Royal Mail Staff Evacuated After Fire

Around 150 Royal Mail staff have been evacuated after a fire broke out at a Cardiff sorting office. It is believed the fire started in a loading bay. Some vans were damaged, but there were no injuries. The fire broke out at about 8.45am on Monday. Royal Mail said customers in the CF10, CF11 and small parts of CF23 and CF24 postal areas will have their mail delivered as soon as post men are able to get into the building again.

Man Guilty Of Drug Dealing

A man has been found guilty of dealing drugs in Fraserburgh. Gary Lawson, 45, used addicts as runners to supply heroin and cocaine in the port between January and April this year. He had earlier been freed from court on bail. Judge Lord Kinclaven told Lawson, at the High Court in Edinburgh, jail was inevitable. Referring to the addicts he used as runners, he said: "It was under your directions that they supplied other users in the Fraserburgh area. They supplied the drugs and brought money back to you."

Dignity Award Launched In Brighton

The first ever award which recognises people who treat patients with dignity and respect and who provide outstanding care, has been launched today by Sir Michael Parkinson and Care Services Minister Phil Hope. The People's Award for Dignity in Care is open to everyone - everyone in Brighton is invited to nominate individuals or teams who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to improve patient dignity in care. Local nominees will be put forward for the nine regional awards and one overall winner will then be chosen by a panel of national judges. The number of Dignity Champions across the country has risen to more than 3,000 - with more than 450 in the South East alone. Dignity Champions, who include frontline staff, MPs and, most famously, Michael Parkinson, are volunteers who commit to make a difference to the way people are cared for.

Community Rail - New Life For Local Lines

The rail service on the North Staffordshire Line, between Crewe and Derby, has been designated as a community rail service, Minister of State for Transport Andrew Adonis announced today. The designated service allows for a more flexible approach to be adopted by the train operating company (East Midlands Trains), working alongside the local community rail partnership. This enables them to manage the service with greater emphasis on meeting local needs. Together they will continue to look for ways to increase patronage and improve the service.

Care Home Safety In The Spotlight

Safety at care homes in Wales is the subject of a free event which will be launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in North Wales later this week. Care homeowners and managers from across North Wales will attend the Safety and Health Awareness Day in Ruthin Castle, the first of four seminars being held during November and December. The events follow a series of inspections on care homes across Wales carried out by HSE earlier this year. A total of 28 homes were visited and inspectors issued 31 improvements notices.

(JM/KMcA)