The new routes aim to improve safety and connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians in Hartlepool, and are backed by £4.5 million in Government funding secured through the Tees Valley Combined Authority.

The first route will create a high-quality cycling corridor between Hartlepool town centre and Catcote Road via Burn Valley Gardens.

The second scheme will establish a direct connection from Hartlepool town centre to The Waterfront and its visitor attractions, linking with the promenade between the marina and Seaton Carew.

Designed by Hartlepool Borough Council’s engineering and highways teams and delivered by North-East contractor BCE Northern, the schemes have been independently ratified by Active Travel England and meet the latest national design standards.

Councillor Owen Riddle, chair of the council’s neighbourhoods and regulatory services committee, said: “These two new routes represent a major step forward in making Hartlepool a sustainable and more connected town.

“By investing in high-quality cycling infrastructure, we are not only improving travel choices for residents, students and visitors, but also supporting healthier lifestyles and reducing reliance on cars.

“This is a significant milestone in our long-term commitment to sustainable transport, and I’m delighted that work is about to get underway.

“I would like to thank council officers and all those members of the public who contributed to the design of these schemes.”

The first route will improve access to residential areas and public amenities, including Catcote Academy, Summerhill Country Park, English Martyrs School and Sixth Form College and Hartlepool Sixth Form College.

Key improvements along this route will include widened shared-use paths, upgraded and relocated crossings, a new raised zebra crossing on Brinkburn Road, cyclist-friendly traffic signals and improved streetlighting.

This route will connect with the existing on-road cycle path on Waldon Street, continue along Elwick Road, down Penryhn Street, and through Burn Valley Gardens before reaching Catcote Road.

Starting from the Hartlepool Transport Interchange, the second route will travel across Church Square, over the Marina Way bridge, along The Lanyard, behind the Mecca Bingo hall and onto Maritime Avenue.

Beyond Ensign Court, it will join the promenade and connect to National Cycle Network Route 14.

Construction is set to begin shortly, with the council encouraging residents to make use of the improved routes once they are completed.

He added: “The alternative, the only way that Trump is going to achieve regime change, which is what he said, and unconditional surrender, which is another of his rather woolly aims, is frankly for the Americans to escalate and this turns into a ground war, which will be an absolute catastrophe.”

Your questions about water flossers answered

What is the best water flosser?

If you’re ready to ditch the string and upgrade to a water flosser, my advice is to keep things simple. Ignore the fussy counter-top models and go handheld with the Ordo hydro sonic. It hits the sweet spot between price, performance and design, with a decently sized 260ml tank, USB-C charging and a trigger button that makes it the least messy water flosser for newbies.

If you’re worried about a mucky tank, I’d recommend the slightly bulkier Spotlight Oral Care water flosser, with its clever built-in UV steriliser and massive 400ml capacity.

How I tested water flossers

To separate the water pistols from the water cannons, I swapped my string floss for these devices over a period of several weeks, giving me plenty of daily flossing sessions to judge exactly how they perform. Read on for my precise testing criteria.

• Cleaning performance: Without wanting to go into too much detail, the best measure of how well a water flosser performs is what comes out of your mouth when you use one shortly after eating. I tested the various pressure modes to ensure the flossers could cater to both sensitive gums and stubborn grime.
• Mess: Water flossing is a splashy business, especially when you’re learning the ropes, but some devices are easier to tame than others. I paid close attention to the ergonomics of the handle and whether the placement of the buttons ever led to accidentally power-washing the bathroom ceiling.
• Tank capacity: A massive water tank means you can comfortably clean your whole mouth without stopping to refill, but it also makes the device heavy and cumbersome to hold. I judged each flosser on whether it hit the sweet spot.

Can a water flosser completely replace string floss?

According to Dr Thakrar, a water flosser is a fantastic alternative for people who otherwise absolutely hate (and therefore avoid) traditional flossing. “Some studies suggest water flossers can remove similar levels or even slightly more plaque than string,” he adds.

However, string floss still provides a physical “scraping” action that is highly effective for very tight gaps between teeth. Ideally, the best routine involves brushing twice daily alongside a mix of water flossing and mechanical cleaning (like interdental brushes or string).

Are water flossers good for sensitive gums or braces?

Absolutely. Dr Thakrar explains that “the pressurised stream of water can reach areas around brackets, wires, bridges and implants that are often difficult to access with traditional floss”. Because they require less manual dexterity, they’re also great for anyone with arthritis or mobility issues.

Water flossers are much gentler, too. As Dr Thakrar notes, “many patients with sensitive or inflamed gums report that water flossers feel more comfortable than string floss,” adding that this “greater comfort often leads to more consistent and effective cleaning habits.”

What features should I look for when buying a water flosser?

To ensure you’re getting an effective clean, Dr Thakrar advises looking for “a model with multiple pressure levels so users can start gently and increase gradually.” He also recommends models with “pulsation technology,” noting that “pulsating streams improve plaque disruption compared with a continuous jet.”

Finally, check the listing for different nozzle attachments – dedicated orthodontic or periodontal tips make a huge difference if you have braces or implants.

How do you use a water flosser?

If it’s your first time, keep a towel close at hand. As Dr Thakrar notes, “water flossers can be a little messy at first and may take some time to get used to.” The golden rule is to always lean over the sink and keep your lips partially closed around the nozzle – you want to let the water flow freely out of your mouth.

Start by filling the reservoir with lukewarm water (cold water can be a shock to sensitive teeth), and don’t go blasting your mouth at maximum power on day one. Dr Thakrar warns that “high pressure settings can sometimes irritate or traumatise the gums,” advising that it’s “best to start on a lower setting and increase gradually as tolerated.”

Place the tip in your mouth before you turn the device on. Aim the jet at a 90 degree angle to your gumline, starting with your back teeth and slowly working your way around to the front. Pause briefly between each tooth. The goal here, as Dr Thakrar explains, is to “disrupt the oral biofilm, the plaque-like bacterial layer that builds up between teeth and along the gumline.”

Once you’re finished, always empty any remaining water from the tank. “The water reservoir and nozzle can harbour bacteria or mould if not cleaned regularly,” warns Dr Thakrar. “The unit should be rinsed after use and occasionally descaled according to the manufacturer’s instructions.”

Why you can trust IndyBest reviews

Steve Hogarty is a technology journalist with more than twenty years’ experience reviewing the latest tech, from smartphones and laptops to bathroom gadgets. As IndyBest’s tech critic, he cuts through the jargon to tell you what a product is actually like to live with. His verdicts are based on rigorous real-world testing, ensuring you get honest, unbiased advice.

Want to add extra shine to your smile? These are the best teeth whitening toothpastes

Emergency services were called to Sparrow Hall Drive in the early hours of this morning (Monday, March 23) following reports of a vehicle fire.

Police have confirmed that the car was reported stolen.

Smoke at 4am in Darlington after the car fire (Image: UGC)

The car on Monday morning (March 23) after it was reported stolen and found set alight (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

A resident told The Northern Echo: “I was woken up by what I assume to be an explosion.

“Not sure what it was yet, but there was big billowing smoke in the Wylam Hill, Five Arches area.”

The car on Monday morning (March 23) after it was reported stolen and found set alight (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service said: “Shortly after 6am today (Monday), we received a report of a vehicle fire in the Sparrowhall Drive area of Darlington.

The car on Monday morning (March 23) after it was reported stolen and found set alight (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The car on Monday morning (March 23) after it was reported stolen and found set alight (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

“One crew from Darlington Fire Station attended to put out the fire, leaving the area shortly before 6.40am.”

The car on Monday morning (March 23) after it was reported stolen and found set alight (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The car on Monday morning (March 23) after it was reported stolen and found set alight (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

A spokesperson for Durham Constabulary said: “Police were called by the fire service shortly before 6.15am today (March 23) to a vehicle on fire on Sparrow Hall Drive, in Darlington.

“The car is believed to have been stolen.”

The new Netflix series Lead Children has put a spotlight on the issue of lead poisoning in 1970s Poland. The series follows a young doctor who discovers that children living near a smelting plant have been poisoned with lead.

According to the latest Global Burden of Disease study, exposure to lead remains one of the leading environmental risk factors for early death and poor health globally. Unicef estimates that one in three children worldwide have an elevated blood lead level, highlighting this modern global health failure.

Historically, lead has been used in paint, gasoline, water supply pipes and industry. This has contaminated air, water, soil, dust and foods, which is why lead is a persistent and toxic environmental problem.

While the global elimination of lead from gasoline has been hugely successful in reducing lead in air, leading to a fall in population-wide blood lead concentrations in many countries, decline is not eradication.

We still live with the consequences from leaded paint being widely used until the 1960s on domestic and workplace skirting boards, bannisters, windowsills, doorframes and radiators. Lead is also still found in uPVC and leaded windows, roof flashings, glazed kitchenware, as well as some traditional medicines and cosmetics.

This may explain why ingestion, rather than inhalation from leaded gasoline, is now the dominant source of lead exposure in high-income countries.

Health effects of lead

Lead is a cumulative toxin so there is no safe blood lead concentration. Children under the age of six are particularly vulnerable to its effects. Even low-level exposure impacts neurodevelopment – resulting in lower IQ, reduced attention span, antisocial behaviour, ADHD and hearing loss.

Lead exposure at all ages can cause cardiovascular disease, kidney impairment, infertility, increased risk of spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, depression and panic disorder. It causes permanent structural brain changes in adults (particularly males) who were exposed to lead during childhood. These include a loss of brain volume in areas responsible for executive function, behavioural regulation and fine motor control.

It’s estimated that the global cost of childhood lead exposure may be around US$3.4 trillion (£2.5 trillion) per year. These losses are estimated by accounting for the lower lifetime earnings and lower economic productivity that children exposed to lead experience due to reduced intelligence and lower educational attainment. Since it doesn’t include healthcare costs, it may even be an underestimate.

Preventing harm

Unlike several other counties (such as France, Germany and the USA) there is currently no large-scale childhood blood lead monitoring programme in the UK. This is significant, as estimates from 2020 suggest that 180,000 to 280,000 children in the UK have elevated blood lead concentrations.

In 2014 the UK established the Lead Exposure in Children Surveillance System (LEICSS) so that NHS laboratories could notify the UK Health Security Agency of children with raised blood lead concentrations, but testing is only initiated if there’s a high clinical suspicion of lead poisoning. Since low and moderate blood concentrations tend not to produce symptoms, many UK children with elevated blood lead levels are likely to go undetected. Indeed in 2024, only 247 cases were reported to LEICSS.

There are also shortcomings with current techniques used to detect lead exposure in the UK. At the moment, blood taken directly from a vein (a venous sample) remains the gold standard for determining exposure to lead.

This technique requires a nurse or other healthcare professional to collect the sample, which makes it hard to test lots of people. It also means that families must take time out of their day and travel to a clinic to be tested.
Alternative testing methods using urine, hair and saliva have been used, but are typically subject to large biological variations and less accurate than venous blood samples.

This is why my colleagues and I launched the ECLIPS study in November 2025. This is the UK’s first citizen-led childhood lead exposure study, which is being conducted in Leeds, northern England.

We chose Leeds because not only is it a typical post-industrial city, it has had the highest reporting rates of lead poisoning to LEICSS for the past ten consecutive years. It’s also the only part of the country with a targeted alert system designed to support healthcare professionals in identifying lead poisoning in children: when a healthcare worker requests a test for iron deficiency, the electronic system includes a prompt suggesting the staff member also have the sample tested for lead levels.

Our study uses finger-prick blood sampling kits that are mailed to families in Leeds. Participants are asked to collect a few drops of blood from their child’s finger onto a sampling device, which is then mailed to a central laboratory for analysis. This overcomes the main limitations of current sampling techniques. Participants are also provided with advice on ways to reduce lead exposure at home.

The results of this study are currently ongoing, but we believe it could be an opportunity to develop a large-scale programme for testing childhood blood lead in the UK. It would also pave the way to wider testing nationally and internationally.

This latest Netflix series highlights the human cost of lead contamination. It also drives home the importance of taking action early to protect children from the damaging, often lifelong, health effects of lead. Early detection can change lives and save billions in lost opportunity costs.

Arsenal’s hopes of achieving an historic quadruple went up in flames at Wembley on Sunday but Declan Rice remains determined to finish the season in style as they battle for three other trophies

Declan Rice has insisted that Arsenal’s humbling at the hands of Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final has only made them hungrier to finish the season strongly. The Gunners were beaten 2-0 at Wembley on Sunday as they missed the first chance of the season to win a trophy.

Arsenal were far from at their best and Nico O’Reilly’s two headers within four minutes of each other in the second half saw City home. Mikel Arteta’s side went into the fixture in contention for a quadruple, but will now have to focus on their remaining opportunities.

Arsenal have not won a trophy since the FA Cup in 2020, in Arteta’s first season in charge, and left Wembley disappointed. City, by contrast, claimed their fifth Carabao Cup under Pep Guardiola’s management and their ninth in total with a ruthlessly efficient performance.

O’Reilly’s first goal came when Kepa Arrizabalaga couldn’t hold onto a cross and the City youngster netted another from the back post minutes later. Barring an impressive triple save from James Trafford in the first half, Arsenal created little and Rice has now responded on social media.

FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

READ MORE: Viktor Gyokeres makes Arsenal trophy vow after stinging Carabao Cup final defeatREAD MORE: Declan Rice and Gabriel’s different reactions to Arsenal squad as Man City lifted trophy

“A final defeat doesn’t define us,” he wrote on Instagram. “Only makes us hungrier to go on & finish the season strong. Thank you to our amazing fans as always. See you after the break.”

Arsenal are nine points clear of City at the top of the Premier League table, although their rivals do have a game in hand. They face Southampton in the quarter finals of the FA Cup after the international break before facing off against Sporting Lisbon in the last eight of the Champions League.

Arteta sent a similar message to his players post-match. “We had eight amazing months with this team,” he said. “Today is a disappointment. We need to use that fire in the belly for the next two months to have an incredible season. That’s on us and we’ll manage that energy in the right way. Now we have to go through that pain and disappointment and it’s normal and it’s part of football.

HAVE YOUR SAY! How many trophies will Arsenal finish the season with? Comment below.

“Very sad, very hard one to take, especially for our players and our supporters because we know how much it means to them and how much we want it, and the fact that we haven’t managed to deliver that obviously is disappointing and sad, and it leaves you with a really bad taste.

“But we wanted to show respect and they won the cup and I think you have to wait for that moment when they lift it and once they’ve done that and they’re going to have their own celebration.

“Every time you have a defeat or a draw, if that’s the consequences, then you have to be prepared because that will happen when you play 70 games. It’s bound to happen at some point. But when it’s happened before this season, we haven’t allowed that to happen, we have to prove it, we have to do it again.”

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England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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Firefighters took around five hours to extinguish the fire

Firefighters have provided an update on a house fire in a Cambridgeshire town. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue were called to the incident in Heddon Way, St Ives, at around 8.20am on Friday (March 20).

Neighbours were asked to keep their windows and doors closed while the fire was dealt with, as smoke engulfed the air. At the time, a fire spokesperson said: “On Friday at 8.21am crews from Huntingdon, St Neots, Chatteris, Ely, and Cambridge, along with the turntable ladder, were called to a house fire on Heddon Way in St Ives.

“Firefighters arrived to find smoke issuing from the property. Wearing breathing apparatus, firefighters worked hard to extinguish the fire. There were no reported casualties.”

An update has now been provided on the cause of the fire. A fire spokesperson added: “The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental.”

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Anyone who has seen him should contact police

A teenager from Peterborough has gone missing and police are asking the public to call 999 if they see him. Alfie, who is 15-years-old, was last seen at 5pm on Saturday, March 21 in the area of Rushden, Northamptonshire.

When Alfie was last seen, he was wearing a dark grey hoody, black jacket and black tracksuit bottoms. He is described as 5ft 11in, of slim build, and has dark, blonde hair. He has links to the Sussex area specifically Brighton and Eastbourne.

Northamptonshire Police has urged anyone who has seen Alfie or has information about his whereabouts, to call 999 quoting missing person reference MPE1/870/26. You can also report a sighting via the Northamptonshire Police website.

A spokesperson for Northamptonshire Police said: “Alfie, if you see this appeal, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. You’re not in trouble, we just need to make sure you are OK.”

When Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was recorded refusing to sign a shirt when a man approached his car after a match recently, he defended himself against a backlash by saying he felt “exposed” and claimed some fans “are not doing it for the right reasons”.

Last year, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola furiously berated a group of hunters who approached him at a car park near his home, lambasting their career choice, telling them: “Don’t come again – I won’t tell you again, I know your faces. Do you want to live your life doing this, honestly? What are your dreams?”

The sports memorabilia industry is estimated to be worth billions of pounds globally per year, underlining the wealth professional hunters can generate by regularly seeking out stars.

Clubs sometimes have to step in and protect players, including banning professional hunters from operating outside training grounds, providing security staff at nearby petrol stations where hunters know players stop to fill up their cars, and in some cases helping escort them home.

In 2023 Manchester United‘s Mason Mount was filmed telling hunters to stop following him home after they had done so on consecutive days.

And earlier this month United defender Noussair Mazraoui was recorded comically scribbling half-hearted signatures on a set of shirts given to him by a hunter who approached him at his car window after training.

“Players get really fed up with it,” says Premier League winner Chris Sutton.

“I’ve had it loads of times as a player and as a pundit. They stand outside the BBC studio and ask me to sign 12 number nine shirts all at once. I queried it recently and said ‘you’re going to flog these online, aren’t you?’

“It’s so annoying that the intention is to make money out of players and other high-profile people. It’s up to the player, manager, or has-been like myself to make a judgement call in the moment.

“If we say no, then the spurned party will often abuse the person who turned them down and out them online or publicly.

“It’s out of order as genuine autograph hunters must get fed up with these imposters who are doing it for the wrong reasons.

“These people spoil it for kids and genuine fans.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is hearing arguments Monday in a case from Mississippi over whether states can count late-arriving mail ballots, a target of President Donald Trump.

The outcome of the case could affect voters in 14 states and the District of Columbia, which have grace periods for ballots cast by mail, provided they are postmarked by Election Day. An additional 15 states that have more forgiving deadlines for ballots from military and overseas voters also could be impacted.

A ruling is expected by late June, early enough to govern the counting of ballots in the 2026 midterm congressional elections.

Forcing states to change their practices just a few months before the election risks “confusion and disenfranchisement,” especially in places that have had relaxed deadlines for years, state and big-city election officials told the court in a written filing.

California, Texas, New York and Illinois are among the states with post-Election Day deadlines. Rural Alaska, with its vast distances and often unpredictable weather, also counts late-arriving ballots.

Lawyers for the Republican and Libertarian parties, as well as Trump’s administration, are asking the justices to affirm an appellate ruling that struck down a Mississippi law allowing ballots to be counted if they arrive within five business days of the election and are postmarked by Election Day.

The court challenge is part of Trump’s broader attack on most mail balloting, which he has said breeds fraud despite strong evidence to the contrary and years of experience in numerous states.

Last year, the Republican president signed an executive order on elections that aims to require votes to be “cast and received” by Election Day. The order has been blocked in pending court challenges.

At the same time, four Republican-dominated states — Ohio, Kansas, North Dakota and Utah — eliminated grace periods last year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures and Voting Rights Lab.

The issue at the Supreme Court is whether federal law sets a single Election Day that requires ballots to be both cast by voters and received by state officials.

In striking down Mississippi’s grace period, Judge Andrew Oldham of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals wrote that the state law allowing the late-arriving ballots to be counted violated federal law.

Oldham and the other two judges who joined the unanimous ruling, James Ho and Stuart Kyle Duncan, all were appointed by Trump during his first term.