Daily Post

Red Diesel Smugglers Busted ; Two Arrested Bringing 50,000 Litres From Ireland

FUEL smugglers were busted trying to bring 50,000 litres of illegal red diesel through Holyhead port. The massive haul of Irish diesel - one of the biggest ever at Holyhead - was uncovered in two freight lorries with tanks hidden in cardboard waste. One tank carrying 25,000 litres of laundered green diesel, the Irish equivalent of red diesel, was only attached by two cargo straps in a soft-sided truck.

Wales: I'll Face Grilling On Devolution ; Tory Plan to 'Smooth' Relations

DAVID Cameron will allow Welsh AMs the chance to grill him as prime minister at least once a year if the Conservatives win the general election. The Tory leader will make the pledge at the Welsh party conference this weekend which will also hear calls to bring sanity to the 'blurred' relations between Cardiff and Westminster over the delivery of devolved public services.

Wales: We're Back 'On Track'

TORY Assembly leader Nick Bourne believes the party remains on track to make significant gains in North Wales in coming elections. Mr Bourne, who faced speculation over his future as leader in January, said that his shadow team was now in place for the 2011 Welsh Assembly poll.

Wales: Anger at Labour Web Skit

A new Labour website was derided yesterday as 'childish' for depicting Tory Assembly leader Nick Bourne as a vampire and leading Plaid figures as clowns. The campaigning site AneurinGlyndwr.com is backed by former Welsh Secretary Peter Hain, MEP Eluned Morgan and mid and west AM Alun Davies.

Wales: Pounds 80k for High-Tech Parking Machines

COUNCIL chiefs have invested more than pounds 80,000 to install new pay and display parking machines. Wrexham County Borough Council has recently introduced 26 machines in its town centre car parks.

Wales: Bat Roost Charges

THE owner of the former North Wales Hospital in Denbigh is to plead not guilty to destroying the habitat of two protected species of bat. Ayub Bhailok, 41, boss of the Preston-based Acebench Investments, faces charges of destroying the habitats of lesser horseshoe and brown long-eared bats at the former Bryn Golau ward between October and November 2008.

Wales: Rue Is Deaf Woman's Very Own Fire Alarm ; Pooch Is a Life Saver

A CANNY canine has become a hearing lifeline for its deaf owner. And Carol Beddy knows that if there's a fire in her house, cross- breed terrier Rue will raise the alarm.

Wales: We'll Lock Out Yobs ; Rhyl Fc Threat As They Face Points Deduction Over Abusive Fans

ONE of the region's biggest football clubs is threatening to play behind closed doors over fears foul mouthed supporters could wreck their chances ofwinning the Welsh Premier league. Fans of league leaders Rhyl could be locked out of their Belle Vue ground in the title run in after the club was hit with five separate charges over their foul and abusive behaviour.

Wales: Elderly Feel They Are Not Being Listened To

COMMUNITIES and neighbourhoods across Wales must meet the needs of residents from all age groups. Help the Aged Wales is warning that isolation will become increasingly common across Wales unless older people's needs are taken into account when planning, developing and designing communities.

Wales: We Don't Want to Hear You Grouse ; Top Cop: Forums Don't Reflect 'Real Public' Views

TOP cop Richard Brunstrom has poured scorn on public meetings where only a tiny minority of people take part to sound off about crime - and dog fouling. North Wales's chief constable believes small numbers of people turning up at the Police Authority's community forums means they don't reflect what the wider community thinks.

Wales: You're Not Pulling Your Weight

CHIEF Constable Brunstrom yesterday ticked off his governing body for not attending enough meetings. He said North Wales Police Authority members didn't go to enough meetings of the newly-formed Police Authorities of Wales (PAW) which represents all four police forces in Wales and meets at Llandrindod Wells.

Wales: Fear of Crime Not the Reality

PEOPLE'S fear of crime is far worse than the reality in North Wales, a report out yesterday reveals. A total 12% of people feared becoming victims of violent crime - when the real chance is 0.11% - a three-month survey by the Police Authority revealed.

Wales: I Was Hoping

I was hoping the recent spell of lovely spring weather was going to last a bit longer but it wasn't to be. Earlier this week, as I walked to Conwy, the celandines that gild the banks of Gyffin stream had their polished petals shut tight against the wind and rain and the yellow trumpets of the daffodils were blowing all over the place like a deranged brass band. During the lovely weather I took my binoculars outside to look at the night sky which I like to do now and again. I looked at the fam...

Wales: Council Agrees to Part Ways with Md

ANGLESEY councillors have agreed to terminate the contract of its managing director - it was understood last night. In a meeting closed to the public the full council debated a move to pay-off chief executive Derrick Jones to end his pounds 120,000 a year contract 19 months early.

Wales: House Prices Rise ; N.Wales Bucks National Trend in Latest Polls

HOUSE prices in parts of North Wales are defying the credit crunch and showing a rise, official figures revealed last night. While property prices across Wales lost a further 3.6% of their value during February, the Land Registry figures showed the beginning of a recovery in Conwy, Gwynedd and Anglesey.

Wales: I'm Leaving You Well Placed to Weather the Recession ; Wrexham's Development Guru Steps Down

THE man who helped bring in pounds 3oom of investment to transform the face of Wrexham is stepping down - but feels his legacy means the town is well placed to weather the recession. Wrexham County Borough Council's Paul Roberts, who finishes at the end of the month, spent his last day yesterday in the authority's offices.

Wales: Public Vote On Projects

TENANTS have voted for community projects to receive a pounds 15,000 grant. Tenants of the Queensway ward of Wrexham made the decision under the U Decide scheme introduced by local councillor Carrie Harper.

Wales: Mum-of-Six in Pounds 16,000 Benefit Fraud ; Now She has to Pay It Ll Back at Pounds 15 a Week

A MUM-OF-SIX was yesterday ordered to carry out 200 hours community service after dishonestly claiming pounds 16,000 in benefits. Rachel Thompson pleaded guilty to two counts of benefit fraud at Wrexham magistrates' court.

Wales: Station Gets Pounds 70k Revamp

A RAILWAY station has got a makeover thanks to pounds 70,000 grant. Wrexham County Borough Council has utilised a transport grant from the Welsh Assembly Government to upgrade the passenger waiting facilities at Ruabon railway station.

Wales: Church Backs College Plans

PLANS to establish a Welsh Federal College have won the support of the Presbyterian Church of Wales. Officials who examined different models for the proposed college in Cardiff yesterday, concluded university authorities are "moving in the right direction".