Woodhorn Museum in Ashington will host the event on Saturday, June 13, from 10am to 5pm.

The Picnic has its roots in 1864, when the first gathering took place at Blyth Links, bringing together mining communities from across Northumberland to celebrate, commemorate and campaign. It has been held at Woodhorn Museum since 1992, following the closure of the pits.

The day opens at 10.30am with a memorial service paying tribute to those who dedicated their lives to Northumberland’s coal industry, and those who lost their lives in it.

This year’s service will include a moving musical tribute from the Ashington and District Male Voice Choir, who will perform Woodhorn Disaster, a piece that names all 13 miners who died in the Woodhorn Colliery disaster of 1916.

From 11:30am, the main stage will feature a succession of brass bands including Ellington Colliery Band, Jayess Newbiggin Brass Band, Bedlington Brass Band and Ashington Colliery Brass Band, before a massed bands finale at 1:10pm.

The afternoon brings Northern Proud Voices, Ladies of Midnight Blue and the Northern Monkey Brass Band.

(Image: Supplied)

Around the site will be craft workshops, percussion sessions and a Bugs and Beasties parade at 2.10pm, while writer Ed Waugh presents talks on the ‘Cramlington Eight’ and the 1926 General Strike at noon, 1pm and 2pm.

A free shuttle bus runs between Ashington Leisure Centre and Woodhorn Museum throughout the day, with the last departure leaving Woodhorn at 5.15pm.

Entry is free, with parking available on site for £5.

The serious assault took place on Lower Granton Road in Edinburgh.

A CCTV image has been released of a man following a serious assault in Edinburgh.

The incident occurred on Lower Granton Road in the capital on Saturday, May 16, around 4.30pm. Police Scotland has now published an image of a man who they believe could assist them in their enquiries into the attack.

He has been described as white, 6ft tall, of heavy build, aged 40-50 years-old and bald. Detective Sergeant Keith Morrison has urged those who know the man to reach out to police.

He said: “We would ask the man in the image, or anyone who recognises him, to contact us as soon as possible.”

Anyone who has information that may assist with this investigation is asked to contact Police Scotland via 101 quoting incident number 2173 of Saturday, 16 May, 2026. Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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The former girl band member will take to the stage in Revolución de Cuba

Belfast Pride weekend is set to get even bigger this summer as Revolución de Cuba Belfast announces Irish pop star Una Healy as the headline act for its flagship Pride event on Saturday, July 25, 2026.

Best known as a member of one of the UK’s most successful girl groups, The Saturdays, as well as for her successful solo career, television appearances and live performances across the UK and Ireland, Una Healy will take to the stage in Belfast for an exclusive Pride weekend performance.

The event will form part of Belfast Pride celebrations and promises an unforgettable day of live entertainment, music, celebration and community in the heart of the city.

The announcement marks the first artist reveal for the event, with Revolución de Cuba confirming that this is just the start of an iconic line-up of performers and special guests due to be announced in the coming weeks.

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Dan McGee, General Manager of Revolución de Cuba Belfast, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Una Healy to Belfast Pride this summer. We’ve always worked hard to create a venue where everybody feels welcome, and this event is our opportunity to celebrate everything that makes Belfast Pride so special.

Belfast is an incredible city with an amazing and diverse community, and we’re proud to play a small part in bringing people together for one of the biggest celebrations of the year.

We can’t wait to welcome everyone through our doors and celebrate in style with what promises to be a fantastic Pride weekend.”

Pride is one of the most important weekends in Belfast’s calendar and Revolución de Cuba wanted a headliner who could help create a truly memorable celebration. Una was a perfect fit.

This is just the beginning, and we’re excited to reveal more details about the event over the coming weeks.”

The event is expected to attract guests from across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and beyond as Belfast prepares for another landmark Pride celebration.

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, June 10, with Revolución de Cuba encouraging guests to secure tickets early. Further artist announcements and event details will be released throughout June and July.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Witton-le-Wear sits just off the A68 between Bishop Auckland and Wolsingham, one of the most quietly rewarding villages in the region, with a medieval castle, a nationally significant wildlife reserve, the Weardale Way on its doorstep, and a pub that has been welcoming walkers for generations.

The village

Witton-le-Wear sits on the north bank of the River Wear, six kilometres north-west of Bishop Auckland, and has a population of fewer than 700 people.

It was originally a farming hamlet, part of the wider Witton Castle estate that has shaped the settlement for six centuries.

The village church, St Philip and St James, has stood on the same site since Saxon times, a Grade II listed building with stained glass windows and a churchyard containing the tomb of Newby Lowson, who accompanied J.M.W. Turner on his first continental tour in 1802.

Turner sketched the view across the Wear valley from here, taking in Witton Castle and Witton Tower in the distance.

Witton Castle

The castle that gives the wider estate its name dates from the early 15th century. It was built by Sir Ralph de Eure shortly before 1410, on land that the de Eure family had held since 1318.

The family was related by descent to John Balliol, the briefly-reigning King of Scotland.

During the Civil War the castle was held by the Royalist Sir William Darcy, and the estate was confiscated before being returned after the Restoration.

Today Witton Castle is the centrepiece of a holiday and country park, and its 15th-century towers and walls remain largely intact.

Low Barns Nature Reserve

A short walk from the village, Low Barns is one of County Durham’s most important wildlife sites, a wetland reserve managed by Durham Wildlife Trust on the banks of the River Wear.

Originally farmland used for sand and gravel extraction until 1964, the site was restored into a mosaic of wet woodland, grassland, open water and reedbed habitat.

It is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest, with bird hides, a network of surfaced paths and a boardwalk giving access with minimal disturbance to the wildlife.

A visitor centre and coffee shop are open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm.

Entry is free, and Durham Wildlife Trust asks for a suggested £2.50 parking donation from non-members.

One visitor from Derbyshire called it “a very nice reserve to visit”, while a reviewer from Leeds described it simply as “a gem of a reserve”.

Walking

Witton-le-Wear is well placed for walkers.

The Weardale Way is a 73-mile long-distance footpath following the River Wear from its source to the coast, and it passes alongside the village, with the stretch from Bishop Auckland to Witton-le-Wear running through river woodland and across fields above the Wear.

The village also has its own Weardale Railway halt, on the heritage line running between Bishop Auckland and Stanhope.

The pub

The Victoria Inn on the main road through the village has been a regular fixture for walkers on the Weardale Way for years, described as a friendly village pub with a real fire, real ales and comfortable bedrooms.

Getting there

Witton-le-Wear is signposted from the A68 between Toft Hill and Fir Tree, and from the A689 west of Bishop Auckland.

The nearest train station is Bishop Auckland, approximately four miles away, with regular services from Durham and Newcastle.

The Weardale Railway halt at the village provides an additional connection on heritage rail days.

Megan Draper’s parents believe she ‘would still be here’ if she had had the MenB vaccine

The parents of Megan Draper, an 18-year-old student from Pontypool who died after contracting MenB, say their daughter would still be alive if they had access to the vaccine that will be rolled out in Wales this autumn.

Lee and Helen Draper have been campaigning to spread awareness after the tragedy of losing their daughter just five weeks after she started university.

Meg’s parents spoke to BBC Breakfast on Friday morning after the news that teenagers in Wales will be offered a meningitis B vaccine for the first time.

Talking of her daughter’s death Helen tearfully said: “Meg was really excited to go to university. She was going to Bournemouth to study physiotherapy.

“Five weeks into her studies she became lethargic and she contacted us to say she wasn’t feeling very well. That rang alarm bells for us because Megan was so social and outgoing. She was sporty in clubs and activities.

“The next morning she woke up and felt a lot worse. She had a rash, she had been sick and had a headache and fever, so we advised her to get medical help.”

In October 2025 the 18-year-old contacted 111 and was turned away twice from A&E so her parents drove to Bournemouth to bring her home to south Wales. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here

“On the journey home we were taking her back home to Wales and she deteriorated and ended up having catastrophic brain damage from MenB,” Helen continued.

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The new vaccine initiative was launched by the Welsh Government on Friday as a precautionary step following the MenB outbreak in Kent that resulted in the death of two students in March this year.

The vaccination programme will operate from July through to December 2026 and will be accessible to all those currently aged 17-18 years (born between September 1, 2007, and August 31, 2008) as well as anyone aged 18-25 who will be starting higher education or residential further education including international students.

Like many parents Lee and Helen say they did not know anything about MenB and thought Megan’s vaccinations in school covered all strains of the virus.

Lee said: “What we realised after Megan had contracted MenB was that the vaccine only covered other strains.

“We were completely unaware about MenB and we were completely unaware that there was actually a vaccine for MenB and that would have been available to us privately at the time.”

Since the death of their daughter the Drapers wanted to spread awareness about the MenB vaccine that is available privately in Wales as they said if they were aware beforehand they “would have 100% made sure” that Megan had it.

The couple are are backing the government’s initiative of the rollout of the vaccination.

They said: “People have been reaching out to use after our tragedy and they’re desperate, they want it to protect their children, and if we had access to this then Meg would still be here so we would really like to advise everybody to take up this opportunity.”

Former England defender Micah Richards has spoken about his plans to jet back and forwards during the World Cup this summer as he juggles broadcasting commitments

Micah Richards has revealed his hectic World Cup plans after making a 3,345-mile trip from New York to Salford for BBC One’s coverage of Canada against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Richards’ face has been emblazoned upon the big screens in New York’s Times Square as part of Netflix’s The Rest is Football Podcast which is being streamed live from the US. But Richards confirmed that he will be making trips from New York to the UK every “few days” as part of his World Cup schedule.

As the ex-Manchester City and Aston Villa defender got comfortable alongside pundits Wayne Rooney and Olivier Giroud, the 13-times capped England defender joked he could see co-host Gary Lineker in the swanky backdrop in the TV studio.

Presenter Gabby Logan said: “We know you’ve been out in New York but you don’t need to acclimatise because I’m bringing New York to you! (pointing at the BBC World Cup backdrop in Salford).

Richards then quipped: “This is amazing. If you look over there you can see Gary Lineker.”

After being asked how it has felt to be in the Big Apple before making a the jaunt back to the UK, Richards spoke about the joy on the streets of New York City after the Knicks took a 3-1 series lead in the NBA Finals against San Antonio Spurs, after Alan Shearer confirmed he’d watched the game in a bar last night.

Recalling the tale to Logan, Richards said: “It felt great, more importantly, it’s been about the Knicks because they haven’t won it (NBA play-offs) for years.

“We won’t feel it until America play (their first World Cup games) but out there it was buzzing.” But I’m absolutely buzzing – thanks for the call-up.”

Richards will now make the return journey to Manhattan after his BBC duties to rejoin Lineker and Shearer in their podcast studio overlooking Times Square. Speaking earlier, Shearer had said: “You could still hear the horns this morning after the New York Knicks win.

“I was lucky enough to be in a bar that was rammed and off the charts with people going mad. I watched the first two quarters and got out before the chaos started and on my way back to the hotel this place was rocking people beeping horns and going crazy.

“New York is alive and kicking as are the New York Knicks.”

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Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.

FBI agents have searched the office of an Ohio group that supports voter registration efforts, seizing documents and computer files, a board member of the organization said Friday.

It’s the latest action by the Trump administration connected to voting or election operations in the states, and it comes in a state that is expected to have hotly contested races this fall for governor and U.S. Senate.

Federal agents showed up at the Cleveland office of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative on Thursday and spent hours questioning staff, said Prentiss Haney, a board member of the grassroots organization. The organization was founded in 2007 and describes its mission as fighting for criminal justice reform, racial justice and an expansion of voting rights.

Federal agents also went to the homes of people who have worked with the organization, seeking interviews and information about alleged voter fraud, Haney said. He accused the agents of “intimidation tactics and harassment” and expressed concern that the investigation was designed to sow doubt in the coming elections.

The focus of the probe was unclear, but a person familiar with the matter said Friday that investigators were examining potential fraud violations. The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Justice Department declined to comment on Friday, and a spokesperson for the FBI in Cleveland did not respond to messages seeking comment.

To obtain a search warrant, federal authorities must convince a judge that probable cause of criminal activity exists. Though the information authorities presented was not immediately released, Democrats expressed skepticism about the basis of a search that unfolded against persistent concerns of a politicized FBI and Justice Department.

The party’s nominees for the state’s top races issued statements Friday saying they were troubled by the FBI raid.

“Any attempts by federal law enforcement to intimidate eligible Ohioans from registering to vote are unacceptable,” said Dr. Amy Acton, the state’s former public health director, who won the state’s Democratic primary for governor and is challenging Republican Vivek Ramaswamy.

Democrat Sherrod Brown, who is challenging Republican Sen. Jon Husted in the fall, called on the FBI to make public “any and all activities around these raids.”

He added, “Any attempt to intimidate Ohio voters is wrong, and will not work.”

Republicans have held the state’s top elected seat for 20 years and hold both U.S. Senate seats but are concerned that Democratic momentum in this year’s midterms could make them vulnerable.

The Justice Department during President Donald Trump’s second term has launched several legal actions or investigations related to voting or state election operations.

The FBI has seized ballots and other records from the 2020 election for Georgia’s Fulton County and Arizona’s Maricopa County and from the 2024 election in Michigan’s Wayne County. It also has been questioning election workers in Wisconsin’s Milwaukee County. All four are in presidential battleground states.

The Justice Department has sued at least 30 states and the District of Columbia after they refused to hand over detailed voter data that includes dates of birth and partial Social Security numbers. It has said in court filings that it wants the information so it can run it through a Department of Homeland Security program that checks U.S. citizenship, although the program’s accuracy has been questioned. The Justice Department has so far been on a losing streak in its lawsuits seeking to extract the data from the holdout states.

Early in his second term, Trump, a Republican, also ordered the Justice Department to investigate ActBlue, the top fundraising platform for the Democratic Party.

Allegations of fraud in voter registration efforts are typically investigated by states and usually involve people working for groups that pay for sign-ups. Earlier this year, California officials opened an investigation into whether signature-gatherers were offering to pay people for signing a ballot petition. In 2025, Pennsylvania officials brought criminal charges against seven people for submitting fraudulent voter registration forms.

___

Lauer reported from Philadelphia, and Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed from Washington.

A new exhibition at the Opera Gallery London, is offering two very different – yet curiously complimentary – sets of artistic responses to nature. It highlights the work of Dutch sculptor Pieter Obels and French-Chinese painter Feng Xiao-Min.

This is Obels’s first major London exhibition for ten years. Born in 1968 and now based in Tilburg in his native Netherlands, Obels is a sculptor who works primarily with the kind of complex Corten steel structures on display here.

He welds sheets of steel into flowing curves to form one continuous and sinuous series of interweaving loops. These often rest, seemingly defying gravity, on a single fixed point. Yet most of them can be rotated by hand, allowing viewers to engage with the art.

The fascination in these sculptures lies in the invitation to trace their delicate patterns with eye and hand. They writhe like the tendrils of climbing plants. This effect is reinforced by Obels’ deliberate weathering of their surfaces into a rusty earthen brown that almost gives them the appearance of being covered by lichen.

Obels’ sculptures spill out over into outside space in the Medici Gardens at the rear of the gallery. The monumental piece placed there acts as a visual confirmation of how stunningly Obels’ work integrates itself into natural settings. Meanwhile, its title – I Know the End, Let’s Dance (2024) – tells us about Obels’ intuitive practice. As he told me on opening night: “The less I think about the sculpture, the better it is.”

Feng Xiao-Min

In dialogue with Obels’ work, the walls of the gallery carry the mist-laden compositions of Feng Xiao-Min. This is the first major London exhibition of this Chinese-French artist, who was born in Shanghai in 1959 but has lived and worked in Fontainebleau in France for 35 years. It is good to see this intriguing body of work, which draws on both western and Chinese artistic traditions, in this setting.

Feng deliberately leaves his paintings untitled to avoid giving them any specificity. As with Obels, they are organic responses to his feelings and engagement with nature at the time of composition. This shapes the palette used in the individual pieces. Some he described to me as expressing chaleur (warmth), while others are cooler and achieve their effect through subtle layering of pigments and tonal shifts across the canvas.

The result is a series of dreamlike landscapes that defy traditional approaches to perspective. There is no central point. Instead, Feng seems to start his compositions with three to four short lines in white, red or black grouped around the middle, lower-part of the canvas. Around these focal moments in the narrative of each work, the eye tracks across, picking out hints of structure, wisps of weather and intimations of landscape.

Feng’s early training in calligraphy is readily identifiable in his practice, influenced by, among others, the dynamic art of the Qing dynasty painter Shi Tao and his efforts in his works to use the past to open up the present.

The lines that punctuate Feng’s paintings are like calligraphic marks, while the swirl of interblending tones are redolent of J.M.W. Turner’s more abstract works. This provides a compelling amalgam of Chinese and western approaches to the depiction of nature in paintings whose depth rewards the viewer’s gaze.

Feng’s works speak of how landscapes make us feel. The physicality of Obels’ works provides a more sensory engagement with nature. Obels grew up on a farm, which gave him a sense of the human relationship with nature that defines his work. City-born Feng’s ethereal visions encourage us to appreciate nature in a more imaginative way. Like Obels’ structures, these two approaches are harmonically in balance in this exhibition.

Pieter Obels | Feng Xiao-Min is at the Opera Gallery London until July 5 2026

Nearly two-thirds (61%) of British retail investors received a full allocation of shares, with those applying for up to 2,700 dollars’ worth (£2,013) getting the full amount, while those applying for more than this saw allocations scaled back, with a maximum allowed at 1,000 shares each.