Author: Rhys Gregory

A man has been charged with multiple driving offences following a police pursuit in Tredegar. Officers from Gwent Police’s Roads Policing and Dog Section were carrying out mobile patrols in the area when they spotted a cloned vehicle. With support from roads policing colleagues, a stinger was deployed in an attempt to bring the vehicle to a stop. However, the driver failed to stop, prompting a short pursuit. As the vehicle’s tyres began to deflate, the driver lost control and crashed into a telegraph pole before attempting to flee the scene on foot. Police dog PD Atom was then deployed…

If you’ve tried to buy a cottage in rural Wales, Cornwall or a farmhouse in the Cotswolds recently, you’ll know the competition is fierce. Rural property prices across England and Wales have climbed steadily, and Land Registry data shows that detached homes outside major cities have seen some of the strongest annual growth. But the people driving this demand aren’t one uniform group. They’re a mix of investors, retirees and younger professionals, each with very different reasons for heading to the countryside. Let’s take a closer look at who they are and what’s pulling them out of the cities. Holiday-Let…

Look around. Your neighbour’s bakery in Llandudno. That family-run hardware store in Carmarthen. The sheep farmer is using Instagram to sell woolly jumpers. All small. All Welsh. And all facing the same struggle: too much to do, too little time. Artificial intelligence isn’t just for tech giants in London or San Francisco. A 2024 survey by the Federation of Small Businesses found that only 23% of Welsh SMEs have used AI tools – yet 67% believe they could save at least five hours a week by doing so. That’s a massive gap. Let’s fill it. Automate Local Marketing – Without…

Your place of business needs to fit as many people as possible. Your employees and your customers should all feel as though you’re giving them everything that they need to be happy and comfortable in your location. We know that it can be tough to make this happen, but it is possible if you put the work in. The good news is that we’re going to be here to help. Down below, we’re going to be taking a look into some of the things that you can do to ensure that your place of business fits as many people as…

Budgeting for a loft conversion is harder than it looks. Prices quoted online often leave out key items — the staircase, electrics, Building Regulations fees, or the structural engineer’s report — and by the time those extras are added, the final bill can be thousands of pounds more than expected. Understanding the real loft conversion cost before you start means fewer surprises, a more accurate budget, and a much stronger position when comparing quotes from builders. This guide breaks down UK prices for 2026 by conversion type, size, and finish level — and explains exactly which factors push the cost…

Nicotine pouches have been around in UK shops for a while now, but they’ve started to get a different kind of attention. Not because the products themselves have changed, but because of how they’re being sold. It’s most visible at the till, in age checks, in how sales are handled and in what staff are expected to do. It’s not a dramatic shift, but it’s there, and it’s tied to a broader push around nicotine products more generally. A category that grew quickly without much noise Nicotine pouches didn’t arrive with much fuss. They just appeared, then spread. First online,…

When you’re clearing space at home, on a job site, or during a workplace refit, the quickest win is often the simplest: get the waste out, safely and on time. That’s why the local skip hire guide matters more than many people think; the right local service helps you avoid missed collections, unclear limits, and the kind of last-minute stress that turns a tidy-up into a drawn-out project. And whether you’re searching skip hire near you for a weekend clear-out or planning ongoing waste removal, a well-chosen skip keeps momentum on your side. Choosing skip hire UK the practical way…

MM Engineering has seen a 50 per cent increase in turnover following a £450,000 investment from the British Business Bank and FW Capital, via the Investment Fund for Wales. In addition to providing working capital, the loan has allowed MM Engineering to install new manufacturing equipment at its plant on Rutherglen Centre, speeding the production of larger units. It also allowed MM Engineering to upgrade its accountancy and business planning software to build efficiencies and improve insights. Founded in Port Talbot in 2016, MM Engineering manufactures safety and security features, including flood defences and blast doors. It exports products internationally,…

Wales is set to enjoy a spell of fine and increasingly warm weather over the next few days, according to the Met Office, with temperatures expected to climb well above average before conditions turn more unsettled later in the week. This evening and overnight, it will remain dry with clear skies across much of the country. Some mist and fog patches may develop, particularly in rural areas, while coastal locations stay breezy. Temperatures are set to dip, with a chilly night expected and a risk of frost in the countryside as lows fall to around 2°C. Tuesday will bring a…

He shared the news on his Richard Rees programme on BBC Radio Cymru on Saturday morning — a show he has presented for more than twenty years. His final programme will broadcast on 11 April. Over the decades, he has worked on a wide range of shows across BBC stations: from music programmes such as Sosban and Ar Hyd y Nos on BBC Radio Cymru to Rockpile and Get Set on BBC Radio Wales. From entertainment to news, from current affairs to sport, he proved himself a master of every genre. Richard recalled his first day working for the BBC in 1976: “I remember arriving by car at 7.30 in the morning, parking and sitting outside the BBC Centre in Llandaf, staring at the huge building with its big glass foyer and thinking, ‘What on earth am I doing here?’… the huge doubt — was I good enough? I almost drove home.” He continued: “Working with the BBC in Wales for fifty years has been a privilege and an honour on so many levels. It has been a privilege to be welcomed into people’s homes through radio and to get to know audiences and individuals across the country. It has been an honour to represent the world’s most famous and respected broadcasting service on so many occasions. It has also been a privilege to work alongside so many incredibly talented people — producers, technicians, contributors and fellow presenters. Many of them are now lifelong and very dear friends. I will always remember the BBC as a lovely place to work, with teams that sometimes felt almost like family — a workplace full of creativity and friendship.” Dafydd Meredydd, Editor of BBC Radio Cymru, said: “I would like to thank Richard wholeheartedly for his exceptional contribution over the decades. As one of the station’s first voices, he has offered warm companionship to generations of BBC Radio Cymru listeners, while also championing the Welsh music scene with his quiet passion. His dedication and enthusiasm for music have enriched our culture and shaped the sound of BBC Radio Cymru from the very beginning. As we welcome the multi‑talented Huw Stephens to Saturday mornings, we wish Richard all the very best in his retirement — thank you for everything.” From mid‑April, Huw Stephens will take over with a new Saturday morning show from 5.30–7am. Huw said: “I’m looking forward to starting a new weekly show on BBC Sounds and on Saturday mornings on BBC Radio Cymru. After 25 years of broadcasting in Welsh at night, this new programme will be a…