These are the stories that were hitting the headlines in the South Wales Guardian 50 years ago on September 24, 1964.

AN Ammanford mum was fined £10 by magistrates for shoplifting "foodstuffs" worth nine shillings from a Swansea store.

Accosted by the store-detective the woman said: “I don’t know what came over me.”

MAGISTRATES agreed to extend the opening hours of the Kings Head in Capel Hendre to 1am for the Victualler Association's Annual Ball.

Not in favour was the Police Chief Inspector, who said: "“I only know of one other application being approved - and that was till the silly hour of 12.15am. This is nonsense."

A DELIGHTED Ammanford dog-lover scooped the award for the Variety Never to Have Won a Prize - for the third year running.

Other categories at the town’s annual dog show included Any Toy Dog or Poodle, Any Variety of Corgi and Any Variety Handled By a Lady.

AN Ammanford Technical College teacher was forced to transfer his sons from their Welsh-medium education at Ysgol Betws to a French-speaking school when he took them on a three-month holiday to Syria and Damascus.

“It was no great hardship," he said. "My boys now converse in three languages. Besides, my wife is French.”

DURING a public meeting into Post Office opening hours, Glanaman's postmaster requested an earlier closing time of 3.30pm.

The plea was agreed, on the basis, the the postmaster knew better than most "what use was made of his office".