THERE was a cheesy photo finish at the end of some mice racing held at Llandybie Social Club.

Members of the Welsh ladies' fly fishing team staged the novel evening of fund-raising to help fund their trip to an international competition in Ireland next month.

The ladies, of all ages and who come from all over Wales, will compete against other home nation teams at the competition on Lough Caragh, County Kerry.

Team captain Alice Davies said: "A friend of mine organises the mice racing and we thought it would be a good idea.

"The mice are well looked after, and not affected by it — although they can be frustrating when they don't stay on the course!"

A DRINK driver was stopped by police — as he went to buy more alcohol.

Thomas Martins, 25, of Rhondda Street, Swansea, appeared in front of city magistrates and admitted drink-driving. He was found with 93 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 25 micrograms.

Prosecutor Sharon Anderson said police saw his Toyota Aygo drive along St Helen's Road and noticed it was making a strange noise. Suspecting it was a flat tyre, they pulled the car over.

They then noticed Martins smelt of alcohol and he told officers he had been drinking heavily with friends that evening, but told them he had not drunk any more within the last 30 minutes.

He had no previous convictions, the court heard.

Craig Davies, for Martins, said his client admitted he had been drinking and that he had got in his car to go to buy more alcohol.

"There wasn't a good and proper reason for him to drive," said Mr Davies.

Martins was banned from driving for two years, told to complete 100 hours' unpaid work and pay costs of £85.

A DATE for the trial of a student accused of assault has been set.

Jake Williams, 21, of Hartfield Street, Surrey, denies a single charge of assault.

Williams, who lives in Cardiff during term time, has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Loren Evans on January 23.

The offence is said to have taken place in the Hendrefolian student village in Swansea.

His trial in front of city magistrates was set for June 7. He was given conditional bail.

THE council is urging people to take up offers of help to prevent homeless- ness spreading.

Dedicated housing staff say they are on hand to help people experiencing housing or money problems, including rising food and fuel prices.

June Burtonshaw, Swansea Council's cabinet member for place, said: "Our experience is that we can do more to help people if they come to us before rather than after they've been made homeless. So if you think there's a chance you could lose your home, get in touch with Housing Options straight away."

She said staff work closely with organisations provid- ing services to homeless people throughout the year.

Housing Options is based at 17 High Street in Swansea. They can also be reached on 01792 533100 or by email at housing.options@ swansea.gov.uk

THE case of a man accused of harassment has been adjourned.

The case of Ricky Lee Robertson, 23, was due to be in front of city magistrates.

The charge alleges that on March 24 Robertson breached a restraining order by contacting Rachel Alison Grey by telephone and text which he was prohibited from doing under an order made by magistrates in October 2011.

Robertson, of Tower Gardens, Townhill, will next appear at Swansea Magistrates' Court on May 29.

A GUIDED walk will take place at 10am on Wednesday.

The walk around the Clyne Valley will be led by ecologist Dr Dan Foreman looking at ''plants to bats''. Meet at the Railway Inn, Killay.

FRIENDS of a seven-year-old who tragically lost her battle with cancer last year have raised money in her memory.

Friends and family of Charlotte Bragg from Gorseinon finished a fancy dress sponsored walk from Blackpill to Mumbles.

Charlotte died in August from an aggressive form of cancer. She was first diagnosed with soft tissue cancer when she was just 4. After a period in remission the cancer returned in 2011.

Among the group who completed the walk were two of Charlotte's friends Evie Tipler and Kelly Fagg. Around 18 joined in the walk in the afternoon and other walkers had already taken part in an extra, unplanned morning session.

Evie's mum Lynwen said the girls were desperate to get involved to help raise money for the Kids Cancer Charity, formerly known as the Christian Lewis Trust.

"The whole reason we did it was for Charlotte's friends and the children loved being part of it. Especially for Evie and Kelly, they really miss her and they can see everything going on and they want to do something," she said.

As the group completed the walk they were met with donations by passers-by and given an extra boost when Mark, Charlotte's Dad met them in Mumbles.

"People were putting money into the collection buckets all the way along, all the children were telling people why they were doing the work and that Charlotte was their friend," she added.

"There was so much support from so many people and people were throwing money into the buckets," she added.

She said Charlotte's parents wanted to raise as much as possible for the charity which helped them and her daughter.

"This is what Mark and Cecilia wanted. This charity are struggling and they have been fantastic to them.

"They want them to carry on doing what they're doing because they're totally reliant on donations," she said.

She said counting of the total would take place this week ahead of the next event, a charity auction on May 23 at the New Lodge, Gorseinon.

Charlotte was chosen to meet the Queen by the Lord Lieutenant of West Glamorgan, D Byron Lewis, and was accompanied by her parents, brother Connor and aunt Lindsay Anne James.

DETAILS of a £10 million investment in flood and coastal defences for areas across Wales has been announced.

Natural Resources Minister, Alun Davies, revealed the extra funding will support around 1,400 jobs and boost economic growth with an additional £76.5 million funding package for housing, schools and transport, as well as flood protection.

The money will be used to protect homes and businesses across the country.

A total of £7 million will be spent in North Wales, in Colwyn Bay and Mold, with £1 million being used in Borth, Mid Wales.

There will be £2 million of funding to improve existing flood and coastal defence infrastructure across Wales, including projects in Pendine, Llanfair Talhairn, Pontblydden, Ystrad Mynach, Severn Estuary, Ferryside, Bridgend and Talsarnau.

Mr Davies said: "The Welsh Government is committed to managing the risk of flooding across Wales. We can never fully prevent all flooding, but we can manage the risks and reduce the consequences.

WELSH councils should delay implementing new local development plans until new government guidelines on their Welsh language impact are published, Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg has insisted.

Toni Schiavone, the language group's sustainable communities spokesman, says Cymdeithas members will seek meetings with council leaders, chief executives and planning officers to call for the postponement.

Seven local planning authorities have already adopted their plans formally, and it is expected that 10 more will adopt them during 2013.

The pressure group's members will call on the local authorities to postpone their Local Development Plan until a revised document about consideration of the Welsh language is published.

They also want local reports on the state of the Welsh language locally and to set targets to increase the number of Welsh speakers in each community.

Mr Schiavone said: "All this delay in publishing these new guidelines is a mystery.

''It's causing frustration, but most importantly, it is highly damaging to the Welsh language," he added.

MORE than £3 million will be given to projects in Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthen- shire to help families battling poverty.

Communities and Tackling Poverty Minister Huw Lewis has announced that 146 new projects will be created as part of The Flying Start programme to support parents struggling to cope with the pressures of poverty.

Of the £74 million which has been provided by the Welsh Government for the project, families in some of Swansea and Neath Port Talbot most disadvantaged areas will receive £1,240,000 and in Carmarthenshire £1,789,500.

The programme helps families with children aged up to four years old who are living in some of Wales's most disadvantaged communities.

Flying Start gives eligible parents free part-time childcare for two to three-year-olds, parenting support, an enhanced health visitor service and help for early language development.

The scheme aims to support families as they look after their children's health and well-being, working in partnership with primary and community healthcare.

The project already supports 18,000 children, but the Welsh Government hope the new funding will expand this to cover 36,000 children and their families.

Already 140 locations across Wales can access the support, and last month Swansea Council announced they were spending millions of pounds of extra grant funding to expand the programme to Gors primary, Clase primary, Craigfelen primary, YGG Tan-y-Lan, St Helens primary and St Thomas Community Primary School.

Mr Lewis said: "This is about providing superb quality child care and support to those who most need it to the benefit of the whole family, and importantly to allow parents the opportunity to gain new skills and look for work.

"Our efforts to prevent poverty start with targeting investment to give children the best possible start in life with early intervention to make sure that children have the opportunity to learn, develop and play.

"We will expand Flying Start over the next few years to target specific communities where there are high concentrations of children living in income benefit households. We want to provide the best start in life possible for all our children.

''This is a key part of our efforts to help the most vulnerable our society," said Mr Lewis.

PLANS to make a cystic fibrosis drug available to patients in Wales have been welcomed.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford went against recommendations not to approve the drug — Kalydeco — for use in Wales because of its cost last week.

Darren Millar AM, Shadow Minister for Health, has welcomed the news.

He said: "This is a very welcome decision from the Welsh Government. I congratulate everyone who campaigned for the drug to be made available."

Lib Dem AM for South Wales West Peter Black added: "I am pleased that common sense has prevailed in this case and that the minister is also tasking the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer to set up a review of the appraisal process to deal with these new, innovative medicines for rare diseases."

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust had said the 13 affected patients feared they were going to be left with a second class health service if the drug was not approved because of the estimated £180,000 a year cost to each patient.

The genetic disorder damages the lungs and digestive system.

FELINFOEL must be the unluckiest club in the Swalec League after missing out on promotion by virtue of the number of wins.

They finished third in division two west, ending with the same number of points — 68 — as Crymych but missing out after clocking up 13 victories compared with the Pembrokeshire side's 15.

Felinfoel and Crymych were both in action on Saturday. Felinfoel did what they needed to by beating champions Builth Wells 24-0 in Llanelli, their tries scored by wing Elliot Dawe (2), fly-half Aled Roberts and centre Jordan Dunne.

But Crymych also did what they had to, edging a close game at mid-table Maesteg 14-11.

Seven Sisters finished fourth and rounded off with a 25-0 win at home to Dunvant.

They were 18-0 up at the interval and scored tries through wing Anthony Llewellyn (2) and fly-half Kyle Davies, who added two conversions and two penalties.

Waunarlwydd ended the season joint third with Carmarthen Athletic — equal on points and the number of wins — after they defeated second-placed Cwmllynfell 32-17 at Roseland Road.

Waun ran in five tries via full-back Jordan Clayfield, wing Alan Pope, centres David Evans and Dan Fox and scrum-half Lee Evans, who added two conversions and a penalty.

Cwmllynfell responded with tries by wings Bowdy Davies and Trystan Manning and hooker Brian Curtis. Peter Thomas converted one of them. It was 10-10 at half-time.

Loughor went into their game at bottom club Aberavon Quins knowing they were safe from relegation following Skewen's 20-14 defeat at Kenfig Hill on Wednesday night — Skewen and the winless Quins are the two sides relegated to two west.

Loughor, for whom Bonymaen fly-half Richard Cunniffe played on permit, won 48-10, crossing for eight tries via wing Morgan Bryant (2), flanker Joel Thompson, acting skipper and scrum-half Steve Wake, a penalty try, centre Peter Smiriglia and replacement flanker Jonathan Phillips (2). Smiriglia landed four conversions.

In division one west's other games, sixth-placed Kidwelly saw off eighth-placed Llangennech 29-10, and seventh-placed Glynneath defeated Skewen 40-21.

In the Swalec Championship, Tata Steel finished in fourth place following a 42-15 win at mid-table Blackwood. They were only 14-10 up at the break.

They ran in six tries via scrum-half Chris Morgan, centre Steve Andrews, lock Gavin Evans, No. 8 Luke Joseph, replacement No. 8 Robbie Morgan and flanker Gareth Beer.

Full-back Gareth Walters certainly had his kicking boots on — he converted all six tries, several of them from the touchline.

Bonymaen, who weren't in action on Saturday but who lost 16-11 at home to Blackwood last Wednesday, finished the season in 11th place in the 14-team division.

In division five south central, meanwhile, Pontrhydyfen finished second after an 83-7 win at home to Porthcawl to earn themselves a play-off game against the runners-up of division five south east at Llanharan a week tomorrow.

Ponty scored 13 tries, three going to flanker Nick Edwards and two each to wing Tom Frost, No. 8 Craig Cox and flanker Richard Wanklyn.

Lock Chris Hunt, scrum-half Matthew Morgan, centre Garry Vaughan and fly-half Rory Williams also crossed, and Williams kicked nine conversions.

PENLAN wrapped up another great season by securing the division four south west title in their final game of the season and breaking the 100-point barrier.

They beat Bridgend Sports 34-0 at Mynydd Newydd to leave themselves four points clear of second-placed Glyncorrwg, who had kept the title race alive until the last game by beating Penlan 14-8 in the Afan Valley last Wednesday.

It is the second season in a row that Penlan have won promotion since they were given WRU status two years ago.

On Saturday they were 20-0 up at half-time and never looked like not winning.

The club's top try-scorer No. 8 Robert Di'lulio was the man of the match, his hat-trick taking him to 24 tries for the season.

Wing Dafydd Pritchard and replacement flanker Adam Glover also crossed and fly-half Scott Davies landed three conversions and a penalty.

In the only other game in four south west, Nantyffyllon beat Abercrave 31-8 in the Llynfi Valley.

Abercrave finished the season second from bottom, with only Birchgrove below them.

In division three south west, the only game saw Brynaman finish in seventh place after a 25-3 home win over bottom club Aberavon Green Stars, who had only one win all season.

PENYBANC will be promoted from division five south west after two big home wins in four days. On Saturday they beat Crynant 81-5 after Wednesday's 62-10 triumph against Banwen. They finished second in the table behind Cwmgors on 99 points.

Cwmgors had clinched the title last Wednesday when winning 89-7 at Llandybie — they finished on 100 points.

Penybanc ran in 13 tries via wing Luc Jenkins (3), centre Nathan Jenkins (2), prop Rhodri Jones (2), wing Gavin Madge, prop Steffan Charles, scrum-half Matthew Ladd, centre Matthew Brayley, replacement flanker Nathan Chapman and fly-half Matthew Lloyd, who also kicked eight conversions.

Third-placed Cwmtwrch rounded off their season with a 24-17 win at home to Baglan. They scored four tries through No. 8 Jason Aplin, scrum-half Dale Jones, wing Dan Williams and centre Jason Addy.

In the other game, Cwmgwrach beat Llandybie 25-11.

CHAMPIONS Amman United completed a fantastic campaign in division three west with a 54-14 win at bottom club Milford Haven.

They topped the table by 16 points and lost only one game all season.

The Amman had lost 21-20 to Newcastle Emlyn in the Brains SA Bowl final, scoring three tries by Ryan Williams, Stuart Herbert and Tom Davies, with Rhys Thomas adding a penalty and conversion.

Against Milford they ran in 10 tries through skipper Andrew Lacey (4), prop Liam Mangan, replacement forward Ioan Davies, centre Christian Madge, wing Johnny Bevan, flanker and man of the match Dai Matthews, and a penalty try was also awarded.

They take on Cwmllynfell in the CC Evans Cup final at Brynaman on Friday (7pm).

In division four west, mid-table Furnace finished off with a 36-17 home defeat by third-placed Fishguard.

The Llanelli side scored two tries through centres Jonathan Eatley and Jamie Herbert. Fly-half Ashley Powell landed both conversions and a penalty.