“While we also support the presumption of mainstreaming, which means that all children and young people are educated in a mainstream educational environment unless exceptional circumstances apply, it is clearly difficult to see how this is functioning in reality, given the fall in specialist support and increase in the number of those with ASN.

The Station pub in Stockton has been given the go-ahead to transform part of a cobbled back alley into a small beer garden under strict time and noise controls.

The application, made by Paul Simpson, proposes using a 12-metre stretch of the alley between Alma Street and Inkerman Street for outdoor seating and storage for the pub.

According to planning documents, the area, which is currently described as “untidy and litter-strewn,” will be fenced off, with two benches for about eight people, and part used for a screened bin and storage space.

Stockton Borough Council allowed the transformation under delegated powers, making the decision on Monday, March 23.

The Station pub in Stockton has won approval to turn a ‘scruffy’ alleyway into a beer garden. (Image: GOOGLE)

The new beer garden can only open between 9.30am and 10pm daily and no amplified music or sound will be allowed in the area.

Council highways officers raised no objection to the proposal but recognised that the alley does provide rear access to several properties, and any gating must be settled privately between owners.

Environmental health officers initially objected, saying there was “insufficient information” on hours, number of seats and noise management.

Concerns were raised about the potential noise that the beer garden could generate, affecting nearby homes on Inkerman Road and Alma Street.

However, planning officials believe the limited scale of the development, access via the pub’s lobby, and the added conditions should keep any disturbance to an acceptable level.

The report from the planning officer described the external seating facility as an “investment in an existing town-centre business,” which will enhance Stockton’s evening economy and town-centre vitality.

Damian John Hunter, 39, made a stabbing move with the weapon towards his sibling’s eye, said Eleanor Durdy prosecuting, at York Crown Court.

When police arrived, he was on top of her with the six-inch knife and she was screaming.  Officers had to taser him when he refused to put the knife down.

In her personal statement, the sister said Hunter behaved badly when he had delusions that he was his non-existent wife, ‘Veronica’.

‘Veronica’ can be very nasty, she said.

“I do believe on the day he assaulted me, ‘Veronica’ was in control of his actions,” she said.

Judge Simon Hickey accepted a psychiatrist’s report that Hunter had an emotionally unstable personality disorder and a psychotic condition.

But, he said, Hunter has a long history of violent offences, including carrying a knife, had been drinking vodka before assaulting his sister, and knew how alcohol made him behave.

“You have to take in hand your own life and accept the consequences for your actions,” he told Hunter.

He jailed Hunter for two years.

Ms Durdy said Hunter had got angry while the siblings were preparing for the roast dinner he had suggested they have.

He jumped on his sister, put her to the ground, bit her check and told her: “I will stab the … out of you”.

After she got up, he grabbed her from behind, and bit her on the back.

She managed to get out away from him and when he got a knife and accosted her friend outside the house, she tried unsuccessfully to lock him out.

But he got in, put her to the ground again and holding her head down, put the knife to her cheek and neck and made a stabbing move towards her eye.

Ms Durdy said the sister “wants her brother to receive help for his mental health and to see him again”.

Emily Hassell, defending, said Hunter had committed the offences within weeks of being released from a psychiatric unit where he had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act for the third time in five years.

A psychiatrist had assessed him as needing ongoing treatment.

Hunter, of Briercliffe, Scarborough, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to his sister and threatening her with an offensive weapon in private.

Ms Durdy said the sister had allowed Hunter to stay at her house because he had no electricity in his.

When they went to buy the ingredients for the chicken roast, Hunter had bought vodka which he started drinking when they got back to her home.

Ms Hassell said Hunter had got a job working in a Malton factory after he was released from a previous sentence, but had lost it in the Covid pandemic.

His mental health had gone downhill after that.

Available for over a year

Today, we try and get to the bottom of whether or not Iran and the US might be meeting at the negotiating table.

Whilst President Trump has previously said the two countries have already had productive conversations, Iran has denied the reports.

Lyse Doucet, chief international correspondent and Parham Ghobadi, senior reporter for BBC Persian explain who might be involved if talks do go ahead and the latest we know about what’s happening inside Iran.

Plus, Faisal Islam joins Adam for a deep dive into how all the uncertainty is affecting the economy. They unpack Rachel Reeves’ address to the House of Commons today and the measures she might take if the situation continues to escalate.

Apply for tickets to Castfest here https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord

Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes released every day. If you’re in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was Adam Fleming. It was made by Anna Harris with Shiler Mahmoudi. The social producers were Jem Westgate, Beth Pritchard and Sophie Millward. The technical producer was James Piper. The assistant editor was Jack Maclaren. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

Programme WebsiteShow less

Named Skate Island, the project is being built at Newcastle Racecourse using shipping containers, with the site already starting to take shape.

The pop-up rink will open to the public on April 2 and will run every Thursday to Sunday for eight weeks.

Stuart Nurse, co-director of organiser EVNT Inspirations, said: “We’ve started to put all the pieces in place to create Skate Island and to ensure it is going to be an absolutely fantastic experience.

“There has been nothing like this in the region before and we are looking forward to unveiling the whole site and giving people a really memorable experience.”

The attraction will feature food and drink vendors housed in containers, themed entertainment, and a packed schedule of events.

Student nights will take place every Thursday, while Friday evenings will transform into roller discos with a rotation of weekly themes including girl power, country music, karaoke, and neon raves.

Saturday mornings from 9am to noon will be dedicated to family sessions.

From noon onwards, the rink will host Retro Roller, an adult-only disco skate event where dressing up is encouraged.

Sundays will be open to all ages, with skating available for children and families from 9am to 9pm.

Each booking includes a 90-minute skating session and skate hire, though visitors are welcome to stay longer to enjoy the food and drink attractions.

Skate Island is the latest creation from EVNT Inspirations, the team behind popular North East events including Moosenwirt pop-up Alpine bar, Newcastle Christmas Village, Paddy Fest, and The Great British Tribute Fest.

Tickets start at £7.50 for family events, £10 for the student night, and £15 for Retro Roller, with all prices subject to a booking fee.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court grappled Tuesday with whether the Trump administration should be able to revive an immigration policy that has been used to turn back migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Some conservative justices seemed receptive to the Justice Department’s push to overturn a lower-court ruling against the practice known as metering. Immigration authorities limited the number of people who could apply for asylum, saying it was necessary to handle an increase at the border.

Advocates say the policy created a humanitarian crisis during President Donald Trump’s first term as people who were turned away settled in makeshift camps in Mexico as they waited for a chance to seek asylum.

The policy isn’t in place now, and Trump ordered a wider suspension of the asylum system at the start of his second term.

The administration, though, argues that metering remains a “critical tool” used under administrations from both parties, and should be available if necessary in the future.

While some justices seemed open to that argument, others raised questions about whether the policy would allow people who entered the country illegally to apply for asylum while new arrivals seeking legal entry at the border could be blocked.

“Why would Congress privilege someone who illegally enters the United States?” Justice Brett Kavanaugh asked.

An attorney for the Trump administration maintained that people turned away one day could potentially come back later. “It’s saying our port is at capacity today, try again some other day,” said Vivek Suri, assistant to the solicitor general.

The Associated Press found thousands of immigrants on waiting lists when the policy was in place in 2019.

Under American law, migrants who arrive in the U.S. must be able to apply for asylum if they fear persecution in their home countries. The legal dispute at the heart of the metering case centers around the meaning of the words “arrive in.”

The Justice Department argues it means anyone who is in the United States already, so it doesn’t apply to people authorities stop on the Mexico side of the border. But immigration attorneys say the law has long meant anyone who comes to a port of entry must be able to apply, and it should stay that way.

Chief Justice John Roberts peppered an attorney for the migrants with questions on exactly where someone must be to claim asylum. But Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson suggested that those questions are hard to answer when the policy isn’t being used.

“It just seems to me that we have a lot of hypotheticals regarding how this policy may have worked in the past, how it’s possibly going to work in the future, but we don’t have a policy in effect right now that we can actually rule on,” she said.

Metering was first used during President Barack Obama’s administration when large numbers of Haitians appeared at the main crossing to San Diego from Tijuana, Mexico. It was expanded to all border crossings from Mexico during Trump’s first term in the White House.

The practice ended in 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic led the government to greater restrictions on asylum-seekers. President Joe Biden formally rescinded the use of metering in 2021.

Also that year, U.S. District Judge Cynthia Bashant, an Obama nominee, ruled that metering violated the migrants’ constitutional rights and a federal law requiring officials to screen anyone who arrives at the border seeking asylum.

A divided 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed her ruling, but nearly half of the judges on the full San Francisco-based appeals court voted to rehear the case, a strong signal that may have caught the justices’ attention.

People seeking refuge in the U.S. are able to apply for asylum once they are on American soil, regardless of whether they came legally. To qualify, they have to show a fear of persecution in their own country because of specific reasons, such as their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.

Once people are granted asylum, they can’t be deported. They can work legally, bring immediate family into the country, apply for legal residency and eventually seek U.S. citizenship.

This is due to potential issues with those who suffer from hay fever as more pollen gets released into the air.

It can cling to clothes when being dried outside, meaning it can then cause symptoms to occur later on for those who have the condition.

However, there are ways to minimise the amount of pollen that ends up on clothes, and that mainly comes through putting them out to dry at a specific time.

When should you dry your clothes outside during spring?

Pollen is at its highest early morning and between 5pm and 8pm, according to NHS King’s College Hospital.

Therefore, drying your clothes in between those times, from 12pm to 4pm, will avoid the peak.

Emma Mannion, cleaning expert at Astonish, shared: “Pollen levels tend to peak in the morning as plants release it into the air, so if you put damp clothes out first thing, they act like a bit of a pollen magnet.

“Waiting until between 12pm and 4pm gives those levels time to drop off, meaning fewer particles cling to your laundry, and you’re less likely to be bringing allergens back into the house on your clothes.”

Catherine Green, sustainable cleaning expert at smol, added: “Pollen counts tend to peak in the early morning and evening.

“Drying laundry around midday or early afternoon, when levels can briefly dip, can help reduce the amount that settles on fabrics.”

Dr. Roger Henderson, leading GP and spokesperson for Olbas, also backed this up.

He said: “Unfortunately, the best days to dry your washing outside are also often the days when pollen counts are high – when it’s dry and sunny!

“If you have to dry clothes outside, peg them out between midday and 4 pm to try and keep the chances of pollen impacting them as low as possible.

“If you have bad hay fever, though, you may be forced to use your tumble dryer more than you might want to.”

While these tips can be useful to reduce the pollen count on clothes, it does not eliminate the risk entirely.

Noel Fok, indoor air quality expert and co-founder of EcoAir advocated for drying clothes indoors if possible.

He said: “Whilst this might feel counterintuitive as the days get longer, temperatures rise, and we look to benefit from the fresh air and sunshine, whilst also reducing our reliance on energy consumption when drying clothes indoors, both pollen and pollution can be highly problematic for allergy sufferers.

“In urban areas the air will inevitably be carrying lots of pollutants – think roadworks, building works, traffic fumes, and even dust – which will firstly, contaminate freshly laundered clothing, bedding and towels, and secondly, exacerbate allergy symptoms as soon as we come into contact with them.

“Air quality will be cleaner in rural areas, but conversely, the pollen count is typically higher in the countryside thanks to the higher volumes of grass, weeds, trees and flowers.

“And damp laundry is like a magnet for airborne pollen.”

Can pollen cause an issue for clothes?

Outside of potential issues for those who suffer from hay fever, pollen can impact some types of clothing, as Emma Woodrow, a buyer at Pour Moi, explained.

Recommended reading:

She shared: “From a fabric perspective, the natural structure of our clothing can also be affected by pollen, as the particles can clog the fabric pores, making our garments less breathable, and potentially cause odours to linger for longer.

“This is especially important for natural fibres such as cotton and linen, which are usually more porous and hydrophilic, meaning they can absorb and hold onto small, microscopic particles within their structure more easily.

“There are a few other tips to ensure your clothing is dried properly in the spring months, such as opting for days with a moderate breeze and temperatures over 12°C.”

When do you dry your clothes outside in spring? Let us know in the comments.

His family described him as being “one of the finest young men ever to have walked this earth”

Advertisement

A police force has confirmed “with deep sadness” that a 27-year-old officer has died having suffered fatal injuries while responding to an emergency call.

Twenty-seven-year-old PC Bradley Corke passed away on Saturday (March 21), two days after the patrol car he was travelling in was involved in a serious collision. Kent Police announced his death while adding that his colleague remains in a critical condition in hospital following the incident.

A member of the public in the second vehicle is also being treated for serious injuries. PC Corke “selflessly gave up his life while trying to save others”, the force described, also praising his courage, commitment and sense of duty.

“PC Corke served with the force since May 2022. He was based in Tonbridge and spent his police service in the towns of West Kent. The force is supporting his family and colleagues, who are devastated.”

Bradley’s family also paid tribute to their “beautiful boy” who was “cruelly taken away from us far too young”.

“Bradley was one of the finest young men ever to have walked this earth. A credit to himself, to us as parents and to all his family and friends who loved him dearly,” the tribute said.

“He was proud to be PC Bradley Corke, and in turn we are proud of his dedication to the profession. We have been touched by the outpouring of love and affection from all who knew him.

“In particular, we have taken comfort from the kind words of those who he helped in his line of duty, supporting them in their hour of need. It comes as no surprise to us that so many had such a positive experience in his presence, because that’s just Brad – a true gentleman in every situation he encountered.

“Son, we are broken and will probably never recover from your loss, but we hope we can draw strength from all that you are and forever will be. We love you son, love you with every ounce of our being. Sleep tight our most beautiful boy.”

Kent Police has urged anyone with information about the collision to come forward and help with its investigation.

“The incident, involving a marked Ford Focus police car and a VW Scirocco, happened on the westbound A20 London Road at the junction with Button Street, Farningham at approximately 7.45pm on Thursday 19 March,” the appeal said.

“Witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage should contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538, quoting EW/AL/025/26.

“Alternatively, email sciu.td@kent.police.uk quoting. Dashcam footage can be uploaded here.”

Firefighters were called to the scene on Tuesday afternoon

Emergency services have been at the scene of an ongoing blaze in the docks area of Belfast on Tuesday, March 24.

Firefighters were called to reports of a waste site fire in the Duncrue Street area at 4:06pm.

The NIFRS said it mobilised appliances from Whitla Fire Station, Westland Fire Station, Glengormley Fire Station, Central Fire Station, Knock Fire Station and specialist appliances a Turntable Ladder from Springfield Fire Station and Command Support Unit from Lisburn Fire Station.

More than 40 firefighters were in attendance to deal with this incident.

A NIFRS spokesperson said: “The incident was brought under control at 6:59pm and we are scaling back operations at the scene. The cause of the fire has been determined as accidental.

“We would like to thank the public for their patience whilst we dealt with the incident.”

To ensure you don’t miss out on all the latest from Belfast Live, be sure to make us your preferred source on Google.