A group of Euro-MPs tried to bring back “uniform standardisation parameters”, forbidding the sale of straight bananas and curly cucumbers among other items.

But the proposal was defeated in the European Parliament, amid arguments that it would increase food wastage.

Read the Full Story on BBC News here

Welsh designers are making a strong showing with show gardens designed by some of the country’s leading gardening talents. Confirmed show gardens include one from South Glamorgan-based Michele Fitzsimmons and Sara Bentley. ‘Eats Shoots and Leaves: A Permaculture Garden in April’ is a garden based on the main themes of permaculture: productivity, lower maintenance, multi-functionalism, use of local resources and biodiversity.

Last year’s Gold medal winner Anthea Guthrie will also be at the show with ‘Slugger Off’ – a garden resistant to slugs. Another highlight is a garden from a Category B local prison in Bridgend – HMP & YOI Parc. The prison’s horticulture team is designing a show garden called ‘Choices’ based on the choices made by individuals while incarcerated. A water feature using stepping stones will symbolise personal journeys and after the show the entire garden will be rebuilt within the internal grounds of the prison.

Doctor Who’s Tardis will also be touching down at the show, with the ‘Garden in Time’ garden featuring a time travel theme. Much of the BBC series has been filmed in Cardiff and this is the perfect chance for those who missed the garden’s debut at the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show to enjoy the garden.

Visitors can also sample the true taste of Wales in the Experience Wales marquee which will once again filled with the very best Welsh food, drink and crafts. Other highlights at the show include the Interactive Allotment which returns by popular demand. Nature trails, street entertainers and live music will also be on hand to keep the whole family entertained.

He was seen to flick the cigarette butt out of his van window, landing himself a £75 fixed penalty notice for littering.

However, when he failed to pay that fine, the matter was taken to court, leading to his financial penalty being increased to £270.

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council enforcement officers were on duty when Mr.Howard was seen to throw the butt from his Astra van window on the A4059 near Abercynon.

A trace on the number plate revealed the vehicle was registered to his works, which, in turn, provided the name and address of the driver who was in the van that day.

This lead to paperwork and the fixed penalty notice being sent to Mr Howard’s home address of Eden Thorpe, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, under the Environmental Protection Act

The fine was not paid and the matter was heard at Merthyr Magistrates’ Court on November 10, where Mr Howard was found guilty of the offence in his absence and fined £175, as well as being ordered to pay £80 costs and a victim surcharge of £15.

The court gave him 28 days to pay.

Grandmother Janet Jones from Graigwen is a keen recycler of household waste and news that Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s innovative new food waste collection service was coming to her community really brightened her day.

Janet, who is the Vice President of Pontypridd’s Women’s Institute, has made it one of life’s ambitions to encourage more people to recycle their household rubbish and she thinks the food waste recycling service is a major step forward in reducing the quantity of rubbish sent to landfill.

In December she will lead a Plastic Bag Free Day in Pontypridd town centre where she will encourage all shop owners to refuse their customers from using carrier bags for their shopping.

“This is a very important subject and I can’t understand why even more residents of Rhondda Cynon Taf are not recycling their rubbish – it’s such a simple and effective thing to do,” she explained.

“The food waste caddies are excellent. The lid closes tightly so there’s no chance of any nasty smells and you an just put it out with the rest of your weekly kerbside recycling bags.”

Residents of all ages in Rhondda Cynon Taf are continuing the war against waste but the need is greater than ever to reduce the amount sent to landfill or local authorities will face massive monetary fines from the government.

With ready-made costumes available in many stores, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is challenging people to go back to basics and think about creating their own original Hallowe’en outfits using materials they already have.

So whether it’s a witch’s cape made from an old skirt or piece of fabric, a ghost outfit from an old

bed-sheet or curtain, or even a pumpkin outfit made by customising a big cardboard box, now’s the time to get creative with the unwanted materials lying around your home.

Cabinet Member for Frontline Services Cllr Anthony Christopher said: “Recycling is one of our top priorities and although we are now one of the top authorities in Wales in this field, there is still a long way to go.

“Everyone can help ensure that we reach significant recycling targets by 2010 and events such as Hallowe’en are an ideal opportunity to think green and encourage people to have a go at making their own costumes.

“The benefits don’t just end at doing your bit for the environment – not only will your costume look much more individual but your wallet will also feel the benefit.

“Although it may seem a small thing to do, actions as simple as making a costume from existing materials can help make a big difference and reduce waste.”

For more information on recycling and how you can work to protect the environment, contact Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s waste awareness team on 01443 494700 or visit www.rhondda-cynon-taff.gov.uk

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has announced its support for the All Wales Healthy Options Award and is inviting local businesseswith a Welsh Food Hygiene Certificate to rise to the challenge.

The Healthy Options Award is a scheme that aims to provide tasty food that has been prepared in a healthy way using good food hygiene standards in a healthy environment.

Participants can secure a bronze, silver or gold awards and Rhondda Cynon Taf already boasts a selection of accredited venues.

Cllr Mike Forey, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, said: “Healthy Options was officially launched at the Big Bite festival in Ynysangharad Park, where we were lucky to obtain the views of residents and consumers on a number of food issues.

“A staggering 76 per cent of those questioned said they looked for healthier options when eating out and 90 per cent said they would like to see more healthy options.

“This shows there is a real market and demand for healthy, tasty food that has been prepared to the highest-possible standards.

“The aims of the Healthy Options scheme reflect the ethos of Environmental Health and Food Standards and we are really looking forward to receiving applications from across the county and celebrating with our businesses as they attain bronze, silver or even gold accreditation in this prestigious scheme.”

Julie Barratt, Director of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, which runs the Healthy Options Awards, added: “The All Wales Healthy Options Award is an important and useful mechanism for making selecting healthy foods an easier option.

“We all know it can be difficult to identify healthy food choices when faced with a wide selection of prepared food and how easy it is for people who want to eat healthily to be discouraged.

“Rhondda Cynon Taf’s Food Standards and Farm Enforcement Team are to be congratulated for taking this scheme forward in their county, which must be of benefit to residents and businesses alike.”

More information on the scheme can be obtained from www.cieh-cymruwales.org or to take part in the award contact Helen Walters on 01443 425777.

Businesses in RCT that already have Healthy Options Awards include:

Village Kitchen, Nantgarw (bronze)

Dine in Style, Pontyclun (bronze)

Just Because Coffee and Gift Shop, Pontyclun (bronze)

Esis, Nantgarw (bronze)

Qualtech, QED Centre, Treforest (bronze)

Learning Curve Coffee and Craft Shop, Talbot Green (silver)

The letter criticises the chain for using Indiana Jones posters, packaging and toys to promote its Kids Menu. The promotion comes just months after the high street giant signed a pledge that purported to cease all advertising to children on TV, in print or through the internet. The campaign is calling on Burger King to end its practice of using film tie-ins to promote its brand to kids.

Burger King was found to be giving away one of eight Indiana Jones themed toys with every purchase from its kids menu. This is despite the fact that in December 2007, Burger King was one of eleven food companies which signed the EU pledge, committing itself to “change…food and beverage advertising to children in support of parental efforts to promote healthy lifestyles”.

Toys include Boulder Escape Indy; Stunt Jump Indy; the Tricky Treasure and the Temple of Mystery.

Jackie Schneider, mother of three and founder of Merton Parents for Better Food in Schools, said “This deal is a seedy attempt by Burger King to appeal directly to our kids to repeatedly visit Burger King, and undermines parental attempts to encourage a balanced diet.”

This shameless attempt to cash in on the success of the Indiana Jones film to sell burgers to children is completely inconsistent with Burger King’s claims to support health. Once again, the food industry has shown that they cannot be trusted to self-regulate.

The letter, and pictures of Burger King’s Indiana Jones burger bag, are available at www.sustainweb.org/news.php?id=217

The Cwm Ogwr Fach section of the Celtic Trail between Tonyrefail and Blackmill was officially opened by Bridgend AM Carwyn Jones.

The attractive traffic-free route near the entrance to Lakeside Farm Restaurant on the A4093 forms part of a trail stretching across the breadth of Wales.

The five-mile section follows the former railway line and parish road, and prevents walkers and cyclists having to drop onto the busy A4093 to continue along the Celtic Trail.

The scheme is part of the Celtic Trail Phase 2 Project funded through the Welsh European Funding Office.

At a Walking and Cycling and Conference in Cardiff, the Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, Jane Davidson, said the Welsh Assembly Government would be investing £250,000 to train more than 100 instructors to teach the new standards across Wales.

The aim is to increase the number of qualified instructors that can deliver cycle training to a consistent standard that prepares children and adults to cycle on today’s roads.   Ms Davidson said:

The Welsh Assembly Government is committed to getting more people to cycle – as a form of transport; as a means of becoming more physically active; and as a way of getting out and enjoying our countryside.

We all need to reduce our carbon footprint, and cycling can help to make a real difference here – especially since the majority of car journeys are less than 5 miles long. With the cost of motoring on the rise, cycling is a cheap, healthy, and sustainable means of transport.

So I’m delighted to announce today this new initiative which the Assembly Government is funding this year to encourage more people to cycle.

The Cycle Training National Standards have already been adopted by a small number of local authorities in Wales, but the new money and the partnership with CTC – the UK’s national cyclists’ organisation – will help ensure coverage across Wales.

Working with the CTC Charitable Trust and the Sports Council, the £250,000 funding over three years will be used to get the National Standards adopted across Wales alongside the successful Bikeability brand.

CTC Director Kevin Mayne said:

We call Bikeability cycling proficiency for the 21st Century. It gives parents and children the confidence to make their daily journeys by bike under real conditions. We are delighted that the Welsh Assembly is encouraging more people to cycle. The funding will also enable us to employ a Cycle Training Development Officer who will be dedicated to supporting all the providers of cycling activities in Wales as they get more people on their bikes.

Ms Davidson said:

CTC estimate that around 10% of year 6 pupils in Wales receive some cycle training, but rarely is this undertaken on roads. We want to see this changed dramatically through a programme of work to get over 100 instructors trained in the National Standards who will then provide appropriate cycle training to schools and to adults. A new project officer is also being recruited to help co-ordinate this work.