News

Dog owners urged to stay vigilant as palm oil lumps pose threat to pets at Marloes

Published

2 years ago

July 3, 2023

DOG owners in the Marloes area have been advised to exercise increased caution following the recent discovery of more lumps of palm oil washed up on the shores of Marloes beach. This warning comes after a harrowing incident where a beloved pet tragically lost its life due to the ingestion of palm oil on Newgale beach, further along the Pembrokeshire coast.

The latest discovery was made on Saturday, July 1, by John Lloyd, who was out walking his dog when the incident occurred. Recounting the alarming incident, Lloyd stated, “My dog found the large lump and managed to eat what I thought was a small flake of it. I ran over and got it off him, and it stank of chemicals. The following day he was sick and vomited up a lump the size of a small egg. I just can’t believe how it’s legal to put those overboard.”

Just four weeks ago, a heartbreaking incident unfolded when a three-year-old Maltese poodle crossed with a Jack Russell died after consuming a palm oil berg on Newgale beach. It is suspected that these palm oil bergs are being washed up on Pembrokeshire’s beaches as ships or tankers wash out their ballast tanks. The resulting oil bergs are then carried onto the shore, endangering unsuspecting pets and wildlife.

The palm oil bergs vary in appearance, often appearing as small, round objects of any color. The lumps discovered on Marloes beach this weekend were white, in contrast to the black berg that claimed the life of the three-year-old dog, Nellie.

“They’re off-loaded from oil tanks around 12 miles out at sea, and when they’re washed up, they have a very attractive scent to dogs as they’re covered in palm oil,” explained Lucy Beswick, Nellie’s distraught owner, in an interview with the Western Telegraph. “And this is why Nellie ate one. They are extremely toxic and contain cyanide. It’s a disgrace how the oil tanks are allowed to do this as it’s not only killing animals on land, but must also be harming and killing sea life. Please be on the lookout, as my family and I are beside ourselves with grief following the death of Nellie.”

The gravity of the situation has prompted the Pembrokeshire County Council to issue a warning about the dangers posed by palm oil bergs. While these lumps are not harmful to humans or children, they can prove fatal to pets and other wildlife.

“Palm oil is often seen in dark, yellowish, or white waxy blocks,” commented a spokesperson from the county council. “It’s not harmful to humans but, as was displayed last month, can be fatal to pets.”

Nellie fell ill on the same night she had visited Newgale beach. Initially, Lucy Beswick believed it to be a recurrence of pancreatitis, an ailment that the young dog had been diagnosed with a few weeks prior. However, by the following morning, Nellie’s temperature had risen to 38.5 degrees Celsius, and signs of dehydration became evident.

Nellie was promptly taken to a veterinarian, where she received intravenous fluids and an enema to flush out any potential toxins. Despite these efforts, her abdomen, face, and chin continued to swell, indicating that she had ingested a poisonous substance.

“She was given an anaphylactic, but because she was so small, her organs just wouldn’t cope,” expressed a grief-stricken Lucy Beswick.

In the early hours of Sunday, June 5, Nellie tragically convulsed and succumbed to the effects of the palm oil ingestion, leaving her family devastated by the sudden loss.

As the Pembrokeshire coast continues to be plagued by these hazardous palm oil lumps, dog owners are implored to remain vigilant during their beach outings. It is crucial to keep a close eye on their four-legged companions and prevent them from coming into contact with any unidentified substances. This collective effort will ensure the safety and well-being of beloved pets while enjoying the beautiful shores of Pembrokeshire.

Education

School issues safeguarding alert over children’s use of Roblox

Published

3 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi warns parents about addictive gameplay, unsafe chat functions and scammers

YSGOL PENRHYN DEWI in St Davids has issued a safeguarding warning to parents after concerns were raised about children’s use of the popular online gaming platform Roblox.

In a letter sent to families today (Dec 15), Assistant Headteacher Louise Gray said the school had been made aware of a series of risks linked to the platform, which is widely used by children aged 8–13 – and in some cases younger.

Roblox allows users to create and play games developed by other players. However, the school says this user-generated model can expose children to inappropriate or harmful content depending on which games they access.

Range of risks highlighted

The letter sets out several specific safeguarding concerns, including:

Inappropriate content in user-created games
Highly addictive gameplay, with daily quests and reward systems designed to increase screen time
Easily changed parental controls, allowing children to adjust settings without verification
Chat features that expose younger players to inappropriate messages
Peer pressure from in-game ‘connections’, with children believing they know other users
Emotional dysregulation linked to heavy use of the platform
Scams, including fake offers of free Robux or cosmetic items

Parents are being urged to closely monitor how their children use the platform, who they interact with, and what content they can access.

Guidance available

The school has directed families to the Welsh Government’s Hwb website for further advice on parental controls and safe use of Roblox.

Community

Festive creativity shines as Kurtz MS meets card competition winner

Published

53 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL KURTZ, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, visited Pembroke Dock Community School on Friday 12th December to present a prize to the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Competition.

The competition invited pupils to design a festive Christmas card, with entries received from schools across the area. The standard of artwork was exceptionally high, showcasing the creativity, imagination and talent of young people in the community.

During the visit, Samuel Kurtz congratulated the winning pupil and thanked all those who took part, as well as the teachers and staff who supported the competition. Each child who entered also received a certificate in recognition of their hard work and effort.

Speaking after the presentation, Samuel said, “It was a real pleasure to visit Pembroke Dock Community School today and announce the winner of my Christmas Card competition. This year the winner is Mair Moseley, aged 10, and she designed a wonderful Santa image that really stood out. She has won a chocolate selection set and a £20 book token to enjoy over Christmas.”

He added, “ The creativity and enthusiasm shown by all the children was fantastic, and it made choosing a winner extremely difficult. I want to congratulate all the entrants and thank the staff for their ongoing support.”

Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher, Mrs Katie Crockford-Morris, added, “We were delighted to welcome Samuel Kurtz MS to the school to present the prize. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the competition, and they were incredibly proud to receive their certificates.”

The winning design will now be used as Samuel Kurtz’s official Christmas card this year, with one copy already on its way to His Majesty, King Charles.

Charity

Two Welsh families fund Childline across the UK on Christmas Day

Published

1 hour ago

December 15, 2025

Staff Writer

Joint £40,000 gift ensures vital support is available when children need it most

TWO Cardiff families have joined forces to fund the NSPCC’s Childline service across the whole of the UK on Christmas Day, ensuring children have somewhere to turn during one of the toughest times of the year.

The Peterson family and the Bowles family are each donating £20,000 as part of the charity’s One Unforgettable Day project. Their combined £40,000 contribution will cover the entire cost of running Childline for 24 hours on 25 December.

Childline operates 12 bases nationwide and offers a free, confidential service to anyone under 19, available day and night, 365 days a year. The festive period is often one of the most demanding for counsellors and volunteers; between 24 December 2024 and 4 January 2025, Childline delivered 4,261 counselling sessions.

Young people reach out to Childline for a range of reasons at Christmas, including mental health struggles, family tensions, financial worries, loneliness, and increased risks of abuse or domestic violence. With schools closed and regular support networks unavailable, demand for help typically rises.

Childline relies heavily on donations, fundraising and charitable partnerships. The support of Alan, Maggie and Hywel Peterson, and Nathan and Claire Bowles and their four children, will ensure counsellors are available throughout Christmas Day for any young person who needs them.

Hywel Peterson MBE, Chair of the NSPCC Cymru Fundraising Board, said:
“It’s an honour to help fund Childline across the whole of the UK this Christmas. This joint donation will ensure our dedicated staff and volunteers are there to support any child who needs us.”

Cardiff entrepreneur Nathan Bowles added:
“We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for some children, so our family is delighted to be joining forces with the Petersons this year to support this vital service.”

Louise Israel, Childline team manager at NSPCC Cymru’s Cardiff base, said:
“While children and young people need Childline all year round, we speak to many who find this time of year particularly difficult. It is only with the support of such generous people as the Peterson and Bowles families that our staff and volunteers can continue to be here throughout the Christmas holidays. This kindness will genuinely make a difference.”

Children can call Childline free on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk for advice.