Author: Rhys Gregory

Striker Kayleigh Barton has announced her retirement at the age of 37 after 89 appearances and 22 goals for Cymru. Although her playing career with Cymru has come to an end, Barton will now play an important role in the development and progression of the next generation as she also takes up the role of assistant coach of the Cymru WU17 squad alongside new head coach Natalie Lawrence. Barton has been a key player for Cymru for more than a decade, and it was fitting that her final three appearances for her country were at the EURO finals in Switzerland…

A young mother from Gwent is using her traumatic experience with sepsis to raise awareness of the life-threatening condition that has left her with lasting, life-altering effects. Leisha Davies, a previously healthy and active young woman, had undergone surgery for a twisted bowel in 2023. With no underlying health conditions, she made a swift recovery, returning to work and caring for her five-year-old daughter, Poppy. However, during the Christmas period, Leisha began to feel unwell. By January 2024, she was struggling with exhaustion and feeling increasingly unwell. On the morning of 18th January, Leisha was too poorly to take Poppy…

Llandovery Community Cinema is set to serve up a unique evening of film, food and foot-tapping fun this summer, as part of its Welsh Language Film Programme funded by Ffilm Cymru. On Saturday 16 August, the Rhys Prichard Memorial Hall will host a special screening of Cymer Dy Siar (with English subtitles) – a heartfelt and humorous tale about a three-sister country and western band navigating life, love and loyalty in rural Wales. The evening promises to be more than just a trip to the cinema. After the film, audiences can swap their seats for the dance floor with a…

A lorry driver from Swansea will be taking on the Brecon Carreg CDF 10K to thank his mum for donating her kidney. James Murphy, 39, will also be running to raise awareness of kidney disease – a condition he was diagnosed with eight years ago. He said: “At the time the diagnosis seemed really sudden but looking back I realised how long I’d been deteriorating for. “My family had been mentioning that I was losing colour and weight – but it’s something you don’t realise in yourself when you look in the mirror every day. I was feeling very tired…

Domino’s has officially opened its latest new store on Unit D1-10, Old Bank Buildings, Treforest Industrial Estate, Main Ave, Pontypridd, CF37 5UR bringing 20 new jobs to the area, including pizza chefs, in store team members and delivery drivers. The store is open 7 days a week from 11:30am – 4am serving up freshly prepared Domino’s favourites, including Pepperoni Passion and Vegi Supreme alongside everyone’s favourite side – the Garlic Pizza Bread. Chakradhara Kamsali, Store Manager at Nantgarw Domino’s said: “We’re excited to announce the opening of our new Domino’s store in Pontypridd Nantgarw, bringing 20 new jobs to the local…

With temperatures set to soar in most parts of England and Wales this weekend, the RSPCA is issuing urgent advice, tips and DIY video tutorials to help pet owners keep their furry and feathered friends cool and comfortable. The advice comes as the Met Office predicts temperatures for much of England and Wales will reach in excess of 30°C (86°F) during this week. The soaring temperatures can pose huge risks to pets, wildlife and farm animals, and amid predictions from forecasters of these high temperatures, many pet owners and animal lovers may be concerned about keeping animals safe during the heatwave.…

Planners at Cardiff Council have given their approval to the developers behind The Parish in Capel Llanilltern for plans to construct the next phase of new homes and key community infrastructure.  Persimmon Homes East Wales will now commence work on the site in the north west of the capital city on the next 167 high-quality homes, 62 of which will be reserved for a local housing association. Properties range from one-bed flats to four-bedroom houses. The approval for Phases 4B and 5A also includes the Local Centre, promised during the outline planning stage, which will deliver nearly 19,000 square feet for commercial…

The family of a man who died in a collision that tragically killed him and another couple in Beaumaris, Anglesey have paid tribute to him. Humphrey Pickering was 81 years old and lived in Colwyn Bay. His family described him as a “much-loved husband, father, grand and great-grandfather, brother and uncle” and said he will be “terribly missed by us all.” They also extended their sympathies to the family of The Revered Stephen and Katherine Burch, who were killed after being struck by Mr Pickering’s car in the incident on 28 August 2024. The family said: “Humphrey Pickering was a…

One of the most picturesque rail routes in the UK has shown consistent improvement in performance and reliability for passengers this year. The latest figures for the Heart of Wales line, which connects Swansea with Shrewsbury via Llandrindod Wells, show that the reliability rate of services along the route stood at 97.5% between 22 June and 19 July. During this period, 283 services were scheduled to operate and 276 services ran. There were seven cancellations. Punctuality of these services arriving within 3 minutes of their advertised time also increased to 81.2% up from 64% at the beginning of the year,…

Swansea Council and the Ospreys have agreed to finalise a lease allowing the rugby club to manage the historic St Helen’s ground from the coming months. Council leader Rob Stewart and Ospreys chief executive officer Lance Bradley signed the agreement at the seafront venue on Tuesday this week. The Ospreys plan to make St Helen’s their home and this month secured planning permission to transform the ground into a modern facility with a capacity of more than 8,000. The council’s investment in the transformation remains conditional. Rob Stewart said: “Our agreement to finalise a lease is a further indicator that…