The visit was intended to check that all laws and regulations are being met

Around 70 caravans at a Traveller site were visited by South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) on Wednesday, June 10. The visit was to ensure regulations at Smithy Fen, Cottenham, are being met.

Smithy Fen is a well-established Gypsy and Traveller site, with a planning condition at individual plots that caravans should be lived in by Gypsy and Traveller people.

“Caravans at the site also need to comply with The Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act 1960 which regulates caravan sites across the UK and gives local authorities control over where and how caravans are used,” a spokesperson for SCDC said.

“This legislation considers health, safety, and living conditions for people staying in caravans. It includes areas such as spacing between units, water supply, drainage, toilets, fire safety and electrical systems.”

The spokesperson said language support was provided and police were present to provide support. Information gathered from the visit will now be assessed and if breaches are identified, the council said it will follow “lawful and proportionate” processes to address them.

Councillor Laurence Damary-Homan, Lead Cabinet Member for Environment at South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “We want to make sure the site is safe for everyone, and where it is not, make sure we have the necessary information to try and take action.

“The Council is committed to engaging with all residents in a fair and respectful way, and this fact‑finding work will help gather the information needed to support safe, lawful and inclusive communities.”

Cllr Damary-Homan continued: “The next step is to review all the information gathered. Any future actions will be guided by the findings of the visit. We remain committed to ensuring that authorised sites are safe places to live.

“The timeline to take any appropriate action is governed by the legal process – we must ensure we thoroughly assess the information we have gathered and follow the necessary steps to get the best outcome that is fair and right by all our residents.”

After a dramatic day in the Championship yesterday, the final second round game of the weekend sees Tyrone host Mayo in Round 2A.

A place in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-final is the prize for the winners.

The losers won’t exit the Championship, but they’ll have to navigate an additional game to make the last eight and head into tomorrow morning’s Round Three draw.

As Donegal have already played Kerry, the losers of today’s game would have a one in three chance of facing the Kingdom next weekend.

That alone, plus the extra week of rest and recovery, should be enough incentive for Tyrone and Mayo this afternoon.

Trying to predict which versions of each team we’ll see in Omagh is another matter.

The Red Hands finished fifth in Division Two, but they appear to have turned a corner in the Championship.

After taking Armagh to extra-time in the Ulster preliminary round, they defeated Connacht champions Roscommon in Dr Hyde Park in round one.

Mayo lost to Roscommon in Connacht before claiming a hard-fought one-point win over Monaghan last time out.

They’ll be AFL prospect Kobe McDonald can continue to impress while a lot of the pre-match focus will centre around whether or not Darragh Canavan will be added to the Tyrone squad having been named as a standby player on Friday.

Mayo, under the interim management of Stephen Rochford, were seven point winners over Tyrone at this venue in the 2025 Championship.

This is a real acid test for both teams to ascertain how much, if any, tangible progress they’ve made since last May.

We’ll have all the build-up and team news ahead of throw-in at 3.30pm.

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK and MP for Clacton, has outlined a radical policy proposal, stating his party would evict all foreign nationals from social housing should they gain power.

Writing in his inaugural Substack essay on Sunday, Mr Farage asserted that Britain has become a “two-tier state against white people”.

He also reiterated his commitment to “repeal the Equality Act” under a Reform government. To support his claims, Mr Farage referenced the murder of student Henry Nowak, who was handcuffed by police as he lay dying after his killer, Vickrum Digwa, claimed to have been the victim of a racist attack. He concluded that the “British state is no longer working for everyone in this country”.

His essay, titled “Britain is a Two Tier State – Against White People”, makes a series of points about how he claims “there is nothing fair about the way white people have been treated by their governments”.

Housing, healthcare, education, policing, the military and the workplace are all listed as being adversely affected by what he describes as “deeply anti-white racism”.

“Across public and economic life, the power of the Government has been brought to bear on tackling ‘inequalities’, in a narrow and specific sense,” Mr Farage wrote.

“Anything which is seen to disadvantage a minority group is cracked down on.

“Anything which benefits a minority and damages the white British is likely to be left alone.”

On the topic of housing, he said that during the last century, “rules which gave priority to local people and ties to the area were stripped away”.

He said that, under a Reform government, foreign nationals in social housing would be given a three-month grace period to relocate to private rented accommodation, or lose their right to remain in the country and be liable for deportation.

Appearing on Sky News, culture secretary Lisa Nandy said Mr Farage “should take his nasty hate and anger and division somewhere else, frankly”.

“I think people want hope,” she added.

“They don’t want more anger, they don’t want more division, they don’t want more hate, and I wish he’d just take it somewhere else.

“There are serious challenges that this country faces.

“People have not felt listened to or heard.

“Living standards haven’t improved for too long.

“People want better, they want more.”

Mr Farage wrote that he was launching the Substack so he could set out his views in his own words to avoid them being “twisted and misrepresented”, promising to publish a “long essay” each month.

Reform MP Suella Braverman said she was “very proud” to read Mr Farage’s piece, adding: “I believe that white people are treated more unfairly than non-white people.”

Appearing on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News, she said: “The tragic murder of Henry Nowak has to be a wake-up call that white people were told by the police to be treated differently to non-white people, and saying that is not divisive.”

Ms Braverman, who defected to Reform after leaving the Conservatives and standing down as home secretary, said she was the first Tory minister to give a speech outlining problems in the Equality Act, “daring to challenge the status quo”, and this was one of the reasons she left the party.

“We’re saying that the institutions, the laws, and the high-level policies in this country treat white people less fairly than non-white people,” Ms Braverman said.

Nandy added she hopes Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham wins next week’s Makerfield by-election.

“I hope he comes back to Westminster to help us bring the issues that matter to people right up front and centre as part of this Government,” Ms Nandy added.

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Pollice announced this weekend that the reports had centred around Old Station Park in Horwich, with several cases of anti-social behaviour having been raised.

In response, officers say they have plans to increase their patrols around the park and they have encouraged members of the public with any information or concerns to contact them.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Officers from the Horwich neighbourhood policing team have been made aware of a number of issues involving anti-social behaviour on Old Station Park.

“Abuse towards members of the public using the park will not be tolerated and action will be taken against any individuals identified as being involved.

“Plans are in place to increase patrols in the area.”

Old Station Park has previously been at the centre of concerns about anti-social behaviour.

In December last year United Utilities said they believed an “unknown third party” had damaged water drains leading to flooding.

Anyone with any further information or concerns can call police on 101 or 999 in the event of an emergency.

Alternatively, members of the public can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The day drew in huge crowds, who – unperturbed by the wind – enjoyed eight races on Saturday (June 13).

Now in its 55th year, the annual event raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

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Speaking about this, Amy Hebdon, Macmillan relationship fundraising team manager, said: “We had such an incredible field of jockeys again this year, spanning all ages and experience.”

Eight races were held on the day – including the Ernest Cooper Ride of Their Lives charity race (Image: Newsquest)

She added: “I am always blown away by their dedication, bravery and perseverance as they prepare for this challenge whilst also holding fundraising events, raising thousands of pounds of vital funds for Macmillan so we can be there for people living with cancer in Yorkshire.

“Macmillan Cancer Support receives no government funding and relies almost entirely on donations – we simply couldn’t help the growing number of people who need us without the support and generosity of the riders and their supporters.”

Kind-hearted volunteers were on hand to raise vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support on the day (Image: Newsquest)

The day’s races included the Ernest Cooper Ride of Their Lives charity event.

The special race, which has been held at York Racecourse for the past 14 years, sees 12 amateur riders take part in a one-mile challenge, raising at least £4,000 each for the charity.

Coming in first was Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor for the Sunday Times, riding Epictetus.

She was joined by six participants from Yorkshire, including Danny, a strength and condition coach at Jack Berry House in Malton, who despite training almost 100 jockeys for the Macmillan Raceday, only got in the saddle himself last year.

Angelika and Peter stopped off for the races on their way to Scotland from Germany in their campervan – and said they “loved it” (Image: Supplied)

The 43-year-old, from Scarborough, works for the Injured Jockey’s Fund – helping to rehabilitate riders and wished to thank the Macmillan nurses who supported his father through throat cancer.

He said: “The jockeys have been saying I need to learn to ride for years, so I thought it was about time I took up the challenge and experienced the thrill of horseracing.

“Working with jockeys all this time has given me a thorough understanding of the extreme physical and physiological demands placed on them and now it’s time for me to experience it myself.

“I’ve also seen first-hand how amazing Macmillan nurses are after they helped treat and support my dad to make a full recovery from throat cancer in 2018.

“They supported him through the entire process and are nothing short of extraordinary.”

One hundreds and forty volunteers helped collect additional funds for the charity (Image: James Barton – Macmillan Cancer Support)

More than £115,000 was raised for Macmillan through the Ernest Cooper Ride alone.

The total amount raised was aided by a first-of-its-kind abseil down the four-storey Knavesmire Stand, ticket contributions and donations gathered by 140 volunteers over the two days.

A thousand free tickets to the event were also provided to cancer patients and their families by Macmillan.

For more on this and the incredible work the charity does year-round, please visit here.

For a long time, the race seemed to be heading the way of one of the Mercedes drivers, as Russell converted his pole position into a lead from Hamilton and Antonelli at the start and the two raced in that order for almost the first half of the race.

The divergent strategies of the three cars became apparent as soon as Hamilton pitted on lap 11 to change his soft tyres.

Russell and Antonelli had started on the medium compound, but Mercedes chose to bring them in after Hamilton to protect track position, even though the team’s radio communications made it obvious they knew they were on a different strategy.

When Hamilton pitted for a second time on lap 27, Antonelli began to pressure Russell for the lead, closing right up on his team-mate and trying a couple of times to pass into Turn One.

But the two drivers were warned not to waste too much time fighting, in the context of their battle with Hamilton.

Russell stopped for a final time on lap 36, Antonelli a lap later, handing the lead to Hamilton, who still had one stop to make.

Hamilton’s job initially looked like it was to lose as little time as possible to the advancing Mercedes on their fresher tyres, before pitting, dropping to third, and trying to catch them again.

But Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin broke down at Turn Nine on lap 40, and that led to a VSC being deployed to recover the car safely.

Under a VSC, cars have to slow down and maintain their gaps, but as they are travelling slower, it means a pit stop costs relatively less time than under racing conditions.

Hamilton had a 14-second lead, and that was enough margin to stop under the VSC and come out still in front.

It put him in a strong position, out front and with tyres that were eight laps fresher. Only a problem now could cost him a victory and the car ran like clockwork to the end for Hamilton’s 106th grand prix victory and Ferrari’s first since Mexico 2024.

There were two small ironies. Hamilton’s win was Ferrari’s first in Spain since 2013, when the man who delivered it was Alonso, whose retirement caused the VSC that delivered this next one to his old arch-rival.

And the post-race interviews were conducted by Nico Rosberg, Hamilton’s former Mercedes team-mate, with whom he had also had an acrimonious relationship when they were in the same team – and 10 years since the pair crashed together on the first lap of this race when competing for the title.

Offices were called to York Road at about 4pm on Saturday (June 13) after reports that numerous people were fighting with weapons. 

Upon attending the scene, a man was seen brandishing a red crowbar and fled the area – before later being found by police. 

A 38-year-old was arrested on suspicion of affray and remained in police custody for questioning yesterday evening. 

Cleveland Police said officers are investigating the circumstances surrounding the disturbance and have been carrying out extensive CCTV enquiries.

PC Warnock, from Hartlepool’s response team, said: “We believe there were several other people involved in the fighting during a time when the area was very busy with traffic and pedestrians.

“I want to take this opportunity to appeal to anyone who witnessed it take place, has dash cam, mobile or phone footage to get in touch with us.

“You can do this by calling 101 or visiting our website and quoting reference number 113967.”

Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

No one likes dry chicken, but it happens all too easily if you overcook the dish – and chefs are recommending you add a 65p staple to keep it juicy every single time

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You can ensure your chicken dishes remain succulent every time by incorporating one ingredient before cooking. Chicken is famously challenging to cook to perfection. Undercooking risks food poisoning, yet the anxiety surrounding undercooked poultry frequently leads people to overcook it – resulting in dry, tough, and unappetising meat.

Achieving that perfect balance of thoroughly cooked chicken that remains juicy and tender isn’t straightforward, and social media is awash with countless tips and tricks aimed at helping people master the art of cooking the poultry properly. One such cooking technique on TikTok has recently gained widespread attention, as it claims to deliver “the juiciest chicken breast you’ve ever had” – and requires just one 65p ingredient you’ve likely got sitting in your kitchen cupboard.

The tip was posted by Arash Hashemi, a self-taught cook who frequently shares keto-friendly recipes that are rich in protein and minimal in carbohydrates. Following a protein-heavy diet means Arash requires his meals to be flavourful, and his chicken method ensures it’s consistently perfectly moist.

He said: “This is the secret to the juiciest chicken breast you’ve ever had. These are practically dripping with juice.”

Arash started by seasoning his chicken, opting for herbs and spices including paprika and oregano, alongside yoghurt and lemon juice, though you can customise this to your preference.

However, in his marinade, he included one particular ingredient that helped guarantee his chicken would remain juicy – baking soda.

Baking soda is an effective tenderiser for chicken that functions by increasing the surface pH level of the meat. This stops the proteins from contracting and releasing moisture during cooking, ensuring your chicken remains juicy and tender.

Commenters on the post were astonished by the straightforward trick, with numerous people admitting they had no clue that achieving juicy chicken was as simple as incorporating one ingredient into their marinade.

One person said: “Baking soda on every chicken from now on. What?!”

Another added: “I wanna say thank you so much for posting this video. I have this for dinner, and my chicken came out sooooo tender and juicy. I’ve been cooking chicken wrong the whole time.”

How to cook a chicken breast

Arash also proceeded to detail precisely how he prepares his chicken breast to ensure it turns out juicy. Firstly, he ensures his chicken is at room temperature before cooking, which means removing it from the fridge for a short while.

Don’t leave chicken out for an extended period, as this can allow bacteria to develop and raise your risk of food poisoning. But allowing it to rest while you prepare the remainder of your meal is acceptable.

He then placed the chicken in a frying pan with some oil, cooking it over a medium heat with a lid on for three minutes. After the time had elapsed, he turned it over, replaced the lid, and cooked for a further seven minutes.

He then removed the chicken from the pan and allowed it to rest for five minutes before serving. Bon appetit!

Rugby legend Lewis Moody was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year

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Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody has offered an update on his health as he continues to battle motor neurone disease (MND). Moody was diagnosed with MND in September last year and went public with the news a month later.

MND affects motor nerves in the spinal cord and the brain and affects a person’s ability to walk, talk, breathe and swallow through muscle weakness, stiffness and paralysis.

Currently, there is no cure for the condition, but treatment can slow down the progression of the life-limiting disease.

Moody noticed the symptoms when he was exercising in the gym, where he became aware of weakness in his shoulder.

The 47-year-old played for Leicester Tigers and Bath during his illustrious career in rugby, and has now taken on the responsibility of helping raise awareness for those diagnosed with the condition.

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Now, a few months on from announcing his diagnosis, Moody has opened up on how it continues to affect his day-to-day life.

“My finger strength is slightly diminished, but otherwise, hopefully, there is nothing else at the moment,” Moody said in an interview with The Guardian.

“I can still do everything. It’s just a case of managing energy because, if you get depleted, it drops away quickly. I have to sleep more regularly and listen to my body but, touch wood, the disease is moving slowly.”

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Moody went on to explain why he is determined to help other people who have been diagnosed with MND.

He said: “The times in my life where I felt really alive was when I felt the greatest adversity. For me, there’s probably no greater adversity than what I’m facing now.

“But so many people are doing amazing things in the MND space all the time. Many of them have no platform and don’t get attention.

“But I get the opportunity to help those individuals – and I want to impact that space with real purpose for all of us living with MND.”