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Here are your rugby morning headlines for Thursday, February 12.

English star confirms Test future after Welsh interest

Ollie Hassell-Collins has appeared to end any lingering speculation over a potential switch to Wales by reaffirming his commitment to England.

The Leicester Tigers wing, who qualifies for Wales through his grandmother, had previously admitted he would consider representing Wales if his England opportunities dried up. But after returning to the international fold with England A last week, the 27-year-old made it clear where his focus lies.

“It’s a pleasure to put on the England jersey, no matter what it is – whether it’s the top [national side] or the A’s,” he told BBC Radio Leicester.

Hassell-Collins scored two tries for England A in their emphatic win over an Ireland XV at Thomond Park, staking his claim once again in a fiercely competitive back-three picture under Steve Borthwick.

While the fixture took place 24 hours before England’s senior side thrashed Wales in their Six Nations opener at Twickenham, Hassell-Collins insisted the pride in wearing the Red Rose is the same regardless of the stage.

“It was a great week and nice to be involved in some of that again,” he added.

The comments represent a notable shift in tone from this time last year. In February 2024, Hassell-Collins openly acknowledged that Wales was “still part of who I am” and said he would “never turn it down” if the opportunity arose, with Warren Gatland previously expressing interest in the winger.

Under eligibility rules, he would have been able to switch allegiance in 2026 had he not featured for England or England A again. However, his continued involvement in England’s A set-up has effectively shut that door for the foreseeable future.

Hassell-Collins has won two senior England caps, both during the 2023 Six Nations, and was one of the Premiership’s most prolific finishers last season with 18 tries in all competitions, including 13 in the league.

Despite stiff competition on the wing, with Henry Arundell and Tom Roebuck both impressing against Wales, Hassell-Collins made clear his international ambition remains firmly tied to England.

“Obviously I’d love to play for England again, that will always be my dream, but obviously there’s some very good wingers,” he said.

His recent England A involvement also ensured face time with Borthwick as he continues to push for a senior recall.

“During the week, Steve came in to watch one of the sessions,” Hassell-Collins revealed. “It’s little things like that and getting to speak to him, whereas some people may not be able to.

“But being able to come together as a group from different places and buy into the same thing is a unique thing and it’s a skill in itself.”

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Young star says Wales U20s laid down a marker ahead of France test

Osian Darwin-Lewis believes Wales Under-20s have already shown what they are capable of in this year’s Six Nations — and is backing his side to build on an encouraging display when France arrive at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday night.

Wales fell to a narrow 19-16 defeat against England in their opener, but the performance, particularly in a dominant first half, has given the squad plenty of belief heading into their first home fixture.

“Overall it was a tough one to take,” said Darwin-Lewis.

“But I thought in the first half we were really good. We played in the right areas, had a lot of territory and did good things with that territory.”

Wales controlled large parts of the contest in Northampton and kept England scoreless for the entire first half, an impressive defensive effort away from home that underlined the physicality and work-rate within this young group.

“We knew they’d have a purple patch, and it was about how we would manage that purple patch. That’s something we’ll learn from as we grow as a team,” he added.

“But there’s a lot of positives there. We showed what we can do, especially in that first half. Now it’s about doing it for 80 minutes.”

England wrestled back control after the break with a more effective kicking game and sustained forward pressure, turning territory into points. But Darwin-Lewis believes the issues Wales need to address are minor adjustments rather than major overhauls.

“Our physicality was very good, especially in the first half. Keeping them to zero is something to be proud of. We know we’ve got that physicality and we’ll keep building on it,” he said.

“Their kicking game was a lot better than ours in the second half and they brought their aerial threats into it more. There were a few moments where we probably kicked a bit loosely and let them into our 22 too cheaply.

“Those are small details and they’re things we can fix.”

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Huw Jones vows to reignite Scottish attack against England

By Anthony Brown, Press Association

Huw Jones is determined to help Scotland’s much-vaunted back-line ignite against England after being stifled by Italy in their frustrating Guinness Six Nations opener last weekend.

The Scots were unable to get their free-flowing attacking game going as torrential rainfall turned their showdown in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico into an attritional battle.

Scotland went down to a dismal 18-15 defeat, cranking up the heat on head coach Gregor Townsend and his players ahead of this weekend’s visit from in-form England.

“England are obviously a brilliant team, so it’s a tough prospect,” said British and Irish Lions centre Jones.

“But I think this is probably the perfect game and opposition for us. You don’t need any more motivation, especially after a loss when everyone’s hurting.

“We didn’t really get to play on the weekend, so I think we all have that pent-up frustration and energy from a really frustrating game.

“Even if we’d won that, I think I would have come away from that being like, ‘I didn’t get to do anything’. I’m really angry about that and I think this week that adds to the fuel of just wanting to go out and show what we can do.”

Scotland have won three of the last four Calcutta Cup clashes at Murrayfield, including the last two, but Jones insists that will count for little this weekend.

“They’re a different team, we’re a different team,” said the 32-year-old. “I don’t think it’s ever that helpful to look back and be like, ‘we beat them a couple of years ago’.

“Knowing we beat England, I think that’s always a good thing, but it’s a different week, it’s a different game.

“It’s just about being focused on this game and what we’re doing this week.”

Saturday marked the first time Scotland had lost their opening Six Nations match since 2020 and Jones admitted it was “one of the tougher changing rooms I’ve been in”.

“It’s frustrating, obviously, because you want to start well,” he said. “The Six Nations is all about momentum and building those wins. We didn’t get the first one but you have to just let that go and forget about it.

“You don’t worry about being derailed and where you’re going to be on the table and all that stuff. It’s just game by game, so all that matters now is this game.

“We don’t worry about what’s happening after this game and what’s just happened. Our review process is done. Everything is focused on this.

“The deflation part comes straight after where you’re gutted sitting in the changing rooms. But once you’ve done that review process, that’s gone and you’re fully motivated again.”

Jones dismissed any notion that the Scotland set-up has become stale after almost nine years under Townsend.

“I think the environment’s adapted over the years,” he said. “I think it’s always growing. Right now I’d say no [it’s not stale]. I think it’s been growing and building and changing over the years.

“Obviously it’s largely the same guys, but I’ve seen growth in the team. I’ve seen players improve, I’ve seen coaches improve, and I’ve seen our game adapt and change and also improve. I believe in this group.”

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A Mobile UK boss has urged MPs and local councillors to stop blocking new phone masts, as it emerged that just two areas in north Norfolk were found to have ‘good’ connections

A Mobile UK boss has called upon MPs and members of the public alike to stop blocking phone masts, explaining that this was the biggest issue when it comes to phone coverage.

While attending a North Norfolk District Council meeting, Mobile UK’s director of policy and communications, Gareth Elliott, was quizzed by councillors as to why exactly the signal in certain parts of the region was so poor, with various blackspots. In response, Mr Elliot explained, “We’ve seen MPs who have objected to masts, I’ve seen councillors objecting to masts. That is a blocker in itself.”

Concerns over phone masts date back decades. In a 2000 report, the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) determined that, on the balance of evidence, there is no general risk to the health of those living near base stations, with exposures expected to be small fractions of guideline levels. Three years later, in a 2003 report, the independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) concluded that exposure levels from living near base stations were extremely low.

Still, despite such reassurances, many people remain anxious about the thought of living near phone masts, and will take action to keep them far away from their own front garden.

READ MORE: Anyone with an Apple Watch given ‘blood pressure’ warning after new research

BBC News reports that, based on data compiled for the county council-run Streetwave project, just two areas in north Norfolk were found to have “good” connections. Mr Elliott declared that Mobile UK represented operators – EE, Virgin Media O2, and VodafoneThree – had made a commitment to providing 5G connections to “90 per cent of all populated areas by 2030”.

While raising problems with MPs and councillors objecting to masts being built within the district, Mr Elliott did also concede that rural areas were not always “economically viable” in terms of network infrastructure investment, as per the Eastern Daily Press. He said: “Planning applications have gone through due diligence to understand how it affects the existing network and radio physics. We don’t just build masts anywhere and everywhere.”

While there have been a number of new mast applications in recent years, not in north Norfolk and elsewhere, there has also been plenty of opposition. This was the case in the village of Erpingham, where many were keen to rectify the poor phone signal, only for former Conservative MP Duncan Baker, councillors and concerned locals to block this move.

Showing support for improving network coverage, Steffan Aquarone, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, asserted: “I was surprised to hear the comments made by Gareth Elliot, that MPs objecting to masts has become a blocker to better rural signal. I have never been in any opposition to any infrastructure that will improve mobile phone coverage in North Norfolk, and in fact, have rallied for the exact opposite.

“Although I’m keen that mobile operators use the latest technology to minimise visual impact, and take into account all aspects of health and safety, I have been actively campaigning to improve mobile signal since I was first elected in 2017 and will continue to fight for it until North Norfolk is better connected.”

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

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The national transport agency is spending £350,000 on a pilot testing technology which identifies “distracted drivers” using smartphones or not wearing seatbelts.

New AI ‘spy’ cameras will be rolled out on Scotland’s roads to catch drivers who break the law.

The national transport agency is spending £350,000 on a pilot testing technology which snares “distracted drivers” who use smartphones or fail to wear seatbelts behind the wheel.

Previous roll outs elsewhere in the UK have seen thousands of motorists caught out in a matter of days.

Transport chiefs said the trial was part of a plan to make the country’s roads the safest in the world.

But privacy campaigners slammed the use of AI technology on Scots roads, branding it “intrusive and creepy”.

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: “We have committed to trialling distracted driver technology as we work towards our goal of making Scotland’s roads the safest in the world by 2030.

“This contract award is part of that ongoing work.

“Plans for the roll out of this technology are being finalised and will be announced in due course.”

Transport chiefs have awarded the contract for the pilot to Edinburgh-based firm AECOM, the only available firm to offer the technology, which would be used to “determine the scale and extent of specific driver behaviours”.

The company says it uses a unique combination of “AI hardware and software, as well as a team of our analysts, to identify any drivers using mobile phones or not wearing seatbelts”.

Images are taken and “algorithmically analysed in real time” with any potential violations being sent to a team of analysts to review and check.

It says: “In addition to directly deterring illegal and dangerous driving, the contextual data captured, such as traffic conditions and demographics, can be used to inform policies and develop targeted interventions, such as education to highlight the dangers of hands-free devices.”

Drivers can be fined up to £500 for not wearing a seatbelt, in addition to penalty points, and up to £1,000 and six penalty points for using a mobile phone.

The Department for Transport ran a trial of the kit across the UK in 2023, which featured some sites in Scotland.

Police forces previously piloting the cameras were Durham, Greater Manchester Police, Humberside, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Northamptonshire, Wiltshire, Norfolk, Thames Valley Police, Sussex and Warwickshire.

In 2024, Transport for Greater Manchester said a total of 3,205 drivers or passengers were caught out on Greater Manchester roads over a five-week period.

Ultra-detailed, close-up images were released as part of the trial, capturing those risking innocent lives by breaking the law as they travel.

TfGM said the trial had helped gather data to understand the scale of the issue, which would then be used to guide future education campaigns and enforcement.

In August last year, Devon & Cornwall Police said about 50% more people had been caught not wearing seat belts as those fined for driving while using mobile phones.

It said 10,000 images collected by Artificial Intelligence cameras over the last 12 months had captured 6,000 people breaking seat belt laws and 4,000 drivers using phones.

It added a large proportion of those killed in road accidents in Devon and Cornwall who were not wearing seat belts were young people, aged 16 to 24.

The AA has previously warned that AI cameras must not become a substitute for traffic officers stopping suspect motorists who might also be drink driving – an offence that would not be recorded by simply snapping images.

And Jake Hurfurt, Head of Research and Investigations at privacy campaign group Big Brother Watch said the new contract for Scotland must ensure intrusive surveillance is not used in the place of “human decision making”.

He said: “Drivers should not be monitored and potentially criminalised by AI-powered video analysis. This kind of surveillance is creepy and intrusive, and treats every driver it captures as a potential suspect.

“We should all be able to go about our lives without being analysed by faceless and unaccountable AI.

“The Information Commissioner has expressed concern about how the adoption of immature biometric surveillance tools could lead to discrimination. Public bodies need to be careful to ensure they are not using privacy-threatening algorithms in place of human decision making.”

But IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Standards Nicholas Lyes said the pilot was a “positive step” for road safety in Scotland.

He said: “The use of AI cameras for mobile phone and seatbelt offences has already led to positive changes in behaviour where this has been trialled in south west England.

“We know that driver distraction and non-seatbelt use are considered part of the police’s ‘fatal five’ and clearly officers cannot always be in all places.

“Embracing new technology which keeps everyone safe is a positive step.”

In a statement, UH Sussex said its mortality rates for the past three years were “markedly below national rates” and that, as one of the larger NHS trusts in England, it would expect to be associated with higher levels of negligence claims. “Our goal is to provide the safest possible maternity care,” it added.

Gold medallist Charlie’s knock-out support comes after it was announced that three Scottish organisations are set to receive a major boost from Games-related giving.

One of the most recognisable faces of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games – Motherwell boxer Charlie Flynn – has backed a new charity fundraising drive linked to the return of the Games to the city.

Gold medallist Charlie’s knock-out support comes after it was announced that three Scottish organisations are set to receive a major boost from Games-related giving.

Through the Commonwealth Sport Foundation, the official charity of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, 50 per cent of all Games-linked donations will stay in Scotland.

Funds will support Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity, Scottish Sports Futures – which uses sport to help young people to be healthier, more confident and resilient – and the Team Scotland Youth Trust, which provides financial awards and educational opportunities to promising young athletes.

The remaining 50 per cent will fund sport-for-development programmes such as GAPS, which aims to remove barriers to participation for Para athletes across the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Sport Foundation was born from the legacy of 2014, when organisers recognised the potential to mobilise real charitable impact through the Games.

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One of the defining faces of that magical summer 12 years ago, was Team Scotland lightweight boxing gold medallist Charlie Flynn, who helped launch the partnership at Glasgow Boxing Academy, just across the Clyde from the SEC, where the boxing will be held this summer.

“The Mailman” captured the nation’s imagination with his gold medal win in front of a raucous home crowd, and his memorable post-bout interviews, including when he thanked supporters who “looked like ants but roared like lions”.

Charlie said: “The Games returning to Glasgow brings back memories of two weeks that changed my life.

“I’ll never forget walking out and hearing that noise. I felt like the whole city was behind me.

“Glasgow 2014 did incredible things for me, but it also did incredible things for people’s belief in the city.

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“But a far bigger moment for me was when my son’s life was saved by an emergency heart operation at Glasgow Children’s Hospital.

“I’m just so pleased that its charity will benefit from people enjoying the Games, alongside two other organisations helping people transform their lives through the power of sport.

“I guess you could say I’m buzzing like a jar of wasps that the Games are coming back to Glasgow.

“And even more so knowing the impact will be felt long beyond this summer through these incredible charities getting much-needed support.”

Inspired by the impact of fundraising during Glasgow 2014, the Commonwealth Sport Foundation was established to help address some of the world’s greatest challenges and to support sport and development programmes in each host city, with a focus on youth, inclusion and community.

The Foundation has so far raised almost £5 million to help change the lives of athletes and communities.

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A paint that cools buildings whilst simultaneously harvesting water from the air has been unveiled by scientists at the University of Sydney, Australia. The nano-engineered polymer was created in conjunction with startup Dewpoint Innovations, and reflects sunlight, cooling buildings by up to 6°C inside.

Not only does it reduce the need for energy-hungry air-conditioning systems, but the porous structure of the coating creates ideal conditions for atmospheric water vapour to condense into droplets on the cooler surface, the way steam condenses on a bathroom mirror. The fresh water dew is then harvested and can be used as water for animals, for horticulture of high-value plants, for use in cooling by misting, or even for use in hydrogen production.

“This technology not only advances the science of cool roof coatings but also opens the door to sustainable, low-cost and decentralised sources of fresh water – a critical need in the face of climate change and growing water scarcity,” said the university’s Prof Chiara Neto. “While humid conditions are ideal [for the paint], dew can form even in arid and semi-arid regions where night-time humidity rises. It’s not about replacing rainfall but supplementing it – providing water where and when other sources become limited.

Main image: Ian Talmacs

After days of controversy in which Donald Trump complained about the acts and said he would not attend, and alternative “all-American” entertainment was lined up, Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny took to the stage of the much-hyped halftime show of Sunday’s Super Bowl.

Expectations were high, a fact reflected in the unprecedented number of viewers who tuned in. Bad Bunny’s show surpassed 135.4 million views, exceeding Kendrick Lamar’s 133.5 million in 2025 and Michael Jackson’s 133.4 million in 1993.

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Media coverage framed the event primarily as a celebration of diversity, fuelling a backlash from Donald Trump supporters and conservative commentators. The criticism targeted Bad Bunny not only for his outspoken opposition to the Trump administration, but also for claims that he was “not an American artist” – ignoring Puerto Rico’s status as a US territory. Bad Bunny’s performance demonstrated how authenticity can be produced through anti-colonial activism.

While authenticity is often regarded as something real, true or genuine, it is defined by a relational quality that can emerge through a person’s behaviour in three ways: through connections to people or place; conformity to, or disruption of, conventions, and consistency between message and action. We look at how Bad Bunny displayed all three at the Super Bowl.

1. Authenticity as connection

This was evident in the presence of sugar cane on stage, a crop that shaped the colonial economies of the Caribbean. Plantations were owned by colonisers and sustained through the violent exploitation of Indigenous people and transatlantic enslaved Africans. By foregrounding sugar cane, the performance exposed the foundations of colonial wealth and reclaimed a symbol of oppression as historical truth rather than romanticised memory.

The presence of Puerto Rican icon Ricky Martin strengthened this sense of connection when he performed Bad Bunny’s Lo Que Le Pasó A Hawaii. Through its lyrics, the song cautions Puerto Ricans against relinquishing their cultural identity amid pressure to assimilate into the influence of the US. Martin’s performance underscored the message, highlighting cultural preservation as an essential form of anti-colonial resistance

Lady Gaga added a powerful layer of symbolism to the performance. Her light blue dress referenced the original 1895 design of the Puerto Rican flag before its shade was darkened to align with the US flag. She adorned it with a red hibiscus, a national emblem of pride and resistance, alongside white flowers. Together, these elements echoed the colours of the Puerto Rican flag. Gaga embodied respect, participation and solidarity rather than segregation or erasure.

2. Authenticity as conformity

Artists often simultaneously conform to and break rules, and Bad Bunny mastered that tension. As a Puerto Rican artist rising within an industry that frequently pressures performers to abandon their roots, he instead created a hybrid cultural space: a Spanish-language Super Bowl halftime show. He operated within the system while disrupting assumptions and expectations that English must dominate and that mainstream icons should fit a narrow cultural mould.

Bad Bunny further disrupted the dominant narrative that reduces “America” to the US, instead acknowledging the full geography of the Americas. After declaring “God bless America”, he proceeded to list countries from the southernmost to the northern regions of the continent.

By naming countries across the Americas, Bad Bunny also inverted the conventional geopolitical hierarchy. The gesture echoed Uruguayan artist Joaquín Torres-García’s famous painting América Invertida (Inverted America) and his assertion that “the south is our north”, challenging the idea that cultural or political legitimacy must flow from the so‑called north, and rejecting the aspiration to emulate it.

3. Authenticity as consistency

Consistency appeared through callbacks to Bad Bunny’s longstanding activism. The lamppost explosion before performing El Apagón directly referenced the 2022 song’s music video, which functions as a documentary critiquing infrastructure neglect and the privatisation of electricity by North American companies. This moment connected entertainment to colonial reality for Puerto Ricans, reinforcing how Bad Bunny refuses to separate his art from the colonial conditions affecting his homeland.

The brief appearance of El Sapo Concho, the unofficial mascot of his latest album, added another layer of symbolic continuity. Nearly driven to extinction through centuries of ecological disruption tied to colonial extraction of resources, the Puerto Rican crested toad has become a visual shorthand for survival against structural harm. Its presence, even for a moment, served as a reminder that colonialism’s impact is environmental as much as cultural, and invoked themes of survival and resistance against imposed systems.

The same idea emerged when Bad Bunny presented a Grammy to a younger version of himself, reinforcing his phrase: “If I’m here, it’s because I always believed in myself.” In a world where people from colonised nations face discrimination, exclusion, oppression and marginalisation, many came to view the culture of their colonisers as a path to transcend those barriers. Thus, Bad Bunny’s gesture reclaimed self-belief as an act of defiance. By centring identity rather than imitation, Bad Bunny asserted that authenticity, not mimicry, is the most powerful form of anti-colonial refusal.

This is America

At the end of the performance, a flashing billboard read: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.” Bad Bunny held a football inscribed with the words “Together, We Are America”.

This proposed a pan-American ideal anchored in solidarity rather than domination, emphasising collaboration over hierarchy. Hate thrives on isolation, but this act created a unifying vision. Through symbols of collective resilience, Bad Bunny framed authenticity as anti-colonial activism grounded in love, memory and community.

Overall, these visuals were intentional, aligning with years of public statements, music and community engagement. Each element reinforced a consistent narrative of resistance, showing that authenticity is not just performance but the culmination of sustained anti-colonial activism.

By embedding history, symbolism and personal conviction into every moment, Bad Bunny demonstrated that art can be a deliberate vessel for political and cultural action grounded in love, tolerance and inclusion.

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Police were called to the Kingsway East restaurant on Longtown Road after the alarm was raised at around 10.30pm on Saturday.

A mass brawl between teenage thugs broke out in a McDonald’s in Dundee.

Police were called to the Kingsway East restaurant on Longtown Road after the alarm was raised at around 10.30pm on Saturday, February 7.

The shocking was captured in video footage as the yobs battered into each other. In the clip around a dozen school-age teenagers are heard shouting as punches are thrown between the youths.

An older male in a high-vis jacket can be seen trying to break up the fight. Some of the youngsters can be heard shouting “stop” before a scream of “kill the f****r” is heard.

Shocked families enjoying their dinner could be seen watching on in shock as the incident unfolded. The extent of any injuries suffered as a result of the attack is currently unclear.

One 13-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with assault as a result of the incident.

Officers say that a report will be submitted to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration and their enquiries into establishing the full circumstances of the incident remain ongoing.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “A 13-year-old boy has been arrested and charged in connection with an assault which happened at restaurant in Milton of Craigie, Dundee around 10.30pm on Saturday, February 7, 2025.

“A report will be submitted to the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration. Enquiries are ongoing.”

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A McDonald’s spokesperson said they were left shocked by the incident as they slammed the “completely unacceptable behaviour. Bosses said that they will continue to assist police with their enquiries.

The spokesperson said: “We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to violence or abuse of any kind towards our employees and customers, and it is completely unacceptable to see anyone behaving in this way.

“This incident has been reported to the police and we will continue to assist them in their enquiries.”

The incident comes amidst the Daily Record’s long-running Our Kids … Our Future campaign, which has called for a crackdown on an epidemic of youth violence and online bullying across Scotland.

Valentine’s Day (Saturday, February 14) is just around the corner so if you need a last-minute, cost-effective idea to make it a special one, Reddit users have shared their top methods

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If you’ve left it until the last minute to treat your loved one or person you secretly admire for Valentine’s Day – then fear not, for you are not alone. Whilst you may be running out of time ahead of February 14, there are some “frugal” ways you can succeed before the all-important day.

The advice came after a concerned Reddit user opened up on their personal dilemma, with limited time remaining themselves and operating on a low budget.

They wrote: “Never been in a relationship on Valentine’s Day before. It’s three days away and I can’t stop stressing.”

“I don’t really have the budget for holiday gifts since I’m living paycheck to paycheck and it’s barely enough. But I love my partner dearly and want to make sure they know it. Any ideas?”

The post was met with dozens of helpful responses, which left the original poster extremely grateful.

“Cheap wine and a playlist you made especially for the occasion tends to be a good first Valentine,” one person advised. “Make dinner together. Get tipsy on wine and dance in the kitchen.”

They continued: “Don’t sleep on inexpensive cheesy romance. For anyone who truly loves their partner, this holiday is about being thoughtful and loving. It’s not about the spend or going out.”

A second individual shared: “Depending on where you live, if it isn’t too cold you can bring a picnic to a park! If it’s too cold to do so, some candles and a nice romantic playlist with his favourite dinner. Then you can play a game for 2, do a free online crossword together, or pick out a movie from the library that you both want to see!”

A third shared her tip: “Cook a meal for them, go for a evening walk, liberate some garden flowers and write a letter from the heart to them. One of my most treasured things is my husband’s wedding speech that he hand wrote but was unable to say as he got so choked up and emotional on the day.”

A fourth Reddit user penned: “This year is my wife’s and my first married Valentine’s Day. We bought a few varieties of cupcakes to do a tasting together because I have to work late on Valentine’s Day itself. Typically we just do a nice homemade meal and a card.”

Whilst a fifth suggested: “Write your significant other little notes and leave them where they’ll find them throughout the day. If you/they are into puns or if you have inside jokes, you could work them into the notes.

“All it costs is a few pieces of paper and some time to think of what to write. I plan on doing this for my fiancé and I know it will make him smile and feel loved. It’s the thought that counts!”

YE Olde Starre Inne in Stonegate holds the title for the longest continuous licence since 1644.

Today, it’s a Greene King pub, but no longer provides accommodation for visitors. Several suggestions have been made as to the origin of its name. Some say that it was named after the Star of Bethlehem which guided pilgrims to York Minster.

Others claim that it’s named after the six-pointed star which is the symbol of the Worshipful Company of Innholders.

And another possibility is that it was, in fact, so called in honour of King Charles I who was nicknamed The Old Star by his Royalist followers during the English Civil War of the 1640s.

Princess Elizabeth walking in procession along Stonegate in 1949, accompanied by the Lord Mayor of York, JB Morrell. You can see the advertising hoarding for Ye Old Starre Inn with the Minster in the background

Originally, the Starre had stables with an entrance from Lop Lane (present-day Duncombe Place).

The distinctive beamed sign advertising the inn across Stonegate was erected by licensee Thomas Bulman in 1733.

In his book, York’s Historic Inns, Pete Coxon notes that the inn is mentioned twice in 1644. Thomas Broad, a printer, lived at the house of Mistress Rogers in Stonegate ‘over against the Starre’.

Entrance to Ye Olde Starre Inn

The second mention is during the Civil War. When the Parliamentarians entered York after the siege of the city, they stayed at the Starre inn whose staunchly Royalist licensee was a certain William Foster.

And we can imagine how grudgingly he served them. The inn’s cellar served as both an operating room and a morgue for soldiers who’d been injured or killed at the nearby Battle of Marston Moor (1644).

Staff have claimed that their ghostly shrieks can still be heard.

Recommended reading:

Story of York’s oldest and most haunted inn with 5 ghosts and another surprise!

Story of historic York pub that survived scandal and 300 years of changes

How York has changed over time – 10 old photos from the past

Like many old pubs, Ye Olde Starre Inne has its share of ghosts. John Arnold, the manager, told me the story of the two black cats which were reputedly buried alive in the wooden pillar at the centre of the main bar. This was a common superstitious practice in the 17th century to ensure the future safety of a building. Their ghosts are seen as shadows, and dogs entering the bar growl at them from a distance.

Ye Olde Starre Inne pub sign.

John took me to the Minster Yard garden at the rear of the inn. Here there was originally a well which provided pure water to large parts of the city. He also told me about the ghost of the little girl staring out of the attic window. She was seen by two of his customers who were seated one bright sunny day in this Minster Yard garden. There was no way anyone could have accessed the attic, let alone a little girl.

Today, the inn caters for a mix of tourists and regulars. Pubs are a precious part of our island heritage, and we should do everything possible to ensure that they survive.

David Wilson is a community writer with The Press