Police have warned visitors against blighting the landscape

Police have issued a warning to visitors of a popular beauty spot following a rise in reports of vehicles causing damage to the landscape. Over recent weeks, a branch of Dyfed Powys Police have noted an increase in visitors to the Elan Valley area, particularly those using 4×4 vehicles, quad bikes, and motorcycles.

The increase in reports have sparked concern amongst those in the force, particularly because the area is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). At this time of year the landscape is home to many ground-nesting birds, making it especially vulnerable to disturbance.

While members of off-road and motor groups can use designated green lanes and byways responsibly, officers said unlawful activity won’t be tolerated. Concerns have been raised about drivers failing to adhere to regulations, causing damage to common land and rivers, and showing a disregard for the natural environment.

The force further confirmed that they are currently investigating reports of criminal damage at Rhayader Golf Course and on common land in the Pont yr Elan area. They stated that efforts are underway to identify those responsible, with legal action expected to follow. Always keep on top of the latest Welsh news with our newsletter

Visitors to the Elan Valley and surrounding areas are being urged to familiarise themselves with where they are permitted to drive or ride before setting out. Officers stressed that there will be no excuses for those found to be breaching the rules.

Further advice on how to navigate green roads, can be found here.

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The bins will be for food and garden waste, paper and card, dry recyclables such as glass, metal and plastics, and general non-recyclable rubbish.

In some areas, paper and card may still be collected with other dry recyclables, reducing the number of bins to three.

Ministers say this will provide different local authorities with the flexibility to deliver services that work best for their communities.

From 31 March 2026, bin collections across England will change.

The goal is good: more recycling, less landfill.
The risk is real: more bins, new rules, new schedules.

Simpler in theory. Overwhelming in practice.

This account is here for one thing: less confusion at home.

— Bintime | Bin-day reminders (@Bintimeapp) March 1, 2026

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New rules in England mean up to 4 bins in use for households

Circular economy minister Mary Creagh said: “We are ending the bin collections postcode lottery and making it easier for people to recycle wherever they live.

“Simplifying these rules will cut out carbon, clean up our streets, and help bring pride back into our communities.

“We will continue to work hand-in-hand with local areas to deliver these changes and ensure there’s more recycled content in the products we buy.”

The new system is part of the government’s wider efforts to build a circular economy, keeping resources in use longer and reducing waste.

Previously, local authorities set their own rules around bin types and what materials could be collected, leading to a patchwork of different systems across the country.

The government now aims to standardise collections to ensure more high-quality material can be processed domestically for reuse by manufacturers to make new products.

Officials say the changes could also cut carbon emissions by reducing the amount of rubbish that gets burned.

To help councils roll out the new scheme, the government has provided £340 million in funding.

Can you get fined for putting bins out early?

How to check your local bin rules

To support some local authorities with area-specific delivery challenges, the government said additional support will be provided, such as agreed transitional arrangements, allowing a later implementation date.

Households can check how and when the new rules will apply in their area by visiting the government’s website.

Enter your postcode to check the rules for your area.

More than £78 billion has been allocated to councils in England for this financial year, including funding for introducing weekly food waste collections for all households.

The government has introduced an extended producer responsibility scheme, which requires packaging producers to cover the costs of recycling or waste management.

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Deposit return scheme coming to supermarkets in 2027

It also plans to launch a deposit return scheme in 2027.

This will see shoppers pay a small deposit when buying drinks in plastic bottles or metal cans, which they will receive back when returning the empty containers to retailers.

What do you think about the new bin rules in England? Let us know in the comments.

The promoter took in Wales’ Six Nations victory over Italy ahead of signing Henry Pollock to his talent agency

Promoter Eddie Hearn has spoken about the experience of watching Wales’ Six Nations victory over Italy earlier this month, saying the patriotism surpassed anything he’d seen in a big sporting event.

Steve Tandy’s side ended their three-year wait for a victory in the tournament, finishing the campaign with a 31-17 win over the Italians. Hearn was in Cardiff watching that day, prior to signing England international Henry Pollock to his Matchroom Talent Agency.

Speaking on the Big Jim Show with former Scotland international Jim Hamilton, Hearn explained that he had expected to be watching Pollock in Paris on the final day of the tournament – but ending up at the Principality Stadium instead.

“I think the day before, I looked at the Six Nations line-up of games and I thought I was probably going to England-France, because that looked like the game,” he said. “No, we’re going to Wales.

“I’ve sold that stadium out with AJ (Anthony Joshua) a couple of times. It is a phenomenal stadium and the people down there are mad for it.

“He was like, ‘Have you ever been to the Millennium Stadium for rugby?’. I’m like ‘No,’. ‘Oh you wait’.

“So I look at the league table and Wales are down the bottom. Italy are just above them. Look at the points, a victory means nothing. A defeat means nothing.

“You’re stone-dead last. I asked is this a big game? It’s always a big game. They said you know Wales haven’t won in three years in the Six Nations.

“I was like ‘is anyone going?’ It’s rammed. Go in there. The Millennium Stadium is a very special stadium because it’s right in the middle of the city.

“Everyone is kind of there and it’s starting to build up. They said wait until the national anthem comes on. I’ve done other boxing in Wales, there’s Welsh fighters and it’s always a great atmosphere. I was looking around during the national anthem and I like people watching in situations like that.

“I’ve never felt such patriotism as what I saw. I’ve been to Ryder Cups, I’ve been to Super Bowls where they play the American national anthem. But this was like tears-to-your-eyes stuff, like hairs on your arms standing up.

“I was just thinking, f**k, you guys haven’t won for three years, you’re bottom of the league. This feels like you’re about to win the Six Nations. The roar, just how pleasant it was.

“I’m looking at the customer. Corporate boxes, I get it. But down there is granddad, he’s like 95 and his son’s there and his grandsons are there. This is institutional.”

Hearn, one of the most recognisable faces in sport, also admitted that watching the match made him feel old – because the son of one of his former clients was playing.

“It’s quite mad because when I went to the Wales game the other day, (James) Botham was in the team,” he said. “I used to represent Liam Botham and his dad when I started work.

“I was 21 and that made me feel very old that it was Ian’s grandson and, worse, it was Liam’s son in the Wales team.”

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Children have the least control over the planet’s future, but will also be the most affected as it changes. They may well feel the mental toll of the “futility gap”: when individual actions feel meaningless against broader societal inaction on the climate crisis.

Promoting healthy psychological agency – the belief that we are in control of our lives – is fundamental here. There are things that we can do to combat the climate crisis. Children should be supported so they don’t lose hope.

Together with our colleague Kariũki Werũ, we’ve created a guide to how adults can help support their healthy psychological development.

Our approach acknowledges the severity of climate change while grounding children in hope. We aim to transform feelings of helplessness into self-efficacy – a belief that they can take action.

At home

To protect a child’s emotional wellbeing and talk about climate facts, adults also need to learn how to talk about climate change with children. This should involve adults listening, learning together and using language appropriate to their child’s age and comprehension. Schools and communities could help parents by providing tips for these conversations.

Monitoring a child’s online activity can safeguard them from traumatic news. Parents can emphasise progress and solutions, and help their children spend time experiencing and enjoying changing weather and the environment.

At school

Schools, educational methods and children’s relationships with teachers and their classmates are core influences on the development of their psychological agency. To promote climate resilience, this could mean moving beyond traditional rote learning towards age-appropriate “critical climate education”. This means empowering students to question existing systems and imagine fundamental transformations, rather than feeling defeated by the status quo.

Nature-based outdoor learning can further strengthen this development. It can both boost mental health and transform abstract climate concepts into tangible experiences. Learning outdoors can stimulate constructive climate conversations, and directly link human actions to environmental and sustainable solutions. Outdoor observations and investigative projects bridge the gap between learning and action.

The world online

Digital climate learning is a powerful catalyst for modern education. It offers interactive and global perspectives on the climate crisis. But it must be managed to address internet “filter bubbles” – when algorithms show viewers only information that aligns with their past interests. This can risk isolating and overwhelming children with repetitive content that affects their wellbeing. When used correctly, digital tools can expand a child’s perspective on climate solutions beyond their local environment.

Blended together

Effective climate education can combine digital learning with hands-on, real-world experiences. When this is supported by educators and caregivers who act as guides – while also leaving enough space for children to explore and create independently – children are able to benefit from both realistic and balanced education. Pioneering programs are blending classroom science with digital tools and outdoor experiments to turn student ideas into tangible community projects.

On a wider scale, climate education needs to bridge the gap between personal responsibility and collective power. The climate narrative should shift its focus from asking “what is wrong?” to “what can we do?” This will empower children with a sense of agency rather than climate anxiety. Social media is a key place where this change can happen.

When used with adult guidance and digital literacy, it can lead to constructive dialogues and evidence-based action. A moderated and positive use of digital tools can help children connect their own awareness to the world around them and drive action on a larger scale to truly tackle the climate crisis.

This can ultimately allow children to share their climate change knowledge and inspire actions among family and friends. They can go on to become influential at school and in their community.

In order to address the climate crisis and support wellbeing, we need to help children recognise their agency. Children can become agents of change who can counter misinformation and foster long-term psychological resilience.

Schools can work together with families, communities and leaders to create a supportive environment for learning about climate. _ Such approach could bridge the gaps between scientific climate facts and real-life experiences by providing the emotional care and practical skills needed to empower_ the climate generations to build a sustainable future together.

The force have warned members of the public to avoid the area

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Residents are being evacuated due to a security alert in Lurgan with the town centre ‘completely closed off’.

The alert has been issued in the early hours of Tuesday, March 31, just before 12.30am. It is in place in the Church Place area of the County Armagh town.

According to PSNI an evacuation operation is underway. Cordons are in place and members of the public have been asked to avoid the area.

Lurgan Town Hall has been opened for those who have been evacuated.

Carla Lockhart MP posted a statement online that said: “There is currently a serious security alert in Lurgan town centre, centred around the police station, involving a suspicious vehicle.

“The town centre has been completely closed off and is likely to remain so for a significant period of time. This will inevitably cause major disruption to the area, and we ask everyone to avoid the vicinity and follow all guidance from authorities.

“For those affected, Lurgan Town Hall has been opened to provide refuge and support for anyone who has been evacuated.

“This is not something anyone wants to see in our society today. The situation is deeply concerning, and I would strongly urge anyone who may have any information to come forward and report it to the PSNI immediately.

“I want to utterly and unequivocally condemn what has happened tonight in Lurgan. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted, and we hope for a safe and swift resolution.

“Please stay safe and look out for one another.”

A spokesperson for PSNI said in a statement posted on X: “Members of the public are asked to avoid the Church Place area of Lurgan due to an ongoing security alert, this morning, Tuesday 31st March.

“Cordons are in place, and an evacuation operation is due to get underway. An update will follow in due course.”

An unknown projectile struck the tanker’s starboard causing a fire to the vessel, UKMTO reported, with the crew accounted for and safe and no environmental impact reported

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An oil tanker has gone up in flames after being hit by a projectile off the coast of Dubai.

United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Monday, 30 March that an unidentified projectile had struck their tanker starboard, igniting a fire on the vessel. The incident follows Iran’s approval of a plan to impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz.

The incident near the strait is under investigation and it remains uncertain who executed the strike.

Vessels, particularly oil tankers, have been the target of strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, causing widespread disruptions in oil markets and at petrol stations.

The transit of tankers through the strait has been a contentious issue since the Middle East conflict began over a month ago.

US-Israeli forces targeted several key sites in Iran at the end of February, and Iran has retaliated by targeting sites across the Middle East, including vessels traversing the Strait of Hormuz.

Approximately one fifth of all globally traded oil passes through the strait.

UKMTO confirmed that the crew are accounted for and safe, and no environmental impact has been reported.

The strike occurred shortly after the Iranian Parliament’s Security Commission approved a plan to impose tolls in the Strait of Hormuz.

On Monday, a member of the National Security Commission declared that the plan had been approved. Among other provisions are the “safety of naval vessels”, environmental issues and the prohibition of passage for US and Israeli vessels.

The plan also incorporates a toll system and the enforcement of Iran’s sovereign role in the area.

Callum Edwards, 27, was found with messages on his phone which revealed he was involved in the supply of both class A and B drugs

02:00, 31 Mar 2026

A drug dealer was found to be involved in supplying both cocaine and cannabis after police seized his phone and found messages to customers. He later claimed he was selling drugs in order to fund his own addiction.

Callum Edwards, 27, of Merthyr Tydfil, was a passenger in a car stopped by police on January 14, 2024, on the A465. It was initially believed by police that the vehicle had been involved in the transportation of drugs into Parc Prison in Bridgend.

A sentencing hearing at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court on Monday heard the defendant’s mobile phone was seized along with a small amount of cannabis. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.

When the phone was checked there were found to be various messages which showed Edwards was involved in the supply of cocaine and cannabis.

Prosecutor Tom Roberts said the defendant fielded requests from drug users to supply up to 1.75g of cocaine and up to 3.5g of cannabis at a time.

In a basis of plea, the defendant accepted he sold drugs to friends and trusted associates, and did so to fund his addiction to cannabis.

Edwards, of Maple Crescent, Trefechan, later pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A and B drugs.

The court heard he was of previous good character.

In mitigation, it was said that the defendant had “taken responsibility” for his actions.

He began using drugs in 2023, starting with cannabis before also using cocaine.

The defendant was said to have suffered a brain injury after he cracked his head during an accident on a bicycle.

Recorder Paul Lewis KC sentenced Edwards to 21 months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

The defendant was also made subject to a 15-day rehabilitation activity requirement and ordered to carry out 100 hours unpaid work.

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Ali Abdul Basit had evaded justice after fleeing to Venice, then Dubai and then Egypt, after stabbing Michael Afonso-Peixoto to death in Thornton Heath, south London

A teenager who stabbed a man to death was snagged after throwing a cigarette butt from a car window at the scene.

This had Ali Abdul Basit’s DNA on, and detectives were eventually able to trace the teen and arrest him in connection with Michael Afonso-Peixoto’s death. Basit, though, fled to Venice, then Dubai and then Egypt in a desperate bid to dodge justice.

But the 19-year-old thug now faces jail after being convicted of manslaughter and robbery. The court had heard Basit was one of five men who waited in a car, jumping out to attack Mr Afonso-Peixoto. The 27-year-old victim had been “tricked” into thinking he was meeting someone to sell cocaine in Thornton Heath, south London.

Mr Afonso-Peixoto was being driven by his girlfriend Charley Smith and the men also robbed her car at knifepoint. However, four our of the five men were identified by DNA left on cigarette butts they discarded as they waited for the couple, the Old Bailey was told.

READ MORE: ‘The thug who killed my dad is being let out of prison early — it’s insulting’READ MORE: Police say pregnant mum, 18, shot dead by 29-year-old boyfriend in Philadelphia

Crispin Aylett, KC, prosecuting, said: “Michael had been stabbed twice in right shoulder, once on his left side, stabbed to the front of his chest and the knife entered his heart.

“The wound quickly proved fatal and he bled to death on the driveway of the house where he had collapsed. For four of the five men in the BMW those thoughtlessly discarded cigarette butts were to prove their undoing. Each had left traces of DNA on one of more of the cigarette butts.”

The fifth assailant has never been identified, My London reports. Basit was cleared of murder, but convicted of manslaughter and robbery after a three-week trial. Three other men; Zak Baako, 30, John Budal, 20, and 23-year-old Omari Peat stood trial at the Old Bailey at the end of 2024.

But Basit, Mitcham, south London, fled justice for 18 months before he was eventually arrested, upon his return at Luton Airport. While he was away, the Metropolitan Police “compiled an extensive amount of evidence, including phone data” as they investigated the death.

The court heard Mr Afonso-Peixoto’s family was of Portuguese descent and ran a business supplying electrical parts called ‘Mikes Electrix’ but also sold drugs on Snapchat as ‘Mario Deals’. He was in a relationship with Ms Smith, despite also being in a long-term relationship with the mother of his child with whom he lived.

Basit was remanded in custody ahead of sentence on May 22. Baako, who was found guilty of murder, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 28 years in prison. Budal, who was cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter and robbery, was sentenced to nine years in prison while Peat was handed a four-year prison sentence.

Extreme online content and personalities are triggering racist, misogynistic and hateful behaviours among pupils, according to a major poll of over 10,000 teachers

Extreme online content and personalities are triggering racist, misogynistic and hateful behaviours among pupils, according to a major poll of teachers.

The survey of more than 10,500 National Education Union (NEU) members also found staff linked social media use to loss of concentration (71%), mental health impacts (67%) and sleep deprivation (66%) among students.

The findings come as Keir Starmer this weekend declared war on addictive algorithms and promised parents he would take urgent action to deal with online harms.

Among the stark findings, the NEU poll revealed more than half of teachers (56%) think extreme online content is leading to misogynistic behaviour among pupils, while a similar proportion (52%) believe it is leading to racist behaviour. More than two in five teachers also said homophobic or transphobic (45%) content and conspiracy theories or misinformation (43%) were influencing their pupils.

READ MORE: Keir Starmer declares WAR on social media apps – promising ‘this is going to change’

Children in secondary schools were around twice as likely to express hateful views, the survey found.

Spiralling content online is also linked to a rise in teachers facing abuse, with nearly two-thirds having experienced verbal assaults from pupils in the last year, the poll found. Nearly one in 10 (9%) teachers said they had experienced sexualised comments from pupils in the past year. This jumps sharply to 19% in secondary schools.

Nearly one in five female teachers (19%) said they had experienced misogyny in classrooms, while 13% of Black teachers reported being racially abused by pupils. One teacher told the survey: “Racist and homophobic language learned online is becoming normalised in school.”

More than half of teachers (55%) also said social media use was leading to bullying and harassment within schools. One teacher told the poll: “Bullying no longer stops at the school gate. It is relentless and follows them home.”

Another said: “Constant fallouts from group chats that begin at home and explode in school the next morning.” And another teacher added: “Friendship groups are breaking down because of online gossip and rumours spreading rapidly.”

Almost all (98%) of the teachers said they’d support strict regulation of tech firms to protect children from addictive algorithms. The Government has launched a major consultation looking at whether to introduce a social media ban, restrictions on addictive apps or overnight curfews.

In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Mr Starmer said the next generation “won’t forgive” the Government for failing to tackle the social media wild west. The PM declared war on addictive apps , saying: “Addictive algorithms, clearly to my mind, shouldn’t be permitted.

“This is the platforms trying to get children to stay on for longer, to get addicted. I can’t see that there’s a case for that, and therefore I can see we’re going to have to act.”

It comes after a Los Angeles jury found that Meta, which owns Instagram , Facebook and WhatsApp , and Google , owner of YouTube , intentionally built addictive social media platforms that harmed a 20-year old woman’s mental health.

NEU General Secretary Daniel Kebede said: “Addictive social media algorithms are feeding our children harmful content on a daily basis. That content is having clear negative effects – with educators reporting racist and misogynistic behaviour by young people, influenced by what they have seen online.

“Other impacts reported by our members – on students’ mental health, personal development, and learning – are deeply concerning. This is not a problem that schools or parents on their own can fix. The vast majority of teachers and support staff back stricter regulation of tech firms to protect young people.

“Each day that we continue in the present situation comes with a cost, whether it is bullying, worsening mental ill-health, eating disorders, or disengagement from learning. We cannot allow this generation or any other to become victims of big tech profit margins.”

A government spokesman said: “These figures are deeply concerning, and underscore the need for strong action to keep our kids safe online. We have introduced some of the toughest online safety laws in the world. Platforms now have a legal duty to remove illegal content for all UK users and to protect children from harmful material, including pornography, violent and abusive online content.

“We have also published strengthened guidance to make it even clearer that schools should be mobile phone-free and have launched a public consultation considering stronger measures, including a social media ban or curfew for children.”

::: The NEU conducted an online survey of 10,578 teacher members and 3,230 support staff members in state schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland between February 5 and 16.