Author: Rhys Gregory

Blackwood Primary School’s Cook in Charge, Phyllis Levi, was recently surprised live on ITV’s This Morning by Jamie Oliver as she was announced as the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Jamie Oliver Good School Food Awards. This award recognises more than 45 years of dedication to feeding, caring for and supporting generations of children through school food. Beginning her career working just one hour a day as a dinner lady, Phyllis worked her way through the ranks to become Cook in Charge at Blackwood Primary School. Today, she leads a catering team serving up to 300…

A brand-new all-weather 3G pitch has officially opened at Caldicot Leisure Centre, creating new opportunities for people of all ages to get active, connect, and enjoy sport. The redevelopment replaces the previous 2G surface with a modern 3G pitch, providing a safer, more durable and reliable space for year-round use. The first of its kind in Wales, the new surface contains an organic, cork infill system, which is biodegradable and boasts a much higher sustainability level than that of a traditional rubber infill system. Delivered as part of Monmouthshire County Council’s ongoing commitment to improving sport and play facilities, the project has been shaped…

Growing Mid Wales has announced the appointment of BT to deliver the Business Park Full Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) Project — a major step forward in bringing gigabit-capable broadband to business parks across Ceredigion and Powys. The project will deliver fast, reliable and future-proof full-fibre broadband to business parks that currently lack access to gigabit-capable connectivity. This investment will help local businesses grow, improve productivity and remain competitive in an increasingly digital economy. The project forms part of the Growing Mid Wales Digital Programme and the wider Mid Wales Growth Deal, a £110m investment from the UK and Welsh Governments, to support…

Farmers in Wales will have their voices heard on red tape, as the Minister for Rural Resilience and Sustainability, Llyr Gruffydd, appoints an independent chair to lead a review into the bureaucratic burden on family farms. John Davies, a beef and sheep farmer from near Brecon and former President of NFU Cymru, will lead the nine-month review. He will speak directly to those filling out forms – farmers and agents with lived experience of on-farm requirements. The review will assess the cumulative impact of requirements on farm businesses and examine where there is scope and a need for change. The Welsh Government made this review one of its…

Nathan Southway from Nantyglo was jailed for three years at Cardiff Crown Court on Wednesday 10 June, after previously pleading guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A. Officers attended the 36-year-old home address in April where 323.3g of cocaine was seized along with around £1,500 in cash and a phone linked to selling drugs. PC Iles said: “Illegal drugs ruin lives, from those battling addictions to the communities who experience associated crimes, such as anti-social behaviour, theft, shoplifting and the exploitation of vulnerable people. “The quantity of drugs found at Southway’s address and the messages linked to…

A Cardiff man has been jailed for more than five years after police discovered cocaine and hundreds of pounds in cash when he was stopped riding an illegally modified e-bike. Jason Seward, 31, was arrested by plain-clothed South Wales Police officers while on patrol in Ely. Officers stopped Seward while he was riding the modified e-bike and carried out a search. During the search, they found six bags of cocaine and almost £600 in cash. Following his arrest, Seward was charged with possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. He later pleaded guilty to the offence. On June 4,…

Cardiff Council has issued a safety warning to residents and visitors, urging people not to enter rivers or Cardiff Bay to cool off during periods of warm weather. With temperatures rising across the city, the council is reminding the public that while open water may appear inviting, it can pose serious and potentially life-threatening dangers. The warning highlights a number of risks associated with swimming in rivers and Cardiff Bay, including cold-water shock, hidden objects beneath the surface and strong currents. Cold-water shock can occur even on warm days, causing an involuntary gasp response, breathing difficulties and panic, which can…

Police investigating the disappearance of missing Ricky Harris have arrested a man. The 41-year-old from Mountain Ash was arrested on suspicion of preventing a lawful burial and perverting the course of justice in connection with Ricky’s disappearance. He remains in police custody and the investigation is on-going. Ricky’s family has been updated and continue to be supported by South Wales Police. Ricky was last seen on CCTV at approximately 2.20pm on November 18, 2023, in Maes-y-Deri, Aberdare. Since then, the investigation to find Ricky has been exhaustive with officers continually reviewing new information. Officers are searching The Phurnacite site in…

Following an accelerated misconduct hearing held at North Wales Police Headquarters in Colwyn Bay on Friday, 12 June 2026, PC Robert Masson was dismissed without notice after his conduct was found to amount to gross misconduct. The hearing, chaired by Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman KPM, heard that PC Masson repeatedly engaged in a practice known as “key‑jamming”, where a keyboard key is deliberately held down to ensure a computer appears active. This created a misleading impression that he was working and available over extended periods of time when he was not. Following the hearing, Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison said:…

Music fans heading to Cardiff this summer for a fantastic line up of live music should plan their journeys in advance, as thousands of people make their way to the capital. With Take That and Metallica taking the stage at the Principality Stadium, alongside the return of Blackweir Live featuring Lewis Capaldi and Pitbull, and a packed summer of events at Cardiff Castle, train services are expected to be significantly busier than usual throughout June and July. To help get music fans home safely, TfW has strengthened capacity on key routes and scheduled later services to accommodate attendees. Post-event queuing systems will…