05/03/2012 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top story: Charged with spying. The

cameraman from Carmarthenshire held by militia in Libya. His sister

says the claims are nonsense. not regard him as a spy in any way

shape or form. He is just my younger brother. He has only just

started out in this in the end of The star of Dad's Army, The Life

and Times of Lloyd George and countless other television hits,

Phillip Madoc, has died. The darker side of the cannabis

trade. Police highlight the violence and exploitation it

involves. Will pink street lights really

deter rowdy teenagers from loitering where they shouldn't?

And Luke Charteris is called back into the Wales squad for the game

Good evening. The sister of a cameraman from Carmarthen who's

been charged with spying in Libya has described the allegation as

nonsense. Gareth Montomery-Johnson was working for Iran's state

broadcaster, Press TV, when he was detained by militia in the capital

Tripoli more than two weeks ago. We'll talk to our correspondent

there in a minute, but first this report from Matt Murray.

At a hastily convened press conference in Libya's capital, the

militia detaining the two journalists showed the media

photographs and footage which they say proves the two men were spying.

This video footage supposedly shows cameraman Gareth Montgomery-Johnson

and reporter Nicholas Davies test- firing weapons. Members of the

militia also produced a field dressing they say they found on the

journalists and they believe it to be the type used by the Israeli

military. Mr Montgomery-Johnson's sister, Mel Gribble, from

Pontargothi near Carmarthen, says there's nothing in these

accusations. We emphatically don't regard him as a spy in any way

shape or form. They are very upset and withdrawn. They are under a lot

of scrutinised Asian and the fingers being pointed at them

constantly. -- scrutinise Asian. It's believed the two journalists

were filming in Tripoli's Martyr's Square when they were detained by

the Misrata brigade. They were working for Iran's English language

TV station, Press TV. Gareth Montgomery-Johnson has been working

for them since June last year. Dr Suleiman Fortia, a member of

Libya's ruling National Transitional Council, says the

group holding the man have the councils backing. He's concerned

with the material supposedly found on the journalists' laptops.

Journalists usually come to the country with a visa and come under

no organisation. It is not a normal activity for regionalist to scan

snipers and put them in the computer. It was just over a year

ago that protests in Libya turned into a revolt that eventually

toppled Gadaffi's dictatorship. Now, the power rests, to a large extent,

not with the interim government or the National Transitional Council,

but with a patchwork of armed militias. It is a very unstable

situation. There are a lot of militia groups. Given the situation,

I think they are being used as a bargaining tool. The militia are

trying to secure a more power Gareth's father, Philip, spoke to

him just yesterday. He says his son was doing a job he loved and may be

without a visa. When he went to Libya, it was when the war was on

and nobody was getting visas. Foreign Office say they are

providing consular assistance. And the Libyan embassy is doing all it

can. Gabriel Gatehouse is the BBC's

correspondent in Tripoli. What do we know of the group who are

holding him? The leader of the group is not an easy man to get on

with. I met him last week and when I asked him questions about the

journalists, I was met with very short shrift. He has admitted that

he has got them. The book -- the brigade itself comes from the city

of Misurata. Some of this man's brigades have been accused in

recent months of going after people they suspect of loyalty to Colonel

Gaddafi. Both the British Embassy and the man himself say that the

two journalists are being treated well but as to who he answers to,

where Aston -- when I asked him, he said he was. What is being done to

secure his release? Behind the scenes, the British embassy is

working away despite the very innocuous statements we are getting

from the Foreign Office. They say they are aware that two men have

been arrested. There are negotiations going on behind the

scenes. Human rights groups have also been working on it although

with limited success. Then there is the government. I have been in

touch with the Interior Ministry and the Prime Minister's office

here. The Interior Ministry say they want this group to hand them

over into official custody. If they did that, the two men would be

deported. Tributes have been paid to the

actor Philip Madoc, who's died after a short illness. He was 77.

The Merthyr Tydfil born star was best known for his title role in

the Life & Times of David Lloyd George and as Detective Noel Bain

in A Mind To Kill. But he also played his part in one of comedy's

classics. Immediately recognisable for his

deep, resonant voice, Philip Madoc began his television career in the

early 60s, eventually becoming a familiar face in programmes like Z

Cars and the Last Of the Mohicans in the 70s. One of his smallest

roles is probably his most widely seen as the U-boat captain in an

episode of Dad's Army. Your name will also go on the list. What is

it? A don't tell him Pike. But the BBC Wales series, The Life & Time

of David Lloyd George, in 1981 made him a household name. He was a very

intelligent actor and an intelligent person. When he played

David Lloyd George, you knew that he had immersed himself in the life

of David Lloyd George. He would embody the man. Twenty five years

on in 2006, he told me how he remembered those days with

affection. A great experience. A great company to work with. It was

a splendid production. The script was so clever. It spoke for itself.

All my memories of those days are a good part of my life. In the late

90s he played DCI Noel Bain in A Mind To Kill, making English and

Welsh language versions of the series. Philip Madoc leant his

support to a group of young filmmakers from Wrexham to help

them produce this fantasy drama called Hawk which was released last

year. His former wife, joined the trip is to him. He had a wonderful

voice and a lot of charisma. In those days, we were all given very

good voice projection lessons. Reflecting on a career where he

played many villains, Philip Madoc said he thought they were the best

parts. The 77-year-old died after a short illness at a hospital in

Hertfordshire. His son Rhys and daughter Lowri, from his earlier

marriage to Ruth Madoc, were with him.

John Hefin directed The Life and Times of David LLoyd George, a lead

role that won Phllip Madoc a legion of fans. He's is our studio in

Aberystwyth. What was he like to work with? He had a God-given voice.

It was fantastic. He was given a rare intelligence. He spoke about a

dozen languages. He was a joy to work with. We used to go to the

sets together and it was a nine hours series and we spent a lot of

time together. We never ever quarrelled. I thought he would be

going over the lines because he had huge chunks of Lloyd George's

finest or a tree. I looked over and he was doing a crossword. He had

worked it all out. He was a perfectionist. And a great friend.

My feelings go out to his family. How will you remember him?

remember him warmly because he was the epitome to me of his Merthyr

background. He had that rare intelligence and I will remember

him as a thinking actor. One who brought to every part a charisma

and an intelligence. He was a good team player as well as being a very

powerful lead player. The latest in a series of public

meetings over the future of Bronglais Hospital will be held in

Llanidloes tonight. Earlier, a meeting was held in Machynlleth to

discuss concerns that services at the hospital could be downgraded.

The Welsh Government says there are no plans to do that. Meanwhile, the

Hywel Dda Health Board has announced it will extend its

"listening exercise" until the end of April.

Does your partner have a history of domestic violence? Gwent Police is

one of four forces in Wales and England to pilot a scheme where

people will be able to find out. It's called Clare's Law, after

Clare Wood, who was killed by a former boyfriend. Leading domestic

violence charity, Refuge, says disclosure is not the best way to

help victims. Kate Scott-Williams reports.

Georgie O' Gara was a victim of domestic violence. Now, she helps

other victims in Torfaen. Georgie supports anything that raises the

profile of domestic abuse but says in her case, Clare's Law wouldn't

have made any difference. A lot of perpetrators have not a previous

convictions. My ex husband had gone through previous abusive

relationships but if you believe them. They're very plausible. By

the time you get to being abused, you don't feel you are in a - and

abusive relationship. The scheme has been named after Clare Wood

from Greater Manchester, who was murdered by a former boyfriend with

a violent background. If you ask him, have you done this, you might

not get a straight answer. It is good for women, especially young

girls. Her father has since campaigned for people to be able to

find out from police if their partner has a violent past. Now,

four police forces in Wales and England will pilot such a scheme.

People will have the right to ask if they have convictions on their

record. Secondly, it is also the right to know which means that the

police service will take a proactive response and the police

will make a disclosure. Refuge has said the money would be better

spent on improving how police respond to calls for help. Police

were criticised after the death of Joanna Michael, who was stabbed to

death by her ex-boyfriend in St Mellons. Police took more than 20

minutes to respond to her 999 messages and a call handler was

sacked. The scheme will last for one year and then the police will

decide whether it has been successful. If it's thought the

scheme has worked well, it could be extended further.

The police in North Wales are stepping up their efforts to shut

down cannabis farms. In Operation Broadley, they will be linking up

with forces in the north west of England. The move follows

increasing concern that many people who grow cannabis are linked with

organised criminal gangs. It is the scale of what the police

are finding which has prompted this attack on cannabis production. This

farm was in Bangor and thousands of plants worth millions of pounds. It

was a sophisticated operation. The gang leaders even provided sleeping

accommodation for the growers. In this case, the leader was jailed

for nine years. Cannabis farms are turning up all over the place. More

often than not, the neighbours have no idea what is going on. The

police regional crime unit is stepping in. These gangs which are

moving into cannabis cultivation in a way we have not seen before means

that their involvement brings significant amount of harm. We have

individuals involved in firearms criminality under the kind of drugs

crime and violence and -- intimidation. These are the kinds

of people who are involved in cannabis production. The police say

they will raid suspect premises and the what the public to act as their

eyes and ears. We have instructions to let the rear of this building.

Identifying a drugs farm is not easy. This chartered so via

unwittingly let this unit to a cannabis gang. We were aware that

there was an issue with cannabis farms but it did not strike us that

anything as sophisticated as this operation was taking place. We are

far more on guard now with regards to occupiers and their intentions.

There is the potential for this to become a bigger problem. Tighter

border controls me it can now be easier to grow cannabis here and

smuggle the drug in. They have been many arrests and the police suggest

there will be more. Much more to come before 7:00pm: A

whole orchestra to perform his music. Not bad at the age of just

And Penarth's Ieuan Lloyd is among three Welsh swimmers hoping tonight

Police and council officials in Cardiff have come up with a novel

idea to tackle anti-social behaviour on some of the city's

estates. Pink florescent lighting which highlights teenage acne may

be installed. In other parts of Britain, where it has been tried,

it's proved to be a useful deterrent. Nick Palit has the story.

Could this humble light be the answer to tackling anti-social

behaviour? The authorities will be tickled pink if it is. Apparently,

the glow from these is rather unflattering to teenage complexions

and on this housing estate in Nottinghamshire it's been used to

great effect. A lot of tenants are surprised how well it has worked

because it shows up all the blemishes. Males don't like it

because it is pink. They will not congregate underneath it. It is a

very good deterrent. It's also been trialled by Police at Preston in

Lancashire and could now be coming to parts of Cardiff. It is outside

shops like this where much of the nuisance occurs. In the last six

weeks, police have issued 18 anti- social orders outside these shops

and have made five arrests so these shops are a prime candidate for

this pink lighting scheme. I feel for the residents living here.

Whatever we can do to make a difference, I am prepared to try.

It sheds light on skin blemishes and four people have a particular

age, it is less pleasant to hang around Sydney areas with that

lighting. But in the Fairwater and Pentrebane areas, where it's likely

to be used, the idea was ridiculed. The acne will go. I am treating my

face every day. We don't want any pink lights! It is a ridiculous

idea. It would put children off whatsoever. Hideous. Let's help the

kids. Let's find them something to do. The pink light still hasn't got

the green light, but if it's introduced, it'll hopefully calm

the troubled spots of Cardiff. Sport now and three Welsh swimmers

are trying to book their places in the British Olympic team this

evening. Ashleigh's here with tonight's sport.

Thanks Jamie. Good evening. Yes, races already underway at the

Olympic Aquatic Centre in London this evening. News of that very

shortly. But first rugby, and lock Luke Charteris has been added to

Wales' Six Nations squad ahead of this weekend's match against Italy.

He made a successful comeback for the Dragons on Saturday after a 4

month lay-off. It was his first game since the

World Cup. Luke Charteris had waited a while for this moment

after a wrist operation. Fitness and work-rate was one of the things

that made the giant lock first choice for Wales during the World

Cup and after playing the full 80 minutes for the Dragons against

Munster, the Wales coaching team clearly felt he was ready to return

to the fold for their last two matches in the Six Nations.

acquitted himself very well in his first game back. He will be very

pleased to get through that first game. It is a nervous time when you

have been out for a long period of time. To come through it was the

main part of the day. Centre Jamie Roberts is the only major injury

doubt ahead of Saturday's game against Italy. He hurt his knee

against England but trained for the first time since Twickenham this

afternoon. Wales are now the only team that can win a Grand Slam

after Ireland held France to a draw in Paris yesterday afternoon. But

several teams can still top the Six Nations Championship so there's

still been a real focus for Wales, even in a week without a game.

few boys have gone back to play for the regions. The rest of us were

back in training. We had a few days off. We've had a lot of fitness

training to top up. It was nice to get a couple of days' break before

the mayhem starts. Wales' recent success at international level has

been a welcome distraction from problems at regional level. A full

financial review of the way the Welsh game is run is currently

being compiled. The idea of central contracts for players has not been

dismissed in principle, as Wales tries to stop the drain of its best

talent abroad. A more centralised approach is required. I have never

hidden my thoughts on this for the six years I have been here. I've

always felt we got to come together and we have to be joined up.

man who won't be playing his club rugby in Wales next season is

Scarlets number eight Ben Morgan. He'll join Gloucester next season

on a three year deal, where he'll hope to further his international

ambitions with England. Football, and Swansea City have

opted not to appeal against the red card shown to Nathan Dyer in

Saturday's 2-0 victory at Wigan. Manager Brendan Rodgers described

the decision as harsh. But Dyer will now be suspended for three

matches, including next Saturday's visit of Premier League leaders

Manchester City. Elsewhere, Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay insists

his team are not suffering from a Carling Cup hangover, despite their

2-0 home defeat to West Ham. The Bluebirds have now slipped to

eighth in the Championship after four losses in their last five

league games. They face seventh placed Brighton on Wednesday. And

in the Conference, Wrexham stay second after Jamie Tolley's free-

kick gave them a 1-0 win at Kettering. Newport County are 17th

after a 1-1 draw at Southport. Now to the aquatic centre where the

British trials have got under way. Penarth teenager Ieuan Lloyd

finished second in the final of the men's 200 metre freestyle but

outside the qualifying time. He will have other chances to try and

make it later in the year. It is a very busy night at the Olympic Park.

Georgia Davies will go in the finals of the women's 100 metres

backstroke. Jazz Carlin from Swansea qualified for the final of

the women's 200 metre freestyle after finishing third in her semi-

final a bit earlier round. The London Olympics aren't all

about sport. The Cultural Olympiad, which coincides with the Games, are

already underway. And last night saw the world premiere of a piece

of music composed by Lloyd Coleman, a 19-year-old from Bridgend, who's

partially blind and deaf. It's the culmination of 18 months of hard

work, as Kate Morgan explains. At 35 minutes long, with a full

orchestra, this is Lloyd Coleman's biggest piece of music. As part of

the Cultural Olympiad, the Royal Academy of Music student was asked

to create a brand new orchestral It's called "Breaking the Wall" and

tells the story of the physical and mental challenges athletes face.

For Lloyd, it's also about overcoming personal obstacles. He's

partially blind and deaf. And as it's all about the Olympics, he

found his inspiration at the home of the games. It is based on the

Greek legend. It is a tale of courage and bravery and

extraordinary say. The funding has also paid for the 19-year-old to

have the best possible mentors. Including Larry Ashmore, famed for

working on the music of the Harry Potter films. And the influence

shows. It is real film music. It has those wonderful broad melodies

and very striking rhythmic sections. And for the composer from Bridgend,

hearing the world premiere of his work by the BBC's National

Orchestra of Wales has made the hard work worth while. They were my

local orchestra when I was growing up and have them playing my own

music is a joy and an honour. Spring is here, but not for long.

As far as the weather is concerned, it is less spring-like than last

week. Temperatures reached 17 degrees last Tuesday but today they

did not get into double figures. It feels colder, especially by night.

Some rain in the forecast this week but bright and breezy at times.

Tonight, largely dried and because it is so clear, temperatures will

drop. A few mist and fog patches with temperatures falling to near

freezing near the border. A frosty start tomorrow with some mist and

it will turn into a dry and fine morning. This tension becomes hazy

as cloud thickens from the West during the day. It is staying

warmer where we keep the sun go longest. -- For honest. Westerly

winds pick up tomorrow night and we can see from the pressures start

front lining up waiting to bring some wet and windy conditions

Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. That band of rain is

pushed in by those brisk winds on Wednesday followed by scattered

showers and brighter spells as the system clears eastwards. So a

changeable week to come. Wetter at times on Wednesday and then it

turns drier and milder for Thursday and Friday. This is today's picture.

Frogs in the pond is one of the first signs of spring. Thank you

first signs of spring. Thank you for the picture.

X-Ray's coming up in half an hour. Here's Lucy with a preview. We'll

be looking into the companies that ring you up and tell you they can

claim back insurance for a fee. We'll be hearing about the case of

mistaken identity which left one man being chased for debts he never

owed and we're back on the road with a problem Peugeot's. See you

at 7:30pm. We'll have an update for you here