Plans for put up 36 banners and flags on routes to the National Railway Museum (NRM) have been approved by City of York Council.

The museum’s application stated they were needed due to visitors being given the wrong direction by online map services which have not caught up with changes to nearby roads.

Council planning officers stated the signs would not have a negative impact on amenity or public safety.

It comes after changes in access routes to the museum amid ongoing regeneration works in the surrounding area as part of the York Central scheme.

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A new Central Hall at the museum is being built as part of the scheme following the signing of a contract for the works which are now underway.

Museum Square, a new public space planned for York Central, is also set to host a new entrance to the site.

Hudson Boulevard and Foundry Way, which have been been built as part of the roughly £2 billion redevelopment of the wider Leeman Road area, now provide access to the museum.

The approval of plans by the council are set to see 36 1.5m-high and 70cm wide PVC banners fitted to lampposts along the new routes.

Designs for banners planned along routes to the National Railway Museum, in York (Image: National Railway Museum)

They will direct people coming from York Station or the city centre to the right way to the museum’s entrance while works are ongoing.

Plans stated: “Visitors are often being led on unnecessary, long or incorrect routes.

“The flags will assist the public in finding their way to the museum, thus contributing to public safety.

“The flags will be made of high quality, durable material and will be maintained on a regular basis.”

No objections were lodged against the plans though York Civic Trust said they should only be temporary due to their excessive scale.

Council planning officers stated large black banners with arrows would be interspersed with ones featuring colourful designs.

They said: “The proposed banners are explained to be necessary in the application due to the ongoing works associated with the York Central Project and redevelopment of the National Railway Museum and its Central Hall.

“It is noted that the road layout surrounding the museum has changed as part of these works, with Leeman Road closed, and visitors have been struggling to locate the museum’s relocated entrance.

“The proposal would only be granted on a temporary basis.

“This would allow the museum to solve the issue of the wayfinding during the construction period, whilst also protecting the amenity of the heritage assets located nearby which would only be temporarily affected.”

A three-year-old boy suffered serious injuries after he ended up in the crocodile enclosure of a zoo

The Care Quality Commission has said it will look into the care of a man who was arrested after a young boy was “thrown” into a crocodile enclosure. Emergency services were called to Johnson’s Zoo in Old Hurst, near Huntingdon, on the afternoon of June 18.

A three-year-old boy ended up in the crocodile enclosure and suffered serious injuries. He remains in hospital. A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He was later released on bail until September as police deemed him “not fit for interview”.

The CQC is now investigating the care provider that cared for the man arrested. A CQC spokesperson said: “Our thoughts are with this young boy and his family at what must be an incredibly difficult time.

“We continue to liaise with partner agencies as they take forward their safeguarding investigation. CQC is conducting an assessment of the related registered provider, and has begun the process of taking regulatory action to address concerns identified as part of this assessment.

“As part of our assessments, should we find evidence of immediate risk, we will always use our regulatory powers to keep people safe.”

Norfolk County Council confirmed it isn’t involved with the incident. However, a council spokesperson confirmed a “Section 42 enquiry is underway”.

A Section 42 under the Care Act applies when a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult in their area: has needs for care and support; is experiencing, or is at risk of abuse or neglect; as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against abuse or neglect or at the risk of it.

Basic bank accounts offer access to essential services, such as the ability to receive wages and benefits and pay bills

People who have poor credit or no fixed address will find it easier to open a basic bank account after some of the biggest financial institutions agreed to improve their services.

It comes after widespread poor practice was identified by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Basic bank accounts offer access to essential services, such as the ability to receive wages and benefits and pay bills.

They just don’t offer things like overdrafts, to stop people spending above their means. Nine of the biggest UK banks and building societies legally have to offer basic bank accounts. But a mystery shopping exercise by the FCA found a third of experiences with basic bank accounts rated as poor or very poor.

The mystery shop revealed that the bank account providers were not consistently offering these accounts to customers who could benefit from them.

This included people facing financial hardship or without ID, and especially those with no fixed address. The firms often failed to mention basic bank accounts at all and pushed customers in vulnerable circumstances towards online applications which were unsuitable for their needs.

The banks and building societies have now agreed to individual improvement, including a commitment to provide the right account for customers, first time, with clear communication.

They have also pledged to make it straightforward for customers without standard ID or a fixed address to open an account and to spot vulnerable customers early. In the UK, around 7 million fee-free basic bank accounts are currently open.

Emad Aladhal, director of retail banking at the FCA, said: “Progress has been made with over 97% of UK adults having a current account, but our latest work shows that all too often banking firms’ engagement with customers still needs improvement.

“Bank accounts are important for financial inclusion, and this is about making sure the very people who could benefit from basic bank accounts are not missing out.

“That’s why the biggest banks have now committed to improving how they are offered – and we’ll be holding them to account to make sure change happens.”

Peter Tyler, Director of Personal Banking at UK Finance, said: “A basic bank account can be an important first step towards financial independence, and while most customers who hold one have positive experiences, we recognise that more can be done to ensure consistently good outcomes for everyone.

“That is why UK Finance and our members are committed to raising industry standards and expanding access.

“The recently expanded Breaking the Cycle initiative is a key part of this work, providing practical support to those facing barriers to accessing essential banking services, such as individuals without a fixed address.”

Disruption is expected for the rest of the day

Some trains in Cambridgeshire are being delayed or cancelled due to an electrical supply “problem”. Trains are disrupted across the county on Monday, July 6.

Thus is due to a problem with the electrical supply to the trains in the Ely area. There has been damage to the overhead electric wires between Cambridge and Kings Lynn.

As a result, some of services can’t move as normal until power is restored and disruption is expected until the end of the day.

Routes affected include Greater Anglia services between Ipswich and Peterborough, between Stansted Airport, Cambridge and Norwich, and also between London Liverpool Street and Ely. Great Northern services between London Kings Cross and Ely or Kings Lynn are also affected.

The National Rail website said: “Damage has been reported to the overhead electric wires in the Ely area. As a result of this, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised. Great Northern services are currently unable to run between Cambridge and Kings Lynn. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.”

It added: “We been advised of a problem with the electrical supply to the trains in the Ely area. This means that some of services can’t move as normal until power is restored.

“If you’re on a train which is being held in the area, it may take longer to get you to the next station, and onwards to your destination.”

Rail users are advised to travel using an alternative route during the disruption. Passengers should allow at least an extra 30-minutes to complete their journey, Great Northern has advised.

Replacement buses have been requested from suppliers to run between Ely and Kings Lynn, but there has not been confirmation of these yet.

If your family is looking for thrills this summer without a jump scare at the bill, there is an amusement park vacation under $100 per person — and it’s not in Florida.

Vacation home rental site HomeToGo has released its list of the most affordable theme parks to visit this summer, with about 40 locations across more than 20 states to choose from.

Analysts looked at three factors to determine which parks were the best bang for your buck — the price of admission, parking and nearby accommodations.

While Florida is known to be a hit with kids looking to meet their favorite Disney characters and ride attractions inspired by their favorite Universal Studios films, families looking for the most affordable option will have to travel further north along the East Coast.

Quassy Amusement Park

Quassy Amusement Park in Connecticut was ranked No. 1 on HomeToGo’s list. You pay just $33 for an adult ticket, $9.40 for a day of parking and $34.03 for accommodations for a grand total of $76.43.

The accommodation price for each park on the list was calculated by using the median nightly cost per person for a vacation rental on HomeToGo.

Located on Lake Quassapaug in Middlebury, Quassy Amusement Park offers dozens of amusement park rides and a waterpark with waterslides and splash zones.

Fun Spot America Themepark

If you love the Florida sunshine, but don’t want to pay the steep admission fee for Orlando’s more popular parks, Fun Spot America Themepark may be the place for you.

It costs $59.95 for a ticket to the Orlando amusement park, and there’s no parking fee, according to HomeToGo’s list. Factoring in the $57.61 for accommodations, the total daily cost to go to Fun Spot America Themepark is $117.56 per person.

The park is also home to Orlando’s only wooden roller coaster, dubbed White Lightning, along with bumper cars and multi-level go-kart tracks.

Castles N’ Coasters

You’ll have to visit the West Coast for the third most affordable theme park on HomeToGo’s list — Castles N’ Coasters in Arizona.

It costs just $31 for a ticket to the Phoenix theme park and parking is free. But nightly accommodations are a tad pricier at $98.63 per person, bringing the total cost to $129.63.

Castles N’ Coasters offers several classic rides, along with other attractions such as a zip line, mini golf and a more than 10,000 square-foot arcade.

If you are looking for parks that may be more familiar to your family, nine Six Flags locations from across the country made it on HomeToGo’s list, including Six Flags Frontier City in Oklahoma, which took the No. 5 spot.

Country music icon Dolly Parton’s Dollywood in Tennessee placed 26th on the list.

Several Disney and Universal Studios parks made the list, including Universal Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida, tying at No. 32 and Disney’s Epcot and Hollywood Studios, tying at No. 34.

With taxation having consistently the number one issue facing businesses for the past few Quarterly Economic Surveys, it is now clear that rising prices are impacted the region’s businesses to a far greater extent than seen in the last few years.

The fieldwork was conducted during the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a geopolitical crisis which has massively impacted energy costs and shipping, leading to the inflation spike.

The chamber says there was also a significant decline in export performance among the region’s firms, something it is hard not to partially attribute to the war in the Middle East.

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There were more encouraging signs, with the region’s service sector firms showing an increase in hiring intent for the first time in more than a year, with domestic sales continuing to improve along with willingness to invest in upskilling current staff.

However, manufacturing firms a more challenged situation, with order books and recruitment declining.

The data shows cashflow to be an ongoing issue, with cost pressures continuing to increase, creating a challenging environment for all businesses.

Mark Casci, head of policy and representation at the Chamber, said: “This latest QES shows that Yorkshire’s economy is stabilising but not strengthening.

“Across the region, businesses are showing resilience in the face of continued uncertainty. Encouragingly, domestic trading conditions have improved, particularly within the service sector, where modest growth signals that underlying demand has held firm. This is an important foundation. However, the lack of momentum in order books tells its own story – one where confidence remains tentative and the outlook uncertain.

“The labour market reflects this mixed picture, with job creation is being driven primarily by the service sector.

“Taken together, this quarter’s results point to an economy that is holding its ground rather than accelerating. There are clear signs of resilience, but also clear signs of risk. Sustained growth will require stronger demand, improved export performance and a more stable operating environment for businesses to plan and invest with confidence.

“As ever, these findings underline the importance of creating the conditions in which businesses can thrive – supporting investment, unlocking trade opportunities and addressing the cost pressures that continue to shape the economic landscape.”

David Bharier, Deputy Director Economics and Insight, at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The continued fall in SME investment sentiment is further evidence of a longer-term pattern that no single shock explains.

“Our data shows a risk-aversion cycle taking hold. Firms have not lost ambition, but years of compounding cost pressures and geopolitical shocks have produced defensive behaviour for the average SME.

“Most firms are now experiencing policy as downside risk rather than opportunity – with the rise in employer NICs a prominent example, still being felt almost two years on. Reducing the cost and complexity of the administrative burden would give many firms the space to grow.

“But more broadly, government policy needs to pass a ‘growth delivery test’. Each proposal should start from the question of exactly how it will cause firms to increase investment, exports, hiring, or expansion. Until that test is being applied, our survey is likely to show the same pattern quarter after quarter.

“The challenge for the new Prime Minister and his team is clear.”

The three-day event, at Brancepeth Castle in Durham, runs from Friday, July 24 to Sunday, July 26, bringing around 70 stalls of handmade goods, workshops and family activities to the historic venue.

The fair is open from 10am to 5pm on Friday and Saturday, and from 12 noon to 5pm on Sunday.

What can visitors expect?

Visitors can browse and buy work from artists and makers from across the North East, as well as explore parts of the privately owned castle.

Organisers say the fair will showcase some of “the best arts and crafts the region has to offer”, with stalls set up throughout the castle and grounds.

Items on sale will include fine art, photography, jewellery, textiles, pottery, glassware, leather craft, woodwork, sculpture, clothing, household items, upcycling pieces, luxury local foods and ales and garden plants.

The castle’s private chapel and archives room will be open for people to look around, and there will be a medieval re-enactment group and children’s activities in the church.

As well as shopping, visitors can try a range of craft skills, with workshops planned in woodturning, bookbinding, pastel landscapes and more.

Food will also be a major part of the day, with homemade hot and cold dishes, cakes and scones served in the castle cafes.

Parking and access

There is free parking on site, with level access throughout the venue for wheelchair users and those with pushchairs. Disabled parking is available although limited.

The fair operates a system of timed entry slots manage the flow of visitors. People are asked to arrive within their booked slot but can then stay as long as they wish until closing time at 5pm.

Those with standard entry tickets who arrive in the first hour may be asked to pay the difference or wait for entry.

The first hour of each day costs £5.50 for adults and £5 for visitors aged 66 and over.

Standard entry at all other times is £4.50, or £4 for over 66s. Children under 14 can go in free if they are accompanied by an adult.

The fair will be signposted on approach and there is a regular bus service every 20 minutes between Durham and Crook on the X46 route.

Food and drink

There are two cafés open during the fair – Café Express opens onto the courtyard lawns and offers a quick service and shorter menu.

The Castle Café is at the opposite end of the fair, with more seating and a wider choice.

Before entering or after leaving the fair, Café Burgschneider in the Gatehouse is available with a range including a selection of coffees and German cakes.

Crowd advice

Organisers say the quietest time to visit is between 2pm and 5pm.

A spokesperson said: “This is a quieter time, so you can take your time to really engage with each stall and is especially recommended for those with pushchairs or wheelchairs.”

Tickets can be prebooked online via the Brancepeth Castle website or bought on the gate.

By ISABEL BALDWIN, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR and DANIEL MATTHEWS IN SEATTLE

Updated: 23:37 BST, 6 July 2026

France and Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe has branded Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla ‘despicable and unworthy’ of her position after she directed a torrent of racist abuse at him

France superstar Kylian Mbappe has labelled Paraguayan senator Celeste Amarilla ‘despicable and unworthy’ of her position following a vile racist outburst on social media. The Real Madrid forward scored the only goal as Les Bleus claimed a 1-0 win over the South American nation in the Round of 16.

The ill-tempered encounter saw Didier Deschamps’ side battle through a bruising contest in which the Paraguayans remarkably escaped without a single yellow card despite a succession of reckless challenges on the World Cup favourites. France will now take on Morocco in the quarter-finals, yet the controversy surrounding Thursday’s match continues to rumble on.

Amarilla serves as a senator for Paraguay’s Liberal Radical Party, and the political figure has made no effort to hide her anger following her country’s exit from the tournament.

The 61-year-old unleashed a torrent of abuse across social media, directing a series of vicious posts laden with foul language and racial undertones directly at Mbappe.

Several days after France’s progression, with their attention firmly focused on securing a semi-final place at yet another World Cup, Mbappe publicly confronted Amarilla. He wrote in a tweet: “Madame Celeste Amarilla, you are a despicable woman and unworthy of your position.

“You do not represent Paraguay, that country which has sweated passion and honour throughout the competition. Through your recklessness and your brazen racism, the entire world has already forgotten the journey and the historic effort that your players accomplished during this World Cup, making way for an incompetent woman who gives the worst possible image of her country.

“I will never allow people like her the freedom to spread their hatred and racism across the world.”

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The French Football Federation condemned Amarilla’s comments, describing them as “utterly abhorrent and unacceptable” and confirmed they would be forwarding them to the public prosecutor’s office with a view to pursuing legal action.

In a statement, they said: “The racist remarks made by Paraguayan Senator Celeste Amarilla targeting Kylian Mbappé are utterly abhorrent and unacceptable. How can anyone make such comments?

“These remarks are criminal and deserve condemnation. They must be prosecuted, here and elsewhere. The FFF is referring the matter to the public prosecutor’s office with a view to legal proceedings.

“The Federation offers its full support to its captain, its players and, more broadly, to all victims of such hateful remarks. More than ever, the FFF remains committed to fighting racism and all forms of discrimination.

“These comments bring shame on those who make them and those who spread them. The players of the French national team represent France, it is our country that has been insulted.

“It appears that Amarilla’s social media activity against Mbappe isn’t an isolated incident, as she warned not to let her into the stadium, as she threatened to turn into a hardcore fan before expressing disdain towards the footballer.”

The aftermath from the unsavoury confrontation in New York has spilt over into the media, with Deschamps claiming he was subjected to abuse following the victory. Meanwhile, former Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert sparked a racism row ahead of the fixture after suggesting that the tournament favourites are a ‘squad from Africa’.

Warning: Distressing description of animal cruelty.

An animal charity has described one of the ‘most distressing cases’ it has ever seen after it was called to a badly burned dog.

NSPCA inspectors are investigating the charred remains of a dog outside an estate in Ballymun, a suburb just outside Dublin.

The NSPCA has appealed to the public to help solve what it described as one of the worst cases of animal cruelty their officers have encountered

Inspectors ‘did everything possible’ to identify the animal, including scanning for a microchip on Thursday.

‘Tragically, the remains were so badly damaged that identification was not possible.

‘Inspectors also discovered what appeared to be a stick or pole lodged in the dog’s body,’ they said.

They added: ‘This is one of the most distressing cases our Inspectors have encountered. No animal should ever suffer or be treated in this way.’

The NSPCA is appealing to anyone who may have seen or heard anything that could assist in its enquiries, ‘no matter how insignificant it may seem’.

‘Your information could make all the difference,’ it said. Adding: ‘All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.’

Asked by Metro about rumours spread by Turning Point UK the dog had been eaten, a Garda spokesperson said the force ‘does not comment on material posted online, which cannot be verified’.

The force are investigating the death.

The NSPCA has been contacted for further comment.

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