The DWP has published the interim Timms Review report on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – and it finds the disability benefit is failing claimants and is ‘not fit for purpose’

The disability benefit Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ) is no longer fit for purpose, according to findings from a new review. The Timms Review has concluded that PIP has failed to adapt to changes in disability, health and employment over the last decade.

PIP is a disability benefit administered by the DWP, designed to assist with some of the additional costs arising from long-term disability, ill-health or when individuals are nearing the end of their life due to a progressive disease.

The benefit, received by over four million people as of April 2026, assists those requiring help with daily living activities, particularly individuals of State Pension age who wish to remain independent at home.

However, a review drawing on responses from more than 38,000 people has concluded that the disability benefit is no longer suitable. The evidence collected by the Timms Review will inform Government recommendations on reforming the system – a change expected later this year, reports the Manchester Evening News.

The interim report released on Thursday (July 9) forms part of the first thorough review of PIP since the benefit was launched in 2013.

Alongside the 38,000 claimant responses, the review conducted workshops and engagement sessions with disabled people, their organisations and specialists, making it one of the largest co-produced reviews undertaken by the government, according to the DWP. The report has concluded that, while PIP is widely regarded as a valuable cash benefit, it is failing to function as intended for disabled people and wider society.

Although many disabled people report that PIP is essential in helping them meet the additional costs of living with a disability and engaging in everyday life, others indicated that PIP creates obstacles to full participation in work, social and community life — particularly for those with fluctuating conditions, less visible conditions or multiple conditions.

The claims process was viewed negatively by 90 per cent of respondents, and was described on occasion as “dehumanising”, “degrading” and “stressful”, with the use of supporting evidence deemed too frequently inconsistent. Just 5 per cent of responses regarding the process were positive.

The report further highlighted a significant lack of trust in the system, underlining the urgent need to rebuild confidence amongst disabled people, those with long-term conditions, and taxpayers alike.

PIP was introduced in 2013 to help offset the additional costs associated with disability and to support independent living, yet has not undergone a full review since its inception. The Timms Review was launched last October with the objective of ensuring PIP remains fair and fit for purpose in an ever-changing world, and that it effectively supports disabled people in achieving better health, higher living standards and greater independence, including through employment.

Sharon Brennan, co-chair of the Review, said: “Improving trust in the system – both from the public and those going through the system – is vital if PIP is to be fit and fair for the future. Of those that responded to the steering group’s Call for Evidence, over 90 per cent described negative experiences of the process of claiming PIP, with concerns raised around all aspects of the process from application through to assessment and appeals.

“We are immensely grateful to the tens of thousands of people who have taken the time to share their lived experience and make a valuable contribution to this Review. We’ve heard loud and clear: PIP is highly valued as a benefit but is not fit for purpose. We are committed to making changes so that PIP can fulfil its purpose.”

Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE, co-chair of the Review, said: “PIP should contribute to disabled people meeting the extra costs of disability and participate in everyday life. What we have heard through this Review is that, while PIP is a lifeline for many people, the system too often fails to understand the reality of people’s lives.

“Disabled people have told us about a process that can feel stressful, dehumanising and hard to navigate, especially for people with fluctuating conditions, less visible or multiple conditions. That matters, because a system that does not feel fair or humane will not command trust from disabled people or from the wider public.

“This Review is significant because disabled people, Disabled People’s Organisations and experts are helping and supporting to shape the work from the inside, not simply being consulted from the outside. As we move towards final recommendations, we need to be bold in our ambition, practical in our proposals, and focused on making PIP fair, trusted and fit for the future.”

Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disability and co-chair of the Review, said: “This interim report delivers a clear message: while PIP is widely valued as a benefit, it is not working as intended and needs fundamental change.

“Our work so far has been informed by a wide range of evidence, expertise, and insight to ensure we hear from as many disabled people as possible across the country, including through workshops, engagement and a call for evidence which attracted more than 38,000 responses.

“I’m grateful to my fellow co-chairs and the steering group for their intensive work and look forward to the Review’s final report being delivered in the autumn.”

Margaret Qualley and Jack Antonoff’s recently-renovated summer beach house appears to lie empty following the pair’s shock separation. 

It was announced on Wednesday that the 31-year-old actress and the Grammy-winning musician, 42, reportedly have split after nearly three years of marriage.

The three-story abode is located in Long Beach Township, New Jersey and sits near public beach access. However, despite extensive work, the residence is now seemingly not in use.

The estranged couple’s house offers scenic ocean views and contains brickwork on the front. White-paned windows as well as a white-painted front and garage door stand out against the muted brick color. 

A gray-stoned driveway leads up to the beach house which also has green bushes and flowers at the front. 

The back of the property contains a number of large windows as well as spacious balconies and a rooftop area. 

The three-story abode is located in Long Beach Township, New Jersey and sits near public beach access. However, despite extensive work, the residence is now seemingly not in use

The home was built on a vacant lot and construction was in high gear a few years back in 2022. 

Earlier this week on Wednesday, a source confirmed to People that Qualley and Antonoff are no longer living together and have a ‘rocky’ relationship. 

A separate insider additionally told the outlet that the two stars are in the midst of ‘figuring things out.’

Another source also told gossip site DeuxMoi that ‘there were many factors that allegedly contributed to the split, with those close to the situation also alleging Jack had long been difficult to live with.’

The Daily Mail has reached out to Antonoff and Qualley’s reps, but has yet to hear back. 

The Substance actress has also deleted photos of the music producer from her Instagram page, including their wedding photos from 2023. 

Her recent social media activity in regards to Antonoff occurred back in late March when she paid tribute to him for his birthday on her Instagram stories, which expired just 24 hours later.   

Qualley had uploaded a snap as the musician casually draped his arm around her shoulders. She added text over the image which read: ‘Happy birthday sweetheart.’

The estranged couple’s house offers scenic ocean views and contains brickwork on the front

White-paned windows as well as a white-painted front and garage door stand out against the muted brick color

The back of the property contains a number of large windows as well as spacious balconies and a rooftop area

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The home was built on a vacant lot and construction was in high gear a few years back in 2022

The house is surrounded by other beachfront homes nearby

Colorful flowers and other plants line each side of the large driveway on the quiet street 

Earlier this week on Wednesday, a source confirmed to People that Qualley and Antonoff are no longer living together and have a ‘rocky’ relationship; seen in 2022 in L.A. 

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The actress also changed her Instagram handle back to her full name Sarah Margaret Qualley after using other usernames such as @isimolady and @isimostar, which appeared to reference Antonoff’s 2024 track Isimo. 

Antonoff was one of the 1,000 guests who attended longtime collaborator Taylor Swift’s wedding last week in NYC. 

However, he was notably accompanied by his sister while Qualley had been nowhere to be seen. 

The pair were last publicly pictured together months earlier in February as they made an appearance at the 2026 Grammy Awards. 

Just weeks before the separation came to light, the music producer had an awkward response when asked about his marriage to Qualley. 

During an appearance on the Today show, he was asked to detail a favorite moment from their 2023 wedding. 

‘Oh that would be impossible to think of,’ he said, before quickly adding, ‘Next question.’ 

Another moment showed Antonoff being asked by co-anchor Craig Melvin about Swift’s nuptials to NFL player Travis Kelce, which resulted in another awkward reply. 

The Substance actress has also deleted photos of the music producer from her Instagram page, including their wedding photos from 2023; seen in Janaury in Paris 

The pair were last publicly pictured together months earlier in February as they made an appearance at the 2026 Grammy Awards (seen above)

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‘No, no, no, no. Umm, yeah. I love being married, man. I’m happy you love being [married] too. Did we just have a moment? Are our partners gonna see that?’ 

Antonoff and Qualley were first romantically linked back in August 2021, and later attended the Critics’ Choice Awards together in March 2022, which seemingly confirmed their relationship. 

Just two months later in May, the actress sparked engagement rumors when she was seen wearing an eye-catching, diamond ring while at the Cannes Film Festival. 

Later that same month, it was confirmed Antonoff had popped the big question.

The two stars tied the knot in August 2023 at Parker’s Garage in Long Beach, New Jersey in front of close family and celebrity friends. 

A number of A-listers had whisked themselves away to the East Coast to celebrate the nuptials, such as model Cara Delevingne, Lana Del Rey and Swift. 

The daughter of actress Andie MacDowell had been the epitome of elegance in a white, halter-styled wedding gown with a plunging neckline at the time. 

Antonoff had donned a classic, black suit along with a crisp white dress shirt and black tie.

Just weeks before the separation came to light, the music producer had an awkward response when asked about his marriage to Qualley; seen in April in NYC 

The two stars tied the knot in August 2023 at Parker’s Garage in Long Beach, New Jersey in front of close family and celebrity friends; seen in 2025 in L.A. 

A source told People at the time of the nuptials that Long Beach Island was ‘overrun with celebs this weekend’ due to the nuptials.

The pair as well as the various guests all ‘looked like they were having an amazing time,’ a separate insider also told the outlet.

Only two hours before the shock news of their split became public, Antonoff was spotted stepping out in Brooklyn, New York on Wednesday. 

The music producer notably sported his gold wedding band on his left hand as well as a Knicks champions shirt.  

In the early hours of Monday morning, like millions of other football fans, the Prince of Wales stayed up in Windsor to watch England’s memorable victory over Mexico.

At Forest Lodge, his family home on the Windsor estate, he endured the delayed start, the intense atmosphere of the Azteca Stadium and the nerve-jangling end to the second half when a 10-man England agonisingly clung on to their lead.

He’d watched every other England match too as you’d expect from the Patron of the Football Association. He knows the England set-up well and has been in direct contact with players and staff during the tournament – several England footballers have Prince William’s personal phone number.

If England make it to the World Cup final in New Jersey on 19 July, Prince William will fly over as an official representative of the FA and the royal family’s most ardent football fan.

No royal has ever shown their love for football quite like Prince William.

And his passion for the game has often been at its most raw on the royal family’s social media platforms.

Royal posts can be tame affairs. The usual pattern is a reminder of the day’s engagements, a clip of a speech delivered, sometimes an official comment around an event alongside the day’s best pictures.

But on 20 May this year, Prince William’s official accounts loosened up just a bit.

“UTV! VTID” they screamed alongside a red love heart and the muscular arm emoji. For those not in the know, that translates as “Up the Villa” and “Villa Till I Die.” Not your typical royal social post.

They were published with a “W” meaning they had come personally from William and were up just minutes after his beloved Aston Villa had won the Europa League final with a convincing 3-0 victory over German side, Freiburg. It was Aston Villa’s first European title in 44 years – they won the European Cup in 1982, the year Prince William was born.

He’d been at this year’s final in Istanbul with a group of close friends, many from his childhood who share his love for Aston Villa – Ben Dawes, Thomas van Straubenzee and Edward van Cutsem. They have all been regulars at Villa games over the years. It was a family friend who persuaded him to support Aston Villa when he was a teenager.

She will, forever, be known as the last woman in England to be hanged for murder. But this week, some 70 years on, there has been redemption of sorts for former nightclub hostess Ruth Ellis.

Ellis was executed at the age of 28 at north London‘s Holloway Prison in July 1955, having shot dead her lover David Blakely, 25, outside the Magdala pub in nearby Hampstead.

Amid public fury over her execution, the former glamour model appeared serene about her fate, as revealed in unseen letters that came to light when her family called for her to be posthumously given a reprieve last October.

In one letter, written on prison paper with her name and prisoner number, Ellis said, ‘I am quite well’ the day before she was hanged by Albert Pierrepoint, Britain’s most prolific executioner.

A single mother of two at the time of her death, Ellis was portrayed as a ‘cold-blooded killer’. But her family have long denied this depiction, arguing she was physically and emotionally abused by her partner before killing him.

She shot Blakely dead following a tumultuous relationship involving infidelity on both sides, an aborted pregnancy, and violence including a punch in the stomach during an argument that led to a miscarriage.

Fighting for a posthumous pardon, four of her grandchildren said Ellis would today be able to plead the defence of diminished responsibility due to his treatment of her.

Now, 71 years later that wish has now been granted by the King, announced in the House of Commons on Wednesday by Justice Secretary David Lammy.

Ruth Ellis shot David Blakely dead outside the Magdala pub in South Hill Park, Hampstead

Ruth Ellis featured at Madame Tussauds’ ‘Chamber of Horrors’ alongside serial killers

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Today, in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail, Ellis’s granddaughter Laura Enston, 47, lays bare the family’s fight for justice and their everlasting grief.

‘Her trial was a disgrace,’ she said. ‘She was made an example of.’ 

Ms Enston hailed the pardon as ‘significant’, adding: ‘Changing her sentence doesn’t bring her back, but it sends out a very clear message that they got things wrong.

‘She wasn’t just on a trial for murder – she was on trial for morality.’

Ellis, a single mother from a modest background, showed no emotion during her Old Bailey trial in June 1955.

The judge told the jury to disregard the fact she had been ‘badly treated by her lover’ as a defence.

Under cross-examination, Ellis admitted she intended to kill Blakely and the jury took just 20 minutes to convict her of murder, a charge that carried a mandatory death sentence.

Ms Enston also acknowledged how her grandmother had come across as ‘cold’ when giving evidence in court.

She said: ‘She inadvertently played up to that sort of cold-blooded killer persona that she’d been portrayed to be, but knowing what we know now about trauma and slow-burn provocation, Ruth was traumatised and typical of domestic abuse victims.

‘I don’t think many people at the time understood what women suffered.’

Sitting in the House of Commons yesterday, Ms Enston said she suddenly realised just how important the family’s campaign has been.

That said, she is not done fighting just yet.

She has now urged the Madame Tussauds museum in central London to remove a figure of her grandmother from its ‘Chamber of Horrors’ exhibition.

To her dismay, Ellis is featured alongside serial killer ‘Jack The Ripper’, necrophile Nilsen, Acid Bath Murderer John Haigh and the notorious Kray Twins.

‘I recognise why she’s in there, but she shouldn’t be next to serial killers and sex offenders,’ she said, adding that she has contacted Madame Tussauds but has not received a response. Madame Tussauds has been approached for comment.

Ellis’s execution came just after Styllou Christofi, 54, was sentenced to death for murdering her daughter-in-law.

By chilling coincidence, both Christofi and Ellis carried out their killings in the very same street in the 1950s – South Hill Park in Hampstead.

They were both buried in unmarked graves at Holloway, then exhumed in 1971 along with three other female murderers of the 20th century.

These included Edith Thompson, 29, who was executed in 1923 for the murder of her husband Percy.

David Blakley and Ruth Ellis are pictured together at a social event

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The Daily Mail’s report of Ruth Ellis’s execution in July 1955

A stoic letter by Ruth Ellis saying, ‘I am quite well’ the day before she became the last woman to be executed in Britain 

Also disinterred at the same time were ‘baby farmers’ Amelia Sach, 29, and Annie Walters, 54, who had been hanged at the jail in February 1903 after being found guilty of murdering infants in East Finchley, north London.

All were transferred to Brookwood Cemetery in Surrey in 1971 except for Ellis, whose remains were returned to her family.

Thompson was exhumed in 2018 and buried in her family plot beside her mother.

It has been Ruth Ellis’s case that has drawn the most attention, not only in headlines at the time but in subsequent film and TV recreations.

These have included the 1985 movie Dance With A Stranger, starring Miranda Richardson and Rupert Everett, and last year’s ITV docudrama series A Cruel Love with Bohemian Rhapsody star Lucy Boynton in the leading role.

Ellis’s granddaughter Ms Enston said she first learned about the case when her mother showed her the 1985 film when she was just seven years old.

‘[It was] completely unsuitable for children’s eyes. That was my first experience of Ruth Ellis. That was the start of me wanting to discover for myself the story, though at first I didn’t want to be part of it.’

She prefers last year’s series as it was more sympathetic towards her late grandmother.

Mr Lammy told MPs on Wednesday that the King had granted a conditional pardon on the advice of the Government.

Ms Enston said justice had ‘finally been done’ for Ellis and the family she left behind.

She said: ‘Ruth was a victim of sustained and brutal abuse. Her children – our mother and uncle – never recovered. The shadow of Ruth’s execution has fallen across two generations.

‘This pardon does not undo what happened 71 years ago. It does not restore the lives that were broken – the children left behind, the years lost.

‘But it says, formally and finally, that Ruth should not have been executed; that the justice system failed her.’

Ms Enston admits that despite what her grandmother went through, she should never have killed Mr Blakely.

The Magdala in north London closed in 2016 but reopened in 2021 as a pub and restaurant

Ruth Ellis was the last woman in the UK executed for murder

The shooting of David Blakely happened near a pub in Hampstead, north London

‘Did he deserve to die? I don’t think he did. But he was obviously a troubled individual.’

Ms Enston said domestic abuse was poorly understood at the time and that her grandmother would now have been considered a victim of battered woman syndrome and treated differently by the justice system.

James Libson, of law firm Mishcon de Reya which represented Ellis’s family, said Ellis ‘suffered considerably’ at the hands of her ‘abusive, violent partner’.

Following a number of other controversial executions and a series of miscarriages of justice, the death penalty was permanently abolished for murder in 1969.

Two years after Ellis’s execution, the law was also changed to introduce diminished responsibility as a defence for murder.

Police lined nearby streets ahead of Ruth Ellis’ execution at Holloway prison in north London

Ruth Ellis was hanged by executioner Albert Pierrepoint on July 15, 1955

Ruth Ellis is thought here to be posing at a club over her flat on Brompton Road in 1955

Miranda Richardson portrayed Ruth Ellis in the 1985 movie Dance With A Stranger

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The convicted killer was also played by Lucy Boynton in a drama series last year

Ruth Ellis’s grandchildren applied to the Department for Justice last year, seeking a conditional pardon.

Unlike court appeals, pardons can consider broader factors such as social developments which could render a conviction or its resulting punishment inappropriate or unfair.

Speaking in the Commons, the Justice Secretary said: ‘I have the honour to say that His Majesty the King has accepted our advice to grant Ruth Ellis a conditional pardon, the last woman to be hanged in the United Kingdom.

‘While the pardon does not claim she was innocent of killing David Blakely, it replaces the death penalty with a sentence of life imprisonment to recognise a profound injustice in this exceptional case.’

The Ministry of Justice said the move reflected ‘evidence of domestic abuse and coercive and controlling behaviour that may have been understood differently today’.

Spice Girls star Melanie C has said the 30th anniversary of the band’s debut single Wannabe – which fell on Wednesday – was a “very emotional day”.

The singer formerly known as Sporty Spice recalled that seeing the song in shops had been “so exciting, because it was everything we dreamed of”.

The track went on to become one of the defining singles of the 1990s, selling more than 8 million copies worldwide, and launching the band’s Girl Power agenda.

“We knew exactly what we wanted to achieve but nobody imagined the scale [of what] we went on to do,” said the star, whose real name is Melanie Chisholm.

“We went out, we conquered the world.

“We were told that we couldn’t, and we wouldn’t. But we did.”

The 52-year-old was speaking at the Nordoff And Robbins Silver Clef Awards at the Royal Albert Hall, where she was honoured with the global impact award.

The Spice Girls celebrated Wannabe’s 30th birthday with separate posts on social media earlier this week.

Victoria Beckham said, external the song had “forever changed our lives”, while Geri Horner wrote, external: “Thank you to my beautiful spice sisters.”

“It was a very emotional day yesterday,” Chisolm said on the red carpet. “We’re all in touch obviously, all of the girls, we’re so grateful and respectful of each other.”

Mackenzie Michalski was spotted in CCTV leaving multiple nightclubs with her eventual killer

An Irishman has been locked up for 14 years after murdering a young American tourist during an “intimate encounter” after luring her from a Budapest nightclub.

The killer, known only as LTM, strangled 31‑year‑old Mackenzie ‘Kenzie’ Michalski before stuffing her body into a suitcase and trying to dump it miles from the capital city. Detectives launched a search when Kenzie was reported missing on November 5, 2024, trawling through CCTV footage from nearby nightclubs.

This line of inquiry led officers to identify Ms Michalski’s Irish killer when the tourist, from Portland, Oregon, was spotted in footage leaving several nightclubs with the man now behind bars, Dublin Live reports.

Police were able to identify LTM, who was aged 37 at the time, and eventually detain him on November 7 for questioning. The Irishman confessed to the killing.

Investigators said that Ms Michalski and the suspect met at a nightclub and danced before leaving for the man’s rented apartment. Inside, he beat and strangled Ms Michalski while they were engaged in an “intimate encounter”, police described.

On Thursday (July 9), LTM was found guilty of murder and sentenced him to 14 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of parole at Budapest’s Metropolitan Court.

The 18 months he has already spent in detention will count toward his sentence, at the end of which the court ordered his deportation from Hungary. The man must also pay 2.5 million forints (£6,000) in court costs. His attorney has appealed against the verdict.

After his arrest in 2024, the suspect insisted Ms Michalski’s death had been accidental. However, investigators said he went to considerable lengths to conceal the killing, scrubbing his apartment and stuffing her body into a wardrobe before buying a suitcase and transferring her remains into it.

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He is then alleged to have rented a car and driven to Lake Balaton, some 90 miles south‑west of Budapest, where he dumped the suitcase in woodland outside the town of Szigliget. Police later released footage showing him leading officers to the spot where he had abandoned the body.

Detectives said his internet history revealed searches on how to dispose of a corpse, police procedures in missing‑person cases, whether pigs consume human remains, and the prevalence of wild boar around Lake Balaton. He also queried online the competence of Budapest’s police force.

City of York Council said vehicle access issues were caused by a utility company’s contractors not setting up in Colliergate as agreed, causing cars to back up on Wednesday, July 8.

Andy D’Agorne, a Green Party activist, said he counted 11 cars belonging to Blue Badge holders who ended up having to find a way out after driving down the street.

Northern Powergrid, the firm behind the works, said they had worked with the council and their delivery partner to ensure they were done safely and minimise disruption.

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It comes as signs and temporary fences were still in place in Colliergate on Thursday, July 9.

Mr D’Agorne told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the works should not have taken place at the same time as cars were being let into the pedestrianised Footstreets through bollards in Goodramgate.

He added it left cars having to drive along the pavement to get out.

The council’s spokesperson said the swift action of their staff resulted in the issue being resolved in less than a day.

Cars parked alongside Northern Powergrid works in Colliergate, York, on Wednesday, July 8 (Image: Andy D’Agorne)

The spokesperson said: “The vehicle access issues were caused by a utility company’s contractors not setting up the site as was agreed with them.

“We thank members of the public for reporting the issue.”

Northern Powergrid’s spokesperson said the safety of its customers, delivery partners, colleagues and the public were a priority during any works it carries out.

The spokesperson said: “Throughout the project, Northern Powergrid and our delivery partner regularly attended the site to oversee the works, maintain safe access for pedestrians, and monitor traffic conditions.

“Additional traffic management measures were also available if required.

“Representatives from the local authority also visited the site during the works and remained engaged with the arrangements in place throughout the project.

“We recognise that roadworks can be inconvenient and may cause delays, and we would like to thank customers for their patience while this essential work was carried out.”

Saltburn-by-the-Sea, perched on the North East/North Yorkshire coast, has repeatedly found itself in the spotlight as one of the region’s most desirable places to live and visit.

The town was recently recognised in The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2026 guide, where judges praised its “unique coastal setting and vibrant town centre”.

Saltburn (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

It comes after Saltburn was also highlighted by Airbnb as one of the UK’s top “coastal gems” as part of its Unfollow the Crowd campaign, aimed at encouraging travellers to look beyond overcrowded tourist hotspots.

According to Airbnb, search interest for Saltburn-by-the-Sea rose by 39 per cent last year and this year, suggesting more people are discovering what locals have known for years.

The town’s famous pier, which dates back to 1869, remains a focal point for visitors, offering views across the North Sea and a reminder of Saltburn’s long history as a seaside resort.

Nearby, the historic cliff lift continues to carry people between the town and the promenade.

The water-powered funicular, which opened in the 1880s, is one of Saltburn’s best-loved features and adds to the sense that the town has preserved much of its original character.

In recent years, the town has built a reputation for its surf scene, independent cafés, restaurants, bars, and creative businesses.

Its beach regularly attracts surfers and paddleboarders, while walkers are drawn to the Cleveland Way and the surrounding coastline.

Away from the seafront, the town centre offers a mix of independent shops and places to eat and drink, helping to give Saltburn the lively, community-led feel that judges and visitors often point to.

Saltburn (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

The town’s history stretches back to the Victorian era, when it was transformed from a small coastal settlement into a planned seaside resort following the arrival of the railway.

Its distinctive street layout, including the so-called “Jewel streets” near the seafront, was designed to make the most of the town’s elevated position and sea views.

For those looking for green space, Saltburn Valley Gardens and Saltburn Valley Woods offer woodland walks close to the beach, with gardens, a miniature railway, and family-friendly attractions adding to the town’s appeal.

The surrounding area also gives residents and visitors easy access to wider beauty spots along the coast and inland towards the North York Moors.

Airbnb’s campaign suggested that more people are looking for places where they can slow down, stay locally, and discover somewhere with real character, with the online holiday and stay experts saying Saltburn “appears to fit that mood perfectly.”

Its transport links add to its liveability, with rail connections towards Middlesbrough and Darlington making it more practical for commuters than some remote coastal communities.

The Sunday Times guide considered factors such as schools, transport, broadband, mobile signal, green space, and the health of the high street when compiling its list.

For Saltburn, the verdict was clear: this is a town with “fresh air and heritage in spades.”

Reviews often highlight its peaceful atmosphere, coastal walks, and sense of community, while regular visitors praise it as a place that feels both lively and laid-back.

Like many desirable seaside towns, Saltburn is busiest in the summer months and on sunny weekends, when the beach, pier, and cafés draw crowds.

COUNT Binface is hitting the headlines for challenging Nigel Farage in the upcoming by-election in Clacton – but remember when he was making a big noise in North Yorkshire?

The colourful political character – campaigning on making all 99 cones cost 99p – stood against local MP Rishi Sunak in the last general election.

Count Binface, who has been doing media rounds in recent days dressed in his trademark tin bin helmet is a well-established novelty candidate in British elections, often pitting himself against the standing Prime Minister.

Count Binface when he was running for election in Richmond and Northallerton against PM Rishi Sunak Image: Count Binface

Binface – unmasked as Oxford-educated satirical scriptwriter Jon Harvey – stood as a candidate in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency at the 2019 General Election against the then Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, and again at the 2023 by-election after Johnson’s resignation.

Most recently, he stood in the Makerfield by-election against Andy Burnham – and was photographed at the result standing next to the Labour MP and shaking his hand.

Closer to home, he took on Rishi Sunak in 2024 in the Richmond and Northallerton constituency.

Not surprisingly Count Binface’s manifesto features some unconventional aspirations, including Bringing back Ceefax, the teletext service, nationalising Adele as well as model railways, and moving the hand dryer in the men’s toilet at Uxbridge’s Crown and Treaty pub to a “more sensible position”.

When he announced his candidacy against Sunak, he said in his podcast, Trashtalk, that he would be “taking on the biggest fish of the lot” in the election and commented: “You shirked D-Day Rishi, you can’t miss the B-Day”, a reference to the controversy caused by the PM’s early departure from the ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

Count Binface when he was running for election in Richmond and Northallerton against the then PM Rishi Sunak in 2024. Image: Count Binface

As the Northallerton and Richmond result was declared in the small hours of July 5, 2024, Binface stood on stage with Sunak – who held the seat. However, the unlikely challenger was reaping his own success.

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He was sixth out of thirteen candidates with 308 votes, representing 0.6 per cent of all the votes cast. It is reported that he later commented on Twitter that it was his best placing and highest ever vote count in a national election and declared that “Bindependence Day has come”.

Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, arriving to cast their vote in the 2024 General Election at Kirby Sigston Village Hall in Northallerton, North Yorkshire. Coutn Binface stood against him in this election. Picture date: Thursday July 4, 2024. PA

Can he outdo his North Yorkshire performance in Clacton?

We shall have to wait and see.

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A hospital ward in Carmarthen, Wales has been closed following an outbreak of a rare form of scabies, a Victorian disease the cases of which are on the rise in the UK

A hospital ward has been shut down following an outbreak of a rare form of scabies, a Victorian-era disease which is seeing a resurgence across the UK.

Steffan Ward at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen, Wales, will be closed to manage the outbreak “in line with established infection prevention and control procedures,” according to Hywel Dda health board.

The health board confirmed that patients and staff identified as contacts have been offered treatment, including those not displaying symptoms.

It also stated that additional infection prevention and control measures have been implemented on the ward, including “enhanced monitoring, treatment of identified contacts and ongoing support from specialist teams,” BBC Wales reported.

As the NHS explains on its website, “scabies is an itchy rash caused by mites. It’s spread through close skin contact, and anyone can get it. It should be treated quickly to stop it spreading”.

The symptoms of scabies include intense itching, particularly at night, and a raised rash or spots that may appear red. The website also noted “scabies rash usually spreads across the whole body, apart from the head and neck. It often affects skin between the fingers, around the wrists, under the arms, and around the waist, groin and bottom”

“People with a weakened immune system can sometimes get a rare and very contagious type of scabies called crusted scabies. The main symptom is a crusted, flaky rash that often affects the elbows, knees, hands and feet,” it also explained. The NHS also stated scabies spreads through close skin contact, including sexual contact.

The condition cannot be contracted from pets. Individuals who live or work in close proximity within nurseries, university halls of residence or nursing homes face a higher risk, reports the Express.

Adults and youngsters aged five years or above can return to work or school immediately after beginning treatment. However, it’s crucial to stay away from close contact with others for the initial 24 hours.

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