Issue 152

Welsh News: Issue 152

12th February 2007

News in brief from around the country. In this issue: a woman gives birth to her sister's baby, plans to build flats on graves and snow causes major disruption across the country.

Ultimate sisterly love

A woman from Swansea gave birth to her sister's baby after a cancer operation left her without the opportunity of bearing her own offspring. Angela Strannigan, 38, was advised by doctors to have a hysterectomy to reduce the cancer after hormone treatment failed. Lisa Mainwaring, 35, volunteered to surrogate for her sister after bearing two children of her own.

Mother's 'no sex' claims in court

Jayne Taleb from Cardiff was taken to court after claiming that the lack of physical intimacy in her relationship with her children's father meant she was practically a single mum. After claiming £40,000 as a single parent she was fined by the courts the sum of £60,000.

Promise to the dying

Two sisters were asked by their dying best friend of 15 years to take into their care her two boys upon her death a full ten months before she was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Caroline Wagstaff, from Sully in the Vale of Glamorgan, asked the sisters Sarah Cowley and Rachel McCarthy as she had no immediate family in the UK after her husband had died three years previously. The sisters are now taking steps to adopt the two orphaned boys James, 11 and brother Aneurin, 8.

Flat plan on graves

A village in Wrexham have protested at plans to build eight luxury flats and a car park on top of the newly demolished Rehoboth Chapel in Coedpoeth. After planning permission was granted a small number of families requested that relatives' graves were exhumed. However the majority of the graves remain untouched and have been left on the construction site with instructions that they are not to be disturbed.

Snow causes major disruption

Snow fell over large parts of Wales last Wednesday night, leading to over 700 school closures.

The Met Office issued a severe weather warning, saying some areas could eventually have up to 15cm of snow.

Bus and train services were disrupted and Cardiff International Airport's runway was closed temporarily, delaying many rugby fans' flights to Edinburgh.

The south Wales valleys, parts of Pembrokeshire and the Brecon Beacons were among the most affected areas. Sennybridge in the Brecon Beacons received 7cm of snow during Wednesday night

Waterfront Online