Côr Heol y March, based near Bonvilston, took home first place in the Senior Childrens’ Choir category at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

The group performed under conductor Eleri Roberts with musical accompaniment from Ieuan Jones.

Ms Roberts said: “The result reflects the spirit, hard work and enthusiasm the children bring to every Sunday rehearsal at the Bonvilston Reading Rooms.”

The choir’s confident and expressive performance earned praise from adjudicators and warm support from parents and supporters.

Côr Heol y March is now preparing for its appearance at the National Eisteddfod later this summer.

Further information on the choir and its latest CD “Gwahoddiad” are available from corheolymarch@gmail.com.

Set up by the Cardiff and Vale Integrated Health and Social Care Partnership, the fund supports third sector community activities.

Money comes from the Welsh Government Regional Integration Fund.

Glamorgan Voluntary Services (GVS) works with the Vale of Glamorgan Council to administer the fund.

The aim is to improve health, wellbeing, and independence for older residents, helping them stay active in their communities.

Organisations can apply for up to £6,000.

Applications are open until 12pm on Friday, August 14, 2026.

Projects must use the funds by February 26, 2026.

The grants are one-off payments.

This is a revenue-only fund.

For application forms and guidelines, visit the GVS website یا call 01446 741706.

Members of the retailer’s Rewards scheme can now get 5p off every litre of fuel by spending £40 or more in a single in-store transaction.

The offer is part of Asda’s new Grocery & Fuel Bonus and is available at participating stores until July 31.

Rachel Eyre, chief customer officer at Asda, said: “We’re making Asda Rewards even more rewarding.

“Asda is more than just a supermarket and we’re always looking for new ways to help families save on top of our low prices.

“Through our new Grocery and Fuel Bonus, customers can now unlock savings on fuel alongside their weekly shop, another step in our plans to keep growing Asda Rewards and give our customers even more value every time they shop.”

Once customers have made a qualifying purchase, a 5p per litre fuel coupon will be automatically added to their Asda Rewards app.

The coupon can be redeemed at participating Asda filling stations by scanning the Rewards barcode and coupon at the pump or kiosk.

Motorists filling a standard 60-litre tank could save up to £3 per fill.

The offer is currently available at 321 Asda supermarkets and Asda Express stores with Asda-branded fuel, with plans to extend it to more locations and beyond August.

This is the first time the Asda Rewards programme has offered discounts on fuel.

The discount adds to existing app ‘Missions’ that reward customers with pounds back on selected purchases.

Asda recently updated the Rewards app to include more personalised Missions based on the products customers buy most often.

Customers can check which stores are taking part in the promotion and read the full terms and conditions on the Asda website or in the app.

Taking place in Penarth, the Penarth Open Gardens Trail will run across the weekend of July 25 and 26, offering visitors a chance to explore a range of private gardens.

Combined entry to all gardens costs £5, with children admitted free of charge.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy homemade cakes, filled rolls, preserves, and plants, with a raffle included in the day’s activities.

Gardens will be open from 10am to 6pm on Saturday and from 11am to 5pm on Sunday, with the children’s garden at Penarth Library open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday only.

Complimentary tea and coffee will be served at 4 Tudor Close.

Vale Foodbank in Barry is organising a “pilgrimage walk” as part of efforts to tackle a drop in donations.

The charity has reported a 28.77 per cent decline in food donations over the past three years, despite a rise in demand.

A spokesperson for Vale Foodbank said: “The need for our services continues to grow, but donations are moving in the opposite direction.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support we receive from local people, but we urgently need that support to continue if we are to meet the rising demand.

“Whether someone chooses to donate food while shopping or joins us on our pilgrimage walk, every act of kindness makes a genuine difference.

“Together we can make sure that nobody in our community has to face hunger alone.”

The decline has created what the foodbank describes as a serious challenge.

In May 2026 alone, the foodbank processed 20.5 per cent more food vouchers than in May 2025, a rise equivalent to 53 additional households needing help in just one month.

To raise vital funds and awareness, Vale Foodbank will host a five-mile guided walk through Barry on Saturday, August 22, 2026.

The walk will begin at 10am from Coastlands and will follow a gentle route past churches, chapels, and historic sites, before returning to the starting point.

Designed to be accessible for most people, much of the route will be on pavements and focuses on enjoyment rather than endurance.

Along the way, walkers will be joined by special guests and local experts who will share stories about the architecture, history, and people behind the sites.

Every ticket sold will help the foodbank provide emergency food parcels to people in crisis.

Tickets cost £20 per person and are available now through Eventbrite by searching Pilgrimage for Vale Foodbank 2026.

The foodbank said donating a small food item at supermarket collection points is another way to help.

The incident happened on Monday, between junction 33 (Capel Llanilltern) and junction 34 (Miskin), closing both carriageways and triggering a major emergency response, including an air ambulance.

The collision was first reported shortly after 3.50pm, with the westbound side of the motorway closed between J33 and J34.

Traffic was diverted off and back on via the slip roads, while lane three was also closed eastbound.

South Wales Police described the incident as a “serious collision” and warned that the road would remain shut “for some time,” urging drivers to avoid the area, use alternative routes and allow extra time for journeys.

The force thanked motorists for their patience as queues quickly began to build, reaching as far back as junction 28.

Traffic Wales South confirmed that both carriageways were closed as the seriousness of the incident became clear.

They labelled it a “serious incident” and warned that the motorway was likely to remain shut for an extended period.

The closure created major traffic issues across the surrounding road network.

Severe delays were reported on the A4232 northbound from Leckwith, the M4 westbound from J32 (Coryton) and the M4 eastbound from J35 (Pencoed) as drivers sought alternative routes.

AA cameras showed queues moving at around five miles per hour and delays of more than 40 minutes in the worst-affected areas.

Eyewitnesses described seeing a large emergency services presence and “someone lying on the ground,” with photos showing an air ambulance on the carriageway.

Images also showed multiple emergency vehicles surrounding the central reservation.

By around 6.40pm, Traffic Wales South confirmed that both carriageways between J33 and J34 had reopened.

However, they advised that lane three would be put in place in both directions due to damage from the collision.

Shortly after 7.20pm, AA cameras indicated that traffic had returned to moving smoothly through the area, with the worst of the congestion cleared.

At the time of publication, no further details had been released about the number of vehicles involved or any injuries.

Enquiries with emergency services remain ongoing.

While the full circumstances of the collision are still under investigation, authorities have confirmed that this was a significant incident requiring a major emergency response.