LIVE: North Wales News Monday April 15 2019

‘Over-stretched and under-resourced police force’ leaving officers unable to do job properly

Police officers feel there aren’t enough of them to allow them to do their jobs properly. Some 81% of North Wales Police Federation members expressed a belief that there should be more coppers in a national survey. It also found that 85% were often or always crewed alone adding to the strains on their mental health.

Biker allegedly caught at 120mph

A motorcyclist was allegedly caught travelling 120mph in Cerrigydrudion on Saturday.

It comes as North Wales Police continue their Operation Darwen Patrols.

A spokesman said: “We are committed to keeping people safe on the roads and our message is clear - we want people to enjoy the freedom of the road but to do so safely and responsibly. All too often police and our partners in the other emergency services are called to serious and fatal road traffic collisions across the region. Staying safe on the road applies to every single one of us, whether we have two or four wheels on our vehicle. Whilst the vast majority of motorists drive or ride appropriately, some choose to use the roads as a racetrack, committing serious breaches of road safety legislation, such as speeding and driving or riding dangerously thereby putting themselves and other road users at risk of death or life changing injury, so we will continue to target all those who ride or drive dangerously. We are simply asking that ALL motorists enjoy our beautiful region safely and abide by the law.”

Bikes stolen from Rhyl

Two bikes were stolen from a shed on St Margarets Drive, Rhyl during the early hours of Monday April 8.

A bike with drop handlebars is a Viking bike and the other is a black Carrera Axle Mens 593480.

Anybody who may have information with regards to their whereabouts is asked to please contact police quoting reference number 19100163422.

TSB announces UK’s first Fraud Refund Guarantee to protect customers from fraudsters

TSB has announced the first scheme of its kind in the UK to ensure its 5.2 million customers are protected if they are an innocent victim of fraud.

The Fraud Refund Guarantee will protect customers who have unauthorised transactions on their accounts as well as those tricked into authorising payments to fraudsters themselves.

The announcement marks a significant change in banking, as customers are typically only refunded for fraud losses in limited circumstances. Read more.

Traffic - A483

A483 Wrexham Bypass Southbound busy but moving between A539 J1 (Ruabon) and A5 (Halton Roundabout).

What it's like to be one of the 200-plus people without a home living in one county

A homeless man has revealed his “desperate situation” after being turfed out of emergency accommodation and forced to sofa surf. Lewis Burke was one of 26 single people and families ordered to leave the Westminster Hotel in Rhyl, with only 12 hours notice in what was described as “social cleansing” for the benefit of tourists. But wanting to be close to his disabled father and mental health support network, he refused to be re-homed outside of Denbighshire, where he was born and brought up.

Motorist has lucky escape after A494 crash

His injuries are not believed to be serious.

More tributes to Wally Needham, a 'true gentleman with a heart of gold'

The Anglesey community have shared their memories of “one of life’s true gentlemen” with a “heart of gold” who died doing what he loved best. Wally Needham, from Rhydmwyn was riding his bicycle on the A5025 between Llanfachraeth and Llanfaethlu when he died on Friday. The news prompted an outpouring of grief with many people taking to social media to pay tribute to Mr Needham, who was in his 80s.

Police have released this statement over officer 'pushed into path of HGV'

Police chiefs said an incident in which an officer was allegedly pushed into the path of a HGV during a roadside arrest was “unacceptable”. The incident is reported to have happened when there were reports of a car crashing into several parked vehicles in Mancot. A car suspected of being involved was tracked down in Ewloe , and police pulled it over at the side of the A550.

Traffic - A5

Slow traffic on A5 in both directions between A55 North Wales Expressway J11 (Llandygai/Bethesda) and Llandegai Road. In the roadworks area.
Delays affected by temporary traffic lights that are in operation to assist with water main works.

DWP defends spending £300,000 of your money on two minute Gogglebox pensions advert

The Department for Work and Pensions has defended its decision to promote its pension scheme during a popular reality TV programme.

It comes after a recent Freedom of Information request revealed that the Gogglebox collaboration - which involves a two minute advert - cost the taxpayer £315,000.

The decision has come under fire, particularly from benefit advocates, who have suggested that the workplace pensions promotion was both a waste of money and propaganda.

''One last game' in memory of talented, tragic former Welsh Premier League footballer

A charity match will be held in memory of a gifted footballer who was found dead at home. Joel Darlington was described as a “bubbly person” who “aways had a smile on his face” and was “loved by many.” Now his team mates are organising “one last game for Joel” to remember the 20-year-old from Gellifor in Denbighshire.

Traffic - M56

Heavy traffic on M56 Eastbound from J15 J11 M53 to J14 A5117 (Hapsford).

Traffic - A494

A494 Mold Road Eastbound busy but moving before A55 J33B (Ewloe).

Fire service update

No major incidents for the fire service overnight or this morning to report.

Traffic - Rhyl

A525 Vale Road Bridge inbound busy but moving at Kinmel Street / High Street (Apollo Traffic Lights).

Husband's heartbreak at losing woman of his dreams to cancer a year after they met

Primrose Isterling started feeling unwell just three months after meeting and falling in love with the man of her dreams on a night out. At first, doctors thought the 25-year-old’s acute stomach pains were caused by her appendix. But she continued to be in excruciating pain after an operation to have it removed. Further investigations revealed the worst: it was cancer, and it had spread . Doctors gave Primrose, from Tremeirchion , Denbighshire , the devastating news that her Stage 4 colorectral cancer was terminal and she had just two years to live. Read more.

Call for Welsh tenants to have same protection from landlords as English ones

Calls have been made for people who rent housing Wales to be given the same protection that tenants in England are now afforded.

A change in the law in England means that landlords will no longer be able to use Section 21 of the Housing Act to kick people out of their homes without good reason.

But the new protection for tenant against so-called ‘No fault evictions’ only applies in England.

Cyclist seriously injured in hit and run

Police have appealed for witnesses after a cyclist was left with “serious injuries” from a hit and run incident on Sunday evening. North Wales Police said the collision took place between 7.30-8pm on the Llan y Pwll link road in Wrexham and the driver failed to stop. Borras Road was closed in both directions for around an hour as emergency services worked at the scene. The cyclist was taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital after the incident.

Badly burned toddler flown to hospital after horrific accident at railway festival

A toddler suffered horrific burns when a pot of boiling water toppled onto him during the Llangollen 1940s festival weekend celebrations. Austin Stewart had to be airlifted from Carrog station to Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool. He had been at the wartime-themed event with his mum Anneka Hulse and dad Alexander Stewart when the accident happened.

Traffic - A483

Slow traffic on A483 Wrexham Bypass Northbound before A55 J38 (Posthouse roundabout).

Bore da

Bore da and welcome to our live blog. I’m Sarah Hodgson and I’ll be with you for the day with all the latest updates. Get in touch @sarahlhodgson1 on Twitter, Sarah Hodgson Daily Post on Facebook or email me sarah.hodgson@reachplc.com