A father from Llantrisant whose daughter died from cervical cancer is urging young people to get themselves protected by having the HPV vaccine. Rhian Griffiths was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 22 in March 2010 and died aged 25 in June 2012. The vaccine wasn't available to Rhian but her father Wayne wants all young people - both boys and girls - to get a vaccination to protect themselves when offered. Human papillomavirus is a common virus in the UK, and it is estimated that 8 out of 10 people will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives. Most HPV infections don't show any symptoms and for most people the virus clears from the body naturally without causing any harm. But in some cases it can lead to cell changes that may develop into cancer. Rhian who was a nursery teacher from Llantrisant received swift treatment after her diagnosis including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Despite her care, the cancer returned and Rhian passed away in 2012. Wayne says that Rhian "battled stoically the horrible disease that she sustained over a two year period which culminated in her death in 2012. "What if the vaccine for HPV had been around when she was that age, when she was in year 8 or year 9? She could be with us now. She was just unlucky that the tumour, the cancers that she had was resistant in the end and unfortunately it happens to a few people to say the least. Wayne added "if she'd had that vaccine in year 8 or year 9 it might have saved her, we don't know do we, but it does save a lot of people from the ultimate diagnosis. "You've got to grasp every opportunity to prevent cancer and it's a proven vaccine...it's made a vast difference to young people." Since then her parents have raised, more than £1 million in memory of Rhian as part of the Rhian Griffiths Forget Me Not Fund. It supports funds for the Velindre Cancer Centre. It comes as Public Health Wales is urging parents and guardians to make sure their children take up the offer of a HPV vaccine at school. Chris Johnson, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme at Public Health Wales, said: “Most HPV infections don’t show any symptoms and for most people, the virus will clear from the body naturally without causing harm. However, in some cases it can lead to cell changes that may develop into cancer, or cause genital warts. “High-risk types of HPV are linked to cervical cancer, head and neck cancers, and other cancers of the genitals and anus. “The HPV vaccine is a safe and highly effective single-dose vaccine that is offered to all children at 12 to 13 years of age, or school year 8. It provides long-lasting protection against HPV and the cancers it can cause.” Some HPV-related cancers are more common in men than women, yet despite this, boys are less likely to get their HPV vaccine than girls. At present the Welsh Government has a 90 per cent vaccination target rate with the vaccine being offered to all year 8 pupils and those who may have previously missed their vaccination. Public Health Wales has said young people who don't attend school or have missed their HPV vaccination in school will have opportunities to receive the vaccine, either in school, community vaccination centres or through their GP. Young people remain eligible to receive the HPV vaccine until their 25th birthday, although for boys this only includes those born after 1 September 2006. Chris Johnson added: “It’s important that parents and guardians understand the benefits of the HPV vaccine and how it can help protect their children later in life. "We’re urging them to make sure their child takes up the vaccine when offered, to help protect them from HPV-related cancer in the future.” Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To know... is pleased to announce that its Llantrisant Green Meadow store will become the first 24-hour drive thru in Wales This exciting expansion means customers can enjoy their favourite handcrafted coffees and delicious food options whenever they need them the store has welcomed three additional baristas ensuring great service for the local community A Costa Coffee Spokesperson said: “With our new 24-hour drive thru we’re making it even easier for customers to enjoy our coffee made with our Mocha Italia Signature taste Whether it’s a late-night pick-me-up or an early morning start our team is thrilled to bring the Costa Coffee experience to customers 24/7.” Costa Coffee’s Llantrisant Green Meadow Drive Thru will operate its drive-thru lane 24 hours a day with an in-store service available daily from 6am to 10pm To find your nearest store or Costa Express machine, visit: https://www.costa.co.uk/locations/store-locator This May, Heathrow is relaunching its annual whisky festival with a bold new twist. Introducing... Costa Coffee, the Nation’s Favourite Coffee Shop*, is thrilled to reveal that its Cardinal Place... Lakeside Shopping Centre, the internationally renowned shopping, dining and leisure space owned by SGS Group,... Klarna, the AI-powered payments and commerce network, crossed 11 million active customers and has doubled... Côte Brasserie is bringing the timeless charm of French hospitality into the home like never... Wickes is proud to announce it has reached its £2 million fundraising target for The... By NOTICEBOARD · 25 July 2024 Construction of a brand new main building for Penygawsi Primary School (pictured) has now been completed Work across the site’s external areas will start shortly ready for pupils to enjoy the fantastic facilities from September The Llantrisant school is one of three in Rhondda Cynon Taf to benefit from the latest Council and Welsh Government investment via the revenue funding stream of the Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme - the Mutual Investment Model Llanilltud Faerdref Primary received its new building in April while a similar investment for Pontyclun Primary is progressing for 2025 Work to build Penygawsi Primary School’s new two-storey building was completed recently and the staff have since been setting up their new classrooms in readiness for the building’s opening at the start of the 2024/25 academic year The new building contains first class facilities and spaces that are arranged around a central heartspace and three ‘wings’ three infant and six junior classrooms - along with a main hall and various supporting areas The school’s capacity has been increased to 310 primary school pupils (aged four to 11) plus 45 nursery places The construction contractor Morgan Sindall will now focus on the external areas of the development The old buildings are continuing to be emptied before being demolished to open up the site for the construction of a new car park two multi-use games areas and a grass football pitch The overall development will also include 40 cycle storage spaces and improvements to the pedestrian routes to the school site to encourage active travel Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and the Welsh Language said: “I’m delighted that the brilliant new school building for Penygawsi Primary has been fully-built on schedule as this latest joint investment with Welsh Government has brought more 21st Century facilities to another local community Pupils and staff can now look forward to returning after their summer break to a first-class modern learning environment that is fully-inclusive and will support all areas of the curriculum “Our contractor for the development will be working hard throughout the summer to demolish the old school buildings and deliver the external aspects of the site - including a grass pitch the school will achieve Net Zero carbon in operation supporting our goals and commitments in relation to Climate Change “We continue to receive significant funding support from the Welsh Government to deliver new education facilities right across the County Borough The MIM programme has supported this project in Llantrisant along with a similar one for Llanilltud Faerdref Primary that saw another brand new building open in April - and a third scheme for Pontyclun Primary is progressing for next year “We’re also entering very exciting times for our Sustainable Communities for Learning Programme investment in Greater Pontypridd A brand new sixth form block and other education facilities opened at Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School in Beddau recently Hawthorn and Rhydyfelin in September 2024 - all benefitting from new-build facilities that each community can be proud of The new facilities at Penygawsi Primary School look fantastic and I’m really looking forward to visiting staff and pupils there in the new academic year.” LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A 27-year-old man has appeared in court accused of attempted murder after three officers were injured outside a police station in South Wales Alexander Dighton, from Llantrisant, Rhondda Cynon Taf, represented himself at the Old Bailey on Friday charged with seven offences including attempted murder and assault of an emergency worker South Wales Police officers challenged a man outside Talbot Green police station in Rhondda Cynon Taf following a disturbance at around 7pm on January 31 Teenager encouraged others ‘join your local Nazis’ on Telegram Counter-terror review linked to MP’s murder ‘clearly inadequate’ £54m Securitas robber shot in the neck at home Tycoon and Polly Peck thief Asil Nadir dies aged 83 who was bald with a long beard and wearing a grey jumper saying he does not consider the profession to be “respectful” He also asked Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb if he could enter a plea but was told he could not He was remanded in custody and will appear at the Old Bailey for a trial preparatory hearing on March 28 Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer Royals watch historic flypast as huge crowds turns out for VE Day 80th anniversary  Royals watch historic Red Arrows flypast for VE Day 80th anniversary David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints Stacey Solomon 'regrets doing reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason Stacey Solomon 'regrets reality show with Joe Swash' for tough reason A mobile MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) unit recently set up at Llantrisant Health Park to reduce waiting times sees 410 patients in the first 28 days of operation.  Patients across the Cwm Taf Morgannwg region have started to attend a new mobile MRI unit which opened its doors for the first time last month a short walk from the Royal Glamorgan Hospital increases capacity for MRI scans in the health board helping to reduce waiting times for patients and allowing them to access onwards treatment sooner.   Early access to diagnostic tests ensures patients receive timely care reducing anxiety and delays in the diagnosis process Patient feedback is already reflecting the positive impact the unit is having:   “From entering the reception area I was treated with the uttermost respect All of the facilities were in excellent order toilet facility exceptionally clean… To mark out of ten I would be very happy to give ten out of ten Efficient friendly staff who put you at ease and show care A not-usually pleasant procedure made very easy”.  “Being a small unit I found it to be a much more pleasant and personal experience…”   The aim is for the MRI scanner to run for six months and continue to drive waiting times down.  also commented: “The initiative has been a big team effort and all staff involved have been a credit to our service; providing a warm welcome to patients and helping ensure its success in a short period of time.”  The mobile unit is located on the site where a new diagnostics and treatment centre for the South East Wales region will be developed The new facility will further develop regional working between Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board to improve care and access to services by delivering accessible safe and innovative services to thousands of patients each year.  Cookies are small text files saved on your phone tablet or computer when you visit a website These cookies enable core functionality such as page navigation and access to secure areas The website cannot function properly without these cookies and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences Consent for some third party cookies can not be automatically revoked Please follow the link below if you want to opt out of them We may use third party tools such as Google Analytics and similar to help us anonymously measure how you use our websites This allows us to make improvements based on our users\' needs These tools set cookies that store anonymised information about how you got to the site PProperty / Construction The development of the derelict Welsh Primary School has been completed, creating 18 new, affordable homes in Old Llantrisant. Trivallis, a housing association based in RCT, partnered with LCB Construction to deliver 18 new homes at the former school in Llantrisant, which has been vacant since it closed in 2005. The scheme was delivered using the Social Housing Grant in partnership with RCTCBC and Welsh Government. The work to transform the school began in November 2021, retaining and refurbishing the school building turning it into flats. Along with developing an adapted bungalow and 3 houses, alongside the school. Sarah Davies, development manager at Trivallis has been managing the redevelopment of the school, she said: “The redevelopment of the former Welsh school has enabled us to deliver much needed affordable housing in an area of such high demand, in the centre of Old Llantrisant. We are proud to be delivering these homes for local residents who may have not previously been able to live in the area. “We would like to thank our contractor partner LCB Construction for their hard work in helping us deliver this scheme. We wish the new residents all the best in their new homes.” In total, the development of the school has created 8×1 bed flats, 6×2 bed flats, 1×2 bed adapted bungalow and 2×3 bed houses. Neil Phillips, construction manager at Trivallis said: “This is an amazing scheme, providing opportunity for both LCB Construction and Trivallis to regenerate this prominent building in the community, retaining its character and appearance as a ‘Structure of Merit’ for generations to come.” Simon Baldwin, operations manager at LCB Construction said: “LCB Construction are proud to have been the principal contractor in the re-development of the former Welsh Primary School in partnership with Trivallis. It has been an absolute pleasure working with the Trivallis team throughout this very challenging scheme, and we look forward to working together on future developments in the near future. “The scheme will make a huge difference to the local area turning a derelict building into modern apartments along with new build houses in the grounds, providing much needed social housing in Llantrisant.” Cllr Mark Norris, cabinet member for development & prosperity said: “I’m pleased to see that Trivallis’ re-development of the old Welsh School in Llantrisant has been completed. The Council supported Trivallis with the scheme by providing funding through the Social Housing Grant. “The development has allowed the derelict site to be transformed into modern housing and will provide needed affordable accommodation for the residents of RCT, which is a key priority of the Council.” Tenants will be receiving their keys in the next few days and will be moving into their new homes at Llys y Tri Sant. To get in contact with Trivallis’ development team, contact them at DART@trivallis.co.uk. To get in touch with LCB Construction contact Simon.Baldwin@lcb-group.co.uk and reach out to RCT Council by contacting housingstrategy@rctcbc.gov.uk. For more information on the development and how to apply for a home with Trivallis, visit www.trivallis.co.uk or follow @wearetrivallis on Facebook and Twitter.  and highly targeted distribution networks offers our clients a proven strategically connected one-stop-shop solution for all regions and business sectors in Wales and beyond Llantrisant Tennis club has undergone an amazing transition since taking on the lease of the site three years ago The club put together a development plan that included the installation of an electronic security gate LED lights and finally an artificial clay surface The electronic gate ensured that the club earned revenue every time someone stepped on to play on the court Tennis Wales provided support in application for a grant to help pay for its installation while the club contributed £5000-£6000 The next stage of the plan was the transformation of the floodlights from halogen to LED The club was successful once more in securing a grant for this The final part of the development was completed this year when they applied for £72,000 from three Grant committees and the UK shared Prosperity Fund to transform the tarmac courts into an artificial clay surface The club contributed £3-4000 towards this project.  A spokesperson for the club said: "During this three-year period we have received much support from various bodies we could never have achieved our ambitious plans without grants from Sport Wales The Welsh Church Act Fund and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.  "Tennis Wales provided support throughout the development of the club On top of help with the grant for the gate they provided guidance when we were considering taking on the initial lease Tennis Wales also shared knowledge and development ideas This helped ensure the club understood the legal issues and were able to include relevant information when making their submissions.  "The Club also received invaluable support from the RCT Sports Leisure and Parks Team and the RCT Community Support Team © Copyright 2025 LTA Operations Limited We use cookies to store information about how you use our website – such as the pages you visit – so we can ace your experience when you're browsing All information about the cookies we use and why we use them are in our Cookie Policy You can control which additional cookies we use in the settings below: which always need to be turned on to help our website function and enable you to use all of our features such as information about your browser type and version without collecting any personal data which relates to you These cookies allow our website to remember the choices you make (such as your username your preferred language or where you live) to give you a faster and more personalised experience when browsing This means we can show you more of the content we think you’d like to see Performance cookies are used to collect data about how you use our website so we can continue to improve it in the future these cookies track the pages you go to most often All data is gathered anonymously and is only used to benefit the functionality of the site We have several partners who may also set cookies on our behalf when you visit our website This allows them to deliver tailored LTA advertising within their domains We use cookies on our site to ACE your experience improve the quality of our site and show you content we think you’ll be interested in Let us know if you agree to cookies or if you’d prefer to manage your own settings Ghostly Tales of Llantrisant is a new book published by local historian Dean Powell who has spent decades researching the story of the ancient settlement What do you know of the witch condemned to eternal purgatory who haunts the lonely pathways in search of her family crypt Or the workhouse warden whose footsteps can still be heard from the upper rooms of Model House Craft & Design Centre What of the murdered landlord whose skeleton was discovered after two centuries and the town’s blacksmith bludgeoned to death by a lunatic wife Have you heard of the vicious brothel owner’s poltergeist the phantom soldier and his undiscovered treasure or the drowned widow who appears on Llantrisant Common on a stormy night archive material and interviews with local residents the book explores tales of paranormal occurrences in Llantrisant’s buildings It turns the spotlight on the spirit of the child whose vacant eyes look across the Bull Ring from a shop window and the presence of the murdered farmer’s son as you walk the steep slope to the Billy Wynt From witches and spirits to murders and plagues this volume of more than fifty blood-curdling stories tells the dark and grisly history of Llantrisant Harrowing nightmares are born in a community where so much brutality and bloodthirsty battles terrified generations with chilling stories of the supernatural blood-drenched altar stones and witchcraft are all around us and yet this is the first time a book exploring the darker history of the town has been published Dean was brought up hearing stories of soldiers slaughtered in the castle the doomed king imprisoned in its foul dungeon and how the troubled souls of executed criminals haunt the site of the deathly gallows “We knew the stories of the legendary longbowmen who returned victorious from the Battle of Crecy in 1346 only to die horrifically from the Black Death in a town where the souls of plague victims still cast a shadow.” Dean launched Llantrisant Ghost Walks in 2017 which attracts several thousand people to the town every year to follow a tour of its shadowy cobbled streets and hear tales of its gruesome past This is his twenty first book on local Welsh history For further details see www.deanpowell.co.uk Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" I would be going ghosthunting every weekend We need to tech young people in wales about welsh history not British history it’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Llantrisant church also has a stain glass window with a clean shaven Jesus depicted on it…that’s quite spooky Connect with Nation.Cymru on Facebook and Twitter If you would like to donate to help keep Nation.Cymru running then you just need to click on the box below it will open a pop up window that will allow you to pay using your credit / debit card or paypal Enter your email address to receive instant notifications of new articles All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018 In 2017 Nation.Cymru was launched after raising £5000 from a crowdfunding campaign Today it is one of the fastest growing news sites in the UK attracting over 1.5 million visitors a month We are not backed by billionaire owners or hidden behind a paywall but we depend on our readers' support to continue our work If everyone who visited the site over the course of a month donated at least £1 we would have enough funding for the next eight years To guarantee our future please consider making a donation today. Message Invalid character found in the request target [/detail.cfm?i\u003d9341] The valid characters are defined in RFC 7230 and RFC 3986 Description The server cannot or will not process the request due to something that is perceived to be a client error (e.g. Note The full stack trace of the root cause is available in the server logs We are currently installing some temporary units on site at Royal Glamorgan Hospital which will increase our surgical and endoscopy capacity This work has resulted in a temporary reduction of parking spaces Disabled parking spaces have been prioritised retained and moved to a suitable location close to the main building Thank you for your understanding and cooperation 27 JAN 2024BookmarkLeekes Llantrisant has a new entrance and exit to create a more welcoming and accessible environment for visitors (Image: Leekes Llantrisant)A popular family-owned department store located just five minutes from junction 34 of the M4 is making waves across the retail landscape with its ongoing £5 million store refurbishment Leekes Llantrisant has always been an incredibly popular destination for all things home and lifestyle in South Wales has delivered an even more enriching shopping experience for customers introduced a stunning furniture floor that showcases leading brand studios such as Orla Kiely Stressless and G Plan Upholstery to name just a few The addition of a new bed and bedroom furniture department along with relocated interior design and carpet studios and a beautiful garden centre marked a significant step forward in the overall store refurbishment plan The latest updates focus on further enhancing the store's product offering features a new entrance and exit designed to create a more welcoming and accessible environment for visitors and also introduces the largest home furnishings and curtain and blinds collection in Wales you'll be greeted by an impressive array of towels cushions and curtains from brands such as Laura Ashley Leekes has also expanded its offer across cookware and tableware presenting customers with fresh and exciting ranges from industry leaders like Simplehuman The accessories and lighting collections have also been given a facelift providing shoppers with on-trend options to elevate their home interiors as well as a recently refurbished conservatory and glazing studio One of the standout features of the latest refurbishment is the introduction of a vast selection of clothing concessions offering customers a chance to explore leading brands like Craghoppers This addition complements Leekes' vision of being a lifestyle destination where customers can find not only furniture and home essentials but also stylish apparel And if that wasn’t enough to tempt you into visiting You can enjoy up to half-price savings across the store along with the chance to spread the cost with a range of finance options to help you turn your home improvement dreams into reality whether you're looking to revamp your living space upgrade your wardrobe or explore the latest trends in home furnishings and accessories Leekes Llantrisant is your go-to destination The knowledgeable and helpful team has recently been awarded the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award which was voted for by previous customers in combination with the ongoing investment in their store reflects Leekes' dedication towards providing a diverse and enjoyable shopping experience including a new garden furniture collection in time for spring Leekes is the standout choice for those seeking affordable quality extensive choice as well as style in one convenient location Why go anywhere else? Shop the Leekes sale in store or online at leekes.co.uk SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are visiting different communities in Wales Today they visited the town of Llantrisant to view a newly restored building the Llantrisant Guildhall Heritage and Visitor Centre they met representatives from the Guildhall They also enjoyed seeing primary schoolchildren and the local choir singing outside The Llantrisant Guildhall Heritage and Visitor Centre was originally built in 1346 It has been used for a number of different purposes throughout the centuries it was used for governance with a corn market on the lower floor and a courtroom on the upper It was also used as the town’s first school and for the Baptist movement in the 18th century.  they met with different community and school groups The Centre will now serve several different purposes including a museum with exhibitions on the town’s history and hosting many different events like history talks The Duchess learned about one of the activity areas from local children as they showed her how some of the interactive elements worked.  the couple learned more about Llantrisant’s history They met with an archer to demonstrate period-specific archery skills Llantrisant longbowmen fought at the Battle of Crecy in 1346 a crucial battle in the Hundred Years’ War and one of the exhibitions in the Guildhall is dedicated to the archers.  The building was largely derelict and out of use by 2010 spearheaded a fundraising campaign to restore the Guildhall back to its Georgian origins the project also received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports A new walk-through coronavirus testing facility has opened for people with symptoms to book appointments at the Royal Mint’s Visitor Centre Car Park as part of the UK Government’s drive to continue to improve the accessibility of coronavirus testing for local communities started on Thursday 28 January with appointments made available each day The site is part of the largest network of diagnostic testing facilities created in British history which has the capacity to process more than 700,000 tests a day and includes more than 800 sites across the UK plus the Newport Lighthouse Lab which is working round the clock to process samples prior to the setting up of the new testing centre in its car park the Royal Mint transformed its visitor centre into an emergency production line – making 1.9 million medical visors for the NHS Before the new testing facility opened on Thursday afternoon Welsh Secretary Simon Hart visited the site to thanks staff and to learn about how UK Government testing facilities are rolled at speed in communities The network of testing centres set up across the length and breadth of Wales by the UK Government and its partners is truly impressive It was fantastic to see the work that goes into setting up these facilities at speed and the dedication of the people who operate them easily accessible testing is vital as we continue to combat the virus Testing at the new Llantrisant site is only available for those with coronavirus symptoms – a high temperature or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste Anyone with one or more of these symptoms should book a test at nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119 The testing centre is being operated in partnership with Mitie and will offer self-administered tests Our priority during the pandemic is to support efforts to fight COVID-19 and help keep the country running Testing is a critical part of the UK’s strategy to combat coronavirus and we’re proud to support the UK Government with this vital task Mitie employees and other frontline heroes in Llantrisant who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details Carmarthenshire News Online Local and National News for Carmarthenshire Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email THE next steps for the Llanharan railway footbridge scheme now that the new bridge has been put in have been… A HEROIC Rhondda resident has been recognised for her bravery a French citizen who is a long-standing resident… A VALLEYS mountain road will be closed overnight for several days in November for repair and maintenance work at the… 11 JUL 2023BookmarkLeekes is in the midst of a huge refurbishment project at its Llantrisant store (Image: Leekes)Renowned family-owned home furniture and furnishings retailer Leekes has recently re-launched its furniture floor with new branded furniture studios and a splendid new garden and landscaping centre at its flagship store in Llantrisant The response from customers has been overwhelmingly positive is filled with excitement for the next phase of refurbishment which promises to enhance the in-store shopping experience even further With a commitment to providing exceptional quality and customer service Leekes has become synonymous with stylish and timeless products for the home The re-launch of its furniture floor includes a new carpet and flooring studio along with branded furniture studios from leading brands such as ercol The investment in the store is a testament to its dedication to continuously improving its offering and creating a beautiful shopping environment for its valued customers The store has been delighted with recent feedback with visitors expressing admiration for the updated aesthetics And with the next stage of refurbishment now underway the new look store is poised to further offer an inspirational and inviting place to shop for everything for your home The recent changes include the re-introduction of well-known outdoor clothing brands such as Craghoppers The new layout provides customers with a fresh look at the wide selection of products and ranges on offer But the updates don’t simply start and end with Leekes Llantrisant the company’s Melksham and Bilston locations have also seen substantial investment to improve the look and feel with the overall aim being to improve customer experience and showcase the ranges available Following huge clearance events, these stores have been revitalised with the same leading brand furniture studio concepts as Llantrisant and the next step includes the same for Leekes Cross Hands in Carmarthenshire With so many exciting projects on the horizon Emma Leeke said: “Retail stores are the foundation of our business and we are brimming with excitement for our customers and suppliers to see what the next 12-18 months hold in store for us "With a challenging landscape ahead for many retailers it's important to us to stand by our values and provide a customer-focused and inspirational shopping environment that customers want to and enjoy visiting while still offering the breadth of great quality products that we are known for.” To find out more and browse Leekes' wide range of products, from garden furniture to cookware, visit the website One rugby-mad Welshman loves the game so much he’s had a mural painted on the side of his house which celebrates his love of the sport – and his local community painted by leading Welsh street artist Tee2Sugars was commissioned by Steve Arnold in Llantrisant – and it’s certainly the talk of the neighbourhood the mural was originally scheduled for the Rugby World Cup but delays meant it could only be completed this week “The mural was meant to be completed during the Rugby World Cup but sadly due to delays with weather the mural was postponed,” said Tee “Steve is an avid Wales rugby fan and wanted to show his support to the team,” added the artist “The mural has three main elements the Dragon with a rugby ball The Billy Wynt round house that looks over Llantrisant “The mural took a total of 4 days to complete spread over two weeks – due to bad weather.” Tee reckons that Steve is such a big rugby fan that if the WRU are reading this they should reward him for his dedication to the game Steve has to be one of the biggest,” said Tee I think a free ticket to the Six Nations wouldn’t be too much to ask for Find out more about Tee2Sugars via his Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/tee2sugars Watch: The beautiful war memorial mural unveiled in a Welsh town Watch: The stunning mural of a miner that has appeared in the Valleys Watch: The stunning Welsh mural that a woman has had painted in her home Staff and customers were taken aback when singing legend Sir Tom Jones paid a visit to a pub near to his childhood home who was back in south Wales for a family funeral And if there’s one thing we know it’s that Sir Tom Jones is partial to it’s a pint – and if it’s a Welsh beer he was more than happy to have his picture taken with staff including the pub’s landlord Martin Williams wrote on the pub’s Facebook page: “Lovely guy shook his hand and let him drink his drink in peace The reception for the family funeral that Sir Tom attended was held at Pontyclun RFC who posted about the star’s attendance on social media – including pictures of the Welsh legend with staff members We don't normally brag but as other venues already posted we'd thought we'd share too. Although it was under sad circumstances we were honoured to be in the company of the legendary Sir Tom Jones yesterday. We hope we did your family proud.#LIVINGLEGEND pic.twitter.com/GDmeCVjFke — Pontyclun RFC (@PontyclunRFC) February 20, 2024 It’s believed Sir Tom also visited The Bunch of Grapes pub on his old stamping ground in Pontypridd on the same day has been a regular visitor to his homeland in recent times he played several shows with Stereophonics at The Principality Stadium in 2022 and last summer played a series of sold out headline concerts at Cardiff Castle when he performs at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod on July 2 and at Chepstow Racecourse on Saturday Tom Jones to headline his biggest Welsh concert in recent history The wonderful moment a 96-year-old Tom Jones superfan’s dream came true Watch: Tom Jones’ emotional speech at closing gig in Cardiff Stereophonics’ Kelly Jones tells hilarious Tom Jones story on Zoe Ball show Watch: Tears in Sir Tom Jones’ eyes during emotional performance at Principality Stadium