Author: Rhys Gregory

Wales is set for a mostly cloudy start to the week, with brighter spells developing later before more changeable and unsettled weather arrives from midweek, according to the Met Office. Monday will begin on a grey and cloudy note across much of the country, with showery outbreaks of rain moving through during the morning. Conditions are expected to improve slightly through the afternoon, particularly across eastern areas where some hazy sunshine may break through the cloud. Temperatures will remain close to the seasonal average, with highs reaching around 12°C. The cloud is expected to linger into Monday night, although there…

If you’re planning construction or maintenance work that involves working at height, you’ll know that choosing the right access equipment can make or break your project timeline. Scaffold towers have become a go-to solution for tradespeople and contractors across the UK because they’re quicker to put up than traditional scaffolding, easier to move around site, and you don’t always need a specialist scaffolder to assemble them. But here’s the thing: the HSE reports that falls from height are still the biggest killer on UK work sites. That means the hire company you choose really matters. You need equipment that’s been…

BLUETTI, a technology pioneer in clean energy, is launching its new Elite 300 portable power station in United Kingdom on 9 March. As the most compact 3kWh power station available, the Elite 300 packs serious power into a manageable package, making it ideal for use in RVs, off-grid setups, and as a home backup power solution. Introducing BLUETTI Elite 300: 3kWh Power at 2kWh Portability The Elite 300 has a capacity of 3,014Wh, but its dimensions are just 366mm×305mm×297.5mm, and it weighs only 26.3kg—equivalent to the size and weight of smaller 2kWh units on the market. This makes it easily…

The Welsh Estate Agency Awards (WEAA) has revealed the shortlist for its 2026 awards, celebrating the very best estate agents and property professionals from across Wales. Following a spectacular inaugural ceremony last spring, this year’s awards will take place on April 23 at the iconic Hilton Hotel in Cardiff. The event will once again be hosted by one of Welsh television and radio’s most familiar presenters, Sara Edwards. The Nominees for this year’s awards are: Residential Estate Agency of the Year Daniel Matthews Estate Agents Dawsons Estate Agents Fine & Country – West Wales FBM Estate & Lettings Agents Harris…

Drivers are being warned of delays on the A44 between Aberystwyth and the Lovesgrove Roundabout following an oil spill on the road. Dyfed Powys Police said the spill has caused disruption close to the Lovesgrove roundabout, with motorists advised to take extra care when travelling through the area. The incident is currently affecting traffic along the busy route linking Aberystwyth with the A487 and surrounding areas, with drivers experiencing delays while the situation is dealt with. Police have urged motorists to plan ahead and allow extra time for their journeys. Alternative routes are also being recommended where possible while the…

A Swansea-based giftware company that has achieved 35% European sales growth is launching an ambitious expansion programme that could see its EU sales hit £6 million within two years. Something Different Wholesale, which turned over £3 million in Europe last year, is rolling out four new language-specific websites, exhibiting at Europe’s largest giftware trade show and establishing a full Dutch trading operation to serve continental customers. The company expects to double European sales over the next two years. The £11 million business, which employs 75 people in Llansamlet, has been supported by the Business Wales Accelerated Growth Programme (AGP) and…

Europe’s longest running television variety show is clocking up another first – being hosted by an orangutan. The much-loved Welsh-language programme Noson Lawen made by Caernarfon-based Cwmni Da returns to S4C on Saturday, March 14, with Gareth the Orangutan taking the reins. The long-running series  is also a global outlier for its longevity, second worldwide only to Brazil’s legendary variety show Programa Silvio Santos, which has been broadcast continuously since 1963. The mischievous but lovable presenter – whose full name is Gareth Ulysses Llew Pongo – is already a familiar face to viewers thanks to his chat show appearances on…

A Newport man has been sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for supporting the proscribed organisation ISIS. 21-year-old Shazad Ali from the Newport area of Gwent was convicted on 5 September after he pleaded guilty to multiple terrorism offences. Ali was convicted of the following: Support for the Proscribed organisation ISIS, Contrary to Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 Two counts of encouragement of terrorism, Contrary to Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2006 Possession of documents likely to be useful to a terrorist, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The 21-year-old was arrested in January 2025…

A team of ocean rowers has this weekend (Saturday 7 March) set off on the next leg of an endurance mission to raise £57m over four years for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) research and treatment. The ROW4MND team, consisting of four highly experienced athletes, are embarking on the gruelling second leg of a challenge. Taking place over an expected ten-day period, the route requires them to row for 24 hours a day in cold, dark and harsh conditions across the Irish Sea, towards Scotland. Building on the success of last year’s challenge, which raised more than £140,000 over the summer, the March…

Paul Chuckle MBE was in Penarth on Saturday as he embarked on a ‘Thank you’ tour of the UK to celebrate 40 years of the charity’s Great Daffodil Appeal. He visited the charity’s shop on Windsor Road, joined a charity collection with fundraising volunteers and met special guests on his Daff bike – a Marie Curie-branded Chuckle bike. Paul met some staff who work at the charity’s Cardiff and the Vale Hospice on Bridgeman Road in the town – Emma Grant, Kathryn Guerico and Debbie Morgan – as well as Neil Andrews, whose mum and mother-in-law both received support from the charity in their final days. He also met members of the public and…