25/08/2014 BBC Wales Today

The number of motorcyclists dying on our roads has gone up

significantly this year, that's the warning from two chief constables.

They're blaming excessive speed for the rise in injuries

and fatalities in the North Wales and Dyfed Powys force areas.

The police say they'll continue to support schemes which educate

There are around 54,000 motorcycles licensed on the roads of Wales.

And with fuel prices making cars more expensive to run,

But it's a sobering thought that the risk of being killed or

seriously injured on a motorbike is around 78 times greater than

Last year, there were 17 motorcycle deaths on the roads here.

But already this year, that figure's almost been matched

In one, there have been 11 deaths already, up from two last year and

Police say the beautiful countryside of Mid and

North Wales is a draw for bikers, but excessive speeds, particularly

The typical person buying a bike is between 35 and 50.

People who've got a bit of disposable income,

they are going back to bikes and not getting any further training,

going out not regularly so they're permanent novices, if you like.

They are buying big powerful bikes and getting into trouble.

As we get older, our reactions get slower and eyesight starts to go.

It's really important to take on some further training.

The police say they'll continue to support schemes like Bike Safe

which educates riders about the risks of riding inappropriately.

This is the latest scene of a fatal motorcycle accident.

At the weekend, a 53-year-old man was killed here.

Despite motorbikes making up just 0.2% of traffic on our roads here

in Wales, 39% of all fatal and serious casualties are

motorcyclists, a figure that the police want to see reduced.

Hundreds of homes in Blaenau Gwent are still without gas,

four days after supplies were cut by a water leak.

Wales and West Utilities say they're working to reconnect 660

They've already removed hundreds of thousands of litres of water

from gas pipes in the area, which were flooded on last Thursday.

On the night of the second television debate

on Scottish independence, both the Welsh Secretary and the

First Minister of Wales have urged Scottish voters to stay in Britain.

Welsh Secretary Stephen Crabb campaigning in Scotland, said:

"Britain is a family of strong nations."

While Carwyn Jones, writing in the Daily Record, said the idea of a

currency union with an independent Scotland would be "bad for Britain".

The SNP has spoken of "fear-mongering"

Football and Wrexham are down to seventh in the Conference

after drawing 2-2 against Macclesfield at the Racecourse.

After falling behind, goals from Connor Jennings and

Macclesfield equalised through Paul Turnbull.

In typical Bank Holiday fashion, it was a rather wet start

for today's Butetown Carnival in Cardiff, the first for 16 years,

celebrating the cultural and musical heritage of the area.

Performances and workshops are due to run throughout the evening.

Some early rain tomorrow, but turning dry air through the day. If

you downpours continuing through the night. The cloud holds up the

temperatures. The pressure chart shows the front that brought the

rain. High pressure moves from the North, so it might start grey and

damp with some showers, but they will fizzle out and dry up through

the day with brighter spells developing later on. Winds will ease

later. Cooler tomorrow night, and after a dry start on Wednesday, it

will turn wet and windy from the West. A week of changes. And I'm

settled and talk is. -- and unsettled.

Cover the contrasts across the UK, in Scotland, no bank on a day, dry,

plenty of sunshine, especially in the