26/09/2013 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. The funeral of April Jones has taken place in

Machynlleth. Almost a year after she was murdered, the five-year-old's

white coffin was carried through the town to St Peter's church, followed

by hundreds of mourners. Her parents Coral and Paul, family,

friends and the local community gathered to remember April and say a

final goodbye. Today, here in this case she is

linking is altogether in grief yet grief goes hand in hand with love.

And surely, that is the most important thing for any human being

to be loved. Also tonight: If you think council

services are stretched now - just wait. The Welsh Government could

have billions of pounds LESS to spend over the next few years.

Bullying, abuse and intolerable working conditions. A damning report

into cardiac surgery services at Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

And they're Wales most renowned artistic couple - now in their 60th

year of marriage they're celebrating a major new exhibition.

Good evening. Almost a year ago, five-year-old April Jones went out

to play but never came home. Today, her family, friends and the

community of Machynlleth where she lived came together for her funeral.

Her white coffin was transported from her home to St Peter's Church

where hundreds gathered to remember her. Abigail Neal is in Machynlleth

tonight. Abi. Thanks, Lucy. What a day it has

been. It was in October last year that the world's media descended on

this community for what would become the greatest lease search ever

undertaken and today they were back to witness hundreds of mourners come

out of their home to pay tribute to five-year-old April Jones. We have

the familiar pink ribbons. The shops are close. At just after 11am,

they've made their slow procession from the estate where she lived down

to think Peter's church. Her parents had asked people to wear pink. The

tone and mood of the ceremony were simple, sombre and it moving.

A horse drawn carriage deck in the colour that has now become

synonymous with one little girl. Hundreds gathered as April's parents

Paul and coral Jones left their home with their close family. Become less

is a town that pulled together in the face of terrible tragedy and its

people were out in force today to pay tribute to a five-year-old girl

who never came home. It has been just awful. It is

difficult to explain to people who won't hear -- who won't hear just

how bad it has him but we have got won't hear -- who won't hear just

to look at the positive. We can't live in that dark place and we have

to find a positive in all of this otherwise we are letting this evil

beat us and we can't do that. As April's small coffin was brought

in, it was clear how little weight there was to bear. Her body has

never been found and the family only have tiny fragments police recovered

that can now finally be buried. Today, here in this place, she is

linking is altogether -- linking us all together in grief. Yet grief

goes hand in hand with love. In whatever way we express our grief,

goes hand in hand with love. In it shows our love for April. And

surely, that is the most important thing for any human being of

whatever age, simply to be loved. Despite the largest search in police

history, we will never know exactly what happened to April Jones. The

detective in charge of the investigation told an inquest this

month that it was likely she suffered a violent death at the

hands of Mark Bridger, who will never be released from prison.

While hundreds stood outside to listen, a packed church watched on.

Among them were police who hunted her killer and volunteers who raised

£76,000 in her memory. Two poems written by a local parishioners in

the days following April's disappearance were read out.

Little infant, so newly emerged from your cradle as the leaked the

eternal sleep. -- sleep the eternal sleep. Clean only the memories of

happiness as we cherish the happy gift of your smile. Sleep and dream

in East. Well among the stars and the like and to your name.

As distant nocturnal birds keep faith with their watch and continue

their ancient lament, this autumn landscape is hushed. It is quieter.

Pensive and waiting. The mantle of an unfamiliar despair touches us all

of us who care. Donations were used to sponsor a five-year-old girl in

Uganda. Mourners say they desperately want

something good to come out of something so dreadful.

After that very public funeral, April's parents Paul and cobble

Jones left for a private burial where we are told a number of pink

balloons were released in her memory. Donations will go towards

sponsoring the education of a five-year-old Ugandan girl. There

was also a fund which is expect to top £76,000 when it closes at the

end of the month and that many will be spent here in Machynlleth,

benefiting the children as part of April's legacy.

If you think your council isn't spending enough on services like

swimming pools, libraries and rubbish collections NOW - things

could be about to get a lot worse. Two new reports paint a stark

picture of the challenges the public sector here is likely to face -

predicting that nearly one and a half billion pounds worth of cuts

could be on the way. Here's our political reporter James

Williams. Taking a stand against plans to

close the local library. Briton Ferry is no stranger to cuts but the

counsellor says enough is enough. We have lost the police station, we've

lost the banks and the hospital. It has all been shifted down over

there. We are the PD in the middle. This is the only thing that's left.

This area, particularly in the West side of the town, have the highest

rate of deprivation and child poverty in Wales. Think of the

money, something like this is breaking the camel's back. The town

has changed beyond recognition, said the councillors will stop -- the

councillors. They took the hospital away from us.

What is next? Everything has gone downhill and it is going further.

With austerity set to continue until after the next general election,

Wales will says its share of the cuts.

Over the next four years, the worst government budget of £15 billion

could be reduced by up to nearly £1.5 billion. This would be on top

of the cuts set out. Welsh public services could face a funding gap of

two £4.5 billion by 2025. This is partly the result of a financial

squeeze but the reports highlight the increasing pressures services

will face as a result of an ageing population.

These rising costs for health care might mean that other services still

need to face cuts, even after 2017. That is a difficult situation. It is

not just the fact of austerity, it is also the rising demand and cost

for key services like health and social care. If those pressures in

mind, public bodies are having to look at how to deliver services in

places like Tredegar. A commission is advising on possible

changes. It is not unique to Wales. It is

fitting the whole developed world and the UK. We value our public

services but nevertheless, things are going to have to change. The

change is on the way in the way services are delivered and financed.

No mean feat for public officials but maintaining and improving the

quality of those service is -- services remains a challenge.

Our Political Editor Nick Servini is here. Stark figures, here. The 11 a

of the age of austerity coming to an end and we have and social

invitations of the baby boomer generation coming to the age of

retirement. -- the double whammy. The most

important point is the worst government spends 42% of its budget

on health. -- the Welsh government. One worst-case scenario is in 13

years, one of the reports says it could rise to 60%. At the top of

government, there are concerns that when reports like this are

published, the Welsh government could accompany glorified Health

Authority as a result of the precious on the budget. --

treasures. These are predictions for the years ahead but how to protect

the NHS budget is probably the biggest issue currently being

debated at the national Assembly. One of the figures says that the

Welsh government had resided over a real term cut of 8% in the NHS in

Wales 2010. The worst government comes under criticism for not giving

more protection to opposition parties but one of the defences it

has got is if it gives the NHS too much protection, there is a huge

disproportionate effect on all the other budgets like local authorities

that it has to fund. And one thing seems to be clear, traditional cuts

are not going to be enough to deal with it?

The salami slicing of budget is not going to be enough.

Far more radical. Some of the things we saw in the report will have to be

talked about and in a way, this is a platform for discussion in the years

ahead. Thank you.

Allegations of bullying and abuse from surgeons and staff at breaking

point - just some of the findings of a damning report into cardiac

surgery services at Morriston Hospital in Swansea. The local

health board has apologised and promised to make improvements

following the independent review. More from our health correspondent

Owain Clarke. The bosses of the health board meet

regularly but this was no ordinary together. At the top of the agenda

with the findings of a damning expert report which says staff at

the heart surgery unit at Morriston Hospital complained of being and

abuse by surgeons and intolerable working conditions, leading to

sickness rate. There is a risk of a rift between surgeons and Andy says

-- any specific. This can lead to stress for patients and families.

Our concern was approached towards the care of the sickest patients.

The upset that that can cause relevant relatives and staff. The

situation got so bad last year, the hospital almost had suspend cardiac

intensive care completely and along with their lack of beds, the problem

has contributed to the weight for life-saving surgery for 87 patients

have died in the last five years while on waiting lists for the unit.

We spoke to Brian when he told us he had been waiting six months for

surgery. What is his reaction to the report? They should work as a team.

That is what the health service is about and that is how we worked when

we worked as a team as they health service. Bullying makes tough fight

and to go to work. I'm disgusted. But the concerns being discussed by

the bosses of the health board aren't entirely new.

Far from it. This was a report published seven years ago by the

health care Inspectorate Wales. It talks about allegations of bullying

and harassment and ongoing problems within the cardiac surgery unit.

I am surprised no action was taken and similar things are now becoming

once again or perhaps are continuing to occur and no action is being

taken. I appreciate patients have been affected by some of the matters

mentioned by the report. I have seen a huge determination I

staff to respond positively to this port. The irony is, in terms of

success rate, it ranks among the best recovery from top they say some

of the surgeons involved have welcomed the reviews but the

concerns stretch back 15 years and turning and won't be easy.

-- turning things around. There's still plenty to come, before

7:00pm. Good evening. We're all set for the

FIRST women's football international here at Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales kick off their World Cup campaign - Belarus are the

opposition. Can they get to the World Cup finals in Canada?

A father and two sons have appeared in court charged with slavery

offences. Daniel Doran and sons David and Thomas were arrested on

Monday as part of a large police operation around Cardiff and

Newport. Caroline Evans reports. Arriving for the court hearing at

Cwmbran this morning. 66-year-old Daniel Doran, 41-year-old David

Doran and 36-year-old Thomas Doran face charges of false imprisonment,

conspiring to force a person to perform forced Labour and conspiring

to hold a person in servitude. The youngest of the three, Thomas Doran,

is also charged with kidnap by fraud. The men were arrested on

Monday following a raid at this farm between Cardiff and Newport. Today

Daniel and son David confirmed to the court that this was their home

address. Thomas Doran was said to be from Cardiff. The court heard that

the charges they face are too serious for a magistrate to deal

with if found guilty they could face life sentences. There was no

application for bail from the three defendants they were remanded in

custody and ordered to appear at Newport Crown court on October

third. This morning police resumed their search for a body at Cariad

Farm. A 42-year-old woman from Penhow who was arrested on Monday

has been bailed pending further enquiries until November 27th. Three

men arrested on suspicion of slavery-related offences at nearby

St Brides on Tuesday have been released on police bail pending

further enquiries. A £120 million scheme to help pay

for the building of more than 1,000 affordable homes in Wales has been

unveiled. Ministers announced the scheme while visiting a site in

Cardiff, likely to be one of the first affordable housing projects

funded under it. Housing associations will be given grants

from the Welsh Government to help them borrow money from private

lenders. Wales is leading the way in terms of

making sure we get homes for people across Wales top this initiative,

working in partnership across government with social housing,

making sure we can deliver on 1000 more properties, is a significant

investment and makes a change to be's lights.

-- lives. The charity Diabetes UK Cymru says new plans to improve care

for people with the disease is an important step in tackling the

issue. Diabetes affects around 7% of adults in Wales and that number is

expected to rise to just over 11% by 2030. The Welsh Government

initiative will focus on patient education, better monitoring and

more support for children. Wales' Women start their World Cup

Campaign tonight - it's the first time a women's international match

has been held at the Cardiff City Stadium and Claire's there for us.

Good evening. Yes, we're used to watching Cardiff City and Chris

Coleman's men play here but tonight Wales' women will take to the pitch.

The players had a walk around a short while ago. Belarus the

visitors who lost 6-0 to England on Saturday. It's a tough group and the

goal is to get to World Cup finals in Canada. The women's game in Wales

is one of the fastest growing sports but really struggles with it's

profile so how do they raise it? Well, the FAW has announced for a

new strategy for the game today - it comes just weeks after appointing

it's first women on the council in it's 137 year history! Let me

introduce you to her. Trish Turner has been a player and administrator

for 11 years. You are the first woman. What difference can you

make? I hope to be the voice, really. I'm

delighted to be representing not only the women there but women right

down to grassroots level and I think it is lovely we have a voice on that

that comes from a female. What are the -- one of the

strategies was to get 20,000 girls playing the game in Wales in ten

years. How do you go about that? It is starting at the grassroots and

fishing more coaches, more people involved in the game.

We have to build that player database at a young primary school

age and the larger the base, the more internationals we hope to

produce. Wales captain Jess Fishlock said

this week that Wales is ten years behind Scotland and England - it

seems there is a lot of work to be done?

I think we are a little behind but not actively and we are making

matters right towards achieving that. Recently we had the Welsh

Premier ladies league and it was a massive success. It is very much in

its infancy but we are making strides to make sure we have

its infancy but we are making somewhere for players to play in

Wales. Playing in venues like this increases the fan base.

That is the game and it is amazing for players to be paying in stadiums

the same as mail International 's art laying so it is brilliant.

Put your coat on because it is very cold but enjoy the game.

A week after beating Spanish Giants Valencia it was back down to earth

for Swansea City last night. Manager Michael Laudrup says their busy

fixture schedule is "no excuse" for crashing out of the Capital One Cup

at Birmingham. The Swans, who are the cup holders, lost 3-1 in the

third round match. Even if we always say the

premiership is the most important thing but we like to play in the cup

competitions and they just mentioned we won it last year and it was a

great experience, some great games, playing the final as well. We are

out and we can only learn from the game today and in the other

competition, because we are still in.

Coverage of tonight's competition tonight. Kick off at 7pm and we will

be live on BBC radio Wales. Lucy.

They're two of Wales' most renowned artists. For 60 years the husband

and wife team of Gwilym Prichard and Claudia Williams have been painting

the Welsh landscape and its characters. Tonight, a major new

exhibition of Claudia's work opens to mark her 80th birthday. Carwyn

Jones met the couple who have been inspiring each other's art since the

1950s. I wasn't quite sure, actually, about

the shoreline. You're never too old to accept a bit

of artistic advice, especially when it comes from one of Wales' most

celebrated painters - who also happens to be your husband. Claudia

Williams and Gwilym Prichard first met as teenagers in North Wales and

have gone on to forge complementary careers, even though their approach

to art couldn't be more different. Gwilym found fame with his dramatic

landscapes; Claudia was drawn to people - capturing scenes of

domestic life and family gatherings. It's been a marriage of minds and

along the way they've motivated each other.

I certainly could not have achieved so much if I hadn't had him Hyndman,

in a way for top because he often stepped into the breach if I want to

carry on with a painted, he will carry on in the kitchen.

Fortunately, I don't mind cooking. I quite like it, actually. It is like

painting, you mix them together and sometimes it works and sometimes...

The couple now live in Tenby, but in the 1980s they relocated to France

where their work found a new audience. Claudia was awarded a

medal by the prestigious Academy of Arts in Paris. On her return to

Wales she gained critical acclaim with her series of paintings

depicting the flooding of the Treweryn Valley as seen from the

perspective of women and children. Having just turned 80, she's about

to be in the spotlight again as a major exhibition of her work opens

in Cardiff. I can't imagine stopping at all. One

just wants to go on, you know, getting more ideas.

Next year Claudia and Gwilym will celebrate 60 years of marriage and

both say they've no intention of packing away their paintbrushes just

yet. Wonderful couple. Let's get the

weather now. Not really a day for painting landscapes Sue.

After a settled few days it's turning more changeable for the end

of the week but it is at least looking largely bright and breezy

tomorrow. And better than today. The satellite picture shows a layer of

cloud across Wales - thick enough to produce rain and drizzle. A very

overcast day. Tonight the rain clears northwards. A few lingering

showers - largely cloudy but turning drier and less murky. It will feel

mild again with light easterly winds. Overnight lows between 11 and

14 Celsius. Tomorrow a grey start with some mist patches. Cloud should

break up to allow bright or sunny spells to develop, especially

through the afternoon. With light winds, it will feel warm in the

sunshine - 19 to 20C for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire.

But a change into the weekend - the chart show low pressure pushing in

these weather fronts by Saturday so turning more unsettled. The detail

could be a bit tricky but it looks like the heaviest showers will be in

the south and west - the brighter breezy conditions across north-east

Wales. So Saturday's looking breezy conditions across north-east

changeable - those outbreaks of showery rain on and off with

variable cloud. The best of the brighter weather probably across

Flintshire and Wrexham and staying quite humid. Blustery showers

possible Saturday night into Sunday, again in the south and west, but it

should turn drier through Sunday. Brighter conditions for most and

quite windy. So mixed fortunes this weekend - breezy, spells of showery

rain and sunny spells too with temperatures slightly above average

for September - and staying mild for the start of next week. Finally

Jason Davies took this picture of the sun setting over Broadhaven in

Pembrokeshire yesterday evening and nearby Whitechurch was the warmest

place in the UK yesterday at 24C. Not quite so picturesque there this

evening. You can send your pictures to us by

email or Twitter, particularly good if they help to tell the weather

story. Keep up to date online. There is a

free BBC weather app. The main news again from the BBC.

April Jones' funeral has taken place in her hometown of Machynlleth. Her

white coffin was taken from her family home to St Peter's Church

where hundreds gathered to remember her. The five-year-old went missing

nearly a year ago. Today, here in this place, she is

linking us all together in grief. Yet, grief goes hand-in-hand with

love. In whatever way we express our grief, it shows a four April. -- our

love for April. We'll have a quick update at 8:00pm.

More news at 10:25pm. But that is Wales Today, from all of us on the

programme, have a good evening.