Even considering Itauma’s generational talent and rapid rise, his target of becoming heavyweight boxing’s youngest world champion has proved wildly optimistic. Indeed, that particular ship has sailed now that Itauma is older than the mark set by Mike Tyson – 20 years, four months and 23 days – in 1986. Comparisons have been drawn between Itauma and Tyson, given their power and success at a young age, though the former moved to distance himself from such discourse this week, saying: “I guess we’re kind of a polar opposite… We both just love knockouts.”
And while murmurings of potential fights against Filip Hrgovic, Murat Gassiev, Lawrence Okolie and Oleksandr Usyk continue to swirl, Itauma has insisted that his focus is firmly fixed on Franklin. Speaking in his pre-fight press conference, the Chatham fighter said: “I have a serious opponent in Jermaine Franklin. We’ve asked for this fight [for] a year and a half, or something like that, so now we’ve got it. I feel this is the kind of the final piece to the puzzle.”
In his three-year professional career Itauma has contested just 26 rounds, many of which ended prematurely. Testing himself against a fighter of Franklin’s calibre will provide further insight into exactly what the boxing phenom is capable of and how he can develop moving forward. “There’s questions that my team want to know about me, there’s questions that I want to know about myself and I’m sure that there are a lot of questions that the fans want to know about me as well,” Itauma said. “So I feel like Jermanine Franklin is the final piece of the puzzle. So when I get asked about other fighters [I think to myself], that’s not going to happen if I don’t get through Jermaine Franklin. This is a serious fight and I’m looking forward to it.”
Live updates on roadworks and traffic incidents in Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Durham and the wider North East- including the A66, A19, A1(M), A1, A167, and the A69 this morning (March 29).
Public transport service updates from bus services, train services, including LNER, Cross Country, Transpennine, and Northern Rail. Updates from the Tyne and Wear Metro and the latest from Teesside and Newcastle Airports.
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Train Disruptions
Buses replace trains between York and Newcastle this weekend
Buses will replace trains between York and Newcastle on Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29.
Engineering work is taking place between Northallerton and Newcastle, closing all lines.
Rail replacement buses will operate between York, Darlington, Durham and Newcastle.
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What will the weather be like in the North East this weekend?
The Met Office says Sunday will begin with temperatures of around 5C at dawn under partly cloudy skies.
Are there any roadworks in Darlington?
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Drivers in Darlington are being warned to expect delays this weekend, with a series of road closures and lane restrictions in place across the town and surrounding areas between March 28 and 29.
Five cases before Northern Ireland’s courts this past week | Belfast Live
Need to know
Here is your latest round up of cases heard at court from March 23-27
The family of Natalie McNally celebrate outside Belfast Crown Court on Monday, after Stephen McCullagh was found guilty of murder (Image: Mark Marlow/PA Wire)
Five cases heard before Northern Ireland courts this week, March 23-27.
The partner of a pregnant woman was found guilty of her murder this week. Natalie McNally, 32, was 15 weeks pregnant when she was violently attacked and killed at her home in Lurgan on December 18, 2022. Stephen McCullagh, 36, of Woodland Gardens, Lisburn, was convicted on Monday by a jury during the fifth week of the trial at Belfast Crown Court. The jury of six men and six women reached their verdict after two hours of deliberations. McCullagh stood without expression in the dock between prison staff as the verdict was read out.
A sentenced Co Antrim prisoner who tried to hijack two cars in Belfast city centre was handed a 50 month jail sentence on Thursday. Andrew Bradley Spence, 23, of Madigan Park, Carrickfergus, had previously pleaded guilty to two attempted hijackings, two counts of criminal damage and one of possessing an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence. In a pre-sentence report, Spence told a probation officer that he accepted his guilt over the incidents and said he was “sickened over his behaviour”, adding that he was “out of my head on alcohol and drugs”
Two new medical reports relating to Lady Eleanor Donaldson have been submitted to court, a judge said this week. The trial of former DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his wife on charges relating to alleged historical sexual offences has been delayed twice because of her medical issues. Jeffrey Donaldson, 63, has pleaded not guilty to 18 alleged offences. The charges include one count of rape as well as allegations of indecent assault and gross indecency, and span a time period between 1985 and 2008, involving two alleged victims. Eleanor Donaldson, 59, of Dublinhill Road, Dromore, is facing charges of aiding and abetting, which she denies. A new trial date of May 26 has been set. At a brief update hearing at Newry Crown Court on Friday, Judge Paul Ramsey said the court has received two further medical reports on Eleanor Donaldson. Judge Ramsey said he would review the matter again on May 5, saying: “That will give us a clear three weeks before the trial.”
Meanwhile a senior judge has set a new trial date for a Co Antrim man accused of the murder of Chloe Mitchell almost three years ago. Brandon John Rainey’s previous legal team walked away from the case a fortnight ago stating that they had been “professionally compromised” and said the defendant had told them that he no longer wished them to represent him. A new legal team came on record in the case last week. Rainey, 29, of James Street, Ballymena, is currently awaiting trial and denies murdering the 21-year-old on June 3, 2023, and preventing the lawful burial of her remains. At Belfast Crown Court on Friday, Madam Justice McBride confirmed that the trial would commence on Tuesday, April 28.
And finally a man appeared in court this past week charged with the murder of mother-of-two Amy Doherty in Derry. Connor McNamee, 30, of Summer Meadow Mews in Derry, was also charged with possession of an offensive weapon, a kitchen knife, and possession of a class A controlled drug, cocaine. Court papers said the murder charge was aggravated by reason of involving domestic abuse. He appeared at Derry Magistrates’ Court on Friday via videolink. There was no application for bail and he was remanded in custody until April 23.
Teenager Kimi Antonelli claimed his second successive victory, as well as the lead of the drivers’ championship, after Mercedes team-mate George Russell suffered terrible luck midway through Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Russell had fought his way back to the front after another action-packed start at Suzuka under these new 2026 regulations.
The Briton was just behind McLaren’s Oscar Piastri after stopping on Lap 21 and within striking distance of the Australian on fresher tyres.
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But a safety car which came out on Lap 22, as a result of a massive 50G shunt involving Britain’s Ollie Bearman, badly hurt Russell’s chances, while giving Antonelli a free stop. “Unbelievable,” a clearly frustrated Russell said over the radio. “Wow, —-, our luck in these last two races.”
Antonelli, who had dropped from first to sixth after getting wheelspin in a disastrous start, duly emerged in the lead of the race once the safety car was withdrawn. And the Italian was able to hang on for the win, with Piastri second and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who had passed Russell at the restart to add salt to the Briton’s wounds, holding on for the final podium spot.
There is now a big gap until Miami at the start of May, following the cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races because of the conflict in the Middle East.
Antonelli, the youngest leader in F1 championship history, will spend it knowing he is now properly in the title race, having backed up his maiden victory in Shanghai two weekends ago.
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“Going into this race I would have said George was the one to beat,” said former champion Jenson Button on Sky Sports F1. “But now he has got a true challenger.”
ALMOST 56 years ago I moved from London to Poppleton and have long since fallen in love with York and Yorkshire. However, I still have one last culinary hurdle to conquer; mushy peas!
D M Deamer’s letter (Friday, March 20) concerning his family’s habit of putting sugar on their mushy peas was most interesting. I actually love garden peas and always keep petit pois in the freezer. These small peas have a high sugar content which suits my sweet tooth.
When I next go out for fish and chips, I shall put some sugar in my bag along with the mayonnaise (for the chips) and order mushy peas with confidence.
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Mayonnaise? At the age of 20 I spent the summer in a large electrical engineering factory in Charleroi in Belgium. The works canteen was a joy and the endive soup and the chips served with mayonnaise were stars.
By the way, both the Belgians and the French claim to have invented chips roughly 300 years ago and the Belgians even have a Chip Museum (Frietmuseum) in Bruges to prove it!
Quentin Macdonald
Manor Farm, Church Lane,
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Nether Poppleton,
York
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Why Israel’s war with Iran is legal
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NIGEL Cummings, in a letter to The Press (March 23), says that,”some ‘experts’ agree that the war being waged against Iran by Israel and and t he US is illegal…”.
That may be the case with America’s war, but not, I think, in the case of Israel.
Iran has long sought the total destruction of Israel. Why, I do not know. The two countries are hundreds of miles apart, and until recently Israel presented no threat to Iran.
But Iran has funded both Hamas and Hezbollah, terrorist organisations seeking Israel’s destruction.
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From time to time the regime in Tehran causes crowds to assemble and chant, “Death to Israel!” And it is widely assumed that if ever Iran developed a nuclear bomb, it would use it on Israel.
So Iran presents an existential threat to Israel. It has over eight times the population of Israel, and money drawn from the sale of its oil and gas.
My understanding understanding of international law is that any country presented with such a threat to its existence is entitled to defend itself. If Iran wishes for peace, it needs to give credible assurances that it will acknowledge Israel’s right to exist, and cease funding Hamas, and Hezbollah.
David Martin,
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Rosedale Avenue,
Acomb,
York
Read more:
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Net zero is a concept for the fairies
STARMER’S leadership qualities are severely exposed as non-existent by his failure to send Miliband into the political wilderness.
He should allow a sensible energy minister to reopen the North Sea gas and oil fields to enable our country to have sufficient cheaper supplies instead of having to import the same at higher cost.
Currently, and for the foreseeable future, net zero is a concept for the fairies including Starmer.
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Peter Rickaby,
Moat Way,
Brayton,
North Yorkshire
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What controversy?
In his most recent letter, responding to Nigel Cummings, Matthew Laverack makes reference to the ‘controversial Spark development’. I would put it to him that one man’s tireless letter writing campaign does not a controversy make…
Name and address supplied
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Ben Thompson was fronting the flagship news programme on Sunday morning
Samantha King Content Editor
08:07, 29 Mar 2026
BBC Breakfast host Ben Thompson offered viewers a rare glimpse into his personal life during his presenting stint on Sunday morning (March 29).
The TV star opened up hot on the heels of a segment about youth unemployment, which is now at its highest level in over a decade. The BBC met a number of 16 and 17-year-olds who were struggling to secure a weekend job.
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“They don’t accept you if you don’t have work experience, but how are you going to get that work experience if nobody lets you get it,” said one young interviewee, adding: “It makes me feel like I’m not wanted.”
They also heard from coffee shop owner, Neil Wyatt, who explained why businesses maybe averse to younger hires. He explained: “We love having young people around because they bring energy, they bring life but you’re taking on perhaps a little bit more of a risk than someone who is already established in the jobs market.”
He continued: “Every young person you take on, particularly when they’re at the lower end of the kind of 16 to 18-year-old spectrum, they’re going to need a bit more time and attention than someone whose already been there, seen it and done the job.”
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Following the news article, Ben appealed to viewers at home to share memories of their own weekend jobs and opened up about his own early work experience in a rare personal admission.
“Do let us know your memories of your first weekend jobs,” he started, before admitting: “Mine was watering hanging baskets in a garden centre, so let us know whether you did anything more exciting, and maybe any thoughts about how young people maybe get their foot in their door when it comes to getting a first job.”
There was a shake-up to the usual BBC Breakfast this morning with Ben hosting the show alone. Usually there are two presenters on the red sofa, and while Naga Munchetty was present for Saturday’s broadcast, she was notably absent from the Sunday show.
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The duo struggled to contain their laughter yesterday during a segment on a novel new seagull deterrent: googly eyes. BBC News reporter Jake Zuckerman tested out the theory that stick-on eyes could stop the birds snatching food by attaching them to takeaway boxes, doughnuts and ice cream.
As the camera panned back to the studio, Ben was forced to cover his mouth as he tried to stifle his laughter, while Naga also had a hard time keeping a straight face.
BBC Breakfast airs daily from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.
Cotherstone, in Teesdale, continues to attract attention online, with many praising its traditional setting, riverside location and long-standing links to local food.
Located between Barnard Castle and Middleton-in-Teesdale, the village sits just south of the River Tees and is known for its quiet atmosphere and historic feel.
The village of Cotherstone in County Durham (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
Visitors regularly describe it as “unchanged by time”, with one saying it offers a “classic English village atmosphere” thanks to its stone-built cottages, open countryside and central green.
Another described it as a “hidden gem”, while others said it is “ideal for switching off” and enjoying a slower pace of life.
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Much of Cotherstone’s appeal comes from its setting near the meeting point of the River Balder and the River Tees, with riverside walks and surrounding fields providing a popular base for walkers and day-trippers.
The village is also located on the Teesdale Way, making it a convenient stop for those exploring the wider area.
Its food heritage is another major draw.
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Cotherstone cheese, a creamy, slightly crumbly variety, has been associated with the village since at least 1858 and remains one of its best-known features.
Visitors often highlight the cheese as part of what gives the village its identity, with some describing it as a “must-try” local product.
Cotherstone (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)
At the centre of the village is The Fox & Hounds pub, which features prominently in reviews.
Diners have described it as a “lovely little country pub”, while others say it is “worth travelling for”, particularly for its food.
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Its popularity means booking ahead is often recommended.
History also plays a key role in Cotherstone’s appeal.
The village was once served by its own railway station on the Middleton-in-Teesdale branch line, and parts of the old route can still be explored today, including the nearby Balder Viaduct.
Remains of a medieval motte and bailey castle can also be found in the village, adding to its historic character.
Cotherstone has also been home to several notable figures over the years.
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Hannah Hauxwell, who became well known through a 1970s television documentary, lived in the area, while mountaineer Bentley Beetham and architects Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew also spent time in the village at the end of their lives.
Despite its small size, visitors often say the village has a “surprising history”.
Across online reviews, Cotherstone is consistently described as “friendly”, “quiet” and “beautifully unspoilt”, with many saying it is the kind of place you “stumble across and remember”.
Entrance to the property is via the living room, which features traditional flagged stone floors that continue throughout the ground floor accommodation.
No 5 Dent Bank is a beautifully presented cottage sure to steal your heart (Image: GFW)
The focal point of this room is an impressive fireplace housing a stove and set within an exposed stone wall that contributes to the character of the home.
Off the living room is a utility room/store room.
To the rear of the cottage is the spacious kitchen, fitted with a range of modern base and wall-mounted units topped with marble-effect worktops, a range of integral appliances including an undercounter freezer and dishwasher, and useful under stairs storage.
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No 5 Dent Bank is a beautifully presented cottage sure to steal your heart (Image: GFW)
There is also space in the kitchen for a dining table.
Completing the ground floor accommodation is the family bathroom.
Upstairs are two double bedrooms—the well-proportioned principal bedroom with wooden flooring that overlooks the front of the property, and the second bedroom—also a double—to the rear with a useful airing cupboard.
No 5 Dent Bank is a beautifully presented cottage sure to steal your heart (Image: GFW)
The substantial gardens are most certainly a highlight of this property.
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To the front of the house is a delightful landscaped garden featuring planted borders and a pleasant seating area, plus a timber shed providing storage.
No 5 Dent Bank is a beautifully presented cottage sure to steal your heart (Image: GFW)
To the rear is an enclosed courtyard with views over the River Tees and a large raised bed.
The cottage also has off-road parking for one vehicle.
A divisive figure, Collier-Keywood sought to drive through radical reform but attracted significant criticism over his approach. The WRU board must now focus on identifying his successor.
Unlike in the past, the WRU board appoints the chair rather than the member clubs.
The board’s first decision is whether to pursue an internal or external appointment.
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Should it opt for a new candidate from outside the current set-up, that individual would initially need to be appointed as a non-executive director, with subsequent elevation to chair being a formality.
Here are eight potential candidates.
David Buttress
The appointment of David Buttress would prove an immensely popular choice among some supporters.
Buttress has been a prominent figure in Welsh rugby for the past nine years and, as chair of the Dragons, played a central role in securing the club’s survival by assembling a consortium to purchase it from the WRU.
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A co-founder of Just Eat, he ranks among Wales’s most accomplished entrepreneurs and merits serious consideration for the role.
Buttress has previously expressed frustration with Welsh rugby’s governance and would represent a breath of fresh air within the governing body, bringing a markedly different perspective.
He is a committed advocate for retaining four professional sides and has argued that the WRU ought to be capable of generating greater funding for the pro game for an organisation with a turnover of £107 million.
Responding on the social media platform X this morning to a question on Welsh rugby’s strategic direction, Buttress said: “The strategy is clear: four professional teams, stable and secure funding for three years, and a focus on directing key investment into player development and facilities.
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“An urgent agreement must be reached with private owners, with the aim of establishing a genuine partnership to attract investment and sponsors.”
The only barrier would be he’d have to step away from the Dragons if he was to become WRU chair.
Mar
Phillips has experience in Welsh rugby, having previously been CEO of the WRU for five years.
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The man from Pembrokeshire, a former boss of retail giant B&Q, saw his tenure coincide with Wales reaching a World Cup semi-final and winning another Six Nations Grand Slam on the field.
Off the field, there were record turnovers for the union, while there was a rare period of success at regional level with the Scarlets winning the old PRO 12 and Cardiff lifting the Challenge Cup.
As CEO he put a huge amount of emphasis on building relationships with the four professional clubs and healing old wounds following the tumultuous reign of Roger Lewis.
Phillips is currently the chair of PRL and would be a decent person to come back to guide the CEO.
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Carwyn Jones
The former First Minister for Wales is a huge rugby fan and has previously been interviewed for the role of chair but missed out to Collier-Keywood back in 2023.
Jones is thought to be hugely popular with many community clubs and many within the game favour the former First Minister becoming WRU chair.
The 59-year-old has no experience in elite rugby but could help improve the WRU’s reputation with the Welsh Government.
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Moving forward, many would argue it is essential that the WRU works with the Welsh Government to improve the game at all levels.
Clearly Jones could help the WRU in this regard, but whatever happens next some tough decisions need to be made to fix the men’s professional game.
Andrew Williams
The former Cardiff board member is a serious operator and is heavily respected throughout the game.
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Williams is currently an independent non-executive director on the WRU board who understands the professional game and what needs to be done to put it on a firm footing.
The wider Welsh public does not understand how much of a coup it is to have an A-lister like Williams on the board.
He was the longest serving FTSE 100 CEO in the UK at Halma PLC, where he stayed for 18 years.
Williams helped Halma grow from a business worth £500m into a company worth £10bn.
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He would have the respect and trust of all key stakeholders, and he is also the right man to drive change.
Gareth Davies
The appointment of the former Wales outside-half would bring one of the most respected administrators in the game back to the fore. He previously served six years as chair of the WRU.
During his tenure, Davies worked diligently to modernise the WRU’s governance, reducing the board from 24 members to 12 and appointing high-profile non-executive directors, including Amanda Blanc.
Davies combines deep rugby knowledge with a strong grasp of business, making him a compelling candidate.
He is also a figure capable of rebuilding trust.
Jennifer Mathias
The appointment of Jennifer Mathias would represent a credible and financially astute option.
Mathias, who hails from Pembrokeshire, has served on the board of the Welsh Rugby Union as an independent non-executive director since October 2023.
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She previously held the role of group chief financial officer at Rathbones Group, a £1.2 billion wealth management business listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Mathias has also worked at Lloyds TSB Group, where she occupied a number of senior management positions.
In 2013, she was named in the PAM Top 40 Under 40.
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She is well placed to succeed Richard Collier-Keywood and would represent a strong choice were the priority to improve the WRU’s financial position.
Critics of the WRU’s proposals to reduce the number of professional clubs to three have frequently argued that the governing body has lacked sufficient transparency in its financial dealings.
Whatever structure Welsh rugby ultimately adopts, it will be dictated by financial realities, and Mathias would constitute a compelling option.
Hayley Parsons
Parsons is arguably Wales’ most successful female entrepreneur and was previously on the Cardiff Rugby Board.
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She founded Go.Compare and has helped build many successful Welsh businesses.
Parsons is a vocal critic of current chair, Collier-Keywood, so you can expect her approach to be the polar opposite if she were his successor.
“The Chair is extremely skilled in the world of government, consultancy and law, but that’s not what the WRU needs at the moment,” wrote Parsons in a letter sent to community clubs.
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“We need people who understand how to engage with people – with WRU staff, community and regional rugby fans and stakeholders to bring them along on this journey.
“Spending millions of pounds on unnecessary consultants and legal fees will not repair the reputational damage this is causing Welsh rugby.
“This money should be ploughed back into the game. I believe we have some extremely credible and talented people on the WRU board who are more than capable of safeguarding the future of Welsh rugby.
“When you run a business, you have to make tough decisions and, what is crucial to the success of any strategic change is how you follow the process and treat the people affected.”
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That’s a flavour of what to expect if Parsons was chair.
Rob Regan
The former chief operating officer at Principality is hugely passionate about Welsh rugby and has been meeting a number of key stakeholders within the game.
The Squires Egg Run 2026 sets off from Squires Motorbike Café near Selby and heads across the county to Pickering.
The annual rideout, involving motorbikes, trikes and scooters, benefits Yorkshire charities with participants asked to make cash donations and optional Easter eggs on arrival.
It will be directed and managed by marshals in hi-vis vests along a designated and fully marked route.
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For the first time, North Yorkshire Police will be attending the event with police motorbikes, cars, a trailer, and a new high‑visibility digital display truck that will show safety messages to motorcyclists and other road users throughout the day.
Driving the route, the truck will display clear, timely reminders about safe riding, pre‑ride checks and the shared responsibility all road users have in keeping each other safe.
It aims to provide a visible reminder of the importance of road safety at the very start of the motorbike season in North Yorkshire when significantly more riders will head out onto the county’s 6,000 miles of road.
Marshals in orange hi‑vis will manage the fully marked route, with video recording in operation. Riders are asked to respect other road users and keep noise low through villages. The run concludes at Galtres Retreat with marshal guidance.
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The police presence aims to ensure everyone gets home safely – motorcyclists are disproportionately represented in the number of road casualties and fatalities.
Inspector Clive Turner, of North Yorkshire Police’s Roads Policing Group, said: “The start of the biking season is always an exciting time, but sadly it’s also when we tend to see an increase in serious collisions.
“The digital display truck gives us a new, highly visible way to reach riders with simple but vital safety messages.
“Our aim isn’t to spoil anyone’s fun – it’s to help make sure everyone gets home safely.
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“This Sunday’s activity marks the launch of our wider engagement plan with the motorcycle community for the busy summer months ahead”.
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