News

Local fashion designer brings history to life with new, dynamic Welsh costumes

Published

1 year ago

February 4, 2025

There’s nothing quite as evocative for a child as opening a dressing-up box, choosing some clothes and letting the imagination run riot with the exciting adventures that the costumes will unravel.

This month Pembrokeshire fashion designer Carys Hedd is giving youngsters the opportunity to step back in time after she was asked to design a range of children’s costumes based on the people and historical artefacts that can be found in the Ceredigion Museum collection.

“It’s all about giving youngsters the opportunity not just to look at the items on display, but to become a real part of them by dressing up and becoming those very same people,” Carys told The Pembrokeshire Herald from her home in St Dogmaels.

“The children in Wales are given the chance to dress up in traditional Welsh costume on St Davids Day, but we felt it was important to go one step further and enable them to dress up in Welsh costumes throughout the year. so that they can start engaging with their history.”

Carys visited the museum and selected a number of historic characters which she then began transferring to the children’s costumes. These include the iconic flannel ‘betgwn’ (bedgown), which formed the mainstay of the traditional Welsh woman’s costume, and a beautiful milkmaid costume with intricate embroidery and lacework to reflect the importance of Wales’ agricultural industry.

The museum’s Punch and Judy display inspired Carys to create a Mr Punch outfit which she described as ‘a bit of seaside fun’, accompanied by a crocodile, complete with a string of sausages hanging from his mouth.

Meanwhile, the Twm Sion Cati outfit was pieced together from pieces of check tweed cut from men’s suits. Collaborating with Carys throughout the project was hat maker Mathew Craig and Britta Winker, who designed and constructed the crocodile’s head.

Each of the outfits have been designed and constructed using Carys’ unique upcycling technique, where she rejuvenates tired, old-fashioned items of clothing, transforming them into vibrant pieces, often with a dominantly contemporary theme.

Carys has been designing clothes since 2007, and a selection of her items are on sale at her shop ‘Melfed,’ which is situated in Cardigan town centre where she will be running some upcycling workshops throughout March.

Each of her latest Welsh children’s costumes can be viewed – and, most importantly tried on and enjoyed – at Ceredigion Museum in Aberystwyth town centre.

Crime

Broad Haven man remanded in custody over sexual harm prevention order breach

Published

19 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Court Reporter

Defendant admitted using Xbox without informing police as required under court order

ANTHONY COOMBES, aged 26, of Sand Banks, Broad Haven, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Mar 20) charged with breaching a sexual harm prevention order.

The court heard that between February 26 and March 19, 2026, at Haverfordwest, Coombes repeatedly breached the order by using an Xbox device without informing police within three days, as required.

The offences relate to a sexual harm prevention order imposed at Swansea Crown Court on October 20, 2021.

Coombes indicated guilty pleas to the offences at the first hearing.

Magistrates committed the case to Swansea Crown Court for sentence.

He was remanded in custody ahead of the next hearing, which is due to take place at 9:00am on Friday, April 3, at Swansea Crown Court.

The court refused bail on the grounds that he was likely to offend, citing the nature and seriousness of the offences and his previous record and character.

A pre-sentence report was ordered.

News

Man arrested after suspected drugs-related death in Haverfordwest

Published

19 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Police say death not suspicious as 46-year-old arrested over alleged Class A drug supply

A MAN has died following a medical emergency at a property in Haverfordwest, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called at 3:18pm on Wednesday (March 18) after a report of a medical incident.

A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the man’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by officers.

The death is not being treated as suspicious at this time.

However, police confirmed that a man, aged 46, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of Class A drugs.

He has since been released under investigation while enquiries continue.

No further details about the deceased have been formally released.

Crime

Illegal dog breeders ordered to pay over £129,000 after council probe

Published

20 hours ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

FOUR people from Mynyddygarreg, Kidwelly, have been ordered to pay more than £129,000 following a successful prosecution for illegal dog breeding.

At Swansea Crown Court on Tuesday (Mar 10), before His Honour Judge Thomas KC, Stacey May June Edwards, Peter John Edwards, Sian Eleri Thomas and David Malcolm James Thomas, all of Sea Breeze, Mynyddygarreg, pleaded guilty to offences under the Breeding of Dogs (Wales) Regulations 2014.

The court imposed confiscation orders totalling £129,873.41 under the Proceeds of Crime Act across the four defendants. They were also ordered to pay £8,000 in costs, while each defendant received a £2,000 fine.

The investigation began in April 2021 after Carmarthenshire County Council’s Animal Health team received an enquiry from Peter Edwards about obtaining a dog breeding licence. Although licensing guidance was provided and a partial application was submitted in February 2022, this was later withdrawn.

In March 2024, the council received a complaint that puppies were being advertised for sale without the required licence. Officers subsequently contacted online advertising platforms and issued data requests to assess the scale of activity.

Analysis of records from Pets4Homes, Freeads and Gumtree revealed multiple litters being advertised by members of the same household.

Correspondence under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act confirmed that up to 25 dogs were kept at the property, including between 16 and 19 breeding females.

While some defendants claimed joint ownership of the dogs, others attempted to minimise their involvement.

The Herald understands that numerous puppy advertisements were posted between July 2020 and April 2025, demonstrating a sustained pattern of unlicensed breeding.

Carmarthenshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Decarbonisation and Sustainability, Cllr Aled Vaughan Owen, said: “This case demonstrates the council’s firm stance against unlicensed and illegal dog breeding.

“These regulations are in place to protect animal welfare and ensure that breeding activities are subject to proper oversight. The scale of activity uncovered at this property was entirely unacceptable, and we welcome the court’s decision to issue significant confiscation orders under POCA.”

He added: “We urge anyone with concerns about illegal dog breeding to report it. Our Animal Health officers will continue to investigate thoroughly and take action against those who disregard the law.”

Residents are reminded that anyone breeding and selling dogs must comply with licensing regulations designed to protect both animal welfare and consumers.