News

100 firemen at recycling centre blaze which will take ‘days to extinguish’

Published

3 years ago

August 14, 2022

OFFICIALS from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have said that a fire at TBS Recycling in Waterston could take ‘days to extinguish’.

The 999 call came at 2pm on Sunday (Aug 14).

100 firemen and 14 appliances were sent to the blaze, which put a high strain on resources, the Herald has been told.

The industrial estate fire coincided with grass and crop fires in the St Davids and Newgale areas of the county, caused by the dry weather and soaring temperatures.

Rescuers have confirmed that a large storage unit has been destroyed by the fire, which spread to an adjacent waste recycling centre.

“Crews are working to extinguish the fire at both locations and mitigate further spread”, a spokesperson for the fire brigade said.

Significant smoke is billowing from the scene of the fire, and residents in the Johnston, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock, and Neyland areas as well as the other side of the estuary are advised to keep windows and doors closed, and remain indoors until further notice.

A Public Health Wales spokesperson said: “Motorists who have to travel through the smoke should keep windows closed, turn off air conditioning and keep their air vents closed.

“Smoke can irritate air passages, skin and eyes, resulting in coughing and wheezing, breathlessness and chest pain, so individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, such as asthma, should carry any necessary medication or inhalers with them at all times and seek medical advice if their symptoms worsen by contacting their GP or NHS 111.

“We are currently at heat health alert level 3 and it is important that you protect yourself from smoke, whilst also keeping cool. Further information on how to stay safe during periods of warm weather can be found on Public Health Wales website: https://phw.nhs.wales/services-and-teams/environmental-public-health/extreme-hot-weather/

“When sheltering indoors, open windows that are on the opposite side to the plume/smoke when it is safe to do so and when the air feels cooler outside than inside to get air flowing through the home, for example, at night. Once the smoke has moved away, consider opening doors and windows to allow properties to cool down, being mindful of changing conditions and that the smoke could return.”

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service have approximately 100 staff on scene, with 14 appliances, specialist assets including a drone to provide situational awareness and tactical officers tackling the blaze. Senior officers on scene are liaising with Natural Resources Wales, Welsh Ambulance Service Trust, Dyfed-Powys Police, Pembrokeshire County Council and local contractors to establish a plan to extinguish the fire in the next few days.

No one has been injured, and no adverse effects have been reported in the area at this time. There are no particular concerns for any nearby dwellings and therefore no evacuations are being considered at this time.

The B4325 road is closed, so the public are asked to avoid the area and take an alternative route.

Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas, who attended the scene said: “Crews have worked extremely hard tackling the fire in hot and challenging conditions, to mitigate against the effects to the environment and from a public health perspective. Crews are also attending a large grass fire in Newgale, meaning approximately 20 appliances have been in attendance in the area tackling fires. This has placed a great deal of strain on our local resources.”

We thank the public in the area for their cooperation and understanding whilst every effort is made to bring this to a safe conclusion as soon as possible.

Community

Festive creativity shines as Kurtz MS meets card competition winner

Published

49 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL KURTZ, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, visited Pembroke Dock Community School on Friday 12th December to present a prize to the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Competition.

The competition invited pupils to design a festive Christmas card, with entries received from schools across the area. The standard of artwork was exceptionally high, showcasing the creativity, imagination and talent of young people in the community.

During the visit, Samuel Kurtz congratulated the winning pupil and thanked all those who took part, as well as the teachers and staff who supported the competition. Each child who entered also received a certificate in recognition of their hard work and effort.

Speaking after the presentation, Samuel said, “It was a real pleasure to visit Pembroke Dock Community School today and announce the winner of my Christmas Card competition. This year the winner is Mair Moseley, aged 10, and she designed a wonderful Santa image that really stood out. She has won a chocolate selection set and a £20 book token to enjoy over Christmas.”

He added, “ The creativity and enthusiasm shown by all the children was fantastic, and it made choosing a winner extremely difficult. I want to congratulate all the entrants and thank the staff for their ongoing support.”

Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher, Mrs Katie Crockford-Morris, added, “We were delighted to welcome Samuel Kurtz MS to the school to present the prize. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the competition, and they were incredibly proud to receive their certificates.”

The winning design will now be used as Samuel Kurtz’s official Christmas card this year, with one copy already on its way to His Majesty, King Charles.

Charity

Two Welsh families fund Childline across the UK on Christmas Day

Published

1 hour ago

December 15, 2025

Staff Writer

Joint £40,000 gift ensures vital support is available when children need it most

TWO Cardiff families have joined forces to fund the NSPCC’s Childline service across the whole of the UK on Christmas Day, ensuring children have somewhere to turn during one of the toughest times of the year.

The Peterson family and the Bowles family are each donating £20,000 as part of the charity’s One Unforgettable Day project. Their combined £40,000 contribution will cover the entire cost of running Childline for 24 hours on 25 December.

Childline operates 12 bases nationwide and offers a free, confidential service to anyone under 19, available day and night, 365 days a year. The festive period is often one of the most demanding for counsellors and volunteers; between 24 December 2024 and 4 January 2025, Childline delivered 4,261 counselling sessions.

Young people reach out to Childline for a range of reasons at Christmas, including mental health struggles, family tensions, financial worries, loneliness, and increased risks of abuse or domestic violence. With schools closed and regular support networks unavailable, demand for help typically rises.

Childline relies heavily on donations, fundraising and charitable partnerships. The support of Alan, Maggie and Hywel Peterson, and Nathan and Claire Bowles and their four children, will ensure counsellors are available throughout Christmas Day for any young person who needs them.

Hywel Peterson MBE, Chair of the NSPCC Cymru Fundraising Board, said:
“It’s an honour to help fund Childline across the whole of the UK this Christmas. This joint donation will ensure our dedicated staff and volunteers are there to support any child who needs us.”

Cardiff entrepreneur Nathan Bowles added:
“We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for some children, so our family is delighted to be joining forces with the Petersons this year to support this vital service.”

Louise Israel, Childline team manager at NSPCC Cymru’s Cardiff base, said:
“While children and young people need Childline all year round, we speak to many who find this time of year particularly difficult. It is only with the support of such generous people as the Peterson and Bowles families that our staff and volunteers can continue to be here throughout the Christmas holidays. This kindness will genuinely make a difference.”

Children can call Childline free on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk for advice.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

13 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include: