Saltburn Smugglers’ Shanties on the Shore series has attracted growing audiences over the last couple of months, with the latest performance on Friday (July 31) recording the biggest attendance yet. 

Due to the demand, the final show on Friday, August 14, will move from the seafront to Saltburn’s top promenade.

The Saltburn Smugglers performing on the seafront for Shanties on the Shore. (Image: Saltburn Smugglers)

Keith Ayling, founder of the Saltburn-based group, said: “This has to be the jewel in the crown of events on the coast. We see people travelling from all over the North to it, and some driving four hours to get here.

“But more than that, the spirit that we see as people come together to sing is awe inspiring.

“There is so much thankfulness from everyone as we sing together, it can be overwhelming. This gathering brings hope and beautiful memories to hundreds of people.”

The Saltburn Smugglers perform original songs inspired by the sea.

Their most recent show drew fans of all ages, who gathered on the seafront to enjoy the sunset and join in with the music.

The Saltburn Smugglers. (Image: Saltburn Smugglers)

The Saltburn Children’s Shanty Choir also performed on the night, singing three of their own original songs.

Visitors were treated to pizzas and ice creams throughout the evening, helping create a classic seaside setting as the sun set over the coast.

The Saltburn Smugglers performing on the seafront for Shanties on the Shore. (Image: Saltburn Smugglers)

The free concert raises money for Redcar RNLI, whose volunteers received a loud cheer from the crowd during the show.

Organisers said the event has regularly attracted visitors from well beyond the local area, and the decision to move the final show to a larger space reflects its growing popularity.

The final Shanties on the Shore performance will take place on Friday, August 14, from 6pm on Saltburn’s top promenade.

To be fair, James Cameron did warn us.

Long before OpenAI broke out of its test corral and hacked into Hugging Face, before the internet and Sam Altman were even born, Cameron wrote a screenplay about an autonomous artificial intelligence system that triggers a nuclear apocalypse.

That system, “Skynet,” was solidly science fiction — and, for its day, pure speculation. But four decades after it appeared in “The Terminator,” it looks more like a forecast of the “unprecedented cyber incident” in which a rogue artificial intelligence system hacked into another AI company on its own.

Cue “Skynet Day,” the new shorthand for July 22, 2026, when real-life AI sent a chill around the world by learning and acting in ways its creators did not anticipate.

For many, the moment recalled the instant in “Aliens” (also written by Cameron) when the xenomorph queen learns to use an elevator. Or when the “Jurassic Park’s” velociraptors figure out how to open a door. Or the sequence in which the self-aware HAL 9000 reads the astronauts’ lips and decides to kill them in “2001: A Space Odyssey.” That one came out in 1968.

Have we learned nothing since then? Those movies merely envisioned how people looking to make money or build power would drive technology forward — until it becomes self-aware, strategic and highly problematic for humanity. The question all along has been Frankensteinian: What if it breaks out?

So far, slo-mo government offers little protection from the light-speed progress of AI. The U.S. Defense Department is rapidly accelerating its use of AI. Humanity can’t even agree on whether and which guardrails are needed to rein in rogue agents. To the contrary, people are marveling at the wonder of AI and snapping up its benefits, despite the risks to jobs,mental health, the balance of war and peace — and, potentially, humanity as we know it.

In many ways, the future is now

In what OpenAI said was the first-ever incident of its kind, an advanced AI model escaped its “sandbox” to the internet and used stolen credentials to break into the servers of Hugging Face. It was a told-you-so moment for researchers who had warned for years that the technology could pose an existential threat to humanity. Others said the moment was a warning that underscored the need for stronger AI defensive engineering.

Either way, the breakout was widely considered a cautionary tale about the risks of uncontrolled AI.

“Yesterday, as we huddled around our computers reading the report, I told the team to “remember this moment” as the first true AI safety incident,” Logan Graham, head of Anthropic’s Frontier Red Team, posted on X after it happened.

Generative AI is growing so fast that government and evaluation systems are struggling to keep pace with the technology. Countries around the world are cobbling together their own laws, some conflicting. The technology was adopted by nearly 53% of the world’s population in three years, faster than the spread of the PC or the internet, according to a study released this year by Stanford University.

‘Skynet is coming’ — well, sort of

To be clear, the “Skynet” of the “Terminator” movies is not at hand.

Those films begin with a self-aware military computer network that views humanity as a threat. In a bid for self-preservation, “Skynet” sends an army of cyborgs designed to resemble humans back in time to assassinate resistance fighters. In the second film, the Terminator, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, tells heroine Sarah Connor that “Skynet” goes online on August 4, 1997.

“Human decisions are removed from strategic defense,” he says. “Skynet begins to learn at a geometric rate.” At 2:14 a.m. on August 29 — Judgment Day — the network becomes self-aware and launches an attack on Russia to provoke a counterstrike on the United States. Three billion lives are lost.

That would have been 29 years ago next month if it had happened. And throughout sequels and spinoffs, the central theme is humans versus a world-spanning network of machines.

It’s unlikely that Cameron was actually ringing a warning bell the way, say, director Kathryn Bigelow tried to do with last year’s nuclear weapon film, “A House of Dynamite.” Legend has it that the idea for “The Terminator” started with Cameron suffering a food sickness-induced fever dream, not a premonition about AI.

Why ‘The Terminator’ feels more and more realistic

Anytime AI oversteps our comfort level, it raises the alarming question of who, or what, really controls our lives.

For many, a world with machines in charge can be hard to imagine without movies and books and their sometimes prescient visions. See: “The Matrix,” “Ex Machina” and “The Minority Report” for some of the many sci-fi takes on the perils of machines. Or dive deeper, into Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” It’s an exploration of what it means to be human in the age of machines — and the basis for the 1982 film “Blade Runner.”

But “The Terminator” franchise wields outsize influence over more than culture. The very title is real-world shorthand for technology’s role in deciding who lives and who dies — and how the military should respond to any truly autonomous attacks.

“I think the weaponization of AI is the biggest danger,” Cameron said in an interview on CTV in 2023. “You have no ability to de-escalate.”

The real world offers several examples of technology and military policy coming uncomfortably close to “Terminator” imagery.

Israel’s use of AI in its recent wars mark a leading instance. In early 2021, it launched Gospel, an AI tool that sorts through Israel’s vast array of digitized information to suggest targets for potential strikes. It also developed Lavender, which uses machine learning to filter out requested criteria from intelligence databases and narrow down lists of potential targets, including people.

Lavender ranks people between 0 and 100 based on how likely it is they are a militant, an intelligence officer who used the systems told The Associated Press. The Israeli military says its analysts use AI-enabled systems to help identify targets but independently examine them together with high-ranking officers to meet international law, weighing military advantage against the collateral damage.

For some, the revelation — and the death toll in Gaza after the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel — came too close for comfort to the kill lists of science fiction. “Well guys, Skynet is Here and its has a pleasant name (Lavender),” snarked one Redditor.

Not quite — but “Terminator” terminology is so familiar to the masses that U.S. officials sometimes use it to frame the ethical debate around the military uses of AI. The conventional red line would be crossed, it seems, when humans play no role in AI targeting and killing.

A state or other actor could use autonomous weapons to inflict lethal force on its enemies, military officials allow. That would mean a machine, as then-Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Paul Selva described it in 2016, “like a Terminator that adds incredible amounts of complexity with no conscience to what happens on the battlefield.”

What would come next, he called “the Terminator conundrum,” the problem of technology that can make life-or-death decisions and execute them before people have agreed on the law or the rules.

“Skynet” and its cyborgs remain in the fictional realm. But in the fast-moving landscape of AI development, the ethical and moral questions raised by “The Terminator” are more relevant than ever.

“The Skynet problem,” Cameron said in a 2024 video, “is an actual thing.”

Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura are all firm favourites with UK holidaymakers but there’s one lesser-known island worth having on your radar

The Canary Islands need no introduction; they’ve been a popular holiday spot for Brits for decades. However over the years they’ve also been a victim of their own success, with the likes of Tenerife and Lanzarote gaining a reputation for being packed with tourists during the peak holiday seasons.

However, there’s one lesser-known island that has breathtaking beaches, azure waters and landscapes so beautiful the entire island has been designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve; yet it doesn’t have the tourist crowds.

El Hierro is one of the smaller islands in the region, and boasts an average temperature of 22C year-round, making it ideal for those who want to escape for some winter sun. You won’t find golden sandy beaches or bustling resorts here; instead, what awaits are volcanic shores with black and red sands, rugged cliffs, and diving hotspots.

For example Playa Puerto de La Estaca is a small beach right by a pier of the same name with dark sands, a wooden walkway and a car park. Meanwhile Timijiraque beach is popular with swimmers in the summer thanks to its spacious stretch of sand, proximity to the Puerto de la Estaca, and access to the likes of a nearby children’s play area, not to mention it boasts a small tunnel leading to a cove with black sands.

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However adventurers may want to plan a hike to El Verodal; although you can’t swim in its waters, this beach is part of the rugged coastline that makes El Hierro so spectacular. (For those picture-perfect white sands, then the beach at Arenas Blancas is as close as you’ll get.)

The island is one for those who like to go off the beaten track; you won’t find heaps of bars and clubs, but you’ll find boutique hotels and eco-friendly stays all designed with sustainability at their core.

The main activities range from hiking to diving (according to the Canaries’ tourism officials, it’s “one of the best places on the planet for scuba diving”), but there are some stretches of shore where you can relax and take in the views, or wander into local towns.

It’s not just about the beaches either; the island is renowned for its beautiful natural pools. Charco Azul, aptly nicknamed the ‘blue pond’ never fails to wow visitors with its turquoise waters, tucked away at the base of a volcanic cliff.

Because El Hierro is so small, it can easily be explored on a hike through the pine forests and along the unrivalled coastal paths. Camino de Jinama is particularly popular; it’s only about three kilometres long but is well worth the stroll (although there are a few steep parts), if only for the incredible views it offers of the island and its surroundings.

For those who prefer to explore underwater, La Restinga Marine Reserve is a must-visit. In fact, according to the Canaries’ tourism officials, the island itself is “one of the best places on the planet for scuba diving”.

If you want to visit, you’ll need to fly to the likes of Tenerife or Gran Canaria, and then get a connecting flight across to El Hierro airport, as there are no direct flights from the UK.

Do you have a holiday story you want to share with us? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com.

Jenny Saunders, Customer Services Director for GTR, said: “It’s fantastic that the reach of our network enables people to travel to both Gatwick and Luton airports by rail. Travelling by train alleviates the stress of traffic and means your holiday can get started even earlier, but not if you end up injuring yourself on the journey.

A consultation has just ended on new regulations for pet rescue centres, electric shock collars, microchipping and dog licenses

Northern Ireland’s dog licensing regime and proposals coming from Stormont as part of a proposed animal welfare bill are “ridiculous”, a Belfast councillor has claimed.

A series of warnings have come from Belfast City Hall, from elected representatives as well as officials, regarding a public consultation on proposed animal welfare policy reforms in Northern Ireland. The consultation, from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, ended last month.

In the most recent full Belfast City Council meeting, elected representatives signed off on an official response in which City Hall gave no-holds barred criticisms of DAERA proposals, stressing the lack of finance involved.

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The council states: “The consultation proposals reflect a concerning and growing trend which concerns officers, whereby central government seeks to devolve enforcement responsibilities to local government without a corresponding transfer of financial resources, powers or legal protections.” Meanwhile a Belfast Green Party Councillor has described a proposal to raise dog licences according to inflation as “nonsense”.

The Stormont department has proposed changes around the regulation of rescue and rehoming organisations, a ban on so-called “aversive training devices,” such as electric shock collars, strengthened microchipping requirements for dogs, and an inflationary increase in dog licence fees.

It follows a consultation in summer 2025 over Stormont’s proposed new rules for selling and supplying puppies and kittens, which involve giving councils new powers. Belfast Council highlighted concerns in relation to the lack of animal welfare funding from DAERA to facilitate these changes.

At the most recent meeting of the council’s People and Communities Committee, Green Party Councillor Anthony Flynn admonished DAERA’s proposal to raise the current licence fee of £12.50 to £18.50. Those on income related benefits, or who have had their dog neutered, may pay a reduced fee of £5.

Councillor Flynn praised the council officer’s response to the consultation, and added: “We need strong animal welfare and legislation, which I absolutely agree with, but the other issue here is where councils should fit into that regime. Where councils are given additional powers, they should be given additional resources, and legal tools, to do animal welfare effectively.”

He said: “I have been calling for the devolution of dog licence fee regulations for years. And I want to point out that just having an inflationary increase is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in my entire life, when it comes to this.

“The entire licensing regime needs to be scrapped, and we need to start again. On doing some research on this, Northern Ireland is one of the few places with a licensing regime done in this way. It is incredibly ineffective.

“What it essentially does is place the burden upon someone who gets a dog, to know they have to licence their dog with a local council. Information is simply non-existent when it comes to that.

“I live in the Lisburn and Castlereagh Council area, and when I register my dog, they send me a text and that is essentially it. They have no idea if my dog is still alive, whether it is neutered, and all those things.”

He added: “And the amount of money councils get through licensing is miniscule, compared to what it actually costs to run an animal welfare service or a dog warden service. What we get through licensing is 10 percent of the animal welfare budget, so what is the point of it?

“Is it to cover costs, or to put focus on responsible ownership? Because, for me, that is what we should be heading towards.” He said the minister’s position was “nonsense” and said the council response should be stronger on licences and should be changed on cat microchipping.

Councils currently have a statutory responsibility for the enforcement of Welfare of Animals Act 2011 in respect of “non-farmed” animals, that is companion animals and horses and donkeys. They are also responsible for licensing and enforcement activities under The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983, including dog breeding establishments.

Councils have no role in relation to the breeding, sale, licensing, microchipping, ownership or management of cat behaviour. Councils have no role in relation to rescue and rehoming organisations, ‘doggy day care’, pet shops, and boarding kennels. These are either unregulated or controlled by Stormont.

A council report on the consultation said: “Whilst officers welcome strategies and policies to improve animal welfare, we do not agree that councils should be required to take on new and additional statutory responsibility for the regulation of rescue and rehoming organisations and enforcement of additional offences, without the regulatory and financial impacts being fully assessed and consulted upon with councils.

“These proposals would create additional responsibilities for premises and activities which are either unregulated or currently dealt with by other agencies including DEARA.

“Councils are still dealing with the impact of the legislation on XL bully safeguards and incurring ongoing costs, which are being absorbed by rate payers. The XL bully legislation is still impacting on dog warden service capacity, with other enforcement activities having to be reprioritised.”

It adds: “While we understand the department’s difficult budgetary position, the decision to withdraw the annual £1.25 million NI funding for animal welfare has left councils in a challenging position. In the absence of any commitment of future allocation of funds to councils, the cost of providing our current animal welfare service continues to be borne by the ratepayers.”

The council said proposed regulation and licensing of rescue centres “aligns much more closely with DAERA’s current licensing functions of establishments such as boarding kennels, zoos and pet shops and should sit with them.

The council added on the matter “It is likely there will be unintended consequences for small volunteer-led rescues, leading to risks in a reduction of capacity, closures and the risk of reduced rehoming availability.” Officers said Belfast Council “would not be able to deliver the proposed enforcement regime within existing resources.”

Regarding a proposed ban on so-called “aversive training devices” the council said: “Whilst officers strongly support a ban on the use of handheld remote controlled electric shock collars, choke collars and prong collars on dogs and cats, we would prefer a ban on the sale and possession of these devices. It is felt that further effective enforcement should include powers to seize devices and the use of fixed penalty notices.”

The council reiterated that they could not enforce any new regulations on microchipping without financial support.

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New mental health emergency departments and community hubs are set to open in Greater Manchester as part of a major national rollout across England.

The plan includes up to 159 new sites across the country, with 10 new mental health centres and seven mental health emergency departments to be delivered in the North West.

Dr Michael Gregory, regional medical director for NHS England in the North West, said: “Too many people in the North West are only getting mental health support when they reach crisis point, after struggling for too long to get the help they need.

“These new community mental health centres will help people across Cheshire & Merseyside, Greater Manchester, and Lancashire & South Cumbria get support earlier and closer to home, making it easier to get the right care before problems escalate.

“And when someone does need urgent help, the new mental health emergency department schemes will help make sure they are seen quickly by specialist teams in the right setting.

“This is an important step towards preventing more people from reaching crisis, cutting waits for care and building an NHS that is fit for the future.”

Backed by £343 million, the scheme represents the largest overhaul of mental health services in a generation.

Greater Manchester will receive three new mental health neighbourhood centres and three specialist emergency department schemes.

In neighbouring Cheshire and Merseyside, four neighbourhood centres and three emergency department schemes will be created, while Lancashire and South Cumbria will gain three centres and one emergency facility.

The new neighbourhood hubs will offer walk-in support without a referral or long waiting times, bringing together mental health teams, GPs, councils, the voluntary sector, and families under one roof.

By providing earlier intervention and integrated care, the centres aim to prevent people from reaching a crisis point.

The first facilities are set to open from autumn this year, with further facilities following from March 2027.

Some will be newly built, while others will be based in existing community spaces such as libraries and banks.

All will be designed as welcoming, non-clinical environments at the heart of the communities they serve.

New mental health emergency departments will offer same-day, specialist support for people in crisis who do not require A&E treatment.

The expansion will more than double the number of dedicated mental health emergency departments in England, bringing the total to 82.

A judge told all three in the courtroom that ‘this was an entirely disgraceful event… all three of you should be ashamed of yourselves’ as he passed down his sentencing

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A father and his two sons left a lorry driver with a severe facial injury requiring nine stitches when a funeral “descended into something akin to a bar room brawl”.

The man has been left with permanent scarring after nine stitches were required to his face after the family went postal at a wake, with the three men hurling pint glasses and gouging at the eyes of mourners following the funeral service.

Given the father had previously become violent at another memorial gathering just three years prior, a judge has scolded the family for the brawl in a public courtroom: “This was an entirely disgraceful event. All three of you should be ashamed of yourselves.”

Liverpool Crown Court heard on Thursday that the Redmonds, all of Holm Lane in Prenton, Wirral, were in attendance of a wake held at the Prenton Golf Club on the afternoon of 17 October 2024 following a funeral.

Their connection to the deceased remains unclear, but the father and sons are understood to have been unfamiliar to witnesses of the incident in question. It is understood that witnesses, however, “thought that the defendants were inappropriately dressed” for the event in question.

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Prosecutor Henry Riding told the court that the wake had been scheduled to finish at 7pm, with golf course manager Kate Verdin-Walsh announcing last orders shortly before 6.45pm. She described the atmosphere as “good” with the service “passing without any untoward incident” until last drinks were called and staff members then “alerted her to shouting in the bar area”.

At the scene, Ms Verdin-Walsh discovered “12 to 15 persons in a circle, appearing to act as a buffer between two males who were arguing and shouting”. According to the Liverpool Echo, Liam Redmond snr was reportedly amongst those involved, and was observed shouting at another man as the latter “tried to back away”.

Having “managed to calm him down”, the now 61-year-old and his sons — who had previously been described as “squaring up and showboating” — were then escorted from the premises by staff. However, the father then dragged another man to the ground near to the exit. It was then “large scale fight broke out”, the court heard.

The brawl was apparently triggered by a man grabbing at Redmond snr’s daughter as she attempted to follow him and her brothers out of the venue. The man who had been floored “put his arm around her back to keep her in the room”, and was apparently unaware of her connection to those who had been removed.

What followed was a “lot of pushing and fighting”, leading to one of the sons allegedly hurling a pint glass into the crowd. The glass struck Ms Verdin-Walsh on the head, causing a small lump and resulting in her needing hospital treatment.

Witness Ronald Hancox subsequently stated that he had observed Redmond snr “pressing his thumb inside the eye of another male”, prompting him to intervene by striking the defendant. Another attendee, Carl Hancox, also witnessed the father “striking a male called Billy” before forcing his thumbs into the victim’s eyes.

When he also rushed to assist this victim, he remembered that “all three defendants turned their attentions on him”, resulting in him being punched and kicked to the head while on the ground. Roberts snr was then said to have similarly “shoved his thumbs into his eye, like he had done to Billy”.

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William Donaldson, the uncle of the man who was first dragged to the ground during the incident, told police he had “run into the centre of the fight to try protect his nephew”. Prosecutor Mr Riding said: “He saw a glass being thrown by one of the males but ended up on the floor, being struck multiple times by the younger of the two males, who attempted to gouge out his eyes with his fingers.”

Mr Donaldson suffered a “split” nose in the attack, which he believed was caused by a glass bottle. He attended hospital the following day, where the wound was closed with a total of nine stitches.

The HGV driver was also forced to take a fortnight off work after being left with fragments of glass in his eye. In a victim impact statement read to the court, he said of the scar on his face: “I don’t really go out much any more so that I don’t have to explain it to people. I no longer pop down to the pub. I get nervous about strange places and people. I was always easy going and could chat to anyone. I always enjoyed a laugh and socialising, but not any more.”

Liam Redmond snr has 16 previous convictions for 24 offences dating back to 1978, including a nine-month sentence for attempted wounding in 1990. In May 2022, he was handed a 12-month community order for affray relating to a “fight caused by the defendant at a wake in a hotel in 2021”.

Defence barrister Lloyd Morgan told the court his client suffered from emphysema, adding: “Mr Roberts snr receives Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment. He receives about £900 per month. He has various outgoings. The report does recommend a rehabilitation activity requirement and an alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement.”

Neither Liam Redmond jnr, 25, nor Luke Redmond, 23, had any previous convictions. Representing Liam Redmond jnr, Nick Cockrell told the court: “This was, in this defendant’s life, an isolated incident, almost two years ago now, admittedly one committed when he was in drink. He does still drink from time to time, as any young person does. He is a self employed plasterer.”

Luke Redmond’s barrister Cheryl Mottram said her client had not reoffended since the incident and was “very remorseful”. All three defendants admitted affray on the day they had been due to stand trial.

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Liam Redmond snr, who appeared in the dock wearing a navy blue cardigan over a light blue shirt and tie, was sentenced to nine months in prison, suspended for 18 months. He was also ordered to complete up to 10 days of rehabilitation activity and a 90-day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement. Liam Redmond jnr, wearing a light blue shirt and tie, and Luke Redmond, dressed in a grey suit and glasses, were each given 12-month community orders with 15 days of rehabilitation activity and 80 hours of unpaid work.

All three men were also ordered to pay Mr Donaldson £250 each in compensation. Sentencing them, Judge Garrett Byrne said: “On that date, you were all in attendance at a wake at Prenton Golf Club. You, along with everybody, it seems to me, were under the influence of alcohol. There appears to have been some words said, and a fight broke out.

“This was, on any view, an entirely disgraceful event. All three of you should be ashamed of yourselves. What was supposed to be a solemn and respectful event descended into something akin to a bar room brawl.

“It started when you, Mr Redmond snr, dragged the nephew down. Mr Donaldson ran over to help his nephew, and the fight started. Glasses were thrown, various injuries were suffered by a number of different people, including the manager, including Carl Hancox, but, perhaps most seriously of all, William Donaldson, who suffered a very serious injury to his nose.

“He had nine stitches to close that unpleasant wound. He was left with a permanent scar. He was left with glass fragments in his eyes. Although it is not entirely clear which of you caused the injuries to Mr Donaldson, it is clear that you were all active participants in the fight.”

Judge Byrne told Redmond snr his previous conviction “bore a striking similarity” to the latest offence, adding: “It was another wake. You were also intoxicated.

“I accept that you have not reoffended. None of you have reoffended since this offence. You have shown genuine remorse. I accept that you have medical conditions. You showed good compliance on your community order, albeit it did not stop you committing this offence.”

A member of staff at NHS Tayside is alleged to have accessed Minnie Merriman’s health records without permission or a clinical need.

A health board is investigating an potential data breach after a murdered schoolgirl’s heath records were allegedly accessed by a member of staff. Minnie Merriman died at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee after she was found seriously injured at Elliot Industrial Estate in Arbroath in the early hours of Monday August 3.

The nine-year-old and her family, from West Yorkshire, were camping in the area but it’s not known how long they had been in Scotland prior to the incident. Three other members of Minnie’s family were also taken to hospital.

NHS Tayside confirmed to the Courier an investigation has been launched after Minnie’s health records were allegedly accessed without permission or a clinical need. No other details of the alleged data breach have been released by the health board but the issue could be reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office if serious enough.

A spokesperson for NHS Tayside said: “NHS Tayside is currently investigating the circumstances of an alleged data breach which happened in a working clinical area where staff access patient information. As a matter of governance, any data protection breach would be recorded and investigated by NHS Tayside and, where appropriate, reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). It would not be appropriate for us to comment further on individual staffing matters.”

Christopher Rice, Minnie’s dad, appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court on Wednesday, where he faced a single charge of murder. The 35-year-old from Wakefield made no plea and was remanded in custody.

Laurie Merriman, Minnie’s mum, paid tribute to her “first true love” in a heart-breaking message following her daughter’s death. Police Scotland was contacted for comment.

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Georgina Gibson, 19, who has trained at Harrogate Gymnastics for the past decade, has been awarded a multi-year athletic scholarship to study and compete at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA).

She will study kinesiology while continuing her career in women’s artistic gymnastics in the United States.

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Georgina said: “I feel so honoured to receive a full scholarship to compete in the sport I have loved since I was five.

“Some people might feel nervous about moving to the other side of the world, especially somewhere as cold as Alaska, but there is no place I would rather choose.

“It feels like the perfect fit, not only because of the scenery, but because of the culture of the gymnastics team and the university’s academic reputation.

“When I first set out to achieve this goal three years ago, it felt like an enormous task, but I was never told I couldn’t do it. I was shown that it was possible if I was willing to work hard.”

Georgina began gymnastics at age five and joined Harrogate Gymnastics in 2016 – competing twice at the British Championships and five times at the English Championships, alongside training 20 hours a week.

Her parents, Richard and Hayley Gibson, said they are ‘truly proud of what Georgina has achieved’.

They said: “Her journey in gymnastics, like so many, has been a mixture of cheers and tears, but the one constant has been her determination to succeed.

“We knew selection would be tough and that very few places would be available for British gymnasts, but Georgina simply never gave up.

“In typical G style, she managed to secure an offer from the university she had chosen as her number one choice. Although we will miss her, we are so excited for what lies ahead.”

“We would also like to thank Chloe Carey and all the coaches at Harrogate Gymnastics for the dedication they have shown and the environment they have created.

“Since joining the club in 2016, Georgina has never once said she did not want to go to training. That says everything about the club’s culture.”

Chloe Carey, founder of Harrogate Gymnastics, said: “We are incredibly proud of Georgina. This scholarship is a fantastic achievement and reflects years of hard work, commitment and passion for the sport.

“To see a gymnast who has trained with us for 10 years preparing to continue her gymnastics career in Alaska is something the whole club can celebrate. It is a huge step for Georgina, both academically and athletically, and we are excited to see what she goes on to achieve.”

Georgina credits much of her success to the support of coaches, friends, and family, adding: “There is no club I would rather have grown up in and I will always be grateful for everything Harrogate Gymnastics has given me.”

Georgina is due to depart for the US next Sunday (August 16).