Over the years, I’ve accumulated various Carl Friedrik luggage items, including the carry-on hybrid in silver and tan, the Granville weekender in chestnut, and the compact weekender in nubuck. Durable, stylish and designed for ease while on the go, this trio has travelled with me around the world, from Marrakech to Vietnam and Australia.

York Council planning officers have refused Tiddlywinks Nursery’s application to convert a bungalow in Osbaldwick Village so it can increase the number of spaces by 15 to 73.

The nursery’s plans stated it was an important community resource, looked after local children and provided them with a safe environment where they could build their confidence.

But objectors including the local ward councillor and the council’s public protection team called for the plans to be blocked because of the impact of noise on neighbouring homes.

Council planning officers stated complaints against the nursery were already being investigated and extending it to bring in more children would likely make the noise worse.

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Refusal of the plans follows several attempts by the nursery to convert the bungalow since 2023, with an application refused in 2024 prior to the latest bid.

Applications to extend the existing nursery, which is in an old school house, and to construct a new building were also refused prior to the bungalow plans.

The nursery first opened in 2004.

The latest plans would have seen changes made to the bungalow including building a new porch and converting its garage into an office and staff room.

Children aged between nine months and two years would have used the building and the number of staff onsite at any given time would have increased to 17.

The plans are the latest in attempt by the nursery to expand (Image: Supplied)

A separate but related application also applied to allow the nursery to use the bungalow’s garden as an outdoor ‘forest school’ twice a day for an hour a time.

The nursery’s plans stated it had twice been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and the expansion would help meet the demand for extra places in York.

Plans stated: “This expansion is in accordance with the well-established and ongoing need for additional nursery places in York.

“This is demonstrated by the applicant’s extensive waiting list which has grown following the recent Government childcare reforms.

“The works will enhance the appearance and functionality of the bungalow without causing harm.”

But 40 objections from 15 people were lodged against the plans, including Osbaldwick and Derwent’s Restore UK councillor Mark Warters and the local parish council.

They claimed it would make existing noise problems worse and disturb neighbouring residents in their gardens and raised concerns about traffic attracted by the increase in places.

Council public protection officers stated the nursery’s application had not provided enough information to show that noise would not be an issue.

Officials said: “Public Protection are still investigating complaints about noise from the current activities at the nursery.

“This proposal for additional children and an additional external play area will increase noise levels.”

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service shared an update on wildfire near Glossop with people urged to stay away

New eerie pictures show crews battling a huge wildfire in smoke-covered moorland at Tintwistle as the blaze rages on.

The photos show masked firefighters and crews tackling hotspots on the moorland near Glossop. The area is blanketed in thick smoke with the features of the crew lost in the hazy scenes.

Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) shared the pictures alongside an update on the fire on Thursday (July 16). The service said around 80 firefighters worked on the scene on Wednesday with crews working to ‘contain and supress’ the fire today.

Follow live updates from the scene here

The wildfire at Tintwistle, above Woodhead Road in Glossop, first broke out nearly three weeks ago. DFRS declared a major incident as it spread over the moorland and burned an area the size of at least 350 football pitches.

The blaze, which is burning at the same time as another major fire near Dovestone Reservoir, has sent huge plumes of smoke across our region and beyond. The main focus of firefighting operations today is at Arnfield Moor, the fire service said.

Crews will ‘remain in action’ throughout the day and people have been urged to continue to stay off the moorland. The fire service also urged people to keep their windows and shut if affected by the smoke.

In full, the update at 10.15am today said: “Firefighters returned this morning to the major wildfire incident at Tintwistle after scaling back operations overnight. Yesterday, around 80 firefighting personnel were working at the scene. Crews continue to contain and supress the fire while protecting nearby communities, property and the environment.

“Today, firefighters are tackling hotspots in the Digsbury Intake, Featherbed Moss and Crowden areas. The main focus of operations is currently near Arnfield Moor.

“Ground crews and aerial firefighting resources will remain in action throughout the day, supported by neighbouring fire and rescue services and partner agencies. Please continue to support us by avoiding the area and staying off the moorland.

“If you must travel through the area, please expect some disruption on the nearby section of the A628 while safe access to the incident scene is maintained. People in the surrounding area may continue to see or smell smoke from the wildfire at Tintwistle Moor, or from the nearby wildfire at Dovestones Reservoir in Greater Manchester.

“Smoke levels may vary depending on wind direction and weather conditions. If affected, please keep your windows and doors closed.”

The blaze at Dovestone is also continuing to rage on today after the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) declared a major incident. On Wednesday Paul Fearnhead, Incident Commander at GMFRS, described the area near Dovestone as ‘really, really challenging’ as the ‘extensive wildfire’ continued.

“Currently we have around just short of ten fire engines, including our wildfire capabilities at this scene and they’re deployed across the moorlands in this warm weather, which is being hampered by smoke and wind”, he said.

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“If you’re a member of the public in the area, we are asking you to stay away. It’s a small area for us to work in, and the moors at this time are very smoky, and we’d ask you not to come across this area.”

Firefighters were first called to Dovestone on Saturday night. A major incident was declared on Monday afternoon with 70 firefighters tackling the blaze.

Residents reported hearing ‘loud bangs’ prior to the fire taking hold with videos of youths setting off fireworks. The incident came after Karl Holland, 18, died after getting into difficulty at Dovestone Reservoir.

A woman, aged 20, was arrested on suspicion of arson. Shania Care-Slede, of Market Street, Hyde, has been charged and appeared in court on Tuesday.

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As a freelance editor with bylines in Sunday Times Style, The Telegraph, The Mail, Forbes, Livingetc, House Beautiful and, of course, The Standard, I’m an expert on things lifestyle. I also work with some of the biggest brands on the high street to advise and create content, so I understand products, what goes into making them and how they perform. In particular, I’m a foodie and a keen cook – although I’m the first to admit my husband is better and does the more complicated recipes – so I demand a lot from my kitchen kit, which now includes a pizza oven.

The summer window is firmly in full flow as Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham all work on major signings with the World Cup approaching an end. Arsenal have reignited their interest in Julian Alvarez and remain very keen on both Morgan Rogers and Bruno Guimaraes. With Leandro Trossard having left for Besiktas, the Gunners are now expected to step up their interest in Christos Tzolis. Antonio Nusa is a new target.

A developer is hoping to build up to 100 homes in a village near Cambridge

Proposals to build up to 100 homes in a village near Cambridge have been branded as “inappropriate”. Great Shelford Ten Acres LLP has submitted an outline planning application for the residential development of land off Cambridge Road in Great Shelford.

The developer said the plans would deliver a “high-quality residential scheme that responds positively to the surrounding built form and landscape character while addressing identified housing needs within the district”.

Of the new homes, 50 would be made available as affordable housing. The site extends to around 3.98 hectares and is currently in agricultural use.

The homes would comprise a mix of sizes including one, two, three and four bedroom properties. According to the current proposals, the affordable housing would be delivered as a mix of flats and houses including terraced, semi-detached, and detached properties.

The developer said that the delivery of 50 affordable homes would “deliver long-term social and economic benefits to the local community” as well as providing “housing opportunities for households currently unable to access the market”.

Concerns have been raised about whether the development is appropriate. Great Shelford Parish Council has “strongly” objected to the proposals on the grounds of there being “no demonstrable unmet need” for the development.

The parish council also said that bringing construction traffic and other vehicles onto the site “promotes conflict with vulnerable cyclists and students travelling to both Trumpington and Sawston”.

The parish council brought up the worry that the “only” transport link is one bus along the A1301, which goes into Cambridge via Addenbrooke’s Hospital. The council said the site has “very little connectivity by public transport and is therefore wholly dependent on car use”.

Central East Integrated Care Board (CEICB) said the development would be “likely” to have an impact on Shelford Health Centre, adding, “it would appear that they do not have capacity for the additional growth resulting from this development”. To mitigate the impacts, a developer contribution has been suggested by the NHS board.

One local said: “The proposal would permanently remove protected Green Belt land that helps preserve the village’s rural setting, prevents urban sprawl, supports wildlife, and maintains the open character of the area. Once developed, this land cannot be replaced.”

They added: “A scheme of around 100 homes would significantly alter the character of this valued green space which is central to the lives and wellbeing of many local residents.”

A similar concern was raised by another local who said that if the development was given the go-ahead, it would “irreversibly destroy” the Green Belt land. Dozens of other objections have been lodged since its submission in May.

The heritage railway is bringing back its annual festive steam train experience with new interactive features for 2026.

The journey brings to life the magic of Christmas with onboard entertainment by Santa and his elves, all while travelling through the wintry North York Moors.

Services will run on November 28 and 29, December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, and December 22 to 24.

Once again, the NYMR is teaming up with Wise Owl Theatre Company to bring the magic to life.

This year introduces a new character, Gingersnap—a classic, playful festive character who arrives on a baking tray after a kitchen mishap.

Other returning cast members include Elton Elf, the musical genius; Chef Custard, Santa and Rudolf’s personal chef; and Joey Marshmallow, the trickster Elf.

Children will receive a festive book and a gingerbread man plush toy as a keepsake.

The roundtrip journey between Pickering and Levisham lasts around an hour, with plenty of holiday cheer both on and off the train.

Pickering Station will also host additional activities, including a Naughty or Nice Scanner, Christmas-themed fete games, a Write and Post Your Letter to Santa station, and festive songs performed live on Platform 2.

The Christmas emporium will be open at Pickering Station, where gifts are available as a stocking filler treat or a memento of the festive cheer. The tearoom will also be open, offering plenty to enjoy, whether that’s while waiting to board or after the journey.

For more information and to book tickets, visit www.nymr.co.uk/santa.

The 29-year-old died in a Cambridgeshire prison in October 2024

A woman found with drugs in her system when she died is thought to have obtained the drugs after they were brought into a prison illegally. Jamie Perfect, 29, died on October 14, 2024, while an inmate at HMP Peterborough.

Perfect was remanded to the prison on October 4 after being charged with assaulting an emergency worker. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has released a report into her death, after she was found unresponsive in her cell on October 14.

The report said Perfect had a “history of substance misuse” and she tested positive for several drugs when she arrived at the prison. These were opiates, cocaine, cannabis, and benzodiazepines – which are prescription medicine used to treat anxiety.

She was placed on a drug stabilisation unit for assessment and monitoring, and was also prescribed medication to help with drug withdrawal. On October 10, a prison guard carried out a routine check of her cell.

She was found with an “improvised vape which contained an unknown substance”. Perfect was placed on a disciplinary charge.

A hearing was held the next day where she denied the charge, and a hearing was adjourned for her to obtain legal advice. At around 7.20am on October 14, Perfect was found unresponsive on her bed.

The report added: “The officer radioed a medical emergency code and staff started CPR. When ambulance paramedics arrived at 7.42am, they assessed that Ms Perfect was dead and pronounced life extinct.”

A post-mortem confirmed the 29-year-old died from aspiration pneumonia caused by polypharmacy, which is the use of multiple drugs. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman said that an opioid named tapentadol was found in her system.

This was not prescribed while she was in prison, so it “must have been brought into the prison illegally”, the report said. The report added that they do not know how Perfect obtained the drug.

The report said: “The last HMIP report found that Peterborough had taken important steps to limit drug supply but like all women’s prisons, had no body scanner to detect secreted items, which was a risk.

“It also found that the prison’s drugs strategy covered both the men’s and women’s prison so issues more specific to female prisoners, such as trading medications, were not addressed. In December 2024, Peterborough issued an updated drugs strategy for the women’s prison.

“While it says that diversion of medication is the most significant drug-related issue among female prisoners, it does not say how that will be tackled.”

In its findings, the Ombudsman found that the clinical care provided to Perfect was of a “good standard and was equivalent to that which which she could have expected to receive in the community”.

It was also satisfied that Perfect had not been prescribed tapentadol by the prison. However, it commented on the prison’s drug strategy from 2024, in relation to the “diversion of medication in the most significant drug-related issue among female prisoners”.

The Ombudsman said the strategy didn’t say how the issue would be tackled. It added: “We would expect this to be addressed within the drugs strategy, especially given its significance within the women’s prison.”

An HMP Peterborough spokesperson said: “We offer our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ms Perfect and we recognise how difficult this process will have been for them. Whilst there are no recommendations for the prison in the Ombudsman’s report, we will continue to do all we can to support those in our care.”