03/08/2011 BBC Wales Today

Hello and welcome to Wales Today. Tonight's top stories:

Police end a seven hour armed siege. Officers close off a street in

Tonight's other headlines: Bought by the neighbours next door.

Glyndwr University is set to own the home of Wrexham football club.

I'm here at the Racecourse where the purchase of this ground paves

the way for the fans to finally buy the club.

Still working flat out at the age of 80, the Pembrokeshire painter

marking eight decades on canvas. It was a family affair at the

Good Evening. A man's been arrested, after a seven hour siege with armed

police in Chepstow. Specialist officers, were called to the house

in the Bulwark area early this morning, after reports a man was

threatening to harm himself. As the residents of this quiet

street in Chepstow World Cup this morning, specialist armed police

were surrounding one of the houses here. They were responding to

reports that this man was threatening to harm himself after

barricading himself in the property. The neighbours were shocked at what

they were seeing. I got out of bed, hearing voices, looked out of the

window and saw several police around and more cars arriving. I

dunno what was going on. There was loads of shouting and calling the

police and then it would go quiet and then start again. It went on

and on and on. Negotiators from the police say they were talking to the

34-year-old to try and get him out of the House safely. People near by

and watched as specialist teams worked throughout the morning to

make sure the street was safe. After seven hours and no end in

sight, armed officers decided there was only one way to finish the

stand-off, breaking down the door, much to the relief of the street's

residents. It was frightening because we have never had anything

like this happen before. We have had nothing quite like this.

man has been arrested on suspicion of theft and possession of a fire

arm and taken into police custody. Wrexham's Racecourse Ground, the

oldest international football stadium in the world has been

bought by Glyndwr University. The deal should enable football and

rugby league to continue to be played there. It's a major step

forward which clears the way for the club to be taken over by the

Supporter's Trust. Finally some good news after months

of stalemate and questions over the future of sport being played here.

The ground has been snapped up by Glyndwr University which is just

next door. They've also purchased the Colliers Park training ground

too. Now all eyes are on the Trust to make sure they can close a deal

to buy the club.$$NEWLINE With players not being paid and several

potential buyers dropping out, Wrexham needed a deal and fast.

With players not being paid and several potential buyers dropping

out Wrexham needed a deal and fast. What we are trying to do and we

have been doing since 2001 is develop a new kind of university

for Wales and that university is based on some of the best

universities, not just in the UK but our aspirations for the best

universities around the world. future of the football club is

undecided. Negotiations with the supporters' club are continuing and

the proceeds of the sale should help the club out of debt. We will

run the club and make a profit from day one because we cannot afford to

go into debt. We do not want any get involved with the club again.

At least cities in the hands of the supporters. We will run Wrexham

football club for the good of Wrexham football club in the long

term. Rugby league side Crusaders share the ground and despite

announcing last week that they could no longer afford to play in

Superleague next season, at least they'll have a home if they do

choose to continue in lower divisions. With a deal for the

football club tantalisingly close its current owner thinks the future

is bright. I appointed Dean Saunders and I believed in him and

backed him all the way through. It has taken longer than I would hope

but I believe he has put his mark on it and we have a really good

side this year. We can settle of the field matters quickly and we

have a great chance of getting promotion.

Players, politicians and pundits are all relieved that much of the

uncertainty has been resolved. There are plans for major

improvments to the stands at this historic ground, which arouses as

much passion as the games that take place here.

Relief all round, as you said. Do we know any more about the plans

for the stadium? There are some big ideas being

suggested. There are still some details to be finalised but the

university intends to apply for lottery funding to redevelop a

couple of the stands here. The one behind the House been in a sorry

state for many years. They want to get students involved and currently

there is a hall of residence and the plan would be for students to

use this in much the same way as American universities use

professional stadia right on their doorsteps.

How will this affect the university finances?

They have not said how much the sale has cost. It is reported to be

�1.8 million which will go to pay off some of the club a's dead. The

university has said they can well afford this. They are running it as

a charity and have taken advice from the Charity Commission.

Although some projects they had planned may have to be delayed,

they say there is more than enough money in the pot, which they have

saved over the last few years, to pay for this new venture.

Thank you. A 22-year-old man from Risca has

appeared in court charged with causing death by dangerous driving,

after a man was found dead by the side of a road near Blackwood. Ian

Hamilton's body was discovered in Pontllanfraith three weeks ago. A

woman also arrested yesterday, has been released without charge.

MPs on the Defence Select Committee say they're concerned about the

future of defence technical training, after the UK Government

dropped plans to make St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan its

headquarters. Committee member Dai Havard, the Labour MP for Merthyr

and Rhymney, said the Welsh Government should lobby UK

Ministers forcefully, to have more defence bases in Wales.

The Retained Firefighters Union says, changes to the co-responders

scheme, could put lives in rural areas at risk. The Union says its

firefighters are now only being asked to respond to the most

serious cases. The Welsh Ambulance Service insists it hasn't abandoned

the scheme and says it will continue to work with the fire

service to ensure the service remains effective. But the Union's

concerned people are having to wait longer for help to arrive. When

somebody is having a serious medical emergency in the area that

the fire service covers, it will mean a delay of up to 30 minutes

for the arrival of proper help. This will have a critical impact on

the patient's condition. A controversial farm, that breeds

rag-worms for fishing bait, has gone into liquidation. Dragon Feeds,

at Laugharne, received more than �1 million in public funding and had

hoped to create around 70 jobs when it started five years ago, but it's

thought less than ten people were employed.

Ragworms, traditionally used as live bait when fishing. This farm

was set up five years ago to develop a sustainable alternative

to fishmeal for the commercial sector. With diminishing fish

stocks, the managing director told us in 2000 and sex -- 2006 that

this was important. It is a dead- end road. And we are increasing our

production into something acceptable as an alternative source

to fish oil. You can use the worms. The company received over �1

million in grants with original plans to build 270 Pons on the

marshes. It would create 70 jobs. Only one quarter of that was built

and it is thought that less than 10 people were employed.

This man's home overlooks the farm. He was always concerned about it.

The reality is that only 20% of the tanks were ever developed. What we

can see no more than three or four people employed there and there are

not full-time and they are not continuously employed so we have

been let down drastically on the jobs front. We spoke to the

managing director today but he refused to do an interview on

camera saying he could not comment because of legal matters and all

things are in the hands of the liquidators. They are now looking

at selling the company's biggest asset witches Fell and behind me,

all 110 acres of it. A handful of people continue to work on the farm

at the liquidise has tried to sell it as a going concern.

Here at the National Eisteddfod we have been behind the scenes,

meeting the woman who is looking after the ropes. Imagine washing

and ironing or 500 of them. She is retiring after a quarter of a

century. It has been hot again. Temperatures

have got up to 77 Fahrenheit. I cannot guarantee sunshine for the

rest of the week. You are what you eat, so the saying

goes. And for many of us, eating the wrong things has caused chronic

health problems and obesity. Conditions such as heart disease

and diabetes, are putting an increasing strain on the NHS here.

Our reporter Nick Palit was recently diagnosed with Type 2

diabetes, he's been on a personal quest to reverse his condition.

Tomorrow he'll be looking at the importance of exercise but tonight

he's been having expert advice, on the right food.

Doing the weekly shop can be hell if you're on a diet and trying to

eat healthily, so I need help to steer me away from the things I

want to eat, onto the things I should eat. Community Dietician

Catherine Washbrook joined me at the supermarket to put me on the

right track. When it comes to Dyer Beatties, all fruit and vegetables

are encouraged. They have a low glycaemic index so they release the

glucose into your bloodstream much slower than high-calorie snack

foods. So we filled up on fruit and continued on our way through the

Isle of temptation. Every time I come to the supermarket, the smell

of bakery products gets you going. They are my downfall. There are no

unhealthy foods. It is about the balance and the quantity of how

much you eat. Next stop my other downfall, bread. White bread is

very refined and releases the glucose quickly. It has a high GI

value so it is not great for keeping your blood glucose levels

stable. So Brown? Preferentially the granary or the stoneground.

You think a bowl of cereal would be healthier than my fry-up but many

come loaded with sugar. Preferably wholegrain. Most of them will have

the emblem on the top and those are the ones that will keep you Fuller

for longer. Even when it comes to potatoes, not all are equal.

starch that is available in new potatoes has a much lesser effect

on your glucose levels so the energy from new potatoes is

released slower than that in the jacket potatoes. Armed could this

new-found knowledge I will be a P who also need to know about

nutrition and fitness. Currently thirty 6% of children in Wales are

overweight or obese - and if left unchecked they'll end up just like

me. Here at the Newport Velodrome children and their parents attend

the MEND program. 80 courses have run across Wales since it began in

2008 and it aims to help youngsters turn around their unhealthy

lifestyle. Have if they had been referred from GPs, parents might

they have noticed them coming with a healthy weight, coming back

fitter and healthier. You look at the amount of fat in 100 grams of

food are... While the children exercise - the mums learn about

healthy eating and nutrition. Nine year old Jasmine Myers has been

attending the ten week program with Mum Tanya. She was self-conscious

about her weight, but you can see her joining in, the sparkle is

coming back into her. And that's a mantra I've been trying to follow

myself with my own diet and exercise. However this month I know

the weight loss won't be as great as last month. Two words, Summer

Holiday. We all need that time in the sun to do nothing but recharge

our batteries - unfortunately when it's at an all-inclusive hotel -it

can have consequences for the waistline. Though not every meal

was unhealthy. And it wasn't all just eating and lazing in the sun -

I did actually swim in the pool and even took regular bike rides.

Despite that, I was just a little nervous when I stood on the scales

this week - So could do better - must do better - and in fact I'm

back in the saddle again. Tomorrow night we'll be looking at exercise

and its effect in controlling diabetes. Leroy litre is due to

make his first appearance for his new club Swansea City tonight,

hours after completing his medical. He has been signed for three years

after agreeing a 1.7 �5 million fee. We will have the result of the

match tonight. Cricket, it is day two of the

Morgan's County Championship match. They have made steady progress.

They are 160-2. That is in reply to the total of 399.

At the age of 80, most of us would expect to be enjoying retirement,

but for one of our leading artists - he couldn't be busier. John Knapp

Fisher, from Pembrokeshire, is marking his eighth decade, with a

major exhibition of new work. Jamie Owen went to visit him in his

gallery, to talk about his paintings. He asked John, where he

begins, when he starts on a new idea

Well it's been another busy day here on the Maes, with nearly

21,000 people here today. There is a draughtsmanship about

your work, almost an engineering accuracy, where does that come

from? My father was a much better draughtsman than me. I was always

amazed at some of his watercolours. He got his drawings, I do not have

that. What do you most enjoy painting? I like to have buildings

in my drawings. That is very much where I have been for most of my

life. What is it about BC that attracts you? -- BC. I tend to make

that happen in a lot of my pictures, I like the clear sky as well. How

long will it make you -- how long will it take you to do a painting?

On and off, to to three weeks. Sometimes longer. How has the

landscape changed his you have been painting Wales? I'm not sure, I do

not just the picturesque things, I like to do interesting images.

you are painting, what do you think about? Are you someone who is

happiest painting, or is it a tense process? Usually it is intense

concentration. I feel quite tired afterwards. I always found it very

absorbing, quite hard work. There are a lot of people who will be

astonished that you are still quite flat out, not putting your feet up

and having a rest. The only reason that I would stop is because I

would want to write. That is it from me, let's get the picture from

the Maes. She's with me now, she won the Prose Medal. Can you

divulge some information to your husband. There was not a problem

there, the business of secrecy was very important. It is different

with the Crown and the chair, they have to let you know weeks

beforehand. It To what -- it was a long time to keep a secret, I was

happy to do it. I guess you were bursting to tell people. Did your

husband whispers something in your ear, a message of congratulation?

No not a tour, a could not say anything. I was so glad to get on

the stage, and to think, at long last I am here. You are used to

seeing your husband, the Arch Druid, in his robes. War was unlikely to

be the main focus? It was a great privilege, it is a very prestigious

prize. I am very glad that I have won it. I was thinking, I have done

it, I have done it at last at! Taking it per to stage was the

woman responsible for the jury dresses. Imagine having to clean

500 roads, she has studied almost a quarter of a century. These roads

are worth almost �50,000, some of the most special ones are kept at a

safe house. You told me earlier on there was some special roads.

are some special ones that I keeper safekeeping. These roads are on

display at the National Museum for Welsh life. It is because of the

handwork and the gold work that makes it special. There is quite a

lot of gold work on this one, it has to be done very specially.

is pretty expensive I would imagine? Do you want to know? It is

probably worth around �80,000. is her taking charge for the very

first time it in 1984. She is giving it all up, and leaving the

stage for the last time. I have been a member for 50 years next

year, so maybe we will have a number celebration next year. I

have been a member for 50 years! We will see what happens! It is always

very, very busy writer of the end, sometimes it is madder than others.

Do you get a time to look back on all those years? I'm even looking

forward to next week where I'm going to be sitting down and

thinking very happy forts. No more ironing! No more ironing.

We have been struggling in the heat in Maes, we cannot complain.

Another very warm day here with sunshine. Highest emperatures today

25 Celsius in Flintshire. 24 in Cardiff, 22 in Newbridge no Wye, 19

on Anglesey and in Milford Haven. Feeling muggy or Trwmaidd in Welsh.

Feeling muggy or Trwmaidd in Welsh. Now if you don't like this muggy

weather, well there is change on the way. Pressure is falling with

some rain tonight but this will clear tomorrow and it will turn

fresher with a drop in humidity. This evening a generally dry start.

However cloud will increase with some rain spreading from the

southwest later in the evening and overnight. Most of the rain light

but with a few heavy bursts in places. Another very mild night.

Lowest temperatures 13 to 16 Celsius. Tomorrow's chart shows low

pressure over Britain with fronts bringing some rain! Heavy rain in

the south and in Scotland. So tomorrow it's an improving story. A

damp start. Some rain, drizzle, mist and hill fog but during the

morning it will turn drier. So a better afternoon. Mostly dry. A few

bright or sunny intervals e.g in eastern Powys and Monmoutshire.

More cloudy in the west with drizzle in S+nowdonia. Feeling

fresher tomorrow. Top temperatures 16 to 21 Celsius with a light to

moderate west to southwesterly breeze. Tomorrow night plenty of

cloud. Damp in parts of the north and west. Friday not a bad day on

the whole. The odd light shower otherwise dry. A few bright or

sunny intervals and feeling fresher with the wind falling light. As for

the outlook, not the best of weather this weekend. Saturday

sunny intervals and showers. Sunday showers or longer spells of rain.

Some heavy showers likely with thunder. The breeze picking-up and

feeling cooler. Unsettled next week with below average temperatures!

I can promise some sunshine as well, hot and humid here today, not so

nice tonight. It should feel fresher, we are going to lose this

humility. I have been struggling at night, I get him in danger getting