News

Bluestone employee eats pancakes to break personal record

Published

8 years ago

February 14, 2018

Tom Sinclair

LAURA HUGHES is very competitive, so much so, she even competes with herself.

It is for that reason that she was determined to beat her own record of eating 54 pancakes on Shrove Tuesday last year.

Spurred on by her colleagues within the Sales and Marketing team at Bluestone, Laura tucked into the homemade treats for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Laura, 26, said the tradition started at the age of eight when she and her friend competed to see who could eat the most on Pancake Day.

“It was an annual challenge, which we took quite seriously, but when she moved away I was stumped as to what to do. I decided that I would compete against myself, or last year’s me,” said Laura.

But it was in university, when Laura was challenged by an equally competitive cheerleader friend, that the total amount she had to eat was dramatically increased.

“I suddenly faced a new challenger and I was not about to give in, so the number I ate soared from a reasonable 16 or 17 to something like 40. It meant that every year I had to better that and now I’m at 55.”

Bringing her pancakes in work each year and sharing with her colleagues, Laura sets about her challenge by eating pancakes, usually with just butter and sugar.

But Laura takes it all in her stride, even hosting a pancake party at her home each year.

“Each pancake is about 10cm in diameter, so they are not that massive. I prefer butter and sugar but when I get to the point when I feel quite sick, I have a bit of lemon to cut through the richness.”

Colleague Eirian Price, Assistant Sales and Marketing Manager has worked out that if Laura live to be 80, she will have to eat a whopping 109 pancakes to meet her challenge.

“We all love a pancake or two on Shrove Tuesday, but Laura has taken this to a whole new level,” he said.

“She insists that no one should ever buy pancakes, because she says ultimately they are only ever made of varying quantities of flour eggs and milk.”

Community

Residents evacuated after Carmarthenshire fire as investigation continues

Published

36 minutes ago

March 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

EMERGENCY SERVICES remain at the scene of a serious property fire in Kidwelly as investigations continue and efforts are made to make the building safe.

The fire broke out on Lady Street in the early hours of Tuesday (March 24), prompting a multi-agency response involving Dyfed-Powys Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and Carmarthenshire County Council.

As a precaution, neighbouring properties were evacuated due to safety concerns, with residents temporarily displaced while the structural integrity of the affected building is assessed.

Safety work underway

Contractors were due to begin work at 9:00am on Thursday (March 27) to stabilise the structure and allow investigators to safely access the site. Authorities say the priority is to ensure the building is secure so residents can return to their homes as soon as possible.

However, officials have stressed that this will not happen until the site is deemed safe.

Lady Street remains closed while the work is carried out, with disruption expected to continue in the area.

Appeal for information

Police have thanked the local community for their patience and support during the ongoing incident.

Officers are continuing to appeal for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. They are particularly keen to hear from anyone with CCTV, doorbell, or dashcam footage recorded between 11:00pm on Monday (March 23) and 4:00am on Tuesday (March 24).

Anyone with information is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police.

Community

Cwm Arian to showcase work at Eisteddfod y Garreg Las 2026

Published

45 minutes ago

March 28, 2026

Rieve Nesbitt-Marr

CWM ARIAN Renewable Energy has confirmed it will host a stand at this year’s Eisteddfod y Garreg Las, set to take place from Friday, August 1 to Friday, August 8, 2026, at Llantwd in north Pembrokeshire.

The 2026 event is expected to be one of the most significant in recent history, marking 850 years since the first recorded Eisteddfod in 1176 at Castell Aberteifi. With the Maes located close to the original site, organisers anticipate a landmark celebration for both the region and Wales as a whole.

The National Eisteddfod is regarded as Europe’s largest cultural festival, drawing around 175,000 visitors each year. It celebrates Welsh language, literature, music and the arts through a packed programme of competitions, performances, exhibitions and community events.

Communities across Pembrokeshire, alongside neighbouring parts of Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, have been working together to fund the festival. Organisers set a target of £400,000, which is now close to being reached, reflecting strong local support.

Anna Mounteney, Communications Coordinator at Cwm Arian, said: “We are delighted to be part of Eisteddfod y Garreg Las in such a significant year. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to share our work, connect with visitors, and celebrate the rich culture and community spirit of west Wales.”

Cwm Arian will be present on the Maes throughout the week, welcoming visitors from all backgrounds.

Cwm Arian is a community benefit society based in west Wales. Its work began with a community wind turbine in Llanfyrnach, which continues to generate renewable energy. The organisation now supports homes, community centres and local groups to install renewable systems, improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

Crime

Theft case over Tresaith beach items discontinued in court

Published

2 hours ago

March 28, 2026

Court Reporter

A THEFT case relating to items taken from a Pembrokeshire beach has been discontinued at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court.

Gryffydd Morgan, aged 52, of Bro Arth, near Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, had been due to stand trial in connection with alleged thefts at Tresaith Beach.

Morgan had denied two charges of theft, contrary to the Theft Act 1968.

The court previously heard that the allegations related to incidents on July 18, 2025, when it was claimed that a tent and a deck chair belonging to Clare Marshall had been stolen.

A second charge alleged that a tent belonging to Beverly Walker had also been taken on the same date.