POLICE are appealing for information to trace a man wanted in connection with a Class A drugs investigation in Llanelli.

Dyfed-Powys Police has issued a public appeal to locate Jake Ware, aged 25, who is originally from Liverpool but is known to have links in the west Wales area.

The appeal follows the execution of a warrant in Llanelli on Tuesday (Dec 17, 2025), as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected Class A drug offences.

Officers are urging members of the public to come forward if they have seen Ware or have any information that could assist in locating him.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101, quoting reference: 25001029597.

Members of the public can also report information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Donation bags aim to ease pressure as foodbank demand remains high

WELSH families struggling to afford food during the school holidays are being offered extra support this Easter through a nationwide initiative launched by Tesco.

Customers visiting Tesco stores across Wales can buy pre-packed donation bags, priced between £2 and £5, to help families facing financial hardship during the Easter break. The scheme will run from Sunday (Mar 30) until April 12.

The bags contain essential long-life food items and will be distributed to charities including FareShare, The Felix Project and Trussell, helping provide vital supplies to those most in need.

Holiday periods can place added pressure on families who rely on free school meals during term time. Without that support, many parents struggle to ensure their children have access to regular, nutritious food.

Claire De Silva, Head of Communities at Tesco said: “Holiday periods can be really tough for families who miss out on free school meals, making it harder to ensure children get healthy food.

“These donation bags are a simple way for customers to make a real difference, helping provide vital support to families over the school holidays.”

Figures from Trussell show foodbank demand remains significantly higher than before the pandemic, with usage 45% above 2019 levels. In 2025 alone, the network distributed the equivalent of one food parcel every 12 seconds, with families accounting for nearly two-thirds of support.

FareShare and The Felix Project, which have recently merged to form the UK’s largest food redistribution charity, now support more than 8,000 community groups—83% of which work with families and children.

Tesco says it will continue its year-round efforts to tackle food poverty through schemes such as its Community Food Connection programme, which redistributes unsold food from stores, and its Fruit and Veg for Schools initiative, which supports healthier eating in schools with high levels of free school meals.

Matthew van Duyvenbode, Co-CEO at Trussell said: “No one should face hunger. These donations make a real difference, especially during the school holidays when families face increased costs.”

Charlotte Hill, CEO at FareShare & The Felix Project, added: “The school holidays can be especially difficult for parents already struggling. Initiatives like this help ensure more families can access the food they need.”

Tesco customers can also donate additional long-life items in store, including tinned meat and fish, pasta, rice, cereals, soups, and long-life milk.

Critics argue the scheme places the burden on customers at a time when supermarkets are reporting strong profits, while supporters say it provides vital, immediate help to struggling families.

Falling GP numbers and funding gaps blamed for worsening hospital delays

THE NHS crisis highlighted earlier this week is being driven in part by a deepening shortage of GP services, a new Senedd report has revealed.

As previously reported by The Herald, politicians have raised serious concerns about mounting pressure on hospitals, long waits in A&E, and the growing strain on frontline services. Now, a report published on Friday (Mar 27) by the Senedd’s Health and Social Care Committee points to the root of the problem — a weakening primary care system.

The Committee warns that without urgent investment in GP services and preventative care, demand across the NHS will continue to rise beyond capacity.

Sharp decline in GP practices

The report highlights a long-term fall in the number of GP practices across Wales.

In 2002, there were 516 practices operating nationwide. By the start of the pandemic in 2020, that number had dropped to 404. Today, just 374 remain.

The decline has been felt most acutely in rural areas, including west Wales, where fewer practices are now expected to serve growing populations with increasingly complex health needs.

The result, the report suggests, is more patients turning to already overstretched hospital services.

Funding model under pressure

Despite Welsh Government commitments to prioritise community healthcare, the Committee heard evidence that funding has not kept pace with demand.

Concerns were also raised about the current funding formula used for GP practices, which critics say fails to properly reflect deprivation, illness levels and the challenges of delivering care in rural areas.

Without reform, the Committee warns that general practice risks becoming unsustainable, with inequalities in access likely to widen.

Access frustration growing

Patients across Wales continue to face difficulties accessing GP appointments, with the so-called “8:00am scramble” remaining a major source of frustration.

Older patients, those in work, and people with caring responsibilities are among those most affected.

The report also points to concerns about reduced continuity of care and shorter appointment times, contributing to declining public confidence in GP services.

Hospitals feeling the strain

The findings reinforce concerns raised earlier this week about pressure on emergency departments and delays in care.

By failing to invest sufficiently in primary and preventative services, the report suggests more patients are reaching crisis point — increasing demand for hospital treatment that could otherwise have been avoided.

Call for urgent action

The Committee is calling on the Welsh Government to shift more healthcare services into the community, backed by sustained investment and reform of the funding system.

Committee chair Peter Fox said: “General practice and primary care are the cornerstone of our NHS.

“If we are to ease the growing pressures across the whole health system, we must ensure people can access services closer to home and receive treatment earlier.”

Healthcare leaders, including the British Medical Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners, have also warned that without decisive action, GP services will continue to deteriorate.

The report concludes that unless primary care is strengthened, pressure on hospitals will continue to grow — leaving patients facing longer waits and reduced access to treatment.