HORSE owners, keepers and veterinary professionals are being urged to take precautions following a marked rise in equine influenza activity across Wales and the wider UK.

The Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance team has confirmed that, as of Thursday (May 14), there have been 52 outbreaks of equine influenza across 32 counties in England, Scotland and Wales since April 1.

Equine flu is highly contagious and can spread rapidly among horses. It can be passed on through close contact, contaminated equipment and, in some conditions, through the air over longer distances.

Officials say many recent cases are linked to the movement of horses between premises. However, yards with no recent horse movements may still be at risk, particularly where local activity has already been identified.

Horse owners, yard managers and vets are being advised to take a risk-based approach when considering horse movements and day-to-day management.

Preventative measures include ensuring vaccinations are up to date, monitoring horses for early clinical signs such as coughing, nasal discharge, fever and lethargy, implementing strict biosecurity measures, and isolating new arrivals or suspected cases promptly.

The rise in equine influenza activity represents a significant ongoing risk to horse health and equestrian activities across the UK.

Vaccination, vigilance and robust biosecurity remain essential to limiting further spread.

Anyone concerned about an animal is advised to contact their veterinarian.

Further information is available from the Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance service at www.equinesurveillance.org.

SAUNDERSFOOT C.P. School has been praised by Estyn for its nurturing culture, strong staff teamwork and clear focus on pupil wellbeing.

The school received positive recognition following an inspection in March 2026, with inspectors highlighting effective leadership, high-quality support for pupils and a calm, inclusive learning environment.

The report describes Saundersfoot C.P. School as “an inclusive and nurturing community where pupils feel valued and supported”.

Inspectors said pupils benefit from safe, calm classrooms and strong, trusting relationships with staff.

Wellbeing at the heart

Estyn praised the school’s emphasis on wellbeing, noting that leaders place pupils’ emotional and social development at the centre of school life.

The report also recognised the dedication and professionalism of staff, highlighting effective collaboration between teachers and support staff.

Teaching assistants were described as “highly skilled”, with inspectors noting their important role in helping pupils, including those with additional learning needs, receive targeted support and make good progress.

The school was also commended for its strong culture of care, robust safeguarding arrangements and effective partnerships with parents, governors and external agencies.

Areas for development identified by the school and Estyn include outdoor learning and attendance. However, the report confirms that Saundersfoot C.P. School has a secure foundation built on positive relationships, committed staff and a wellbeing-led ethos.

Headteacher Nick Allan said: “At Saundersfoot C.P. School, wellbeing is central to everything we do. We are proud that Estyn has recognised the calm, nurturing environment our staff create, where children feel safe, confident and ready to learn.

“Strong relationships sit at the heart of our school. Knowing our pupils well as individuals enables us to support not just their academic progress, but their emotional and social development too.

“This is integral to the school’s ethos and values. I am proud to lead such a dedicated team that provides a meaningful difference to pupils’ learning and wellbeing here in Saundersfoot.”

Cllr Guy Woodham, Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, said: “It is always immensely pleasing when one of our schools receives positive recognition from Estyn. Such recognition does not happen easily and is the culmination of months and years of hard work by everyone involved with the school.

“My thanks and congratulations therefore go to the headteacher, staff and all those who have made this success possible — well done all.”

REMAINS of 42 people have been recovered from the site of Cardigan’s former Priory Hospital during ongoing housing development works.

The discovery is being described by local historians as one of the most significant finds linked to the town’s medieval past in recent memory.

The human remains, believed to date from the medieval period, were uncovered by Archaeology Wales during excavations ahead of a Wales and West Housing scheme to transform the historic Priory House site into new homes, a café and office space.

The burials include adults, children and infants. They were laid east to west, in keeping with Christian tradition. Some appear to have been buried in plain wooden coffins, while at least one may have been placed in a stone slate cist.

Gareth Thomas, Head of Development at Wales and West Housing, updated Cardigan town councillors on the discovery, confirming that 42 bodies had so far been recovered.

The remains have been carefully removed for specialist analysis and are expected to be re-interred on consecrated ground at St Mary’s Church.

A layered history

The Priory Hospital site has a long and complex history.

It was originally home to a 12th-century Benedictine priory, before later becoming a Regency villa designed by the renowned architect John Nash.

In the 20th century, it served as Cardigan’s war memorial hospital before falling into disuse.

The current development aims to bring the site back into use while dealing with its deep historical significance.

Local historian Glen Johnson has welcomed the discovery, but has also raised concerns about the pace of work and the possibility of further unrecorded archaeology.

Speaking to local media, Mr Johnson described the find as “the most important archaeological find ever made in relation to the Priory.”

He has urged authorities to consider stronger protection for the site, including possible scheduling, and has called for a full geophysical survey before further groundwork, including service trenches, is carried out.

Mr Johnson has disputed suggestions that the burials may have been those of “undesirables” or executed criminals.

He said the east-west orientation, together with evidence of coffin and cist burials, pointed instead to respectful Christian interment.

He believes the remains are more likely to be those of monks, townspeople, or a mixture of both, and may show that the medieval priory complex extended further than previously understood.

The presence of children’s remains also suggests the site may have served as a wider community burial ground.

Development and heritage

The discovery highlights the continuing challenge of balancing modern housing needs with the protection of West Wales’ archaeological heritage.

Urban development on historic sites often reveals buried history, as seen in the major medieval cemetery uncovered beneath Haverfordwest’s former Ocky White department store site.

Archaeologists have described the Cardigan remains as being of moderate regional importance.

Specialist analysis is expected to provide valuable information about medieval life in Ceredigion, including diet, health, disease, life expectancy and possible evidence of hardship or local events.

A spokesperson for Archaeology Wales said that while the finds were more extensive than first expected, proper protocols had been followed.

Developers have also committed to a watching brief for any further discoveries during the build.

Local interest

The discovery has generated considerable interest in Cardigan, where many residents still have strong family links to the former hospital.

Some have welcomed the development as the regeneration of a neglected site, while others fear that important history could be lost beneath new housing.

Mr Johnson said: “These bones are not just relics — they are our ancestors. Proper recording and study can tell us so much about how people lived, worked, and died in medieval Cardigan.”

The Herald understands that further updates are expected once scientific dating and detailed bone analysis are complete.

Radiocarbon dating and examination of any associated artefacts, such as coffin nails or textile fragments, could help refine the timeline and context of the cemetery.

The discovery is a reminder that the past often lies just beneath the surface in West Wales’ historic towns.

As development continues, careful stewardship of such finds will be essential to honouring local heritage while building for the future.