Western Mail

So How Do We Protect Our Kids?

The row over paedophiles and the law was dramatically reignited last night, as the Home Secretary announced parents could be informed of sex offenders' whereabouts in the future. It's a move which brings the law here a step closer to Megan's Law in America, where parents have the right to know whether there are any paedophiles in their area. Campaigners, including Sara Payne, the mother of eight-year-old Sarah who was murdered by a paedophile, welcomed John Reid's announcement.

Send for the Cavalry

Wales coach Gareth Jenkins last night offered a message of hope to the nation as he looked forward to picking his first-choice XV for his next game in charge Jenkins will have a glut of senior stars back again for the autumn clash with Australia in November as he begins the countdown to the 2007 World Cup. And he reckons a mix of the older hands with some of the young guns who learned from the two- Test tour to Argentina can give Wales a potent force to make the world sit up and take notice. ...

Patient Refused Lifesaving Treatment 'by Pen-Pusher'

A grandfather has been refused funding for a new prostate cancer treatment for a second time - just a week after other patients were told they could have it. A special panel has ruled that David Powell, 54, is not an exceptional case to receive NHS funding for brachytherapy treatment in England. The grandfather-of-four has accused Health Commission Wales of infringing his human rights by denying him the treatment and is now seeking legal advice. But without the means to pay for brachytherapy ...

Jenkins Sure Wales Will Reap Benefit

Gareth jenkins insisted Wales will be rewarded on two counts from their summer policy. He maintains the decision to leave 21 leading players at home was the right one with the World Cup looming on the horizon. And Jenkins is adamant the taste of the big time Wales' young guns have had will make them hungry for more international rugby. He gave his thoughts after watching Wales whitewashed for the first time in a Test rubber in Argentina, following a 45-27 defeat in the second Test at Velez Sa...

Beryl Goes Gold Again for Toon Queen Joanna

Cardiff animator Joanna Quinn has walked away with three awards at the world's most prestigious animation festival. She was awarded the prizes at the International Animated Film Festival in France for her eight-minute short, Dreams and Desires - Family Ties. The hand-drawn film scooped The Critics Award For Most Original Short Film, The Audience Award for Best Festival Film and The Special Jury Prize.

Sex and Rugs and Sausage Rolls (or Why Wales Is Top of the Picnic Hot Spots)

Once picnics in Wales were characterised by rain and soggy sandwiches, but a revolution has the country leading the way in alfresco dining. No longer reserved for miserable family outings, picnics have become the latest must-do activity for those who are rejecting fancy restaurants in favour of enjoying sausage rolls and similar fare in the great outdoors. The hot start to summer has inevitably fuelled the trend, with supermarkets reporting picnic food has been flying off the shelves. But the...

Snowdon Body May Be Man Lost in January

A body that had been lying in Snowdonia for several months could be that of a 44-year-old hill walker. But the identity will not be known for certain until tests are carried out at a post mortem. It was lying at the foot of a 100ft gully and was recovered by the Llanberis mountain rescue team, four members of an RAF team and a police officer after a nine-hour operation that ended on Saturday night. Eventually the body was winched off the mountain by an RAF Valley rescue helicopter and flown t...

Soaring Gun Crime Brings Call for Tough Action and Longer Jail Terms

More people than ever in Wales are experiencing gun crime as figures show that firearms offences have almost trebled in four years. One in six people have seen a gun that they believe to be illegal, according to a report released today by the Control Arms Campaign, led by Oxfam, Amnesty International and the International Action Network on Small Arms. And latest Home Office figures show that the number of firearms offences in Wales - excluding air weapons offences - have risen from 106 in 200...

University Is Preparing Tina for Take-Off

Engineers at Swansea University are working on developing the world's first 'intelligent' airport. The project, named Tina (The Intelligent Airport) aims to fit airport entrances with biometric sensors so the building itself will recognise people trying to travel with false documents. And the approaches of the intelligent airport will be armed with explosive and chemical (drug) detectors.

Millennium Centre Is Choice for Boyce

Welsh entertainer Max Boyce told yesterday of his affection for the Wales Millennium Centre, a theatre which he believes to be unrivalled. The singer and comedian has become the ambassador of the theatre's Take Your Seat scheme which offers members of the public the chance to buy a seat in the Donald Gordon Theatre. For pounds 500 they can purchase the seat and have their name, a name of their choice or a dedication engraved on it. Boyce said he had agreed to take on the role, because of the ...

Does Farmer Have Right to Rome?

We Should Be Proud of Our Efforts, Insists Duncan

Wales captain Duncan Jones told his squad they can be proud of their efforts in his end-of-tour message. Although deeply disappointed at the extent of Wales' 45-27 second Test defeat against Argentina, he attempted to rally his colleagues. 'Everyone can be really proud of their efforts,' insisted the hair-bear prop. 'It's a tough environment and everyone stood up to the challenge well. 'I think everyone who has played on this tour - and even the boys who have not played - can go home with a l...

Hook Still has Bright Future

Ian gough last night predicted James Hook will bounce back from a difficult outing against Argentina. Wales' senior pro in the team that were beaten 45-27 by the Pumas at Buenos Aires' Velez Sarsfeld spoke up for the 20-year-old. Hook had a kick charged down for an Argentine try, was sin- binned for a high tackle, failed to find touch on occasion and missed a penalty shot at goal.

Six Nations Would Be Magnificent Seven with Us, Pleads Pichot

Agustin pichot made a passionate plea for the Six Nations to be expanded to include Argentina after they beat Wales for the fourth time in five matches. And the Pumas skipper even went as far as to suggest Argentina would be willing to play their home matches at Llanelli!

Tourists Flock to See the Surprise Sheep of London

A welsh butcher took advantage of an ancient law to drive sheep across the Millennium Bridge in London on Saturday. John Vernon, who runs a butcher's shop in Holt, Wrexham, was one of 30 liverymen from the Worshipful Company of Butchers who took up to 30 sheep on a one- mile trip through London. The right to drive sheep through London was granted to all the liverymen of the company several centuries ago. At the time it was an important perk because all the abattoirs were based within the city.

Trawlerman Escapes Chilling Seas

Hopes were fading last night for a man who disappeared after his trawler capsized and sank. An air and sea search was still going on off the West Wales coast last night. Earlier the missing man's crew- mate was found alive after surviving in the sea for more than 11 hours. The survivor, 31, was found yesterday on Pendine beach in Carmarthenshire after battling against the tide and chilling sea temperatures to reach the shore. Neither man has yet been identified by the emergency services, alth...

Clueless, Disappointing, Bewildered, Naive: We Need to Learn Some Lessons

Following the Welsh team is a bit like playing snakes and ladders. Some days you are up and others, like Saturday, you are down. In fact, the performance at the weekend put me on a huge downer because it was such a clueless performance. After all the promise of the narrow defeat in Puerto Madryn the Welsh team descended to the lowest rung of the ladder imaginable in Buenos Aires.

The World Cup Fashion Winners Are Trinidad and Tobago

The World Cup has provided the perfect opportunity for the football WAGs (that's wives and girlfriends to the uninitiated) to go shopping, but when it comes to winning the fashion stakes it's the fans who are in the lead. While the English favour silly hats and St George's costumes, the rest of the world have been turning the stands into a veritable catwalk of style and beauty. There's been a real mix between subtly sophisticated and full dress- up costume, but there's no doubt that it's not ...

Student's Design Tribute to Mining Heritage

An architecture student who was 'devastated' when part of the colliery where her late grand-father worked was turned into modern apartments, has designed a plush leisure facility as a memorial for the mine's workers. Jody Powell, an interior architecture student at Uwic, produced the plans for the Bath House at Penallta Colliery, near Ystrad Mynach, where her grandfather worked before he died of emphysema.

Crouch + Couch = Static Property Market As Armchair Fullbacks Put House Moves On Hold

Estate agents are willing England to get knocked out of the World Cup - so goggle-eyed soccer fans will get off their sofas and start buying and selling houses again. A leading agency which has studied the activity of the market during the last five tournaments, says the market will go through a dull period, with many people putting off major decisions such as house-buying until they can give them their full attention. In the meantime, Rooney, Crouch and Beckham are proving more of a draw tha...