A Reform candidate who said Nigerians should be melted down to ‘fill in the pot holes’ has been let back into the party.

Glenn Gibbins was placed under investigation after he was elected as the new councillor for Hylton Castle Ward in Sunderland in early May.

In now deleted posts, he ranted on social media he ‘carnt [sic] believe amount of Nigerians in town’ and they ‘should melt them all down and fill in the pot holes’.

The comments – believed to be from march 2024 – sparked widespread condemnatin and led Reform to begin an internal disciplinary process.

However the party has now confirmed that Cllr Gibbins has been reinstated.

A Reform spokesman said: ‘Following an internal disciplinary process, Cllr Gibbins has been readmitted to the party and issued with a final written warning.

‘He has apologised for making the post and accepts that it was made in extremely poor taste showing poor judgment.’

Other social media posts from Glenn Gibbins showed that hadcomplained about women being on TV, calling Mel and Sue the two ‘unfunniest fat repulsive lesbian hosts ever’.

His views extend to sport, writing during the 2021 Ireland v Japan rugby match: ‘Yet another woman comentator. It’s getting out of controll. There must be a hundred better male comentators but had to give it to a female [sic].

‘Wish they wud stick to cooking, sewing and homemaking [sic].’

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice refused to directly criticise Gibbins at the time reports about the posts surfaced, instead accusing the media of ‘smearing’ his party.

Asked if Mr Gibbins views represented Reform UK, he said: ‘This weekend we are celebrating our incredible successes.

‘Like any party, we have internal party processes to look where people have said or done the wrong thing.”

He continued: ‘I condemn everything that is wrong and inappropriate.

‘Voters have heard all of this smearing and this sneering against all of us, and they have voted for more Reform.’

Other Reform councillors also faced scrutiny for controversial comments online.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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This is the hero teacher knifed in a triple stabbing at a high school in Blackley. The investigation into the incident is now being led by counter terrorism police, GMP said on Thursday evening (June 11), though it has not been declared a terrorist incident ‘at this time’.

Brave Maysum Abdullah, 27, suffered a wound to his neck in the horror incident at Co-op Academy Manchester on Plant Hill Road in Blackley on Tuesday morning (June 9).

He rushed to protect students as the school was locked down amid reports of a pupil with a knife. The child was quickly ‘detained’ by staff, school bosses said.

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Three people were hurt. A 14-year-old girl suffered injuries to her shoulder; a 14-year-old boy injuries to his ear; and Mr Abdullah injuries to his neck and hand. All are now recovering at home. None of their injuries were deemed to be serious.

A 14-year-old schoolgirl was arrested on suspicion of Section 18 assault, before being detained under the Mental Health Act. She has now been released into police custody following an assessment by health professionals.

In a statement issued on Tuesday the Co-Op Academies Trust, which runs the school, said it was ‘incredibly proud’ of the ‘swift’ and ‘brave’ actions of their staff to ‘quickly detain’ the student.

On Thursday, GMP said that ‘as a result of further enquiries, Counter Terrorism Policing North West have now taken primacy for the investigation with the support of Greater Manchester Police’.

“Searches relating to the investigation remain ongoing and counter terrorism detectives are keeping an open mind to the motivation of the attack,” a statement added.

“At this time, it has not been declared as a terrorist incident.” The cop in charge of the investigation revealed that ‘further information has come to light’, which the force has ‘made Counter Terrorism Policing North West aware of’.

Mr Abdullah, speaking to the Manchester Evening News as he recovered at home with his wife, said he was still ‘trying to process’ what had happened and asked for privacy. He agreed for his name to be published, as well as a picture.

His wife Saima earlier took to TikTok to thank people for their support following the incident. She said: “[On Tuesday] I received the devastating news that my husband had been stabbed whilst trying to protect pupils from a serious knife attack in his classroom.

“No one ever expects to receive a phone call telling them that their loved one has been taken to the hospital after being stabbed. I am grateful that his injuries were not life threatening. The wound on his neck and his hand have been treated, however these physical wounds are only part of what our family is now facing.

“My husband entered teaching to make a positive difference in young people’s lives and he is truly a hero for protecting and safeguarding those children.

“Our prayers are with the other two pupils who also suffered injuries and to all the students and staff who witnessed such a traumatic event.

“Thank you to all colleagues, family, friends, hospital staff, the police and members of the community for their support, kindness and wishes during this difficult time.”

Chief Superintendent David Meeney, Commander for Manchester, said: “Our local detectives have been investigating this incident at pace ever since we arrested a schoolgirl suspect on Tuesday morning. She remains in custody in Manchester.

“This has included ensuring the suspect is checked by health professionals to make an assessment while under the Mental Health Act, and to explore all available evidence to understand why this incident took place.

“Since our last update, further information has come to light that we have made Counter Terrorism Policing North West aware of.

“I know this update will only continue to make our local community concerned by Tuesday’s events. There is no information to indicate any further threat, and our local officers continue to be in the area. We are here to listen and to act, so please speak to our officers with any concerns.”

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Co-op Academies Trust, which runs the school, said: “Shortly after the start of the school day, an incident occurred on site involving a pupil with a knife.

“The school was immediately placed into lockdown, and staff acted bravely to quickly detain a student before emergency services arrived.

“Greater Manchester Police arrested the student, who remains in custody. Police have confirmed this was an isolated incident with no wider threat to the public.

“Three people, two pupils and a member of staff sustained injuries. They were taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, where they are in a stable condition with injuries not believed to be serious. We are incredibly proud of the swift actions of our staff and the mature response of our pupils.

“While our policies outline strict screening and search powers in line with Department for Education guidance, weapons can unfortunately be small and easily concealed without prior indicators. We had no reason to conduct a search on any student this morning.”

Calum Alexander and Liam Reynolds, participants from the charity AWARE Scotland, were part of a group of supporters who gave the men’s team a rallying cry.

Two lucky lads were among a group of fans who got the surprise chance to give the Scotland squad a World Cup rallying cry thanks to Specsavers,

Calum Alexander (24) and Liam Reynolds (29), participants from the charity AWARE Scotland, were part of a group of supporters who attended Barclays Hampden before the men’s team jetted out to the USA.

They believed that they would be writing postcards to send to the players and enjoying a tour of the national stadium.

While they took in their guided tour and prepared to post their messages, however, little did they know Scotland stars Kenny McLean and Lawrence Shankland were waiting in the wings to surprise them.

Kenny and Lawrence collected the messages of support from the gathered fans to share with the rest of Steve Clarke’s squad.

With the friendly matches now behind them and focus turning to the group-stage kick-off, Scotland fans will be vital in driving the team on. Specsavers was on hand to make sure their messages of support reached the squad directly before they headed off to the US.

Liam, from Cambuslang, went down the personal route, directing his message to Kieran Tierney, asking the left back to ‘score some more goals’ and wishing him the best of luck at the tournament.

And Calum, who is from Mount Florida, urged captain Andy Robertson to get the team ‘hyped up’ and to let him know if he needs any help.

The pair, who both have additional support needs and receive support from AWARE Scotland, enjoyed their day and hope Scotland can be successful Stateside.

Liam said: “It was an incredible experience, and I hope Kieran Tierney gets my postcard!”

Calum said: “It was so amazing and I wasn’t expecting it at all. It was great to wish good luck to the whole team and let them know all of Scotland is behind them.

“I think we’re going to win it all and if they want a hype man, I’m there.”

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Tasked with the responsibility of delivering the messages is Lawrence Shankland, who appreciates the support of the Tartan Army as Scotland attempt to make history this summer.

The Scotland striker said: “It was brilliant to meet Calum and Liam and to see their excitement about the tournament.

“We’ve got letters to Kieran Tierney we need to pass on now so it was good to meet them and it’s those small moments that those guys will remember for a long time.

“There’s been a long build up from qualifying and the excitement is building all over Scotland and you can really feel it.”

Specsavers renewed its sponsorship deal with the Scottish FA in 2024, becoming the Official Eye and Ear Care Partner and extending one of the longest-running partnerships in sport.

The agreement runs through to 2028 and includes continued support for referee training and development, as well as raising awareness of grassroots and local football across the country.

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The numbers ’86 47′ have appeared in the green grass on Washington DC’s National Mall in an apparent message to the President.

Days before Donald Trump turns 80 and a UFC match takes place in the area, new aerial photos have revealed the message in the dying grass.

It’s not clear when the numbers were etched into the grass, but they’ve previously been used to snub Trump – ’86’ being code in hospitality to get rid of an order or patron.

And given that Trump is the 47th US President, the rest of the message is quite clear.

Earlier this year, former FBI director James Comey was indicted for ‘threatening’ Trump with a photo of seashells spelling out ‘8647’.

The former FBI chief was interviewed by the US Secret Service in May after Trump administration officials claimed that he was advocating the assassination of Trump, the 47th president.

Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ’86’ as slang meaning ‘to throw out, to get rid of or to refuse service to’.

It added: ‘Among the most recent senses adopted is a logical extension of the previous ones, with the meaning of ‘to kill’. We do not enter this sense, due to its relative recency and sparseness of use.’

Comey deleted the post shortly after it was made, writing: ‘I didn’t realise some folks associate those numbers with violence… I oppose violence of any kind, so I took the post down.’

Trump, in a Fox News Channel interview, accused Comey of knowing ‘exactly what that meant’.

‘A child knows what that meant. If you’re the FBI director and you don’t know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear,’ he said.

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Average asking prices have increased by 18 per cent annually in Bridlington, according to analysis by Rightmove.

The property website, which looked across Britain but excluded London from the analysis, found that Bridlington and St Helens in Merseyside led the way as first-time buyer price hotspots.

In Bridlington the average asking price for a typical first-time buyer home was £167,321, while the figure stood at £133,106 in St Helens.

First-time buyer homes were defined in the research as those with two bedrooms at the most, including houses and flats.

Rightmove said the fastest-growing areas for asking prices on its list had average prices below £170,000, highlighting continued demand for more affordable homes.

In contrast, several higher-priced southern markets, including Brighton and Southampton, are seeing average first-time buyer prices ease compared with last year, it said.

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Rightmove said that the average asking price across the research for a typical first-time buyer home is £228,048, down by 0.7 per cent annually.

Colleen Babcock, a property expert at Rightmove, said: “Affordability continues to shape where first-time buyers are looking, and we’re seeing the strongest price growth in areas where homes remain within reach for more people.

“Lower-cost locations are still seeing strong interest, with competition for homes helping to hold prices up.

“In more expensive markets, tenants are taking a bit more time and thinking more carefully about what they can afford, which is keeping growth relatively flat.”

People are being asked to watch the dramatic explosion from a viewing area with roads and footpaths shutting

The long-awaited controlled explosive demolition of the chimney stack at the former Aberthaw Power Station is set to take place on Friday.

Aberthaw, in the Vale of Glamorgan, was Wales’ last coal-fired power station and closed in 2020.

A date for blowing up the landmark chimmney stack was only issued on Thursday under advice from police and local authorities.

The chimney is scheduled to come down at 10am on Friday but viewing starts from 8.30am.

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Temporary road and access restrictions will be in force near the site leading up to and during the explosion, which will last only seconds and make a loud “thunderclap” noise.

A temporary exclusion zone will also be in force around the demolition area and only authorised personnel will be allowed inside.

Limpert Bay Road and sections of the Wales Coast Path surrounding the site will be temporarily closed for a short period to allow the demolition to take place safely. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Police officers and other offiicials will be at access points and diversions to advise drivers and walkers.

People wanting to watch the explosion are being asked by police and demolition contractors to use the designated viewing event at Fonmon Castle.

Cardiff Capital Region Energy (CCR Energy), the company leading the project to redevelop the site to produce alternative energy, said earlier this year that it had finished demolishing the turbine hall and deaerator bays at the huge site. Now the tower will go too.

Erith Contractors, which is carrying out the demolition with a team of specialist demolition and explosive engineers, said it is being carried out in accordance with UK legislation, industry best practice, and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance.

It said the demolition will create “a short-duration noise similar to a loud thunderclap” as the chimney stack is brought down.

“While this noise may be noticeable it will be very brief and is expected to last only a few seconds.”

The demolition marks a significant step in the future of the Aberthaw site, which first started operating in the 1960s.

Environmental and risk assessments have been carried out prior to the demolition of the tower including a controlled exclusion zone around the demolition area.

Erith said the demolition date has been released on Thursday under guidance from South Wales Police.

“Owing to the significant public interest in the event communications have been carefully managed to help protect public safety, minimise congestion on the local road network, and ensure suitable viewing arrangements are in place,” the contactor said.

“The site is accessed via a limited road network and it is essential that access remains available for residents, contractors, and emergency services throughout the operation. “

No vibration will be felt outside of the site boundary, the demolition firm added.

“The demolition has been subject to detailed engineering assessment, which confirms that any ground vibration generated will be contained within the controlled site area and remain well below levels that could be felt to the surrounding community.

“As an additional precaution vibration monitoring equipment will be deployed during the demolition to verify performance and ensure that all activity remains within established safe limits.”

Some dust is expected immediately following the demolition. The demolition has been planned to minimise the spread of dust and ensure it remains “within acceptable limits”.

Assurances have also been given that there is no risk from asbestos.

“The chimney stack has undergone extensive surveys and preparation works ahead of demolition,” said Erith.

“Any asbestos-containing materials identified within the structure have been removed by licensed asbestos specialists in accordance with strict health, safety, and environmental regulations.

“The demolition will also be supported by dust-suppression measures and environmental monitoring throughout the operation.

“Based on the surveys and remediation works completed there is no expectation of asbestos being released as a result of the chimney stack demolition.”

Work has also been carried out to protect local wildlife from the effects of the explosion.

Over the last two years ecological surveys have been done across the site to comply with environmental and wildlife protection requirements.

Bird and bat boxes have been installed within the tree line to the east of the site providing alternative nesting and roosting opportunities.

A dedicated peregrine falcon scrape has been installed in the northeast of the site.

The peregrine scrape is now actively being used by a breeding pair of peregrine falcons, which the demolition company said showed the success of the ecological improvements made ahead of the tower being blown up.

After demolition the collapsed material will be assessed and processed and environmental monitoring will continue at the site.

The viewing event is being managed by Fonmon Castle from 8.30am until 11 amand and is subject to availability. You can register to view here.

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Tributes have poured in for the 25-year-old, whose death has left the local community ‘deeply saddened’

The death of a gifted Cambridge musician has left the local community “deeply saddened”. Harrison Cole, 25, was found in the River Cam on Sunday morning (June 7), police said it was not treating the death as suspicious.

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: “We were called to the River Cam at about 9.15am on Sunday with reports of the body of a man in the river near to King’s College. The death is not being treated as suspicious and has been passed to the coroner.”

Mr Cole was assisting organist at King’s College and has been described as a “glorious person and an amazing organist” in a tribute from the college. In a statement, the college said: “We are deeply saddened to share the news of the death of Harrison Cole, Assisting Organist at King’s College. Harrison Cole was a music scholar at Ipswich School, and during his school years, he spent three years as a student at the Junior Department of the Royal Academy of Music.

“Following a gap year organ scholarship at Wells Cathedral, he came up to Trinity College, Cambridge as organ scholar in 2019. Upon graduation, he spent a year as assistant organist at Gonville and Caius College before taking up his position at King’s in September 2024.”

During his time at King’s, the organist accompanied the Choir on recordings, broadcasts and concert tours, including two A Festivals of Nine Lessons and Carols services, and tours to Australia, Estonia, the USA and Canada.

Harrison was due to leave King’s this summer, according to the college. He had recently been appointed to assistantships at St Paul’s in Knightsbridge and St Michael’s in Cornhill: two significant musical establishments in London from which he was poised to develop a freelance career as pianist, organist and conductor.

Provost Gillian Tett said: “The entire College community has felt this loss keenly, particularly the Choir and Chapel teams. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this sad time.”

The celebrity organist Anna Lapwood wrote: “Still can’t quite get my head around this news. Harrison was such a glorious person and an amazing organist. Sending all my love to his family, and to everyone in Cambridge. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.”

Channel 4 has confirmed that a hit true crime doc that’s previously left fans feeling “physically sick” will air next week.

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Taskmaster is drawing to a close and Channel 4 has already revealed what will fill its slot next week.

Greg Davies and Alex Horne are presiding over the final instalment of their quirky Channel 4 game show tonight, Thursday, June 11, with the five celebrities keen to claim the coveted golden Taskmaster trophy.

At present, comedian Amy Gledhill, writer Armando Iannucci, actor Kumail Nanjiani and Gavin and Stacey’s Joanna Page all remain in contention for victory, though presenter Joel Dommett unfortunately no longer has sufficient points.

Channel 4 audiences are keenly anticipating the finale, but many are already curious about what will succeed Taskmaster following its 10-week run in the Thursday evening primetime schedule.

It has now been confirmed that Taskmaster series 21’s replacement next week is a “real hidden gem” that has both “captivated” and previously left audiences feeling “physically sick”.

Billed as an “eye-opening” true crime documentary series, Channel 4 is scheduled to repeat a popular episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody.

The critically acclaimed programme follows the daily work of officers investigating serious crimes, documenting the journey from initial arrest through to final charge.

Originally broadcast in 2021, this episode, titled The No Body Murder, which follows Cambridgeshire Police, sees “DCI Adam Gallop believe a man declared missing in 2015 has been murdered.

“But has so far been unable to locate his body and the more time passes, the less chance there is of new witnesses or forensic evidence turning up.”

The official description continues: “The police investigation takes officers from an urgent excavation in the woods where the missing man is believed to have been shot to a journey across Europe in search of clues.”

Writing on IMDb, one viewer commented: “Arguably ‘true crime’ has never seen a better documentary.”

Another described it as “Gripping, unpredictable, shocking. A fantastic insight into the Police in Beds/Cambs. Unmissable TV.”

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A third viewer observed: “Pure drama that challenges the perception of modern day police work and the modern day accused.”

However, before 24 Hours in Police Custody returns to screens next week, viewers must first enjoy tonight’s Taskmaster finale.

The official synopsis for this evening’s Taskmaster final reads: “Amy Gledhill literally tears her hair out, Armando Iannucci plays the recorder while riding a trike with a plunger on his head.

“Joel Dommett sniffs the contents of a vacuum, Kumail Nanjiani mistreats a beloved resident of the Taskmaster house and Joanna Page lays waste to Little Alex Horne. Plus, the greatest pillow fights of all time.”

24 Hours in Police Custody is available to watch on Channel 4.

Iran’s Kharg Island, home to a terminal through which the country exports most of its oil, has emerged as a focus of the war launched in late February by the United States and Israel.

Strikes on oil infrastructure on Kharg — or a ground invasion — would severely curb Iran’s oil exports, a key source of revenue for the Islamic Republic. An assault would also mark a major escalation that could provoke even heavier retaliatory attacks on Gulf Arab infrastructure and further drive up oil prices. The skyrocketing cost of fuel is already threatening the world economy.

U.S. President Donald Trump said strikes in mid-March “obliterated” Kharg’s military assets but did not target the island’s oil infrastructure. He warned that if Iran continued disrupting traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, he would reconsider the decision to spare energy targets on the island.

Then on Thursday, Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. would “assume total control” of Iran’s oil and gas industries, including the Kharg Island terminal, in the “not too distant future.”

The president made the post as escalating attacks between the countries pushed the Middle East closer to the resumption of a full-scale war. His latest threats emerged at a time when efforts to negotiate an end to the war appear to be stuck.

The island is on the other side of the Persian Gulf from U.S. bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. A U.S. occupation of it would put American troops in a stationary position just 33 kilometers (21 miles) off Iran’s coast. That’s well within range of Iranian drones and missiles, if the Islamic Republic is willing to inflict damage on its own territory.

The small coral island is especially important because Iran’s coastline is mostly too shallow for tanker ships to dock. The U.S. has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports, which has impeded Iran’s efforts to export oil, mainly to China, through the Strait of Hormuz, even as Iranian attacks have closed the vital waterway to most traffic.

The destruction or loss of the island would deny the government a major revenue source, but it would also remove even more oil from world markets at a time of soaring prices. The destruction of the terminal would further damage Iran’s already weakened economy and undermine any efforts at postwar reconstruction.

Iran has continued to exert control over the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil passed before the war. Meanwhile, the U.S. has sent thousands of soldiers and Marines to the region.

Kharg Island has storage tanks and housing for thousands of workers. Gazelles roam freely near the refineries and depots. It also is home to a medieval Portuguese fortress and the ruins of one of the oldest Christian monasteries in the Persian Gulf.