COUPLE WALKING LONDON TO NEWPORT FOR CHARITY

In aid of Diabetes UK Cymru, husband and wife, Adrian and Katie Sully will be walking from London's Trafalgar Square to Newport's John Frost Square between Saturday 27th March and Friady 2nd April

The couple are planning to walk 20 miles a day for the 140-mile challenge, which they hope will raise £1,000 for the charity. They decided to do the walk as Adrian, 36, has Type 1 diabetes, a condition which cannot be prevented and is treated with insulin injections.His father Bob and his brother Richard also have Type 1 diabetes.

Katie, 26, who is also a teacher, said: “Adrian and his brother were diagnosed with the condition within six months. His diabetes is really well-controlled as he has had it from such a young age. The walk was Adrian’s idea. He has always wanted to do something for diabetes and he wanted to raise money to give something back. Diabetes is a big issue and it has a huge impact on anyone who has got it.”

The couple have been training hard for the challenge, spending three days during the half term holidays walking 50 miles. “The training has been going quite well and we’ve got lots of blister plasters ready for the walk itself,” said Katie.

The couple have already raised £800 towards their target.You can sponsor Adrian and Katie at www.justgiving.com/Katie-Sully.

Dai Williams, National Director of Diabetes UK Cymru, said: “We are delighted that Katie and Adrian have decided to support Diabetes UK Cymru with this fantastic challenge.By doing this walk Adrian is an excellent example of how you can lead a fit and healthy life with Type 1 diabetes. Diabetes is increasing rapidly across Wales, with more than 7,000 people in Newport alone living with the condition. Money raised by their walk with raise vital funds for research into the condition and help us to provide advice, support and information to people living with diabetes across Wales and their families.”

For information about diabetes, you can call Diabetes UK Cymru on 029 2066 8276 or email wales@diabetes.org.uk.

RUGBY RIDERS CYCLE INTO NEWPORT

A group of 8 soilders from The Royal Signals will stop at Rodney parade on Friday as part of a charity cycle ride to the rugby clubs that are involved in the Anglo Welsh Cup.

Having already visited the likes of Sale Sharks and Leicester Tigers, the Newport Gwent Dragons will receive a visit on route from Gloucester to Scarlets.

They aim to be arriving at Rodney parade just after 9am, and will be making a collection for Help for Heroes and The Royal British Legion.

You can track their progress, and donate to the cause here.

WAG REPORTS RECOMMENDS NEWPORT UNLIMITED CHANGES

A review commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government has recommended changes to the way Newport Unlimited, the City's regeneration company, is run.

Formed in 2003 urban regeneration company Newport Unlimited was tasked as being the engine room for change in Newport working alongside WAG and the City Council.

The review, however, warns that Newport Unlimited is "very disconnected from the people, businesses and communities in Newport". This needs to change so that local people are better informed and see Newport as a 'city of change'.

The review recommends a review of Newport Unlimited's Masterplan for Newport and a 'reality check' on the developments planned and the dates for delivery.

It concludes:

"This interim evaluation has concluded that the URC approach has proved to be a powerful and effective mechanism for driving forwards the physical regeneration and economic change needed in Newport. To date much still needs to be done which will require the continued co-ordination and direction of partnership efforts and resources."

ARREST OVER 2008 MURDER IN MAINDEE

Police investigating the murder of a woman almost two years ago have arrested a 27-year-old man. Aleksandra Lipska, born Kaczmarska, 27, was found dead at a house on Dewstow Street, Maindee, Newport, in May 2008.

The suspect, who is from Cardiff, is being questioned by detectives at Ystrad Mynach police station in Caerphilly county. Police are appealing for anyone with information to contact them on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Det Supt Paul Griffiths said: "This investigation has been ongoing for nearly two years and I am appealing to anyone not previously approached by police who has any information with regards to Aleksandra's death to come forward."

Police and the ambulance service had been called to the house in Dewstow Street in the early hours of Tuesday, 13 May where they found Ms Lipska's body. At the time of the murder, detectives appealed to the Polish community in Newport for any information that could help the investigation. Detectives distributed posters in Polish and set up a telephone line with a Polish and English voicemail message.

TJ's Legend Dies in Hospital

One of the leading lights of the music scene in Newport for 40 years and owner of TJs, John Sicolo, has died in hospital aged 66.

Mr Sicolo died at 0600 GMT on Sunday at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport.

John's daughter Leanne Jane Sicolo responsed to the facebook tributes: "thank you everyone for your kind messages my dad died early hours of this morning he passed away in his sleep he will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him love you dad x."

Mr Sicolo was a former merchant navy seaman, where he served as a cook. He is described on the club's website as 'half Welsh, half Seychellean'. He founded the club in 1971, first christening it El Sieco's before renaming it TJ's Disco. The late BBC DJ and presenter John Peel dubbed the venue "the legendary TJs" on his radio shows. Oasis, Echo and The Bunnymen, Catatonia, Manic Street Preachers, the Buzzcocks and Primal Scream were among the thousands of bands who appeared there.

Paul Flynn MP for Newport West stated TJ's gave Newport fame, excitement and musical chutzpah. "It was TJs that won for Newport the title the New Seattle. A generation of Newportonians relished the buzz of hearing top World groups on their own doorstep. They fondly remember TJ's at it's thrilling best, robust, loud and bursting with talent."

The future of the club had been shrouded in uncertainty and Mr. Sicolo had planned to sell off some of his memorabilia to keep things afloat. In the next month there was a busy schedule of events including the return home to Newport of Skindred.

HOPE FOR CAMBRIAN CENTRE

A supermarket could re-open on the site of a former shopping centre in Newport that had been due for a £90m facelift.

A plan to demolish the Cambrian Centre to build shops and a 100-metre tower was scrapped last year when developer Modus went into administration. New owners Scarborough Development Group are now considering building a supermarket on the land, believing it is more economically viable.

There have been plans to regenerate Cambrian Centre going back to 2004. Mark Jackson, managing director at Scarborough Development, said: "The food store market is understandably proving to be one of the more robust in this recession, and is a great sector in which to be investing and in which to found our new business." The Cambrian Centre used to house a Somerfield supermarket before it was closed down to pave the way for regeneration.

Welcoming the news of the acquisition Robert Carew- Chaston, director of Newport- based Hutchings & Thomas Chartered Surveyors told Wales Online :

“I’m keen to know more about Scarborough Development Group’s plans for Newport but on the face of it this is fantastic news for our city. This could well be the first sign that the private sector is now ready to act and get back into the marketplace and take up what are in the case of the city of Newport ‘oven ready’ development sites such as the one worked up by Modus for the centre of Newport."

Rosemary Butler AM stated

"I was ...glad to hear that the Modus subsidiary company which originally set out to develop the Cambrian site, has now been acquired by the Scarborough Development Group. That's another piece of good news and I hope that the Friars Walk redevelopment will also get back on track . All this, as well as the Ryder Cup in October, means that Newport is still very much on the map."

Welsh Water: 'Don't be caught out by bogus callers'

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water is urging customers in south Wales to be vigilant, following an increase of bogus calls in the area.

The water company is issuing the warning, after concerned customers called its contact centre to report suspicious phone calls from someone claiming to be from Welsh Water.

Welsh Water’s communications manager, Helen Smith, said: “We are aware that some customers have been told that their water will be off for three to eight days.

“We would like to assure customers that we always communicate planned water interruptions by posting information through the door but we would not ring them to let them know. If anyone is concerned we advise they call 0800 052 0130 to check if there is any planned work in their area.”

More than half of bogus caller related crimes committed in the UK are carried out by criminals pretending to be from a water company – and Welsh Water is also reminding customers about the measures they should take to reduce the chance of falling victim to bogus callers. If you are unsure about the identity of a person claiming to be from Welsh Water, don’t let them into your home.

Customers can ring the company on 0800 281 141 to confirm the caller’s identity and Welsh Water also operates a password scheme to help customers verify the identity of a caller from the company.

Information on this is available on the website www.dwrcymru.com, or by contacting the publications helpline on 0800 052 0138. Just ask for a copy of the ‘Additional Services’ booklet.

A short film about bogus callers can also be viewed at: http://www.dwrcymru.com/English/library/movies/boguscaller/movie.asp