Maggie John

A police helicopter was deployed twice to support Gwent Police during reports of violent disorder on Mill Road in Pontnewynydd near Pontypool. Four men were arrested, firearms officers and the National Police Air Service attended, and three men were taken to hospital, with two in critical condition. Police are seeking CCTV, dashcam footage and witnesses from the area between 7:00 and 7:30 p.m.

Chepstow Leisure Centre’s swimming pool was temporarily closed on July 31 because of a technical fault in the pool plant system. Specialist repairs were being carried out to protect customers and staff, with Monmouthshire County Council expecting the pool to reopen later that day. During the closure, swimmers could use facilities in Monmouth, Caldicot and Abergavenny, and the council said it would provide updates when the pool was safe to reopen.

A jet ski drifted onto the hazardous Hen and Chickens rocks near Beachley after experiencing engine problems. Severn Area Rescue Association crews, working with HM Coastguard Chepstow, helped the rider safely reach shore and later launched a lifeboat when the tide rose sufficiently to tow the jet ski back to the slipway.