Wales News

The new Clinical Research Treatment Unit at Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff was officially launched today by Health Minister Mark Drakeford.

Patients will have access to the latest clinical trials for cancer drugs, and say the centre has proved a 'lifeline' in their battles against the illness.

• Health
• Cardiff
• Mark Drakeford

Mark Bridger has been asked by the prosecution whether inviting an 11-year-old girl for a sleepover is 'appropriate'.

Mr Bridger answered that he was asking the girl for a sleepover with his daughter, which had happened 'many times before.'

He added: "It was a sleepover with my daughter. No more."

Elwen Evans QC, prosecuting, asked Mr Bridger if he had ever had a sleepover with an 11-year-old girl when there was no adult female present.

He replied that he hadn't.

The trial was adjourned until 9.30am tomorrow.

• UK

Mark Bridger has agreed with the prosecution that he viewed images of young girls on his computer - hours before April disappeared.

Mr Bridger said he 'does not know why' he had a picture of one six-year-old girl saved to his computer, but told the court: "She's a friend of my daughter's."

The prosecution questioned him about a folder saved on his computer, which the court was told contained images of clothed young girls, along with images of "pornographic abuse."

Mr Bridger said that was because he had not got round to 'sorting' the pictures, adding: "I don't go in them every day. I was not a regular viewer of these pictures. Very rarely did I go in them."

• UK

The prosecution has asked Mark Bridger why he, as a 45-year-old man, had invited a 15-year-old girl to be his 'friend' on Facebook.

Mr Bridger replied that he has known the girl since she was a child, and that she had been around to his house to see his stepson. He said he also knows her family.

Mold Crown Court has also been shown pictures of murder victims saved to Mark Bridger's computer.

The defendant said he has read many stories of crimes over the years.

Asked by the prosecution whether every time he reads a story he saves the picture, or whether it is only when it is a 'pretty girl', he answered: "No."

Mr Bridger said there are a large amount of pictures on his computer which he has 'never viewed' or did not know were there.

He said he accidentally downloaded them and does 'not know how that happened'.

• UK

Mark Bridger has admitted to searching the term 'naked young 5 year old girls' online - but has told the court it was a mistype, and that it should have been '15'.

He said he had typed in certain search terms to try to better understand his daughter's development as she grew older.

After showing the jury another search, 'nudism 5 year old', Elwen Evans QC asked: "Your explanation for that is the same typo, is it?"

Mr Bridger replied "No" and told the court that he had been looking for: "Pictures that were not offensive to my son and daughter of body structure and development."

His explanation for another internet search was that he wanted to find the postal address for the companies involved to protest to them.

Miss Evans suggested Mr Bridger was painting 'a complete fantasy' as to the reason behind his search terms.

Asked outright, Mr Bridger denied being a paedophile.

• UK

The horrific events in Woolwich yesterday will be condemned by communities across Wales.

I have today spoken to Brigadier Napier, the Army Commander for Wales, to express solidarity with the Armed Services and to send our deepest condolences to the family of the serviceman killed yesterday.

As Chair of the Faith Communities Forum, I am proud that Wales is a multi-cultural society that enjoys the experiences and vibrancy that this brings to our country.

Now is not the time to point fingers and play into the hands of these isolated attackers, but is a time to build on the strong unity of our communities and defy the very nature of these barbaric attacks.

• UK
• First Minister
• Carwyn Jones