South Wales Evening Post

City Venue Presents Festive Music Treats

TICKETS are selling out fast for a series of concerts at Swansea's Brangwyn Hall. Messiah is returning on Saturday at 7.30pm to mark the 250th anniversary of Handel's death.

Cool Message for Kids On Ice

A GROUP of schoolchildren have been getting in a spin on the ice - - all in the name of road safety. The year one pupils from Llangyfelach Primary School were the lucky winners of a road safety colouring competition organised by Swansea Council's road safety team. And their prize was a VIP session at the Waterfront Winterland ice rink alongside Rocky the Road Safety Rooster.

Pension Fund Praised

A MULTI-MILLION pound fund that looks after the pensions of tens of thousands of council workers has been named the best in Britain. The City and County of Swansea pension fund that looks after the pensions of current and retired staff at Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Councils scooped Fund of the Year in the Pounds 750 million to Pounds 2 billion bracket at the LGC Finance Awards.

Thief Linked to Break-in by Footprint Left at Store

A MAN was charged with burgling a Swansea pharmacy after scientists discovered that a mark left on the floor had been caused by one of his shoes. Matthew Ace was among three people who smashed their way into Lloyds Pharmacy in Sway Road, Morriston, one night last September, a judge was told.

Serene Seren Defeat Union

SEREN Coch's rich vein of form continued in division four as they saw off Union Rangers 2-1 at Banfields. Seren Coch went 1-0 up with Joel Blaydon capitalising on a poorly defended throw-in.

Athletic Go Goal Crazy

YNYSTAWE Athletic went goal crazy in division three against Wales Tartan, their 6-2 victory leaving them needing just four more wins to clinch promotion. Hafod Rangers, still chasing back-to-back promotions, thumped St Joseph's 5-1. Dean Squires (2), Ashleigh Hole, Neil Mansell and Matthew Martin got the goals.

Hopkins Puts Crc On Course ; Division 2

CRC Rangers remain in pole position in division two after beating Penclawdd 4-0. Jamie Hopkins (2), Kevin Melville and Jordan Hopkins got the goals for the runaway leaders. Carreg Wen are hot on their heels after defeating Brunswick 6-1. Liam Stiens helped himself to a hat-trick, while Lee Stereo and Steven Gardener with a penalty were also on target.

Free-Scoring Dockers Keep Pressure On at the Summit ; Local Soccer Cwmfelin Feel Heat Against in-Form Side Pic-Up Spares Swansea League

DIVISION ONE Swansea Dockers..................... 3 Cwmfelin Press ......................... 1 SWANSEA Dockers, who have no trouble scoring goals at home this season, secured a win that puts them into third spot. The move of the game resulted in Dockers going 1-0 up when Raymond Alli finished an excellent move involving Jordan Miers and Kyle Morgan.

Huge Shock As Ragged Crash Out of Cup ; West Wales Intermediate Cup Round 3

Narberth .................................................. 3 Ragged School ....................................... 2 IN possibly the shock result of the competition so far, Ragged School -- winners of the competition on six occasions -- went down to a side lying in mid-table in the Pembrokeshire League. Ragged had keeper Richard Evans to thank for keeping them in this tie.

Fast Cat Ferry Gets Makeover Ahead of Its Maiden Voyage

THE first Swansea to Ilfracombe ferry in the Fast Cat service's fleet has been delivered -- and is already getting a lick of paint. It is being transformed with the bright yellow Fast Cat livery and will start taking passengers from Swansea to Ilfracombe by next spring.

House Prices Down

Building for Top Awards

A Third of Experts Think Economy Will Improve Next Year

ONLY a third of marketing experts in Wales think the economic outlook will improve in the coming year, according to a new survey. The Chartered Institute of Marketing's Autumn Marketing Trends Survey shows marketers in Wales are significantly more gloomy about the future than colleagues in the rest of the UK, with one in five actually expecting the economy to deteriorate over the next 12 months.

Surveyor Made Chair of Wales Organisation

A SURVEYOR for Swansea Council has been made chair of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (Rics) in Wales. Valuation and estate management surveyor Robert Morrell is currently in charge of Swansea Council's portfolio of property, including a wide variety of office, industrial, retail, leisure and residential investment.

Flood Help Drive

THE Environment Agency Wales (EAW) is launching a new drive to get people to register for its flood warning service. The free service provides advance warning of flooding to those at risk, via telephone, mobile, email, text message or fax.

Take Punt On Snow

THE odds have been slashed on our chances of a white Christmas. Bookmakers William Hill have given odds of 5-1 for snow in South Wales on Christmas day.

Field Hospital Ready to Open Up for Duty

AN award-winning field hospital will again be in place to patch up festive revellers in Swansea's city centre. The plans have been drawn up by the Welsh Ambulance Service in a drive to ensure Christmas is remembered for all the right reasons by party-goers.

Book Launch Hailed a Hit

AN historical novel has been launched at a Port Talbot bookshop. Morgana -- part 1, by local author Anne Phillips, was unveiled at the Gateway bookshop.

Lives to Be Saved by Text Scheme

LIFE-SAVING text messages will be at people's fingertips this Christmas warning them of the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia. The scheme is being made available through the Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF), as the highest number of cases of the disease is usually recorded around Christmas and New Year.

Decking Hopes