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
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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…
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“It’s a lovely wool rug. Lovely to look at and lovely to walk on.”
Eleanor Fleming Regional Content Editor
11:34, 29 Mar 2026
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Adding a rug to a space can be a great finishing touch – whether it’s for extra colour, style or cushioning. At Dunelm, there is currently 50% off selected items, including one rug that shoppers are praising as ‘lively to look at and lovely to walk on’.
Dunelm’s half-price Elements Wave Natural Border Wool Rug is currently available from Dunelm for £49 to £229, depending on the size chosen. It is crafted from 100% wool for ‘a warm underfoot feeling’, and there are hand-carved scalloped edges for a ‘premium finish’.
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Dunelm’s Elements Wave Natural Border Wool Rug features a neutral central colour, with bolder colours on the scalloped edges, making it a standout piece. To care for it, Dunelm recommends using a suction-type vacuum to ensure that rotating brushes don’t damage the wool pile.
Or, in the case of an accidental spillage, shoppers should ‘blot with a clean and dry cloth’. It is also worth noting that due to the woollen composition of the rug, there might be some fibre loss, but shoppers can trim any loose fibres with household scissors.
For those with more traditional tastes, Dusk has the Zahra Persian Style Machine Washable Rug in the colour natural, which is ‘arriving soon’ and costs £35. This comes in two sizes and four colours, and is described as having a ‘modern take on classic Persian style’, with a detailed pattern and warm, earthy tones.
Or at Habitat, part of the Sainsbury’s Group, there’s the Habitat Scalloped Stripe Beige Flatweave Rug (120 x 170cm) for £48.75, down from£65. This features a ‘striking pattern’ and it is made from hardwearing natural fabrics, making it ‘neutral and timeless’, the site says.
But back to the Elements Wave Natural Border Wool Rug from Dunelm, shoppers have left an average overall 4.1 out of five rating. One said: “Good rug and good value, pleased with thickness and design, looks more expensive than it was.”
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A second said: “It’s a lovely wool rug. Lovely to look at and lovely to walk on.”
While a third wrote: “We bought this rug for our lounge and we love it, it’s just as described and good material, have received lots of compliments.” Others left some feedback, with one writing: “So chic and looks so expensive… has a lot of wool shed at the beginning which is pretty normal of a rug this price – but looks great.”
Someone else said: “It’s a soft and cushioned underfoot rug. Only thing you should be prepared (for is) that wool rugs naturally shed, so it’s shedding a lot… but as it was only a “not polyester” option, we knew and bought it.”
Paige Rose, founder of creative agency Hapn Creative, rebuilt her brand after bricks were thrown through the window of her home, where she lives with her five-year-old son.
She said: “Last year brought a situation no business owner or parent should have to face, when my home where my young son lives was targeted.
“It was deeply unsettling, but I made a conscious decision not to allow that moment to define either myself or the business I had built with such care.
“Instead, I chose to move forward with clarity and resilience.
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“It was deeply unsettling, but I made a conscious decision not to allow that moment to define either myself or the business.”
Instead, she used the experience as fuel to drive her business forward.
Over the past four years, Hapn Creative has grown from a one-woman operation into a multi-award-winning agency with a team of seven.
The company now serves clients across the UK and internationally.
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Hapn Creative has also gained national recognition, winning the title of The Best Social Media Strategy in the UK by Business Awards UK earlier this month.
That brought its total to eight awards, alongside a recent nomination for a Wigan Business Award.
Rose explained: “What began as a solo venture four years ago has since evolved into a refined creative agency working with a team and clients across the UK and internationally, and receiving national recognition for our work is a moment I’m incredibly proud of.
“For me, this journey represents more than growth.
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“It’s about building something with strength, integrity and intention, regardless of the challenges faced along the way.”
Hapn Creative now serves clients across the UK and internationally, helping clients achieve more than 184 million views on Instagram reels. (Image: Supplied)
Hapn Creative has delivered notable results for its clients, helping them achieve more than 184 million views on Instagram reels and generating significant ROI through social media strategy.
The agency has worked on high-profile international projects, including collaborations with global brands such as Temu, Brainzyme, and The Productivity Method.
It has also produced branding and creative work for businesses in Milan and Paris, helped a London office brand fully occupy a building through digital marketing, and produced content for Isle of Man TT riders – going on to receive recognition and appreciation from TT rider Davey Todd.
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In addition to running the agency, Rose has built a network of business professionals through Ignition Networking, most recently hosting entrepreneur Vicky Owens as a keynote speaker.
She was also featured on Ms Owens’ podcast, currently ranked in the top 10 business podcasts in the UK, where she spoke about the brick attack.
As the business continues to expand, Rose said her focus remains on delivering work that is “commercially impactful and creatively elevated” while building a brand that represents a more considered, global standard within the industry.
Everything you need to know as car crashes off the M6 into water shutting motorway for over nine hours – Manchester Evening News
Need to know
One casualty was rescued by firefighters
The empty southbound carriageway of the M6 in Cheshire this morning during the closure
M6 closed for hours after car crashes into water near Greater Manchester
A stretch of the M6 in Cheshire was closed for more than nine hours this morning (Sunday, March 29) after a car left the motorway and landed partially in water
The serious crash was reported at around 12:40am between junction 19 for Knutsford and junction 18 for Middlewich and Holmes Chapel.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service said they were responding to “a road traffic collision where a car has left the M6 south carriageway and come to rest on the edge of a brook with the rear of the vehicle partially in the water.”
One casualty was rescued around 45 minutes later and handed over to paramedics. Their condition is not yet known.
A fire service technician was deployed into the water to help rescue the casualty and stabilise the car, which was then winched to a fire engine.
The carriageway was shut for more than nine hours whilst the vehicle was recovered and repairs carried out to the barriers before it eventually reopened at around 10:30am
The iconic character was first the hero of children’s books before making it onto television
Over the generations, there have been numerous iconic children’s TV shows, stories, and characters – like Iggle Piggle, Postman Pat, SpongeBob SquarePants or Bob the Builder. Each of these famous characters really takes people from all ages on a trip down memory lane and back to the good old days when our biggest concern was whether Bob the Builder could really fix it.
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One small village, nestled in the middle of some lovely countryside, happens to have played a part in creating a very popular children’s character. Elsworth is a small village located around nine miles southeast of Huntingdon.
At first glance, it may look like any other village in the county, but it has a unique claim to fame. It is not only home to some gorgeous cottages but it also played a part in creating a much loved children’s character, Thomas the Tank Engine.
Reverend Wilbert Awdry OBE, was born in Hampshire but had later moved to the village in 1946 when The Railway Series, featuring iconic Thomas, was published. Reverend Awdry served as a rector from 1946 to 1952.
According to Cambridge Past, Present & Future, Awdry had just become rector of the parish of Elsworth when the success of his first two books led the publisher to ask Awdry to write a new book for the Railway Series every year. He did so for the next 24 years, writing five titles at Elsworth before moving to serve another parish.
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A blue plaque commemorating the Reverend was unveiled in December 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of his first children’s books. Cambridge Past, Present & Future put the plaque on the old rectory to mark the books he wrote there.
You may be wondering what else makes the village so special. Well, a pub, two schools, and a church are just a few reasons why Elsworth is lovely.
The George and Dragon, situated on Boxworth Road, is a popular gastropub with a focus on fresh fish and seafood from local suppliers as well as high-quality meats such as dry aged beef.
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The village is also home to two schools – Elsworth C Of E Primary School, and Elsworth Pre School – making it an ideal location for families with young children.
The village, complete with many thatched cottages and farmhouses, is home to a 14th century church, the Holy Trinity Church (where Awdry was a rector), along with a local shop run by villagers to offer the basics including fresh bread, sweet treats, and meat.
According to Rightmove, properties in this village had an overall average price of £707,500 over the last year. The majority of properties sold in Elsworth during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £781,000. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £340,000.
What followed was an unlikely journey. He went to film school, spent time in India chasing creative opportunities, then returned to the UK. He also helped a YouTube channel grow to 70,000 subscribers in just a year. In a more unexpected turn, he found himself running a surgical supply company after a surgeon discovered his content online.
Doting mum Segen Ghebrekidan’s 17-year-old son Solomon was brutally murdered. She tells of his bravery, his heroism, and how he’s not just another victim of knife crime
When a 17-year-old lad from the next road gave Segen Ghebrekidan a hug as she returned home at midday, something felt strangely unsettling. The teenager had happily tucked into a Sunday roast with her family before now and mucked around on the PlayStation with her 18-year-old son, Solomon. But as he walked back to his house on August 15, 2019, Segen, 41, recalls: “I had a strange feeling something wasn’t right.” Her intuition was spot on, as less than two hours later, her life changed forever.
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Until her encounter with the youth, Segen’s day had been full of hope. After years working as a carer, she had just completed the final registration process to start a four-year course in health and social care – hoping to build a brighter future for herself, Solomon and his sister Angel, who was just three at the time. She says: “I had an interview that day and everything seemed positive.”
But Segen never got to start that course. For, at around 1.30pm, Solomon was walking through Brixton, where they lived in south west London, with a female friend, when they passed the same lad near a kebab shop. Exchanging a fistbump greeting, before leaving him and turning into another street, they realised the teenager was following them.
Catching Solomon and his friend up, the youth confronted them, leading to an argument that turned violent. Protective over his female friend, Solomon tried to shield her – pulling the lad away. But, as they struggled, the 17-year-old pulled out a knife and stabbed him repeatedly — six times in the chest, neck and arms. Three witnesses watched in horror as Solomon collapsed onto the pavement and a friend raced to fetch his mother.
Segen doted on Solomon, who was born on June 26, 2001 at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south west London, a few years after she moved to Britain from Eritrea. Sociable and caring, he made friends easily. Segen says: “He lit up any room he walked into. People just loved him.”
A devoted Manchester United fan, Solomon loved playing football and hanging out with friends on their estate. Studying painting and decorating at nearby Lambeth College, he hoped to have a career in the trade. Raised as a Rastafarian, following the beliefs of his father, who lives in Ethiopia, Solomon was active in the Ethiopian World Federation and regularly helped out at his church.
Segen says: “He played the drums during gatherings, helped prepare food and drinks and was always volunteering. He did charity work and was very well known in the community. He would come with me to community events and help people. If neighbours needed shopping carried upstairs, he would help them. Everyone spoke well of him. He was respectful, kind, always smiling and he adored his little sister. He would do anything for her.”
But as Segen raced to Solomon’s side that August day, she could see that she was losing him. Surrounded by paramedics and police officers, all fighting to save him, Segen recalls: “They were pumping blood into him. There were ambulances, police cars and even a helicopter.”
Doctors worked frantically for 45 minutes, performing emergency treatment behind red medical screens. But his injuries were too severe and he died at the scene. “My world stopped,” Segen whispers. “Half of my heart went with my son that day.”
The killer fled, but was tracked through CCTV and DNA evidence recovered from burnt clothing discovered during police searches. Five days later, on August 20, the 17-year-old handed himself in to police, accompanied by his mother. During interviews he repeatedly answered “no comment”.
But the girl Solomon had protected – who now lives under witness protection – testified in court. And six years ago, in March 2020, following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court, a jury found him guilty of murder. His identity protected because of his age, he was sentenced to detention at Her Majesty’s Pleasure – the juvenile equivalent of a life sentence – with a minimum of 14 years before becoming eligible for parole.
Angela Moriarty from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Solomon was the victim of a violent and unprovoked attack.” Semen says: “My son died a hero. He stepped between the blade and the girl walking beside him, shielding her as violence erupted.
“’Run,’ he told her. She escaped. Solomon did not. That bravery has never really been acknowledged, but I am so proud of him. He was so selfless.” Since Solomon’s death, Segen has been forced to refute rumours that he was part of gangland culture. She says: “That simply wasn’t true. He had friends everywhere, but he wasn’t part of that life.”
To her horror, Solomon’s grave has been vandalised repeatedly, and threatening videos linked to gang culture appeared online, mocking his death. “It was incredibly disrespectful,” she says. In fact, Segen was so worried about knife crime and the risk of her son becoming involved that she regularly searched his room and pockets. She says: “He used to joke and call me ‘the police officer’.”
Nine days after his murder, Segen organised a memorial gathering at Brixton Town Hall for Solomon, attended by 500 people. Galvanised by her grief, since her son’s murder, Segen has poured all her energy into fighting knife crime. According to the latest government statistics, in the year ending March 2025, there were just over 50,000 police-recorded knife offences in England and Wales – 205 of them were murders.
A voracious campaigner, she organises marches against knife crime, under the banner ‘Brixton Says No to Knife Crime’ and has protested outside Scotland Yard. She’s also created support groups for women whose lives have been shattered by youth violence.
Through community fundraising events and selling donated clothes and books at stalls, she has raised thousands of pounds, funding several bleeding control kits, which are installed around the community in places like shops and chip shops, to help treat victims of knife crime or accidents. She says: “I even carry one myself now. I show people how to use them. If it saves just one life, then something good has come out of this tragedy.”
At the Baytree Centre – a social inclusion and educational charity in Brixton – she runs weekly workshops for women and girls whose families have been touched by knife crime, offering everything from exercise and baking classes to open discussions about grief and trauma.
She says: “It’s a safe space where women can talk about what they’ve been through. Before this, nothing like it existed.” Where knife crime is concerned, Segen believes education is key, as the police cannot stamp it out alone. She says: “The police cannot control everything. Parents and communities need to be involved.”
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Meanwhile, Segen says the home she shares with Angel, now nine, feels empty without Solomon. She says: “He was brave. He thought about someone else before himself. My son was a hero. He was not just another victim of knife crime. And I will spend the rest of my life making sure people remember that.”
*Follow Segen’s campaign on Facebook at Solomon Legacy, and on Instagram at Solomon_Legacy_18
“The car boot sale is of substantial social and economic importance to Seaham and the wider area,” a planning statement read.
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“On a typical Sunday, around 230 sellers and over 4,500 buyers attend, generating significant spend that benefits local traders, catering outlets, and the visitor economy.
“It is more than a market: it is a valued community meeting place, supporting social interaction, affordable opportunities for families, and the re-use and recycling of goods.”
In January, it was revealed the ITV presenter, 34, and Gillingham footballer, 32, were ‘over for good’ after a 10-year relationship, shocking fans.
Both parties initially remained silent on the split, but sources soon alleged that there had been a ‘breach of trust’ from Bradley, leading to Olivia ending the relationship.
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Now, however, more details have surfaced about their split, shedding light on the reasons why they never actually made their marriage legally binding.
In June 2023, Olivia and Bradley held a lavish wedding at the five-star Bulgari hotel in Knightsbridge, for which she stunned in a £30,000 Galia Lahav gown and adorned the venue with 25,000 individual flowers.
Their wedding was documented on an ITV reality show (Picture: ITVX)
The pair had reportedly intended to formalise the marriage weeks later, but Olivia is said to have decided against it after uncovering issues that caused concern.
Now, recent reports claim that multiple women have accused Bradley of being unfaithful during his relationship with Olivia.
In one alleged incident, he is said to have spent the night with a woman he met on a night out while Olivia was reportedly out of the country.
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The Sun reported that Bradley spent the night at the woman’s house in Wythenshawe, before leaving the next morning and never contacting her again.
But it was reportedly never legally binding (Picture: ITVX)
The couple were married in 2023 (Picture: @bradleydack1)
The source continued, saying: ‘Olivia was ringing his phone all night and couldn’t get hold of him’.
Last week, Olivia hinted at more infidelity being revealed, writing on a selfie posted to Instagram in which she appears visibly emotional: ‘And reading “hey girly” texts on my break, gals come to the front today please and then I’m moving on with my life ty x’.
After Bradley and Olivia’s split was first revealed, she later took to Instagram as she updated her followers on the move into her new London pad, which she hadn’t ‘expected’ to be living in alone now.
The Kiss FM radio presenters and podcast co-hosts were out with friends at the Flute Bar in Soho, where they were seen locking lips, appearing to confirm that they were now more than friends, having previously shut down speculation that there was a spark between them.
Sources claimed Bradley felt ’embarrassed and upset’ upon seeing the snaps, which led to him unfollowing Olivia on social media.
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Brenda Fielding, from Atherton, marked the milestone by visiting the mill where she was employed in her younger years, bringing with her memories of its industrial past and sharing stories from her time on the mill floor.
Ena Mill welcomed Brenda and her family for the celebration, including a birthday cake provided by the team on site.
Reflecting on her return, Brenda joked about being “young and good looking” during her time working at the mill.
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The visit offered a link between the building’s heritage and its present-day role, with Brenda’s story highlighting the mill’s place in the local community across generations.
Holidaymakers can now book direct flights with EasyJet to Seville, with operations starting on August 2, 2026.
Flights are scheduled to run twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays, serving both city break enthusiasts and holidaymakers seeking stays of a week or more.
Noted for its flamenco heritage, sun-soaked plazas, iconic orange tree-lined streets, and rich festival calendar, the Andalusian capital presents travellers with an array of attractions.
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This new route comes as part of EasyJet’s ongoing expansion efforts around Liverpool.
The airline is adding another aircraft to its Liverpool base, leading to greater flexibility for passengers booking flights and package holidays across Europe and North Africa.
EasyJet’s new direct flights to Seville push their portfolio to 41 destinations in 18 countries, offered from Liverpool.
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