Caernarfon Herald
Hotel headlock left man gasping for air
A MAN at a hotel used for the homeless was attacked by another resident and put in a headlock. The victim struggled to breathe and suffered multiple injuries including suspected cigarette burns on his ankle. Christopher Jones, 33, attacked Tomos...
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Lakeside path has shut for a year for National Grid work
ONE of the most stunning lowerlevel walks in Eryri (Snowdonia) is closed until 2027. There is no access to the northern edge of Llyn Padarn, to allow National Grid work being undertaken to replace the existing underground cables between Dinorwig Power...
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Former factory site would be bulldozed in data centre plan
AN empty Caernarfon factory site remembered for one of the longest running industrial disputes in British history would be demolished under plans to turn the area into a data centre. The Ferodo site at Griffiths Crossroads was a major employer for...
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Christmas Message for 2025
THE theologian and World War II martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who lived and witnessed in days as challenging as ours, maintains that the Bible “makes it quite clear that Christ helps us not by virtue of his omnipotence but rather by virtue of his...
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CHILD BEGGED DAD TO STOP AS HE HIT MUM
Tony Jones, 29, of Maes Heulog, Caernarfon, was jailed for 12 months for assault causing actual bodily harm.
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High St butcher’s no longer for the chop as new local owners take over
A BUTCHER’S is set to reopen on a North Wales high street in a sudden turnaround. Cig Porthmadog Meats had been trading on Porthmadog’s main shopping street for nearly 20 years. But as reported in our sister paper The Daily Post, last month butcher...
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4 PAGES OF PUZZLES... NOW ON P4-7 OF YOUR NEW LIFESTYLE PULLOUT
“THE Advent wind begins to stir, with sea-like sounds in our Scotch fir…” The poet’s words feel truer than ever as the year tilts toward winter. The dark mornings and afternoons, the wind scraping rain from the roads. This is Advent’s landscape: the...
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MAN CRUSHED TO DEATH BY TRUCK ON ISLAND
An inquest yesterday heard how Christopher Lamont was crushed to death trying to stop a truck rolling backwards on Ynys Enlli (Bardsey Island)
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Senedd poll votes will be counted on the next day
VOTES at the next Senedd election on May 7 will be counted during the daytime on the day after the poll. The Electoral Management Board has instructed Wales’ Returning Officers, the people in charge of running elections in Wales, to begin counting the...
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People urged to see pharmacists first to take the pressure off NHS
PEOPLE will be directed to their local pharmacy for free help and advice with common illnesses this winter. The Welsh Government Help Us Help You campaign, which launched on Saturday, provides information to ensure people get the right care for their...
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Two men arrested after police probe into head Foden
TWO men have been arrested following police enquiries related to convicted paedophile Neil Foden. The arrests were made following allegations of “non-recent abuse of their position of trust” by conducting inappropriate relationships. ITV News...
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Cyclist spotted riding mountain rail tracks
WALKERS on Wales’ highest mountain are being asked to avoid hiking along its railway track (pictured). Snowdon Mountain Railway (Rheilffordd yr Wyddfa)is warning the practice is both “dangerous and damaging”. More than 600,000 ascend the peak each...
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Common challenges for mountain farmers across continents
“CLIMATE change is a threat we live with on a daily basis,” said Jenipher Sambazi, a coffee farmer in Uganda and face of the Welsh coffee brand ‘Jenipher’s Coffi’ while meeting Teleri Fielden, who farms in Nantmor, Eryri. Teleri, who also works as a...
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Huge sand-moving op starts at resort beach
DIGGERS moved onto a popular Gwynedd beach last week to shift vast quantities of wind-blown sand. Huge dunes have built up on the Barmouth shoreline with the volume of sand in danger of smothering a lifeboat slipway. At the end of the main summer...
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Official report into paedophile head teacher delayed at last minute
THE release of a report into the sexual abuse of girls by a paedophile head teacher has been delayed just hours before it was due to be made public. The year-long investigation into Neil Foden, which was due to have its findings published by the North...
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Wildlife charity fundraising to buy floodplain pasture
A charity wants to buy a section of floodplain pasture and river beach in North Wales. The section along the Afon Glaslyn is known as Traeth Bach (Little Beach). The bid is being made by Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife - a Welsh charity dedicated to...
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RAF TRIBUTE TO FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR KILLED IN OFF-DUTY PARAGLIDING ACCIDENT
A tribute has been paid to a “highly respected” RAF Flight Lieutenant who died in a paragliding accident. Geoff Corser (pictured right), from Beaumaris, died in the crash at Dinorwig Quarry last month. He was described as an “esteemed flying...
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Drought declared for N.Wales despite long-awaited rain
A “DROUGHT” has been declared for North Wales following the hot summer. Natural Resources Wales has moved the region into drought status amid reports of streams drying up, “fish in distress” and other environmental impacts. NRW released a statement...
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BID TO BUY BUILDING ‘NOT FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS’
A COUNCIL has released a statement to address “misinformation” over its bid to buy up a block of student halls in Bangor. Cyngor Gwynedd is in negotiations about purchasing the Ty Glyn building in the city. The property was once a tax office but later...
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Festive Haven for a Sleighcation
A UK holiday park operator is to capitalise on the UK’s staycation trend by opening a Gwynedd facility over Christmas for the first time. Haven said festive visits to Hafan y Mor, near Pwllheli, will be akin to a winter “sleigh-cation” The decision...
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Why the cost of alcohol in Wales may be set to rise
THE Welsh Government is considering raising the minimum alcohol price in Wales despite mixed reports on the effectiveness of the policy. Minimum Unit Pricing (MUP) for alcohol in Wales came into force in March 2020. It was set at a rate of 50p per...
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‘Alarm bells’ sound over revamp for farming scheme
SENEDD members criticised the lack of an economic impact assessment and long-term certainty after the Welsh Government unveiled revised financial support for farmers. Samuel Kurtz, the Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary, warned of broken...
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Three go to hospital after head-on crash
A HEAD-ON crash that shut a Gwynedd road for hours left three people in hospital. The incident happened on Friday afternoon on the A4244 near Deiniolen – closing the road for hours. Three people were taken to hospital. One man was later transferred...
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Quarry hits back against intruders with hi tech
CCTV has been installed at a famous quarry after trespassing incidents. Vivian Quarry, on the edge of Eryri is part of the vast Dinorwig slate complex, once the world’s second largest slate mine. Since the Gwynedd slate quarry closed in 1960, rain and...
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Plaid Cymru marks 100 years where it all began
PLAID Cymru held major celebrations in Pwllheli to mark the 100th anniversary of its founding. On August 5, 1925, in the Maes Gwyn building in Pwllheli, Plaid Cymru was founded. A century later, the party returned to the town on Saturday to mark this...
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County’s rivers are among UK’s cleanest
RIVERS in southern Gwynedd are amongst the cleanest in the UK, a citizen science initiative has revealed. Elsewhere in Wales, water quality is poorer - but nowhere near as bad as in England. This year’s Great UK WaterBlitz showed that 37% of water...
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Major investment at pumped hydro plants could protect jobs and energy security
A GIGANTIC investment could be made at two famous sites, but only a small number of people will see where that money is spent. Buried in the slate scarred hillsides of North Wales lie two hidden but vitally important hydroelectric plants. Ffestiniog,...
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‘I touched a nerve’: Plaid MP slams PM on his migration speech
PRIME Minister Keir Starmer bluntly dismissed a Welsh MP’s query regarding his recent speech on immigration, stating she was ‘talking rubbish.’ Plaid Cymru interpreted the retort as evidence their Westminster leader’s question ‘touched a...
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PC FILMED PUNCHING MAN NOT GUILTY OF ASSAULT
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Warning as toxic algae spotted in Llyn Tegid
A TOXIC algae warning has been issued for Wales’s largest natural lake. Eryri National Park said the blue-green algae had been found in parts of Llyn Tegid, Bala, sharing a picture of the algae (above). Visitors, locals and dog walkers are being...
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Large amount of drugs and cash seized in raid
A LARGE amount of suspected Class A drugs and cash was seized following a raid in Caernarfon. North Wales Police (NWP) used a power drill and an Enforcer breaching ram to make a forced entry into the property. A 33-year-old man was arrested on...
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Minister ‘very happy’with latest drop in hospital waiting times
WALES’ health secretary, Jeremy Miles, has said he is ‘very happy’ with Wales’ latest NHS waiting time figures – but political opponents insist the Welsh Government is on track to miss a key target it set itself. There has been a fall in the longest...
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Filling empty place with new hope and purpose
I’M standing in Glynrhonwy Quarry, Llanberis, one of the quarries that helped roof much of Europe just over a century ago. Just standing here you can feel the echoes of times past when the sound of hammer and steam would have filled this ridge. The...
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Back in the Ring
A community bidding to save its village pub raised just under £200,000 in a matter of weeks. The Brondanw Arms, known locally as Y Ring, in Llanfrothen, dates back to the 17th century. It had been operated by Robinsons Brewery on a long lease from the...
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Holiday let ‘lit up like an ocean liner’
A LUXURY holiday let may be shut down over claims it is making life a “misery” for neighbours in a small village on the edge of Eryri. The property, called Plas Coch Barn in Penisarwaun, is a former outbuilding converted into a luxury holiday home...
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Community Rings round for share of support for pub
A COMMUNITY wants to secure the future of a pub that has been closed since last year. The Brondanw Arms, known locally as The Ring, in Llanfrothen, had been operated by Robinsons Brewery on a long lease from the Brondanw/Portmeirion Properties...
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Staff make claims of a ‘toxic work culture’ at Welsh language centre
STAFF at a Welsh language and heritage centre have accused management of presiding over an “unhealthy and toxic” culture at the site. A letter, signed by several employees at Nant Gwrtheyrn, claimed there was an atmosphere of “bullying” that sapped...
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REMOVING PLANKS
A Minister went to visit one of his parishioners and was shown into the dining room at the back of the house. During the ensuing conversation the host began to complain about the family next door and some of their ‘filthy’ habits. “I mean, look at...
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FOOD EXPO TO FEATURE RECORD NUMBER OF SUPPLIERS
A RECORD number of 120 suppliers will be showcasing their products at a flagship food exhibition in North Wales where sales are forecast to top £1 million. Thousands of buyers are expected at Harlech Foodservice’s annual two-day trade fair, Expo 25,...
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Scope charity set to close 3 N.Wales shops
SCOPE is looking to close 77 of its 138 UK shops, with three stores in North Wales on the hitlist for the first phase. The charity said reduced footfall alongside rising costs had left some shops losing money. This has seen them announce drastic...
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FOUL PLAY
AN ex-football manager who punched an assistant referee at a match has been given a suspended prison sentence. Amlwch Town FC’s then-manager, Robert Williams-Jones, was recorded assaulting his victim during Penrhyndeudraeth FC’s 8-0 win at Amlwch on...
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A time to reflect – and meet the challenges ahead
2024 began with Welsh farmers expressing concern, worry, frustration and – at times – anger over Welsh Government’s proposals within its ‘Keep Farmers Farming’ consultation. The year ends with similar emotions being expressed over the UK Government’s...
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Free Gifts!
JANUARY is here - so of course that means the New Year Sales. I’m not a big fan of them. Christmas is a glorious festival. It brings joy into people’s lives at the darkest period of the year. But it also brings excess. So for me, January is time to...
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Christmas is God’s sign that he is with us in our darkest places
IN his Christmas message, Archbishop Andrew John focuses on those who are lonely or grieving, as highlighted by the poignant John Lewis Inspired Christmas Advert for charities. Acknowledging that Christmas can be a difficult and painful time, he...
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Our worst fears a reality
CASH-STRAPPED North Wales councils slammed the Welsh Government for its announcement that four of the six northern authorities will likely see a rise in annual funds well below the national average. The Local Government Provisional Settlement is the...
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Advent – preparing for Christmas
HOW often do we look at the mess this world is in, how people are killing each other, cheating each other, lying to each other, using and abusing each other? It breaks God’s heart to see this. It must be tempting for Him just to swoop in and sort it...
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Unions welcome SFS changes... but stress there’s still much to do
WELSH Government last week published its updated proposals for the Sustainable Farming Scheme (SFS) – the primary source of government support for the future of Welsh farming starting in 2026 – to qualified support from farming unions. The Sustainable...
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Controversial ‘tourist tax’ details revealed as bill goes to Senedd
A FAMILY of four visiting Wales could have to pay an extra £3-£5 per night depending on what type of accommodation they use, the Welsh Government has announced. The visitor levy, dubbed a “tourism tax”, could be imposed from 2027. The new charges will...
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Sir Bryn launches prize to highlight rich heritage of Welsh singing
A NEW prize aimed at honouring Welsh heritage and promoting diverse young voices in global song has been launched. As part of its 75th birthday celebrations, the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) has unveiled the prize in partnership with...
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NHS treatment waiting lists at a record high
THE number of people waiting for NHS treatment in Wales is at a record high. The most recent data, released by the Welsh Government in October, shows as of July this year there were about 619,200 people waiting on treatment waiting lists in...
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Rugby club’s plans to sell booze met with objections
A GWYNEDD rugby club’s desire to sell booze has sparked concerns over anti-social behaviour, parking and traffic issues. A premises licence application has been made to Cyngor Gwynedd by Bala Rugby Club. The council’s central licensing sub-committee...
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‘We did our best, I promise...’Grenfell Tower, London Fire Brigade.
I found myself choking back tears as I read tributes written on Fire Service T-shirts and bouquets at the site of Britain’s worst residential fire since World War II. As an on call fire-fighter myself, I have some insight to their experience, but I...
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GWYNEDD’S £6M HAUL FROM SECOND HOMES COUNCIL TAX PREMIUM
A LOCAL authority fighting to curb second-home numbers has revealed the spiralling income it derives by hiking council tax premiums. Cyngor Gwynedd receipts doubled to £6m after the premium was increased to 100%, and there has been another big jump to...
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ERYRI TAKE-THE-BUS MESSAGE FINALLY GETTING THROUGH
TRANSPORT chiefs believe their take-the-bus message is being heard by visitors swarming to Y Wyddfa (Snowdon). A bus service set up to cope with surging tourism, and to offer a sustainable last-mile alternative to the car, has hit new usage...
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