Latest news with #WestWales
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Huge fire engulfs house along with multiple vehicles
Fire crews from across West Wales were called to tackle a tractor fire on Friday that had spread to a nearby property. When the fire service arrived flames had engulfed the kitchen and attic space, as well as two hay bales and two cars. The incident was first reported on the A484 near Llangeler, Carmarthenshire, just after 2pm on July 18 and continued for nearly four hours. Eight sets of breathing apparatus were used, along with a main jet of water and three hose reel jets to contain the blaze. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here A spokesperson for MWWFRS said: "At 2.17pm on Friday, July 18th, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews from Llandysul, Cardigan, Carmarthen, Lampeter, Newcastle Emlyn and Llanelli Fire Stations were called to an incident at Llangeler in Llandysul. READ MORE: Welsh council buys £1.8m farm in secret deal as locals left in the dark READ MORE: Horse riding instructor and woman had threesome with girl under 16, court told "Crews responded to a fire involving one tractor, the fire had spread to bales, two vehicles and a nearby property. "The fire at the property, which was caused by the spread, was confined to the kitchen and attic space." They added: "Crews worked quickly to extinguish the fire and to prevent it from spreading further. Eight breathing apparatus sets, three hose reel jets, one main covering jet and a water shuttling system were used to extinguish the fire. "After extinguishing the fire, firefighters were involved in monitoring at the scene for any remaining hotspots. "Crews left the scene at 5.43pm." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
Daily Mail
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
I went green laning in Wales in an Ineos 4x4 - here's how to take the ultimate rural driving adventure
The world is moving at a frantic pace and for many, the great outdoors is an oasis away from all of it – a chance to breathe fresh air and be awed by unspoilt landscapes. And for motorists, and in particular 4x4 enthusiasts like me, there's no better way to explore those great outdoors than to go green laning; driving on unsurfaced public byways known as 'green lanes' in some of the most rural parts of the UK. Some people think the only adrenaline you can get in a car is driving around a track fast. But green laners are in on the secret that tackling almost inaccessible countryside in a 4x4 is a whole different kind of driving rush. I was lucky enough to spend a day getting to grips with some of the most dramatic green lanes in the UK when I headed to West Wales with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's 4x4 brand Ineos to hit the legendary Strata Florida green lanes. Motoring Reporter Freda Lewis-Stempel takes you along for a ride with Ineos to induct you into the countryside pursuit you've never heard about... What is green laning: Is it the same as off-roading? Before I get into the Strata Florida experience, it's best to explain what greenlaning is, and how it differs from off-roading. Green laning is driving or riding on 'green roads' - unpaved roads, tracks and byways found in rural and remote areas. Some people drive 4x4s like I did, others ride motorbikes. Green lanes can be anything from dirt roads to river crossings, smooth gravel to grassy tracks – and most of the time they are in some of the most beautiful parts of the country. Green laning is often used interchangeably with off-roading as both are done in 4x4s – anything from old Land Cruisers to Series I Land Rovers. But while you are tackling some of the most challenging and exciting terrain in Britain, green laning is not technically off-roading. Off-roading involves private land or organised events, and non-road legal vehicles are permitted, whereas greenlaning is legal driving with road-legal vehicles and has a code of conduct that emphasises responsible exploration of the countryside. 4x4 Sir Jim Ratcliffe built to revive original Defender The Strata Florida in Wales is a place few people know about. Many people head to Snowdonia (now the Eryri National Park), but the Strata Florida in the folds of the Cambrian Mountains is a Meca for greenlaners. Strata Florida (Ystrad Fflur), meaning Vale of Flowers in Latin, is famous for its Cistercian abbey that sits at the start of the green lanes - some of Wales' most popular and demanding byway routes. The route includes 12 ford crossings, a bomb hole drop of 45 degrees, rock slabs, forest tracks and heather vistas. Ceredigion had seen a fair amount of rain in mid-February, and weather conditions can drastically change the way the terrain behaves. So, despite growing up in 4x4s in the Brecon Beacons, and being very au fait with the Ineo Grenadier's immense capabilities off-road, I was glad Green Lane Association rep Adam Hearne from 4x4 Wales led us long the 73-mile route which starts at Llandovery and ends at Rhayader. In our groups of three Grenadiers we journeyed on a selection of small roads, single tracks over the hills and through forests to the official start. The warm up miles got us used to following the slippery ruts, taking it slowly and consistently over rocky climbs, using the overhead 'cockpit' in the Grenadier to select Off-Road Mode and changing into low range (which allows the car to crawl at slow speeds with increased torque) by lifting the transfer case selector collar. Green laning is my favourite thing to do in a car because it requires a different kind of attitude and concentration than track driving The Strata Florida starts along elevated forest tracks over rocks, tree roots and slate - not for people afraid of heights Slow and steady is the name of the game: Speeds of 4mph (or less) are standard because you have to be very previse to make sure you don't damage the car and get over obstacles safely The green lane begins by deviating off the stone forestry track, instead swinging left along a thin elevated track over rocks and tree roots. While not a cliff drop, the right-of-way is high enough and thin enough to give you pause for thought. Then it was onto miles of rocky sections, many moments when the cars crossaxled (when the two diagonal wheels lose contact with the ground) and deep troughs. The views across the valley, although bleak as it was a barren February, were still utterly breathtaking. We were wading along stone roads with water up to the bonnet in some places, which is nothing when the Grenadier has a wading depth of 800m and 'Wading Mode' to kill off the radiator fan. But we did have to hang back and make sure we didn't bunch up and get swept up in the car in front's bow waves. The twist and turns were flagged up on our walkie-talkies, with Adam making sure everyone in the convoy knew when there's an jutting rock in the riverbed that could take out even a Grenadier's BFGoodrich tyre. The single track continues until the main event: the legendary bomb hole. You can go around if needed, but not us. The Grenadier's Hill Descent could do the job for you, but where's the fun in that? The near 45 degree angle is so sharp that you can't see anything below the front of the car and are essentially tipping into it blind You'll need a spotter to guide you down it. I had professional green laner Adam Hearne guiding me, and he explained that I had to brake 'harder than I'd ever braked in my life'.... Even these photos don't do the bomb hole justice: approaching it is most akin to the moment when you're at the top of a rollercoaster and you can't see the drop below because the angle is so steep. A 45 degree plunge of glossy rock, the approach has to be exact. Adam and the Ineos team got out to spot us with Adam merrily saying: 'Prepare to brake harder than you've ever braked in your life'. He wasn't wrong – I was inching the Grenadier forwards, unable to see anything under the front of the car and just relying on my spotters while my foot was all but cemented to the brake pedal. The bomb hole incline is so sharp that you can easily catch the back end when you get to the bottom and pull away. Many people catch their tow bars and rear bumpers here. There's no phone signal on the Strata Florida, it's just you and your friends in the middle of nowhere The bomb hole highlighted how track driving requires one kind of concentration, while green laning requires a whole different kind. But they're equal in that you can't lapse in focus for one second. For green laning you need patience because its a slow and steady pursuit, you have to wait your turn, and it takes a while for all groups in the convoy to get past obstacles. But this all brings a great sense of comradery. It's the antithesis to speed - and that keeps you connected to the countryside around you. There's no phone signal, it's just you and your friends in the middle of nowhere, watching the red kites and skylarks and the sheep grazing while you wait for everyone. The moments of pause, while you wait your turn or for the cars behind you, are also a nice chance to stretch your legs - so hop out when you have the chance. Even in the ridiculously comfy Grenadier seven hours was a long time to be sat down. There's a real sense of comradery when green laning, as you often go out as a pack and work together to guide your way along the routes. Walkie-talkies keep you in communication The closing stretch was a mixture of pine tree-walled stretches of troughs, rocks and river crossings until a gravel track took us back to a tarmac road that rejoins civilisation. One memory will last with me forever: The convoy had regrouped, the car was full of people as a few crew members had piled in for the ride home, and we drove the final stretch over the mountain ridge as I played Led Zepplin's Whole Lotta Love. All you could see in the closing darkness of the Welsh sky was a line of Grenadier lights making their way down the valley. It was everyone together, it was the green and burnt orange of the valley, and the power of the Grenadier – and it was spectacular. It was green laning at its best. The end of the greenlaning brought us all back together in convoy Why is green laning popular and when did it take off? It's hard to know the exact number of people who enjoy green laning in the UK. The Green Lane Association – a national not-for-profit organisation founded in 1995 - has an active membership of 6,000 individuals, with another 20,000 affiliate members. However, as people don't have to green lane with an association, and many go privately or via experience packages, it's difficult to ascertain how many are doing it at one time. The modern term 'green laning' came in with recreational use and rose in popularity during the late 20th and early 21st Century when the publication of Ordnance Survey maps made the green-dotted routes more accessible to the public, and more people owned 4x4s and motorbikes. Greenlaning became popular in the late 20th and early 21st Centuries are more people bought 4x4s and Ordnance Survey maps made the green-dotted routes easily findable How to green lane – where can you drive and the rules to live by For a complete A-Z guide to green laning - from everything to whether you can move obstructions to what kit to take - your best bet is to head to the Green Lane Association website. But we'll cover some basic information anyway. When you're wanting to go to green laning, there are two route options: Byways Open to All Traffic (BOATs) and Unclassified Roads (UCRs) - look for these green routes on a map. Your best friend will be an OS map - make sure you're fully clued up as to where you're going, where field boundaries are, and how to navigate yourself out of wrong turn. We've all come up against a wrongly marked footpath, and it's the same for green lanes. Some could have a Traffic Regulation order (TRO) on them, or it could just be impossible to pass through in a vehicle, so make sure you can map read! The Green Lane Association shows you which green rights of way to look out for on an OS map - the greenlaners guide to the countryside This is why I'd fully recommend going green laning for the first time with an experienced rep from the Green Lane Association, or someone they recommend, because a rep will know the routes with their eyes closed and will warn you of any unseen obstacles or unsafe routes. If you are still determined to go off your own back then, as well as diligently planning your routes, make sure you know your vehicle's capabilities - wading depth, ground clearance – these are vital. You might be wondering how dangerous can green laning be if you're going as slow as 4mph - but deaths do happen, including in 2008 on this very route. The Strata Florida has some huge vitas over the Cambrian Mountains. This part of Wales is much less frequented by tourists than Snowdonia Why greenlaning is the perfect way to see the countryside Navigating the rugged terrain, constantly being tested by the changing landscape leaves you with an immense sense of satisfaction and a high that will last for days. And you're a better driver when you've spent seven hours behind the wheel crawling through the countryside appreciating the power and scope of a true off-roading car. And at the same time, you've explored landscapes most people don't even know exist. And the slow pace allows you to look out the car window and properly absorb the way the wilderness changes as you go.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
British DJ, 24, is in a coma after suffering brain bleed in quad bike crash on Greek party island
A British DJ is in a coma after suffering a horror quad bike accident on the Greek party island of Zante just days before he was set to return home, Kai Roberts, 24, was working his 'dream job' on a month-long residency at the Ikon nightclub before the tragic crash took place. Roberts, of Pembrokeshire, West Wales, suffered a seizure and a bleed on the brain at the weekend which resulted in him being placed into a medically induced coma. Despite the severity of his injuries, he is said to be in a stable condition. His girlfriend, Kya Gillane-Heywood, 20, said the incident took place at around 5pm on Sunday while he was a passenger on a bike being ridden by his friend. The quadbike then smashed into a wall on a coastal road. Roberts was initially taken to the general hospital in Zante after waiting an hour for the ambulance, but had to be flown to the Greek mainland. His friend was treated for minor injuries after the incident. Roberts' distraught partner said she found out about the accident through a friend as she did not have her phone with her at the time. 'She came and found me and told me so I rang the other boy he was with to see what was going on,' Kya said. 'At that point they didn't think it was as serious. It turned out when he got to the medical centre, they transferred him straight to the hospital and they did a CT scan and he had a bleed on the brain.' His girlfriend called the situation 'horrible', adding that she and his loved ones are all 'still in shock' following the tragic incident. 'He came out and left his job on unpaid leave. He was DJing, and supporting (DJs) Nathan Dawe, Tom Zanetti, and Freddie Lineker at a nightclub in Zante,' she said. 'I've never seen him so happy with this chance. It was massive for his career. It was going really well. They wanted him back next year. Everyone just loved him'. Kya revealed the family are unsure whether the insurance will cover Roberts but have been focusing on cost of flying out his loved ones to be with him. Following the crash, friends have rallied around to raise money for Roberts' care and more than £5,500 has been donated within 48 hours of the fundraiser going live. Toby Ellis, station manager at Pure West Radio where Kai has a house music show, said: 'It's been an incredibly difficult 24 hours for all of us at Pure West Radio as we come to terms with the news about one of the PWR Dance Family DJs, Kai Roberts, who has suffered a serious head injury following a quad bike accident in Zanté. 'Kai experienced a seizure and a bleed on the brain and is currently in a coma, receiving urgent medical care in a Greek hospital. 'He had been out in Zanté for the month of June, landing some incredible gigs supporting big-name DJs, and was due to return home tomorrow 'His close family are now travelling to be by his side.' On Monday morning, Roberts' brother Corey, 18, flew to Greece with his family. 'We heard about the bleed on the brain, following the CT scan, that's when we were all in bits, and we booked flights out to Greece,' he said. 'My brother is my idol. 'Everyone loves him. He's well known and everywhere he goes, everyone loves him. He's just a massive character. He's got the biggest smile in the room.'
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
WRU postpones revamp of leading women's teams
Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder finished third and fourth respectively in the 2024-25 Celtic Challenge [Huw evans agency] The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has postponed the proposed revamp of top-tier women's rugby in Wales that was due to be in place for 2025-26. Celtic Challenge teams Gwalia Lightning and Brython Thunder were to be replaced by two fresh set-ups to continue in the Celtic Challenge, a competition in which two sides each from Ireland and Scotland also play. Advertisement The nation's four professional men's regions - Scarlets, Ospreys, Dragons and WRU-owned Cardiff and "selected universities" - were invited to bid to form the new teams. But an internal email between senior WRU officials seen by BBC Sport Wales states the process has been paused "due to the ongoing transformation in the men's game". Since the WRU took over financially-stricken Cardiff in April, the Arms Park club and Dragons have signed a new agreement with the governing body, but a split has emerged with the possibility of Ospreys and Scarlets entering a legal dispute with the governing body. That scenario has left the long-term future of the west Wales teams in doubt, with options including them continuing, but on less funds than their east Wales rivals. Advertisement Speculation has also included the possibility of Welsh men's professional rugby being reduced to three or two teams. Any reduction in the men's game would impact the options for where new women's teams could be based. The email from WRU head of women's rugby Belinda Moore states: "We have made the decision that Brython Thunder and Gwalia Lightning will continue to represent Wales in the flagship tournament next season. "We have taken this in the best interest of our players and management teams and believe this is the right way to guarantee a professional elite sporting environment for our players in the necessary timeframe. Advertisement "It remains central to the WRU's strategy to grow marketable and commercially viable high-performance clubs for our women players in Wales and we will revisit this in the near future. "I would like to thank all parties for the work they have done to date during the tender process, it is not wasted, and we look forward to picking this up again in earnest at the appropriate time." The WRU has confirmed the development in its domestic women's game with Moore stating: "In a pivotal year for the women's game, with the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England this autumn, we are making sure a stable, centrally supported high-performance environment is underpinning our senior women's squad." Many of Wales' top internationals play for English sides in the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) league with the Celtic Challenge competition set up in 2023 to help develop players in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
The Sun
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
I plan to re-open abandoned UK theme park & turn our town back into a ‘booming' tourist destination
AN ambitious resident has set out to re-open an abandoned UK theme park. The anonymous local plans to revive Oakwood theme park in west Wales. 5 5 5 Earlier this year, the park has announced its closure after 40 years as it had suffered financial losses. Despite the parent company Aspro Parks investing over £25million to rescue the site from shutting down since 2008, the number of visitors continued to decline. The statement read: "It is with much sadness that we have to announce the immediate closure of Oakwood Theme Park and confirm the park will not open for the 2025 season. "Following a strategic review of the business, Aspro Parks, owner and operator of Oakwood Theme Park have reached this difficult decision due to the challenges presented by the current business environment. "All possible avenues have been explored to avoid the closure, and we fully recognise the impact of the closure on the local community and the loss that will be felt as a result." But the local community isn't giving up on the theme park yet. One Welsh resident has set himself a challenging goal of bringing Oakwood back to life and created an organisation called Richens Leisure Projects (RLP) for the cause. They told Wales Online: "I grew up in west Wales. I remember every queue, every hill climb, every first drop. "Oakwood wasn't just a theme park — it was a rite of passage for kids in this country. You didn't just go there. You remembered it." The new initiative hopes to boost employment with an estimate of more than 100 seasonal job opportunities in the Pembrokeshire area, where the park has lost some of its well-known rides. Abandoned theme park left 'frozen in time' where stranded Orca whales and bottlenose dolphins have been left to rot RLP said it has developed a phased capital reinvestment strategy to "re-establish Oakwood as a national leisure destination". They continued: "This isn't about nostalgia — it's about rebuilding pride. It's about giving today's kids the same memories we had, only with something stronger behind it: community ownership and a long-term plan. "If the park's future is undecided, we'd welcome the chance to speak to the owners. We're not here to pressure — we're here to restore what still means something." The local effort to restore the park to its former glory has been met with enthusiasm as the project has found financial backers. According to RLP, they have prepared a planned, actionable strategy supported by sound numbers and real modelling. The proposal is still open after being presented to the existing owners. The Sun has also reached out to Aspro Parks for a comment. Inspired by the legend of King Arthur, the now decaying, desolate theme park opened in Chorley, Lancs, in 1983, closing its doors in 2012. The rotting site could now be replaced with a 350-home village under new proposals. 5 5
