Author: Rhys Gregory

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.…

Pioneering biotechnology company Genesis Biosciences is eyeing further export growth this year after strengthening its global leadership in microbial and biological innovation through a transatlantic network of R&D, fermentation, and manufacturing facilities. Genesis Biosciences is setting new standards in sustainable biotech solutions for industries worldwide, from marine and wastewater treatment to feminine hygiene, agriculture, and fast-moving consumer goods with operations spanning the United States, United Kingdom and Europe. The company’s dedicated R&D centre in Cardiff, Wales, serves as the global engine of innovation, driving microbial strain development, product efficacy testing, and technical excellence across all regions. Over the last three…

World-class professional wrestling is coming to Cardiff this weekend as British Kingdom Pro-Wrestling prepares to bring an international line-up of talent to the Welsh capital. The promotion, which has spent more than two decades building a reputation for showcasing future global stars and major wrestling names, will host a major event at Walkabout Cardiff on 17 May. Headlining the show is a BKPW Junior Heavyweight Championship triple threat match, with reigning champion The Brian Kendrick defending his title against Tiger Ali and Chris Ridgeway in what is expected to be one of the standout matches of the night. The championship…

A new series of open-air performances running daily from 5pm to 7pm will debut this summer at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, transforming the early evening experience for audiences and creating a seamless bridge between the Eisteddfod’s daytime competitions and its evening concerts. The Sound-Bridge Sessions have been developed following a successful pilot in 2025 led by Rhys Mwyn and the team at BBC Radio Cymru. The new programme has been shaped directly by audience feedback, which highlighted a desire for more to experience between daytime and evening events. Supported by Arts Council of Wales, the series brings together a diverse range…