Hello, and welcome to WalesOnline's live blog for Sunday, November 19. We will be bringing you all of the latest news from across Wales - whether you're on the move, at home or at work - as well as the latest traffic and travel.
We will also be keeping you informed of major news stories from the UK and overseas. Contribute to the live blog by posting your comments below, or tweet us @WalesOnline to share the news that's breaking in your area.
Girl, 15, missing for three days
Police are concerned for the welfare of a missing 15-year-old girl from Abergavenny. Lily-Ann Bristow was last seen at 1.40pm on Thursday near Heol Y Groes, Cwmbran. More here.
The best pictures as Swansea Christmas parade draws huge crowd
Tens of thousands of people watched Swansea city centre’s annual Christmas parade and switch-on. The free event put on by Swansea Council on Sunday featured dancers, bands, choirs, floats, inflatables, light-up characters, princesses and superheroes. We've got loads of brilliant pictures from the event here.
Train fire at Cardiff Central causes evacuation
The rear of Cardiff Central railway station was evacuated after a train caught fire. South Wales Police and South Wales Fire and Rescue were called to the city-centre station. More here.
Three-vehicle crash in Ystrad
"A4058 William Street in both directions closed, queueing traffic due to accident, three vehicles involved from Victoria Street to Sandybank Road," says traffic monitoring service Inrix.
Police name Swansea teen accused of terrorism
In a statement South Wales Police has confirmed that an 18-year-old Swansea man called Alex Hutton has been charged with a terrorist offence and other crimes. More here.
Police 'concerned' as teenage boy goes missing for four days
Police are appealing for information about a 15-year-old boy who had been reported as missing. Jack Stephens, of Blaina, was last seen at around 5pm on November 15 near Upper Gwastad Terrace, Cwmtillery.
Read more here.
M48 Bridge remains closed due to strong winds
The M48 Severn Bridge is in still closed both directions closed due to strong winds between Junction 2 A466 Wye Valley Link Road (Chepstow) and Junction 1 A403 (Aust), reports traffic monitoring service Inrix. There is a deiversion via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
Footballer who was 'heartbeat' of his club dies in Amsterdam
A Welsh football player who was the "heartbeat" of his club's community has died in Amsterdam. Swansea club Pontlliw FC said it was "heartbroken and devastated" to announce that its "player, club man, and dear friend" Charlie Batcup, 30, had died.
The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) said it was supporting the family of a British man who had died in the Netherlands and was in contact with the local authorities. Wales international footballer Joe Rodon was seen wearing a shirt in tribute to Charlie beneath his kit at the Euro 2024 qualifier in Armenia on Saturday.
Read more here.
GCSE students in 2024 will be given maths and science equations and formulae in exams
Students will be given equations and mathematical formulae to help them in this year’s GCSE exams because they missed out on teaching due to covid. Exam aids to limit the impact of Covid-19 on learning are set to be given to GCSE pupils taking their maths and science exams this summer.
The Department for Education (DfE) has asked the exams regulator Ofqual to provide formulae for GCSE mathematics and equations for GCSE physics and combined science in 2024, as was the case last year. Teaching unions welcomed the move, but one said it has come too late as schools are almost a full term into teaching.
Read more here.
DWP gives 24-hour alert for £300 cost of living payments for people to appeal
A total of eight million people should now have been paid their £300 cost of living payment. There are just a few hours left for it to go out - and November 19 is the last day.
Now the Department for Work and Pensions has issued an alert saying that from tomorrow, November 20, people can appeal if they have not received the money. If you have been paid it, it should go directly into the bank account in which you receive your benefits.
Read more here.
Queuing traffic after vehicle overturns in crash
There is queuing traffic after an accident which has seen a vehicle overturned. The A4059 New Road in Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf, is closed. Traffic monitoring service Inrix said there is an "overturned vehicle involved at Troed-Y-Rhiw Road" and that the accident is near the Esso Garage.
Road will be closed 'for some time' after 'serious' crash
A road in Bridgend has been closed in both directions following a "serious" crash. The A4061 Blackmill Road in Blackmill is closed between the A4093 at Graig Terrace and the A4093 Llangeior turn-off at Pantyrawel following the crash on Sunday, November 19, reports traffic monitoring service Inrix.
South Wales Police are at the scene and have advised drivers to avoid the area. Follow our live updates here.
Girl in hospital with serious injuries after being stabbed
A girl has been left seriously injured in a stabbing. Dyfed-Powys police said it was investigating the incident which took place in Coelbren area of Neath shortly after 7pm on Thursday, November 16.
The victim was taken to hospital with "serious" injuries and remains there in a stable condition, the force added. The suspect, a 14-year-old girl, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of a bladed article and has been remanded into custody.
Read more here.
M48 Severn Bridge closed in both directions due to strong winds
The M48 Severn Bridge has been closed in both directions closed due to strong winds, according to traffic monitoring service Inrix. It is shut between Junction 2 A466 Wye Valley Link Road (Chepstow) and Junction 1 A403 (Aust). A diversion is in place via the M4 Prince of Wales Bridge.
Man arrested after multi-vehicle crash in Cardiff
A man has been arrested following a crash on A4232 Southern Way in Cardiff on Saturday night, South Wales Police has confirmed. Part of the A4232 was closed all night for almost 10 hours in both directions following the collision. Traffic monitoring service Inrix reported that the A4232 was shut from the A4161 Newport Road to Lamby Way so investigation work could take place.
The force said the collision at 9.45pm involved three cars, and two elderly people are currently in hospital with life-threatening injuries. The man, 44, from London, was arrested on suspicion of driving with excess alcohol and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. See the full statment from South Wales Police here.
Earthquake in Cornwall as people say it was like 'juggernaut hit the house'
Cornwall has been hit by an earthquake. Seismologists reported the Mount’s Bay area experienced a 2.7 magnitude quake during the night.
The quake could have been felt as far as St Austell, Liskeard and Padstow, but there were no reports of damage, Cornwall Live reported.
People living in West Cornwall reported “rumbling” and “juddering” and said it was as if a lorry had crashed into their house. The British Geological Survey said the quake happened at 12.50am today at a depth of 13km.
Read more here.
Dealers caught after cocaine found in glasses case in car
Cocaine was found in the glasses case of a car belonging to a drug dealer which had been left in a pub car park. He and his fellow dealer were discovered after fingerprints were found on a drugs package.
Ashley Stockwell, 22, and Norbert Brudkiewicz, 23, were later identified from CCTV at the Castell-y-Bwch pub in Cwmbran on July 1, 2021. The drugs were discovered in the passenger door of the car after the police were called to the scene.
A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court heard two packages containing 17g of cocaine in total were discovered with a value of £1,020. When CCTV footage was analysed it showed Brudkiewicz getting out of the passenger door, Stockwell getting out of the driver's side, and a third person called Lloyd Virgo exiting from the backseat.
Read more here.
The latest death notices across Wales
Announcing the passing of a loved one in local news media is a long-standing tradition and we are proud of the trust placed in us to make these important announcements. Click here for a selection of notices published earlier this week.
Five-year-old boy 'stabbed twin to death' in California
A five-year-old boy fatally stabbed his twin brother in California, PA reports. The twins were reportedly fighting when one brother grabbed a small kitchen knife and stabbed his sibling in the small city of Scotts Valley, according to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. The boy died in hospital.
“We are heartbroken for the family of these two young children and share in their grief,” the sheriff’s office wrote in a Facebook post. Authorities said they do not plan to file criminal charges over the death.
Read more here.
Two people taken to hospital after crash on major road in Cardiff
Two people have been taken to hospital after a crash last night on the A4232 in Cardiff. Traffic monitoring service Inrix reports that the A4232 is shut from the A4161 Newport Road to Lamby Way following a "serious accident" so investigation work can take place.
Police were called to the incident at around 10.30pm last night and the Welsh Ambulance Service confirmed it had also attended the incident. A spokesman said: "We were in attendance and we did convey two patients to the University Hospital of Wales."
Follow our live updates on this incident here.
One lane of M48 Severn Bridge closed due to strong winds
One lane of the M48 Severn Bridge is closed due to strong winds, according to traffic monitoring service Inrix. It is closed in both directions between Junction 2 A466 Wye Valley Link Road (Chepstow) and Junction 1 A403 (Aust). The matrix sign is set to 40mph.
A470 in Powys closed following crash
Traffic monitoring service Inrix has said the A470 in Powys is closed in both directions after a crash. An update says: "A470 in both directions closed due to accident at A4081 (the Llanllyr turn-off)."
Two airlifted to hospital as four hurt in serious dog attack
Four people have been injured in a serious dog attack. Two of the casualties have been airlifted to hospital following the incident in Gwynedd.
Police attended an address in Rhoshirwaun, Pwllheli, shortly before 11.30am on Friday in response to reports of a dangerous dog incident. Two people were taken to hospital by air ambulance and two others sustained minor injuries.
Read more here.
Met Office weather forecast for Sunday
It will be cloudy and wet to start, turning drier for a time. Here is the full forecast:
Blustery heavy showers, merging to give longer spells of rain as clouds build through the morning. Showers and cloud move eastward leaving a drier and brighter afternoon. Windy with coastal gales possible, and rather mild for the time of year. Maximum temperature 14 °C. Mixture of clear spells and light showers during the evening. Winds easing, but further heavy showers move in from the west overnight. Winds re-strengthen in the south with coastal gales. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
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