‘George’ spoke about how social media and boredom play a factor in young people getting involved in disorder

A teenager from North Belfast has spoken about how he ended up getting involved in riots last summer and how social media, boredom and following a crowd play a factor in young people taking part in violent disorder.

‘George’, a 15-year-old who is using a fake name to protect his identity, spoke to non-profit organisation Voicing the Void about how he and other young people in his community have found themselves getting involved in disorder. He described the different factors that can lead them to suddenly get involved in riots and how many are just following the crowd and don’t realise the consequences until its too late.

George said there “is not much to do” in the area where he lives and that a lot of free time is spent scrolling through his phone on social media. This means that if there is something going on with a large gathering of people everyone quickly knows about it.

He said: “Someone puts something up on Snapchat. A video, a picture, something happening somewhere. People screen record it, send it on, and before you know it, everyone’s talking about it.

“You don’t really think too much about it. You just go. Not because you know why, just because everyone else is and when loads of people are going somewhere, more people go because they think something big’s going to happen.”

The teenager said that while it can be exciting at times attending these incidents, a lot of it is “standing around watching things burn”.

He said: “At first, it’s nothing, Just groups of people standing around watching and waiting. Then more people come and police start blocking roads and cars get turned away. You can feel something building, like everyone’s waiting for that one moment where it kicks off.

“When it does people just move you don’t really think about it. Sometimes it’s shouting. Sometimes things get thrown. Sometimes it turns into more than that.

“But if I’m being honest, a lot of the time it’s just boring. Standing there watching things burn waiting for something to happen and then going home like nothing really changed. A lot of people there probably don’t even fully understand what they’re getting themselves into. They just think it’s something to do because they’re bored.”

He continued: “When things go too far, it’s not just a bit of excitment anymore cars get damaged and people get caught up in things they didn’t start. Someone’s just trying to do their job, driving through, and suddenly they’re in the middle of it and then there’s the police watching everything with drones in the sky and cameras. People getting identified after it’s all over.”

The teenager says that people say there are a lot of different reasons why people get involved in disorder such as disliking the police or racism. But he feels boredom is a big factor and people wanting to be involved in something a lot of people are taking part in.

Looking back on his involvement in disorder last year George feels differently about his actions saying: “When I think about it now, it doesn’t feel the same as it did at the time. It’s not exciting it’s just… pointless.

“Standing around. Watching things get wrecked and nothing is really gained from it. Then you go home, and it’s just back to normal again.

“Sometimes you don’t realise you’re getting caught up in something until you’re already in it and you don’t think about the why.

“You don’t think about what happens after, you just go because everyone else is going.

“But when it’s over, you start to see it differently and you realise It wasn’t really worth it and maybe if people actually talked to each other more instead of just shouting at each other, things might be different.”

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The actress who left the Channel 4 soap in 2021 has spent months campaigning to be on the BBC series

A Hollyoaks legend has shared their disappointment after being snubbed by Strictly Come Dancing.

Despite not premiering until September, the BBC dancing competition has already begun sharing which stars will be taking to the dancefloor. Last year’s series was won by former footballer Karen Carney, who was taught the art of dance by Carlos Gu.

It’s going to be a year of change for Strictly, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on presenting duties. Additionally, five pro dancers, including Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez, will not be returning.

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The first of the stars announced as part of the class of 2026 was Lacey Turner. The EastEnders legend is best known for playing the role of Stacey Slater on the BBC soap for over two decades.

Several days later, Love Island’s Dani Dyer was revealed to be returning to the series. Dani was replaced by Amber Davies, who reached the final with Nikita Kuzmin, following the 2025 launch show after she picked up an injury.

The only other stars announced for the next season of Strictly is global superstar Delta Goodrem, who recently represented her native country Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest, and hair stylist Chris Appleton. With more stars being teased by the day, one actress has taken to social media to reveal they haven’t been picked.

Leigh native Sarah Jayne Dunn is best known for playing Mandy Richardson on the Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks from 1996 until 2021. Despite entertaining viewers for 25 years, Mandy’s exit occurred offscreen.

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Sarah Jayne spent months campaigning to be picked to compete on Strictly. Taking to Instagram on Sunday (June 28), she revealed that her mission didn’t come to fruition this time around.

She wrote: “Well, this chapter didn’t end the way I’d hoped. Of course I’m disappointed. I wanted this more than I can put into words. But if this journey has taught me anything, it’s that saying your dreams out loud isn’t something to be embarrassed about.

“It’s brave. It’s vulnerable. And whether you get the outcome you’re hoping for or not, there’s something really powerful about backing yourself. Over the last few months I’ve been overwhelmed by your support.

“From every message, comment and share, to seeing my name mentioned on TV and radio… this journey has already given me more than I ever expected. So no, I won’t be stepping onto the dancefloor this year.”

Sarah Jayne continued: “But I also won’t be quietly talking myself out of the possibility that one day I will. Dreams don’t always arrive on our timeline. That doesn’t mean they’re over.

“Thank you for coming on this journey with me. Here’s to whatever comes next… and to always asking, ‘Why not me?’ Manifesting continues… just with a different date.”

The 45-year-old actress was dropped from Hollyoaks after refusing to remove photos from the adult subscription site OnlyFans. A Channel 4 spokesperson said at the time: “Hollyoaks is a youth-facing drama with many young viewers, who follow our cast very closely, both in the soap and outside of it.

“We take our responsibility to our young audience very seriously and therefore the show does not allow any Hollyoaks cast members to be active on certain 18+ websites. We had hoped we could reach a resolution with Sarah that would allow her to remain in her role as Mandy, but we respect her choice to continue to produce content on OnlyFans.

“In the past four years since her return to the show her legacy character has been an integral part of some our most important storylines and we will be very sad to see her go.”

Sarah Jayne said at the time that setting up the OnlyFans page was ‘about taking back control’. She noted: “I’ve done men’s mag upon men’s mag and calendar upon calendar, I’ve enjoyed every shoot but never felt like I had much say in them.

“I’ve been pitted against other girls and felt deflated if not chosen for a shoot or for a cover, I’ve been airbrushed, retouched and ‘enhanced’ without consent and without necessity and I’ve not always been given photo or copy (the wording of an interview) approval, leaving both my image and words distorted.

“The older I get the more cathartic it is to take back control, to put healthy boundaries in place and to know my worth and my value.”

Canada squad: Dayne St Clair, Maxime Crepeau, Owen Goodman, Alistair Johnston, Derek Cornelius, Richie Laryea, Niko Sigur, Joel Waterman, Luc de Fougerolles, Moise Bombito, Alphonso Davies, Alfie Jones, Stephen Eustaquio, Ismael Kone, Tajon Buchanan, Mathieu Choiniere, Ali Ahmed, Nathan Saliba, Liam Millar, Marcelo Flores, Jacob Shaffelburg, Jonathan Osorio, Jonathan David, Cyle Larin, Tani Oluwaseyi, Promise David

England will need to replace Ben Stokes’ persona as well as one of their “greatest” players as they move forward, says former captain Michael Vaughan.

The announcement of Stokes’ surprise retirement came during the fourth day of the third and deciding Test against New Zealand, which will be his last.

Stokes, 35, missed the second Test after an incident in a London nightclub, with England suffering a heavy defeat at The Oval, which Vaughan says gave a glimpse into the “hole” the all-rounder will be leaving in the side.

“England have got to move forward now – it’s hard to say that when it’s only just happened,” Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special.

“But they have got to look at how they build a team without Ben Stokes, and it’s not just the player – it’s the persona.

“He’s got the winning mentality, and I have him as one of England’s greatest when the pressure’s on.”

Stokes was cleared to return as captain for the third Test at Trent Bridge, where he told his team-mates of his decision to retire before the start of play on day four.

After the news was made public at 15:25 BST, Stokes took a wicket with the next ball he bowled – Zak Foulkes caught at second slip as England attempted to fight back with New Zealand moving into an even more dominant position after lunch.

Vaughan said that moment showed the challenge the England face in replacing the talismanic all-rounder and leader.

“That was an immediate reminder of what England are going to miss,” added Vaughan.

“That’s exactly why he is an England great. I didn’t see it coming [his retirement], but I did see the wicket coming because he has done that throughout his entire career.

“Whenever England need something, he has always delivered.”

The small aircraft was flying to Italy when it was forced to crash-land near Cardigan Island, off the Ceredigion coast

A small aircraft which crash-landed off the west Wales coast was en route from Ireland to Italy when mechanical difficulties forced the pilot to ditch the plane into the sea, it has been revealed.

Two people had to be rescued from near Cardigan Island on Friday evening. The pair were both extremely cold but conscious and responsive when they were found. The RNLI said they were in shock and spent one night in hospital before being discharged

The microlight – a lightweight, fixed-wing, or weight-shift aircraft – was travelling from Ireland to Aberporth in Ceredigion where it was due to stop and refuel before continuing its journey to Italy on Saturday.

However, after getting into difficulties the pilot was forced to land on the water and both occupants were found by rescue teams sitting on the wing of the aircraft as it floated in the sea. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here.

A mayday call was made to HM Coastguard before the emergency landing, and New Quay RNLI was paged to launch its Shannon class all-weather lifeboat.

At the same time, RNLI Cardigan’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat and RNLI Fishguard’s Trent class all-weather lifeboat were also sent to the area – approximately nine nautical miles north west of Cardigan Island – along with a Coastguard rescue helicopter.

Bernie Davies, New Quay RNLI’s coxswain, said: “RNLI Cardigan’s Atlantic 85 launched and was first on scene with the Coastguard helicopter. The aircraft wreckage was quickly located, floating in the water with both casualties sitting on top, wearing lifejackets.

“The Cardigan crew brought the lifeboat alongside and safely recovered both individuals on board. The casualties were found to be extremely cold but conscious and responsive. The crew provided immediate casualty care.

“When we arrived shortly afterwards, RNLI Cardigan transferred both casualties to our lifeboat, where they received further treatment, including hot drinks and ongoing casualty care.

“We then transported the casualties to New Quay harbour, where they were brought ashore at the main pier and handed into the care of the Welsh Ambulance Service before being transferred to hospital.”

Rees-Tom Jones, New Quay RNLI’s navigator, said: “The casualties were in shock and spent one night in hospital before being discharged yesterday (Saturday) and have since taken the ferry back to Ireland from Fishguard.

“What is remarkable is that one of the casualties is the next-door neighbour of one of the Irish rowers we rescued in Storm Arwen in November 2021. The casualties were extremely grateful for all the help and support they received from every agency involved. It’s moments like this that really highlight the importance of the RNLI and the difference our volunteer crews can make.”

Fishguard RNLI remained on scene to stand by the aircraft while the rescue operation was completed.

Ed Hides, New Quay RNLI’s lifeboat operations manager, said, “This was a coordinated multi-agency response that highlights the speed, professionalism and teamwork of RNLI volunteers and HM Coastguard in challenging circumstances.

“We’d like to thank the crews at Cardigan and Fishguard RNLI, along with the Coastguard helicopter, for their vital support. Working together, we were able to locate and rescue both casualties quickly and ensure they received the care they needed.”

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Second T20 international, Stormont

Ireland 154-8 (20 overs): H Tector 53 (47), Calitz 37 (23); P Yadav 3-22

India 153-9 (20 overs): Tilak 55 (46), Harshit 21 (10); Hollard 3-26, Moondra 3-32

Ireland win by one run

Scorecard

Ireland’s historic weekend continued as they inflicted a first Twenty20 series defeat on India since 2023 with a dramatic one-run victory at Stormont.

After a first-ever win over India by 34 runs on Friday, Ireland stunned the world champions for a second time as Jai Moondra and Matthew Hollard starred with three wickets each.

A late charge from India left the visitors requiring eight off the final two balls in a grandstand finish, but Harshit Rana was caught by Tim Tector, bowled by his brother Harry, with the penultimate ball to secure a historic victory.

On Friday, a day many had expected and hoped for India’s 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi to make his record-breaking international debut, Ireland stunned the T20 world champions to kickstart a historic weekend.

It was a first win over India in any format in 12 attempts, and at the ninth time of asking in T20s.

Then, just 24 hours later, Ireland won their first-ever match at the Women’s T20 World Cup in England.

But things would get even better on Sunday.

The 4,000-strong, sold-out crowd at Stormont were left disappointed as Sooryavanshi was again on the sidelines for the second T20, and an Indian response was expected.

They are, after all, world champions – and scorned ones at that.

On his 100th cap, Harry Tector was Ireland’s top scorer with 53 as Indian restricted the hosts to 154-8.

But the response was led by Moondra, who made his debut on Friday but has become the new hero of Irish cricket, as he caught Sanju Samson lbw with the first ball of the innings.

Moondra, who was born in India but moved to Dublin to study in 2021, then claimed the wickets of Abhiskek Sharma and captain Shreyas Iyer to leave India toiling on 19-3.

The wickets of Ishan Kishan and Azar Patel also fell, but, led by Tilak Varma, India kept themselves in contention with a required run rate of 10 heading into the final six overs.

Tilak’s six from Hollard’s first ball of the 17th put pressure back on Ireland, but he was dismissed when caught by Liam McCarthy off the following ball to leave India on 117-7.

A late rally from Harshit Rana was not enough to rescue the game for India, and Ireland held on to win by one run.

The win was made all the more remarkable given debutants Moondra and Hollard were only playing after injuries to key players like Mark Adair, Curtis Campher and Josh Little.

In two wins that will go up there with the victories over England and Pakistan in years gone by, Ireland made a statement against the best-ranked side in the world.

Fifteen-year-old George Robinson, dubbed the “Redcar Crooner,” has already attracted millions of listeners by blending the nostalgia of the Rat Pack era with the viral energy of the TikTok generation.

George will be performing at Redcar & Cleveland Armed Forces Day on Saturday (June 27), with a setlist featuring songs by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Al Jolson.

George Robinson, the 15-year-old “Redcar Crooner”. (Image: Rebecca Robinson)

His passion for older music has brought together all ages of music lovers, reigniting the popularity of crooner tunes for millions of people in the younger generations.

George began his journey at the age of 10, teaching himself the ukulele during lockdown, and moving on to busking on Redcar high street a year later.

He said: “I have always been big history enthusiast, I discovered George Formby and still love his music but my voice changed considerably and I began to listen to the Rat Pack.

“I love singing the great classics, and it is always nice to see the look on people’s faces when I begin to sing as they don’t expect it.”

His love for crooner music has resonated far beyond the North East, earning him national recognition on platforms like TikTok and Facebook, where he has gone viral many times.

He said: “I am dreaming big, with one day performing for a huge audience in Vegas, just like those mega stars before me, I also want to make my family proud, especially my Mam who supports me in everything I do.”

George Robinson, the 15-year-old “Redcar Crooner”. (Image: Rebecca Robinson)

Across the North East, venues are keeping George booked and busy, but he said he was particularly honoured to once again be invited to perform at Armed Forces Day.

He said: “I have been invited to attend a number of events organised by Redcar British Legion and my good friend Eric Howden, who has worked tirelessly for so many years to ensure those who fought for our country and sadly did not return are remembered.”

George also described performing last year at the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Redcar boating lake as one of his proudest moments.

He said: “To date one of my proudest moments has been to perform last year at the 80th anniversary of VE Day at Redcar boating lake, singing to a crowd, wearing my Great Grandad’s medals and being given the honour of lighting the peace lamp.”

George will be performing from 12.45pm, proudly wearing his Great Grandad’s medals to honour him once again.

Ravenscar Tearooms, at 1 Station Square in Ravenscar, currently holds a 4.7-star rating on Tripadvisor.

The family-run café sits beside the Cinder Track, the former Scarborough to Whitby railway line now used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders.

It is also close to the Cleveland Way National Trail, making it a natural stopping point for people exploring this stretch of the North Yorkshire coast.

Ravenscar itself is known as “The Town That Never Was” after Victorian developers attempted to turn the clifftop settlement into a seaside resort to rival Scarborough and Whitby.

Ravenscar Tearooms (Image: TRIPADVISOR)

Roads and sewers were laid out, but the grand resort never materialised.

Today, visitors come for huge sea views, clifftop walks, the National Trust visitor centre, the nearby seal colony and the village’s unusual history.

For many, Ravenscar Tearooms is part of that experience.

Reviewers regularly describe it as a “little gem”, “first class” and “definitely worth a visit”. One visitor said the surrounding area was “brilliant” for countryside, views and footpaths, adding that the tearoom was “the icing on it all”.

Another stopped for coffee and a scone and described it as a cosy, dog-friendly café with “lots of great walks nearby”.

The tearoom serves soups, sandwiches, pastries and a wide range of cakes, with vegan and gluten-free options also available.

Visitors often praise the homemade scones, cream teas, toasties, breakfasts, jacket potatoes, cakes and hot drinks.

One reviewer called it “Homemade Scone Heaven” after enjoying what they described as one of the best scones they had ever had. They also praised the vegan pasties as “delish” and packed with flavour.

Others have highlighted the generous portions, friendly service and convenient location.

A family visitor praised the jacket potatoes for their “very generous fillings”, while another said the café offered an excellent choice of snacks and cakes in a beautiful setting.

The café is also popular with dog owners and passing cyclists, with indoor and outdoor seating and views across the coastline.

Its position in Station Square also gives it a link to Ravenscar’s railway past.

The Cinder Track follows the route of the old Scarborough to Whitby railway, which closed in 1965.

Staff and service are repeatedly mentioned in reviews.

One visitor said the team were “friendly” and happy to customise a breakfast, while another praised the staff as “lovely, friendly people who never stop smiling”.

With homemade food, coastal views and a prime position between the Cleveland Way and the Cinder Track, it has become one of the village’s most popular places to pause, refuel and take in the North Yorkshire coast.

Jack Draper has warned tennis must address its growing injury crisis.

The 24-year-old will play just his 15th match since Wimbledon last year when he takes on sixth seed Taylor Fritz in the opening round at the All England Club on Tuesday.

Draper was absent for the best part of seven months following his second-round exit 12 months ago because of bone bruising in his arm, while he was then forced to take another break due to knee and shoulder issues.

The former US Open semi-finalist has at least recovered in time for his home grand slam but there have already been 10 withdrawals on the men’s side, including two-time former champion Carlos Alcaraz, who is taking his first steps back on court as he recovers from a wrist injury.

The gruelling nature of the tour, the increasingly physical style of play as well as the speed of courts and balls have all been cited as reasons for the growing list of absentees at big tournaments.

Draper said: “I was really trying to develop my game and push my game more and more every week to reach those guys like Alcaraz and (Jannik) Sinner, who obviously play at an incredibly high level. I just broke down.

“I think it’s pretty worrying the state of men’s tennis, especially right now. The amount of injuries, especially young players.

“When I look at the draws for the weeks when I was out, everything is shoulder, arm, wrist. I think definitely the way athletes are getting better and hitting the ball harder and moving better, I think it’s my opinion they need to really take a close look at what we’re doing on tour.

“Definitely the state of the Masters 1000s, the 12-day events. I was privy to those conversations when I was a top-10 player. Now I’m not. I don’t care as much about what I say. I think the tournaments are going to suffer a lot if not much changes.”

It has been a hugely challenging period for Draper, who has slipped all the way down to 160 in the rankings.

“It’s very difficult,” he said. “When I was younger, I had quite a few setbacks. Then I came through that and had a couple years of where I wasn’t. I made some incredible progress.

“Looking back, coming here last year as four in the world, I was feeling incredible and looking forward to everything that was to come. I felt like I was gradually building up and up and up, confidence in my tennis, in my body, in my mind.

“Then you have something that stops you in your tracks when you’re not expecting it. It’s really difficult to accept that.

“I think my tennis hasn’t gone anywhere because I’ve really been dedicated every day to try and do everything possible so that, when I am back on court, like now, I’m in a good place.

“I still believe, even now after all this time, I’m still competing at an incredibly high level. I’m looking forward to working my way up again.”

Draper will go into Tuesday’s match on Centre Court buoyed by a run to the semi-finals in Eastbourne this week in his comeback event and first with new coach Andy Murray by his side.

He would have hoped for a significantly easier first opponent than Fritz, but it is an unlucky draw for both men.

The American is trying to see the positives of it, saying: “It’s a good opportunity to have a really exciting first round that everyone’s going to be paying attention to.

“I think, for both of us, it’s not the thing you love to see, but I’ve had a lot of success when I’ve had tough draws in tournaments.

“If I lose in the first round or I lose in the fourth round, to be honest, it’s all the same to me. I’m trying to go deeper than that.

“He’s going to come out super hungry and there’s not really any pressure on him, so I think that makes it dangerous.”

Cambridgeshire County Council’s Highways and Transport Committee is due to discuss new safety improvement works planned for the guided busway

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Cambridgeshire Live readers have been discussing the news that further improvement works are scheduled for the Guided Busway to maintain its safety. Councillors are set to consider the proposals at the upcoming Cambridgeshire County Council Highways and Transport Committee meeting.

The council reports there has been “significant progress” on safety enhancements throughout the past year. New safety fencing along the southern stretch is nearing completion.

To the north, work is progressing between Cambridge Regional College and Milton Road. Following this, contractors will proceed with installing separation fencing between Milton Road and Cambridge North station.

Procurement for works along the route from Histon to St Ives is anticipated in summer 2026, with construction scheduled to begin from late summer that year. The council states the Busway, which connects St Ives and Cambridge, provides access to employment, hospitals, and educational facilities, while the adjacent path remains popular with walkers, wheelers, cyclists, and horse riders.

Councillors will be asked on 30 June to approve continued delivery of safety works on the northern stretch. The £6 million cost will be funded from Major Infrastructure Reserves.

Temporary 30mph restrictions will be reassessed as new safety measures are completed, with variable speeds of up to 40–50mph on the northern stretch where appropriate. Readers have expressed a range of opinions.

Regarding future power systems, one reader, Orlockgrey says: “They should put overhead wires on, so we can run electric buses that aren’t weighed down by batteries. Also this would mean if we eventually decided to convert it to a light rail route, half the work will already have been done.”

Whynot2 replies: “Would those electric buses have diesel engines in so they can be used on non-overhead lines? But who’s going to pay for it? Will it be bus passengers, cyclists or perhaps pedestrians who use it? No, it’ll be everyone, even those that don’t use it.”

Orlockgrey answers: “Good idea – there are actually bi-mode buses in Boston that do this already. Public transport is essential for reducing traffic on the roads. Funding it helps the economy and makes the roads much nicer to drive on.”

Rhodabike says: “More improvement works? For that, you first you need to have ‘some’ improvement works. None of the works to date has improved anything. Rather like most other council/GCP infrastructure ‘improvements’.”

Freddly writes: “At least we seem to have moved on from blaming the bus franchise when people step onto the busway without looking. Good news also that the £6m cost is being met from Major Infrastructure Reserves, the Reserves might otherwise have been used on road projects that generate more car and van traffic.”

Over on our Facebook page, John M comments: “Get the drivers to drive properly, not race to junctions and swerve onto guided tracks, last used scared me stiff.”

Clare W asks: “Just curious as to why there are gaps between some of the metal panels where silly people can get through and on to the busway. I thought that was the whole point of putting them up to stop that.”

Kelvin A-D says: “More taxpayers money thrown at the Moneypit. So much for it only going to cost £42 million and have a service life of 40 years (Council Statement at the Public Enquiry).”

Are you happy that there is more improvement works scheduled to be carried out? Comment below or HERE to have your say.