The Hays Travel team, made up of 13 staff, set themselves the challenge of walking 900 miles—roughly the length of the Rockies—on an in-store treadmill throughout March to raise funds for the Great Aycliffe Cancer Support Group.

They exceeded their target by walking a total of 1,126 miles, raising £1,389 for the charity.

Rebecca Labron, assistant manager at Hays Travel Bishop Auckland, said: “We chose this charity as cancer has affected us in many different ways.

“We really wanted to do something to help Great Aycliffe Cancer Support Group as they offer so many services to people going through such a hard time.

“They offer free patient transport to hospital appointments, chemotherapy and radiotherapy bags, support groups, and breaks for patients and their families.”

Ms Labron said the group is particularly challenged by rising fuel costs.

She said: “They are currently being hit with the cost of fuel prices, as they rely on volunteer drivers for their ever-expanding transport service.

“By raising this money, we can make a real difference to the charity and help with some of their costs.

“Allison and her team really are amazing people and are worth their weight in gold.”

Allison White, founder of the Great Aycliffe Cancer Support Group, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Hays Travel for raising such a fantastic amount of money for Great Aycliffe Cancer Support Group.

“Every penny will go directly towards supporting local cancer patients, helping us provide free patient transport to hospital appointments and vital support services for families across County Durham and Darlington.”

Hays Travel is the UK’s largest independent travel agent and supports community fundraising through its Local Community Partnership scheme.

Each branch receives a £500 annual budget to support charitable activities, with funds split between youth mental health causes and charities of the branch’s choice.

Over the past year, the national scheme has contributed nearly £170,000 to good causes across the UK.

Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins) has managed to keep a secret for nine months in Emmerdale – but how much longer is that going to last?

Last year, Charity had a one night stand with Ross Barton (Michael Parr) after an argument with Mackenzie Boyd (Lawrence Robb).

At the same time, Charity had decided to become Sarah Sugden’s (Katie Hill) surrogate. The young woman isn’t able to carry a baby, but really wanted to become a mum. Charity, Sarah’s gran, decided to step forward and carry her and Jacob Gallagher’s (Joe-Warren Plant) baby for them.

She then slept with Ross, and discovered her pregnancy shortly after. As Charity and her family celebrated the positive step for Sarah and Jacob, Ross smelt a rat and knew something was up.

Charity spent months in denial, adamant she absolutely wasn’t carrying her and Ross’ second child. She even got a DNA test, but created a fake document that stated Ross wasn’t the father to stop him from pestering her.

Given this is a soap, it’s incredibly surprising that Charity has managed to keep this secret hidden for so long. Everything will change next week though, as Charity goes into labour – but can she really let Sarah and Jacob bask in the wonder of becoming parents for the first time to a child that doesn’t even belong to them?

Star Emma Atkins recently explained to us how Charity is feeling ahead of the birth: ‘I think because it’s a one-way ticket now – there is absolutely no going back – she’s got this ability to compartmentalise and fully accept that this lie must stay so deeply buried, and therefore, she’s legitimising it all with her own self-belief of, “It’s a selfless act, what I’m doing. I’m giving this baby to my granddaughter because she doesn’t have the means biologically herself to do that”. I think that feeling of giving her something that she couldn’t have naturally is her way of legitimising what she’s done.

‘It’s full throttle now. It’s, “I will have this baby, and I will give it over to Sarah, and her and Jacob can bond with the baby, and it’s their baby”. It’s as simple as that.

‘And as much as Mack knows half the truth and Ross knows all of it, I think at this point in time she feels she can trust them both, because it’s not in their interests to throw any dynamite into the mix at the moment. I think she’s quite okay with the fact that they will keep it to themselves, certainly for now.’

While Charity seems adamant that she won’t have any connection to the baby, no-one really knows how Ross is going to react. A couple of days ago, amid an attempt to get revenge on Joe Tate (Ned Porteous), Charity pretended to go into labour. Ross found them both, and panicked a fair bit when he learnt that Charity was about to give birth.

Later, Charity warned Ross and told him that he needs to reign it in a bit when she actually goes into labour. While it’s possible that Ross might make Charity’s live even more stressful when their baby is born, Emma has confirmed there is no way these two residents could ever happily raise their new child together.

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‘Oh, good God no! Are you kidding?’, she stated.

‘Ross is great in his own entity, and so is Charity, and I think the friction that they have is brilliant. It works because they could never be together, because of this love/hate.

‘A lot of the feedback has been that people like seeing them together in that squabbling way, but in terms of a couple, absolutely no way! But they do have a mutual respect for one another as well, which I think comes through when they write for the characters.’

Reflecting on the journey Charity has been on since she discovered her pregnancy, and how this compares to other chaotic storylines, Emma told us: ‘It is so hard. It’s like when someone asks your favourite song. With the journey that my character’s been on over the years, I could pluck out a thousand storylines that I’ve absolutely loved doing, because every day is a new day in my job.

‘I get the scripts, and there’s always that journey that she goes on. But I think having to carry the baby and tell so many lies, as an actor, having to juggle that level of being so naughty, it’s good to play. I like being a rebel in that way, but a rebel that often comes good.

‘She does it for the love of Sarah and to help Sarah have a little family of her own, so hopefully that keeps her in good stead.’

MORE: Emmerdale’s Robert and Ross unite to take down Joe for good

MORE: ‘Very angry’ killer Kim has another target in Emmerdale ITVX release as she plots murderous consequences

MORE: Emmerdale spoiler video shows catastrophic moment Cain could destroy his marriage to Moira forever

Declan Rice has told Manchester City that Arsenal will be ‘ready’ for this weekend’s huge Premier League clash and insists the Gunners will go out to win at the Etihad Stadium.

Mikel Arteta takes his Arsenal team to Man City on Sunday boasting a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

The Gunners missed the chance to move 12 points clear at the weekend as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth.

Arsenal then saw title rivals Manchester City close the gap at the top of the table to six points with an emphatic 3-0 win at Chelsea.

Given the situation at the top of the Premier League, Sunday’s game has been described as a ‘title decider’ by Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney.

It has been suggested that a point at the Etihad would be sufficient for Arsenal to get over the line and secure a first Premier League title since 2004, but Rice insists they are only thinking about the three points.

Asked whether Arsenal ‘had to win’ their huge clash against title rivals Man City, Rice told TNT Sports: ‘Yeah, of course, you have to win every game, we want to win every game.

‘Our record has been amazing this season and these type of games… it’s why we play the game.

‘We’ll be ready for it, we’ll be ready to go. How much do you want it, you know? I know I’ll be ready and the boys will be ready, so let’s go.’

Rice was speaking after Arsenal booked their place in the semi-finals of the Champions League with a narrow 1-0 win over Sporting.

Kai Havertz scored an injury-time winner out in Lisbon last week and the return leg at the Emirates Stadium ended goalless.

Rice added: ‘I’m delighted. I’m so, so happy. We now want to go one step forward than last season and get to the final.’

‘Frustrating? No…we’ve just got to another semi-final. Who cares what people think.’

Analysing Arsenal’s performance against Portuguese champions Sporting, Chris Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘We know what is going to happen, we know what the narrative is going to be.

‘A lot of people will rip Arsenal to shreds with the way they attacked or, should I say, didn’t attack.

‘Towards the end of the game, it is about seeing it through – the objective tonight was going through and finding a way.

‘It wasn’t perfect by any means, but defensively they do a lot right. It has been a struggle for a while and things do need to change…’

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MORE: How Man Utd can line up against Chelsea after fresh blow sparks defensive crisis

MORE: Danny Murphy makes prediction for potential Arsenal vs Atletico Madrid semi-final

MORE: Sporting suffer injury blow with star Mikel Arteta wanted at Arsenal ruled out

‘I find it sickening when the town is stinking’

A key member of a local community group has resigned over a lack of action to resolve what she has described as a town’s “sickening” stink.

Warrenpoint Harbour Authority generated a community forum in 2024 after facing heavy local criticism over a perceived bad odour from its port since 2023.

It has been claimed that tonnes of Refuse Derived Fuel from Newry waste management company Re-Gen awaiting shipment for incineration has caused a “disgusting stench”, with further claims the forum has lost “credibility” to clear the town’s air.

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Now former forum member Fionnuala McKinley who lives just yards from port has had enough and said: “It is with frustration that I believe the time has come for me to resign from the forum.

“When I joined it was with a sense of hope, that we could all work together to address issues causing concern for residents.

“However, I believe we have achieved nothing. For many residents the most pressing issues are the disgusting stench, and the noise that can continue until, 2am or 3am in the morning caused by boats being loaded.

“This is April and since March the stink has been so bad I needed to wear face covering at times, to be able to breathe easily in my garden.

“The weather hasn’t even become warm yet. What will it be like when the weather warms up?”

In September last year WHA stated that it had extensive engagement with Re-Gen with the Newry company agreeing to remove all RDF from the port with a proposal to no longer store the waste there, but instead transported directly to ships, for export.

Only Solid Recovered Fuel was to be stored in future on the site which the WHA was told should be non-odorous.

As a result of extensive talks and an independent environmental audit report the WHA set up the community forum to provide a key communication basis on potential bad smells from the port located in the centre of the town.

The forum membership is made up from people living or working within the Warrenpoint area including people with specific expertise.

Ms McKinley added:”I believe that before the forum attempt any other projects they need to resolve the smell and the noise.

“I no longer believe the forum has any credibility and if I remain on it, I too will have no credibility.

“In recent weeks we have seen lots of celebration about the economic impact of the WHA and about the wonderful relationship between WHA and Re-Gen. I find it sickening when the town is stinking.

“It’s time for an independent environmental impact study, addressing the impact on aquatic life, a sociological study on the impact on residents of living with stink and noise.

“I had such hope when I joined the forum , it is with-a sense of sadness I believe I must now resign.”

In August Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn MP was lobbied by the community group Rostrevor Action Respecting the Environment and offered his “great sympathy with those impacted by the bad smell”. But he added that it was a devolved matter for Stormont to sort out.

Following the forum resignation, a spokesperson for Re-Gen said:“It is important to say that Re-Gen has had an operation at Warrenpoint Harbour for over 13 years, and we remain compliant with all aspects of our waste management licence at the harbour. We pro-actively engage with all regulatory bodies.”

The WHA was contacted by the LDRS for comment.

On its website at the time of the forum launch, chairperson of WHA Dr Gerard O’Hare said: “Following the publication of the independent environmental audit report into odour and fly issues with some port operations we are determined to implement the findings of the report and work more closely with the local community across a range of areas.

“To this end, we believe that the new Community Forum offers local people a great opportunity to engage with us on how we can continue to support the community.”

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The likes of Top Gun, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Legally Blonde and Silence of the Lambs will be at Vue in Hamilton.

Vue Cinema in Hamilton is bringing a roster of much-loved film favourites back to the big screen this spring as part of a special anniversary season celebrating some of Hollywood’s most iconic titles.

Returning to the big screen is 80s classic, Top Gun. Catch Tom Cruise as a daring young student pilot who learns a few things from a civilian instructor that are not taught in the classroom.

Showing from May 15, fans can also enjoy a re-release of the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, for a limited run.

A trio of classic female-led comedies will also be returning as part of the season, beginning with everyone’s favourite diarist in Bridget Jones’s Diary – starring Renée Zellweger in the titular role – which returns for its 25th anniversary from April 17.

Also celebrating 25 years since its initial release is the ultimate sorority-queen-turned-lawyer caper Legally Blonde starring Reese Witherspoon (returning May 22) and an epic ensemble cast (including Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy and Rose Byrne) in Bridesmaids, returning 15 years after its initial release from June 5.

The iconic thriller The Silence of the Lambs – featuring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster in career-defining, Oscar-winning roles – returns from April 24.

Other highlights include the anniversary releases of the riotous comedy The Birdcage, the cult fantasy adventure Highlander, and the feel-good family favourite Space Jam.

Tracy Wanless, General Manager of Vue Hamilton, said: “At Vue, we know there’s nothing quite like experiencing a great film on the big screen.

READ MORE: Lanark man to represent UK at WorldSkills Shanghai 2026

“This anniversary season gives audiences the chance to revisit some of their all-time favourites the way they were meant to be seen, on the big screen, while also introducing these iconic titles to a new generation of film fans.”

For more information and to book, visit myvue.com

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READ MORE: Motherwell town centre property up for sale with potential to convert into flats

It was intense night as the two camps went head to head again

I’m a Celebrity South Africa viewers called out a challenge after Gemma Collins lost against Scarlett Moffatt.

It’s been an intense second week for the 12 famous faces in South Africa, particularly after the camp was divided into two upon the arrival of Harry Redknapp and Jimmy Bullard.

The two newcomers lead the camps of the Rhinos and the Lions, as they go head to head repeatedly in the hopes of winning a meal for their fellow team members.

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As both camps settle down for the night, Ashley and Craig gathered the celebrities for an announcement. Ashley sent King Harry and Scarlett (Lions), and Craig sent King Jimmy and Gemma (Rhinos) to Kings Croc Station for another chance to win a pennant flag at The Creeper Train.

Down at Kings Croc Station, the stars found out that while Harry and Jimmy will travel in luxury, Scarlett and Gemma will be sleeping on a bunk bed ready to complete their challenges.

The women moved to the next carriage for the first trial: they must hold onto handles suspended from the ceiling for as long as possible, while being covered in critters and blasted with gunk. The first one to let go loses.

As they were covered in insects, both got sprayed in the face by an unknown liquid. As Gemma jumped back from the force, the handles ripped out of the wall as she still held on.

Announcing that Scarlett had won, viewers felt that Gemma unfairly lost as she didn’t technically let go of the handle bars during the challenge.

On X (formerly known as Twitter), @snoopsaj wrote: “Nah that was out of order there” as @fansvfavourites added: “why is gemma being penalised for shoddy game design? the useless things just snapped”.

@xxncisaddictxx agreed: “Kind of unfair in this case anyone could let go being pelted like that out of nowhere” as @mcflybiggestfan said: “Technically Gemma didn’t lose. She still held on to the handles. They just broke off”.

I’m a Celebrity South Africa airs on weeknights at 9pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.

LIV’s arrival shook men’s professional golf to its core by recruiting some of the game’s biggest names.

But even with major-winning stars such as Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, Koepka, Cameron Smith and Dustin Johnson, the breakaway tour struggled to attract television viewers.

Tournaments in Adelaide and Johannesburg have been successful sell-out events, but the wider ambition to create teams capable of attracting significant outside investment, in the way cricket’s Indian Premier League (IPL) does, has not materialised.

So financially LIV has not come close to offering a return on the kingdom’s massive investment. Meanwhile, many of their players have struggled to remain competitive against those playing on the established tours.

Although Koepka and DeChambeau won majors while competing on LIV, their players have rarely made an impact on the biggest stage. England’s Tyrrell Hatton was the only LIV player to contend at last week’s Masters.

Koepka’s decision to go back to the PGA Tour at the start of this year was a big blow, as was Patrick Reed’s decision to quit LIV.

Koepka took advantage of a hastily arranged returning player programme which was also available to Rahm, DeChambeau and Smith, who all declined. Whether that opportunity is still available remains to be seen.

More likely, LIV golfers who automatically face a one-year ban from the PGA Tour could follow Reed’s example and play a season on the DP World Tour to try to win back a card on the US circuit.

If Saudi Arabia decide to shut down the LIV project, they might look to invest in the DP World Tour to maintain some involvement in men’s professional golf.

The southbound carriageway of the motorway remains closed between the A56 at Edenfield and Junction 1 of the M66 at Walmersley.

National Highways said the road had been closed “due to a serious collision and flooding on the carriageway.”

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said earlier this evening that a man was receiving medical attention at the scene of the crash.

A man has been taken to hospital following a crash on the M66 earlier this evening (Image: Phil Taylor)

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) later said a person had been taken to hospital by the North West Ambulance Service.

It is understood that the North West Air Ambulance was also in attendance earlier this evening.

LIVE: All lanes stopped on M66 after ‘serious crash’ and flooding

Emergency services were called at around 5.15pm this evening (April 15) to reports of a crash heading south on the M66.

Pictures from the scene showed queueing traffic on one side of the motorway and people getting out of their vehicles to see what was happening.

A man has been taken to hospital following a crash on the M66 earlier this evening (Image: Phil Taylor)

Images later showed vehicles on the southbound side of the motorway being turned around by traffic officers so drivers could continue their journeys.

A GMP spokesperson said: “Officers have been called to a collision whereby a van has crashed into the central reservation.

“A man is injured and is receiving medical attention. The extent of his injuries is unknown at this time.

A man has been taken to hospital following a crash on the M66 earlier this evening (Image: Phil Taylor)

“The carriageways have been closed in both directions to enable emergency services to attend.

“The North West Ambulance Service and the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service are at the scene.”

READ MORE: M66 crash – man ‘receiving medical attention’ police say in update

READ MORE:  The M66 southbound shut between Edenfield and Walmersley

The northbound carriageway has since reopened.

A man has been taken to hospital following a crash on the M66 earlier this evening (Image: Phil Taylor)

A spokesperson for GMFRS said: “At around 5.15pm today (Wednesday, April 15), three fire engines from Whitefield, Moss Side, and Broughton fire stations, and the enhanced rescue unit from Ashton fire station, attended a crash involving a van into a barrier on the M66.

“Crews arrived quickly to make the area safe and help other emergency services in attendance. One person was conveyed to Fairfield General Hospital by North West Ambulance Service colleagues.

A man has been taken to hospital following a crash on the M66 earlier this evening (Image: Phil Taylor)

“Crews departed after roughly an hour and five minutes in attendance.”

North West Ambulance Service and the North West Air Ambulance have been contacted for further information.

It’s 3am. The room is dark, the house is silent, but your brain is suddenly wide awake.

Many people find themselves waking at roughly the same time each night and start to wonder whether something is wrong with their sleep.

Waking during the night is actually a normal part of sleep. Most people wake briefly several times, but usually fall back asleep so quickly they do not remember it the next morning. It becomes more of a problem when those awakenings last longer, or start happening at the same time every night, leaving you less refreshed the next day.

Sleep does not unfold in one long, uninterrupted stretch. Throughout the night, the brain moves through repeating sleep cycles that last around 90 to 110 minutes. Each cycle includes several stages: light sleep, deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, when most dreaming occurs. Most adults go through four to six of these cycles each night.

Towards the end of each cycle, sleep becomes lighter, making brief awakenings more likely. Deep sleep also occurs mostly in the earlier part of the night and becomes less frequent as morning approaches. That means waking in the early hours is not unusual.

Stress can make these awakenings feel much more noticeable. In the early morning, the body begins preparing to wake up and levels of cortisol, a hormone involved in alertness, start to rise. This increase is part of the body’s normal daily rhythm and helps us feel more awake as morning gets closer.

But if your mind is already crowded with worries about work, relationships or everyday pressures, a brief awakening can quickly turn into a full spell of overthinking. At night there are fewer distractions, so thoughts that might seem manageable during the day can feel louder and harder to escape. Unsurprisingly, stress and rumination are strongly linked to insomnia symptoms, and can make it much harder to fall back asleep after waking.

Daily habits can also shape when and how often people wake during the night. Alcohol, for example, may help people fall asleep faster, but it often fragments sleep later on and increases awakenings in the second half of the night. Caffeine can have a similar effect. Even when consumed in the afternoon, it can linger in the body for hours, making sleep lighter and increasing the likelihood of waking. Caffeine taken up to six hours before bedtime can still interfere with sleep.

Other factors matter too. Irregular sleep schedules, going to bed much earlier than usual to catch up on rest, late-evening light or screen exposure, or a bedroom that is too warm or too cold can all reduce sleep quality and make waking during the night more likely.

For some people, repeated awakenings can become part of a vicious cycle and, if they persist, develop into insomnia. After enough nights spent lying awake and worrying about sleep, the brain can start to associate nighttime with stress and alertness rather than rest. The more someone worries about being awake, the harder it can become to drift off again.

Small habits can strengthen this pattern. Checking the clock during the night, for example, can increase frustration and make the mind more alert. Treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia aim to break this cycle by changing the thoughts and behaviours that keep the brain switched on at night.

Small changes in routine can help the body settle into a steadier rhythm. These are often referred to as good sleep hygiene: habits that support healthy sleep. Keeping a consistent wake-up time, even after a poor night, helps anchor the body clock and stabilise sleep patterns.

Allowing time to unwind before bed, limiting caffeine and alcohol later in the day, and creating a calm sleep environment can also reduce night awakenings. If you lie awake for a long time, it can help to get out of bed briefly and do something relaxing until you feel sleepy again. That helps break the link between bed and wakefulness.

Managing stress during the day can also make a difference, reducing the chance of going to bed already tense and alert. Journaling, yoga, meditation, breathing exercises and mindfulness can all help calm the mind before sleep.

So while waking at 3am can feel unsettling, occasional nighttime awakening is part of how sleep works. Understanding what is happening in the body, and how stress and daily habits can shape sleep, can make those middle-of-the-night moments feel a little less alarming.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-led Senate on Wednesday rejected the latest Democratic attempt to halt President Donald Trump’s war in Iran, turning aside a resolution that would require the U.S. to withdraw forces from the conflict until Congress authorizes further action.

The 47-52 vote was the fourth time this year that the Senate has voted to cede its war powers to the president in a conflict that Democrats say is illegal and unjustified. Republicans say they will keep faith in Trump’s wartime leadership, for now, citing Iran’s nuclear capabilities and the high stakes of withdrawal. But GOP lawmakers are also anxious for the conflict to end — and they may not defer to the executive branch indefinitely.

Under the War Powers Act of 1973, Congress must declare war or authorize use of force within 60 days of its start — a deadline that will arrive at the end of this month. The law provides for a potential 30-day extension of that deadline, but lawmakers have made clear that they want the administration to soon lay out a plan for the end of the conflict.

After the 60-day or 90-day deadline, “it’s time to fish or cut bait,” said Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina.

“I think that the administration would be wise to put together what would look like a well-founded authorization of military force and a funding strategy,” Tillis said.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, has been talking to colleagues about putting together a resolution that would authorize the war beyond that time period. Republican Sens. John Curtis of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine have also said they would like to see congressional action.

“I have been clear from the beginning of this military operation that the President’s power is not unlimited as Commander in Chief, as the Constitution gives Congress an essential role in matters of war and peace,” Collins said in a statement. “If this conflict exceeds the 60 days specified in the War Powers Act, or if the President deploys troops on the ground, I believe that Congress should have to authorize those actions.”

Democrats say war is illegal, unnecessary

Democrats have vowed to force votes on the Senate floor as long as the war continues.

“As our troops continue to sacrifice whatever is asked of them, we senators need to do the absolute minimum required of us,” said Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, an Iraq war veteran who lost both legs in combat, before Wednesday’s vote.