News

New fire engine airlifted to Caldey Island

Published

9 years ago

January 24, 2017

Tom Sinclair

Special delivery: The Rural Response Pump transported by a Chinook (pic. Roger Thomas / MAWWFRS)

THIS MORNING (Jan 24) Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service equipped its fire station on Caldey Island with a Rural Response Pump.

The RRP will join the islands existing fleet of vehicles and has been designed to give crews an alternative choice of vehicle where conditions require 4×4 facilities due to difficult or restricted access.

The transportation of the RRP was made possible thanks to the RAF, who airlifted the new appliance from the mainland to Caldey Island by Chinook Helicopter as part of a test flight.

The test flight had been organised by a specialist team from the Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit RAF Brize Norton and had taken four months to plan.

Wing Commander Phil Greville, the RAF Regional Liaison Officer in Wales, said: “Airlifting this type of vehicle underneath a Chinook has not been done before and we were very pleased that the flight trial went according to plan. Once we knew the vehicle was stable in flight and did not present any hazards, the helicopter crew were able to fly over to Caldey Island.

Preparation: The RRP being prepped for the flight

“This has been a win, win situation. The Fire Service needed to get a new fire appliance out to the island and we wanted to get this type of fire-vehicle approved for airlift by Chinook.

“We now have a safe method of doing that. The Rural Response Pump vehicle is in widespread use throughout the UK and, in the future, we will be able to fly it to where it is needed when responding to major floods and other emergency situations.”

Rob Quin, Assistant Chief Fire Officer from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We have been working very closely with the RAF over the last few months and it really has been a team effort. We are grateful to the RAF and would like to offer a sincere thank you for all their assistance. It has been very rewarding to be involved in the airlift trial and we now have a new fire appliance on Caldey Island.

“As a Fire and Rescue Service, we are confronted with a wide range of challenges that make the service area of Mid and West Wales unique. Geographically, we cover the largest service area of England and Wales, which contains Swansea, the second largest city in Wales, and many populous towns.

“We also serve many rural communities. Therefore, ensuring we have the best response vehicles and equipment, tailored to each area’s needs, is important.”

Crime

Police appeal after man injured in St Davids incident

Published

1 hour ago

February 18, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an incident in St Davids which left one man injured.

The incident happened in Nun Street at around 11:10am on Tuesday, December 30. The injured man was taken to hospital for treatment.

Officers confirmed that a man has been arrested on suspicion of assault in connection with the incident.

Police are now asking anyone with information, dash cam footage, or CCTV that could assist the investigation to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online at:
https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/

Alternatively, email [email protected], send a direct message via social media, or call 101 quoting reference DP20251230094.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org.

Crime

Sexual assault allegation to be tried

Published

2 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tamsin Mathias

Accused granted conditional bail

A SEXUAL assault allegation has been listed for trial following a hearing before magistrates.

David Fletcher, 45, of Chestnut Way, Mount Estate, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, appeared before magistrates in Llanelli on Thursday (Feb 12) charged with sexual assault, contrary to section 3 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.

The charge alleges that on March 16, 2025, at Johnston, Pembrokeshire, he intentionally touched a woman aged 16 or over and that the touching was sexual when she did not consent and he did not reasonably believe that she was consenting.

The matter was adjourned for trial and Fletcher was remanded on conditional bail.

The trial is listed for March 9, 2026 at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court. Bail conditions prohibit him from entering a specified premises in Johnston, from contacting directly or indirectly the complainant or any prosecution witnesses, and from posting any information relating to the investigation on social media. The conditions were imposed to prevent further offending and to prevent interference with witnesses or obstruction of justice.

Crime

Drink drive allegation denied

Published

3 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Tamsin Mathias

Trial date fixed by magistrates

A MOTORIST has denied a drink-driving allegation when the case came before magistrates.

Michael Miles, 39, of Milford Road, Johnston, Haverfordwest, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court charged with driving a motor vehicle when the alcohol level was above the prescribed limit.

The court heard that on January 24, 2026, it is alleged that Miles drove a Ford Transit on the A477 at Jordanston after consuming so much alcohol, that the proportion in his breath was 52 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35.

Miles entered a not guilty plea on February 10, 2026.

The matter was adjourned for trial on May 21 at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court. He was remanded on unconditional bail.