A man has admitted using motor oil and detergent to kill his neighbour’s fish and destroy a water pump out of ‘sheer frustration and lack of sleep’, a court has heard.
Gerry Duffy, 76, of Barnet, north London, was ‘driven completely insane’ by the sound of a water pump running his neighbour’s fishpond.
At Willesden Magistrates’ Court this morning, Duffy pleaded guilty on the day of his trial to damaging the pond, fish, water pump and pipes in March.
He had warned his neighbour, Andreas Ptohides, that he would take matters into his own hands if he did not do something about the noise.
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The former builder, who lives in a studio flat on Hadley Road, Barnet, north London threw motor oil into the body of water belonging to Mr Ptohides on March 20, 2026.
Four days later, Duffy was captured on CCTV climbing into Mr Ptohides’ garden and damaging the water pipes and electric pumps.
On March 26, 2026, Duffy also interfered with the pond by pouring a detergent of an unknown substance, causing further damage.
Shahid Iftakhar, prosecuting, told the court the ‘neighbour dispute’ had killed ‘five or six’ of Mr Ptohides’s Koi carp, and potentially caused of damage.
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The neighbour claimed £800 worth of damage was caused, Mr Iftakhar said, but today the prosecution stated the damage was £565.
Gerry Duffy (pictured outside Willesden Magistrates Court today) admitted using motor oil and detergent to kill his neighbour’s fish
The 76-year-old told the court he did it out of ‘sheer frustration and lack of sleep’
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He said: ‘The defendant has previously complained to the complainant about noise coming from his garden and has said words to the effect of, “if you don’t deal with it, I will” – there was a warning before the incident.’
Mr Elliott Stern, defending, said Duffy had been driven ‘completely insane by the noise’ from the electric pump feature on his neighbour’s pond.
The 76-year-old and his neighbour had discussed the matter several times, to which Mr Ptohides said he would stop the pump , he added.
However, the neighbour later said he would no longer do so because it was ‘not good for the fish’.
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Duffy contacted the council, whose worker visited and said there was no noise, advising ‘he either move[d] or close his windows’, Mr Stern added.
‘Out of sheer frustration and lack of sleep. Mr Duffy out of character and I would say lost his mind and committed these various damages,’ the defence said.
He added that Duffy had been pushed ‘beyond rational thinking and did not think about the consequences’ of his actions.
Mr Stern, mitigating, said the pensioner had COPD, as well as several health issues including type 1 diabetes, skin cancer, and high blood pressure.
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It was also heard that his health had declined both physically and mentally in the last year, and that he suffered from ‘severe’ anxiety and depression.
Mr Stern also added that Duffy’s break-up with a partner had also had an impact on him over the last three years.
Magistrate Matthew Cornish said: ‘We believe there was some planning given the incidents occurred over three separate days.’
Duffy was ordered to pay £565 in compensation, £440 for the pond and associated equipment as well as £125 for the destruction of the fish.
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He was also handed a two-year conditional discharge order.
At the end of June – in the run-up to America’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence – President Donald Trump staged the White House’s first-ever professional sporting event. And while the UFC Freedom 250 evening of mixed martial arts was ostensibly part of the July 4 jamboree, Trump took the opportunity to promote his family’s business interests.
The US president’s ability to make money while in office has been a focus of attention since his financial reports for 2025 were made public at the end of June. His reported revenue jumped from US$622 million in 2024 to US$2.2 billion in 2025, the first year of his second term.
While he and his family claim that there is no conflict of interest, there is little doubt that Trump has been able to profit from his position. But how does his financial gain as president stack up with some of his recent predecessors?
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The Kennedy family were famously wealthy. The family’s patriarch, Joseph Kennedy, put some of his money into trusts for his children, allowing John Fitzgerald, Robert Francis and generations of future Kennedys to pursue politics without financial worry or conflicts between business and public service.
Kennedy’s successor Lyndon B. Johnson owned significant land and a small media empire in Austin, Texas with his wife Lady Bird, all of which was put into a blind trust and officially controlled without the Johnsons’ involvement while he was in office.
During the 1972 election cycle, Time magazine reported that incumbent president, Richard Nixon had improved his finances by just over US$300,000 during his first presidential term, noting that he was “not yet a millionaire”. Most of Nixon’s financial assets were tied up in property and his civil service pension.
Jimmy Carter’s famous peanut farm assets were put into a trust when he won office, and he left the presidency in $1m of debt following droughts in Georgia. Ronald Reagan, who succeeded Carter and was not a businessmen but a film actor-turned-politician, came to office with some assets. His assets – valued in 1981 at about US$4 million, mainly made up of his two properties – were also held in trust while he was in office.
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George W. Bush made almost US$15m selling his stake in the Dallas-based Texas Rangers baseball franchise in 1998, while he served as governor of Texas. Barack Obama earned money from royalties on book sales while in office, but both he and Bill Clinton have amassed considerable wealth since leaving office.
None of these presidents appeared to leverage their presidency or their image to earn money while in office in the way that Trump has during his second term. Instead, they tended towards waiting until the post-presidency years.
Lucrative memoirs
Making money post-presidency is hardly a new story– the likes of James Buchanan and Ulysses S. Grant penned memoirs to earn money as far back as the 19th century. Nixon penned a well-paid memoir and made a lucrative and famous series of television interviews with David Frost in 1977 that earned him a base payment of $600,000 – over $3 million in 2026.
Perhaps the most lucrative of these post-presidential careers has belonged to Bill Clinton. Still a relatively young man of 54 when he left office, he moved into a public speaking and advising career. By 2016, he had made US$189m, US$38m of which had come from memoirs and other writing projects.
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Barack Obama followed suit, pre-selling the rights to his memoirs immediately after leaving office for in a combined book deal with his wife Michelle reported to be US$60m.
Donald Trump and former US presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton with their wives at President Jimmy Carter’s funeral in January 2025. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Obama waited until he had officially stepped down before publicly concluding negotiations with Penguin Random House, taking the same pains as his predecessors to avoid the accusation of conflicting interests between his public service and private business.
Cashing in on the presidency?
No modern president has come close to Trump’s earnings, either while in office or after leaving.
In his first term Trump made attempts to differentiate his businessman persona from his new profession. Sean Spicer, his first White House press secretary, announced in 2017 that Trump was donating his first quarter earnings to the National Park service, a tradition he continued throughout his presidency. But he still amassed business revenues of US$2.4b – more than his predecessors by a considerable margin.
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But even this could well be dwarfed by the amount of money Trump stands to make in his second term, if the first year is any guide. The 47th US president continues to argue that he follows the same path as other presidents and that his wealth is managed at arms’s length by external trusts and partnerships.
But the recent launch of Truth API – a paid-for data feed which gives access in “milliseconds” to posts on TruthSocial, a social media platform launched by Trump in February 2022 – has led to calls from his political opponents for the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate. Posts by the president and other powerful people on the platform are known to move markets.
A recent poll by CNN has found that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe that Trump has gone too far in pursuing his personal business interests while serving as president. Whether this will hurt his party’s prospects in the midterm elections in November is yet to be seen. But what is clear is that the immense amount of money the US president has earned – and the power he wields over regulatory systems – now blurs the lines between public office and private business in a way that few other American leaders have.
Meghan makes a splash for her 45th! Duchess of Sussex celebrates her milestone birthday with new photos of her diving into a pool while holding a bunch of balloons
Meghan has thanked her followers ‘for the birthday love’ as she celebrated turning 45 by jumping into a pool.
Taking to Instagram, the Duchess of Sussex posted a black and white photo of herself in a swimsuit, plunging into the water excitedly while holding onto balloons – sunglasses on and her hair up in a ponytail.
Meanwhile, her lifestyle brand As Ever also congratulated the mother-of-two with a sleek snap of the founder wearing a designer striped shirt from Céline and white Anine Bing ‘Brie’ jeans.
It also included a sweet throwback photo of a young Meghan sporting pigtails and a white turtleneck, seated in what looks to be her childhood bedroom.
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‘Lighting No. 084 to celebrate!’ the caption read, featuring the products in another glossy shot of products from the collection.
The celebrations come after Meghan recently showcased her impressive jewellery collection during her latest As Ever promotional footage over the weekend.
On Sunday, she shared the recipe for her ‘favorite ice cream sundae’, made by placing her raspberry spread into a glass before adding vanilla ice cream, crumbled shortbread and flower sprinkles.
But royal fans couldn’t take their eyes off the former actress’ dazzling rings, which were on full display as she created the dessert.
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Meghan has thanked her followers ‘for the birthday love’ as she celebrated turning 45 by jumping into a pool
Taking to Instagram, the Duchess of Sussex posted a black and white photo of herself in a swimsuit, plunging into the water excitedly
Prince Harry‘s wife wore her wedding ring, as well as a giant diamond pear band, thought to be worth $250,000 and once dubbed ‘an engagement ring upgrade’ by jewellery experts.
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She also wore a new, unidentified gold band on her right hand, and Princess Diana‘s Cartier Tank Française watch, worth £17,800 ($24,020), which was gifted to her after she married the Duke of Sussex.
Meghan was also seen wearing her £2,370 ($3,197) Jennifer Meyer mini bezel tennis bracelet, which is handcrafted from polished 18-carat yellow gold and was designed by Tobey Maguire‘s ex-wife.
However, despite the enviable jewellery collection on display, there was one item noticeably absent – the Duchess’ £120,000 ($161,922) engagement ring.
The Suits star is believed to have not worn the sparkler in over four months; the last time she was pictured with the jewel was in February 2026 when she wore it to an NBA game in California.
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Harry proposed to Meghan in 2017 – enlisting the late Queen Elizabeth II’s regular jeweller, Cleave & Company, to design a unique jewel for his bride-to-be.
The prince had even snuck a ring from Meghan’s jewellery box so that the designers knew her size and, in a particularly touching tribute to his late mother, asked them to ‘harvest’ the diamonds from one of Diana’s bracelets.
Since the proposal in Nottingham Cottage, it is believed the ring has been altered four times.
At Trooping the Colour in June 2019, Meghan was spotted wearing the ring with a thinner band than its original design.
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She also had little diamonds set down the sides of the ring, worth around £126,000 ($150,000), in what jewellery expert Arabel Lebrusan suggested was a more American style.
In his book Finding Freedom, royal expert Omid Scobie noted the decision to resize and reset the engagement ring with a new diamond band in 2019 was Harry’s idea.
In the biography, jeweller-to-the-stars Lorraine Schwartz reportedly said of the prince: ‘He’s the loveliest person ever. So romantic, so thoughtful.’
Meanwhile, her lifestyle brand As Ever also congratulated the the mother-of-two with a sleek snap of the founder wearing a striped shirt and white trousers, along with a sweet throwback photo
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As Ever shared a sweet throwback photo of Meghan
‘Lighting No. 084 to celebrate!’ the caption read
The authors continued: ‘(So much so that Harry also thought to have Lorraine resize and reset Meghan’s engagement ring with a new diamond band.)’
In 2022, there was further speculation that Meghan altered the ring for a second time when she attended the Invictus Games in The Hague, and it appeared that she had added additional diamonds to the setting surrounding the central diamond.
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The ring was notably absent during several of Meghan’s appearances in 2023, when a loose stone was reportedly being repaired – in what some believed was a third alteration.
In 2025, eagle-eyed royal fans noted that the ring’s central diamond looked more like an emerald cut than the original cushion cut when it was seen in a trailer for Meghan’s Netflix series.
While some suggested it had been the latest, fourth iteration of the ring, others speculated it may have been a replica of her original to avoid any possible damage to it while cooking.
Meanwhile, the five-carat sparkler with a pear-cut diamond on her right hand that Meghan sported in the clip was first debuted in October 2025 at Project Healthy Minds’ World Mental Health Day Festival in New York City.
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Jewellery expert Trang Do previously told the Daily Mail that ‘wearing a significant ring on the right hand often symbolises independence, self-love, and personal power’, adding the big, pear-shaped diamond could ‘point to an upgrade or evolution of her engagement ring story’.
Trang said: ‘Many clients today are choosing to refresh their rings to mark milestones, whether an anniversary, a personal achievement or a new chapter, rather than waiting for a traditional proposal moment.’
While sharing her latest promotional clip, Meghan also took to her own personal Instagram account to share a video of her flower arranging.
The Duchess was seen walking through a garden before showcasing a vase filled with the flowers she’d picked. It’s thought the arrangement was placed in her kitchen at her Montecito home.
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Last week, it was revealed the Duchess has seemingly invested in a popular smart ring and a matching £2,100 gold case encrusted with diamonds as she attended a screening of Cookie Queens, a documentary about Girl Scouts in America, on Tuesday.
Worn on her left hand, Meghan flaunted a glittering ‘sleeve’ for her Oura ring – a trendy fitness tracker that measures its wearer’s vitals, sleep quality, and stress levels that Prince Harry also swears by – as well as a new unidentified gold band on her right hand.
It comes as Meghan introduced a new fruit spread after teasing the launch with a video of her picking blackberries on Instagram.
The flavour was unveiled as ‘our newest pantry favourite’ on Tuesday with a photo of the jar on As Ever’s social media page.
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‘Made with beautifully ripe blackberries for a rich, vibrant flavour that brings a little taste of the season to your table,’ the caption read.
Residents of a “quiet” street where a woman died in a house fire have described her death as “tragic”. Emergency services were called to a house fire in Eagles Lane in Little Downham at around 6pm on Friday, July 31.
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A woman in her 60s was pronounced dead at the scene. Neighbours have said they heard sirens on the night of the fire.
A couple, who wished to remain anonymous, said they assumed the fire was in a field at the bottom of the road. They said: “We only heard the sirens as we were in the back garden. This is a quiet road, and nothing extreme like this has ever happened. It’s very tragic.”
The couple said they did not know the woman who died, but said they “used to see her go past in her mobility scooter”. They added: “We heard the neighbours tried to help, but I think they are traumatised by it.”
One man, who also asked not to be named, wasn’t there at the time of the fire, but arrived back home later that night when a police cordon was still in place. He said: “We know most people around here, but we didn’t know the lady. She was inside a lot. I feel very sad for her family.”
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The man also praised the actions of neighbours who tried to help. He added: “The people who helped, they were very brave. I feel really sorry for those people who were there at the time. They went to extreme measures.”
A woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said she saw fire engines “fly past” her window. She added: “The sirens were very loud.
“I only heard about the lady that died a few days after. It’s very sad. However, the neighbours that tried to help, it was a very heroic thing for them to do.”
A Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue spokesperson confirmed the fire was accidental. Police also confirmed that it was “non-suspicious”.
He remains in custody for questioning after emergency services were called at around 4am on Tuesday
16:14, 04 Aug 2026Updated 16:16, 04 Aug 2026
A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson following a fire at a beloved Wigan pub.
Firefighters worked to dampen the blaze as large plumes of smoke billowed from the John Bull Chophouse in Wigan town centre after emergency services were called at around 4am on Tuesday (August 4).. Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service confirmed no one was hurt.
A 44-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of arson, burglary and possession of class A drugs. He is currently in custody for questioning, police say.
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A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Officers responded to reports of a fire at a business property on Coopers Row, Wigan at around 4am this morning (04/08/26).
“Thankfully, no injuries were sustained. One man, aged 44, has been arrested on suspicion of arson, burglary and possession of class A drugs. He remains in custody for questioning
“Enquiries are ongoing.”
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Reacting to the blaze, owners of the John Bull, Thwaites, has vowed to restore the pub back to its ‘former glory’. A spokesperson from Thwaites said: “Fire services were called to a blaze at The John Bull Chop House in Wigan in the early hours of the morning.
“While a cause has yet to be confirmed, the fire is now contained, with everyone safe and no injuries reported.
“We’re working closely with the fire and police services to assist with the ongoing investigation, as well as with Pete and Vicky – our tenants at the pub – to offer our full support.
“Whilst it’s very early days, The John Bull Chop House is a much-loved pub in the local community and it’s very much our intention to restore the pub back to its former glory.”
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A spokesperson for the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: “At approximately 4am on Tuesday, August 4, four fire engines from Wigan, Atherton and Leigh fire stations were called to attend a fire at a pub on Coopers Row, Wigan.
“Crews arrived quickly and used breathing apparatus, three hose reels, one hose reel jet and other specialist equipment to extinguish the fire.
“Firefighters remain in attendance at this time.” The fire service added no-one was injured.
Wigan Council said on X at 7.28am: “Manchester fire are currently tackling a blaze at the John Bull pub in Wigan. A 50-metre exclusion zone has been set up to keep the public safe. Please avoid the area if possible.”
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An update at 8.40am form the council said: “The fire has now been extinguished. The cordon will be lifted shortly.”
Congestion has stretched back to Junction 2 at the Cheadle Roscoes Roundabout, according to traffic service Inrix.
In an earlier update, they stated that congestion was reaching J1 at the Stockport Pyramid.
The recent update said: “Queueing traffic due to earlier accident on M60 anticlockwise between J25 A560 Crookilley Way (Brinnington) and J24 M57 (Denton Island). Congestion to Junction 2 (Cheadle Roscoes Roundabout).”
The brand, which has become a much-loved destination, is known for its ever-changing range of beauty, homeware, accessories, gifts and everyday essentials.
MUMUSO, the popular lifestyle, homeware and beauty retailer, has officially relocated into a new, larger store at The Centre, Livingston, following customer demand.
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The brand, which has become a much-loved destination, is known for its ever-changing range of beauty, homeware, accessories, gifts and everyday essentials.
The new store provides an enhanced shopping experience, with even more products to explore and additional space to browse.
It follows on from the recent opening of the relocated JD Sports store, which is the largest in Scotland, the launch of the health and wellbeing store, Grape Tree and the announcement of work starting on a new 26,500 sq. ft Hollywood Bowl venue with 22 lanes, an arcade, pool tables and a bar and diner, set to open in the autumn.
More than two years after acquiring the shopping centre, LCP UK, part of M Core, has continued to invest in the transformation of The Centre, Livingston, bringing its vision of a vibrant ‘shop, eat and play’ destination to life.
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Through new retailers, store expansions and ongoing improvements, the shopping centre continues to evolve into a thriving destination for locals and visitors from further afield.
The Centre, Livingston which has a diverse mix of over 150 stores and restaurants, spanning one million sq. ft. including M&S, Flannels, H&M, Nando’s, wagamama and Five Guys, welcomes over 15.8 million visitors a year.
Other recent global brands to open include Starbucks, Wingstop, MINISO, Søstrene Grene, Flying Tiger and the first ArrowHeadz store in Scotland.
Patrick Robbertze, Centre Director at The Centre, Livingston, said: “We’re excited to see MUMUSO move into its new, larger store, creating an even more enjoyable shopping experience for our customers with more space, greater choice and even more products to discover.”
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The 86-year-old from Portadown began her career as a singer before moving into broadcasting.
Lynn Rusk Press Association
15:24, 04 Aug 2026
Northern Irish broadcaster Gloria Hunniford has long been regarded as a national treasure, with a television and radio career spanning six decades.
The 86-year-old, from Portadown, Co Armagh, began her career as a singer before moving into broadcasting. She worked as a production assistant at UTV in Belfast before joining the BBC as a local radio broadcaster.
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By the 1970a, she had become the face of Good Evening Ulster and went on to become the first woman to host her own daily show on BBC Radio 2.
She presented the programme for 13 years before becoming one of the first female broadcasters to front her own television chat show, Sunday, Sunday, where she interviewed stars including Audrey Hepburn and Bette Davis.
More recently, she has become known to a new generation of TV viewers as a presenter on the BBC One consumer series Rip Off Britain and as a panellist on ITV‘s Loose Women.
Her remarkable contribution to television and radio is set to be celebrated by BBC Four with a special evening of programmes.
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Hunniford, whose second husband, Stephen Way, died in 2024, says she has no intention of slowing down.
“Now that I’m in my 80s, I’d hate to be without the stimulation my work gives me. I’d hate to stop learning something new every day, and I’d hate to stop meeting new people,” she says.
“That’s exactly what my job allows me to do. Of course, I love spending time with my girlfriends, and I enjoy going out for lunch with them. Friends are hugely important. But would I want to spend every single day just going out to lunch? No, I wouldn’t.
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“I like having that balance. I love my work, and I love my friendships. Friends have become even more important since I lost my husband. If I didn’t have my work, my friends and my family, what else would I do?
“They give me purpose. They keep me interested, they keep me engaged with life, and I think that’s incredibly important. As long as I’m enjoying it, still learning and still able to contribute, I can’t see any reason to stop.”
Hunniford credits the late broadcaster Dan Gilbert with giving her first break and instilling in her the confidence to succeed in what was then a male-dominated industry.
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“On my first day, he took me into the newsroom. You have to remember, this was 1969, at the outbreak of the Troubles,” she recalls.
“He said, ‘What do you see?’ I said, ‘I see a lot of men working away on their typewriters,’ because there were no computers then.
“He said, ‘Remember, you’re not coming in here as a woman to do women’s programmes, recipes, knitting or sewing. You’ve been out on the streets of Northern Ireland dealing with bombs, bullets and barricades, just like any man in this room.’
“Then he said something I’ll never forget: ‘Remember, you’re as good as any bloke in this room.’
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“Without me ever having thought about it, he put that belief into my head. From that day on, I never felt, at least in my own mind, that I was any less capable than the men around me.”
Although Hunniford is widely regarded as a trailblazer for women in broadcasting and later generations of Northern Irish presenters, she says she never saw herself in that role.
“I wasn’t aware that I was paving the way. I was just delighted to be doing the job.
“It was only much, much later that other women began saying to me, ‘You were the first.’ As it turned out, I was the first woman to present a daily television programme, but even then I didn’t think of it in those terms.”
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In 1982, Hunniford moved to London to present her BBC Radio 2 show at the height of the Troubles.
She vividly remembers being at work on the day of the Hyde Park bombing, when an IRA bomb killed four soldiers of the Queen’s Life Guard and seven horses.
“In those days everything was self-operated. I’d finished my programme, closed the microphone and was gathering my things together when I noticed there were a lot of men standing in the control room next to the studio,” she recalls.
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“Unfortunately, it was the day the bomb went off in Hyde Park. Several horses were killed and a number of soldiers lost their lives. That day I received a threat. Someone had phoned the radio station saying, ‘Get that Irish woman off the radio.’
“The men who were waiting came in and told me what had happened. They wouldn’t let me drive home on my own. Instead, they arranged for me to be taken home by car.”
She adds: “Having said that, Irish accents were actually quite common in England at the time, so day to day I didn’t generally have a problem.”
The death of her daughter, Caron Keating, from breast cancer in 2004 at the age of 41 inspired Hunniford to establish the Caron Keating Foundation.
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She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to cancer charities, particularly breast screening and cancer support.
In May, she was awarded the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of her contribution to entertainment and her work as a breast cancer charity campaigner.
Looking to the future, Hunniford says: “My late daughter Caron’s son is having a baby in September, so I’ll be a great-grandmother.
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“So I’m going to be called Super Gran. I’m not going to be called a great-grandmother, and that’s like a new life beginning. I’m looking forward to that.
“There’s always something to be charmed by or excited by. Our family is like that, and we enjoy it. I’m just glad that I’ve had the zest and the appetite to do it, and that I still want to.”
BBC Four’s tribute night for Gloria Hunniford is scheduled for Saturday August 8 2026 at 8pm.
Police reopened the road at around midday. A spokesperson said: “Please approach with care. Anglian water has isolated the burst and water pressure in the area will hopefully return. If you have any issues with your water pressure/supply please speak to Anglian Water.
“The road will likely close again between New Drove and Boleness when the team arrive to fix the damage.”
There was an interruption to residents’ water supply in the area. Anglian Water said expects the water to be restored by 8pm.
An Anglian Water spokesperson said: “We’re really sorry but some customers in Wisbech and surrounding areas may have very low water pressure.
“This is being caused by a burst water main in your area. Based on the latest information available, we’re aiming to have everything back to normal by 8pm on August 4.”
The announcement affects women due to give birth in the next six weeks
Women due to give birth in the coming weeks have been told they can’t have the births they planned due to “significant staffing challenges”. The changes affect women in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area, which includes Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Merthyr Tydfil.
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Health board bosses said they have taken the decision to suspend its home birth services as well as shut a midwifery-led birthing centre at one of its hospitals for the next six weeks.
Women will no longer be able to give birth at the Tirion birth centre, which opened at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in 2019, which the health board says is a “temporary” decision in response to staff shortages. Stay informed on the latest health news by signing up to our newsletter here
No confirmation has been given as to when Tirion will reopen, or home births will resume, with Cwm Taf Morgannwg saying in a statement the temporary change will be “reviewed” after a six-week period. The health board also apologised for any “concern” caused by the “temporary suspension”.
The Tirion midwifery-led birth centre opened in 2019 when the health board rearranged how it delivered maternity care across the region. It is an option for women following a midwife-led care pathway, with the three rooms being staffed and managed by midwives.
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Previously, the Royal Glamorgan Hospital had consultant doctors working there to provide women and neonatal care, but these services were relocated and centralised to be delivered at Bridgend’s Princess of Wales Hospital and Merthyr Tydfil’s Prince Charles Hospital.
Those women who have been told they will no longer be able to give birth at Tirion but still wish to give birth in a midwifery-led birth centre will have access to care at the Tair Afon birth centre at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr, and at the Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend.
The health board said antenatal and postnatal services including breast feeding support will continue to operate as usual from Tirion birth centre during the day.
A spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said: “Due to significant staffing challenges, we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend our home birth service and midwifery-led births at Tirion Birth Centre. We will review this temporary change after a six week period.
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“Women who wish to give birth in a midwifery-led birth centre will continue to have access to midwifery led care at Tair Afon Birth Centre, Prince Charles Hospital, and at Princess of Wales Hospital. Antenatal and postnatal services including breast feeding support will continue to operate as usual from Tirion Birth Centre during the day.
“Our community midwives are available to support families to discuss their birth options. We apologise for any concern this temporary suspension may cause and thank our women and families for their understanding.”
If you have been affected by the change to birth services in Cwm Taf Morganwwg and would like to get in touch, please email ellie.gosley@walesonline.co.uk.
Leisure Guard Security has signed up to sponsor the Flying the Flag for Bolton category at the 2026 ceremony, which celebrates individuals, businesses, and organisations that champion the town and help raise its profile across the region and beyond.
The award recognises those who show outstanding pride in Bolton through their work, community involvement, and commitment to making the borough a better place to live, work, and visit.
Leisure Guard Security joins an impressive line-up of businesses backing this year’s awards, which shine a spotlight on the achievements, innovation, and success stories that continue to drive Bolton’s economy forward.
Richard Duggan, regional editor at Newsquest North West and editor of The Bolton News, said: “We are delighted to welcome Leisure Guard Security as sponsor of the Flying the Flag for Bolton Award.
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“This category celebrates people and organisations that are passionate about our town and work tirelessly to promote everything that makes Bolton special.
“It is fitting that a respected local business such as Leisure Guard Security is supporting this award.”
Saj Kadva, operations director at Leisure Guard Security, said: “As a business founded in Bolton 25 years ago, supporting the Bolton News Business Awards and sponsoring the Flying the Flag for Bolton Award was an easy decision for Leisure Guard Security.
“Bolton is more than simply the place where our business was established. It is our home.
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“The company’s owners were born and raised here; our journey started here, and for a quarter of a century, Bolton has provided the people, businesses, and opportunities that have helped us grow into the company we are today.
“Over the last 25 years, Leisure Guard Security has built a reputation for protecting businesses, public spaces, events, and communities across the North West and nationally.
“Whilst our reach has expanded, our roots have never changed.
“We remain proudly Boltonian and committed to supporting the town that helped shape our success.
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“The Flying the Flag for Bolton Award represents everything we believe in.
“It celebrates the individuals, businesses, and organisations that showcase Bolton at its very best, whether through innovation, community spirit, enterprise, or achievement.
“These are the people who help strengthen the town’s reputation and inspire future generations.
“At Leisure Guard Security, we understand the importance of people.
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“Our success has always been built on the dedication of our team and the trust our clients place in us.
“We are privileged to work with a diverse range of organisations and individuals who contribute positively to the communities they serve, and many of those success stories begin right here in Bolton.
“We believe Bolton has an incredible heritage, a strong business community, and a bright future.
Leisure Guard Security are a Bolton News Business Award 2026 category sponsor (Image: Leisure Guard Security)
“From its industrial roots to the thriving businesses, charities, and community groups that drive progress today, Bolton continues to produce people who make a real difference.
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“We want to play our part in recognising and celebrating those achievements.
“Sponsoring this award allows us to support and highlight those who embody the very best of Bolton’s values: hard work, resilience, ambition, and community spirit.
“At a time when positive stories deserve to be heard more than ever, we are proud to stand behind an award that celebrates those who represent Bolton with distinction.”
The awards take place at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Thursday, September 17, with Bolton Council being the headline sponsor.
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Tickets are now on sale via The Bolton News Business Awards 2026 ticket page (https://store.newsquest.co.uk/the-bolton-news-business-awards-2026-tickets).
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