ELDERLY people in Torfaen could lose a lifeline friendship group because of a shortage of volunteers. Contact the Elderly meets once a month on a Sunday afternoon for tea, bringing together seven people aged between 70 and 92 from across Torfaen who
WELLING UNITED 1 NEWPORT COUNTY 2 Defender Paul Cochlin marked his return to Newport County tonight by scoring the winning goal at Welling. The Exiles' poor run of results is over after a Jason Bowen penalty (15) and Cochlin's glancing header (20)
HUNDREDS of Newport residents took advantage of a free "green" offer from the city council. Queues of people built up at the authority's Telford depot which had more than 1,500 home composters to give away. The council is determined to reduce the
NEWPORT'S council tax payers will see their bills go up by average of 3.5 per cent from April. The expected increase will go towards paying for a £270 million budget which is £10 million, or 4.6 per cent, more than last year. Most of the extra money
RESIDENTS of a Cwmbran road say anti-social behaviour is so bad there that they need a dispersal order to move teenagers on. Janet Carey, 51, of Five Locks Road says she is so worried about the behaviour of youths at night that she has become glued
A NEWPORT grandfather who is living in fear of developing a deadly disease backed a campaign to overturn a House of Lords decision to deny him and hundreds of others the right to compensation. William Scarlett, 69, was diagnosed with pleural plaque
I’m writing this slowly today in case there are any thick people reading it. Obviously, it goes without saying that none of the people reading it ARE thick, I’m talking about OTHER people, not us. I think it must be a law or something
I’m writing this slowly today in case there are any thick people reading it. Obviously, it goes without saying that none of the people reading it ARE thick, I’m talking about OTHER people, not us. I think it must be a law or something
A BURGLAR who broke into a home as the residents slept, stole their car keys and drove off in their car was sent to a young offenders institute for 18 months. Duncan Morgan, 18, of Windsor Avenue, Newbridge, burgled a house on Windsor Road, Newport
A PENSIONER is facing 30 sex abuse charges against ten alleged victims. Glyndwr Jones, 71, of Castle Court, Pontywaun, Cross Keys, is accused of thirty charges including gross indecency, indecent assault and serious sex offences. The allegations
A NEWPORT man who savagely assaulted his ex-wife after she refused to accompany him home from a nightclub has failed in his court appeal to have his sentence reduced. Keith Allan Bennett, 40, of Ford Street, Newport, was jailed for 15 months at Cardiff
A NEWPORT educational group celebrated its fifteenth birthday this month. The Newport branch of Universities of the Third age, which is about informal learning and run by volunteers, has more than 300 activities ranging from art to local history, celebrated
CHILDREN in Gwent are missing out on the taste for adventure and skills taught by the scouting movement because there are not enough leaders, its commissioners say. Assistant Commissioner for Scouts in Monmouthshire Chris Munslow told the Argus: "There
UNIVERSITY students at Caerleon were treated to a performance by the Newport Playgoers as part of their studies. The group played I Take Your Hand in Mine, a play based on love letters between Anton Chekhov and Olga Knipper. After a successful run
NIGHT owl Enzo Maccarinelli today tells the Argus that he's in the best condition of his career ahead of his mouth-watering Battle of Britain' fight with David Haye. WBO cruiserweight king Maccarinelli, part of the Team Calzaghe' stable, puts his WBO
ARGUS reporter Chris Wood will be travelling to Hungary thanks to an award from a travel bursary. Mr Wood, 29, from Machen, will be following the progress of rugby kit donated by teams in Gwent to struggling teams in eastern Europe, and he will see
Five members of the Abergavenny-Beaupreau twinning association have visited the French town to finalise details of the anniversary festival in Abergavenny this July. The two towns have been twinned for 20 years. The visitors talked to locals about
TWO Gwent Police officers were forced to quit the force for misusing police vehicles. The Independent Police Complaints Commission announced today that their conduct hearing into the behaviour of four officers had concluded. Two of the four police
CROSS Keys fitness and skills coach Matthew Back is to leave the club to take up a role as assistant coach with Division One East outfit Caerphilly. Back arrived at Pandy Park in the summer but has moved on to Virginia Park, where he will be responsible
POST offices in Gwent face an anxious wait as the Post Office makes its final decision on sweeping closure plans. More than 20 offices face the axe under the proposals designed to close 2,500 offices across the UK. A six-week consultation period
TENS of thousands of pounds were spent bringing convicted paedophile Roger Gardener to justice after he went on the run, a police officer estimates. DS Dave Ransome of Gwent Police worked on Roger Gardener's case from 2000 until last week, when Gardener
Three quarters of a tonne of scrap vehicle batteries were stolen from the waste transfer station at Llanfoist. They were taken during the night of Friday, February 22. Gwent Police are appealing for anyone with information to call Abergavenny Station
The Newport Gwent Dragons will face Edinburgh at Rodney Parade on Friday (KO 7.10) without skipper Colin Charvis. The region has decided to give the influential back rower extra time to recover from a knee injury. Kevin Morgan takes over the captaincy
YOUNG fitness fanatics in Newbridge are making a splash for charity. Ten keen swimmers, aged eight to 13, have completed a challenge to swim the length of the English Channel. The youngsters had to swim the 22 miles at Newbridge leisure centre over
A CAR and a tanker were in collision on the M4 today. The collision happened at around 9.50am and lane one was blocked by the tanker between Junction 29 and 30 of the westbound M4. The driver of the car was taken to hospital with minor injuries
EBBW Vale loose head prop Ian George has been called into the Newport Gwent Dragons squad for Friday night's Magners League game against Edinburgh at Rodney Parade. George steps in because the Dragons are without Adam Black, who is suspended after being
A GWENT tourist attraction will soon be made free for visitors. Heritage body Cadw is taking over the direct management of the 18th century Blaenavon Ironworks, and from March 21, access at the Ironworks will be free. Most attractions within the
FOUR Newport schools were among the best in Wales, according to education watchdogs. Three hundred schools were inspected by Estyn teams between September 2006 and August 2007. Eighteen were awarded the top grade across all seven areas of their
ENGLAND and Wales were shaken last night by an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale. The epicentre was 8km east of Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, and 22km south west of Grimsby. Areas across Wales felt the tremor
NEWPORT County's recent woes in the Blue Square South are compounded by an injury crisis ahead of tonight's crunch clash at Welling United, (kick-off 7.45pm). The Exiles have taken just two points from their last four league games and currently sit six
TOMORROW'S shake-up in the welfare state is the biggest in more than 60 years. What is remarkable is that it is taking place during the tenure of a Labour government. Among the dramatic proposals are the privatisation of large sections of the benefits
A TIPPER lorry broke down on the M4 today, causing long delays around Tredegar Park. The 18-tonne truck broke down at Junction 28 at around 10am and was moved to the hard shoulder. Traffic officers estimated recovery time would be at least an hour
IT IS of great concern, not only for every parent but also for every business leader, that education standards in Wales are still lagging behind those in England. What is equally worrying is that if the focus is on the numbers of students gaining top
IF history is anything to go by, Wales have a good chance of beating Ireland and claiming their 19th Triple Crown when they travel to Dublin. Many rugby fans see the city as a graveyard of Welsh hopes but that is something of a myth. Ryan Jones' men
A NEWPORT man returned home to a hero's welcome after helping to save the lives of three men in the Himalayas. He talks exclusively to JON DOEL. A CHARITY mountain climber from Newport dramatically saved the lives of three people after rescuing them
WITH the countdown to Wales' Triple Crown showdown with Ireland in Dublin getting ever closer, the Argus asked five supporters from Crumlin for their views. We asked them for their thoughts on Wales' performance during the 47-8 hammering of Italy last
TWO sisters slammed a gang of yobs whose constant abuse drove their elderly father from his Blackwood home. Lynys Saunders and Alma Richards said the parents of the teenagers terrorising elderly residents in Chartist Way and Apollo Way should be punished
COUNCIL tax in Caerphilly is set to rise by 3.5 per cent this year, the Argus can reveal. The council's Labour cabinet met this week to debate the increase, and settled on an above-inflation proposed rise of 3.5 per cent. The proposal is set to
TREE-FELLERS in Monmouthshire who are cold-calling residents offering to cut down and purchase their trees are breaking the law, the council says. Mounmouthshire County Council say they have received reports of a man offering to fell and buy trees
THE owner of a farm near Newport where police seized hundreds of cannabis plants spoke of his "shock" at the discovery. As reported in later editions of yesterday's Argus, police recovered more than 500 cannabis plants with an estimated street value
THE GAP between the best and worst schools in Wales is getting larger, warned the head of education watchdog Estyn in Newport yesterday. Dr Bill Maxwell was also critical of the quality of education services provided by some local authorities. He
Tuesday 11th March, 6pm, St Julian’s Baptist Church Hall POLICE SURGERY Thursday 13th March, 11am, Beaufort Centre Local organizations ~ let me know your news and future events to share with Grassroots readers.
Just a reminder that the Bobby Van Scheme, backed by Gwent Police, give free safety checks and fits free security equipment. With one in three burglaries committed as a result of insecure homes, the Bobby Van Scheme helps the elderly and vulnerable keep
LENTEN LUNCHES will be held on Thursdays at 12 noon starting on February 7th at St Julian’s Methodist Church. Soup, bread and tea will be served in return for a donation to Christian Aid.
Once again the City of Newport Male Choir returns to the St Julian’s Methodist Church for a concert. This is on Thursday 13th March at 7.30pm. The aim is to raise funds for the Orthopaedic Ward at St Woolos Hospital. Tickets are available at £3 from
TO celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Tredegar Town Clock, theTredegar Towncouncil has resurrected the Newport to Tredegar 21-mile Road Race, known as the Clock to Clock race. Starting at the Clock Tower at Newport Civic Centre, the 21-mile point
COMMUNITY leaders in Chepstow are angry after a "poorly designed" riverside apartment complex was narrowly given the go-ahead. A £5 million plan for the Furniture Smart shop and warehouse in The Back to be converted into 18 flats with associated car
