Western Mail - April 19, 2025

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In this issue

April 19, 2025

Controversial hydrogen plant given green light

LONG-RUNNING plans to build a new hydrogen energy facility in Bridgend have been given the go-ahead after the removal of a Welsh Government holding direction.

2 mins

Man who tried to kidnap girl aged five is on the run

A MAN previously jailed for trying to abduct a five-year-old girl at a Welsh supermarket is on the run.

1 min

Tom Hardy film Havoc set to give Wales another boost

NETFLIX'S investment in Welsh film and TV production has generated more than £200m for the UK economy since 2020, according to a new report.

2 mins

Mother-of-two stole £40k from shop where she worked

A TRUSTED shop worker stole more than £40,000 from the store tills in a brazen campaign of theft, a court has heard.

2 mins

Barman's cool idea is set to make him a millionaire

AN ENTREPRENEUR has created the world's first-ever self-cooling can from his bedroom - and now his business is projected to be worth more than $50m within the next year.

2 mins

Stranded spaniel rescued from cliff edge by RNLI 'heroes'

A DOG who became stranded near a cliff edge in Wales after getting into trouble chasing a ball has been rescued by RNLI crew.

2 mins

'We're dreading it' – fears over new toilet-free trains in Valleys

BRAND-NEW electric tram-trains have begun testing on the newly-electrified Valleys railway lines.

2 mins

'My mum always said our brother had been murdered, she was right'

ALAN Jones' mother always believed her son had been murdered.

5 mins

Heroin user robbed OAP of handbag and phone in store car park

AN ELDERLY woman was left traumatised as a serial criminal robbed her in an Asda car park.

1 min

Our girl has no school place after primary moved site

A CHILD has been turned down for a place to start at her local school in September because the primary moved premises, putting her address out of catchment.

5 mins

Council sorry after childcare text to bereaved family

CAERPHILLY council has apologised after mistakenly contacting bereaved parents with a childcare inquiry.

1 min

Homeless thief slept in unlocked cars and stole bank cards

A MAN with a mammoth criminal record is behind bars again after breaking into cars to sleep in them and steal bank cards.

1 min

All summer activities bar walking banned at tourism hotspot

ALL ADVENTURE activities have now been included in a six-month exclusion zone on a section of the Welsh coast.

2 mins

New bridge can't be built until 2026

CONSTRUCTION of a new bridge in Newport which promises to reconnect cut-off residents is now set for a start date no earlier than April 2026.

1 min

Man, 60, sent lurid texts to 'girl aged 12'

A MAN sent disturbing messages to a person he thought to be a 12-year-old girl.

2 mins

Pub hours extended for VE Day anniversary celebrations

PUBS will be able to stay open until lam to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day.

1 min

Influencers like Tate 'fuelling misogyny in schools'

A number of teachers who responded to the NASUWT's survey on behaviour referenced the negative influence that Tate has had on male pupils.

4 mins

Investigation as Channel migrant dies

A MIGRANT has died after a medical emergency on a small boat in the English Channel.

1 min

Two British tourists die in Italy cable car crash

TWO British tourists have died in a cable car crash near Naples.

2 mins

Council agrees to school repairs

A COUNCIL has agreed to more than £500,000 of emergency repairs to a school's crumbling concrete frame.

1 min

Illegal dog breeder made £100,000 selling puppies

AN UNLICENSED dog breeder made £100,000 selling puppies online, a court heard.

2 mins

Council criticised for eco stance

A WELSH council has been criticised for the way it is looking after its green spaces after it chose not to re-think its decision to withdraw from the Green Flag park status.

1 min

Man left 'fighting for his life' after being stabbed on his own doorstep

A MAN was left fighting for his life after being stabbed in the chest on his own doorstep.

2 mins

Three in court over £46k cannabis plants

CANNABIS plants worth up to £46,000 were discovered after police raided a house.

1 min

BBC loses right to show URC games

BC WALES has lost broadcast rights for the United Rugby Championship (URC).

2 mins

Outcry over 'Great Wall of Clydach'

A COLOSSAL 2.1m steel fence placed across the side of a mountain has been dubbed the \"Great Wall of Clydach\" by villagers living near the Welsh beauty spot.

2 mins

Israeli blockade leaves thousands of children in Gaza malnourished

AID groups are raising new alarm over Israel's blockade of the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, where it has barred entry of all food and other goods for more than six weeks.

5 mins

Western Mail Payout delays are an insult to victims

MORE than 30,000 people in the UK were infected with HIV and hepatitis C after being given contaminated blood products in the 1970s and 1980s.

1 min

DIARMUID GAVIN'S DREAM GARDENS

When we plan our gardens, perhaps attracting birds is not always to the forefront of our mind and yet they add a magical dimension to your enjoyment of the garden.

1 min

Flappy days are here again

WING THE CHANGES IN YOUR GARDEN TO ENTICE MORE FEATHERED FRIENDS

2 mins

VIEW BEAUTY!

NESTLING into a prime spot above one of Wales' most glorious beaches, you'll find a stunning modern home that blends the best of energy efficiency with breathtaking and thoughtful design.

2 mins

Ofgem chief wants less ‘heavy handed' approach

THE boss of Ofgem has said he wants to be less \"heavy-handed\" in policing energy firms, including only taking enforcement action in \"serious cases\" of companies failing customers.

1 min

Amazon to close depot as it relocates to capital

AMAZON has confirmed it will be closing its depot in Newport and relocating all staff.

1 min

Forget David Brent, middle managers are unsung heroes of business success

TRAINING has long been seen as one of the most important tools for improving the skills of workers, increasing productivity and enhancing business performance.

4 mins

Firms put brakes on investment plans amid tariffs chaos

THREE-QUARTERS of UK manufacturing and logistics firms are bracing for a hit from US tariffs, with many putting the brakes on investment plans in a blow to the UK Government's growth ambitions, new data reveals.

2 mins

Perfect PITCH

PROMISING a holiday filled with adventure without draining your bank account, campsites across Europe are booming. But how do you choose where to pitch your tent?

1 min

Numitor to reign again in Haydock Veterans' Chase

UMITOR can grab victory again in the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Handicap Chase (Series Final) (3.15pm) at Haydock Park this afternoon.

4 mins

Cofis and students both looking for a pre-play-off boost

CAERNARFON Town and Cardiff Met will aim to head into the European play-offs with a victory when they meet at Oval in th final round of regular season matches in the JD Cymru Premier.

2 mins

Domachowski back in the Cardiff front row to face Ospreys

CARDIFF have recalled Wales prop Corey Domachowski to the starting line-up for this afternoon's 'Judgement Day' showdown with Ospreys at Principality Stadium (3).

2 mins

Callender fit again and back in Wales starting XV to face the Irish

ALEX Callender returns to boost Wales for their penultimate Women's Six Nations game against Ireland at Rodney Parade in Newport tomorrow (3).

1 min

Rogers returns for Scarlets' big clash against Dragons

WALES wing Tom Rogers will return for Scarlets against Dragons in today's URC Judgement Day clash at Principality Stadium (5.30).

3 mins

Wrexham blow as they drop to third

WREXHAM dropped out of the League One automatic promotion places despite coming from behind to earn a point against relegation-threatened Bristol Rovers at the Stok Cae Ras.

1 min

Vipotnik is spot on as the Swans make it four victories in succession

SWANSEA City racked up a fourth straight win under interim boss Alan Sheehan by seeing off struggling Hull City in controversial circumstances at the Swansea.com Stadium Zan Vipotnik's seventh goal of the season from the spot just after half-time was enough to seal all three points for the Swans, who have now officially confirmed their Championship safety.

4 mins

Exiles without a win in six after a stalemate at Dons

NEWPORT County extended their winless run to six matches with an uneventful stalemate on the road against fellow strugglers MK Dons.

2 mins

Bluebirds remain on the brink

CARDIFF City's Championship survival hopes are hanging by a thread after they were beaten by promotion-chasing Sheffield United at Bramall Lane last night.

1 min

The unspoiled part of Wales with secluded bays and dolphins

This underrated coastal sweep has wildlife-rich waters and small towns with boutiques and swish cafes, as Portia Jones finds out

5 mins

Stunning Welsh waterfalls, lakes and coastlines perfect for outdoor swimming

WATERFALL selfies, river dips and dawn swimming in the ocean, it seems like wild swimming is everyone's favourite outdoor activity right now.

7 mins

A year to go... what do we know?

YEAR from now, we will be slap-bang in the middle of election season in Wales.

3 mins

Campaigners fight to save beacon of art

A PETITION has been launched as concerns mount over the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's proposed shake-up of Oriel y Parc Landscape Gallery in St Davids.

3 mins

Extra dates for sold-out The Women of Llanrumney

SHERMAN Theatre has confirmed a week of extra performances of The Women of Llanrumney - Azuka Oforka's devastating historical drama set in the Llanrumney sugar plantation in 18th-century Jamaica.

1 min

The best walks with cracking pub pit stops

A brisk Welsh walk followed by a cheeky pint - what could be better? Portia Jones dons her boots to find the best walk-and-watering-hole options

7 mins

The hidden bakery that sells out of the best fresh pastries you'll ever eat

THERE aren't many things that make you want to get out of bed at 6am, but when it comes to freshly baked pastries, it's a completely different story.

2 mins

Six great buys for your bank holiday bucket list

WITH two May bank holidays on the horizon, and al fresco entertaining finally finding a place in our weekend roster of wining and grazing, it's time to up your wine game.