Gwynedd County, Wales News

THOUSANDS of youngsters across Wales are getting ready for their chance to shine at Europe's largest cultural youth festival next week.

A FORMER football scout is over the moon after taking the reins as town mayor for the second time in his career.

With the help of characters Cyw, Plwmp, Jangl, Llew, Deryn and Bolgi - youngsters learn by singing along to the alphabet song and drawing the shape of the letters with their fingers on the screen.

COMMUNITY pride was in abundance last week as residents turned out in force to tidy a part of the town in the hope that one day it could be developed.

What is the most important object in Welsh histroy? Today Professor Huw Bowen, from Swansea University, argues the case for pylons On Tuesday, when readers came to the end of Toby Thacker's excellent essay on the importance of the Spandau machine-gun in Welsh History, they were informed that the following day Professor Huw Bowen would be discussing ... (more)

EXCAVATIONS by archaeologists before the new Ysgol Hendre was built at Llanbeblig, found evidence of a Roman cemetery as well as signs that a fortified camp had once existed there.

Earlier this month, Llanystumdwy Community Council sent a letter to other such bodies across Gwynedd, warning that "whole communities could be drowned overnight". The council's concerns related to planning permission being granted to some Dwyfor caravan sites, allowing them to open for 12 months a year.

A man accused of murdering April Jones said a bin bag he was seen carrying the day after the five-year-old went missing was empty, a court has heard.

Caernarfon, GWYNEDD Dedicated centre. "After 18 years based on the Ceunant hillside, Beacon Climbing Centre relocated in July 2012 to a huge new modern facility, conveniently located on the Cibyn..." www.beaconclimbing.com USER PHOTO GALLERY There are no photos of this crag available .

A man accused of murdering April Jones has told a court he felt sick with "fright and fear" after he said he accidentally knocked her over in his car.

The festival, which runs from July 21-27, is one of the largest free music events in Wales, and relies solely on audience donations and sponsorship.

The issuing of parking tickets during popular events in Gwynedd will make visitors think twice about returning to the area and will hit trade, says Llanberis county councillor Trefor Edwards.

And councillors also gave their support for the former Firestone factory site on Wrexham Industrial Estate as the preferred location for the jail which could house 2,000 inmates.

Investigation launched after mum Melanie Webb, from Dyffryn Ardudwy says she was left to wait after dialling 999 with chest pains A PREGNANT woman who dialled 999 after suffering severe chest pains says she was forced to wait more than five hours to get to hospital because of ambulance staff shortages.

Man accused of abducting and murdering the five-year-old will take the witness stand at Mold Crown Court later THE former slaughterhouse worker accused of abducting and murdering schoolgirl April Jones in a "sexually motivated" attack is expected to give his version of events later today.

TRIBUTES have been paid to a "bright, funny and likeable" 15 year-old schoolgirl who was found dead after falling from Menai suspension bridge .

Proposals to close three Gwynedd primary schools and create a A 4.8m school in their place have been given the go-ahead by the council's cabinet.

UK Government changes to legal aid will result in miscarriages of justice and the closure of high street solicitors' firms and barristers' chambers across Wales, lawyers warned today.

Experts found "very strong evidence" of burnt human skull remains at the home of the man accused of murdering April Jones, a jury has heard.

Bone fragments found in the fireplace of a man accused of killing five-year-old April Jones were from a human skull, a jury was told.