Author: Rhys Gregory

Wrexham football heroine Lili Jones has secured a host of new fans after switching on the annual Christmas lights show at a care home. Lili, 18, was delighted to  officially launch the festive season celebrations at Pendine Park’s Hillbury House care home in Wrexham. The top midfielder helped last year’s Wrexham AFC women’s team win promotion to the Genero Adran Premier league. But she said she was more nervous about turning on the yule tide illuminations than she’d ever been playing before huge crowds at Wrexham’s famous STōK Cae Ras. She laughed: “I just didn’t want to break anything. I’ve…

A man and a woman from Barry have been disqualified from keeping all animals for five years after they caused their bulldog to suffer through physical and mental abuse. Michael Cross of Barry and Paige Ryan of  Barry, appeared at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 28 November after both pleading guilty to one offence under the Animal Welfare Act. This offence was that between 1 July 2022 and 31 August 2022 at Porthkerry Road, Barry, they caused unnecessary suffering to a female bulldog called Luna by the infliction of physical and/or emotional abuse. At the sentencing hearing they were disqualified…

Prolific IT and Managed Service Provider, Flotek Group, has acquired IT & telecommunications company Orbiss in a deal advised on by the GS Verde Group. The acquisition marks the tenth successful acquisition for fast-growing Flotek.  The strategic acquisition of Truro-based Orbiss has enabled Flotek to expand its presence in the Southwest, to grow its team to 72 employees, and increase its revenue to £8.5m. The acquisition unlocks new areas of growth for Flotek, as Orbiss specialises in providing IT & telecommunication solutions to the hospitality industry (notably working with large clients such as Best Western and Holiday Inn). Orbiss marks…

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has issued a serious warning to parents this Christmas around unauthorised ingredients contained in imported American sweets and fizzy drinks with known links to hyperactivity and cancer in children that are readily accessible across UK highstreets. American Candy has grown in popularity over the last few years due to its promotion on social media channels. London alone has seen stores pop up in their hundreds across it’s highstreets. Smaller convenience stores across the UK are stocking these popular items on their shelves, and with an estimated 50,000 convenience stores this is a national concern.…

Drovers Way play area in Radyr has re-opened to the public following an extensive ‘water-themed’ refurbishment. Suitable for toddlers, juniors, and accessible play, the play area features a range of newly installed equipment, including: swings; a bouncing mat; an accessible carousel; spinners; a multi-unit with slide; spring toys; and imaginative play elements. The design also features new rubber safety surfacing, patterned with ‘water ripples and puddles.’ New paving and seating has also been installed. Cabinet Member for Culture, Parks and Events, Cllr Jennifer Burke, said: “The Drovers Way play area is an important facility for the local community, so it’s…

A couple who have been foster carers for almost 40 years are retiring having provided a loving and supportive home for around 1,000 young people in Swansea during their career. This year Christmas will be a little quieter than usual for Wendy and Steve Taylor MBE. Over this extraordinary period, the Foster Wales Swansea carers, have not only provided a home, but an excellent standard of care for some of the city’s most vulnerable young people. The couple, from Winch Wen, started fostering after they had their daughter, Becky, in 1984. Steve always wanted to be part of a bigger…

Even more traders are showing their backing for a campaign to support Swansea city centre this Christmas and far beyond. Led by Swansea Council and ongoing since September, the #EnjoyYourCityCentre campaign is aimed at helping raise awareness of all the shops, restaurants, pubs, activity providers, cultural venues and other businesses in the city centre. A number of posts are being included on the council’s Facebook and Instagram pages every week, with city centre traders, products and services at their heart. Businesses to have recently backed the campaign include The Cwtch Café on Caer Street, Occult Botanica in the High Street…

£5 million has been awarded to Rhondda Cynon Taf Council by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), with the aim of reducing health inequality and improving wellbeing. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has been successful in its bid to become a Health Determinants Research Collaboration (HDRC). The collaboration, co-led by the Wales Centre for Public Policy, will bring together partners from Cardiff University, Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board, Interlink RCT, Public Health Wales. Each HDRC is hosted by a local authority which works with universities or institutions with expertise in the wider determinants of health. This brings together…

Be bright, be seen – that’s the message from Pembrokeshire’s new junior road safety officers (JRSOs) to their schoolmates across the county. With dark, wintry weather upon us, the JRSOs are urging other pupils to wear something bright when outside, to make sure they can be seen by other road users. Their campaign is part of a scheme launched this term by Pembrokeshire County Council to boost road safety awareness among primary age children. Supported by South Hook LNG, the scheme currently runs in ten schools, and it’s hoped more schools will join next year. “We’re delighted with the enthusiasm…

Monmouthshire County Council is now part of a new procurement service focusing on socially responsible business purchasing. Launched by Cardiff Council, as part of Ardal – a collaborative procurement partnership with Monmouthshire County Council, Torfaen Council, and the Vale of Glamorgan Council – the service will also see increased collaboration and greater community impact. Ardal Councils will work to harness skills, knowledge and expertise with other partners. This will showcase what can be achieved through collaborative, agile procurement. Monmouthshire County Council Cabinet Member for Resources, Cllr Rachel Garrick, said: “There are plenty of exciting opportunities on the horizon thanks to…