Labelled as “reservation hijacks”, hackers accessed customer details that experts fear will fuel a spike in fraud, as travellers are duped into sending money directly to criminals.
Some users have reported receiving suspicious messages linked to their bookings.
Bookin.com says it has reset PINs for affected reservations and is emailing customers to warn them about the increased risk, but the Dutch firm is not disclosing how many people or which regions are involved.
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The platform, which has handled almost seven billion check-ins since 2010, confirmed in emails seen by the BBC that it had detected “suspicious activity” affecting several reservations and moved quickly to contain the problem.
The company says the attackers were able to obtain names, email addresses, phone numbers and details of past and upcoming stays, but insists no financial information was taken from its own systems.
Security specialists caution that this level of personal and trip-specific data is highly valuable to fraudsters.
Cybersecurity firm Norton has dubbed the emerging fraud “reservation hijacks” because criminals are contacting users while posing as hotels, inventing urgent issues with reservations to pressure people into sending money.
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Booking.com advice for users
These scams have existed for some time, but Norton’s Luis Corrons warns that the newly stolen data makes them “much more dangerous”.
Criminals can quote the real property, real dates and correct contact details, making their messages sound like routine customer service.
Booking.com is urging guests to be on high alert for phishing attempts.
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It stresses that it will never ask customers to share card details by email, phone, WhatsApp or text, nor request bank transfers that differ from the payment instructions in the original booking confirmation.
Do you use Booking.com? Let us know in the comments
The plane heading for New York diverted to Pittsburgh instead
Husna Anjum Senior Reporter and Olivia Bridge
18:59, 18 Apr 2026
A plane bound for New York diverted over a “possible bomb” alert. United Airlines flight UAL2092 from Chicago was heading for the famous city on Saturday (April 18) but diverted to Pittsburgh around morning local time.
It is reported the jet issued a 7700 squawk code – a four-digit code which is used to signal an in-flight emergency, just after reaching cruising altitude. Mirror reports the 7700 alert means aircrafts are often directed to a remote stand where passengers can be deplaned and the jet searched.
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Flight radar tracking shared on X showed the jet diverting mid-air due to the perceived danger. The tracker showed the plane flew off its course and headed towards Pittsburgh airport.
A flight tracking app reported the plane sent an alert declaring “‘possible bomb” as the reason for its diversion. The United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 is said to have squawked 7700 while further messages reportedly sent via ACARS, which have been shared on X, have shed further light on the emergency diversion of United Airlines flight UA2092, reports the Daily Star.
The Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating from Chicago O’Hare to New York LaGuardia, declared an emergency after concerns were raised on board, with the aircraft later diverting to Pittsburgh International Airport for what was described as a security sweep. The most serious line in the communications, “ONE SECOND COUNT PER BEEP / POSSIBLE BOMB”, indicates the crew believed there was a potential explosive threat, possibly linked to a repetitive beeping sound or an item matching that description.
Other text suggests the flight crew and ground teams weighed diversion options, with “CLE OR PIT” referring to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport or Pittsburgh, while “KORD KLGA” identifies the original route using ICAO airport codes. A timestamp of “CREW 15:42Z / 10:42 CDT” places the exchange at around 15:42 UTC (10:42am local time in Chicago).
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In incidents involving a reported “possible bomb” message, standard procedure typically includes the crew squawking 7700 to alert air traffic control to a general emergency and receiving priority handling for the quickest safe landing.
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The bridge was also the place where suspected witches were held
Cambridge has a rich history dating back hundreds of years and many ghosts are believed to haunt the streets and buildings of the city. One place said to be one of the most haunted sites in Cambridge is Magdalene Bridge.
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Now a popular place to start a punt tour, the bridge was once where suspected witches were punished. It was also used for ducking stools to humiliate people and is often said to be haunted by those who were believed to be witches.
One of the most ghostly tales to come from the bridge is one of a drowned woman who died in the river near the bridge centuries ago. Her spirit is said to linger around the river and bridge.
Some say she was a heartbroken lover in search of her special someone, or she was someone who fell into the river by accident. Locals and students have reported seeing a female figure near the water, especially at night or at dusk.
People have also reported suddenly feeling cold while on or near the bridge. It’s also been reported that people have heard unexplained splashes or footsteps while on the bridge.
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The nearby college, Magdalene College, is also said to be haunted. Outside the college, it is said that a former student mysteriously disappeared within the walls.
The former student’s ghost has reportedly been seen lingering in staircases or older rooms, while others have heard footsteps along empty corridors. If you have an interest in the haunted world, the Magdalene Bridge is worth a visit.
By then, the Select Car Leasing Stadium had already descended into pure, unfiltered chaos. Brian Barry-Murphy was up on the advertising hoardings, scarf whirling above his head, drinking in the adoration of a heaving away end. Champagne was being sprayed, Callum Robinson drenching himself as team-mates piled in, while thousands of Cardiff City supporters bounced in unison, voices hoarse, limbs everywhere.
“We are going up!” came the cry. Again. And again. And again.
One supporter burst from a hospitality box, phone pressed to her ear, screaming the words down the line to a loved one before joining in the chorus. Around her, strangers embraced like family. Smiles stretched wide, tears flowed. This was not just celebration – this was release.
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In seven years covering this club for me personally, there has been nothing like this.
For years, Cardiff City have lurched from one setback to another. Relegation. Managerial churn. Poor decisions. The heartbreak of losing Peter Whittingham and Sol Bamba, whose names were sung in a particularly poignant and emotional moment in the aftermath. The trauma surrounding Emiliano Sala. The wider struggles that have hit the communities in south Wales, from Covid to devastating floods.
And yet, through it all, fans kept turning up. Not even Mick McCarthy’s five centre-backs or finishing bottom of the Championship could keep them away.
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So when the moment finally came, in the most absurd, unlikely fashion imaginable, it felt almost surreal.
An Exeter goalkeeper scoring deep into stoppage time to deny Stockport. That just doesn’t happen to Cardiff City.
But maybe now it does? Maybe this is the start of something new.
Earlier in the day, it had felt like Cardiff were gatecrashing someone else’s party. One Reading supporter summed it up on social media pre-match: “No one here. Cardiff everywhere.”
They weren’t wrong. Nearly 3,000 made the trip officially, but there were dozens more scattered across the ground, tucked into hospitality, finding any way in.
There was a different feeling about it all from the start.
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Callum Robinson made his way over to his family before kick-off, father, wife, daughter, soaking in the moment. The away end, already in full voice, serenaded him with chants of “Robinson again, allez allez”.
But beneath the noise, there were nerves. And understandably so, perhaps, for this still young and relatively inexperienced bunch.
Reading started brightly and Cardiff wobbled. Dylan Lawlor endured a shaky opening, twice caught out before trudging over to the touchline after 17 minutes, where Barry-Murphy greeted him with an arm around the shoulder.
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The fans tried to ease the tension the only way they know how.
“Tottenham away, allez allez,” they sang just before the break. Then, with typical bite: “You Jack b******s, we’re coming for you!”
When Rubin Colwill’s header put Cardiff ahead, belief flickered. When Omari Kellyman added a second, it grew louder.
But this is Cardiff. It’s never simple.
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As news filtered through that Stockport were still ahead, the anxiety remained. Even more so when Reading pulled one back. The game teetered, the noise rising and falling with every update from Exeter.
Then came the first eruption.
On 68 minutes, the away end exploded – not for anything happening in front of them, but for Exeter’s equaliser to make it 2-2. Players glanced over. Fans grabbed each other. Something was shifting.
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Still, Cardiff needed their moment.
It arrived in spectacular fashion.
With four minutes left, Perry Ng picked up the ball 20 yards out and unleashed a rocket into the net. He didn’t hesitate. He sprinted the length of the pitch, straight to the supporters. Bedlam. Absolute bedlam. Somewhere in the chaos, a supporter’s crutch was hurled onto the pitch in celebration.
And then, the final twist.
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Deep into stoppage time, word spread like wildfire. Exeter had equalised again. The roar in the away end was deafening. The goalkeeper had scored. Ryan Wintle turned to the crowd, punching the air in sheer disbelief. The fans didn’t need telling twice.
Pandemonium.
In the aftermath, the songs poured out.
“Yousef Salech, scoring all the time…”
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The Colwill brothers were serenaded to the tune of Yaya and Kolo Touré.
“Cian Ashford running down the wing…”
These were no longer just players.
These were heroes. New heroes.
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This season has transformed them. Youngsters, unknowns in the eyes of many, growing into men under pressure, delivering when it mattered most. Delivering something this fanbase has craved for so long.
And as Barry-Murphy prepared to speak post-match, there was a fitting moment behind the scenes. Emerging from the tunnel came his father, Jimmy Barry-Murphy – a giant of Irish sport, a hero to so many, even to figures like Roy Keane.
But on this day, and for a long time to come, it is Brian who will hold that status in south Wales.
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Because this was his team. His players. His moment. And their moment.
Promotion days don’t come around often and these supporters deserve it. After everything, they deserve this.
Just before England’s Women’s Six Nations match against Scotland kicked off on Saturday, Red Roses head coach John Mitchell was asked if this spell was the biggest test of his team’s strength in depth since he took charge.
“No doubt,” he replied. “But you have to adapt and respond to it.”
In front of 30,498 people at Murrayfield – a record crowd for a standalone women’s sporting event in Scotland – the world champions did that and more, winning 84-7.
England were not quite at their best in the 33-12 home victory against Ireland seven days earlier, which in hindsight was probably to have been expected given the turnover in their squad since they lifted the World Cup on that magical day at Allianz Stadium in September.
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Four players, including captain Zoe Stratford, are unavailable because of pregnancy. Emily Scarratt and Abby Dow have both since retired.
Earlier this week, injured quartet Natasha Hunt, Morwenna Talling, Hannah Botterman and May Campbell were ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. The same fate had befallen Tatyana Heard before it had even started, while Alex Matthews’ shoulder problem prevented her from being involved in Edinburgh.
But a much-changed line-up delivered a statement victory that demonstrated once more why the Red Roses are the benchmark to which all other nations aspire in women’s rugby union.
Mitchell described it as a “special performance”, while captain Meg Jones, who scored one of England’s 12 tries, said the Red Roses were “relentless” in registering a 35th consecutive victory.
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She added: “We want to keep building on every performance we have. This game gives us tremendous feedback and we can just keep getting better and better.”
The Bluebirds secured their return to the Championship with a 3-1 win over Reading which sparked wild scenes in Berkshire
Brian Barry-Murphy admitted he was overcome with relief and pride as Cardiff City finally sealed promotion – and said the club’s supporters made it a day he will never forget.
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The Bluebirds secured their return to the Championship with a 3-1 win over Reading, with confirmation arriving amid chaotic scenes as news filtered through that Stockport had been held at Exeter.
After weeks of permutations and pressure, the Cardiff boss acknowledged just how difficult it had been to keep focus as the decisive moment edged closer. You can see all the wonderful celebration images from Reading here.
“It’s a huge relief, obviously,” he said. “It’s been an incredible day. To see our supporters, the extraordinary scenes towards the end of the game… we tried to stay focused on the game, but it was difficult!
“Probably in the last four or five minutes it was one that we could enjoy.”
Even as Cardiff closed in on victory, the noise from the away end – reacting to Exeter City’s incredible equaliser, scored by their goalkeeper no less, against Stockport County – made it impossible to ignore the wider picture.
“But when you’re involved, because you want the players to get what you feel they deserve so badly, you just can’t switch off from it.
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“So when Perry (Ng) scored it was a big relief and then to hear the roars when you presumed something was happening was nice.”
But while the result and promotion were the ultimate prizes, Barry-Murphy was keen to highlight the role of Cardiff’s support, including all 3,000-plus of them in Berkshire, admitting he has been taken aback by the connection built in such a short space of time.
“The swell of support we have is incredible for this club,” he said.
“Irrespective of how much you feel you deserve promotion based on how well we’ve played, there’s always an element of wanting to get it done.
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“Getting over the line is not easy in professional sport, so to finally do it is incredible for the players and something I’m sure will enable the team and club to grow massively.
“I didn’t have a true appreciation of how big the support was and the nature of the club, but I’ve seen very quickly what it’s like when you get it going.
“You try and give them what they want. There’ll be spells in the season – a couple of weeks back against Blackpool we were booed off – but that can be really beneficial. If they’re not happy, you’re not really doing your job properly.
“It stimulates and motivates me to try and give them what they want.”
With promotion now secured, attention quickly turns to celebrations – something the manager admitted had not been planned in advance for fear of tempting fate. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
“It’s the best way, I think,” he said. “We didn’t really plan anything.
“But I know from a fans’ forum in Aberdare that if we returned there after securing promotion the response would be incredible, so maybe a stop-off there!”
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There will also be a chance for a wider celebration when Cardiff return to home soil in midweek in their fixture against Port Vale, with Barry-Murphy determined to ensure supporters get the occasion they deserve.
“Hopefully the supporters get a night where they can celebrate their team,” he said. “I’ll do everything possible to try and make us play well and ensure the players give everything.
“But certainly in the next couple of days, it’s important that we celebrate what has been a magnificent effort by the club.”
The Food Standards Agency has issued a ‘do not eat’ alert
Neil Shaw Assistant Editor
18:31, 18 Apr 2026
Chocolate sold at B&M and Home Bargains has been withdrawn from shelves after the Food Standards Agency issued a recall over safety concerns.
Loudwater Trade and Finance Ltd is recalling Millennium Peanuts Caramel Milk Chocolate due to the presence of milk, peanuts, and soya, and the possibility it may contain almonds, cashew nuts, cereals containing gluten, and hazelnuts, none of which are declared in English on the packaging.
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The affected products were stocked at Home Bargains and B&M, with the recall solely applying to items bearing no English ingredients list. The warning covers 285g packs of the chocolate with any best before date or batch code.
This product contains the allergens milk, peanuts and soya, and may also contain almonds, cashew nuts, cereals containing gluten, and hazelnuts, yet none of this is stated in English. This poses a potential health risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, a peanut or soya allergy, an allergy to almonds or cashew nuts, an allergy or intolerance to gluten-containing cereals or coeliac disease, and/or a hazelnut allergy.
Loudwater Trade and Finance Ltd is in the process of recalling the product and has been advised to notify relevant allergy support organisations, who will in turn alert their members. The firm has additionally issued point-of-sale notices to its customers, outlining the reasons for the recall and advising shoppers on what steps to take should they have already purchased the product.
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A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency said: “If you have bought the product and have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, an allergy to peanuts, soya, almonds, cashew nuts, an allergy or intolerance to cereals containing gluten or coeliac disease, and/or an allergy to hazelnuts, do not eat it.
“Instead contact Loudwater Trade and Finance customer careline at support@loudwateruk.com to obtain a full refund or if you require further information. Alternatively, return it to your local Home Bargains or BandM store.”, reports Wales Online.
On occasion, food products must be withdrawn or recalled when consumers face potential risks due to absent or inaccurate allergy labelling, or any other allergy-related concern. In such circumstances, the FSA will publish an Allergy Alert to notify the public.
In November, the Met announced that this year’s biggest night in fashion would be “made possible” by the world’s third-richest man and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who were named as lead sponsors, alongside secondary donors, Condé Nast and Saint Laurent. The role is understood to give the couple influence over everything from invites to the overall presentation of the event.
The poster that referenced ICE shows a canister of tear gas on a red carpet, alluding to allegations that Amazon quietly purged foreign warehouse workers who had legal authorization to work in the U.S. but lost it under President Donald Trump’s deportation efforts. The Independent has contacted Bezos’s representatives for comment.
The world’s third-richest man and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, were named as lead sponsors for the 2026 Met Gala (AFP via Getty Images)
Another poster, stuck to a wall a few blocks from the museum, reads: “The Bezos Met Gala: Brought to you by worker exploitation,” referencing alleged worker mistreatment at Amazon order fulfillment centers.
The flyer campaign was organized by the British political activist group Everyone Hates Elon, which describes itself as anti-billionaire. The group’s name is inspired by the Tesla tech mogul Elon Musk.
In an interview with The New York Times, an anonymous leader of the group claimed that an online donation portal created last week has so far raised £10,000 (around $13,000) to fund the postering campaign around the city.
The flyer campaign was organized by the British political activist group Everyone Hates Elon (Reuters)
Everyone Hates Elon is the same group that traveled to Venice for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding last summer, displaying an enormous banner in the middle of the Piazza San Marco with a picture of a laughing Bezos beneath the words: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax.”
Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director who has chaired the Met Gala since 1995, has attempted to quell the backlash over the couple’s involvement.
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She told CNN in November: “I think Lauren is going to be a wonderful asset to the museum and to the event. I’m very grateful for her incredible generosity, and she’s a great lover of costume and obviously of fashion, so we’re thrilled she’s part of the night.”
The couple’s sponsorship of the Met Gala breaks precedent from having a legacy fashion house as the primary sponsor.
The dress code for the 4 May event is “Costume Art,” which explores the “centrality of the dressed body” through depictions and interpretations of the human form in the Met’s extensive collection.
Jeff Bezos’s wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos on the red carpet at the Met Gala 2025 (Getty Images)
The dress code is said to encourage guests to think about how they can use their bodies as a blank canvas.
“What connects every curatorial department and what connects every single gallery in the museum is fashion, or the dressed body,” Andrew Bolton, the curator in charge of the Costume Institute, said in a statement.
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“It’s the common thread throughout the whole museum, which is really what the initial idea for the exhibition was.”
This year’s co-chairs, who act as honorary hosts for the fundraiser, are Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams. Members of the Gala Host Committee — co-chaired by Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz — include singer Sabrina Carpenter, musician Doja Cat, ballerina Misty Copeland, Girls creator Lena Dunham, singer Sam Smith and One Battle After Another actor Teyana Taylor, among others.
Enzo Fernandez’s two-game suspension by the club has passed so all eyes will be on whether he is included in the starting XI or remains out in the cold.
Chelsea will still be without a lengthy list of injury casualties including Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah and Jamie Gittens, with Reece James and Benoit Badiashile both unlikely to feature.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella, Caicedo, Santos, Palmer, Fernandez, Neto, Pedro
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Mike Jones18 April 2026 17:18
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the UK can watch the game live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
Coverage begins on TNT Sports 1 at 7pm.
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Mike Jones18 April 2026 17:12
When is Chelsea v Man Utd?
Chelsea host Man Utd at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 18 April, with kick-off at 8pm BST.
(Reuters)
Mike Jones18 April 2026 17:06
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Chelsea vs Man Utd
Chelsea face off against Manchester United in a battle for European spots between two teams who have enjoyed huge highs this season – but have suffered something of a comedown in recent weeks.
Mike Jones18 April 2026 17:00
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Good afternoon!
Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Premier League action as Chelsea host Manchester United in a crucial clash near the top of the table.
What I mean by that is that both clubs are challenging for a place in the Champions League next year and are hoping to secure a place in the top four.
Man Utd come into the match sitting third in the table with Chelsea sixth and seven points behind.
A win for Michael Carrick’s visitors would cement their place in the top four while Chelsea would get the gap should they prove victorious at Stamford Bridge.
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We’ll have all the updates, team news and more throughout the afternoon so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 8pm.
A flock of seagulls brought Melbourne Victory and Newcastle Jets’ A-League match to a standstill after descending onto the pitch during a free kick in the 90th minute at AAMI Park
A top-flight football match in Australia had to temporarily halt after a swarm of seagulls began congregating around the spot of a free-kick in the closing stages.
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The peculiar intrusion occurred during the A-League encounter between Melbourne Victory and Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Friday (April 17).
In the 90th minute of the contest, seagulls abruptly swooped onto the turf.
They all flew near to where Lachlan Bayliss was preparing to deliver a free-kick.
The troublesome birds are infamous for pinching chips. However, they appear to have shifted their focus to football by encircling the free-kick taker.
Their match finished 2-2, but despite the gripping action, it was the seagulls who captured the headlines after clips of the episode spread rapidly online. One X user commented: “Seagulls love their football!”
Another remarked: “Peak A-League when the pitch is covered by seagulls. Pure, unadulterated chaos.”
Other supporters were making jokes about Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, suggesting this is more akin to how their home fixtures should unfold.
Some more were also querying exactly why there were so many seagulls in that section of the pitch. Others speculated that certain fans may have hurled food from the terraces.
Despite the unusual spectacle, Victory manager Arthur Diles declined to acknowledge the seagulls in his post-match interview but did identify positives in his team’s draw. He said: “I think we deserve more out of these two games, and we got bit in the end.
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The performance is something I’ve got to focus on, and the performance was good for a lot of that game, so that’s a pleasing sign.
“We want to play well as well, not just pick up points, but the points in the end should correlate with a good performance. When you don’t get the three points, when you feel like you probably can, that’s disappointing, it’s hard to take, but we’ll go again.”
Meanwhile, Newcastle Jets, who currently sit top of the A-League, also chose not to raise the issue of the seagulls.
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That was despite the birds disrupting a late free-kick that could well have presented a golden chance to snatch all three points.
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“We’re all about encouraging the confidence that your hair can give you” (Image: NQ)
From 10am until 4pm on Market Street, the first 50 people through the door will receive free Curl Jar gift bags.
There will be styling bookings available for just £10, as well as free 15-minute walk-in demonstrations and consultations, offering expert haircare advice.
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All demonstrations require clean, freshly washed hair without product.
A prize table will also be available, with raffle entries open throughout the day and winners announced at 8pm.
Prizes include a Bellissima Diffon hairdryer, a Curl Jar £100 gift set, a free curl transformation appointment, Milk Maids merchandise and vouchers, and a one-month supply of Glowwa hair vitamin supplements.
In keeping with The Curly Cow theme, Milk Maids will be at the event serving up their famous ice cream.
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To find out more about Curl Jar, visit: curljar.com
To find out more about The Curly Cow, visit: thecurlycow.com
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