Live: Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Tuesday, May 7) (2024)

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Disruption and lengthy queues at major UK airports

Passport control e-gates across major UK airports, including Heathrow, Stansted, Gatwick, and Manchester, have reportedly malfunctioned, causing widespread disruption and lengthy queues.

The suspected glitch in the e-gates system has not been specified, and the number of affected airports remains unconfirmed.

But tonight social media is awash with images of frustrated travellers caught in snaking lines as they attempt to re-enter the UK.

A traveller at Heathrow airport took to social media to depict the turmoil, stating: "Computer outage at Heathrow border control. A few thousand people in line and not a single person at Heathrow is able to figure out a solution."

Read more.

Man in hospital after alleged Cardiff stabbing

A man has been hospitalised after an alleged stabbing in Cardiff.

South Wales Police said a 28-year-old was taken to hospital following an incident at an address in Clifton Street, Cardiff.

The alleged incident happened just before 5.20pm on Monday, May 6.

A 36-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of wounding with intent and possession of a knife blade/sharp pointed article in a public place.

Full story.

Man denied boarding Cardiff Airport flight after row over medical vape

A man said he was "devastated" after being denied boarding for a Cardiff Airport flight following a row over his medicinal cannabis vape pen.

Jason Bryant, 51, from Caerau, Maesteg, was travelling to Belfast to see a friend and said he would only need to use the vape in "extreme circ*mstances" but claims he was asked to hand it over during the flight.

Full story.

A4054 Upper Boat reopens

Police confirm they have reopened the A4054 at Upper Boat roundabout following a serious crash.

Traffic is slowly easing but delays still remain on the A470.

A466 Wye Valley Link Road reopens

The A466 Wye Valley Link Road has reopened in both directions.

The road was closed for around eight hours for crash investigation work from M48 J2 (Chepstow, Bulwark) to A48 Newport Road (Highbeech Roundabout, Chepstow).

Traffic is easing, although there is congestion on roads through Bulwark due to diversions.

Traffic also remains on the M48 Severn Bridge.

A465 towards Pontrilas reopens

The A465 towards Pontrilas has reopened.

The earlier crash, which happened at around 4pm, has been cleared.

Traffic is returning to normal.

A4042 westbound reopens

The A4042 westbound has re-opened.

The earlier crash, which happened at around 4pm, has been cleared from Croes-y-Mwyalch Roundabout to Newport Road (Woodlands Roundabout).

Traffic is returning to normal.

Serious crash in Upper Boat

Police are at the scene of a serious collision on the A4054 Upper Boat Roundabout

The road is currently closed in both directions between the A470 and Tonteg Road, It is expected to remain closed for some time.

There are also delays on the A470.

Police ask motorists to avoid the area and use alternative routes where possible.

Delays are expected in the area.

Third crash sees road closed since morning

A third crash in south east Wales has seen a road closed in both directions for hours.

The A466 Wye Valley Link Road has been closed in both directions since 11am due to accident from M48 J2 (Chepstow, Bulwark) to A48 Newport Road (Highbeech Roundabout, Chepstow).

There is currently congestion to roads through Bulwark as traffic diverts.

Two main road crashes

Emergency services are currently on scene at two separate main road crashes around south east Wales.

The A4051 at Malpas Road is shut in both directions due to a crash, with heavy traffic building from A4042 (Croes-y-mwyalch Roundabout) to Newport Road (Woodlands Roundabout).

The A465 near the Welsh border towards Pontrilas is also shut in both directions due to a crash near the bridge. There is slow traffic.

Gwent Police is at the scene of each incident and has advised motorists to seek alternative routes, with slow traffic in surrounding areas expected.

'We lost our little boys to cancer'

Katy Yeandle had bought a school uniform for son Joseph in preparation for him starting at primary school, but he never got to wear it.

Tragically the three-year-old died form a rare cancer before he could start his school life in 2021.

Katy has since linked up with another mum, Gemma Lowery, who lost six year-old Bradley in 2017.

To deal with their lifelong grief they are now funding life saving treatment and equipment for other sick children.

This weekend they are bringing thousands of people together for a charity Wales v England football match in Swansea. Full story.

New SNP leader voted in

MSPs have voted for new SNP leader John Swinney to be Scotland's next first minister, succeeding Humza Yousaf who formally resigned from the post earlier on Tuesday.

New stars join Wednesday cast

Billie Piper, Thandiwe Newton and Dame Joanna Lumley are among the stars joining the cast of Gothic Netflix drama Wednesday for season 2.

The show, which stars 21-year-old Jenna Ortega as the titular Wednesday Addams, has started filming in Ireland.

Catherine Zeta-Jones will return as Morticia Addams, alongside Puerto Rican actor Luis Guzman as her husband Gomez.

Vaughan Gething denies 'obnoxious' claim he committed perjury

Welsh First Minister Vaughan Gething has denied he lied to the Covid inquiry and called an accusation he had committed perjury during his evidence "obnoxious".

Mr Gething faced more questions about his judgement in the Senedd after a leaked phone group chat message from during the pandemic showed he said: "I’m deleting the messages in this group. They can be captured in an FOI [Freedom of Information request]" during the pandemic. Read what was said here.

Prince Harry will not meet King on visit to UK

Prince Harry has released a statement over whether he will meet his father King Charles III when he is in the UK this week. The Duke of Sussex’s spokesperson said that due to King Charles’ full diary a meeting is not possible.

Harry will attend a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral tomorrow. Read the statement here.

Crash on busy M4 junction roundabout

Emergency services are at the scene of an accident on the Coryton Interchange at junction 32 of the M4.

The roundabout partially blocked and there is heavy traffic in the area.

Welsh hospital A&Es in 'extreme pressure'

The emergency departments at a number of Welsh hospitals are under "extreme pressure" as they warn that patients can expect to wait a "considerable time" if it is not an emergency.

The warning has been issued by Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB that covers the Rhondda Cynon Taf, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil areas.

Two more inmates die at troubled prison

Two inmates of a troubled prison have died within minutes of one another at the same jail in unrelated circ*mstances.

The deaths of teenager Michael Horton and murderer David Maggs (pictured) on Tuesday, May 7, are the eighth and ninth deaths of prisoners held at HMP Parc in a little over two months.

Police appeal after pedestrian injured

A woman suffered leg injuries after being hit by a car in Carmarthen.

Dyfed Powys Police say the collision happened on Water Street, Carmarthen, at around 7.45pm on Friday, April 26.

A spokesperson for the force said: "The collision involved a silver Mini Cooper and a pedestrian. The female pedestrian suffered injuries to their leg."

Police are now appealing for anyone with information, dash cam or CCTV footage, that could help them with their investigation, either online at https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk, or by calling 101.

First Minister faces more questions after admitting deleting WhatsApp messages

Wales' First Minister told colleagues during the Covid pandemic he was deleting Whatsapp messages because he could later be forced to release them, a leaked message appears to show.

Vaughan Gething, who was health minister at the time, told ministerial colleagues he was deleting WhatsApp messages because otherwise they could later be released via a Freedom of Information request, it is being reported.

Man taken to hospital after Chepstow accident

A 55-year-old man has been taken to hospital after a crash on Newport Road, Chepstow, at around 9am this morning.

Gwent Police said officers attended, alongside teams from the Welsh Ambulance Service, Welsh Air Ambulance and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

The collision involved two vehicles.

Wales finally set for warm weather

The sun is finally going to make an appearance this week as an area of high pressure is set to take charge.

After mixed bank holiday weather that saw a thunderstorm warning and heavy rain in places, the weather is looking up from today. Read what the weather has in store here.

Accident closes busy Monmouthshire road

An accident is causing delays on the A466 Wye Valley Link Road in Monmouthshire.

The road is closed in both directions between the M48 at junction 2 Newhouse and the Highbeech Roundabout

Welsh health board issues 'red alert' over A&E pressures

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has issued a red alert as their emergency departments are currently under "extreme pressure". The warning from the North Wales board makes clear that there are "extremely" long delays at A&E.

People are being encouraged to choose the "most suitable place to access care". Currently, waits of up to 10 hours are being reported at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan, according to the online NHS checker. More detail here.

Fears over Champions Cup coverage

The Investec Champions Cup could disappear from mainstream TV in the UK next season.

European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), who organise the tournament, have failed to agree a renewed deal with current broadcasters TNT Sports, the Times reports. The publication understands that the tournament bosses have few viable options other than TNT - formerly BT Sport - with sources concerned that European rugby could be "left out in the cold" unless a deal is struck. Read the rugby morning headlines here.

Tributes to Wales Air Ambulance charity's first ever volunteer

Tributes have been paid to the first ever volunteer for WalesAir Ambulance who contributed hugely to the charity over the years. Alun Davies was the first volunteer at the charity when it launched from a small office at Cefn Coed hospital in Swansea in 2001.

He served as a director at the charity and "dedicated himself and campaigned tirelessly" for it upon his retirement. Paying tribute to Alun, who was born in Myddfai and spent many years living in both Ferryside and Cefneithin, the charity described him as a "dear friend".

MoD 'hack' being investigated

The Ministry of Defence has been the target of a large-scale data breach, it is understood.

Sky News reported that China was behind the cyber attack. A third-party payroll system has been hacked, potentially compromising the bank details of all serving armed forces personnel and some veterans. A very small number of addresses may also have been accessed.

The department took immediate action when it discovered the breach, taking the external network - operated by a contractor - offline. It is understood that initial investigations have found no evidence that data has been removed.

A470 congestion warning

Big queues on the A470 heading into Cardiff this morning.

Traffic Wales is warning of congestion at Nantgarw heading southbound.

Four taken to hospital after fire

Four people were taken to hospital following a fire at a student block.

There was a large emergency services presence after a fire broke out at a Swansea student accommodation block. Emergency services attended the incident on New Cut Road in Swansea last night.