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Artemis II mission loses contact with Earth for 40 minutes

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Artemis II mission loses contact with Earth for 40 minutes

As Artemis II astronauts travelled behind the Moon, they lost contact with Earth for about 40 minutes.

The communications blackout had been expected as the spacecraft signals were blocked by the Moon. Nasa says the crew flew to the furthest point from Earth during the blackout at 252,756 miles (406,771km).

Once contact was regained, astronaut Christina Koch said: “It is so great to hear from Earth again.”

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Alison Hammond reveals she turned down Strictly Come Dancing hosting role

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Alison Hammond reveals she turned down Strictly Come Dancing hosting role

Alison Hammond has said she was approached to become a host of Strictly Come Dancingbut turned the offer down.

The presenter, who rose to fame as a contestant on Big Brother and is now known for hosting This Morning, was one of the names speculated to be in the running to replace outgoing Strictly hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.

Winkleman and Daly announced last year that they were stepping down from their position as presenters of Strictly; in recent years, the popular BBC series has been at the centre of a number of scandals.

Alison Hammond in February 2026
Alison Hammond in February 2026 (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

Speaking to the Radio Times, Hammond confirmed that she had been contacted about the vacant Strictly role, but was unable to accept it.

“I have, actually,” Hammond said, when asked about being approached for Strictly. “You didn’t expect that answer, did you? I can’t lie, I’m incapable.”

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“I’m so busy, babes, that I’m not sure it’s going to happen,” she continued. “It’s unrealistic. I’m so happy they considered me but, like Traitors, I can’t do it because everything clashes.”

Hammond is juggling a number of other projects, including a presenting role on The Great British Bake Off and the forthcoming Channel 4 series Your Song.

She continued: “I would have loved to have done it – anybody that gets it, they’re going to land the perfect job. But I’m so happy with everything I’ve got. What would I drop, to do Strictly?”

A number of other names have also been mooted as potential Strictly hosts, including Zoe Ball, Rylan, and Fleur East.

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‘Strictly Come Dancing’ airs annually on BBC One
‘Strictly Come Dancing’ airs annually on BBC One (BBC)

Asked about the speculation in January, Ball told The Times that Daly and Winkleman would be a “tough act to follow”.

“I think everyone’s name is being thrown into the mix,” she said.

“Obviously, there’s part of me that would love to do it. But I will still be watching, whoever hosts it.”

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Another possibility is dancer Janette Manrara, one of the current hosts of Strictly spin-off series It Takes Two.

Asked about the possibility by Woman and Home magazine this year, Manrara responded: “To be honest, I keep giving the same answer: who doesn’t want that job? If you love fun, family entertainment that makes people’s hearts smile, it’s the dream job. So, I think anybody that is in my field would love to do it, so we’ll just see. We’ll see what happens!”

The series will return to BBC One later this year.

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Football groundhopper record broken: Tony Incenzo completes life-long non-league dream

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A compilation image featuring different photographs of football groundhopper Tony Incenzo

Tony, who built a career as a radio sports reporter and is now a press officer for QPR, has been so determined to complete the challenge that he went part-time at work this season to be able finally finish his adventure.

He has also had to manage his personal life around his football trips, including marrying his wife in summer to avoid missing matches.

In 2023, he was presented with a trophy to mark his achievement of attending every one of QPR’s home matches for the past 50 years.

“I actually almost missed my daughter being born”, he says. “My wife went into hospital six days beforehand so I slept on a chair in the hospital for five nights and all the time I’m thinking, ‘QPR are at home in a few days’.

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“In the end, my wife had the baby, then I ran out of the hospital into my car and made it to Loftus Road just in time.”

Tony’s love of watching football at all levels means he has attended games in some unusual circumstances, including way below even non-league.

“I got a special invitation to go inside Feltham Prison in 2011 to watch a match as the only spectator,” he says.

“The prison team was in a league alongside companies with shift workers and obviously couldn’t play away games!

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“I had to get there an hour before kick-off, had my phone taken off me, got searched and then three prison guards took me and the away team through to a nice little ground in the prison with proper dugouts.

“It was just after the London riots so the prison team was full of good young players and they won the match.”

There was no programme or ticket to show for the trip and no half-time brew but the exit was memorable.

“On the way out, some of the prisoners came out of their cells and started lambasting the away side for losing the game,” Tony says.

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“One of their guys replied ‘lost the match but at least we’re going home, lads’ and we were then rushed out of there very, very quickly.”

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Belfast MLA calls for ‘managed response’ to avoid repeat of football match disorder

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Belfast Live

A child was struck by a bottle and at least nine police officers were injured during disorder before the match at Windsor Park

An MLA in South Belfast has called for a “managed response” to avoid a repeat of disorder before a football match in the city last week.

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A child was struck by a bottle and at least nine police officers were injured during disorder before the Irish Cup semi-final football match on Friday, April 3.

A fan parade of around 200 supporters, which was approved by the Parades Commission, resulted in fireworks, flares, and bottles being thrown ahead of the match between Cliftonville and Dungannon Swifts at The National Stadium in Windsor Park.

READ MORE: Teen charged to court after Belfast football match disorderREAD MORE: Irish Cup semi-final disorder sees child struck by bottle and nine police officers injured

A 19-year-old man has been charged with riotous behaviour, doing a provocative act, possession of fireworks/flares at a regulated match, indecent behaviour and attempted criminal damage. He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Friday, May 1.

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Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster on Monday, DUP MLA, Edwin Poots, said residents “may have to block the road” next time. He said local residents were “hugely angry” but added it was “not something new” as during last year’s final, also between Cliftonville and Dungannon Swifts, disorder broke out in the area.

Mr Poots said: “We have been engaging with the police over the past two years. The last time Cliftonville came to Windsor Park there were complaints the police were too heavy handed and that they were too restrictive to the Cliftonville football supporters.”

He said that for “some bizarre reason” the policing effort was reduced on Friday.

“On this occasion, they let off fireworks, they threw bottles, they threw eggs, they chanted IRA slogans and sang sectarian songs,” he continued.

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“I’ll make it very clear: the local community are not going to accept it anymore. If that involves them having to come out and sit on the road in large numbers and ensure that these people will not be able to access Windsor Park, that’s what’s going to happen.”

Alliance MLA, Paula Bradshaw, said the provocative behaviour should be met with a managed plan to ensure there is no repeat. The South Belfast MLA has said there is “no justification” for residents taking matters into their own hands.

She added: “Provocative comments are no way to respond to provocative behaviour. What is required after a minority of fans let themselves and the game down on Friday night is a managed response to ensure there is no repeat.

“People living locally have every right to be disgusted by anyone acting or chanting provocatively. However, there is no justification for taking matters into their own hands. Public authorities must have a comprehensive plan to address this situation and provide assurance that any attacks on public servants or sectarian chanting and provocative behaviour will be robustly dealt with.

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“I understand the local frustrations regarding what appears to have been an inadequate response to the situation on Friday. However, I am also concerned about the nine police officers who were injured during the incident. No public servant deserves to be assaulted or abused.

“I will work with the authorities to ensure such behaviour is prevented from occurring again in the area, but I will also reinforce that it is for the police and other authorities to deliver this assurance.”

Speaking on Saturday, PSNI South Belfast district commander Superintendent Finola Dornan said during the procession “provocative conduct” and “heavy use of pyrotechnics and fireworks” was observed.

“While the majority of football fans attending Friday evening’s match behaved in a peaceful manner, a number of people chose to engage in disorderly behaviour and provocative conduct,” she said.

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“During an approved public procession ahead of the match, which involved approximately 250 people, our officers witnessed provocative conduct and the heavy use of pyrotechnics and fireworks – despite various warnings being issued against this.”

She said there appeared to be a number of potential breaches of the Parades Commission determinations in relation to the procession which will be investigated.

She added: “The vast majority of fans were there to enjoy the match, however there was completely unacceptable behaviour from a proportion of fans both before and after the match, at what should have been an enjoyable and safe event for all attending.

“Police will not tolerate disorder or criminal behaviour of any kind and, as always, we will continue to work with football clubs to address any inappropriate behaviour linked to people attending matches and ensure that the local community is kept safe.

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“We will therefore be conducting a thorough evidence-gathering operation in the wake of last night’s occurrences.”

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EasyJet plane forced to ‘go around’ over ‘projectile’ fears on runway

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Belfast Live

There were reports of an ‘explosion’ and smoke on the runway reportedly caused by a wedding

An EasyJet flight aborted it’s landing after concerns over a ‘projectile’ on the runway. The incident happened in Orly airport, Paris when the plane was arriving from Venice, Italy.

Air Traffic control were concerned on Easter Sunday (April 5) at around 5:40pm, when smoke at ground level of runway 3 caused the pilot to pull up for the safety of passengers. According to La Parisien, mini-explosions could be seen with reports suggesting they were caused by fireworks.

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DailyStar reports multiple people were reportedly seen at the corner of Rue Lamartine and Rue du 8-Mai-1945 in Villeneuve-le-Roi (Val-de-Marne), which is close to Staf transport company’s warehouse. According to the French publication, a type of firework had been set off by the group as part of a wedding celebration.

A spokesperson for EasyJet told the La Perisien that “at no point was the aircraft struck by any projectile.”.

In a statement, easyJet said: “easyJet can confirm that the captain of flight EJU4874 from Venice to Paris Orly on 5 April elected to perform a routine ‘go around’ on arrival into Orly due to perceived fireworks in the vicinity of the runway. EasyJet’s pilots are highly trained in order to perform ‘go arounds’ as a precaution and in line with our procedures and the flight landed normally.

“At no point was the safety of the passengers onboard compromised. The safety and well-being of its passengers and crew is always easyJet’s highest priority.”

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E-bike and e-scooter fires reach record high amid online marketplace warnings

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Daily Mirror

E-bike and e-scooter fires reached a record high last year, an investigation has found, with concerns being raised over batteries sold through online marketplaces

FIRES caused by e-bikes and e-scooters hit a record high last year, an investigation has revealed, prompting warnings to riders about purchasing from online marketplaces.

Fire brigade statistics obtained by the Press Association reveal that 432 e-bike blazes were recorded across the UK in 2025. That represents a 38% rise from 313 the previous year, and is more than five times higher than the 84 incidents recorded in 2021.

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There were 147 e-scooter fires last year, marking a 20% increase from 123 in 2024. In 2021, that figure stood at 88. E-bike and e-scooter fires are frequently triggered by the failure of batteries, conversion kits or chargers.

Products purchased from online marketplaces have been found to carry a greater risk of malfunctioning than those sold by established retailers, as they are not subject to the same level of regulation.

Nick Bailey of BatteryIQ, which provides a system to monitor the safety of e-bike batteries, said the e-bikes and e-scooters involved in fires are “always cut-price products sold through online marketplaces with lax quality control”.

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He went on to say: “There’s also a growing black market in DIY and counterfeit batteries, particularly for delivery riders, built using battery cells reclaimed from used disposable vapes.

“I wouldn’t keep a battery in my home without continuous monitoring – regardless of what the manufacturer’s sticker says.” The Press Association submitted Freedom of Information requests to all 49 fire services across the UK, requesting figures for e-bike and e-scooter fires recorded annually between 2021 and 2025.

Thirty-seven services supplied comparable data. London Fire Brigade (LFB) logged far more e-bike and e-scooter fires last year than anywhere else, with 171 and 35 respectively.

Nottinghamshire recorded the highest number of e-bike fires (30) beyond the capital, with Greater Manchester following (13). Avon Fire and Rescue Service reported the next highest figure (10).

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Greater Manchester experienced the most e-scooter fires (13) outside London, ahead of Avon Fire and Rescue Service (10). Fires involving lithium batteries used in e-bikes and e-scooters can spread quickly and generate toxic vapour.

Eden Abera Siem, 30, died in hospital after firefighters rescued her when a blaze, which investigators determined was likely caused by a failing charging e-bike battery, erupted at her home on Lordship Lane, Wood Green, north London on 21 June last year. It marked the fourth fatal e-bike fire in the capital.

Lesley Rudd, chief executive of charity Electrical Safety First, said the problem of fires caused by substandard e-bike and e-scooter batteries is “swiftly becoming a runaway train that needs to be stopped”.

She continued: “Poorly made batteries and accessories, often sold via under-regulated online marketplaces, are of huge concern, and are a major route through which dangerous devices are entering people’s homes. Without strong and enforceable changes, lives are at serious risk and further loss of life is, sadly, inevitable.”

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Last week the Government unveiled three consultations outlining proposals to strengthen product safety across the UK, which include online marketplaces being legally obliged to “prevent, identify and remove dangerous products being sold via their platforms”.

Spencer Sutcliff, deputy commissioner of LFB, stated that the brigade is “extremely concerned around the issue of e-bike and e-scooter fires, and the devastating impact these fires can have on lives and livelihoods”.

He further noted that its firefighters “continue to be called out to a worrying amount” of such incidents. Privately-owned e-scooters have been prohibited from Transport for London’s (TfL’s) network since December 2021 owing to their fire risk.

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This ban was extended to non-foldable e-bikes across the majority of TfL services in March last year, following an e-bike catching fire on a platform at Rayners Lane Tube station.

Private e-scooters are forbidden from use in public spaces throughout the UK, though they are frequently ridden illegally across many urban areas.

Legal trials of rental e-scooters on roads have been under way in towns and cities across England since July 2020. Under UK legislation, e-bike motors are required to cut out upon reaching 15.5mph. However, police are increasingly discovering that many have been tampered with to achieve significantly higher speeds.

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Sue Davies, Which? head of consumer rights policy, said: “Online marketplaces are increasingly saturated with unsafe products. E-bikes and e-scooters are just some examples of items that can pose serious risks to consumers, while also undercutting responsible businesses that comply with the law.

“The Government has launched a much-needed consultation on updating the product safety framework, including duties for online marketplaces to prevent unsafe products from being sold by third-party sellers.

“These duties must be strong and enforceable, with clear measures in place to protect consumers and reduce the risk of fires and other harm.”

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Dissident republican Easter parade held in Derry

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There was a colour party of people wearing face coverings, sunglasses and paramilitary-style dress, carrying the Irish flag and republican flags

dissident-republican-easter-parade-held-in-londonderry (1)

A dissident republican parade has taken place in Derry.

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The annual Easter Monday parade in Derry marks the Easter Rising against British rule in Dublin in 1916.

The parade started in the Central Drive area of Creggan before making its way to the City Cemetery.

A police helicopter monitored the procession overhead but there was no visible police presence on the ground.

There was a colour party of people wearing face coverings, sunglasses and paramilitary-style dress, carrying the Irish flag and republican flags.

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A crowd of a couple of hundred people followed the parade to the cemetery, including a number of young people with their faces covered, some carrying petrol bombs and planks of wood.

The event, billed as the “Unfinished Revolution National Easter Commemoration”, concluded with speeches at the cemetery.

A small fire was started in the middle of the road outside some shops in the Creggan area.

The organisers of the parade – the National Republican Commemoration Committee – had applied to the Parades Commission for permission for the Easter Monday event.

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In its determination allowing the march to proceed, the commission explicitly prohibited the wearing of paramilitary-style clothes and flags linked to proscribed organisations.

In a statement the PSNI said that from the beginning of the parade to when it dispersed, “a number of participants were observed to be wearing paramilitary-style uniforms, believed to be an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000, and a breach of the Parades Commission determination”.

Area Commander of Derry City and Strabane, Chief Superintendent Gillian Kearney, said: “The outcomes of our investigations from previous years illustrates that where offences occur, we will investigate.

“As this is now a live investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment any further.”

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‘I felt a pain in my neck when I drank alcohol – it was a big red flag’

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Wales Online

Claire initially felt a pain in her neck when drinking alcoholic drinks

A young woman who felt a pain in her neck when sipping alcohol with friends was devastated to find out what it meant. Claire Dougherty said she started experiencing pain in her ear and down the left side of her neck in August 2025.

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The 22 year old says her neck also felt ‘tense and swollen’, but that the pain would worsen every time she drank alcohol. Claire visited her doctor about the symptoms the same month, which they initially put down to allergies, and prescribed her with allergy medication.

But medical assistant Claire says the pain would come ‘roaring back into her neck’ every time she drank alcohol – and made her neck feel so stiff it felt like she could barely move. Claire, who would drink socially with friends, says she initially thought the pain only happened when she drank vodka.

Yet she later discovered it would return when drinking wine and gin too. After her symptoms continued to worsen, Claire returned to her doctor in September 2025.

Doctors ordered Claire a CT scan, which revealed that she had a tumour wrapped around her windpipe that was slowly suffocating her. Claire had a biopsy taken and, on November 19, 2025, she received the devastating diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.

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The NHS lists pain in the neck, armpit or groin when drinking alcohol as a symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma. According to Healthline, the pain is caused by swelling in the lymph nodes or disease-affected tissue as a result of blood vessel dilation after consuming alcohol.

On December 3, 2025, Claire started the first of six rounds of chemotherapy treatment, which she completed earlier this month [February 11], and is now waiting to start radiotherapy treatment. Now, Claire is urging other people who experience similar symptoms to ‘push for testing’.

Claire, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, said: “I started having symptoms in the middle of August. It was all of this pain in the base of my neck on the left side and travelling up my neck into my left ear.

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“It felt like the most painful spot was my inner ear, I assumed that it was an ear problem that was then causing pain in my neck. I noticed that the front of my neck felt tense and maybe a little swollen and a little painful to touch.

“I just assumed that it was a lymph node, if anything, associated with the ear pain so I wasn’t that concerned about it.”

Claire says she became more concerned about the pain when it would worsen each time she drank alcohol. She visited her doctor with the symptoms in August 2025 and was prescribed allergy meds that didn’t help.

Claire said: “The first day that I really noticed [the pain] I had been drinking wine at dinner. The pain felt really tense and came on suddenly.

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“I went to the doctor pretty soon after that because the ear pain wouldn’t go away. I went to visit a friend that weekend and I was taking a bunch of allergy meds and not getting better.

“We went out to dinner and got drinks and I was halfway through a Moscow Mule and all the pain came raging back and my neck got so stiff. My ear hurt so much I couldn’t enjoy the rest of the dinner.

“A couple weeks after that I went out with my dad to dinner, we were at a work event with an open bar and I got a [hard] seltzer. I was halfway into this seltzer and the pain came roaring back into my neck – it was so stiff I felt like I could barely move it and there was a stabbing pain in my ear.”

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Initially, Claire thought the pain was caused when she drank vodka but later discovered that it would happen when drinking other types of alcohol too. Claire said: “For a little bit every drink was a vodka drink so I kind of told myself maybe it was something [to do] with vodka.

“[I thought] I had an intolerance to vodka but then eventually I had a gin drink and a wine and they made it hurt too so it didn’t really matter what alcohol it was.”

Claire says the pain would make her ‘nervous’ and ‘worry’ about going out with friends. Claire said: “I was drinking socially if I was going out with friends but it was tough because I had no reason I couldn’t be drinking, but it would make everything so much worse.

“I was very in my head about it and I got nervous every time I would drink because I was worried that it would make it [the pain] bad.”

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Claire says she returned to her doctor in September 2025 who felt her neck and noticed a lump and had a CT scan and surgical biopsy in October 2025. After receiving the stage two blood cancer diagnosis on November 19 2025, Claire has since undergone six rounds of chemotherapy treatment and is waiting to start radiotherapy.

Claire said: “Luckily I don’t need surgery. I had to do six rounds of chemo, which I finished on February 11, so I’m coming out of that right now and I’m starting radiation for my neck area. I’m doing 20 sessions of that for four weeks.”

In addition to pain when she drank alcohol, Claire says she’d also been experiencing breathlessness, which she later discovered was due to the tumour crushing her windpipe. Claire said: “The breathlessness had been getting so much worse and then it hit a point where it was really bad because the tumour was wrapped around the trachea [windpipe].

“[After having chemotherapy treatment] I can breathe great now, the tumour is basically gone.”

Claire is now urging other people who experience similar symptoms to push for testing. Claire said: “My advice is to take every test possible. Push for them [doctors] to order as many scans as possible, I know that’s easier said than done.

“I hated going and getting all of the testing done but it’s worth it to know what’s going on in your body and to get that peace of mind.”

WHAT IS HODGKIN LYMPHOMA? (Info from NHS)

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  • Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that affects the white blood cells that help you fight infection.
  • The most common symptom of Hodgkin Lymphoma is a painless lump, usually in the neck, armpit or groin.
  • Other symptoms include pain in your neck when drinking alcohol, high temperature, night sweats and itchy skin.
  • Treatments include chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

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Mrs Gullon retires from Yarm’s Levendale Primary School after 30 years

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Mrs Gullon retires from Yarm's Levendale Primary School after 30 years

From ‘she’s one of our own, she’s one of our own’ to ‘Mrs G, Mrs G’.

You could have been forgiven for thinking it was a raucous Teesside crowd roaring on Middlesbrough in their pursuit of promotion to the Premier League.

Mrs Gullon says goodbye to Levendale Primary School after almost 30 years Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Instead, it was the thunderous noise from dozens of staff and students past and present who were giving the treasured teaching assistant a glorious send-off after nearly 30 years in the classroom.

Mrs Gullon says goodbye to Levendale Primary School after almost 30 years Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Family, friends and neighbours joined with current and former alumni of Levendale Primary School in Yarm to cheer and chant Jill Gullon into retirement, as she walked out of the place that has been her second home for the last time on Thursday.

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The 69-year-old started out as a dinner lady at the school back in 1998, when Bryan Robson was in the dugout at the Riverside Stadium and Pete Sampras was dominating on the grass courts at Wimbledon, but made the decision to call time on her career before the Easter break – and is looking forward to “being able to go on holiday in term time now”.

Jo Lewis, headteacher at the Yarm school, described Mrs Gullon as an “inspirational teaching assistant” who would leave a “lasting legacy of commitment to the children at Levendale”.

Mrs Gullon says goodbye to Levendale Primary School after almost 30 years Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Her final day was marked with a special assembly, tributes from those she taught and worked with over the last three decades, and a final walkout with Boro-themed anthems sung by pupils she’s spent as much time discussing football with as reading and writing in recent months.

She said: “It has been so overwhelming and emotional. I am so grateful to have been able to work in such a lovely school and get such a lovely reaction from everyone.

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“I was so shocked and surprised to see people I taught such a long time ago or worked with all those years ago – I really am very touched they have taken the trouble to come along.”

Mrs Gullon, who spent her final school year helping pupils in Years One, Two and Five and also ran the school’s unofficial Boro Breakdown fan club, admitted she had mixed feelings about her retirement.

Mrs Gullon says goodbye to Levendale Primary School after almost 30 years Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

“I am sad to be leaving the place I have gone into every day of the week and have such good friends and memories – but I am looking forward to having a holiday during term time,” she said.

“It has been really special to work with so many amazing children and touch so many lives.

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“I will never forget the experiences we have shared together. The sporting activities and the extracurricular activities, but also sitting and working with them and helping them to achieve their potential. I loved making learning fun.

“The staff have been amazing. We’re a real team at Levendale who really support each other when the going gets tough.”

After spending a few months on lunchtime duties, Mrs Gullon began gradually increasing her time at the school in other roles before she eventually applied for a teaching assistant role, which she “loved from day one”.

“That was the aim of the job at the beginning, to develop literacy skills and help where I can.

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“I’ve loved helping the children be the best they can be, especially those to whom learning doesn’t come easy. There is nothing more rewarding seeing the smile on their faces when something they’ve been struggling with finally clicks.”

Mrs Gullon says goodbye to Levendale Primary School after almost 30 years Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Headteacher Mrs Lewis added: “We are delighted that Mrs Gullon got the send off she deserves after 27 years at Levendale.

“She has been an inspirational teaching assistant, often going above and beyond to enhance the education of the children.

“Her enthusiasm for the role has made her a much-loved member of staff and she will be really missed by the whole school community.

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“Often dedicating her own time to extra-curricular activities, such as visits to watch Middlesbrough Football Club and sporting events, she leaves a lasting legacy of commitment to the children at Levendale.

“We wish her every happiness in her well-deserved retirement.”

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Hollyoaks spoilers: Catastrophic tragedy as legends feared dead in crash week | Soaps

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Hollyoaks spoilers: Catastrophic tragedy as legends feared dead in crash week | Soaps
A devastating and high-octane week ahead in Hollyoaks as lives are left in the balance (Picture: Lime Pictures)

Hollyoaks is delivering the unmissable drama once more next week, with a chaotic and explosive stunt week set to change everything for a number of fan-favourites as major characters are feared dead.

The Channel 4 soap is currently in the middle of a high-octane week following Clare Devine’s (Gemma Bissix) escape from prison, with the storyline in question set to reach a dramatic peak in the coming episodes.

But the drama doesn’t stop there, as the subsequent week will see the aftermath of the big scenes as questions are asked about what happened with Clare, while the arrival of a new family amid the exit plot of a main character proves catastrophic.

Frankie Osborne (Isabelle Smith), as viewers know, is excited for a fresh start after a traumatic few years. On the cusp of achieving her dream in heading to dance school in London, her nearest and dearest gather together to see her off in style.

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Emotional scenes ensue at The Loft amid her leaving party as Darren (Ashley Taylor Dawson), who gifts his daughter some new ballet shoes, delivers an emotional speech.

This proves overwhelming for Diane Hutchinson (Alex Fletcher), who heads to the bathroom, devastated at the prospect of missing all the milestones her children will hit when she’s gone. Leela Dexter (Kirsty-Leigh Porter) offers support.

Frankie smiles between Nancy and Darren in The Loft in Hollyoaks
Goodbye is said to Frankie – but will it be a tragic end? (Picture: Lime Pictures)

Frankie, meanwhile, prepares to exit the village she’s called home for years and she’s delighted to hear that Vicky Grant (Anya Lawrence) is going on a date with Charlie Dean (Charlie Behan).

The trio set off together as Charlie drives Frankie to her train. Tony (Nick Pickard), however, realises that they’ve left Frankie’s dancing shoes behind and offers to drive to the station to catch up with them. Diane asks Leela to go with him, wondering if she might be good for Tony.

Charlie looks unsure of himself as he sits beside Frankie in the drivers seat in a car in Hollyoaks
Charlie and Frankie try to beat the clock to the station (Picture: Lime Pictures)
Jonah, Beth and Caleb Keane in a removal truck in Hollyoaks
The new clan, the Keanes, head to Hollyoaks village – but tragedy strikes soon after (Picture: Lime Pictures)

Elsewhere, new family the Keanes are excited for a fresh start and thus they set off on a drive to their new home in Hollyoaks village – to surprise their family that already live there.

Son Caleb (Lewis Walton), however, notices on the way that his phone needs charging and thus undoes his seatbelt to locate the device.

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Frankie, meanwhile, realises that she left her ballet shoes behind and, panicked, she informs Charlie, who turns the car around, speeding up to keep time.

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They find themselves behind the Keanes’ removal van and, when overtaking fails, Frankie goes to beep the horn, which causes Charlie to swerve, clipping the van as both vehicles go off road!

Later, Leela is helping Tony in navigating to the station when they encounter the van turned over on the side of the road.

The question is: is everyone still alive? Are there casualties? And will everyone make it to the hospital on time before tragedy strikes?

Elsewhere in the village…

Donny Clark (Louis Emerick) is on the case of finding what really happened with Clare and thus presses for information. Cleo McQueen (Nadine Mulkerin) tries to shut him down while Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) confronts Sienna Blake (Anna Passey) on her manipulation.

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Sienna holds onto Cleo's face at the flat in Hollyoaks
What is Sienna up to? (Picture: Lime Pictures)

Donny turns his attention to Warren but both fail to realise that Jenson Cole (Ryan Clayton) is listening in. Jenson later confronts Warren over his conversation with Donny but Warren tells him to keep out of it.

Misbah Maalik (Harvey Virdi), meanwhile, urges Donny to stop looking for answers on what happened to Clare.

Elsewhere, Dodger Savage (Danny Mac) offers Cleo support with a hug, much to devastated Theresa’s (Jorgie Porter) dismay. Theresa later tells Dodger that she’s not the nice person he thinks she is.

Kathleen-Angel (Naledi Rapotu) isn’t pleased that she’s been grounded from seeing Ant (Brook Debio) and tells her mum that she heard her conversation with Dodger. The question is: just what has she overheard?

Cleo, meanwhile, tells Sienna that she’s still the woman she fell in love with.

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Artemis 2 astronauts’ emotional final message before losing contact with Earth

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Manchester Evening News

Four astronauts travelling around the moon sent a heartfelt message before a communication blackout as they passed the dark side of the lunar surface on NASA’s historic Artemis 2 mission

The astronauts aboard NASA’s Artemis 2 mission around the moon delivered an emotional six-word message before losing contact with Earth.

On 1 April, NASA launched its 10-day crewed mission to send humans farther into space than ever before. It marks the first human flight to the moon since 1972.

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The four astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft successfully completed a lunar orbit in the early hours of Tuesday, 7 April, during which they lost contact with Earth for a period. However, the crew left a touching message before communications were severed.

“As we prepare to go out of radio communication… to all of you down there on Earth, and around Earth – we love you from the moon.”

Astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch of the US and Jeremy Hansen of Canada lost contact with Mission Control for approximately 40 minutes. This was an anticipated communication blackout as they passed over the dark side of the moon.

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The crew reported witnessing the features of the mysterious lunar far side, as well as a total solar eclipse from their vantage point.

NASA confirmed that the spacecraft reached its maximum distance from Earth during this mission, “suspected to be” about 252,756 miles, venturing farther from our planet than any human has ever travelled and surpassing Apollo 13’s record set in 1970.

The crew have since re-established contact with Mission Control and are now making their journey back to Earth.

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