Aberedw YFC has won a brand-new storage shipping container to help tackle rural crime in the local area.

The club, made up of members aged 10 to 28, entered a Christmas competition run by Aberystwyth-based Lion Containers. They were selected as winners out of thousands of entries from 155 clubs across Wales.

The container was delivered last week, and members gathered to welcome it with excitement.

Rural crime, and the cost to farmers affected, continues to rise at a worrying rate. A Rural Crime Report published by NFU Mutual in 2024 estimated that the cost of rural crime increased by 4.3 per cent year-on-year in 2023, up to a total £52.8m.

Evidence indicates that organised criminal gangs are increasingly targeting farmyards and fields, seeking to capitalise on rising inflation and the continued demand in both domestic and international resale markets.

Howard Adair, of Lion Containers, said: “We have noticed a steep increase in the demand for secure farm storage, as a result of the unfortunate rise in rural crime.

“As a Welsh company based only up the road in Aberystwyth, we know first-hand how vital the next generation of farmers are to this country’s agriculture. That is why we wanted to support Wales YFC by offering a winning club the opportunity to access super secure storage for free.

“We were astounded by the number of entries to our competition - never did we predict we’d receive thousands of applications. Congratulations to the winning club, Aberedw!”

During the delivery of the shipping container, Wales YFC Chair Dewi Davies said: “Wales YFC are very grateful to Lion Containers for the opportunity to offer this prize to one of our clubs. We’re very grateful for their support, and a very big congratulations to Aberedw club for winning this shipping container!”