A NUMBER of roads and coastal footpaths across Pembrokeshire will be temporarily closed this month due to live firing exercises at military training ranges.

Live firing is scheduled to take place at Castlemartin on January 6–9, 12–16, 19–23 and 26–30. Additional night firing will also be carried out on January 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 and 29.

Exercises are also planned at Manorbier between January 19 and 23. No night firing is scheduled at Manorbier.

As a result of the activity, several public routes will be closed at various times. The road between Bosherston and St Govan’s Chapel, along with the coastal footpath from St Govan’s Head to Broadhaven, will be shut on January 12–16, 19–23 and 26–30.

Stack Rocks Road, together with the connecting footpath to St Govan’s, will be closed on January 6–9, 12–16, 19–23 and 26–30. The Lower Warren area will also be inaccessible on January 6–9, 12–16 and 26–30.

Pembrokeshire County Council said access restrictions may change if there are alterations to the firing programme, with closures either lifted or extended as required.

Members of the public are being strongly advised not to touch any objects found on the range, nearby beaches or in the sea, as unexploded ordnance may be present.

Residents and visitors are also being warned to expect increased military vehicle movements on local roads throughout January. Red flags flown during the day, and red warning lights at night, will indicate when the ranges are active and access is prohibited.

Judge tells 20-year-old arsonist to “grow up” after dangerous outburst

A YOUNG man who set fire to his girlfriend’s clothes following a drunken argument was told by a judge to “grow up” after admitting arson.

Callum Rees, aged 20, had been living with his partner of four months at an address in Johnston when the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday (June 16).

Prosecutor Brian Simpson told Swansea Crown Court that Rees returned home shortly after midnight after drinking with friends. An argument quickly developed between the couple, prompting his partner to leave the property to allow tensions to ease.

When she later returned, the house was filled with smoke.

Mr Simpson said Rees had gathered a pile of his partner’s clothes inside the property and deliberately set them alight.

Police were called at around 1.20am. As officers attended the scene, they spotted Rees walking nearby and arrested him.

During interview, Rees told officers he had started the fire after an argument in which his partner refused to return his passport and wallet. He claimed he extinguished the flames himself after realising the seriousness of what he had done.

Rees, of St Peters Road, Johnston, pleaded guilty to arson.

Defence barrister Jon Tarrant said his client was of previous good character and had no prior convictions.

“Although a fire was started, it was small in scale and the defendant stamped it out almost immediately,” he said.

Sentencing Rees, Paul Thomas KC was highly critical of his behaviour.

“He’s 20 years old but acting like a 14-year-old,” the judge remarked.

Addressing Rees directly, Judge Thomas added: “What you did was spiteful, foolish, and potentially very dangerous. You are fortunate that your former partner no longer supports this prosecution.”

Support offered for safety training, qualifications and new entrants to the industry

FUNDING is now available across the UK to help fishing vessel crew improve their skills, safety knowledge and long-term career prospects.

Seafish, the public body that supports the UK seafood industry, has confirmed that financial support can be accessed by people working on UK-registered fishing vessels, as well as those who are not yet in the industry but are considering a career at sea.

The funding is being made available through the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and the four UK fisheries administrations. It is intended to support training that goes beyond the minimum legal requirements, helping to raise standards of safety and professionalism across the sector.

Training that may be supported includes refresher safety courses such as Sea Survival, Fire Fighting, First Aid and Safety Awareness. Funding may also be available for career development courses, including navigation, engineering and radio operation, for those working towards skipper certification.

Seafish says the scheme can also help people who want to enter the fishing industry for the first time, reducing barriers to entry while ensuring new recruits receive high-quality training.

Following completion of training, Seafish now issues digital certificates, allowing participants to access their qualifications more easily when required or store them electronically as part of a vessel’s safety documentation. The digital system removes the need for paper certificates and speeds up the process when proof of training is requested.

Digital certificates are also available free of charge, on request, to fishers who currently hold only paper copies of existing Seafish certificates.

Neil McAleese, Head of Industry Workforce Issues at Seafish, said the funding was aimed at strengthening both safety and skills within fishing communities.

He said the scheme gives people working at sea the opportunity to refresh essential safety knowledge, develop new skills and progress their careers, while also encouraging those considering the industry to take their first steps.

Seafish works with a network of approved training providers across the UK who can advise on course availability, eligibility and funding applications. Levels of support may vary by region, and applicants are encouraged to seek guidance on what funding is available in their area.

Funding is currently available until Monday, March 31, 2026. Full details and application information can be found on the Seafish website under funding support for training in the fishing industry.