cardiff’s wider Reading Framework and is designed to strengthen early reading skills, support learners at risk of falling behind and create a more consistent approach to reading development across the education system. The council says up to 63,000 children across Cardiff could…

South Wales Police are appealing for witnesses following a collision involving a vehicle reportedly driving the wrong way along Fabian Way in Swansea. The incident happened just after 9pm on Saturday, May 1, on the A483 Fabian Way heading towards Swansea. Four people were taken to hospital following the collision. Police said their injuries were not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening. A 37-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the incident and has since been released on police bail pending further enquiries. Investigators are now urging anyone who was travelling along Fabian Way or nearby between 8pm and 9pm…

Police investigating an incident involving reports of “loud bangs” like gun shots in Barry have arrested seven people as enquiries continue. South Wales Police were called to Park Road, near Porthkerry Park, at around 10.30pm on Monday, April 13, following reports that a person had been assaulted. Officers also received reports of loud bangs in the area, believed to sound like gun shots. Despite extensive enquiries, police say no victim has come forward or been identified. A total of seven people have now been arrested in connection with the incident. South Wales Police confirmed that Dominic Bily, 18, from Llanrumney…

Passengers across North Wales and West Wales will benefit from an uplift in rail services as Transport for Wales (TfW) prepares to introduce a new timetable from Sunday 17 May. This is a major rail timetable change for North Wales, bringing extra capacity and more services. In West Wales, extra trains will operate over the summer months, including on holiday routes and on Sundays, supporting the local tourism economy. Services on the North Wales Coast Line will increase by around 50%, supporting the growing demand for sustainable travel while strengthening connections between communities. Passengers will benefit from a standard hourly pattern introduced on key routes north…

Rally legend Nicky Grist says this year’s Nicky Grist Stages is set to feature one of the event’s best routes yet, with fast, smooth and demanding gravel stages awaiting competitors when the rally returns to Mid Wales on Saturday 11 July. Organised by Quinton Motor Club, the Builth Wells-based rally is celebrating 17 consecutive years of title sponsorship from Nicky Grist Motorsports and will once again attract crews from across the UK to the iconic roads of the Mynydd Epynt military range and Crychan forest complex. This year’s route will include around 44 competitive stage miles across Monument, Crychan, Halfway…

An award-winning Mid Wales leisure park will continue its fundraising for local charities this weekend when it hosts a Sunflower Sprint for Lingen Davies Cancer Support. All money raised by the 5k run at Meadow Springs Country & Leisure Park at Trefeglwys, near Caersws on Sunday, May 17 at 11am will go to the charity which has launched a £5 million Sunflower Appeal. The appeal aims to establish Lingen Davies Cancer Centre with 30 chemotherapy bays at Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital by 2029. Currently, patients from the Telford area must travel to the Lingen Davies Cancer Centre at the Royal…

Green Willow Funerals has been announced as the headline sponsor of City Hospice’s Forever Flowers campaign for 2026. The popular campaign is returning to Cardiff Castle for a sixth consecutive year from Saturday 1 to Saturday 8 August, providing the community with an opportunity to remember and celebrate the lives of cherished loved ones with a lasting tribute. This year’s Forever Flower is the pink poppy, which for many symbolises love, compassion, peace and admiration. Established in 1997, Green Willow Funerals is one of the largest funeral directors in south Wales with four locations across Cardiff, Dinas Powys and Newport.…