The applicants said there is an ‘identified need’ for affordable homes in the area
Affordable homes could be built on part of a former golf course. The homes could be built on the old practice ground of Girton Golf Club on land north of High Street and fronting Oakington Road in Girton.
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Fifteen homes are proposed, including six two-bedroom houses, four one-bedroom houses, one three-bedroom house and four two-bedroom bungalows. A new green space is also proposed, as well as the creation of two new junctions to access the site via Oakington Road.
Out of the 15 homes, 13 will be affordable homes, while the other two will be offered as shared ownership. The proposals seek to “respond to an identified need for affordable housing”.
From a report on the need for more affordable housing in Girton, the application added that there was “significant demand and need for affordable housing in Girton to meet the needs for the community”.
It added: “The need is mainly for smaller homes of one and two bedrooms and this should be considered by any development that may be proposed.” As well as two new junctions, other access points are proposed as part of the plans.
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New footpaths are proposed for pedestrians, as well as a road layout that “accommodates appropriate measures to reduce speed and create a safe environment” for cyclists. The roads will also be designed so vehicles can’t “travel at speed” throughout the site. From a highways report, no concerns were raised about the proposed road layout.
The applicants have submitted previous planning applications for the same site. Initially in June 2024, they proposed 18 affordable homes.
However at the pre-application stage, concerns were raised over the “form of the development and amenity considerations”. The proposals were then reduced to 15 homes.
Part of the former golf practice ground is on land that is prone to flooding. However, the homes are proposed on the east side of the area, which the applicant said is “not at risk from fluvial flooding”.
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The application has been submitted by several companies, including Abbey Properties Cambridgeshire Ltd, Girton Golf Club, Burmor Construction Ltd, Flagship Housing Ltd and Flagship Developments Ltd.
Local elections are running in all 32 London boroughs this year, with a total of 1,817 councillors set to be elected.
In Croydon, Hackney, Lewisham, Newham and Tower Hamlets, voters will also directly elect their mayor.
While London is not typically a strong area for Reform UK, the party could take the lead in places like Havering and Barking and Dagenham.
For Labour, YouGov polling places the party in first position on seven councils at its lowest estimate, while the highest estimate has it topping the poll in 19 boroughs.
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All 32 London boroughs will be up for election, with a total of 1,817 councillors set to be elected
PA Wire
How to check your nearest polling station
You can find your assigned polling station by entering your postcode into one of these official tools:
• Where Do I Vote? A dedicated tool that allows you to find your polling station by postcode.
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Most local councils also provide their own maps and polling station finders, such as those for Newham, Redbridge and Camden.
You should also have received a polling card a few weeks before the election detailing your nearest station.
It is important to note you must vote at your assigned polling station; you cannot use a different one, such as near your workplace or college.
Do you need your polling card to vote?
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You do not need to bring this card with you to vote, but it remains the most reliable record of where you are registered to cast your ballot.
You will need to bring photo ID to vote in person at a polling station. This can be out of date, as long as the photo still resembles you.
What time do polling stations close?
Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm. As long as you are in the queue by 10pm, you will still be allowed to vote.
Two people died in the collision in Lancashire – a man in his 20s and 18-year-old Victoria Niebylska, who has been named locally as a passenger
Jon Macpherson and Kirstie McCrum Deputy Head of News, Live News Network
09:44, 07 May 2026
A young woman who tragically lost her life in hospital following a road collision in Haslingden has been identified locally as Victoria Niebylska, as an outpouring of tributes continues in her honour.
The 18 year old was one of two teenage passengers in a VW Golf that left the road on Helmshore Road, colliding with the side of a house and a retaining wall at approximately 11.49pm on Monday (May 4). Emergency services were scrambled to the scene at the junction with Dean Road after the vehicle departed the southbound carriageway.
The driver, a man in his 20s, was pronounced dead in hospital on Tuesday morning. In a further devastating turn of events, officers subsequently confirmed a second fatality, disclosing that the 18-year-old passenger had passed away in hospital on Tuesday night (May 5), reports Lancs Live.
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A wave of heartfelt tributes has been shared across social media by Victoria’s friends, who remembered her as a “beautiful soul” and “full of promise, full of dreams, and with everything still ahead of her”. An online fundraising page has been established in her memory, while numerous tributes have been laid at the site of the crash.
Brittany Horsfield wrote: “Rest in absolute paradise my girl. My heart is shattered. Forever made me laugh always there and I mean always, keep going over your crazy voice notes. Feel weird that our last message will never get opened. There wasn’t another soul like you. It don’t seem real. Love you forever and always Victoria.”
Delta Vienna wrote: “The world feels dimmer now, like someone quietly turned down the light when she left. She wasn’t just my best friend-she was my anchor, the steady place I could always return to when everything else felt uncertain. She was the reason my days felt brighter, the reason I found laughter even when things were heavy.
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“Now there’s this silence where her voice used to be, this emptiness where her warmth once lived. I keep reaching for her in the little moments, the ones we would’ve shared, only to remember she’s gone-and it breaks my heart all over again.
“My precious girl, my heart it’s broken, knowing I’m not gonna be able to just message you, hear you voice see you is breaking me apart, I hope you rest peacefully my angel I love you millions baby girl.”
Georgia Gardener said: “RIP to a beautiful soul. Such a crazy girl with an amazing personality and you will be so missed as a person. You really was such a lovely girl with the best intentions and anyone who knew you will know this! Even though we bickered all the time we always made up in the end, will forever cherise the memories we made as teenagers, fly high beautiful girl.”
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Shimarni Williams penned: “She was just… her. So beautiful, but not in a way she ever cared about, she was more about making people laugh, saying whatever came into her head, and just being completely free in herself. She was the sweetest person, always there when you needed her, and somehow still cracking jokes even when things were hard. And she was so brave, honestly braver than most people I’ve ever known, even if she didn’t always see it herself.
“Being around her just felt easy, like you could be yourself without thinking twice. I miss her more than I can even put into words, but I know I’ll carry her with me in everything I do forever and ever my girl.”
Chelsea Ryan said: “Victoria Niebylska fly high beautiful I’m glad I had the pleasure of knowing you and making some amazing memories with you are feral house parties at 15.
“Oh you will be missed more than you will ever know love you forever and a day until we meet again angel my condolences to all family and friends that knew vic. Forever 18.”
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Lily Rawsthorn said: “Rest in peace beautiful girl Victoria Niebylska u didn’t deserve this, don’t be dancing to hard up there. Sending love to ur family. U brought light in any room you walked in such a good character, you will be missed by many.”
A GoFundMe page established by Zuzanna Kostuch has collected approximately £600 thus far towards a £5,500 goal.
It said: “On the 5th of May 2026, the world lost a bright and beautiful soul far too soon. Victoria had only just turned 18 in July 2025, standing on the threshold of her adult life – full of promise, full of dreams, and with everything still ahead of her. Funeral arrangements are being handled separately, and this fund has been set up purely to honour her memory in a lasting way.
“We would love to place a memorial bench at the cemetery – a permanent, peaceful place where family and friends can sit, remember, and feel close to her. Every contribution, no matter how small, will go directly toward creating a beautiful tribute that reflects the wonderful person she was. We are thankful for each and every contribution!”
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Lancashire Police have confirmed that specialist family liaison officers are providing support to her family during what they have described as a “sad and distressing time”. The second teenage girl remains in hospital with serious injuries.
The section of road between Haslingden and Helmshore was shut for more than eight hours while investigative work was carried out. Enquiries into the collision continue, with officers still appealing for witnesses or relevant footage.
Anyone with dashcam, CCTV or doorbell footage from the vicinity is urged to contact police by dialling 101, quoting log 1623 of May 4, or by emailing SCIU@lancashire.police.uk
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Every golfer needs a top-class caddie by their side to keep them calm in the biggest moments of a major, but one star will have to do without them for the PGA Championship
A golf star will have to compete in the PGA Championship without his caddie. Mikael Lindberg, 33, will be involved in next week’s major for the first time in his career, but visa issues have dealt him an early blow.
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The Swede has learned that he will have to compete in the competition, which carries a first prize of just over £2.5million, without his caddie. Lindberg’s right-hand man, Armstrong Mdludi, will not have enough time to apply for and obtain a visa to enter the United States.
As a result, he will not be alongside Lindberg when the competition gets up and running at Aronimink Golf Club next week. Lindberg admitted he is disappointed the South African will not be alongside him.
Speaking about the unfortunate situation, Lindberg said: “I would have loved to have him with me, but now that it wasn’t possible, I feel it’s nice to have someone who knows my game and has been there before.”
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However, Lindberg will have someone else to carry his bags and discuss the course. The Swede will be able to call upon the expertise and experience of his friend Jacob Glennemo.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
Glennemo, 38, was a former golfer himself who once reached 382nd in the world. He also has experience caddying for the likes of Swedish golf star Simon Forsström in the past.
After revealing Glennemo will be in his corner, Lindberg added: “He was a caddie for Simon Forsström and was at the US Open a few years ago. He still has some experience; I think he will be good.”
Lindberg will be sad Mdludi is not alongside him, but when it comes to his game, he will be as confident as ever heading into the major. He picked up a crucial victory at the DP World Tour when he won the 2026 Turkish Airlines Open, which secured his place at the PGA Championship.
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Looking back on his huge triumph, Lindberg said: “This is a dream come true, I’ve been dreaming about this for so many years. My feelings on this last hole, I almost felt dizzy and I almost felt I wanted to throw up.”
He added: “I was in the lead after the first round and I just felt like… I don’t know how to describe this, but it’s been mentally very tough pretty much the whole week. So it’s very nice to pull it off.
“The weather on the front nine was actually a lot better than I expected, so I felt like I took advantage of that a little bit. It’s been a very tough last few holes but the last one was definitely tough.”
The Bake Off star was accused of tailgating other cars at high speeds (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Great British Bake Off judge Paul Hollywood was pulled over by police after speeding at nearly 100mph while rushing his sick cat to the vet, a court has heard.
The TV chef, 60, has been accused of tailgating cars at high speeds on the M25 to ‘bully’ them out of the fast lane during his emergency journey.
A Surrey Police officer said that Hollywood’s Land Rover Defender was officially clocked at 96mph, but he is believed to have reached speeds of more than 105mph when he got on to the M26.
After being pulled over, Hollywood reportedly blamed his behaviour on the need to get his unwell cat to the vet for treatment.
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At Worthing Magistrates’ Court last week, the 60-year-old pleaded guilty to speeding and was sentenced to five penalty points on his licence, a £293 fine, £120 in costs and a £117 victim surcharge.
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After an intervention from his lawyers at Hickman and Rose, a second charge of driving without due care and attention was dropped by police.
Paul Hollywood, 60, pleaded guilty to speeding at Worthing Magistrates’ Court last week (Picture: PA)
‘Mr Hollywood accepts he was driving too fast,’ wrote Peter Csemiczky, a partner at the leading law firm.
‘He was rushing home to get his unwell cat to the vet. He understands this is no excuse and apologises for his actions. He understands and accepts that he will be punished.’
Court papers show that the incident happened at around 3.20pm on January 9 when Hollywood’s car was spotted speeding along the M25.
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Pc Alexander McAlpine, from Surrey Police, trailed Hollywood in an unmarked police car and said he saw his vehicle ‘repeatedly “bully” other vehicles out of its way, through use of unsafe tailgating’.
He said: ‘Whenever there was a vehicle ahead, the driver would close up to a follow distance of less than five metres which was wholly inappropriate for the conditions and speed.
‘Once a vehicle moved out of the way having been tailgated until they did so, the driver would then heavily accelerate and travel well in excess of the limit until they reached the next vehicle ahead on the road, at which point they would repeat the process.’
PC McAlpine also said that Hollywood reached speeds of around 100mph on the M25 despite being in heavy traffic and the road being damp. Then, after he joined the less-busy M26 he was ‘able to achieve higher speeds more consistently’.
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The TV chef said in 2022 that speeding is his ‘most unappealing habit’ (Picture: Channel Four)
He added: ‘They continued their behaviour of closing up to any vehicles ahead in their lane of travel, and then following them at an aggressively short distance, on one occasion roughly a mere two metres whilst travelling at approximately 80mph, until they moved out of the way.’
The officer said he matched Hollywood’s speed, clocking him at a ‘peak’ of around 105mph, with a ‘general road speed remained above 90mph for an extended period of time’.
After catching the incident on his dash camera, the officer then pulled over the chef to challenge him for speeding and ‘aggressively tailgating other road users’.
The officer concluded in his statement: ‘The driver stated that the reason for their urgency and driving behaviour was transporting an unwell cat.’
Hollywood, who has been a judge on Bake Off since it first aired in 2010, is also a keen motoring enthusiast who has competed in professional races for Aston Martin.
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In 2022, he confessed on TV that he had been admonished by fellow Bake Off judge Mary Berry for driving too fast.
A second charge of driving without due care and attention was dropped by police(Picture: Channel 4)
He called speeding his ‘most unappealing habit’, adding: ‘I probably drive a little bit too quick. It scares a few people. I took Mary in a car once and she was hitting me with her handbag.’
Court papers show Hollywood had no penalty points on his licence when he was pulled over by the police officer in January.
He pleaded guilty in writing to the speeding charge and was convicted and sentenced in a private hearing of the Single Justice Procedure without having to attend court.
Hollywood entered a not guilty plea to the charge of driving without due care and attention, and the allegation was withdrawn by the police force.
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Hollywood was sentenced on April 27, in the same week that 374 other motorists around the country were convicted by courts for breaking 70mph speed limits, leading to penalty points and fines of up to £1,000.
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Voters across Scotland will have from 7am to 10pm today to cast their ballot in the Holyrood Election.
People heading to the polls will have two votes, one for their constituency MSP and the other for the regional list where they will cast a ballot for a party.
Identification is not needed to vote in the election in Scotland.
Fans think they’ve rumbled the significance of the brooch presented by DS Lisa Connor-Swain in her investigation into Theo Silverton’s death
Coronation Street fans think they have rumbled the significance of the brooch presented by DS Lisa Connor-Swain in her investigation into Theo Silverton’s death – and the owner didn’t kill the abuser.
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As those who follow the ITV soap know, Theo was murdered following a long reign of terror in Weatherfield as he mentally and physically abused his husband, Todd Grimshaw, during their 13-month relationship.
But on Friday (May 1), the long-running storyline came to a shocking end as, after trying to target Todd one last time, which comes after he reported him to the police last month following his most violent attack to date, Theo was found dead by horrified neighbour, Betsy Swain.
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The villain’s death occurred just weeks after Todd bravely left his partner and reported him to the police following a brutal attack, which left him in the hospital with multiple injuries.
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It has left not only Todd, but his loved ones, George Shuttleworth, Christina Boyd, and Summer Spellman, among the possible murder suspects, alongside Gary Windass and Theo’s ex-wife, Danielle Silverton, who could also be guilty of Theo’s deadly demise.
While Todd has had to answer some questions from Lisa, it was George who was first to be taken in for questioning, where he let slip that although he was at home for most of the evening, when Christina headed out to rescue Todd, he did go on a walk alone, and didn’t see anyone.
It meant Lisa had enough to keep him in overnight, and during Wednesday’s (May 6) episode, he was seen being quizzed by DS Connor-Swain once again, this time becoming increasingly irate as he tried to refute her accusations.
During the interrogation, Lisa was seen presenting George with a picture of a brooch, which was found at Theo and Todd’s flat, covered in blood. While he denied ever seeing it, Lisa pushed, only making George more annoyed. Once finally released, he mentioned the brooch to Christina and Todd, saying it “seemed like a big deal”, and Todd appeared concerned.
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Corrie fans have been quick to point out the brooch was being worn by Summer as she headed to the wedding reception of Lisa and her now-wife, Carla Connor. However, they don’t think that this means she’ll end up being responsible for Theo’s murder, and that it’s actually someone else in the frame.
@J_WBerry said: “So, Summer’s flying pig brooch from her wedding guest outfit was found in the flat covered in blood#Corrie #Todd #Theo.” @afewbugs shared: “That brooch is definitely more Summer’s style than anyone else’s I’d say.” @neilstraker9 wrote: “I thought it was Summer that had the brooch but i am beginning to think its Theo’s ex wife that has killed him, too obvious for it to have been Gary with him deleting the CCTV.”
@ThomasR14336083 commented: “My theory is Summer fought with Theo, accidentally wounded him – thence the blood on her brooch – to give her time to flee but he was still alive. Todd was definitely connecting the brooch that George described to the one Summer owes. #Corrie.” @LizzyLesbo added: “Oooh a brooch? Seems like something Summer would accessorise with, but it could be Millie or Danielle #Corrie.”
Dutch inventor Boyan Slat believes that the world’s ocean plastic crisis could be dramatically reduced within the next 15 years – and for less than $1bn (£750m). His nonprofit organisation, The Ocean Cleanup, is already deploying technology designed to stop waste before it reaches the sea.
The approach focuses on rivers, where much of the world’s ocean plastic originates. Floating barriers trap debris as it flows downstream, while autonomous ‘interceptor’ boats equipped with conveyor belts collect the waste and send it for recycling or disposal. The systems are already operating in rivers across Indonesia, India, Colombia, the Philippines and the Caribbean.
According to Slat, targeting just 30 cities could prevent around a third of the plastic currently entering the oceans.
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Slat claims that the Motagua river in Guatemala sends more plastic into the sea than all 38 members of the OECD. “That one river is about 2% of global plastic emissions,” he said.
His team aims to tackle these hotspots by 2030, a programme he estimates would cost about $350m (£263m). The longer-term goal is to stop 90% of floating plastic pollution from reaching the sea by 2040, while also clearing existing accumulation zones such as the great Pacific garbage patch.
The world needs a success story
Slat, now 31, left his aerospace engineering studies to pursue the idea more than a decade ago. Since then, the organisation says it has already removed nearly 50m kilograms of plastic waste from rivers and oceans around the world.
“The world needs a success story. There is a lot of pessimism, a lot of fatalism, especially among people of my generation,” Slat told the Times. “But if we can say, ‘There was a time when the oceans were filled with plastic, that two thirds of the planet was polluted, and then we solved it’ – I think that will be a case of action inspiring action.
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Main image: The Ocean Cleanup
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There could be huge changes at Stamford Bridge this summer (Picture: Getty Images)
Glen Johnson has warned anyone not able to get into the Chelsea starting XI will be up for sale this summer when a wretched season at Stamford Bridge comes to an end.
The Blues are on a run of six Premier League defeats on the bounce and while they can still salvage something when they take on Manchester City in the FA Cup final this month, it has been a campaign to forget.
There were whispers of a title challenge in west London early in the season but since February, Chelsea have collected fewer points than relegation-threatened Tottenham.
While former Chelsea right-back Johnson believes the club will hold onto their most prized assets, he warns anyone not consistently starting for the club faces being moved on.
Chelsea have lost six games in the league in a row (Picture: Getty)
‘Anyone not getting in the team is up for sale,’ Johnson told Metro via BetMGM. ‘The team is struggling badly, if you are the person who can’t get in that team, where do you go from there?
‘If they are not good enough to get into a struggling team, then they are not good enough to ever get in the team.
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‘You need to rebuild the back-up to push the starting XI and that’s how you improve. If you haven’t got adequate back up, it’s all downhill.’
Garnacho and Delap are two who have struggled (Picture: Getty)
Alejandro Garnacho and Liam Delap, who arrived at the club last summer from Manchester United and Ipswich Town last summer, are two players who have struggled to force their way into the side with reports suggesting the club will listen to offers for both.
Chelsea need more from ‘6/10’ Cole Palmer
Palmer meanwhile missed a penalty on Monday against Nottingham Forest as his underwhelming campaign continued.
The former Manchester City starlet had a spell out of the team due to a troublesome groin injury, missing most of the first-half of the season.
Johnson believes the England international is still feeling the effects of that issue that are too often limiting him to ‘6/10’ performances.
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Palmer has not hit his usual heights for Chelsea this season (Picture: Getty)
‘It is a testing time [for Palmer], Johnson said. ‘Credit to him to playing through this injury when he’s called upon but at the same time, you have to perform.
‘90 per cent of footballers are playing with a knock, very rarely are you playing at 100 per cent. He’s trying to get out there and play for his team but at the same time he needs to look after himself so he can get back to the level which will help the team.
‘Sometimes having few weeks out can help the team out more than a 6/10 out of Cole Palmer.’
Peter Schmeichel watched PSG beat Bayern Munich and qualify for the Champions League final (Picture: Getty)
Peter Schmeichel claims Arsenal are not even the second best team in Europe this season despite their historic achievement of making it to the Champions League final.
The Gunners booked their place in Budapest, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain, after a narrow 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday secured a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Mikel Arteta’s side now know they will face the holders later this month after PSG produced a polished and mature display at the Allianz Arena to knock out Bayern Munich.
Vincent Kompany’s side were confident of overturning a one-goal deficit after last week’s pulsating reverse fixture in Paris, but Ousmane Dembele’s early goal stunned the German champions.
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Bayern never truly recovered from that setback and were able only to muster an injury time equaliser from Harry Kane that earned an ultimately meaningless draw on the night.
Despite their limp exit, Schmeichel believes Bayern remain a better team than the Arsenal side that will contest the final.
‘I think we can easily argue this but I still think today Bayern Munich are still the second best team in Europe and PSG is by far the best,’ the former Manchester United goalkeeper told CBS.
Ousmane Dembele scored the goal that secured PSG’s place in the Champions League final (Picture: Getty)
‘It’s something you take. If you have to leave a tournament like this and got beaten by a much better team that is some consolation. You can take that on and get some confidence for next season.
‘They have progressed. They are further in the tournament than they were last season. You have to give Kompany credit for having improved his side, using his way of playing.
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‘It takes time to get to that level. It’s taken time for PSG as well.
‘At the beginning of the game Olse got the ball and he lost it straight away. He got the ball again within a couple of seconds and slipped and lost it again.
‘They never really recovered from that. Harry Kane went a little bit deep and got tackled and as Harry Kane is doing he seeks all that space but he was closed down all the time.
Harry Kane scored against PSG but couldn’t help his side progress to the final (Picture: Getty)
‘PSG right from the first moment kind of sucked all the confidence out of Bayern Munich. Confidence is what we’ve seen all the way through so it was very uncharacteristic.’
Bayern, meanwhile, were furious not to have been awarded a penalty midway through the first half.
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Goalkeeper Matvei Safonov made an uncertain punch and the ball landed with Vitinha, who in attempting to clear slammed the ball against the arm of team-mate Joao Neves.
As it was another PSG player that had made the clearance, it was not deemed to be handball despite Neves’ arm being well away from his body.
Vincent Kompany bemoaned the refusal to give Bayern Munich a penalty for a Joao Neves handball (Picture: Getty)
‘I understand if they’re disappointed,’ Kompany told TNT Sports when asked what he said afterwards to his players. ‘I think we gave everything.
‘It was a game of details. I think we’ve played five times against PSG in the last two years and we’ve won two times, they’ve won two times and now was a draw, so it’s just been that kind of game every single time.
‘We have to look at some of the phases that were decided by the officials across the two games which, it’s never an excuse for everything…but it matters.
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‘If we look at both legs probably too much went against us. The guys gave everything and we tried against a fantastic PSG team.’
Being referred to, and attending, the Beatson can be a daunting experience, particularly for patients who don’t know what to expect or feel overloaded with information.
The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre has launched a series of information videos designed to help cancer patients feel more prepared, informed and supported.
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Being referred to, and attending, the Beatson can be a daunting experience, particularly for patients who don’t know what to expect or feel overloaded with information.
To help support patients from the moment of their diagnosis, the Beatson has created short information videos that answer some of the most common questions patients ask during their cancer journey.
Developed with clinicians and filmed at the Beatson on the Gartnavel campus, the videos aim to help patients feel more informed ahead of appointments, reduce anxiety, and support conversations with their healthcare team.
They feature award winning broadcaster Alison Walker, who covers a range of topics including: preparing for your oncology appointment, understanding neoadjuvant chemotherapy, hair loss and the cold cap, managing menopausal symptoms, and diet and lifestyle during treatment.
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The videos, which were supported by a Collaborative Working Agreement with healthcare company Novartis, respond to areas where patients said they wanted more tailored guidance.
These were designed by the Breast Cancer Care Team, however many of the videos are relevant to anyone diagnosed with cancer.
A first oncology appointment can be an intense and anxious experience, with a large amount of information shared in a short space of time.
The Beatson team hopes the videos will help ease this information overload by allowing patients to access clear, trusted information in advance, at their own pace.
This also allows valuable appointment time to be used for more personalised discussions focused on what treatment options mean for each individual patient.
The approach reflects patient feedback, with a survey finding that 53 per cent of patients looked for more information online before their first oncology appointment, and 61 per cent searched for information online during their treatment.
Of the respondents, 47 per cent felt videos would be a useful way to receive information.
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Consultant Clinical Oncologist Rosemary Stevens said the videos were created directly in response to what patients told the team they needed.
She said: “We know that being diagnosed with cancer and coming to the Beatson for the first time can feel overwhelming. Patients often have many questions and may not know what to expect.
“We asked patients what information would help them most, and these videos have been designed to fill that gap. By providing clear, specialist information in a more engaging format than a traditional leaflet, we hope to reduce anxiety ahead of appointments and help patients feel more confident and informed.
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“Importantly, they don’t replace conversations with the healthcare team. Instead, they support those discussions and help free up appointment time so we can focus on the personal impact of treatment and what matters most to each patient.
“When patients have a clearer understanding of their treatment plan, many feel less anxious, highlighting the importance of accessible, trustworthy information at the right time.”
Patients are encouraged to leave feedback on the videos, which will help shape future content and ensure it continues to reflect patient needs.
Alison Walker said: “It was a real privilege to be part of such an important project and to work with the brilliant team at the Beatson.
“Being diagnosed with cancer and starting treatment can feel overwhelming, and these videos are designed to help patients feel more prepared, informed and supported at a time when they need it most. If they can help reduce even a small amount of anxiety and enable people to feel more confident ahead of their appointments, then they will have made a very real difference.”
Mohamed Tammam, UK Therapy Area Head for Solid Tumors at Novartis, said: “Novartis is proud to collaborate on these Breast Clinic Patient Information Videos, which will make a real difference for cancer patients in Glasgow and beyond.
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“Clear, trusted information can help patients feel more prepared and less anxious at a challenging time. This initiative highlights the value of working collaboratively with the Beatson hospital and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to improve the experience of patients across Scotland.”
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