The Borough Council of Bolton has announced that several roads will be closed for the Ironman events until June 8.

The restrictions are expected to remain in place until 9am on June 9.

Diversion routes will be signposted to assist motorists during this period.

In Horwich, Winter Hey Lane will be closed on June 20, from St John Street to Lee Lane for the Horwich Rox event.

This closure will be in effect all day or until the event concludes.

Drivers should plan alternative routes to avoid delays.

Lastly, Guido Street will be temporarily closed from Horace Street to Darwin Street for approximately five days from  June 9 to 13 due to water works.

The restrictions will prohibit all vehicular and pedestrian traffic in this area. An alternate route will be available via Darwin Street, Halliwell Road, and Horace Street.

Motorists are advised to stay updated and plan their journeys accordingly.

“There is no doubt being in the same league changed everything,” says Txiki Begiristain, director of football at Barcelona between 2003 and 2010.

Ronaldo’s world record £80m move to Real Madrid in 2009 thrust the pair right into the centre of one of football’s most intense club rivalries – Barcelona v Real Madrid.

And by the time Ronaldo left for Juventus in 2018, the pair had won five Ballons d’Or apiece. In the nine seasons the pair were together in Spain, Ronaldo had scored 450 goals in 438 games for Real. Messi, 471 in 476 games for Barca.

But it had become far more than just numbers. By now, it was personal – and the growth of social media meant the world was watching.

“For Cristiano it was Lionel Messi and for Lionel Messi it was Cristiano. ‘I need to beat this guy’,” said Begiristain.

“The Mourinho – Guardiola rivalry was like a mirror for the Ronaldo – Messi rivalry. And, as players, they knew that game-winning goals were their route to one-upmanship,” added Spanish football writer Sid Lowe.

“We could watch it all on our phones. And in turn, the global exposure for the Messi – Ronaldo rivalry was now sky high, absolutely off the charts. Everything they did was must-see.

“It was on everyone’s lips in the press box, newspapers and social media comments, Cristiano and Leo were hell bent on outdoing each other on the pitch. Their personal battle for supremacy was symbolised by the ongoing trophy battle between the clubs.”

And what a battle it was. Messi and Barcelona undoubtedly won the La Liga honours, but the Champions League was dominated by Real Madrid and Ronaldo.

In 2012, Ronaldo inspired Real to their first La Liga title in four years but it was Messi who picked up his fourth straight Ballon d’Or award – much to his rival’s disgust. He went to win four of the next five.

“There is a genuine animosity that begins to grow,” says Robinson. “They didn’t acknowledge each other that much, they hated comparisons.

“They could not tolerate if they were the greatest of all time, there could be another in their era, in their football league.”

Deco adds: “I don’t think there is something similar to what happened with Messi and Ronaldo at this moment because at the same time the two clubs, Barcelona and Madrid, were at the same level and fighting for the big trophies.”

When Messi scored a 92nd-minute winner for Barcelona at Real Madrid in 2017, he removed his jersey and held it up the crowd.

“In the popular narrative, Cristiano had been the diva and Messi had been the humble servant of Barcelona, but this was the moment of Messi reasserting himself on the rivalry, saying maybe for the first time in his career ‘look at me’,” says Robinson.

Just a few months later, Ronaldo mimicked the celebration when he scored in the Spanish Super Cup at Barcelona.

Balague added: “If you needed proof of how much it meant to beat each other, those are the pictures.”

Eighty-one people have received vitreo-retinal surgery at the Friarage Hospital in Northallerton since the service began in October 2025, bringing advanced ophthalmic care to the Hambleton and Richmondshire areas.

Carri Ramsbottom, from Friends of the Friarage, said: “Friends of the Friarage believe that every patient deserves high-quality care closer to home and this service is a shining example of our commitment to achieve this.

“It has been incredible to see how much of a difference the new service has made to our patients in such a few short months.

“We all want to return to the comfort of our own homes as quickly as possible following surgery, and it has been an honour to help make that a reality for our patients.”

The charitable group raised more than £200,000 to fund new surgical equipment, making the specialised eye surgery possible.

Vitreo-retinal surgery treats serious eye conditions such as retinal detachment, macular holes and complications from diabetic eye disease.

Before the service launched, patients in the area had to travel to The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, often requiring multiple appointments and assistance getting home, due to being unable to drive after receiving eye drops or injections.

The first to benefit was Andrew McDonald, a software engineer from Northallerton, who underwent vitreo surgery at the Friarage Surgical Centre in October 2025 after experiencing leakage in his eye caused by complications from uveitis; inflammation of the eye, which was significantly impacting his day-to-day life.

Mr McDonald said: “As the Friarage Hospital is within walking distance from my house, I was able to walk in, have my operation and walk home.

“It doesn’t get any better than that.

“I would like to say a huge thank you to Mr Saad and his wonderful team for their ongoing compassion and support from my initial appointments right through to my operation.

“They are all so kind and caring and I would recommend anyone thinking about going for vitreo surgery at the Friarage to just do it – the team will really look after you.

“As for the fundraisers and supporters of Friends of the Friarage, they are unsung heroes and a very special group of people, who helped make this possible.

“Eight months on, my eye is improving really well and is making a huge difference to my quality of life.”

He was under the care of Mr Ahmed Saad, consultant ophthalmologist and vitreoretinal surgeon.

Mr Saad said: “The introduction of vitreo-retinal surgery at the Friarage is already having a huge impact on our patients, like Andrew.

“Previously, our patients had to travel to other hospitals for this type of specialist treatment but now they can receive sight-saving treatment closer to home, reducing travel and waiting times, and making care more accessible and convenient for them and their families.

“We are extremely grateful to Friends of the Friarage for their generosity and support.

“Their contribution is directly helping us preserve and restore sight for people in our community, and we truly appreciate their continued commitment to supporting patient care at the Friarage.”

47 Skin, a business based in York, ranked fourth in Yorkshire and the Humber and 83rd nationally in The Sunday Times 100, a list of the UK’s fastest-growing private companies.

The ranking, now in its fifth year, recognises entrepreneurial businesses making significant growth outside the technology sector.

Jon Yeomans, business editor of The Sunday Times, said: “Celebrating five years of The Sunday Times 100 shows the amazing variety of British businesses, led this year by the media producer Goalhanger taking the number one spot.

“The biggest trend over the last five years is the rise of consumer brands, with food, drink, fashion, and beauty companies now making up nearly half the list.

“Several businesses who have featured in the past, such as Huel and Applied Nutrition, have continued to grow and find huge success, from launching on the stock market to being bought out by global giants.”

This year’s Yorkshire and the Humber entries also include health supplement brand Vidrate in West Yorkshire, which topped the regional list (28th nationally); Sheffield’s Blend Family (40th); Leeds-based Wilson Power Solutions (76th); and Slick Gorilla, another Leeds company (95th).

47 Skin, which recorded £12.8 million in sales and 62.7 per cent annual growth over three years, produces skincare products aimed at managing acne and other skin concerns.

The highest-ranking company in the region, Vidrate, achieved £5.7 million in sales with a 120.3 per cent average annual growth rate.

The Sunday Times 100 companies averaged 108 per cent annual sales growth over three years, generating a combined £4 billion in revenue and employing 13,700 people.

The ranking excludes companies selling their own technology, which are listed separately in The Sunday Times 100 Tech.

To be included on the list companies have to be registered in the UK and be independent, unquoted and ultimate holding companies.

They must also have recorded at least £5 million in sales in the most recent year and have been profitable in that period.

This year, 45 of the 100 companies are based in London, while five are from Yorkshire and the Humber.

Four businesses are headquartered in Wales, three in the South West, two in Scotland, and one in the North East.

The research for The Sunday Times 100 was conducted in partnership with Beauhurst, a source of private company data.

True, fish and chip shops have been hit harder than many strands of hospitality by rising prices for fish and oil. And London is the least affordable place in the country to run a restaurant. But the point about fish and chips is that it is the UK’s original street food, popularised in the 19th century as an affordable hit of protein and carbs for the working class, parcelled up in newspaper with change from a £10 note and eaten on the way home from the pub or, ideally, harbourside as a stiff easterly whips in off the North Sea. Swap the wooden fork on the pavement for silverware in Mayfair and the soul (sole?) of the dish is lost.

England’s first Dutch-style “cycle street”, which gives cyclists and pedestrians priority over motorists, has opened in Cambridge.

Adams Road, a key route into the city, is painted to look like a bike lane, and treats motorists as “guests”. It is already being used by around 3,000 cyclists a day, officials say – a figure likely to rise as people feel more confident about cycling into the city. 

Common in Belgium and the Netherlands, where they are known as a fietsstraats, the roads have started appearing in Germany, Canada and even the US.

While the intervention was welcomed by many in Cambridge, some have scoffed at the £2m price tag, which, councillors pointed out, also covered the construction of rainwater gardens to mitigate flooding.

Anna Williams, head of campaigns at Camcycle, a local charity, said she hoped the cycle street will be “the first of many in the city”.  

“Providing more space for people walking, wheeling and cycling will improve safety, encourage more people to choose active travel for their everyday journeys and create a nicer street for everyone who uses it,” she added.

Image: Greater Cambridge Partnership
Main image: European Inventor Award

Heavy favourite Jannik Sinner’s shock loss in the second round meant what was expected to be a one-horse race became a free for all.

German second seed Zverev took over as the clear front-runner to claim the Coupe des Mousquetaires – but he has scar tissue from three previous Grand Slam final defeats.

The 28-year-old missed a golden opportunity in the 2020 US Open final when he blew a two-set lead against Austria’s Dominic Thiem.

In the 2024 French Open final, he came up against a better opponent in Carlos Alcaraz – whose emergence alongside Sinner meant many thought Zverev had missed his chance to land a major.

Zverev was also undone in last year’s Australian Open final by Sinner, who produced a merciless performance which led to the German saying he felt mentally “empty” a few months later.

With Alcaraz, Sinner and 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic out of the way, Zverev will arguably never have a better opportunity to land the Grand Slam he has long been predicted to win.

Will Zverev keep his composure? He claims he “doesn’t care” he is considered the favourite.

“I focus on the next match and on the opponent as they cross the net, and that’s the only thing that I can control,” he said.

“If I win those matches, then that’s great.”

Manchester United CEO Omar Berrada says the Reds will look to replicate last summer’s transfer business and they have a clear plan for the window after securing a return to the Champions League.

He said: “I think the template for what we did last summer will be replicated in many ways. You always go into a window, you don’t know how you’re going to come out of it, but you have to be really prepared.

“You have to have a clear plan. You have to know exactly what positions you’re looking to strengthen. And you also have to be prepared for any eventuality, there could be exits that we’re not expecting, there could be opportunities in the market that perhaps weren’t there at the beginning of the window. So, we have to be ready.

“We have to be agile and flexible, but we have a clear plan. Jason Wilcox and his team are very well set up to to execute that plan. And I do think that what we saw last season is a good way forward for us, which is we want a mix of experience and youth.

We want a mix of players that have demonstrated they can perform in the Premier League and perhaps also with players that are doing very well outside the Premier League. But we will always do it within our terms and ensuring that whatever decision we take is not just for the short term but also for the long term.”

The murder of 18-year-old Henry Nowak by Vickrum Digwa in Southampton in December 2025 is a profound tragedy that has left a family grieving and deeply affected the wider community. Any discussion that follows must keep that loss clearly in view.

Following Digwa’s conviction and sentencing, Nowak’s father said the family did not want his death “to be used to create further division, hatred or tension. We want his story to help make our streets safer for everyone.”

Local and national Sikh organisations expressed deep sorrow and offered condolences, while unequivocally condemning the killing and stating that Digwa’s actions were “in direct contradiction to Sikh teachings and values” and wholly unrepresentative of Sikhs.

In court, the judge noted that Digwa was carrying a kirpan – a ceremonial blade that is typically worn in a small, discreet form – as well as a larger bladed weapon, which was used in the attack.

Wider questions have since been raised about religious exemptions. Should Sikhs be allowed to carry kirpans in public? And, given this horrific case, are existing legal protections for religious bladed instruments still justified?

What is the kirpan and who carries it?

The kirpan is a blade worn as part of the Five Ks – the five markers of identity adopted at initiation into the Khalsa (the community of initiated Sikhs).

These are kesh (uncut hair), kangha (a wooden comb), kara (an iron or steel bangle), kachera (specific undergarments) and kirpan. The term kirpan combines kirpa, meaning compassion, and aan, meaning honour or dignity.

There is a widespread misunderstanding, reinforced in some media reporting, that all Sikhs wear a kirpan. In practice, only Amritdhari Sikhs, those formally initiated into the Khalsa and committed to its teachings, are required to do so. They represent a small proportion of the global Sikh population.

UK law treats the kirpan through a “good reason” provision, allowing it to be carried for religious purposes in a specific context – typically as part of an ongoing commitment to the Five Ks – rather than as a standalone item.

Within Sikh tradition, the kirpan is understood as a gift from the Guru and is linked to a duty to protect the vulnerable, resist injustice and stand against oppression. It is carried as a reflection of the ideal of the “saint soldier”, combining spiritual discipline with societal responsibility and a commitment to protect others.

What does the law say?

In UK law, carrying a knife or bladed article in public is an offence under the Criminal Justice Act. But the law allows the carrying of a bladed article where there is a good reason to do so, including religious practice and national dress – as in the case of a sgian dubh, worn as part of traditional Scottish Highland dress.

Crucially, the law distinguishes between carrying and use. The “good reason” justification applies only to possession. If a blade is used to harm others, any justification falls away and it is treated as a weapon. This means the law permits the carrying of the kirpan as a religious article, but never its use for harm.

Unlike most religious exemptions, which do not involve objects associated with risk in public space, the kirpan also sits within criminal weapons law that aims to address knife crime. Because knife laws focus on potential harm rather than intention, the kirpan occupies an unusual position: both a religious obligation and an object associated with risk. The law does not remove this tension, but manages it.

Different legal systems respond to the kirpan in different ways. Where Sikh communities are long established, accommodation is more common. Where they are smaller or less visible, the kirpan is more likely to be understood primarily as a risk.

In Canada, courts have emphasised accommodation, allowing kirpans in schools while accepting proportionate safeguards to manage risk. In Italy, courts have taken a stricter approach, treating the kirpan under general weapons law regardless of its religious meaning.

In Australia, a school incident prompted a temporary ban that was later reversed after consultation with Sikh organisations. Elsewhere, the kirpan is managed through broader frameworks of public order or justified possession.

India’s constitution explicitly recognises the kirpan as part of Sikh religious practice.

There is little evidence that blanket bans reduce harm. Instead, most legal systems manage the issue through safeguards and negotiation. The challenge lies in balancing religious freedom with perceptions of risk, rather than attempting to resolve that tension entirely.

Balancing religion and risk

Courts generally recognise the kirpan as a genuine religious obligation while also acknowledging its potential for harm. Within Sikh tradition, the kirpan is linked to the duty to protect others. In law, however, this does not create a right to use force.

Any use of a kirpan as a weapon falls outside legal protection, even in defence of others. The law manages this tension by allowing possession in defined circumstances while maintaining clear limits on harm.

Henry Nowak’s murder raises a difficult question: would restricting possession of the kirpan prevent incidents of this kind? The short answer is no. Violence using a blade is already illegal.

Restricting the exemption would affect who can carry a kirpan, not the legality of violence itself. It would place Amritdhari Sikhs in conflict with the law, without addressing the underlying causes of violent acts.

A more productive approach would be to clarify the terms of the exemption. Shared expectations already exist within Sikh communities about how the kirpan is to be worn in everyday contexts, reflecting longstanding practices. These are increasingly developed and clarified through engagement with schools, employers and policymakers.

Initiation into the Khalsa is intended to establish how the kirpan should be worn and the responsibilities it entails. But these expectations are not always clearly understood outside Sikh communities, or consistently applied.

As Mark Nowak, Henry’s father, has said, the aim should be to make change for the better, not to create further division. The challenge is how to respond to violence in ways that improve safety without deepening misunderstanding.

The Cold War-era BBC series has been called a ‘masterpiece’ by critics and fans — and viewers are saying it may be the best spy thriller series out there.

Few things prove more thrilling to binge-watch than a superbly crafted spy series, and for years, ‘The Night Manager’ has remained the gold standard.

The small-screen adaptation of John le Carré’s 1993 novel features Tom Hiddleston delivering an equally charming and enigmatic lead performance – captivating audiences from the opening scene.

However, another espionage thriller is now being lauded as a genuine contender to ‘The Night Manager’, with some viewers even claiming it surpasses its rival.

‘The Game’ is a six-episode spy thriller created for television by Toby Whithouse, who penned the screenplay alongside Sarah Dollard and Debbie O’Malley.

The ‘outstanding’ programme stars Tom Hughes in the main role, supported by a formidable ensemble cast including Brian Cox, Paul Ritter, Shaun Dooley, Chloe Pirrie, Victoria Hamilton, and Jonathan Aris, reports the Express.

The series first aired in 2014 to considerable critical praise, though disappointment followed in 2015 when it was confirmed there would be no second season – leaving fans deeply frustrated.

Filmed across Birmingham, London, and Wales during August 2013, audiences continue to be captivated by this relatively under-the-radar spy thriller.

The official synopsis reads: “Tensions are high in 1972 London when the Soviets devise Operation Glass, a plot to bring down Britain, while the world’s superpowers engage in a war fought mainly by spies. A defecting KGB officer contacts MI5 with details of the plan. In response, MI5’s leader assembles a secret team, including enigmatic agent Joe Lambe, to investigate and stop the threat to Britain and the rest of the world.”

Boasting an impressive 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, The Game has been lauded as a ‘masterpiece’ by enthusiasts of the genre, with acclaim flooding in from numerous sources.

One critic said: “The Game is wonderfully atmospheric, stylish, and sexy.”

Another reviewer added: “The drama excels in the realms of atmosphere, tension and mood, and these are the vital things that a spy drama can’t get wrong.”

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A third critic said: “The Game is next-level entertainment, courtesy of smart scripts and a cast of finely drawn characters.”

While one reviewer wrote: “Plenty of twisty plotting, grim atmosphere and MI5 staff with a rich variety of psychological afflictions, in six parts.”

Viewers are similarly captivated by the series, with one fan saying: “Amazing! the best cold war thriller i have seen in ages.”

Meanwhile, another viewer said: “Another BBC masterpiece, with thrilling plot and solid ensemble cast.”

One IMDB user review said: “Superb BBC Quality. The Game is an absolutely first rate Cold War mini-series from the BBC set in the 1970’s. The plot is complex and intelligent with lots of twists and turns and will appeal to Le Carré fans. The acting is absolutely superb all round.”

While another viewer voiced their frustration over the series’ axing: “Left me speechless. Brilliant series. What a welcome return to television for this genre, cold war spy thriller, so popular back in the 1980’s and for many years criminally absent.

“The Game was an awesome five part series, incredibly written and scripted, it was dark, pacey, loaded with intrigue and thoroughly engaging. Utterly devastating that a second series wasn’t commissioned, the BBC missed a golden opportunity with both this and Banished. Nevertheless, The Game was a magnificent piece of drama, 10/10”

The Game is available to stream without charge on BBC iPlayer and UKTV.