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Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘Morgues are more entertaining' – ‘Rip off' festival promising ‘high-octane' family fun day slammed as ‘SHAMBLES'
Organisers had described the event as 'unforgettable' NO FUN 'Morgues are more entertaining' – 'Rip off' festival promising 'high-octane' family fun day slammed as 'SHAMBLES' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PUNTERS have slammed a family festival as a 'rip off' after it promised 'high octane' fun, with one critic saying 'morgues were more entertaining'. The 'High Octane Family Fest Weekender' was held at Ffos Las Racecourse in Trimsaran, Carmarthenshire, Wales, over the bank holiday weekend. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Attendees were not happy about the 'High Octane Family Fest Weekender' at Ffos Las Racecourse, saying it was a 'shambles' Credit: MEDIA WALES But attendees have been taking to social media to warn others; one said it was a 'shambles' and told others 'do not attend'. Another claimed they lasted '20 minutes max' before deciding to pack it in and return to their car. One said it was a 'total rip-off'. Robyn Morgan and her family went to the event on May 24. Read More on UK News DRIVE SHOCK Moment drunk Fiat 500 driver smashes into car & flips over during overtake She described the event has 'absolutely shocking,' going on to write: 'Please don't waste your money, we lasted 15 minutes.' Robyn also claimed: "[The event is] not as described, even today when the weather nicer.' She added: "There is one ramp for the BMX bikes. Teacups, trampolines, one ride and a crazy maze. 'One burger van, one sweet stall, one ice cream van, and you can see it all stood in one place. "Balloon baskets were there but not inflating balloons, a character stitch walking round, no music, no atmosphere." She said: "Such a waste of time and wouldn't really keep the kids entertained. Fans slam Glastonbury as 'worst one ever' as full lineup announced 'They shouldn't be able to get away with advertising this and certainly shouldn't be charging for tickets. "I've seen more entertainment at a morgue. It is absolutely shocking." Another attendee on Saturday, who wanted to remain anonymous, told WalesOnline: "I have just returned from the event today at Ffos Las advertising motorbikes, medieval jousting, giant funfair,' adding 'it was not as advertised.' She claimed: "There were three men on BMX bikes - who were pretty good in all honesty - a hot air balloon that didn't go up, five very expensive fairground rides (tea cups, fun house, trampolines, a spinning thing, and two toddler rides). "There was one burger van and a sweet van," which she said were "overpriced" and claimed there was no bar and no live music. "I got super-early bird tickets at £13.45, but some people have paid £30/ticket. I have asked for a refund of my tickets for tomorrow." The event was held across May 24-26, starting at 10am and finishing at 8pm, each day. Organisers held a 'flash sale' on Friday, selling tickets for £3 each but adults who bought their tickets in advance are thought to have paid between £13 and £30 for their entry to the event. High Octane Events had advertised the event as being 'unforgettable'. A post to its social media platforms last week said: "This time next week we'll be putting the finishing touches on a wonderful weekend of hot air ballooning, live music, fairground rides, motorbike shows and more!" The company has now responded to the criticisms with a spokesperson writing on the High Octane Events' Facebook page: "A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the Ffos Las event this weekend! "We truly appreciate your support and energy, it means everything to the High Octane Events team. "Unfortunately, the poor weather impacted our schedule and some parts of the show didn't go ahead as planned. "We completely understand that this may have been disappointing for some of you, and we want to sincerely apologise if the experience fell short of expectations. "If you were unhappy with any part of the event, please don't hesitate to message us directly - we're here to listen and make things right wherever we can. "Thank you again for being part of the High Octane Events community. We're already working hard to make the next one even better!" The Sun Online has contact High Octane Events for further comment.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Morgues are more entertaining' – ‘Rip off' festival promising ‘high-octane' family fun day slammed as ‘SHAMBLES'
PUNTERS have slammed a family festival as a 'rip off' after it promised 'high octane' fun, with one critic saying 'morgues were more entertaining'. The 'High Octane Family Fest Weekender' was held at Ffos Las Racecourse in Trimsaran, Carmarthenshire, Wales, over the bank holiday weekend. 2 Attendees were not happy about the 'High Octane Family Fest Weekender' at Ffos Las Racecourse, saying it was a 'shambles' Credit: MEDIA WALES But attendees have been taking to social media to warn others; one said it was a 'shambles' and told others 'do not attend'. Another claimed they lasted '20 minutes max' before deciding to pack it in and return to their car. One said it was a 'total rip-off'. Robyn Morgan and her family went to the event on May 24. Read More on UK News She described the event has 'absolutely shocking,' going on to write: 'Please don't waste your money, we lasted 15 minutes.' Robyn also claimed: "[The event is] not as described, even today when the weather nicer.' She added: "There is one ramp for the BMX bikes. Teacups, trampolines, one ride and a crazy maze. 'One burger van, one sweet stall, one ice cream van, and you can see it all stood in one place. Most read in The Sun "Balloon baskets were there but not inflating balloons, a character stitch walking round, no music, no atmosphere." She said: "Such a waste of time and wouldn't really keep the kids entertained. Fans slam Glastonbury as 'worst one ever' as full lineup announced 'They shouldn't be able to get away with advertising this and certainly shouldn't be charging for tickets. "I've seen more entertainment at a morgue. It is absolutely shocking." Another attendee on Saturday, who wanted to remain anonymous , told She claimed: "There were three men on BMX bikes - who were pretty good in all honesty - a hot air balloon that didn't go up, five very expensive fairground rides (tea cups, fun house, trampolines, a spinning thing, and two toddler rides). "There was one burger van and a sweet van," which she said were "overpriced" and claimed there was no bar and no live music. "I got super-early bird tickets at £13.45, but some people have paid £30/ticket. I have asked for a refund of my tickets for tomorrow." The event was held across May 24-26, starting at 10am and finishing at 8pm, each day. Organisers held a 'flash sale' on Friday, selling tickets for £3 each but adults who bought their tickets in advance are thought to have paid between £13 and £30 for their entry to the event. High Octane Events had advertised the event as being 'unforgettable'. A post to its social media platforms last week said: "This time next week we'll be putting the finishing touches on a wonderful weekend of hot air ballooning, live music, fairground rides, motorbike shows and more!" The company has now responded to the criticisms with a spokesperson writing on the High Octane Events' Facebook page: "A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the Ffos Las event this weekend! "We truly appreciate your support and energy , it means everything to the High Octane Events team. "Unfortunately, the poor weather impacted our schedule and some parts of the show didn't go ahead as planned. "We completely understand that this may have been disappointing for some of you, and we want to sincerely apologise if the experience fell short of expectations. "If you were unhappy with any part of the event, please don't hesitate to message us directly - we're here to listen and make things right wherever we can. "Thank you again for being part of the High Octane Events community. We're already working hard to make the next one even better!" The Sun Online has contact High Octane Events for further comment. 2 Organisers promised a 'wonderful weekend' Credit: Facebook / High Octane Events
Wales Online
6 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Rogue builder's 'catastrophic' error puts whole street in danger
Rogue builder's 'catastrophic' error puts whole street in danger Harry Nixon, trading as HDH Building and Maintenance of Merthyr Tydfil received fines for carrying out works which did not comply with professional diligence in his trade Merthyr Law Courts (Image: MEDIA WALES ) A builder has been told to pay more than £9,000 in compensation after leaving a gas hob unconnected for over a month and for not adhering to building regulations. On April 9 at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court, Harry Nixon, trading as HDH Building and Maintenance of Merthyr Tydfil, pleaded guilty to offences against trading standards legislation in a case brought by the trading standards service and he received fines for carrying out works which did not comply with professional diligence in his trade, for unregistered gas works, and not adhering to building regulations. He was also ordered to pay £9,400 compensation to the customer. Nixon was contracted to rectify a damp issue along one wall of a kitchen. This escalated to three walls which had plaster removed, damp-proofing applied to the interior of the walls, plaster boarding, and plastering. In the process the kitchen units were removed including a gas hob, which was left disconnected for more than a month as works progressed. The works were never completed because the customer lost confidence with work being done, the last straw being when wet plaster was being painted over. For all your latest Merthyr Tydfil news, sign up to our newsletter here. Article continues below The customer had, within a month, paid £7,500, rising to £9,400, yet after almost two months the work was still not finished. The gas hob and pipework remained disconnected for a further month. A gas safe engineer visiting the property found the pipework left from removing the gas hob had a gas leak and had to be made safe at a further cost to the customer. The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) states that the removal of the gas hob should have been carried out by a qualified Gas Safe-registered engineer, which Nixon was not. The council said that the results could have been catastrophic both for the customer and neighbours. Merthyr Tydfil council building control also inspected the works and found that building regulations had not been adhered to. Merthyr Tydfil's trading standards team leader, Craig Rushton, said: 'Home improvements can be a significant cost for property owners. 'It is important that before you allow works to take place at your property carry out some background checks on your builder. 'You can find information out if the builder claims to be a member of a trade association by checking the register of that trade association. 'If you are having gas works done then then check to see that the business and the engineer are on the Gas Safe Register. 'This can be easily done on the Gas Safe website. 'You can also carry out general searches on the internet. 'Finally ensure you have a contract in writing off your builder.' Councillor Declan Sammon, cabinet member for transformation, governance, and social partnership, said: 'We will continue to protect residents of Merthyr Tydfil from rogue traders during this cost of living crisis and beyond. 'Our trading standards service, where possible, will investigate businesses, especially those who do not comply with the requirements of the Gas Safety Register. Article continues below 'Businesses providing building services to our residents have a duty to provide a fair and honest service.'
Wales Online
17-05-2025
- Wales Online
'My daughter's life has changed completely. She's living in fear' says mum of girl attacked by teens
'My daughter's life has changed completely. She's living in fear' says mum of girl attacked by teens The girl was one of four victims attacked by two teenage girls who made victims kiss their feet before kicking them to the head and body and trying to blackmail them The 14-year-old attackers appeared at Cardiff Youth Court (Image: MEDIA WALES ) The mother of a child viciously assaulted by two young girls in Bridgend has criticised their sentences as "too lenient" and says they should have been jailed. She said her previously outgoing daughter was now "a prisoner in her own home, living in fear" and too scared to go out after being set upon by the pair. The family have even considered moving to England to get away from the situation and are having to pay out £70 a week for private counselling to help the child cope with the trauma of being attacked. "We feel completely let down. My daughter is living frightened," her mother said, "My daughter is not the same as she was. She used to be outgoing and going out. Now she stays in in her room. She feels she is the one who has got the sentence." The attackers, both 14 and from the Bridgend area, but one of whom was just 13 at the time of the offences, both pleaded guilty to one allegation each of blackmail, two allegations of actual bodily harm and two allegations of assault at Cardiff Youth Court. The attacks on four victims took place between March 2 and 4 this year at Brynteg Comprehensive, Bridgend College, Pyle railway station and near to a leisure centre. Appearing for sentencing separately at a hearing at Cardiff Youth Court on May 13 they were considered persistent offenders. Article continues below Both were warned that prison had been an option owing to the level of violence used. Instead, one received a Referral Order and the other a Youth Rehabilitation Order. You can read full details of the attacks and sentences from the court hearing here Restraining orders lasting for four years were also imposed, banning both attackers from contacting any of their four victims, including on social media, or going to their homes. But the victim's mum said her daughter did not feel this protected her sufficiently. Mobile phone footage shown in court showed the attackers repeatedly kicking, punching and hitting their victims to the head, face and body as they yelled and swore at them. They also demanded they kiss their feet and threatened to share video of this on social media unless their victims paid them money. The level of violence was described as "wanton criminality" even by the defence solicitor for the younger of the two attackers. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . But the victim's mum claimed: "The sentence was too lenient because of the level of violence towards these four people. If an adult, or boys, had done that they would have gone to prison." Quoting the magistrate's words to one of the attackers, she added: "You are 14, you can turn your life around, but my daughter's life has changed completely and it does not seem to matter. "They did this and caused this and can now go about - it does not seem right. My daughter is living in fear. She is on edge all the time. She's a prisoner in her own home. "Her friends are supporting her but if she can't go out I am concerned she will get left behind." Neither the four victims nor attackers can be identified for legal reasons because of their ages, meaning the mother also cannot be identified. She believes that the sentences imposed by the court did not send a strong enough message to the defendants, or other young people, that crime is punished. "I thought my daughter would feel better after sentencing but she fears seeing them and bumping into them. I don't know why they are allowed to go free. "My daughter is too scared to go out alone now. She has tried a couple of times to go out but does not go to the places she used to or go shopping, even with friends. "She goes to people's houses when adults are present and not when they are not. That has restricted her life. She feels she is the one being punished and has got the bigger sentence. She does not feel with this sentence that she is protected. "I think the justice process is geared towards the person who did it more than the victims." "As a family our lives have changed. We pay £70 a week for a counsellor for her. The impact on the family is that everything has changed. "My daughter is not the same as she was. She used to be outgoing and going out. Now she stays in in her room. "We have thought about moving schools but she would lose her friends there. We were talking about moving to England to be away from the risk, it has been spoken about. But obviously that's not easy with jobs and things." "We feel let down by everyone." In victim statements read out in court on May 13 three of the victims described being unable to eat or sleep properly since the attacks, feeling too scared to leave their homes or go back to school and college. They said they were "petrified" their assailants would attack them again and described feeling "let down" by the justice system. One had self harmed and taken an overdose after being assaulted, another was diagnosed with PTSD and also concussion and one had bald patches where clumps of hair had been torn out by the attackers. The older of the two assailants was already on a youth referral order at the time of the attacks with a previous conviction for actual bodily harm. The younger received a caution for possession of a knife or bladed article in a public place in 2024, the hearing was told. She was handed an 18-month Youth Rehabilitation Order with an Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Order to include a 30-day activity with supervision and a 9pm to 7am curfew. She was also barred from entering the area where the attacks took place and all education institutions apart from those she attends. She will also have GPS trail monitoring. On top of this a four-year restraining order was imposed banning her from contacting the four victims, including on social media, or going to their homes. Her parent was also ordered to pay all four victims £60 each in compensation on her behalf. The younger of the two was given a Youth Referral Order and restraining orders were imposed in respect of the four victims banning her from contacting them, including on social media, or going to their homes. Her parent was also ordered to pay each of the victims £60 compensation on her behalf. No court costs were imposed on either defendant. Article continues below Sentencing the girls separately, Jane Anning, chair of the bench, warned them that prison had been considered but the court had decided for the next toughest sentences available to them owing to the defendants' ages.
Wales Online
13-05-2025
- Wales Online
Young teenage girls kicked victims in head, punched them and made them kiss their feet
Young teenage girls kicked victims in head, punched them and made them kiss their feet A court heard how victims were left traumatised and living in fear after being viciously attacked by the teenagers at school and college Cardiff Magistrates' Court (Image: MEDIA WALES ) Two 14-year-olds who violently assaulted victims at a school and college in Bridgend and were also found guilty of blackmail and assault have narrowly avoided custody. The girls, both from the Bridgend area, and one of whom was just 13 at the time of the offences, both pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one allegation each of blackmail, two allegations of actual bodily harm and two allegations of assault. Appearing for sentencing separately at a hearing at Cardiff Youth Court on May 13 they were both told prison had been considered owing to the level of violence. The attacks on four victims took place between March 2 and 4 this year at Brynteg Comprehensive, Bridgend College, Pyle railway station and near to a leisure centre. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . One of their victims was pulled to the floor, kicked in the head and face and suffered a bloody nose, swollen ear, bumps to the head concussion and PTSD, the court was told. Another was ordered to kneel and kiss their feet and then kicked in the head and body on the ground while being sworn and screamed at. One of the victims was so traumatised by the attack and threats that they took an overdose and were hospitalised, the court was told. Article continues below In victim statements read out in court three of the victims described being unable to eat or sleep properly since the attacks, feeling too scared to leave their homes or go back to school and college. They said they were "petrified" their assailants would attack them again and described feeling "let down" by the justice system. Neither the accused, nor their victims can be identified because of their ages. The older of the two assailants was already on a youth referral order at the time of the attacks with a previous conviction for actual bodily harm. The younger received a caution for possession of a knife or bladed article in a public place 2024, the hearing was told. Mobile phone footage played to the court showed how they attacked one of their victims in a school corridor, pulling her to the floor, kicking her head, punching her body and face and shouting abuse. Footage also showed a girl made to kneel on the ground at college and kiss her attackers before being kicked, hit and yelled at her, while another video showed the attackers waving their feet in a victim's face and ordering her to kiss them. The victims were threatened with being "battered" and told to pay £60 or videos of them kissing their attackers' feet would be shared on social media. When video was shared one victim felt so embarassed and ashamed that she considered taking her life, Sewak Singh, prosecuting, said. In powerful testimony in person to the court one of the victim's mother's described the impact on her and her family. Fighting back tears she said her daughter has had problems eating, sleeping and socialising since the attack: "She says she does not like being in the house alone and has no doubt (they) would attack her again. She used to be out with friends but not now." Statements from the mothers of two of the other victims were also read out. One said she would never get over seeing footage of her daughter attacked while people stood around and filmed it, doing nothing to help. Another described the trauma of knowing her child had been assaulted in school, where she should have been safe and described how she did not want to go back. One said her daughter had changed and was no longer the person she was before the attack. All spoke of feeling let down by the justice system with their children left too scared to go out alone and in fear of their attackers, The older of the two accused wiped away tears when challenged about how she felt hearing the impact of her crimes. She said she felt "horrible" and was crying because of "everything". Defending her Michael Hall said she had a "turbulent background" but had reflected and shown some remorse and there was "scope for rehabilitation". The younger of the two admitted "I am sorry. The things I have done. I shouldn't have done." Defending her Michael Hall said she was impressionable and had been subject to "malignant peer pressure", but he acknowledged she was guilty of "wanton criminality" and "has to be punished". The older of the two was given an 18-month Youth Rehabilitation Order with an Intensive Supervision and Surveillance Order to include a 30-day activity with supervision and a 9pm to 7am curfew. She was also barred from entering the area where the attacks took place and all education institutions apart from those she attends. She will also have GPS trail monitoring. On top of this a four-year restraining order was imposed banning her from contacting the four victims, including on social media, or going to their homes. Her parent was also ordered to pay all four victims £60 each in compensation on her behalf. Issuing the sentence chair of the bench Jane Anning told her: "We feel these assaults and the victims' ongoing fear of violence mean these offences clearly indicate prison. However, there is a direct alternative to immediate prison and we have decided to take this route - a Youth Rehabilitation Order with iintensive supervision and surveillance - the highest sentence available without sending you straight to prison today." She warned the girl that "because of the level of behaviour prison was a very real option" and warned that should she not comply with the order and restrictions she would be back before the court with more serious implications. The younger of the two was given a Youth Referral Order and restraining orders were imposed in respect of the four victims banning her from contacting them, including on social media, or going to their homes. Her parent was also ordered to pay each of the victims £60 compensation on her behalf. Sentencing the younger of the two the chair of the bench told her the attacks had also caused "severe mental trauma" on the victims and their families. "We feel this is so serious prison is justified. However, you are only 14. We have decided it is a priority to give you every possible chance to put your life on a better path. The choice is yours." No court costs were imposed on either defendant.. Article continues below
