Author: Rhys Gregory

Military driving examiners will help deliver up to 6,500 more tests in tough new measures to tackle the driving test backlog, the government announced today (12 November 2025). There will also be a new limit on rearranging tests and a ban on third parties booking on behalf of learners in order to make the system fairer, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said. The Department for Transport, working in partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), has announced 36 defence driving examiners (DDEs), made up of civilian MOD personnel, will help conduct driving tests one day a week for 12 months. The extra personnel will be focusing primarily on car…

Wales’ only car manufacturer, Gilbern, once again took pride of place at this year’s Lancaster Insurance Classic Motor Show at the NEC Birmingham, held from 7–9 November. The Gilbern Owners Club returned with its own dedicated stand, proudly flying the flag for Welsh motoring heritage and keeping the story of this historic brand alive for a new generation of enthusiasts. Founded in the late 1950s by Giles Smith and Bernard Friese, Gilbern was based in Llantwit Fardre near Pontypridd and produced a small number of hand-built sports cars including the GT 1800, Genie and Invader. Each model reflected a unique…

Flood warnings are still in place across parts of Wales as the unsettled conditions continue, with heavy rain and blustery winds expected over the coming days. According to the Met Office, Wednesday will bring a bright start for northern areas, but cloud and rain will quickly move in during the afternoon. The rain will be heaviest and most persistent in the south, accompanied by strong coastal winds. Temperatures will remain mild, reaching up to 16°C. Tonight, rain will continue but ease in intensity before turning drier through the early hours. Clear spells are expected, with lighter winds and temperatures dropping…

A North Wales bakery’s new £20 million production line is up and running. After a 14-month installation, the giant piece of equipment at the Jones Village Bakery’s flagship headquarters complex on Wrexham Industrial Estate was completed two days ahead of schedule. The new line has doubled the company’s roll-making capacity and is set to create 60 new jobs by next summer. It’s part of a total investment package of £47 million which also includes plans to  convert and extend a storage facility that was built on the nearby site of the company’s bakery that was destroyed by a devastating fire…

The number of Welsh female prisoners increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2024, new analysis shows. Despite repeated commitments to reduce the number of Welsh women in prison*, the number of women handed immediate custodial sentences in Wales reached its highest level in 2024 since the outbreak of Covid-19. Women handed sentences of one month or less at courts in Wales also rose by a further 51% last year. The latest Factfile from Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre shows that the number of women in Wales remanded at the magistrates’ court increased by 25% in 2024. In total, 555 women…

Food lovers visiting Wales’ premier Christmas lights trail will be treated to a festive feast of delights with a brand-new line-up of leading local street traders coming to the city centre event for 2025. As well as a feast of twinkling illuminations to get you into the spirit, Christmas at Bute Park is a real destination for foodies, offering an array of tasty street-food and bars so you can maximise the Christmas experience. This year organisers have worked again with Togather Events to bring new local traders to the light trail, ensuring your appetite is as full as your festive…

The Interim Environmental Protection Assessor for Wales (IEPAW) is urging the Welsh Government to strengthen legal protections for trees and woodlands, warning that outdated legislation and weak enforcement are putting some of Wales’s most valuable natural assets at risk. IEPAW is an independent body that reviews how environmental law works in Wales and advises ministers on how to improve it. Its latest report, The Protection of Trees and Woodlands in Wales, published today [12 November], finds that Wales’s tree protection framework – largely reliant on the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and the Forestry Act 1967 – no longer…

Hundreds of bus workers at First Cymru in South Wales are dramatically escalating their strike action in a row with their employer over pay. Workers are furious at the rates of pay and the attempts by First Cymru to refuse to pay back-pay from the pay anniversary, according to Unite the Union. Strikes will now take place from 20 November continuously until 21 January. Drivers feel they have been left with little choice but to escalate strike action. In a statement issued by Unite, they say ‘the continued withholding of agreed back pay and the £50 “bung payment” the company…

Police are appealing for help to find 15-year-old Shyla, who has been reported missing. She was last seen on 31 October in the Wrexham area, but it is believed she may now be in South Wales. Shyla is around 5ft tall, of average build, with blue eyes and long dark hair. She has known connections to Barry, Penarth and Cardiff Bay. Anyone who may have seen Shyla or has information that could help officers locate her is urged to get in touch with South Wales Police, quoting occurrence number 2500352723. Information can be shared online via this link, by calling…

Two men have been charged after officers from South Wales Police discovered significant quantities of drugs and cash during a patrol in Grangetown. Police on patrol in the Virgil Court area witnessed suspicious activity around a parked vehicle. After approaching the car, officers seized large amounts of cocaine, cannabis and cash. Jordan Campbell-Beer, 24, from Riverside, and Bruno Duarte, 23, from Heath, were arrested and later charged with possession of Class A and Class B drugs with intent to supply. Both men have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on November 28. Inspector…