ST DAVIDS lifeboat crews were paged by HM Coastguard at 5:23pm on Thursday (May 15) following reports of three people in the water and an inflatable being blown out to sea at Caerfai Bay.

Both the all-weather lifeboat and the inshore lifeboat launched promptly in response to the emergency call.

However, upon arrival, crews found that the three individuals were safe and well, enjoying an evening of snorkelling and fishing. The reported inflatable was identified as a surface marker buoy, anchored securely to the sea bed.

The launch was classified as a false alarm with good intent. The St Davids Coastguard Rescue Team was also in attendance and later shared a photo of the volunteer RNLI crews returning to station.

THE WELSH Conservatives’ new education priorities have come under fire from a leading school leaders’ union, which described the plans as “tabloid headlines” disconnected from the real challenges facing Welsh schools.

Ahead of the party’s conference in Llangollen on Friday (May 17), the Conservatives outlined a series of pledges that include banning mobile phones in classrooms, reintroducing home economics, and allowing schools to convert to academy status – a system currently used in England but not in Wales.

Laura Doel, national secretary of NAHT Cymru, was critical of the proposals, saying: “The Welsh Conservatives’ priorities read more like tabloid headlines than carefully considered policies for improving children’s education. They are completely out of touch with reality.”

Doel argued that many of the proposals were unnecessary, pointing out that home economics remains part of the curriculum under different guises, and that most schools already have effective mobile phone policies. She also dismissed the call for academies, saying: “Changing the name above a school doesn’t change the quality of teaching or experience of the pupils in it.”

She added that the key concerns among school leaders remain unresolved: “Our members’ priorities are funding, the recruitment and retention of teachers, ALN reform, conditions of service for teachers and leaders, and support for small schools.”

However, some of the Conservative proposals may reflect broader concerns among parents and communities. Recent surveys have shown public unease about classroom discipline, digital distraction, and pupil safety – concerns the Conservatives appear keen to address with more uniform policy approaches.

A spokesperson for the Welsh Conservatives said their priorities were based on “what parents are telling us,” and insisted that schools needed “a clear framework for excellence, not excuses for underperformance.”

They added: “We want to empower schools, ensure pupils are learning practical life skills, and put an end to the distractions that undermine classroom discipline.”

The debate comes as Welsh schools continue to adapt to the new Curriculum for Wales, amid ongoing concerns about funding pressures, teacher workloads, and falling attainment in some core subjects. A recent Estyn report found that while many schools are innovating effectively, others face “significant challenges” in delivering consistent standards.

As the Welsh education debate heats up in the run-up to the next Senedd election, all parties are expected to face scrutiny over how they plan to address long-standing structural issues in the system.

FAT FREDDIES, the new family-run restaurant at the former Silverdale Inn in Johnston, has thanked customers for their overwhelming support after a temporary closure on Friday (May 16) due to teething problems with its order system.

The business, which launched earlier this week as part of a soft opening, faced technical issues with its till and printer setup, which led to confusion in the kitchen and order delays. The team made the decision to pause service mid-shift to investigate and fix the problems — and their honesty and transparency have earned them praise from loyal customers.

In a heartfelt social media post, the team wrote: “Even with additional staff, we were left with no choice but to end the mess that was building up and spend the afternoon problem-solving. Emotional and devastated, after a great opening week to be hit with these issues on our third day.”

Despite the setback, customers have rallied behind the business.

Jo Goldsmith commented: “We had a wonderful breakfast on Wednesday, absolutely delicious and fantastic service. Keep going!”

Roo Ash praised the team’s decision to take a break rather than “try to save a sinking boat,” adding: “You got this! Can’t wait to pop down!”

Another regular, Dianne Riddiford, was equally understanding: “Ahhh there’s always a few gremlins at the start. Enjoy the afternoon and we shall see you tomorrow morning.”

Emma Sutton said: “Sounds like you did the right thing, guys. Chin up, onwards and upwards.”

Even those who missed out are planning to return. Michael Butler said: “We came around 11am but were told the kitchen was closed due to catching up. We were gutted — will try come again.”

Fat Freddies confirmed they are now fully focused on getting everything operational again, with a larger team on hand for the weekend rush. The soft launch continues, with the owners saying the whole point was to iron out issues before a full-scale opening.

They added: “We’re gutted — but also so grateful for everyone’s support and understanding. We’ll be back stronger.”