SS Osmund & Andrew’s Primary School in Bolton has been advised to limit large gatherings and mixing

It became the norm during the pandemic, but now a Bolton school has reintroduced class bubbles to stop the spread of infections. The bubbles are among a number of measures being taken at SS Osmund & Andrew’s Primary School in Breightmet following a ‘small number of Group A Strep infections within the school’.

Following guidance from the community infection control team, the school has been advised to limit large gatherings and internal mixing to further reduce the risk of transmission before the Easter break.

All large-scale events, including school assemblies, Mass, and the school’s Easter production have either been postponed or cancelled, along with Parents’ Evening and Reception Stay & Play sessions.

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After-school clubs have been suspended until further notice and during breaks and lunchtimes, children are staying within their own class groups.

In a newsletter to parents, the school said: “We will ensure they still have access to outdoor space and fresh air, but they will not be able to mix with children from other year groups or classes at this time.

“We understand that these changes are disappointing, particularly as we look forward to our Easter celebrations. However, our priority remains the health and well-being of our pupils, staff, and the wider school community.

“We continue to encourage the infection control measures mentioned in our previous letter, such as regular handwashing and the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach to coughs and sneezes. Thank you for your continued patience, cooperation, and understanding during this time. We will keep you updated should the situation change.”

The school closes for the Easter holidays on April 2, when it’s hoped the measures will be dropped.

Headteacher Jim Graves told the Manchester Evening News: “The decision to reschedule or amend certain upcoming events has been made following specific guidance from the Community Infection Prevention and Control Team. To help limit the spread of Strep A, the team has advised avoiding large group gatherings until after the Easter period.

“As a school, our absolute priority is the health and wellbeing of our children, staff, and the wider community. We are taking these proactive, precautionary steps to ensure everyone remains as healthy as possible during the holiday break.

“We would like to thank our parents and carers for their continued cooperation and for the overwhelming support they have shown for the school in adhering to this professional health guidance.”

Strep A symptoms

Strep A is a common type of bacteria, with infections most commonly found in children. Most strep A infections are not serious and will get better on their own.

Strep A symptoms include:

• flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, swollen glands or an aching body
• sore throat (strep throat or tonsilitis)
• a rash that feels rough, like sandpaper (scarlet fever)
• scabs and sores (impetigo)
• painful, hot and swollen areas of skin (cellulitis)
• severe muscle aches

According to the NHS, if a child does not seem to be seriously ill, you can usually look after them at home. They should feel better in a few days.

If they’re uncomfortable, you can give them children’s paracetamol or children’s ibuprofen. Check the leaflet to make sure the medicine is suitable for your child and to see how much to give them. A pharmacist can give you advice about how to ease your child’s symptoms and whether you need to see a doctor.

A Bolton Council spokesperson said: “Infections do arise from time to time in educational settings, and schools are supported to respond using standard infection prevention and control measures.”

A busy Cambridge road was closed for nearly 12 hours on Thursday (March 26)

Police have provided an update on a crash that left a man in a critical condition, and a woman seriously injured. Emergency services were called to a crash involving a car and an e-bike at around 12.10am on Thursday (March 26) along Newmarket Road in Cambridge.

The rider of the e-bike, a 31-year-old man from Cambridge, was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The other passenger, a 34-year-old woman from Cambridge, was taken to the same hospital with serious injuries.

At the time, the driver of the car failed to stop at the scene. However, at around 2am, officers arrested a 19-year-old man from Luton and two 21-year-old men from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

Police have provided an update on the three men arrested. A police spokesperson said: “A 21-year-old man, from High Wycombe, has been bailed until June 25. The other two were released under investigation.”

Newmarket Road was closed for nearly 12 hours while investigations took place, and it reopened just after 10.30am.

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A Russian man has been jailed for four years for assaulting a woman in an attack which was witnessed on a video call by Donald Trump’s youngest son Barron.

Matvei Rumiantsev drunkenly beat up the victim when he became jealous of her blossoming friendship with Mr Trump, 19, after she met him through social media.

During the assault, the 23-year-old answered a FaceTime call on her phone from Mr Trump and turned the camera to show her crying on the floor.

In a 999 call to City of London Police on January 18 last year, the US president’s son pleaded for help for the woman, telling the operator: “It’s really an emergency.

“I’m calling from the US, uh I just got a call from a girl, you know, she’s getting beat up.”

The woman herself managed to call 999 after enduring violence lasting an hour, telling the operator: “Please help me, I’m gonna get killed.”

This is a breaking news story, more to follow…

From the Harlem Shake to Miley Cyrus’ twerking at the VMAs and the arrival of Prince George, 2013 now feels like a much simpler time.

The world felt a little less dark, and frightening concepts such as ‘the manosphere’ hadn’t yet entered the mainstream consciousness.

Another thing that was substantially better 13 years ago was the cost of living. Since 2013, prices in the UK have increased by approximately 48.76%, primarily due to soaring inflation following the global COVID-19 pandemic.

In terms of how that affects the everyday Brit, what cost £10.00  in 2013 would now be the equivalent of £14.21 in February 2026.

But one brewery in London is doing its best to try and make sure this weekend doesn’t break the bank.

Five Points Brewing Co in Hackney, East London, is offering 2013 prices on pints all the way through till Sunday – meaning visitors can enjoy a beer of their liking for just £4.25.

For the first time in over a decade, Londoner’s will be able to leave the house with only a fiver in their wallet.

Anyone who’s visited or lived in the capital will know all too well how expensive drinking out in pubs and bars has become.

The average price for a pint in London is now £6.75, with some spots in central hubs like Soho and Liverpool Street charging upwards of £7.50.

Explaining why Five Points were so keen to embrace lower prices for the weekend, Ed Mason, co-founder and managing director at the brewery, tells Metro that given what a ‘challenging time’ it’s been for independent pubs, he’s incredibly proud to still be going strong 13 years after the brewery’s launch.

Wanting to say ‘a massive thank you’ to all the loyal customers and neighbours they have here in Hackney, the co-founder added that it felt only right to bring back 2013 prices for one special weekend.

However, Ed did add that due to the ‘relentless rise in beer duty and other costs’, this kind of offer is not something Five Points can do on a regular basis.

Beer duty in the UK is a tax charged on the production or importation of beer with an alcoholic strength exceeding 1.2% ABV (alcohol by volume).

Following the release of the 2025 Autumn budget, the government announced that it would be updating all alcohol duty rates in line with the 3.66% increase in the Retail Price Index (RPI). As a result, UK beer duty is now almost three times the EU average.

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With 3,500 or so pubs in London being forced to increase their pint prices, inevitable closures have taken place. In 2025 alone one pub per day shut its doors for good in England and Wales.

And predictions for this year look even bleaker. UKHospitality’s analysis suggests that 540 pubs will close this year if the government doesn’t introduce a hospitality-wide solution.

The London boroughs with the cheapest pint

1. Newham – £4.20
2. Havering – £5.04
3. Brent – £5.15
4. Waltham Forest – £5.20
5. Ealing – £5.26
6. Croydon – £5.27
7. Lewisham – £5.30
8. Redbridge – £5.38

The pub where you can buy a pint for under £2

It’s not all doom and gloom.

The Ardwick pub in Blackpool has gained a large following online for charging prices that were last normal in 1997 for some of its pints.

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Favourites such as Fosters, Strongbow cider or John Smiths cost only £1.80 per pint.

Landlady Lynn Haworth told The Sun: ‘When I took over here in 2010 a pint cost £1.49, and I’m pleased my customers are only paying 31p more 14 years later.

‘I manage to keep prices so cheap because of the volume I sell. I didn’t design the pub to be the cheapest in Britain, it just turned out that way.

‘Sometimes if a group comes in and they are buying rounds, you can hear them saying to their mates “hurry up and drink them, we’ve been undercharged”, but they haven’t’.

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Struber took over at Ashton Gate in June after Liam Manning, who had taken the club into the play-offs, left to take charge at Norwich City.

The Austrian, 49, spent a year managing Barnsley from 2019 to 2020 before spells at New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Salzburg and Cologne and had agreed a deal until the summer of 2028.

He had recently been critical of the volume of talent within the club’s academy and had voiced frustration over the January sales of Vyner and Mehmeti.

“I would like to thank Gerhard and Bernd for their hard work over the past nine months and we wish them all the best,” City chief executive Charlie Boss said.

“Roy’s appointment is about more than the results of the next seven games.

“Over the remainder of the season, he will help us set the standards and values at the club that we will need to be successful going forwards.

“Roy is a vastly experienced coach who has achieved and won at the highest level. He will support me, our players and our football staff as we build towards achieving our potential.

“We are in the process of appointing a sporting director who will have a direct input into the recruitment of a new permanent head coach.”

“Music’s not important when someone’s not well”

Dermot Kennedy has thanked those who helped and cooperated during a medical emergency at his Belfast gig on Thursday.

The Irish artist hosted two sessions last night in Mandela Hall ahead of the release of his new album ‘The Weight of the Woods’. The night was billed as an intimate gig that would give fans a taste of the new album, but it ended early due to the medical incident.

Fans were quickly ushered out of the room as Kennedy began performing the title track from the album, and were asked to leave the building immediately as the person was attended to by venue staff.

Dermot took to Instagram to release the following statement: “Thanks to everyone who came to the first Belfast show tonight. Sorry we had to finish early, music’s not important when someone’s not well.”

“I’ve been informed that the person involved is in a stable condition. Thanks to everyone for your help and cooperation.”

The gig was due to end with a Q&A between radio host Paulo Ross and Dermot Kennedy, but this was also cancelled for the first show of the night.

Bending Sound Records who collaborated with Kennedy on the gigs released the following statement: “We would also love to thank everyone that was in the crowd in both shows for being so attentive and engaged with both the gig and with one another.

“Giving the music the opportunity and space it needed, but also holding space for one another when necessary because health always has to come first. Thank you to all who helped and a special thank you the Mandela hall staff, security, those from the crowd who helped and to the first responders from the ambulance team.”

“The guest is now home from hospital and stable, and we all wish her well and a speedy recovery.”

This incident followed the singer having to call for security earlier in the night after people called for help in a separate issue.

The second show of the evening went ahead alongside the Q&A as scheduled.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Lewis Hamilton has sounded a warning over Ferrari’s chances at the Japanese Grand Prix by sharing his dissatisfaction with his car.

After a promising start to the 2026 F1 campaign, Hamilton vented his frustration during practice at Suzuka, highlighting the SF-26’s potential.

Oscar Piastri, yet to complete a lap in a grand prix after a crash in Melbourne and a power unit issue preventing him and McLaren teammate Lando Norris from starting the race in China, was fastest after FP2, with a +0.847 edge on Hamilton.

And Hamilton shared some concerning feedback with his team over the radio.

“I’m very slow because I’ve got no confidence in the car,” Hamilton said, before elaborating following the session.

“Well, I mean, we’ll work on it. I think it’s just the way of this track, you know. It’s a massively demanding circuit.

“It’s amazing to drive. But getting the right balance, and I think, interestingly, there’s something… I think it’s just something in how this car is set up.

“There’s kind of some similarities to what I felt last year, so we’re just working on that.”

“So I’m confident overnight we can find something and get it to a better place. But it’s an awesome circuit. But you need to be able to sit on the rear and be comfortable that it’s going to stay with you.

“And today I had the snaps. It just can’t seem to match the other guys. So I think we’ll do a deep dive tonight. We’ll get some interesting readings from the simulator.

“But I feel like I’ve got a bit of a north star. It’s just how do we get there? And so we’re going to try and figure that out.”

What’s your favourite tool to use?

Stephen, undisclosed

I love multi-headed tools such as Wolf Garten, as they allow me to take several tools around the garden in my trolley without taking up too much space. A simple click method makes changing the head easy and quick, while the various handles of different sizes and shapes makes gardening effortless.

How has climate change altered your gardening habits?

David, West Midlands

Plant choice is now very dictated by climate change. We’re getting hotter, drier summers and wetter, warmer winters that are not killing off pests and diseases.

I’ve also moved away from labour-intensive container gardening, growing just specimens in them now, with an automatic watering system where needed.

Collecting and storing water is also important. Saving this precious resource and using it throughout the year is better for your plants and your garden in general.

And when it comes to growing your own produce, plant selection is key. Think about using the Three Sisters approach based on the traditional indigenous method of companion planting that originated with Native American communities.

Corn or maize is planted first so that the tall stalks act like a trellis and shade the soil, slightly reducing moisture loss. Beans are then planted around the corn to fix nitrogen in the soil, enriching all three crops, reducing the need for added nutrients, and finally squash or pumpkin is planted on the edges as it spreads. With its broad leaves, it shades the soil and suppresses weeds.

What’s your favourite thing about gardening?

Jean, London 

I think getting lost in my own thoughts or letting my mind clear. It’s an act of mindfulness for me. I call gardening my green pill.

What’s your best tip for keeping weeds at bay?

Julie, London

Suppress weeds by mulching generously. Also improve the soil health, plant densely, removing weeds early, and try and avoid bare soil. Water precisely and stay consistent with regular maintenance throughout the growing season each year.

In addition, reuse delivery cardboard boxes, cut them up, lay them flat on the soil surface, and cover that with a mulch, either homemade compost or bark.

Alternatively, embrace the weeds as they’re great for pollinators.

What would you suggest to create a dog-friendly garden?

Helen, South West

Research dog-friendly plants and remember that a garden needs to be a sensory experience for them as well as you.

Use tough grass for lawn areas, as well as ornamental grasses for texture and sensory experience. Ensure you have secure boundaries.

Plant only those non-toxic plants such as sunflower, rosemary, snapdragons, marigold and remember to include shaded areas, especially important on hot summer days, and leave space for digging zones.

Access to fresh water is essential, especially during the summer, and avoid sharp features or poisonous plants for safe play and daily exercise needs.

Finally, you can’t be too precious about your plants if you have a dog. They will run where they want to go, crushing plants as they grow. My tip for this is to have some of your favourite plants in pots, so you can pop them in when needed.

What’s the best way to make use of a small space or balcony?

Siri, London

Use folding tables and chairs, pots and containers on wheels and hinge tables fixed to a wall so all could be moved to create an open space for exercising or entertaining.

Even with limited space, you can grow a surprising range of fruit and vegetables on a balcony or small garden. Opt for compact, container-friendly varieties and vertical solutions to maximise yield.

Cherry tomatoes, salad leaves such as lettuce, rocket and spinach, radishes, spring onions, dwarf beans, peppers, baby carrots and courgettes can all be grown in pots. Many herbs like basil, parsley, coriander and chives also thrive in small spaces, especially for vertical planting.

Strawberries, dwarf or bush-type blueberries, alpine or patio raspberries fix in pots and compact citrus like lemons, even melons or tomatoes can succeed if grown on a trellis or in hanging containers.

My tips for success: use good quality compost. Ensure pots have drainage, rotate crops to prevent nutrient depletion and water regularly. Consider stacking planters or vertical supports to make the most of your space while keeping plants healthy and productive.

Launched in a classroom in the town’s St Columbkille’s Primary, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund has given millions of people around the world a hand up out of poverty since 1965.

A charity founded in Rutherglen more than 60 years ago is looking for locals to help make its dream of creating a mural in the town a reality.

Launched in a classroom in St Columbkille’s Primary, SCIAF, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, has given millions of people around the world a hand up out of poverty since 1965.

And now that Rutherglen is celebrating its 900th anniversary, SCIAF wants to create a lasting legacy in the Burgh.

Ben Wilson, the charity’s director of public engagement has made Rutherglen his home.

He said: “There are so many great things to come out of Rutherglen and SCIAF is just one of them.

“The world has been through a lot over the past 60 years; climate change, conflict, chaos in our politics.

“But where there has been injustice, where there has been pain and suffering, SCIAF has been there, standing side-by-side and supporting the most vulnerable communities.

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“Now we want to mark all that hard work, and the dedication of our partners overseas and our supporters here in Scotland by creating a lasting legacy – in the form of a large mural right here in Rutherglen.

“Glasgow city centre has so many but not here in Rutherglen.”

SCIAF has attempted to move forward with their plans but have hit some stumbling blocks along the way.

Firstly, SCIAF wanted to approach the residents of the tenement block beside Kwik Fit but that would have meant a cherry-picker being on their land for a few days and they weren’t able to support.

The next option was a gable end in Castle Street, but the charity was turned down by Rutherglen and Cambuslang Housing Association, which owns the building.

READ MORE: New manager of Rutherglen Care Home stages special Dolly Parton event to get to know residents

Ben said: “It’s been quite frustrating as we do think the mural would be great for Rutherglen, especially given it’s Rutherglen’s 900th anniversary year.

“But so far we’ve not been successful in securing a good spot.

“We have excellent mural artists lined up, but just no location to put it.

“We now hope that local people can help us by passing on their suggestions.”

The space needs to be close to the centre of Rutherglen as possible – to be near St Columbkille’s Church; have access to allow the artists to create the mural on a cherry-picker; be visible to passing people and/or vehicles; and be structurally sound and even.

The mural also has the support of local politician Clare Haughey, the town’s MP Michael Shanks and Rutherglen Community Council.

Ms Haughey said: “We should be so proud that a charity which has done incredible work across the globe has its roots right here in Rutherglen.

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“At a time when we are celebrating Rutherglen’s past through the 900th anniversary celebrations, I think a mural is a wonderful idea and would ensure SCIAF’s contribution to our town’s rich and varied history can be recognised and remembered.

“SCIAF has my full support and I hope the mural can become a reality.”

If you have an idea for SCIAF, get in touch by emailing ccook@sciaf.org.uk

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