HUNDREDS of worshippers gathered at Pembroke Castle today for a major Christian event bringing churches together from across Pembrokeshire and beyond.

The Picnic, Prayer and Praise event took place on Sunday (Jun 14), with people invited to bring chairs, blankets and picnics for an afternoon of worship inside one of Wales’ most historic castles.

The event was led by Sound of Wales, alongside local churches, and also included Korean Christians from London who took part in their own distinctive style.

The programme began at 1:00pm, with free entry for worshippers between 12 noon and 5:00pm.

Organisers said the aim was to unite Christians in prayer for Pembrokeshire and Wales, while celebrating faith through music, worship and fellowship.

Castle Trustee Roger Baker previously described the gathering as “an extraordinary opportunity to unite Christians in one of the great castles of Wales.”

He said: “What a way to give Pembrokeshire a united voice of praise to our God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The event has become a growing fixture in the Pembrokeshire Christian calendar, with previous gatherings attracting large crowds despite challenging weather.

Today’s event made full use of the castle’s dramatic setting, with worshippers gathering within the ancient walls for an afternoon of praise, reflection and community.

A YEAR 11 pupil at Milford Haven School has been praised after putting his first aid training into action to help an injured member of the public following an accident.

Aryan, who is currently working towards lifesaving qualifications, including first aid training, found himself faced with a real emergency when a woman suffered a head injury after a fall.

Rather than panic, the teenager stepped in immediately and calmly took control of the situation.

According to Milford Haven School, Aryan used a first aid kit to treat the injury, helped make the woman comfortable, and provided clear aftercare advice while remaining calm and compassionate throughout the incident.

School staff said his actions demonstrated maturity, confidence and professionalism beyond his years.

Applying first aid in a genuine emergency can be far more challenging than practising in a classroom setting, but Aryan rose to the occasion and put his training into practice when it mattered most.

Milford Haven School said it was “incredibly proud” of the Year 11 pupil, describing him as “a fantastic example of courage, responsibility and care for others.”

The school added that Aryan’s response showed the importance of young people learning practical lifesaving skills and highlighted the positive impact they can have within the community.

Da iawn, Aryan — a credit to Milford Haven School and the wider community.

Photo caption: Helping hand: Year 11 pupil Aryan has been praised after using his first aid training to help an injured member of the public following a fall (Pic: Milford Haven School).

Labour says urgent action is needed as Plaid Cymru outlines plans for housing and town centre reform

WELSH LABOUR has accused the Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government of relying too heavily on reviews and task forces rather than taking immediate action to tackle housing pressures and struggling high streets across Wales.

The criticism came after comments from Welsh Labour spokesperson for Housing and Communities, Jayne Bryant MS, who said Plaid Cymru had failed to match ambition with delivery.

In a statement issued on Tuesday (June 9), Ms Bryant said Labour supported efforts to improve access to housing and revitalise town centres, but argued that progress was being slowed by further assessments rather than concrete policies.

She said: “We all want to see better access to housing and thriving high streets across Wales. But yet again today, we hear of reviews and task forces from Plaid Cymru, but no immediate actions.

“The Welsh Labour Government delivered almost 20,000 homes in five years, protected Help to Buy Wales when it was scrapped in England, and improved renters’ rights. When will we see tangible action from Plaid Cymru?”

She added: “This is now a running theme from this Plaid Cymru government – discussion over delivery, reviews over rollout.”

The comments follow recent announcements by the Plaid Cymru-led administration indicating that housing access and regeneration will be subject to further assessment, with ministers signalling new reviews into how communities can be supported.

Housing remains one of the most politically sensitive issues in Wales, particularly in rural and coastal areas such as Pembrokeshire, where rising house prices, second homes and shortages of affordable housing continue to place pressure on local residents.

Town centres across Wales have also faced increasing challenges in recent years, with changing shopping habits, business closures and economic pressures prompting calls for renewed investment and reform.

Plaid Cymru has previously defended its approach, arguing that long-term structural problems require careful planning and evidence-based policy rather than short-term fixes.

The political row comes as housing affordability and local economic regeneration are expected to remain key battleground issues in Welsh politics over the coming months.