News
Pembroke Castle: Police investigating novichok hoax which wasted thousands
DYFED-POWYS POLICE has told The Pembrokeshire Herald that the operation at Pembroke Castle on Friday and Saturday (Jul 14-15) is being considered a hoax and investigations are now underway to trace those responsible.
Police have confirmed that a bottle at Pembroke Castle was discovered with the word ‘novichok’ written on it, which prompted a 36-hour lockdown of the area. A multi-agency response included specialist teams from Llanelli.
Novichok is a Russian nerve agent which has recently been used in Salisbury, England, and has so far killed one person.
Due to the lethal nature of the nerve agent, the emergency services took all necessary precautions following the discovery and locked down the public footpath around the castle, as well as closing Pembroke Castle itself.
Temporary Chief Inspector Mike Melly told the Herald that he was ‘unable to comment on exactly what the substance was at present, however we can confirm it was a liquid which was not suspicious or dangerous’.
He added: “The item being investigated was a bottle, which had the word novichok written on it. Due to recent events in Wiltshire, and the fact the substance within the bottle was unknown, a multi-agency response was quickly activated.”
The amount spent on the operation has not been made public, however given the number of resources involved from multiple agencies, a conservative estimation would be in the thousands.
Police have also cited the disruption caused to the general public, as well as Pembroke Castle as a business, as two reasons to take the hoax ‘very seriously’.
Officers are reviewing CCTV from the area to try and trace the person or persons responsible.
“The incident is being treated as a hoax, which caused huge disruption to the community and expense to Pembroke Castle, and is being taken very seriously. The investigation is ongoing, with all lines of enquiry being followed, including reviews of CCTV footage,” Temporary Chief Inspector Mike Melly added.
Jon Williams from Pembroke Castle told the Herald: “We are glad to be re-opened.
“The police were excellent in their approach and how they dealt with the incident.
“Although we were closed for one and a half days, with some loss in takings, we always put the safety of our staff and visitors as our top priority.
“It does look like it was a hoax and we are helping police with their enquiries about how it got there.
“Hopefully they will get some success in catching the person who planted it.”
Read more on this in Friday’s edition of the Herald.
Community
Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity
THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.
Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.
The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.
Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.
Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.
(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.
The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.
The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.
A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”
Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.
Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.
From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.
Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
Community
Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend
ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.
In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”
Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.
Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.
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