The outdoor walk around King’s Park has been planned for later this month to build on their work in the city to bring people together – including a successful book club initiative.

A mental health support charity is looking to continue to help bring people together across Stirling with their latest ‘walk and talk’ initiative.

The Back Onside group, headquartered in Cambusbarron, aims to help people improve their wellbeing and protect their mental health.

The organisation has already expanded a popular book club at a Stirling shop which attracted a strong response of locals keen to use the power of reading to connect and make new friends.

But the charity has decided to go further and launch their outdoors project in the city’s King’s Park at the end of this month, with people urged to come along for a one-hour walk, meet other people and have a chat in a low-pressure environment.

The informal status of the gathering is designed to take the pressure off those coming along and enjoy the spring weather.

Back Onside founder and CEO, Libby Emmerson, also hailed the potential impact of gatherings such as the ‘walk and talk’ sessions on reducing the pressure on stretched mental health support services.

Ms Emmerson said: “Here at Back Onside, we’re doing everything we can to continue supporting people in our local community and beyond with their mental health.

“Peer-to-peer support is so important – sometimes it’s just about having a chat, feeling listened to, and realising you’re not on your own that can be vital for someone struggling.

“That’s why we’re excited to launch a walk and talk group – a relaxed space to get some fresh air, enjoy gentle exercise, and meet new people. “As demand for our services continues to grow, initiatives like this also play an important role in easing some of the pressure on our one-to-one and crisis call-out support, which remain extremely busy.

“We’re seeing first-hand the impact of the cost of living on people’s mental health, so this is a no-cost, low-pressure way to get out of the house.”

The sessions will kick off from the gates of the park, near Stirling Golf Club, beginning at 10.30am on April 29 – with no cost and all welcome.

Game of Thrones and Blue Lights star Michael Campbell has died aged 35 after battling motor neurone disease – and he shared a heartbreaking final post just weeks before his death

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Game of Thrones actor Michael Campbell posted a poignant message just weeks before his passing, in which he expressed having “lots to live for and lots planned”.

Michael Campbell, who featured in the television drama Blue Lights and Game of Thrones, has died at the age of 35. The acclaimed actor, who won one of Britain’s most prestigious drama accolades for a “legendary” wheelchair-using portrayal of Richard III, had been living with motor neurone disease (MND) before his death, reports the Mirror.

The performer, also recognised as Michael Patrick, received the devastating terminal diagnosis in February 2023 and died on Tuesday at NI Hospice. His wife Naomi announced the tragic news via social media, stating: “He lived a life as full as any human can live,” she said.

Naomi continued: “Mick was an inspiration to everyone who was privileged enough to come into contact with him, not just in the past few years during his illness but in every day of his life. Joy, abundance of spirit, infectious laughter. A titan of a ginger haired man.”

In his final Instagram post from February, he shared: ” 3 years of having mnd. Still s**** craic. Health update: Basically me and @nomsheehan were in hospital for over a week there – speaking to doctors and getting tests done etc. Talking about risks and implications of getting the trache put in. What day to day life would be like after the operation.

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“In short I’m not going ahead with the tracheostomy. I had confirmation from it would be around 6-12 months before I could get home due to lack of staffing resources. Thanks so much to everyone who helped push this – from senior social workers, to politicians, to the chief executive of the hospital. Everyone has tried so hard, but there just isn’t the staff.”

“Also, my neurologist gave us the news that I likely have about 1 year left (obviously he can’t say for definite and we still have hope for the drug trial to buy some more time too). So I don’t want to risk a significant amount of that time being in a hospital bed.

“Thanks so much for all the donations to the GoFundMe, even though I didn’t go ahead with the trachesotomy – it will still go towards providing me with specialist care as I enter the final stages of life. I’m still overwhelmed by all your generosity.

“Anyway – still lots to live for and lots planned – here’s my wee godson Micheál visiting me in hospital.”

The ITV presenters discussed reports about the boxer’s love life

I’m A Celebrity South Africa presenters Ant and Dec poked fun at David Haye on the ITV series over his reported ‘throuple’ relationships.

Former world champion David can currently be found on the All Stars version of I’m A Celebrity. Filmed last year, the series marks David’s return to the jungle after he came third in the the series won by EastEnders actress Charlie Brooks in 2012.

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David has been in a relationship with model Sian Osborne since 2020. However, recent years have seen reports emerge that he’s been in ‘throuples’. A throuple is a relationship between three people.

Having been linked to Saturdays singer Una Healy several years ago, reports emerged that David and Sian used exclusive dating app Raya to specifically look for a third person to join their relationship.

On Wednesday night (April 8), the rumours of David’s love life dominated I’m A Celebrity South Africa. Teasing what was coming up in the episode, Ant said: “We hear all about David Haye being in a relationship with two women at once. As it’s better known as throuple.”

Dec added: “It is no picnic, let me know tell you folks. Especially as a boxer, he once got punched so hard he saw double. He looked into the crowd and saw four girlfriends. Imagine that.”

Later on in the episode, TOWIE star Gemma Collins was talking to former Emmerdale actor Adam Thomas about David calling her out for drinking water during an eating trial. Gemma was furious that David didn’t support her when she went up against former Coronation Street actor Craig Charles.

“I just can’t get over that David Haye – instead of thinking, ‘go on girl’ – actually refused me water. That’s evil,” she said. To which Adam replied: “Don’t dwell on it… At the same time, you’ve got to see from his side.”

After it was pointed out by Adam that as a fighter David’s ‘background to ours is completely different’, Gemma proceeded to bring up the rumours about David’s life away from the ring.

She asked Adam: “He wants to win, he’s in it to win it… do you think all that throuple stuff is true?” A stunned Adam said in shock: “What, him and two girls? You’re lying!”

Gemma proceeded to say that ‘it’s everywhere in the press’, calling David a ‘geezer’ before claiming he’s ‘in a permanent throuple’. Bursting out laughing, Adam couldn’t get his head around the word ‘throuple’.

“Yes! Do you think he denies them water,” Gemma joked in another comment that left Adam in hysterics.

Following the segment, Ant and Dec used the opportunity to fire jabs at David for the second time in the episode. Dec said: “I’ll tell you what, it must be busy in David Haye’s house. Him and his two girlfriends

Ant stated: “Don’t forget that bloke in his bedroom. Every night he shouts in the microphone ‘let’s get ready to’ throuple.”

Meanwhile, former Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan became visibly upset on Celebs Go Dating in 2024 as she discussed her connection with David and speculation that she was involved in a ‘throuple’ with him.

“I’d known him for 10 years. We did a reality show together. I remember the first time seeing him in the jungle, I was like ‘wow.’ It was quite something – it’s really hard for me to talk about.

“He had a girlfriend and an open relationship. I didn’t mean to fall in love with him, but I did. We did have this amazing connection together – we were like fire. It was weird – I think he does love his girlfriend and he loves me as well. It just brings me to a part in my life that was quite dark,” she said.

When pressed on suggestions she had been involved in a throuple, Helen responded: “No [it wasn’t]. I was in love with him. I wouldn’t have enjoyed watching the man I was in love with have sex with another woman, that’s not for me.

“I had communication with his girlfriend, but I felt very guilty. I didn’t feel nice about it all. It really upsets me because I don’t mean to hurt other people but I was just really lonely. I found it really difficult because it just happened. It’s not nice on another girl and I should’ve known better.”

Dramatic footage shows chaotic scenes on the platform as violence breaks out before two people were arrested, with police increasing patrols.

Four teens were left with stab wounds after scenes of what police have described as “serious disorder” unfolded at a train station on Tuesday night. Footage circulating online from Tenby train station shows a large group gathering on one of the platforms at around 9.50pm on April 7.

In the video, one individual appears to be surrounded as punches are thrown by a group of young people, with shouting and raised voices heard throughout the altercation. At one point, a male voice can be heard saying: “He just stabbed me, he stabbed me.”

Police confirmed an individual was in possession of a knife during the incident, The Mirror reports. Four people sustained stab wounds and are currently receiving medical treatment. Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

A 16-year-old and a 19-year-old have been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault and remain in police custody. Officers were called to the scene and say the situation was quickly brought under control.

The area has been secured, and an increased police presence is expected as investigations continue. British Transport Police are leading enquiries into the incident.

A spokesperson said: “We understand an incident of this nature will cause concern, and there will be an increased police presence in the area to provide reassurance.” Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact British Transport Police or Crimestoppers anonymously.

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The local authority is expected to decide on an application for a project in Burniston, near Scarborough, involving a process known as “proppant squeeze” – a smaller-scale type of fracking which is not covered by the current moratorium.

Friends of the Earth warned on Thursday (April 9) that other communities could face similar developments nearby unless the government takes action to include proppant squeeze in the ban.

The government said it will “ban fracking for good and make Britain a clean energy superpower to protect current and future generations”.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a method of extracting oil and gas from shale rock by pumping liquids deep underground at high pressures to release the gas trapped inside.

The government ended its support for the practice in 2019 after an Oil and Gas Authority report found it was not possible to accurately predict the probability of tremors associated with the activities.

However, proppant squeeze is still allowed because it uses lower volumes of fluid and sand.

In October, energy secretary Ed Miliband vowed to permanently ban fracking, warning the drilling was “dangerous and deeply harmful to our natural environment”.

Friends of the Earth said its concerns are growing that this pledge will not ultimately live up to local communities’ expectations if the low-volume fracking technique can continue.

While the Labour government ended new licences for onshore oil and gas, areas in the north, midlands and south east of England are already licensed for exploration and production, it warned.

The group also cited comments made by energy minister Michael Shanks, who told a Westminster Hall debate in December that the evidence base “is not there at the moment to suggest that low-volume hydraulic fracturing activities have the same associated risks as fracking for shale gas”.

In a report written for the campaign group, leading geologist Stuart Haszeldine, of the University of Edinburgh, outlined evidence that low-volume fracking activities at Preese Hall and Preston New Road in Lancashire in 2019 triggered earthquakes that were felt by nearby residents.

Prof Haszeldine wrote this demonstrated how earthquakes from both large volume and small volume fracking are “equally large and equally unpredictable”.

“Regulatory permission for low-volume fracking does not remove the risk of unpredictable earthquakes,” he added.

Ahead of North Yorkshire Council’s decision, Friends of the Earth said the volumes of fluid proposed for use at Burniston are higher than those used in the week leading up to the highest recorded earthquake at the Preston New Road site in 2019.

Tony Bosworth, a climate campaigner for the group, said: “The government has rightly committed to banning fracking.

“It has triggered earthquakes, blights our countryside, won’t cut UK energy bills, is deeply unpopular with communities and fuels the climate crisis.

“Ministers must reassure communities by banning all forms of fracking – failure to act will undermine Labour’s credibility.”

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Mr Bosworth said planning authorities should also hold off on deciding fracking applications until the government’s position becomes clear.

Prof Haszeldine said: “Developers are probing to find exemptions from current rules.

“That means locations with sandstone or limestone reservoirs could be drilled and fractured with water and proppant to aid the production of onshore oil and gas, whilst earthquakes could be triggered or felt 15km away.

“The rules need to be more tightly written to safeguard residents against poorly understood effects, not simply hoping that developers get good outcomes.”

North Yorkshire Council will consider the application and its proposals when it meets on April 24 at Scarborough Town Hall.

Cllr Heather Phillips, the council’s executive member for corporate services, said: “We know that this is a planning application that has attracted significant public interest, with more than 1,500 representations made about the proposals.

“As is the case with all planning applications, members of the committee will carefully consider all representations prior to any decision being made.”

A government spokesperson said: “This is a decision for the local authority.

“We will ban fracking for good and make Britain a clean energy superpower to protect current and future generations.”

He is midway through the punishing cycle from Perth to Brighton, before he pulls on the trainers for the weekend’s marathon around the south coast city.

Perth lorry driver Danny Linney is racking up the miles in a different way as he takes on a gruelling endurance fundraiser for a cancer charity.

The 43-year-old is set to complete the first half of a punishing eight-day schedule which saw him set off from Perth on Saturday morning with the task of cycling all the way to the English south coast for a finish in Brighton.

But if hitting the pedals for a 550-mile journey through the changing weather conditions wasn’t tough enough, Danny will then run the 26.2 miles of the Brighton Marathon on Sunday.

It’s all being done to support Macmillan Cancer Support, with the cause one close to Danny’s heart after a close mate’s continuing fight with the disease.

Danny said: “There is a friend of mine and my wife’s who has got cancer just now and he is really providing my main inspiration for all of this.

“He currently has stage four cancer and just in the last year, I thought that while that has been going on, I came up with the idea of running the marathon as I’ve done a few of them in the past.

“But I wanted to do something different and the thought of cycling just came out of the blue really.

“I’ve got a bike in the shed and so that was me out training on it every day to get ready.”

An online fundraiser set up for the challenge has already soared past its initial funding target, with big-hearted locals and businesses already having committed more than £2500 for Danny’s efforts at the time of going to print.

“I’ve done some small challenges, but nothing on this scale – it’s off the chart really”, Danny continued.

“There is a strong head on my shoulders and I know the great work that Macmillan do in supporting cancer patients so it will be all worthwhile when I reach the finish line on Sunday.”

Danny has been supported by a number of local companies for his journey, including Binn Group, Simple Approach Estate Agents, PWD Driving Tuition, Perth Roofer, Fair City ABC, JM Richards Cycles and Daz Signs.

Go to www.justgiving.com/page/twocandannny to support Danny.