FORMER BBC presenter Scott Mills was sacked after senior management learned that the alleged victim in a historic police investigation was under the age of 16, according to reports.

The BBC has confirmed that it was aware in 2017 of an ongoing police investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences, but said fresh information only came to light in recent weeks. The corporation then terminated Mills’ contracts on Friday, March 27.

The Metropolitan Police said the investigation began in December 2016 following a referral from another force. It related to allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy, reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.

A man, then in his 40s, was questioned under caution in July 2018. Police later passed a full file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decided the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. The investigation was closed in May 2019.

Mills, 53, said this week that he had fully cooperated with the investigation and responded to police in 2018.

In a statement, he said the matter related to an allegation dating back nearly 30 years and noted that the police investigation had been closed seven years ago. He said he hoped the public and media would respect his wish not to make any further comment.

The former Radio 2 breakfast host did not address the substance of the allegations in his statement, nor did he give further detail about what led to his dismissal by the BBC.

The BBC said it had obtained new information in recent weeks and had spoken directly with Mills before taking action.

A spokesperson said: “What we can confirm is that in recent weeks, we obtained new information relating to Scott and we spoke directly with him. As a result, the BBC acted decisively in line with our culture and values and terminated his contracts on Friday 27 March.”

The corporation also confirmed that it is now carrying out further work to establish exactly what was known internally at the time the police investigation first came to its attention in 2017.

Questions are now being asked about whether BBC managers at the time knew the age of the alleged victim, and whether the matter should have been escalated more widely within the organisation.

Mills last presented his Radio 2 breakfast show on Tuesday, March 24, signing off by telling listeners he would be back the following day. He has not returned to air since.

His departure has triggered renewed scrutiny of the BBC’s handling of allegations involving high-profile presenters, particularly in light of the broadcaster’s more recent emphasis on tougher internal standards and a zero-tolerance approach to misconduct.

A HELICOPTER was used to fly in materials to a former lead mine in Carmarthenshire as part of urgent work to stop polluted mining waste being washed into a river.

Natural Resources Wales and the Mining Remediation Authority took the unusual step at Nant y Mwyn Lead Mine near Rhandirmwyn to avoid damaging a rare and protected habitat while carrying out essential riverbank stabilisation.

The site is currently undergoing remediation as part of the Wales Metal Mines Programme, a Welsh Government-funded scheme aimed at reducing pollution from some of the country’s most harmful abandoned metal mines.

Project teams said fast-moving water had been eroding mining waste on the riverbank, with an estimated 300 cubic metres of material at immediate risk of being carried into the river.

Because the area is protected for its rare Calaminarian Grassland, reducing disturbance to the ground was a key concern. To overcome that, a helicopter was brought in to drop 109 bags of material along the riverbank in a single day, with the remaining work then completed by hand.

NRW said severe spoil erosion along the Nant y Bai has been adding several tonnes of metals to the Afon Tywi each year, contributing significantly to pollution linked to Nant y Mwyn Mine. Elevated cadmium and zinc levels have been recorded for up to 25 kilometres downstream.

The work was completed before the lambing and bird-nesting seasons and is expected to reduce the amount of metal-rich sediment entering the stream, improve water quality and help protect nearby habitats and heritage features.

Dave Johnston, Wales Metal Mines Programme Manager at Natural Resources Wales, said: “These works are a vital step at one of our most challenging sites, reducing the risk of several hundred cubic metres of metal-rich mining waste being carried into the Afon Tywi and the wider environment.

“Wales has a long legacy of metal mining, and pollution from abandoned mines contributes to reduced river health in many areas. Through the Wales Metal Mines Programme, we’re targeting the most harmful sites to deliver cleaner rivers for wildlife and for the communities and businesses that rely on them.”

Marika Gates, Project Manager at the Mining Remediation Authority, said: “Abandoned metal mines are a significant part of Wales’ industrial story, and Nant y Mwyn is central to the history of Rhandirmwyn.

“Our aim is to protect the environment while recognising and respecting this unique ecology and heritage. This project shows what is possible when innovation, environmental care and strong community collaboration come together.”

If you want, I can also turn this into a sharper Herald-style splash with a stronger intro and subheading.

ACCESS to GP services at Argyle Medical Group must become a top priority for the next Senedd, Samuel Kurtz MS has said, as concern continues to grow over pressures facing one of the largest surgeries in Wales.

The Pembroke Dock-based practice serves more than 22,000 patients with just nine GPs, a figure which has repeatedly been highlighted as showing the scale of pressure facing primary care in south Pembrokeshire.

Mr Kurtz said he had spent the past year engaging with patients, healthcare professionals and local residents through community pop-up advice surgeries, research and meetings with representatives from the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Residents, he said, had repeatedly raised concerns about long waits for appointments, limited availability and the difficulty of getting through to the surgery.

He said: “Access to a GP is one of the most basic services people rely on, yet far too many residents are struggling to be seen when they need care.

“Through my community advice surgeries and discussions with patients and Argyle Medical Group staff, I’ve heard first-hand just how difficult it has become to access care and the pressures the Argyle team is under. When a single surgery is responsible for more than 22,000 patients with just nine GPs, it’s clear the system is under enormous strain.”

The issue is not a new one.

Argyle Medical Group has faced pressure for years, with recruitment and retention problems in general practice long affecting services in the area. Concerns about access to appointments and the burden on staff have been raised repeatedly, both locally and nationally, as demand for primary care continues to rise.

The surgery has previously been at the centre of controversy over service changes, with patients in south Pembrokeshire voicing fears about access being stretched even further. The continuing pressure at Argyle reflects wider problems across Wales, where GP services have been struggling with rising patient demand, workforce shortages and increasing pressure on frontline teams.

Mr Kurtz said he had challenged both Hywel Dda University Health Board and the Welsh Government over the issue and would continue to press for action.

He said: “We need fair funding for GP services and urgent action to recruit more doctors and healthcare professionals into our community. Without that, pressures will only continue to grow.

“Staff are doing their absolute best, but they are being stretched too far. We need a clear plan to improve access, whether that means increasing staffing levels, improving appointment systems, and making better use of technology.”

With the Senedd election approaching in May, healthcare is expected to be one of the major battlegrounds across Wales, with GP access, hospital waiting lists and local NHS services likely to feature heavily in the campaign.

Mr Kurtz said access to GP services at Argyle and across the wider area would be one of his top priorities if elected to the next Senedd.

He is calling for fairer funding for GP services, urgent action to recruit and retain more GPs and healthcare staff, a clear plan to improve appointment availability, greater support for frontline teams and stronger local accountability.

He added: “Our community deserves better. People should not have to wait weeks to speak to a GP or struggle endlessly to get through on the phone. I will continue to hold decision-makers to account and fight for the fair funding and recruitment our area needs.”

“If elected, I will make improving access to GP services at Argyle and across the wider area one of my top priorities in the Senedd.”