Commuters filled the station during the Monday morning commuter rush

Commuters have welcomed the opening of Cambridge’s long-awaited third train station. After delays, Cambridge South Station officially opened on Sunday (June 28).

The new £250 million station is based next to the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. Commuters filled the station on Monday morning (June 29), as they headed for trains on the station’s first busy day.

Those travelling through the new station have shared their thoughts on the opening. Trudy Day said the opening has “taken its time” but it’s “been worth the wait”.

She added: “It’s going to make my life so much easier and I’m sure it will be for others as well. It looks so busy already as well so clearly a lot of people needed it.

“I do find it crazy that Cambridge now has three stations, but it’s such a big city and looking at how many people are here, it’s clearly needed.”

Ashah Shashank, who lives in Trumpington, said the station is “easier to walk to”. He added: “It’s much closer. I would have liked it to open in January but it’s pretty good.

“What this station does is it gives people an opportunity to go into the city and come back into this area. It’s great being next to the hospitals as well.”

Another person who lives in Trumpington, who wished to remain anonymous, said it also makes her commuting journey a “lot easier”. She said: “I don’t have to get the park and ride anymore, which takes a bit longer and they are not always on time. And then it takes longer to get the train from the city centre.”

The woman added that it’s easier as she can walk to the station from her home. “It would have been good for it to be open sooner, but I’m glad it’s opened,” she added.

Roberta, who asked to use only her first name, said the new station was “needed” and it’s “very helpful”. She added: “It’s good and the station is great. I think it’s good because it’s going to take people more central.”

Cambridge South is expected to serve around 1.8 million passengers a year, with up to nine trains an hour travelling through the station. It is the first station under new public sector body Great British Railways.

The June temperature record that had stood since 1976 was repeatedly broken during last week’s heatwave, as exceptionally hot and humid conditions led the Met Office to issue a rare red warning for extreme heat for some areas – the first time it has issued such a warning for three days in a row.

England football legend David Beckham was in the Royal Box on Day One of Wimbledon along with his mother, Sandra, and the former England captain had a request for a certain celebrity

It appears that even Sir David Beckham occasionally gets a little starstruck.

Because even English footballing royalty and one of the most well-known men on the planet sometimes can’t resist being a fanboy. And on the opening day of Wimbledon, while sitting in the Royal box alongside his mother, for Becks, that meant taking a selfie with Dame Mary Berry.

Both were in attendance at SW19 on the first day of the 2026 Championships to watch reigning champion Jannik Sinner in his opening round match.

And looking dapper as ever in a sleek grey suit, 51 year-old Beckham was seen requesting a photo with the TV chef, famous for her role as a beloved judge on The Great British Bake Off.

Firstly he stood up to grab a picture of himself with his mother, Sandra. Then he requested a group picture with Berry and Deborah Jevans, the chair of the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club.

Beckham, who presently manages his time in both the UK and USA, where he co-owns MLS club Inter Miami, is a regular attendee at the Wimbledon and was sitting front row in the Royal Box to watch Sinner open up his title defence against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic.

Alexander Armstrong, the TV star and former host of BBC show Pointless, actor Mark Rylance, and Katherine Jenkins were among the star-studded names in attendance on Monday, all sat in the row behind.

And he wasn’t the only Beckham at SW19, with son Romeo also spotted within the grounds, with his girlfriend, Kim Turnbull. It seems the invite into the VIP seats hadn’t been extended to his second eldest son.

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Celebrities from all fields are spotted in the prestigious box every year, but being a high-profile figure does not guarantee a seat. Guests must be invited by the former champion and chair, Jevans, who takes into account suggestions from the AELTC’s management committee, the Lawn Tennis Association, and other tennis bodies and prominent figures.

A Royal Box invite also comes with plenty of rules to adhere to, including a strict dress code, with Lewis Hamilton famously falling foul of this back in 2015, when he was subsequently turned away from taking up a seat in the box.

Beckham and the Centre Court crowd welcomed top seed Sinner with a raucous reception as he made his way out. The Italian is the firm favourite this year with Carlos Alcaraz out due to a wrist injury.

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Comments made by the officer were found to be “derogatory and of a misogynistic nature”

A Cambridgeshire Police officer shared “intimate images” of a detained woman, a misconduct hearing heard. PC Josh Williams faced a misconduct hearing accused of sharing images of a detained female and making “derogatory” comments to another officer.

PC Williams was accused of sharing messages and images, relating to a female who had been detained for criminal offences, to another officer without authority.

According to the hearing outcome, these images contained “intimate images of the detained female” and the comments made by PC Williams were “derogatory and of a misogynistic nature”. The hearing heard they were “unprofessional to say the least”.

Following an investigation, a summons was issued for two offences: misconduct in a public office and doing an act tending and intended to pervert the course of justice.

In May 2025, PC Williams entered a guilty plea in relation to misconduct in a public office. However, PC Williams entered a not guilty plea with regards to the allegation of perverting the course of justice. He was due to stand trial in June 2026.

The accelerated hearing only related to the former offence to which a guilty plea had been entered. The actions of the officer were found to breach the professional standards in discreditable conduct.

The Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Police concluded that PC Williams’ conduct was “so serious that dismissal would be justified”. He therefore found that the conduct amounted to gross misconduct.

PC Williams did not attend the hearing. His case centres on an investigation that stemmed from another case which led to him being investigated for misconduct in a public office.

The initial download of the detainee’s phone was authorised. However, the downloading and sharing of the specific images and comments that were not authorised.

There are more than 70 allotments in Livingston and plans for a third site, in Boghall, Bathgate are being developed.

The Good Life has never been more attractive to the green-fingered in West Lothian and demand for allotment space is growing.

While the TV show is more than 50 years old the “grow your own” idea which first took root in the 1970s has bloomed.

There are more than 70 allotments in Livingston and plans for a third site, in Boghall, Bathgate are being developed.

The Council has continued to work with Bathgate Community Development Trust (BCDT) to develop an allotment site adjacent to Boghall Primary school. In the reporting period BCDT worked towards plans for an allotment of mixed plot sizes which could be managed by an independent allotment association.

BCDT are responsible for securing funding to enable the delivery of the new allotment. Funding from WLC was utilised for an initial ground investigation and report to ascertain the land was suitable for food growing. Currently BCDT is preparing to submit proposals for planning.

A council officer told the meeting that plans for the Boghall allotment had been submitted to the council and if approved the allotments could be operational by early next year.

A 2015 Holyrood Act requires the council to promote community food growing and the council supports local groups identifying sites.

A meeting of the Environment and Sustainability PDSP heard that there are currently 74 allotments on council sites at Killandean and Deansmeadow in Livingston.

Both allotment sites on council-owned land are leased to independent associations and were established prior to the introduction of the Act. These associations have maintained and administered their own waiting lists since their inception.

Killandean Community Allotment Association has 54 plots and reported 43 applicants on its waiting list. Turnover of plots remains limited.

Deansmeadow Allotments Association has reported to have 22 plots with 12 applicants on the waiting list.

Both groups are fully self-managing, with no direct involvement from the council in the day-to-day operation of sites or the administration of waiting lists. The council does not play a direct role in the development or construction of allotments.

The 2015 Community Empowerment Act requires local authorities to take reasonable steps to ensure that the number of applicants on waiting lists for Council-leased allotments does not exceed 50% of the total number of available plots.

When the council receives requests for allotment plots, applicants are directed in the first instance to Killandean Community Allotment Association and Deansmeadow Allotments Association. Applications for individual plots may be made by one or more individuals jointly; however, each application is recorded as a single request for the purposes of calculating waiting list numbers.

The council itself currently holds one applicant on its waiting list. At present, there is no dedicated level of investment to support the construction or direct management of allotments, and the waiting list is maintained primarily to ensure compliance with legislative requirements.

Should either Killandean or Deansmeadow Allotments Associations have no applicants on their waiting lists and a plot becomes available, the council may assist in allocating a plot from its own waiting list.

The council can support the allocation of plots where new allotment sites are developed by independent community groups.

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The award celebrates the team’s outstanding work in making golf more accessible and creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities across North Lanarkshire.

Active NL’s Golf Team has been recognised on the national stage after winning Community Team of the Year at the Scottish Golf Union (SGU) Golf Awards.

The award celebrates the team’s outstanding work in making golf more accessible and creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities across North Lanarkshire.

A special event was held at Lochview Golf Course to celebrate the achievement, bringing together staff, partners and volunteers who have helped make the programme such a success.

Over the past year, Active NL’s Golf Team has continued to grow participation across local communities while focusing on inclusion, development and creating positive experiences through sport.

The team has worked closely with ASN schools to introduce golf to pupils with a wide range of additional support needs, helping young people build confidence, develop skills and enjoy being active in a welcoming environment.

Links with mainstream schools have also strengthened, with local pupils invited to access Lochview free of charge on Friday afternoons.

The initiative has helped introduce more young people to golf and has contributed positively within the local community.

Programmes designed specifically for women and girls continue to thrive, with 75 girls taking part in the popular Girls’ Hub programme last year.

More than 100 children also regularly attend Lochview Academy as they begin their journey in the sport.

John Kelly, Golf Operations Manager with North Lanarkshire Council, said: “This recognition belongs to the whole team, our staff, coaches, volunteers, grounds team, partners and participants.

“What makes this especially rewarding is seeing the difference golf can make beyond the game itself. We’ve seen young people grow in confidence, families get involved together and people discover opportunities they may never have thought were available to them.”

Councillor Geraldine Woods, Convener of NLC’s Communities Committee, said: “This award is a fantastic achievement and a real reflection of the commitment and passion shown by everyone involved in delivering golf opportunities across North Lanarkshire.

“The team has created something that goes well beyond sport. They’ve opened doors for people, supported communities and made golf accessible and welcoming to more residents.”

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BBC’s acclaimed historical fantasy Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, originally released in 2015, is now streaming on Prime Video and viewers are hailing it as a ‘masterpiece’

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Enthusiasts of period dramas may have just stumbled upon their latest binge-watch. A BBC miniseries that appears tailor-made for admirers of Downton Abbey or Penny Dreadful is presently available to stream.

The programme, which first broadcast in 2015, can now be found on Prime Video, with audiences praising it as a “masterpiece”. The BBC historical drama is also based on an internationally bestselling novel by Piranesi author Susanna Clarke.

It commands an impressive 92% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes – exactly the same score as Downton Abbey on the review aggregator site.

The synopsis reads: “In an alternate history, during the time of real life Napoleonic Wars, two men of destiny, the gifted recluse Mr. Norrell and daring spellcasting novice Jonathan Strange, use magic to help England.”

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, adapted from Clarke’s debut novel of the same name, features a stellar British cast including Eddie Marsan, Marc Warren, Charlotte Riley and Bertie Carvel, reports the Mirror.

The costume drama runs for just seven episodes, following the “dangerous battle between two great minds”. It received glowing reviews upon release, with Digital Spy branding it an ‘epic’ drama and the Independent calling it a ‘real treat’.

Over on IMDb, viewers described the series as ‘spellbinding’, with one writing: “Having anticipated this show for quite some years, I was anxious about what the BBC would make of my favourite book.

“However, I had no need to worry, as they captured the tone of Susanna Clarke’s masterpiece of a novel perfectly: dark and creepy, yet at the same time eerily beautiful.”

“Starts slow, but ultimately becomes a masterpiece,” another posted, while a third confessed: “This is one of the best series I have seen in a long time.”

One viewer described the show as ‘outstanding’, commenting: “This is BBC drama at its very best and a great showcase for why the licence fee is such good value. The quality of acting is superb with brilliant casting, lighting, costumes and direction.”

Elsewhere, on Rotten Tomatoes, one enthusiast said: “This is an excellent show, everything you can ask for in a well acted, written, and filmed, old English fantasy that you only have to invest in a season for the whole story.”

A further reviewer agreed: “Truly original and incredibly well done. Once you get through the first episode you’ll be surprised by the incredible action sequences. Amazing, unexpected.”

Emergency services were called to Clifton Country Park in Swinton, Greater Manchester on Saturday afternoon following reports of a teenager in difficulty in the water

The body of a teenage boy has been recovered from a country park in north Manchester.

Emergency services rushed to Clifton Country Park in Swinton on Saturday at 4.51pm following reports of a 15-year-old getting into difficulty in the water. Underwater search teams from the North West Under Water Search and Marine Unit located a body in the water today.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed that, while formal identification is yet to take place, the boy’s family have been notified of the discovery and are receiving support from specialist officers. The public has now been urged to stay safe during hot weather, with high temperatures expected to return later this week.

Detective Inspector Dave Ogden commented: “Saturday’s incident is truly heart breaking, and my thoughts remain with the family and loved ones of the young boy who has so tragically lost his life. While we are satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances, this incident is an incredibly upsetting reminder of the serious risks associated with open water.

“We understand people want to make the most of the warm weather, but we would urge everyone to stay safe and avoid entering reservoirs, rivers, canals or ponds. Please take care and enjoy the weather in a safe way.”

The body of another 15-year-old boy was pulled from Cowbury Reservoir in Stalybridge, Tameside, on the eastern side of Manchester on Saturday evening. In a separate tragedy, a 55 year old woman lost her life after entering a pool at Sandwell Valley Country Park in West Bromwich in the West Midlands on Saturday afternoon, reports the Mirror.

Additional victims who have perished in drowning incidents over the past week include 13-year-old Hayden Jones-Powell from Syston, Leicestershire, 22-year-old Brody Leach, whose body was retrieved from the River Severn in Shrewsbury, and a 15-year-old boy whose body was discovered at Testwood Lakes near Southampton.

At the beginning of June, The Mirror launched the “Save Lives for Sam” campaign to stop the “catastrophic” deaths of 33 children who drown in England every year – “the equivalent of a classroom of children lost”. Drowning across the UK has been labelled an “epidemic” and a “national emergency,” according to campaigners.

Backed by MPs, Olympic champions, national water safety organisations and bereaved families, the campaign is calling for urgent action to make our waters safer. That includes compulsory water safety lessons in schools, a nationwide public awareness campaign, better lifesaving equipment at high-risk waterways, the introduction of Sam’s Law, and a dedicated Minister for Water Safety.

Find out more about the Mirror’s campaign and how you can support it here.

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