/* The Vale Ledger — denbighbiz.co.uk
   County business gazette for Denbighshire and the Vale of Clwyd.
   Palette: deep slate ink, slate blue-grey, daffodil yellow,
   warm paper cream, oxblood leather detail. Prefix vl-. */

:root {
  --vl-ink: #26313b;
  --vl-slate: #4a5a68;
  --vl-slate-soft: #6b7a87;
  --vl-paper: #f7f1e3;
  --vl-paper-deep: #efe5d0;
  --vl-daffodil: #d9a514;
  --vl-daffodil-soft: #f2dfa8;
  --vl-oxblood: #6b2d26;
  --vl-rule: #c9bda1;
  --vl-rule-dark: #8a7d5f;
  --vl-serif: "Iowan Old Style", "Palatino Linotype", Palatino, Georgia, serif;
  --vl-sans: ui-sans-serif, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
}

* { box-sizing: border-box; }
html { -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; }
body {
  margin: 0;
  background: var(--vl-paper);
  color: var(--vl-ink);
  font-family: var(--vl-serif);
  font-size: 1.0625rem;
  line-height: 1.65;
}
img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; display: block; }
a { color: var(--vl-oxblood); text-decoration-thickness: 1px; text-underline-offset: 2px; }
a:hover { color: var(--vl-ink); }

.vl-wrap { max-width: 68rem; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 1.25rem; }
.vl-skip {
  position: absolute; left: -9999px; top: 0;
  background: var(--vl-ink); color: var(--vl-paper); padding: .5rem 1rem; z-index: 50;
}
.vl-skip:focus { left: 0; }

/* ---- masthead ---- */
.vl-mast {
  border-top: 6px double var(--vl-ink);
  border-bottom: 3px double var(--vl-rule-dark);
  background: var(--vl-paper-deep);
}
.vl-mast__row {
  display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: space-between;
  gap: 1rem; padding: .9rem 1.25rem .7rem; flex-wrap: wrap;
}
.vl-brand { display: flex; align-items: baseline; gap: .8rem; text-decoration: none; color: var(--vl-ink); }
.vl-brand__mark {
  font-family: var(--vl-serif); font-weight: 700; font-size: 1.5rem;
  color: var(--vl-paper); background: var(--vl-oxblood);
  padding: .1rem .55rem; border: 2px solid var(--vl-ink); border-radius: 2px;
}
.vl-brand__name {
  font-size: 1.65rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: .02em;
  font-variant: small-caps; line-height: 1;
}
.vl-brand__tag {
  display: block; font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .72rem;
  letter-spacing: .14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--vl-slate);
  margin-top: .3rem;
}
.vl-mast__date {
  font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .72rem; letter-spacing: .12em;
  text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--vl-slate); white-space: nowrap;
}

/* ---- nav ---- */
.vl-nav { border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vl-rule); background: var(--vl-paper); }
.vl-nav ul {
  list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap;
  max-width: 68rem; margin: 0 auto; padding: 0 1.25rem;
}
.vl-nav li { border-left: 1px solid var(--vl-rule); }
.vl-nav li:first-child { border-left: 0; }
.vl-nav a {
  display: block; padding: .55rem .9rem; font-family: var(--vl-sans);
  font-size: .8rem; letter-spacing: .08em; text-transform: uppercase;
  color: var(--vl-ink); text-decoration: none;
}
.vl-nav a:hover { background: var(--vl-daffodil-soft); }
.vl-nav a[aria-current="page"] { background: var(--vl-ink); color: var(--vl-paper); }
.vl-nav__toggle, .vl-nav__handle { display: none; }

/* ---- kickers / headlines ---- */
.vl-kicker {
  font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .72rem; font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .16em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--vl-oxblood);
  margin: 0 0 .5rem;
}
.vl-standfirst {
  font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.55; color: var(--vl-slate); max-width: 46rem;
}
h1, h2, h3 { font-family: var(--vl-serif); line-height: 1.18; color: var(--vl-ink); }

/* ---- hero ---- */
.vl-hero {
  border-bottom: 3px double var(--vl-rule-dark);
  padding: 2.5rem 0 2rem;
  background:
    linear-gradient(180deg, var(--vl-paper-deep) 0%, var(--vl-paper) 100%);
}
.vl-hero__grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1.05fr .95fr; gap: 2.5rem; align-items: center; }
.vl-hero h1 { font-size: clamp(1.9rem, 3.4vw, 2.7rem); margin: .4rem 0 .8rem; }
.vl-hero__deck { font-size: 1.1rem; color: var(--vl-slate); margin: 0 0 1.3rem; }
.vl-hero__fig { margin: 0; border: 1px solid var(--vl-rule-dark); padding: .5rem; background: #fff; }
.vl-hero__fig img { border: 1px solid var(--vl-rule); }
.vl-hero__fig figcaption {
  font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .72rem; color: var(--vl-slate);
  padding-top: .45rem; letter-spacing: .02em;
}
.vl-btn {
  display: inline-block; font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .8rem; font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .08em; text-transform: uppercase; text-decoration: none;
  padding: .6rem 1.1rem; border: 2px solid var(--vl-ink); margin-right: .6rem;
}
.vl-btn--solid { background: var(--vl-ink); color: var(--vl-paper); }
.vl-btn--solid:hover { background: var(--vl-oxblood); border-color: var(--vl-oxblood); color: #fff; }
.vl-btn--ghost { color: var(--vl-ink); background: transparent; }
.vl-btn--ghost:hover { background: var(--vl-daffodil-soft); color: var(--vl-ink); }
.vl-cta { margin: 0; }

/* ---- sections / bands ---- */
.vl-band { padding: 2.4rem 0; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vl-rule); }
.vl-band--deep { background: var(--vl-paper-deep); }
.vl-band--ink { background: var(--vl-ink); color: var(--vl-paper); }
.vl-band--ink h2, .vl-band--ink h3 { color: var(--vl-paper); }
.vl-band--ink .vl-standfirst { color: var(--vl-paper-deep); }
.vl-band--ink .vl-kicker { color: var(--vl-daffodil); }
.vl-band > .vl-wrap > h2 { font-size: 1.55rem; margin: 0 0 .6rem; }

/* ---- departments index (ledger table) ---- */
.vl-depts { list-style: none; margin: 1.4rem 0 0; padding: 0; counter-reset: dept; }
.vl-dept {
  display: grid; grid-template-columns: 3rem 10rem 1fr auto; gap: 1.2rem;
  align-items: baseline; padding: .85rem 0;
  border-top: 1px solid var(--vl-rule); counter-increment: dept;
}
.vl-dept:last-child { border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vl-rule); }
.vl-dept__no::before {
  content: counter(dept, decimal-leading-zero);
  font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: 1rem; font-weight: 700; color: var(--vl-daffodil);
  -webkit-text-stroke: .5px var(--vl-ink);
}
.vl-dept__name { font-weight: 700; font-size: 1.05rem; }
.vl-dept__name a { color: var(--vl-ink); text-decoration: none; border-bottom: 2px solid var(--vl-daffodil); }
.vl-dept__name a:hover { color: var(--vl-oxblood); }
.vl-dept__note { margin: 0; color: var(--vl-slate); font-size: .95rem; }
.vl-dept__count {
  font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .72rem; letter-spacing: .1em;
  text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--vl-slate-soft); white-space: nowrap;
}

/* ---- cards ---- */
.vl-cards {
  list-style: none; margin: 1.4rem 0 0; padding: 0;
  display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fill, minmax(15.5rem, 1fr)); gap: 1.3rem;
}
.vl-card {
  background: #fff; border: 1px solid var(--vl-rule);
  border-top: 3px solid var(--vl-daffodil); display: flex; flex-direction: column;
}
.vl-card__fig { margin: 0; }
.vl-card__fig img { width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 7/4; object-fit: cover; }
.vl-card__body { padding: .9rem 1rem 1rem; display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: .35rem; flex: 1; }
.vl-card__tag {
  font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .66rem; font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--vl-oxblood); margin: 0;
}
.vl-card h3 { font-size: 1.05rem; margin: 0; }
.vl-card h3 a { color: var(--vl-ink); text-decoration: none; }
.vl-card h3 a:hover { color: var(--vl-oxblood); text-decoration: underline; }
.vl-card__note { margin: 0; font-size: .88rem; color: var(--vl-slate); }
.vl-card__cap { margin: auto 0 0; padding-top: .5rem; font-size: .8rem; color: var(--vl-slate-soft); font-style: italic; }
.vl-band--ink .vl-card { background: #31404d; border-color: #4a5a68; }
.vl-band--ink .vl-card__note { color: var(--vl-paper-deep); }
.vl-band--ink .vl-card__cap { color: var(--vl-slate-soft); }
.vl-band--ink .vl-card h3 a { color: var(--vl-paper); }
.vl-band--ink .vl-card__tag { color: var(--vl-daffodil); }
.vl-more { margin: 1.2rem 0 0; font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .82rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: .06em; text-transform: uppercase; }
.vl-more a { color: var(--vl-ink); }

/* ---- archive list ---- */
.vl-archive { list-style: none; margin: 1.2rem 0 0; padding: 0; }
.vl-archive li {
  display: grid; grid-template-columns: 9rem 1fr; gap: 1.2rem;
  padding: .7rem 0; border-top: 1px solid var(--vl-rule);
}
.vl-archive__tag {
  font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .68rem; font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .12em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--vl-slate-soft);
  align-self: start; padding-top: .3rem;
}
.vl-archive h3 { margin: 0; font-size: 1.02rem; }
.vl-archive p { margin: .15rem 0 0; font-size: .88rem; color: var(--vl-slate); }

/* ---- article page ---- */
.vl-crumb { border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vl-rule); padding: .55rem 0; }
.vl-crumb ol { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: .4rem; font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .74rem; letter-spacing: .06em; text-transform: uppercase; }
.vl-crumb li::after { content: "/"; margin-left: .4rem; color: var(--vl-slate-soft); }
.vl-crumb li:last-child::after { content: ""; }
.vl-crumb a { color: var(--vl-slate); text-decoration: none; }
.vl-crumb a:hover { color: var(--vl-oxblood); }

.vl-page { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 13.5rem 1fr; gap: 2.6rem; padding: 1.8rem 1.25rem 3rem; }
.vl-side { order: -1; }
.vl-side__box {
  border-top: 3px double var(--vl-rule-dark); padding: .8rem 0 1.1rem; margin-bottom: 1.4rem;
}
.vl-side__box h2 {
  font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .72rem; font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--vl-oxblood); margin: 0 0 .6rem;
}
.vl-side__box ul { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
.vl-side__box li { padding: .3rem 0; border-bottom: 1px dotted var(--vl-rule); font-size: .88rem; line-height: 1.4; }
.vl-side__box li:last-child { border-bottom: 0; }
.vl-side__box a { color: var(--vl-slate); text-decoration: none; }
.vl-side__box a:hover { color: var(--vl-oxblood); }

.vl-article h1 { font-size: clamp(1.8rem, 3vw, 2.4rem); margin: .3rem 0 .7rem; }
.vl-article__standfirst { font-size: 1.12rem; color: var(--vl-slate); margin: 0 0 .8rem; }
.vl-article__meta {
  list-style: none; margin: 0 0 1.4rem; padding: .5rem 0;
  border-top: 1px solid var(--vl-rule); border-bottom: 1px solid var(--vl-rule);
  display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 1.4rem;
  font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .74rem; letter-spacing: .08em;
  text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--vl-slate);
}
.vl-article__meta a { color: var(--vl-oxblood); }
.vl-article__hero { margin: 0 0 1.8rem; border: 1px solid var(--vl-rule-dark); padding: .45rem; background: #fff; }
.vl-article__hero img { border: 1px solid var(--vl-rule); width: 100%; }
.vl-article__hero figcaption { font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .72rem; color: var(--vl-slate); padding-top: .4rem; }

.vl-body { max-width: 44rem; }
.vl-body > p:first-of-type::first-letter {
  font-size: 3.1rem; font-weight: 700; float: left; line-height: .85;
  padding: .18rem .45rem .05rem 0; color: var(--vl-oxblood);
}
.vl-body h2 {
  font-size: 1.3rem; margin: 2rem 0 .6rem; padding-top: 1rem;
  border-top: 1px solid var(--vl-rule);
}
.vl-body p { margin: 0 0 1rem; }

.vl-onward {
  margin-top: 2.2rem; border: 1px solid var(--vl-rule-dark);
  background: var(--vl-paper-deep); padding: 1rem 1.2rem;
}
.vl-onward h2 {
  font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .74rem; font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--vl-oxblood); margin: 0 0 .6rem;
}
.vl-onward ul { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
.vl-onward li { padding: .35rem 0; border-bottom: 1px dotted var(--vl-rule); font-size: .92rem; }
.vl-onward li:last-child { border-bottom: 0; }

/* ---- service page ---- */
.vl-service { max-width: 44rem; padding: 1.8rem 0 3rem; }
.vl-service h1 { font-size: clamp(1.8rem, 3vw, 2.4rem); margin: .4rem 0 1rem; }
.vl-service .vl-body h2 { font-size: 1.15rem; }

/* ---- 404 ---- */
.vl-404 { max-width: 40rem; padding: 4rem 0 5rem; text-align: left; }
.vl-404 h1 { font-size: 2.2rem; margin: .4rem 0 1rem; }

/* ---- footer ---- */
.vl-foot {
  background: var(--vl-ink); color: var(--vl-paper-deep);
  border-top: 6px double var(--vl-daffodil); padding: 2.4rem 0 1.4rem;
}
.vl-foot__grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1.4fr 1fr 1fr; gap: 2rem; }
.vl-foot h2 {
  font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .72rem; font-weight: 700;
  letter-spacing: .14em; text-transform: uppercase; color: var(--vl-daffodil); margin: 0 0 .7rem;
}
.vl-foot p, .vl-foot li { font-size: .86rem; line-height: 1.6; }
.vl-foot ul { list-style: none; margin: 0; padding: 0; }
.vl-foot li { padding: .18rem 0; }
.vl-foot a { color: var(--vl-paper-deep); text-decoration: none; }
.vl-foot a:hover { color: var(--vl-daffodil); text-decoration: underline; }
.vl-foot__base {
  margin-top: 1.8rem; padding-top: .9rem; border-top: 1px solid #4a5a68;
  display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 1.5rem; justify-content: space-between;
  font-family: var(--vl-sans); font-size: .7rem; letter-spacing: .1em; text-transform: uppercase;
  color: var(--vl-slate-soft);
}

/* ---- responsive ---- */
@media (max-width: 60rem) {
  .vl-hero__grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 1.6rem; }
  .vl-page { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }
  .vl-side { order: 0; }
  .vl-side__box { border-top: 0; margin-bottom: .8rem; }
  .vl-dept { grid-template-columns: 2.4rem 1fr; }
  .vl-dept__count { display: none; }
  .vl-foot__grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; gap: 1.4rem; }
}
@media (max-width: 40rem) {
  .vl-mast__row { flex-direction: column; align-items: flex-start; gap: .3rem; }
  .vl-nav ul { flex-direction: column; }
  .vl-nav li { border-left: 0; border-top: 1px solid var(--vl-rule); }
  .vl-dept { grid-template-columns: 1.8rem 1fr; }
}