News
Older people face poverty, as vital benefits go unclaimed
A SHOCKING 3,000 of the poorest pensioners in Pembrokeshire’s may be living in unnecessary poverty, says older people’s charity, Independent Age.
Up to 38% of pensioners – around 1.6m nationwide – are failing to claim Pension Credit, an important basic benefit that is intended to top-up the pensions of the poorest to at least £145.40 a week.
Independent Age has launched a free ‘Wise Guide’ book to help Pembrokeshire’s poorest pensioners put more cash in their pockets. These are available free and can be ordered over the phone on 0845 262 1863 and online at http://www.independentage.org/advice/order-your-wise-guides/.
Victoria Richards, Head of Advice and Support at Independent Age, said, “With rising prices a huge source of anxiety to many pensioners, Pension Credit really can make all the difference to those in later life. In some cases, it can also passport pensioners to other benefits such as council tax and housing benefit.
‘’And when claimed with Attendance Allowance, it can almost double some people’s incomes. But it does have to be claimed – and our new Wise Guide shows you how.”
The Wise Guide is the first in a series of easy-to-read books, packed with essential information for the over-65s. It covers issues ranging from income and finance to getting help at home, health and fitness and even information for carers – making it a vital resource for pensioners, whatever their income, and also for concerned family members.
Independent Age’s Wise Guides are free and can be ordered online athttp://www.independentage.org/advice/order-your-wise-guides/ and over the phone on 0845 262 1863.
EMERGENCY services were called after a car crashed into a house on Nun Street in St Davids on Thursday (Apr 24).
Dyfed-Powys Police and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene at around 4:35pm following reports of a single-vehicle collision.
On arrival, they found that a car had collided with a residential property. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The road remained open while the vehicle was recovered.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Dyfed-Powys Police attended a report of a single-vehicle road traffic collision where a car collided with a property on Nun Street, St Davids, at around 4:35pm yesterday. No injuries were reported, and the road remained open while the vehicle was recovered.”
POLICE are appealing for information to help locate a 54-year-old man who has been reported missing from the Milford Haven area.
Neil is described as being around 6ft 2in tall with a shaved head. He has tattoos on his arms and one of his fingers, and sometimes wears glasses.
He was last seen on Friday afternoon (Apr 26) wearing a black Superdry hoodie, ripped jeans, and orange and black Nike Air trainers. Neil is believed to be on foot.
Anyone with information that could help is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police: 
| Online portal
| 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk
| Call 101, quoting reference 262 of April 26.
Wales joins UK’s largest firefighting aid convoy
MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) has taken part in the UK’s largest ever convoy delivering vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, joining 17 other Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) from across the country.
The convoy, coordinated by FIRE AID and supported by the UK Government, left the UK in early April. It travelled through France, Germany and Poland, delivering over 30 fire service vehicles and more than 15,000 items of equipment to support Ukrainian firefighters on the front line of the ongoing war.
Since the Russian invasion in 2022, UK fire services have donated 119 vehicles and over 200,000 pieces of equipment to Ukraine. Each participating service ensured local needs were met before donating surplus kit.
Watch Manager Rob Kershaw represented MAWWFRS on the convoy. He said:
“It’s been a privilege to be part of this convoy and to represent both FIRE AID and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
We received invaluable support and assistance from fire and police services across every country we passed through. Their help in coordinating, escorting, and hosting the convoy was outstanding.”
Chief Fire Officer Roger Thomas KFSM added:
“MAWWFRS is proud to support our colleagues in Ukraine by donating and delivering essential equipment.
The events in Ukraine have deeply affected the fire and rescue community, and this convoy is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to helping those still working under extreme conditions.”
The donated equipment will support firefighters in Ukraine who continue to operate in war zones to save lives and protect property—often at great personal risk. Since the conflict began, 100 Ukrainian firefighters have been killed and 431 injured. A total of 411 fire stations and 1,700 firefighting vehicles have been destroyed.
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