Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Sunday, August 23)

Thank you for joining us for today's blog. Come back again tomorrow for all your breaking news, weather forecasts and traffic updates from across Wales.

Have a great week all - nos da!

Several major fires have been reported across Wales, with dramatic scenes of flames and thick smoke emerging from multiple areas up and down the country.

Fires have been reported by members of the public in Swansea, Pembrokeshire, Gwynedd and in the Bannau Brycheiniog national park. Continue here.

One part of Wales recorded the fourth highest intensity of carbon emissions per square kilometre in the world during July following the wildfires. The data was recorded in the Torfaen area which stretches from Blaenavon in the north down through through Pontypool to Cwmbran.

A fire above Blaenavon, that started on July 19 burned for more than a month and was described by the fire brigade as "one of the largest and most challenging in Wales in recent years". Read more here.

The Met Office have issued the following forecast for tomorrow:

A Cardiff sightseeing bus service has become the subject of controversy with one passenger describing the experience as a "rip off" following the replacement of its usual open-top double-decker bus with a single-decker. The Skycar service, operated by Cardiff Bus, is currently using a single-decker vehicle because of road works forcing the route to divert under a low bridge.

A spokesman for Cardiff Bus said thepreparations for a tram extension to Cardiff Bay have closed access to Bute Street, meaning the Skycar route has been diverted under Herbert Street bridge. Continue here.

The A48 in Bridgend is partially closed following a vehicle fire, with police reportedly at the scene.

Both lanes of the dual carriageway are closed from the Pyle junction at Stormy Down to the A4106 junction. From the A4106 roundabout to the Pyle roundabout, the road is currently down to one lane.

We will be providing live updates here.

The Met Office have issued the following forecast looking towards this evening:

The Dragons are considering a move to re-sign Wales fly-half Sam Davies for the 2027/28 season.

The 32-year-old is currently plying his trade in France, looking to help Grenoble finally reach the Top 14. However, WalesOnline understands the Men of Gwent have shown some interest in bringing Davies back to Rodney Parade.

Read more here.

Police are appealing to locate a teenager who has not been seen since yesterday.

15-year-old Callum has been reported missing from his home in Lampeter. He was last seen yesterday evening (22 August) in Lampeter, though officers believe he has travelled to Aberystwyth today.

Callum is described as around 5’5 tall, of a slim build and wears glasses. He has dyed hair, with short sides described as ‘ruby red’ in colour. He was last seen wearing a grey Nike sweatshirt with a zip, black Adidas joggers and black trainers.

Callum also has links to the Cardigan and Carmarthen areas and is likely to be travelling by bus or on foot.

If you’ve seen Callum, or have any information that could help officers find him, please get in touch via their website, emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk or by calling 101. Alternatively, you can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

Quote ref: 183 of 23 August.

Officers at South Wales Police are continuing to investigate an alleged assault on Dynevor Street in Merthyr Tydfil where a man has been taken to hospital with a serious head injury.

Two 20, year old men from Merthyr have been arrested on suspicion of S18 assault and remain in police custody

Officers would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, specifically those who were outside of The Celtic Bar or Koolers Nightclub on Dynevor Street and Club Crown or Peri Peri chicken and kebab on Penry Street, between11pm on Saturday August 22 through to 2:00am on the morning of Sunday August 23.

If you have witnessed the assault, please contact police and quote reference number: 2600276406. You can contact via their website, calling 101, 999 in an emergency or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111

Swansea Airport’s operating licence has been suspended following an unannounced inspection by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

The airport at Fairwood Common in the Gower said the CAA inspection had identified "a small number of areas for improvement" and that its aerodrome licence had been temporarily suspended while the issues are addressed. The suspension is the third since 2019. Read on here.

Two men and three teenagers who died when their car travelling the wrong way down the A66 crashed and killed two police officers have been named officially by police The two brave policemen - PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38 - were killed when their patrol car was hit. Now Cleveland Police have released the names and ages of those who died in the VW Passat.

They are: Michael Robert Cahill, 23, Theo Rae, 17, Cole Robert Worthy, 16, Jacob Matusiak, 23, and 18-year-old Makai Saddington. A police spokesman said: "Family Liaison Officers are continuing to work with the families all of those who sadly lost their lives in the collision. "

Up until February Kerry Fordham had been a fit and healthy woman, walking everywhere and often being mistaken for being in her fifties despite her true age of 70. But in June, completely out of the blue, she received a devastating pancreatic cancer diagnosis and died weeks later.

The much-loved woman from Barry only returned home for eight days after she was diagnosed with what is described as the deadliest common cancer, and yet it is also known as the secret killer because it often doesn't have many symptoms.

Kerry's daughter Braidey Lewis is now trying to raise awareness of the cancer which has the lowest survival rate of all common cancers, after her fit and healthy mum deteriorated so rapidly.

Read the full story here

A man has died in a crash between two motorbike riders, police have said.

South Wales Police were called to the scene of a crash on Harbour Way in Port Talbot at around 2pm on Saturday, alongside paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service. The crash involved two motorcyclists and tragically, one of the riders, a 40-year-old man from Bridgend, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The road was closed in both directions for around 15 hours between Dock Road and the Junction of the A48. The road reopened at around 6am on Sunday.

Rail passengers travelling on Sunday face major disruption after a power cut in Birmingham knocked out systems used by CrossCountry’s control centre.

The train operator has warned that almost all of its services will be withdrawn or severely reduced on Sunday, with passengers urged to check before travelling.

The power cut, which began on Saturday, affected the building in Birmingham city centre where CrossCountry’s control centre is based. The company said many of the systems used by its control teams to manage services are currently unavailable.

The key routes affected for rail passengers in Wales are:

• Cardiff Central to Nottingham - this runs via Newport, Severn Tunnel Junction, Caldicot, Chepstow, Lydney, Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa, Birmingham New Street and Derby before reaching Nottingham.
• Cardiff to Cheltenham Spa - thus runs through the Severn Tunnel and Gloucestershire.

Wales is expecting another fine, sunny day today, says the Met Office.

A spokesperson said: "A fresh start this morning with early mist and fog patches quickly clearing. Otherwise, a dry and fine day today with plenty of sunny spells. Feeling pleasant in the sunshine with temperatures around average. Maximum temperature 23 °C."

Bore da and welcome to WalesOnline's daily news blog.

The breaking news team is here to bring you all the latest news and updates today.

Time to get started.