The Millfield (Beefeater) in York and The Carousel (Brewers Fayre) in Scarborough have announced that they will be shutting down as their parent company undergoes a major restructuring programme.
Hospitality group Whitbread – which owns Premier Inn, beefeater, and Brewers Fayre – has announced plans to shut 197 restaurants and cut around 3,800 jobs across the UK and Ireland.
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Whitbread said it wanted to save money in light of cost pressures coming from business rates and national insurance contributions, with its new plan aiming to cut capital spending by more than £1 billion in five years.
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This will see it sell off £1.5 billon worth of its freehold properties – meaning the hotels it owns outright – to “fund future growth and increasingly look to grow on a leasehold basis”.
Around 30,000 people work for Whitbread, with roughly 12 per cent of staff expected to be impacted by the closure – with the group adding that they “expect to retain a significant proportion of those affected through redeployment”.
It is still planning to increase the number of hotel rooms it has open to 96,000 by the 2031 financial year (from the current of approximately 86,600), with the group set to offer a new integrated food and drink model – something that it says is preferred by hotel guests.
The Milfield in York (Image: Google Maps)
Chief executive Dominic Paul said: “We always challenge ourselves to improve and, in light of significant cost increases in the form of business rates and national insurance, as well as the implied market discount to our inherent value, we’ve looked hard at the options open to us to maximise value creation over the medium and long-term.
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“This has been a rigorous process and we’ve approached all options with an open mind.
“Our new five-year plan builds on our strengths and drives a significant acceleration of our strategy.”
He added: “This plan will transform Whitbread into a higher-margin, higher-returning pure-play hotel business.
The Carousel in Scarborough (Image: Google Maps)
“We’re going to go further and faster to deliver a great experience for our guests and high-quality growth and returns for our shareholders.”
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The date of the closures are yet to be confirmed but once we know more, we will provide an update.
A report was received of a two-vehicle collision on Berwick Hill Road in Ponteland, Northumberland, at around 3.50pm on Friday (May 1).
Inquiries have taken place and it is understood the driver of a silver Volvo XC40 was travelling east from Ponteland when, for reasons to be established, there was a collision with a heavy goods vehicle travelling in the opposite direction.
The HGV driver left the scene in the aftermath of the collision, when the incident was reported to police.
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Emergency services attended and the driver of the car, a woman in her 60s, was taken to hospital for treatment for minor injuries.
Officers from Northumbria Police’s Roads Policing Unit (RPU) have since launched an investigation and have today (Saturday May 2) appealed for the driver of the HGV, and any other witnesses, to come forward.
Police are particularly keen to hear from people travelling in the area at the time, and from anyone with information about the HGV involved.
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Anyone who can assist officers, including those with CCTV or dashcam footage, should send Northumbria Police a direct message on social media or use the ‘live chat’ and ‘report’ forms on the force website.
For anyone unable to make contact in those ways, they are asked to call the non-emergency 101 number.
Callers are asked to quote reference number: NP-20260501-0725.
Many of us have found ourselves wide awake at 3am, unable to get back to sleep. ITV’s Dr Amir Khan has shared the surprising biological reasons behind it
Have you ever woken suddenly during the night, alert and caught in a whirlwind of relentless thoughts? A TV doctor has explained why this happens – and the reason may surprise you.
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Dr Amir Khan, an NHS GP and a regular contributor on shows including Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, shared his professional insight on Instagram. While finding yourself wide awake at midnight can be unsettling, he explained that it’s usually a natural physical reaction. “Have you ever noticed that you fall asleep just fine and then suddenly you’re awake at 3am, staring at the ceiling, overthinking your entire life?” the doctor asked his followers.
“Well, there’s actually a biological reason for that. Around 2 to 4am, your body is in a very particular phase of its sleep cycle.
“Cortisol, your natural stress hormone, starts to rise in preparation for waking up. It’s completely normal. But if you’re already stressed, anxious, or running on empty, that small hormonal shift can be enough to tip you into wakefulness.
“At the same time, your brain is more vulnerable. During the night, especially in the early hours, blood sugar levels can dip slightly. If they drop too low, which is more likely if you’ve had alcohol, eaten very late, or are under chronic stress, your body releases adrenaline to compensate.”
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This rush of adrenaline can abruptly wake you from slumber, causing a pounding heart or increased awareness. In the total quietness of the early hours, without diversions or ambient sound, the brain’s danger detection system may become more sensitive, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Responsibilities that feel achievable at 3pm can appear overwhelming by 3am. Dr Khan highlighted that hormonal fluctuations, particularly during perimenopause and menopause, can play a role in this transformation.
In the video, he added: “And poor sleep itself becomes part of the cycle. The more you worry about waking up, the more likely you are to wake up. Now, waking briefly in the night is actually normal. We all cycle through lighter sleep every 90 minutes.
“The problem isn’t waking up, it’s the anxiety about being awake. So gentle breathing, avoiding clock-watching and screens and keeping evenings calm and alcohol light can really help.
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“So if you’re awake at 3am, it doesn’t mean you’re broken, it just means your biology is doing what biology does. And we just need to help it along a little bit.”
How to fall asleep faster according to the NHS
The NHS provides extensive online guidance on developing beneficial habits to enhance your sleep quality and secure improved rest. Within these materials, it details six essential recommendations for nodding off more quickly, including:
A teenager from Salford has been charged with three counts of attempted murder after a shooting at a car garage in Huddersfiled, police have said.
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Three men were injured in the incident in July last year.
West Yorkshire Police said Joe Garrity, 19, of Bain Street, Swinton, was no facing a series of criminal charges.
The force said he’s been charged with three counts of attempt murder; handling stolen goods; possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life; possession of a prohibited weapon and driving whilst disqualified.
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He was due to appear in court last Thursday, police said in an update.
The charges relate to ‘firearm discharges’ at S Autos Garage on Bulay Road, Huddersfield, the force added.
In a statement issued earlier this week, West Yorkshire Police said: “Detectives investigating a shooting in Huddersfield last year have charged a man with a number of offences.
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“Joe Garrity, aged 19, of Bain Street, Swinton, Manchester, has been charged with three counts of attempt murder, handling stolen goods, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a prohibited weapon and driving whilst disqualified.
“He’s been remanded into custody to appear at Leeds Magistrates’ Court on April 29.
“These charges relate to the firearm discharges at S Autos Garage on Bulay Road, Huddersfield, on 22 July, 2025.
Cleveland Police officers have been conducting patrols around a school in Hartburn, following reports of a man acting suspiciously.
Superintendent Alan O’Donoghue, the district commander for Stockton, said: “I want to take this opportunity to reassure the local community in Hartburn.
“Following reports of a man approaching and speaking to young girls near Hartburn Primary School, we have made one arrest and stepped up our visible presence in the area to provide further reassurance.
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“The incidents are understood to have taken place between March 23 and April 27.
“Officers have been reviewing CCTV footage to support the investigation.
“This led to the arrest of a 35‑year‑old man on April 28.
Sir Keir Starmer is facing a backlash after he called for a ban on some pro-Palestine protests as part of a crackdown on antisemitism.
The prime minister suggested there were “instances” where it was appropriate to prevent such marches happening on UK streets –as they have done in France – as he said he would fight “with every breath I have” for a diverse and tolerant Britain following a series of attacks on Jewish communities in recent weeks, including the Golders Green terror attack.
But even his government’s own independent adviser on antisemitism said it would be “unconscionable” to outlaw peaceful pro-Palestine protests opposing Israel’s actions in the Middle East.
Lord Mann led a chorus of voices who rallied against the idea, including Green Party leader Zack Polanski who accused the Labour leader of threatening “further authoritarian restrictions on peaceful protest”.
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Sir Keir Starmer and Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley meet first-responders from Shomrim North West London during a visit to Golders Green (PA Wire)
Sir Keir’s independent adviser on terrorism, Jonathan Hall, called for a pause on pro-Palestinian marches this week, as did the chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who said they had contributed to a “tone of Jew hatred”.
Lord Mann told The Independent: “There are multiple small anti-Israel (or similar) protests every week. Usually involving a tiny number of people.
“If they are not calling for violence… then it is unconscionable in a democracy that any such concept could be acted upon. The safety and security of the Jewish community requires effective strong leadership – not gestures.”
Mr Polanski accused the prime minister of “using the pain and fear of Jewish people to threaten further authoritarian restrictions on peaceful protest”.
“This would be the worst response to the attacks in Golders Green and would just produce more division, when it’s the job of responsible leaders to bring people together,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti, the former director of Liberty, the civil liberties and human rights group, warned: “It’s perfectly reasonable for political leaders to urge sensitivity and restraint around protests in the wake of terrorist violence and the fear it breeds. But it is quite another thing to equate protest with violence or to clamp down on peaceful dissent even further.
“I urge the government to lead by example and demonstrate the balanced judgement they recommend to others.”
Organisers of pro-Palestine marches also hit back at the PM.
Protest group Defend Our Juries responded to Sir Keir’s comments on X (Twitter), saying: “End the genocide, not our freedoms to oppose it.”
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John Rees, the co-founder and national officer for the Stop The War coalition, warned against striking “at the root of free assembly and free speech” in the UK.
Police in England and Wales can restrict protests and even ban them outright under some circumstances.
Keir Starmer said he would fight ‘with every breath I have’ for a diverse and tolerant Britain. (Getty)
Sir Mark Rowley said Jews were facing a “ghastly Venn diagram” of hate from all sides. Asked if the threat to the Jewish community was greater than it had ever been before, he said that polling suggesting the prevalence of antisemitic views showed “that has to be true” in an interview with The Times.
Sir Keir’s call came in an interview with the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, just days after he was heckled during a visit to Golders Green, where he was met by a group of protesters holding signs and chanting: “Keir Starmer, Jew Harmer.”
Asked if he wanted a crackdown on the chants or to stop some protests altogether, Sir Keir told the BBC: “I think certainly the first, and I think there are instances for the latter.”
He indicated that he wanted “tougher action” over some elements of the marches. “I don’t want to get involved in operational policing, but I think when you see, when you hear some of those chants, ‘globalise the Intifada’ is the one that I would pick out, then clearly there should be tougher action in relation to that,” he said.
He went on: “In relation to the repeated nature of the marches, many people in the Jewish community have said to me ‘it’s the repeat nature, it’s the cumulative effect’. Now I accept that, which is why we intend to deal with cumulative effects.”
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Two Jewish men were stabbed in an incident in Golders Green, north London, on Wednesday (PA Wire)
He urged “some people protesting to just reflect on what the Jewish community is going through and the overall impact that this is having”. The PM also called for a “whole of society response” saying that “too many people are not seeing antisemitism or they don’t want to see it”.
He said: “We all have to fight for this together because it is about the sort of country that we want to live in. I want to live in the Britain that I love, which is a decent, tolerant, live and let live, diverse Britain. But that is contested now in a way that it hasn’t been contested in my lifetime.
“We have to fight for the Britain that we believe in with those values. That is who we are. That is what it is to be British. And I will fight for that with every breath I have.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the interview showed the prime minister did not “seem to know what to do about” antisemitism in the wake of the terror attack.
“There are things that we can do,” she added. “We can ban hate preachers from this country, stop them from coming in. We can remove visas from those people who are not British, who are here spreading hate and antisemitism. But we need to do more. Enough with the platitudes, we need action. We need to shame people who think antisemitism is acceptable.”
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Lord Walney, the government’s former adviser on political violence, said: “The prime minister sounds committed and sincere but he’s not offering anything different – he needs to stop refusing the law changes that would genuinely reduce the harm being caused by these hate-infested marches.”
But Your Party Chair Jenn Forbes said her party condemned “all attempts to link the safety of Jewish communities with restrictions on protests for Palestine”.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch speaks to the media during a campaign visit to Bexley, south east London (Getty)
The Heaton Park synagogue in Greater Manchester was targeted in a terror attack in October last year. In March, four Jewish community ambulances were set alight in Golders Green. There has also been an attempted arson at Finchley Reform synagogue in north London, among others.
On Friday, Sir Mark called for 300 extra officers to tackle the growing pandemic of antisemitism in the UK.
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He also said he was considering whether police powers should be used to limit two upcoming protests in London later in May – one a pro-Palestine march and the other a rally led by the far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
Green MP Hannah Spencer has reportedly been branded a ‘b****’ by a fellow MP after criticising Parliament’s drinking culture.
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The MP for Gorton and Denton prompted a backlash earlier this week after she revealed she felt ‘really uneasy’ about the prevalence of alcohol in Westminster.
She went on to claim there had been ‘questionable and dangerous behaviour’ by staff and potentially some MPs because of Westminster’s ‘unprofessional’ drinking culture.
Among her critics were Labour’s Luke Charters, who dismissed the remarks as a distraction from what he described as the Greens’ ‘wacky policies’.
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He may have been hinting at the party’s controversial pledge to legalise and regulate all drugs, including heroin and cocaine, should it win power.
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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was equally scathing and joked that while the Greens supported legalising all drugs, ‘an afternoon pint’ was too far.
However, some MPs have come to her aid.
The Green MP claimed the level of drinking that goes on in Westminster would be unacceptable in most professions, especially predominately working class ones
Former shadow cabinet minister Emily Thornberry said she was ‘surprised at the drinking culture’ when she first arrived at Parliament although she added that it is ‘much better than it used to be’.
The issue was later discussed on the BBC’s satirical panel show Have I Got News for You, where Ava Santina, the journalist who reported the story, discussed the backlash.
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JOE.co.uk’s political editor said one MP had referred to Spencer as a ‘b****’, while others had accused her of being a ‘snitch’ for reporting it.
She said: ‘I went down to that room where they drink on Monday. There was a lot of: “Why are you snitching?” I didn’t say it, I just filmed it.’
She added that one MP told her: ‘She’s such a b****, this is the only time I get away from my children.’
Reflecting on the exchanges, Santina suggested that some MPs attempted to downplay the issue, saying: ‘All of the sort of robust defences that MPs made — we just have a beer here or there, we normally have coke (the soft drink).’
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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage slammed Spencer’s comments along with her party’s policies on legalising drugs (Picture: Justin Tallis for AFP or licensors)
This prompted laughs from other panel members for the unintended insinuation that some MPs take the Class A drug.
Panellist Ian Hislop responded: ‘Now the story is getting interesting’, while comedian Paul Merton joked: ‘Is that why they say the “nos(e)” have it?’
Since the story was published, Spencer has continued to defend her comments, arguing that Westminster’s drinking culture would be unacceptable in most workplaces.
Speaking to The Guardian after the backlash, she said: ‘I don’t think it’s much to ask for an MP to be sober when they vote on decisions that affect everyone else.
‘I’d have been sacked at work if I did this, same goes for almost every profession, but especially working-class jobs.
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‘MPs defending this and lecturing me are the exact reason I’ve been saying this place is full of people who are out of touch.’
Spencer is not the first MP to voice concerns about Parliament’s drinking culture.
In 2021, former Tory minister Tracey Crouch criticised Parliament’s drinking culture, saying she had witnessed MPs ‘reeking’ of alcohol between votes.
Parliament’s subsidised Strangers’ Bar – where MPs can drink between votes – closed temporarily last January after a report that a woman had her drink spiked.
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This led to security measures being tightened. New rules mean that visitors and parliamentary staff can visit only with an MP present.
She might be a finalist for next month’s Miss Great Britain Belfast 2026 competition but her story isn’t about pageantry
18:31, 02 May 2026
Miss GB finalist Lucy Watson’s mission to tackle violence faced by young women
Lucy Watson is a determined young woman on an important mission.
She might be a finalist for next month’s Miss Great Britain Belfast 2026 competition but her story isn’t about pageantry – it’s about power, pain, and how she is using her platform to confront a crisis happening in our own communities.
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The Media and Broadcasting student at Queen’s University Belfast is using her voice to help tackle the violence faced by many young women here.
As a young woman growing up in Northern Ireland, the 20-year-old has experienced firsthand the realities many statistics attempt to capture.
Violence against women and girls has been brought to the fore in Northern Ireland as the number of women killed here since 2020 has now reached 30. That number includes a pregnant mum-of-two in Lucy’s own hometown of Donaghadee.
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Sarah Montgomery, 27, was found dead inside a house in the Elmfield Walk area of the Co Down town on Saturday, June 28 2025.
For Lucy, an aspiring journalist, the issue of violence against women and girls had been a “passion” of hers for some time having faced grief, depression, bullying, and a toxic relationship as a teenager.
She told Belfast Live: “That relationship, in particular, showed me how easily control, fear, and emotional harm can take hold — and how difficult it can be to recognise and leave. Finding the strength to walk away was not easy, but it changed my life. It is why I now speak not just with passion, but with lived experience.
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“Across Northern Ireland, the scale of violence against women is deeply concerning. Studies suggest that up to 98% of women will experience some form of violence or abuse in their lifetime — whether physical, emotional, or sexual.
“In addition, domestic abuse incidents remain consistently high, with police responding to thousands of calls each year. These are not just numbers; they reflect the lived reality of women in our communities — our friends, classmates, colleagues, and neighbours.
“For a long time, I felt silenced by my experiences. Then I made a decision: I would turn my voice into something stronger than what tried to break me.”
She added: “30 women have been killed since 2020 and I’ve seen this even in my hometown, Donaghadee with the murder of Sarah Montgomery, so it’s something that’s affected me and my community personally.
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“We need to erase the sort of taboo of talking about it. We need to let girls and women know that what happened to them isn’t normal. They are normal people and they are extraordinary people to be able to wake up and carry on their life even after what’s happened to them.”
As part of her degree, Lucy worked on an assignment on drink spiking which included an interview with Justice Minister Naomi Long, another experience which fuelled her desire to tackle relationship violence.
She has also created an Instagram page @but_shesaid in a bid to encourage others to speak out.
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“Today, I use my platform to speak out about violence against women and girls across Northern Ireland. I have interviewed political leaders, including Naomi Long, produced academic research on issues such as spiking and gender-based violence, and built an online advocacy space focused on women’s safety and empowerment,” Lucy explained.
“I don’t describe myself as a victim of my circumstance, I would describe myself as a victor of my circumstance.
“I’m in the very fortunate position that I’ve been able to come out the other side of what happened to me, a very strong and independent woman, but this isn’t the reality for a lot of other women.
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“They’re killed or they have mental health effects. I’m so lucky and I know I am but I want other women and girls to be able to look at me and see that there is hope I can shoot for the stars, I can achieve my dreams.
“In my initial sort of circle, I would be quite open about what happened to me if I’m asked, but I think people are usually quite shocked that I’d been through something like that because I come off as bubbly, confident and loud.
“I’m very much not someone to stand for injustice – if I see something going on that’s not right, I’m the first person to be over there and say ‘stop that, snap out of it’.”
As a finalist for Miss GB Belfast, victory in the contest at The Merchant Hotel on June 7 will be about much more than the title to Lucy: “If crowned Miss Great Britain Belfast, I won’t just be wearing a sash — I’ll be using it to amplify a conversation that urgently needs to be louder.
“My goal is to ensure that women feel seen, heard, and supported — and that conversations around abuse, particularly toxic relationships, are no longer hidden in silence.
“I’m also pushing for a Women’s Safety Minister in Stormont and I’d go and bang on those doors to say why it is so important.”
York singer songwriter Alistair Griffin’s Ignite Concerts is staging a concert on Yorkshire Day, Saturday, August 1 in York Minster which will see top vocalists perform classic ABBA hits including Dancing Queen, Super Trouper, Fernando, Mamma Mia, Waterloo, and The Winner Takes It All.
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The performance will be hosted by Alistair and feature live string accompaniment from Ebor.
“We’re thrilled to be bringing the music of ABBA to York Minster,” said Alistair.
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“These songs are loved across generations and deserve a setting as special as this.
“With outstanding vocalists, beautiful live strings, and the incredible atmosphere of the Minster, it promises to be a really memorable evening.”
Alistair Griffin’s Ignite Concerts is set to stage a night of ABBA music in York Minster on Yorkshire Day (Image: Supplied)
He described York Minster as “such a special venue” for concerts, noting the positive feedback from audiences.
He said: “York Minster has become such a special venue for our concerts, and audiences always tell us how magical it feels to hear live music in that setting.
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“We can’t wait to welcome people for what should be a fantastic night.”
Alistair on stage at a previous performance (Image: Marek Strods)
The event follows a series of successful concerts by Ignite Concerts at York Minster and other venues across the region.
Back in 2022 Alistair, who shot to fame on the BBC talent show Fame Academy in 2002, scored a number 5 hit with a track co-penned with his former mentor, BeeGee Robin Gibb.
The comedian had to be ushered off stage just 45 minutes into his show at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham on the evening of Friday May 1 after a “potentially suspicious bag” was found.
A full evacuation took place and West Midlands Police has confirmed that a 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a bomb hoax.
The Utilita Arena has now confirmed that tonight’s Peter Kay show at the same venue will go ahead as planned.
The venue had to be evacuated (Image: Social Media)
A statement said: “Following the precautionary evacuation of Utilita Arena Birmingham during Peter Kay’s performance last night, Friday May 1, we can confirm that tonight’s Peter Kay event, Saturday May 2, will go ahead as planned.
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“Following an extensive search by West Midlands Police, no items of a suspicious nature were found, and the building was determined to be safe.
Officers outside the venue (Image: Steve Aspinall/PA Wire)
“West Midlands Police are satisfied with the security measures in place.
“We would like to thank the attendees of yesterday’s Peter Kay event for their cooperation, which secured a swift and safe evacuation.
“Ticket holders for yesterday’s Peter Kay performance will be contacted with the next steps from their original point of purchase.”
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The venue was packed last night (Image: Steve Aspinall/PA Wire)
Witnesses said two members of staff came onto the stage about 45 minutes into the performance, whispered into the Bolton born comedian’s ear, and then escorted him off.
In an update on Saturday morning, a West Midlands Police spokesperson said: “Following searches of the Utilita Arena last night, no items of a suspicious nature were found.
Police were called (Image: Steve Aspinall/PA Wire)
“A 19-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a bomb hoax offence and remains in custody this morning as our inquiries continue.
“We’re grateful to everyone for their co-operation and understanding. As always our priority is the safety of the public.”
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Steve Aspinall, who was at the gig with his wife, told the Press Association: “Two guys came on, one with a mic and headphones, one guy whispered to Peter Kay and then he and Peter Kay shot off down the side.”
He said the audience was told to look for security guards and listen out for any announcements.
“To be honest, I thought it was part of the show at first,” Mr Aspinall, who lives in Bideford, Devon, said.
“It was a strange atmosphere, eerie, just confused really (about) what was happening.
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“But it was alright and everyone was calm and left quite quickly with no panic.”
The world champion started from pole and was never under threat as he took the chequered flag almost four seconds ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli, who started second, again paid the price for a poor start to cross the line in fourth, before he was hit by a five-second penalty for track limits to finish sixth. The Italian’s early lead in the standings was therefore cut to seven points by finishing two places behind Mercedes team-mate George Russell.
Norris is now 42 points adrift of leader Antonelli. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton enjoyed a ding-dong battle, with the Dutchman coming out on top as they finished sixth and seventh, Verstappen promoted one place by Antonelli’s penalty.
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