Thailand cyclists have a rest in Vienna and a soggy ride for Budapest

* Battling through the rain and wind on the way to Budapest.

A couple of days' well-earned rest was on the itinerary for the three Llangollen area lads cycling to Thailand as they hit Vienna on day 35 of their epic journey,

Dyfan Hughes, 17, James Thomas, 18, and Louis Dennis, 18, had never ridden a bike further than the shop near their homes when they set out a few weeks go on their 18-month quest to reach Asia.

Once there they aim to meet up with their friend Harrison who moved to Thailand six months ago after his dad died from a heart attack and to raise money for heart research. 

* The route taken by the lads to Vienna.

After storming across Europe they arrived in the Austrian capital to be overawed by its sheer scale and architectural beauty.

There was no cycling on the agenda for a day or two as they relaxed and did their washing. There was also a time for a little fun as they visited one of the big amusement parks.

Back on the road their next major objective was Budapest and they were soon battling through high winds and driving rain.

The final video bulletin of the week saw them looking forward to meeting Louis's mum and dad in the Hungarian capital city on the Saturday.  

* To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation if you wish go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads

Temporary traffic order made for Barbers Hill, Vivod

 

Denbighshire County Council has made a temporary traffic order prohibiting vehicles using Barbers Hill, Vivod, Llangollen effective from September 11, extending westward from its junction with Willow Street for a distance of approximately 520 metres.

The council says the closure is necessary to facilitate installation of ducting and a new carriageway chamber by Dave Group Ltd on behalf of Openreach.

Pedestrian access will be maintained throughout the period of closure.

The signposted alternative route will be via Willow Street, Hall Street, A5 junction opposite Ystrad Hall on A5 to Tyn y Celyn Farm, and Foel to Vivod Bridge.

The works are expected to last approximately until September 25.

High wind fells tree which blocks the canal and touches nearby house

* The fallen tree blocks the canal, the towpath and has gone across the hedge to touch the house on the other side.

This morning's high winds blew down a large tree on the canal, completely blocking the waterway and the hampering walkers on the towpath.  

Its upper branches were also left touching the side of a house on the other side of the nearby hedge.

The fallen tree forced Llangollen Wharf to cancel the day's horse-drawn boat trips towards the Chain Bridge, which its manager Neil Tuffton reckons will have cost him between £300-£500 in lost revenue and cancellations.

* Some towpath walkers were able to negotiate the branches. Others were not.

He said: "The tree came down near the entrance to the marina sometime between nine and nine-thirty this morning and had been standing on the bank opposite.  

"As it had completely blocked the canal there was no alternative but to cancel the day's trips towards the Chain Bridge, which is four in all.

"I've spent the rest of the day phoning people who had booked to explain that we'd unfortunately had to cancel.

"I estimate that this will have cost us somewhere between £300 and £500 but it's just one of those things."

There was no-one available at the house on which the top section of the tree was lying.

More hardy walkers were able to duck under the tree to negotiate the towpath while others were seen to walk away in the opposite direction. 

* Today's horse-drawn boats towards the Chain Bridge had to be cancelled.

Around 2pm a spokesperson for the Canal & River Trust which controls the waterway said: "I’ve spoken to our teams in the area, and they’ve confirmed that contractors should be on site, if not arriving soon, and will be also attending another large branch that’s blocking the towpath further downstream."  

Family celebrate the life of the late Daphne Stallard

* Daphne Stallard.

Family members have set up a special website to celebrate the life Daphne Stallard who was killed in a road collision in Llandudno earlier this month.  

Mrs Stallard, 89, was the widow of the Rev Charles Stallard with whom she lived in Llangollen for 10 years at the time her son-in-law, the Rev Andrew Sully, was vicar of St Collen's.

She was the mother of the Rt Rev Mary Stallard, Andrew's wife, who has been Bishop of Llandaff in Cardiff since 2023.

On the website, the family says: "This site is a tribute to Daphne Stallard who passed away tragically and unexpectedly in Llandudno on Monday, 1st September 2025, aged 89 years. Of St Mary’s Road, Llandudno Daphne was an active Christian and volunteered in many roles, she also loved her garden, walking and letter writing. 

"Daphne was the loving wife of the late Reverend Charles, a proud Mum to Andy, Mary and John and a much loved Mam-gu to Harry, George, Jo and Carys. She was close to all her family especially Fiona and Andrew her daughter in law and son in law and all her relatives. Daphne will be sadly missed by everyone that knew her." 

Daphne's funeral service will take place at Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno followed by a private family committal at Colwyn Bay Crematorium, on Monday September 22 at 12 noon.

The family add: "Family flowers only please. We are nominating just the two charities detailed here only, any contributions to these would be so gratefully received." 

Donations in memory of Daphne will be gratefully received towards Christian Aid, Gaza Appeal and/or Marie Curie Nurses, from this page or via the donations box at the funeral.

* To see the website, go to: Tribute to Daphne Stallard, 1935 - 2025

Road maintenance work planned for Nant Y Garth Pass

Denbighshire County Council Highways are set to begin works on a major Welsh Government funded road maintenance scheme on the A525 Nant Y Garth Pass. 

Significant resurfacing work is due to take place on the stretch of road from September 15 to October 19, weather permitting.

Traffic will be controlled using stop/go boards with convoy working so some delays should be expected, says the council.

As part of the works the road markings and studs will also be refreshed.

Some preparation work has already commenced, comprising of fence repairs and drain cleansing. 

The council has earmarked 57 locations in the county a two-year road maintenance programme, worth £4.780m over the next two yeears, to improve the carriageway surface condition on sections of the road network.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “The council is fully aware that the state of Denbighshire’s road network is a regular topic from our residents. 

"We are grateful for the Welsh Government funding which will, along with the Nant y Garth Pass,  allow us to tackle a large section of our network which needs improving."

* Further information is available on our website www.denbighshire.gov.uk 

Museum tries to link huge Virginian estate with Llangollen

* Llangollen Farm pictured when it went on for sale $34m in 2019.

Llangollen Museum has been trying to help an American woman find links between the town and a prosperous family in the United States.

Back in September 2019 llanblogger carried a story about Llangollen Farm in the state of Virginia going on the market for a cool $34 million.

The equestrian estate had once been owned by the Powell family and was called after Llangollen because their ancestors were supposed to come from here.  

Six years later and the museum recently had a visit from Elizabeth Cooper, from Oregon. She was only in Llangollen for the day, having travelled here on the canal.

A descendant of the Powell family, she was attempting to find links with her Powell ancestors in Llangollen.  

But Peter Jones from the museum team says that although parish records show baptisms of Powells as early as 1625 it was not possible to link them with the Virginia Powells.  

Peter, who has exhaustively researched the subject, went on: "The first Powell associated with the house [in Virgina] was Lt Col Leven Powell (1738 - 1810). He was a member of the First Continental Congress. He was a major, then a Lt. Colonel in the Continental Army.  

"He was with George Washington and the Continental Army for a period of time but after a long illness at Valley Forge, he was furloughed by Gen. Washington.  

"His son was Cuthbert Powell (1775 - 1849) who made his fortune alongside his brother, Leven Powell, Jr. (1772-1807), as a merchant and ship owner. In 1788 Cuthbert married Catherine Simms, daughter of Col. Charles Simms. The couple had ten children. 

"He retired to 'Llangollen,' Loudoun County, Virginia in 1812 after a decline in business. Later he was elected to serve in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly; the Virginia State Senate in 1829 and the Virginia House of Delegates in 1840. 

"He completed preparatory studies; studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Alexandria and was mayor of Alexandria. He engaged in agricultural pursuits, held various local offices, served in the State senate 1815-1819; member of the State house of delegates in 1828 and 1829, elected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1841-March 3, 1843) died in 'Llangollen,' Loudoun County, Va., May 8, 1849. Cuthbert was interred in the private cemetery on his estate, 'Llangollen,' near the town of Upperville in Loudoun County, Va."

llanblogger's story on Llangollen Farm, Virginia, told how five million acres of prime land in the state were granted to the Fairfax family by the kings of England in the 17th century, 600 of which ended up with the Powells who built an impressive mansion which passed from one blue blood owner to another.

They included the Whitneys who founded the Llangollen Race Meeting, a steeplechase that attracted 20,000 spectators, and built ancillary buildings on the property, including the now-famous “horseshoe stables” for their show-ponies. They added a polo field, nine houses for guests, a race track, a training track, and, most impressive of all, a hyper-sophisticated water system that remains to this day. 

Civic Service celebrates community of Llangollen

* The Mayor and Mayoress follow the Deputy Mayor into church.

* Llangollen Silver Band plays during the service.

* Civic heads from neighbourhood local authorities.

* The  Community Candle was lit at the front of the church.

Llangollen Town Council arranged a Civic Service at St Collen's Church this morning (Saturday).

Led by Father Lee Taylor, it was attended by the Town Mayor and Mayoress, Councillor Aled Morris and Sarah Griffiths, the Deputy Mayor, Cllr Damon Richards-Gwilliam, and a number of town councillors. Llangollen Silver Band provided the music.

Also present was the area's MP, Becky Gittins, civic heads from neighbouring local authorities and representatives of local organisations and businesses including Llangollen Railway, Llangollen Wharf, Llangollen FoodShare, the Royal British Legion's local branch, Llangollen Inner Wheel, Llangollen Museum and Cytun (Churches Together) Llangollen.

In his address, Father Lee spoke about the importance of community and the Mayor lit a symbolic Community Candle at the front of the church as a sign of the town's shared responsibility and hope for every part of life in Llangollen. Smaller candles were lit by the representatives of organisations and businesses. 

Later, there was a reception at the Town Hall for all those who attended. 

Bingo night planned for Nightingale House

 

Twenty Club has another cunning Blackadder plan

Rehearsals have started in earnest for the Twenty Club's November production of Blackadder Goes Forth. 

The last in the series of four, it is set in World War One and has a host of well-loved characters, spearheaded by Blackadder and his ever-loyal servant Baldrick.  

With a very talented, dedicated and hardworking cast, some roles are being reprised by the same people as in previous productions but there are plenty of new faces to welcome, too.

Life in the trenches is hard, it's dangerous and Blackadder is busy devising ways of finding himself a safe job well away from the front line, going so far as to attempt to join the Royal Flying Corps.

Another attempt to dodge the bullets has Blackadder volunteering to organise and oversee a proposed concert in London., roping in Lieutenant George as the star turn - with dire consequences. 

The final episode of four, Goodbyee, touches on the stark reality of war, a poignant end to a truly memorable run of Blackadder.

Early bird tickets are on sale throughout September for the bargain price of £10.

The production team is hard at work on all aspects of staging this ambitious play, spearheaded by new director Naomi Riley.

As an accomplished set designer and builder, Naomi says she is relishing the challenge of bringing all these colourful characters to life.

Tickets are available online or from Courtyard Books and The Oggie Shop.   

The show runs feast from November 12-15, including a matinee on the 15th.

Improvement work planned for Riverside Park

Work is set to take place to improve and develop areas to "help health and wellbeing" along Llangollen’s Riverside Park, says the county council.

Funded by Shared Prosperity Transitional Year, the work will be coordinated and carried out by Denbighshire’s Streetscene department.

It follows previous improvement work at the park during the last few years which has seen initiatives including a 9-hole bespoke mini golf and play equipment added to the area.

Streetscene is working to further enhance the park area for local residents and visitors to enjoy.

Developments to take place at Riverside Park, where funding allows, will include the introduction of an outdoor gym area to the rear of the existing skate park. This will include the removal of the hedge row, landscaping the immediate area and installation of a number of outdoor gym equipment pieces

Plans also include the removal of existing hedge row by the picnic area/benched and installation of bow top fencing, to include pedestrian access gate and the installation of accessible picnic bench, to include required ground works.

Cllr Barry Mellor, Denbighshire County Council’s Lead Member for Environment and Transport said: “We are pleased to be able to continue improvements along this fantastic area at Llangollen through the funding we have been able to access. This work will complement areas that have already undergone improvement at Riverside Park through the direction of Streetscene to further enhance this important part of the town for both the enjoyment of residents and those visiting Llangollen." 

Latest roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council

Latest roadworks alerts from Denbighshire County Council are:

OPP 10 Regent Street JNC QUEEN STREET AND CHURCH STREET Llangollen LL2 BROOK STREET 15/09/2025 02/10/2025 Gwaith BT/ BT Works SUNBELT RENTALS (DCC) LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Junction of Chapel Street and Regent Street CHAPEL STREET 06/10/2025 25/10/2025 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works GTC LLANGOLLEN Ffordd ar Gau/Road Closure

Jct Grange Road BACHE MILL ROAD 06/10/2025 26/10/2025 Gwaith Nwy / Gas Works GTC LLANGOLLEN

Operatic Society to host charity cake afternoon

 

Former mayor resigns from town council in row over 'lack of vision'

The Denbighshire Free Press is reporting that former town mayor Paul Keddie has stepped down from Llangollen Town Council due to its 'lack of vision' over community events.

* For the full story, go to: Resignation of former Llangollen mayor Cllr Paul Keddie | Denbighshire Free Press

Llangollen Flower Club to host coffee morning

 

Open day at Trevor Church

 

Rich history of Ruabon to Barmouth railway line told in new book

* Ruabon Station as it was in 1961.

For nearly 100 years, passengers could enjoy arguably one of the finest journeys in the British Isles from the comfort of their railway carriage. 

The Great Western Railway described the journey from Ruabon to Barmouth as "a paradise for artists and fishermen and a country rich in mountain streams, wild woods and wide far views, unbeaten in any part of Wales".

Now, a new book on the line has been published by a man well acquainted with its rich history.

Peter Dickinson was one of the founding members of Llangollen Railway's Heritage Group and is still an active volunteer as Station Master at Llangollen. 

And the book, entitled The Ruabon to Barmouth Line – A New History, couldn't be better timed, as it will appear just weeks after the line, recreated by dedicated volunteers, celebrates its 50th birthday.

The 54-mile route carried generations of holidaymakers to the beaches of the Cambrian Coast, as well as providing a vital lifeline to the rural communities it served. 

* The original Corwen Station in 1953.

Branching away from the Chester to Shrewsbury route just south of Ruabon, the railway served the historic towns of Llangollen, Corwen, Bala and Dolgellau, before reaching the famous Barmouth Bridge and the holiday resort of Barmouth. 

As the book describes, it was a line of contrasts, from the industrial environs of Ruabon in the east, to the rugged coastline in the west. It was also busy with holidaymakers and tourists during the summer months, but painfully quiet during the winter. 

The story of the Ruabon to Barmouth line begins in the mid 19th century when the townsfolk of Llangollen longed for a connection to the rapidly expanding railway network. The Vale of Llangollen Railway Company opened a five-mile branch to passenger traffic in 1863, promoted by the Great Western Railway who leapt at the opportunity to tap deeper into North Wales. 

* The cover of the new book by Peter Dickinson.

Over the next decade, the railway extended ever westwards until it reached the county town of Dolgellau and the metals of the rival Cambrian Railway. The uneasy relationship between the two railway companies continued into the 20th century and was only ended through the Cambrian's amalgamation in the 1920s. 

Two sections of the Ruabon to Barmouth line have reopened as heritage railways, meaning that the sylvan beauty of the Dee Valley can once again be enjoyed from the carriage window on the Llangollen Railway, and the lapping waters and rugged shoreline of Llyn Tegid on the Bala Lake Railway. 

The author has produced a detailed account of the Ruabon to Barmouth line's history, looking at all aspects of its traffic and operation form the earliest days right up to closure. 

The stories of the preserved Llangollen Railway and Bala Lake Railway have been well documented, so no attempt has been made to take this story on beyond track-lifting in 1969. The book is illustrated with a wealth of photographs, many of which have not previously been published, as well as many items of paperwork from his own archives. 

The Ruabon to Barmouth Line – A New History is available to pre-order from Lightmoor Press and is due to be released at the start of October 2025. Copies will also be available from the shop at the Llangollen Station, priced at £35 each. 

Dame Agnes comes to life at Berwyn and District u3a meeting

* Dame Agnes Hunt.

Agnes Hunt is a name you may not know, but who may well have had a profound influence on your life.

With Robert Jones she was co-founder of the renowned orthopaedic hospital near Oswestry.

Alison Utting, another Shropshire woman, is a performer who brings Agnes to life in her one woman show, Aggie. 

She will be appearing at the open meeting of the Berwyn and District u3a at Canalfon Ni, Corwen, starting at 2pm on Monday September 15. 

Everyone is welcome. Entry fee £3.

Madras Community Choir to sing in aid of St Collen's roof fund

* Madras Choir singing last Christmas.

The Madras Community Choir is holding a concert in St Collen’s in aid of the church's roof fund on Friday September 26, starting at 7pm.

The choir is based in Penley, Wrexham and takes its name from the area's Madras VA Primary School.

It was formed by staff member Alison Jarvis in 2011 as part of the school's 200th anniversary celebrations.

Members include staff, past pupils and any willing adult with a connection to the school.

The choir holds regular concerts to raise money for the school.

Singing a variety of light music in English and Welsh, the choir has previously performed at Bangor Church, The Maelor School, Penley Rainbow Centre, Welshhampton Village Hall, Welsh Frankton and many other venues. Their accompanist is James Brown.

Subaru: still blazing the trail with its trusty Forester

Subaru Forester drive by Steve Rogers

Long before SUVs turned the car world upside down Subaru was doing its own bit of trail blazing.

The year was 1997 and we were used to seeing slab sided 4x4s with noisy diesel engines, but things were beginning to change. Honda offered something different with the CR-V and then Subaru muscled its way in with Forester, a car that didn’t look like a tower block but could be called on to pull a horse box across a muddy field, navigate a bolder strewn track and still take the kids to school without loosening their teeth fillings.

So here we are 28 years later and still talking about Forester, now into its sixth generation and, remarkably, not looking a lot different from the original. Once a Forester, always a Forester…

There have been some visual changes to the new model, slimmed down headlights, a less gawky looking grille and deep creases over the wheel arches. Yet this Forester is a much different kettle of fish to the one it replaces.

A lot of work has been done to make Forester a better car to drive and a better experience for passengers. The chassis is more rigid so there is less body roll and the suspension is better at cushioning passengers against our potholed roads and speed humps. Cabin noise has been reduced by a whopping 39 per cent. Compared to Foresters I have driven before the difference is immense.

Changes to the cabin layout are more subtle. It still has a large portrait style central touchscreen but ‘switch city’ has virtually disappeared and hooray to that. They were everywhere on the old model, some out of sight. Now we just have switches for demisting and controlling temperature that sit flush on the touchscreen.

At first the touchscreen looks like a chaotic mishmash of information but is actually completely logical. I liked the permanent display of heating controls at the base of the screen as well as quick touches for auto hold and disarming lane departure, a safety feature that is useful on motorways but an annoyance on rural roads.

Navigation only comes on the top two models and now supports what3words the system that provides a unique three word address for any three metre square on earth, pinpointing destinations that might not have an accurate post code. I find it mindblowing.

The cabin is still very black but some new textures and stitching colours have been introduced to break up the monotony. Customers should be satisfied with the Limited model that comes in just under the £40,000 limit and avoids the new road tax penalty.

Limited has an extensive equipment list that includes heated and powered front seats, keyless entry, wireless phone charging and connection for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto so give it serious thought.

The Eyesight safety system that has been the envy of many rivals is standard and has even more features including emergency braking the car going forward or reversing.

The top of the range Touring pushes up the price and begs the question whether it is worth it for a sunroof, heated rear seats, heated steering wheel and powered tailgate when the Limited is such good value.

What sets Forester apart from its rivals is permanent four wheel drive and the legendary X-Mode off road system has been improved and is standard. I have done serious off roading in Forester and it really can take on ridiculously challenging situations and come out unscathed.

There are no changes to the power unit which is still the famed 2-litre Boxer engine with mild hybrid assistance, although power has been reduced to meet emissions regulations. The engine has no help from a turbo so if performance is key look elsewhere because a trip to sixty is pedestrian against its rivals, yet it is a comfortable cruiser.

Economy isn’t a strong suit either although I easily beat the official average with 38mpg over a week’s driving but you would be lucky to go 300 miles before visiting a petrol pump. Going a step further with a full hybrid or plug-in hybrid would close the gap to the rest of the pack.

This new Forester is up there with the best off roaders money can buy. Is it over engineered for its market? Probably in the UK but not in places like Canada, North America and the Nordic countries where they want peace of mind when the weather gets tough and buy Foresters in droves.

Here Forester is up against a car park full of trendy rivals and is banking on its value for money, reliability, and roomy family friendly cabin - it has more rear legroom than the Genesis reviewed last week. Existing customers will be delighted with the improvements but that is not who they need to convince.

Fast facts

Forester Touring

£44,100 (starts £39,995)

2-litre petrol; 136bhp

0-62mph 12.2secs; 116mph

34.9mpg combined

183g/km. 1st tax £345

Insurance group 23

Boot: 508-1679 litres

Towing: 1870kg

Denbighshire Citizens Advice column

Q: I’m starting to book tickets for Christmas events, but I’ve seen lots of stories in the news about people being left out of pocket if these are cancelled at the last minute, which is making me nervous. How can I get a refund if this happens to me?

A: Keep an eye on the organiser’s website and social media profiles for all the latest updates. You won’t be entitled to a refund if you change your mind about going or realise you can’t go anymore - but if an event is cancelled, your refund rights will depend on how you bought the ticket.

If you bought your ticket from an official seller and the organiser cancels, moves, or reschedules the event, you should get a refund. The official seller is the best point of contact to ask about how to get your money back.

If you’re having no luck getting a refund, check to see if the seller is a member of the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR). If they are, you can use STAR’s complaints procedure. STAR members should receive a refund at face value if the event is cancelled and the organiser has agreed to refunds.

You’ll probably only get the face value of the ticket back - the amount printed on it. Some sellers might refund postage if, for example, the event is cancelled before the tickets are sent. If you had to pay any booking or card fees, you might not get those back.

If the official seller isn’t a member of STAR, check how you can solve an ongoing consumer problem with a business seller. You may also be able to get your money back another way, such as through your credit card company.

If you bought your ticket from a ticket-reselling website, refunds will depend on the site's terms and conditions.

If you bought from a private seller and the event is cancelled or rescheduled then it is unlikely you will be able to recover your money. We still recommend you contact the seller.

Be aware of scams. Unfortunately we’ve found that in these situations scammers can prey on those who are affected.

If your event is cancelled and people or companies get in touch to offer their services to try to recover money on your behalf, be alert and make sure that you're looking out for the signs of a potential scam.

For more information on getting a refund, take a look at the Citizens Advice website.

Llangollen lads cycling to Thailand cross from Germany into Austria

* The intrepid trio at the mighty River Danube.

The three Llangollen area lads cycling to Thailand crossed from Germany into Austria during the fourth week of their epic journey,

Dyfan Hughes, 17, James Thomas, 18, and Louis Dennis, 18, had never ridden a bike further than the shop near their homes when they set out a few weeks go on their 18-month quest to reach Asia.

Once there they aim to meet up with their friend Harrison who moved to Thailand six months ago after his dad died from a heart attack and to raise money for heart research. 

On day 28 of the trip they recorded on one of their short films how they had encountered heavy rain for the first time as they headed along he banks of the River Danube - and were lucky enough to have some tasty bread donated by a local family as they stopped off in a town.

The crossing into Austria came on day 30 and there was a mention of how a woman from Wales they happened to meet paid for their breakfasts. 

A couple of days later they were telling how they had been interviewed on radio in Welsh - but there's no explanation of how this came about. There was some bike trouble for Louis but that was soon fixed at a local cycle shop.

On day 33 they noted they were well on track to reach Vienna by the weekend. 

* To follow the journey on their social media and make a donation if you wish go to: https://linktr.ee/westheads

Tidy Town Team's founder celebrates his 80th birthday in style

* David Davies and his wife Yvonne are toasted by family and friends at the birthday lunch.

One of Llangollen's best-known figures celebrated his 80th birthday with a party for family and friends at The Hand Hotel yesterday (Saturday).

David Davies, founder and coordinator of the Tidy Town Team and who is also closely associated with the Probus Club and Methodist Church, hosted the special event which included a lavish lunch and enjoyable quiz which included questions about his own life interspersed with those about national and international events of the same periods.

Members of his family travelled from Canada and the Britain to be at the celebration.

* The host thanks everyone for helping him mark his milestone birthday.

Llangollen panto to hold meet and greet this Sunday

Llangollen's pantomime group has announced it will be raising funds for Wales Air Ambulance and the town's Silver Band with its 2026 production of Dick Whittington.

A spokesperson said: "We have a meet and greet, from 2-4pm, this Sunday September 7 at St Collen's Community Hall in Llangollen.

"We had a fantastic response with sold-out shows which generated the incredible amount of £2,500 for two local charities from our last show, Beauty and the Beast.

"Please come along on Sunday if you would like to get involved in our amazing production of Dick Whittington.

"At the meet and greet Dave, our director, will be introducing all the fantastic characters that are in the show. We need adults and children for all the parts.

"So if you are interested in having a part in the show or want to get involved in behind-the-scenes roles, staging, props, costumes, set building, etc, there will be lots of opportunities to chat and to get to know everyone involved."

Congestion caused by roadworks with no work going on

 

* Traffic congestion on Regent Street caused by the roadworks outside the fish and chip shop.

llanblogger has been trying to find out why two set of traffic lights on a trunk road through Llangollen, which have been causing major traffic congestion throughout the day, have been installed around roadworks left unattended for hours.

A utility company, believed to be Wales & West, set up the excavation, which consists of a small trench extending into the carriageway from the pavement, outside the chip shop on Regent Street (A5) yesterday (Thursday).

But after some initial work on it then and earlier today (Friday) the roadworks were left unattended from mid-afternoon.

But because sets of temporary traffic lights have been installed either side of the roadworks there has been considerable congestion in both directions - especially severe as it's another busy weekend on the regular tourist route.

Earlier this afternoon llanblogger sent an email to Wales & West, to verify they are their roadworks and to question the timing of the work. Apart from an automatic acknowledgement of the email there has so far been no response. 

* The unattended roadworks on the A5.