The 74-year-old has lived in the same social housing in Little Hulton for 40 years, and in that time has spent thousands to turn the place into a real home. But for the past two years, it’s felt like anything but. 

That’s because almost every night since early 2024, she’s heard ‘scratching and scraping’ inside her walls, she says. Behind the wallpapers and galleries of family photos, she’s convinced rats have the run of the home’s infrastructure. 

Her housing association, ForHousing, say they’ve found ‘no evidence’ of rats during several call-outs in the last few years.

The LDRS has heard recordings of the sounds taken by Christine and her neighbours in July, along with footage of the rats caught just outside their homes. 

“I’m frightened to death with it,” she said. “When it happens, I can’t sleep; I just hear this horrible scratching and scuffling sound for hours on end. It makes my skin crawl. 

“When it first started happening, I’d go and stay with my sister. It was wrong, because she was dealing with health issues herself, but I was just terrified.

“Now I’m just exhausted. It’s making me ill. I just can’t stand it anymore.” 

Her GPs have raised concerns about the impact it’s having on her health over the past two years.

Several doctor’s notes state the issue is ‘clearly exacerbating’ her stress and anxiety, as well as her physical wellbeing, and have recommended the pensioner be rehoused.  

Christine and her brother Michael, who visits her regularly, believe the rats come from the alleyway behind the row of terraced houses. A narrow path with trees and vegetation is a frequent fly-tipping hotspot, which the pair believe is attracting the pests. 

“We think they come in from outside, but they’re getting inside the walls somehow,” Christine said. “It’s worst when I have the heating on. They go mad, you can hear them scurrying and writhing. I’m dreading the winter; I really don’t know what I’ll do.”

Christine says she’s had conflicting information from building management and pest control, with some saying there were signs of disturbances on rat poison, while others disagreed.

She’s frustrated and feels her concerns aren’t being taken seriously – but ForHousing say they are working with her to figure out the problem. 

Martyn Hague, Executive Director of Customer at ForHousing, said: “We’re really sorry that this has been a frustrating and worrying experience for Christine. Over the last three years, we’ve visited her home multiple times to investigate reports of pest activity but we haven’t ever found evidence of an active infestation.

 “We’ve worked with the council and various specialist contractors to carry out treatments including bait traps, tracking powder, lifting the floorboards and installing wire meshing to seal potential gaps where pests might enter the home, and have kept in regular contact with Christine throughout.

 “After new reports of potential pests in her home this year, we arranged for a pest control company to carry out a further seven inspections. So far, they haven’t found any evidence of an active infestation. We are staying in regular contact with Christine to provide reassurance, are discussing her housing options with her, and we will continue to support her.”

The new facility would also become the new training ground for Rochdale AFC, if plans are approved

A giant new sports complex could be built on the edge of Bury and Rochdale.

The 10.7 hectare site is already home to the Bowlee Community Hub. But new plans would see that replaced by a brand new pavilion and new sports pitches, a play area and a 50-space car park.

The new complex of Heywood Old Road would also become the new training facility for Rochdale AFC, who have recently been promoted to League 2 of the English Football League.

The Dale would get a clubhouse as their base opposite the new pavilion as part of the plans. The revamped community building would include a community room with a kitchen, as well as a fitness suite; four team changing rooms; and two smaller changing rooms for match officials.

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The current facilities do a good job to support the community as it is home to a number of different sports clubs. However, the pitches suffer from water logging and the changing spaces are outdated, according to planning papers.

This proposal would improve the offer for local sports teams through significant investment in facilities, infrastructure and supporting community provision. The scheme has been devised by Rochdale council and Rochdale AFC (RAFC) to create a new Football and Community Wellbeing Hub in Bowlee, Middleton.

The idea would also allow youngsters to watch the professional team training just opposite them. It is hoped that such close proximity to elite level athletes could inspire the next generation’s Paul Scholes or Keira Walsh, who both grew up in the local area.

These proposals have been developed collaboratively with input from Rochdale Borough Council, Rochdale AFC, Your Trust, the Football Foundation, Sport England, Lancashire County Football Association and Lancashire County Cricket Club.

The new sports complex would also connect to Bowlee Community Park via a number of footpaths and cycle routes, according to planning papers. Not only is the site close to the residential community at Langley, but it will be right next to the proposed 1,550-home housing scheme.

If approved, all these homes would be delivered over several years and split into three parts – north, south and east, bisected by Heywood Old Road (the A6045). The southern parcel is expected to deliver around 800 homes, with 550 in the north and 200 in the east.

This proposal, separate from the sports complex, would also include a local centre with a primary school, shops and health facilities. This housing scheme, called Simister Bowlee, forms part of a wider plan for the region – called the Northern Gateway.

The Northern Gateway looks to build around 7,000 homes; create 20,000 new jobs; improve road and transport infrastructure; and bring trams to Middleton.

A man in his 60s has been arrested after a suspected rape on a nature path near Bournemouth beachfront.

Detectives continue to probe a suspected rape in the Boscombe area of Bournemouth after reports of an attack on Wednesday evening.

It unfolded after a woman, in her 40s, and a man had met on Woodland Walk that evening.

Dorset Police said it received a report of the rape at 12.16am on Thursday night, and that the attack occurred around three hours earlier.

Now a man, in his 60s from Bournemouth, has been arrested on suspicion of rape, the force confirmed.

Detective Inspector Edmund Murray said: ‘We are continuing to support the victim and have updated her of the latest development.

‘An investigation was launched and we have now made an arrest as we continue to investigate what happened.

‘I am appealing to anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area that may assist our enquiries to please get in touch.

‘Our local neighbourhood policing team will be patrolling the area and can be approached by anyone who has concerns or wants to provide information.’

Woodland Walk, a hiking path connecting the major Christchurch Road and the Boscombe cliffs, was cordoned off during the scene investigation.

Residents said the suspected attack left them concerned.

Kirsty, 50, told the Bournemouth Echo: ‘Woodland Walk has increasingly become a very unsavoury area for anyone to be on their own but especially for women.

‘I have not felt safe in Boscombe for many years and increasingly in the surrounding areas.’

She urged the council, police and local MPs to work on efforts for better protections in areas where anti-social behaviour has been reported.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Tottenham Hotspur have caught the attention of the rest of the Premier League with their lavish outlay this summer and travel across London to Brentford to kick off their campaign.

Spurs will field some new faces, including Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke, Andy Robertson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes, while their spending is rocketing towards £400m after agreeing a deal to sign Savinho for £85m and the Brazilian’s Man City teammate Omar Marmoush is also a target.

The Bees are settled under Keith Andrews and could kick on again this season after a fine ninth place finish last term.

The evening kick-off on Saturday brings plenty of intrigue with this London derby ready to deliver entertainment during the opening weekend.

Here’s everything you need to know about the match and how to follow:

When is Brentford v Tottenham?

Brentford host Tottenham at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday 22 August, with kick-off at 5:30pm BST.

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK can watch the match on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription. Coverage starts at 5:30pm.

Team news

Sepp van den Berg and Antoni Milambo are out, but otherwise Andrews has a fully fit squad.

Jaidon Anthony, Callum Wilson and international Mamadou Sangare could all make their debuts.

Micky van de Ven and Pedro Porro are out, while Pape Matar Sarr (hamstring) will not be risked either.

New signings Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Andrew Robertson could all make their debuts.

Xavi Simons (ACL), Wilson Odobert (knee), Dejan Kulusevski (knee) and Mohammed Kudus (thigh) are all out, while Dominic Solanke, Mateus Fernandes and James Maddison are all in contention.

Predicted line-ups

Brentford predicted XI: Kelleher; Kayode, Ajer, Collins, Lewis-Potter; Sangare, Janelt; Ouattara, Jensen, Schade; Thiago

Tottenham predicted XI: Kinsky; Gray, Senesi, Van Hecke, Robertson; Tonali, Fernandes; Moore, Gallagher, Tel; Richarlison

For many of us, misplacing our keys or our phone is an everyday occurrence. We would not think twice about it. But for one Welsh mum, finding herself unable to remember where she has put something brings a gut-wrenching feeling – the fear that an incurable illness has begun its slow process of taking her life.

Joanne Harrigan, 45, a mother and grandmother lives with the knowledge that one day an incurable illness will take over her life, and she will forget her most favourite memories and the people she loves most.

The disease slowly damages brain cells over many years, and this damage spreads to areas that control basic body functions like swallowing, movement, and the immune system, leading to fatal medical complications.

Joanne was told as a young mother that she carries a gene, passed down from her mother, which guarantees that she will develop early Alzheimer’s disease.

Read the full story here

The summer window is reaching an exciting conclusion as Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham all push for some huge late deals. Arsenal will sign Igor Tyjon and Manchester United duo Habeeb Ogunneye and James Scanlon after the arrival of Ezri Konsa, while they remain in the race for both Julian Alvarez and Victor Osimhen having also tabled a contract offer to Andria Bartishvili, a player dubbed as the next Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) — Former world champion boxer Zolani Tete has been shot and killed at his home in South Africa, government officials said Friday.

Gayton McKenzie, South Africa’s sports, arts and culture minister, said the 38-year-old Tete was killed in his car and that a 27-year-old woman who was in the vehicle with him was shot multiple times and is in hospital.

Tete held world title belts in the WBF flyweight category from 2007-2008 and the WBO bantamweight title in 2017 and 2019.

Police said the shooting took place at Mdantsane, Eastern Cape and that Tete was arriving at his residence and waiting for the gate to open when he was ambushed by two armed suspects wearing balaclavas.

___

See full AP coverage of African sports here

Two City multi-millionaires are locked in a battle over their neighbouring London mansions – as one wants to build new windows that it’s claimed would look directly into the other’s home.

Luke Stovell, 39, a partner at a hedge fund support consultancy, purchased a six bedroom detached late Victorian house with views of Wandsworth Common for £5,825,000 three years ago – and immediately hatched plans for a major upgrade.

The lavish plans for the house in an exclusive six-road enclave known as ‘The Toast Rack’, would see Mr Stovell and his Australian partner Alex Waite install floor-to-ceiling windows, a terrace, lightwells, a vast side extension and extend a basement.

The couple, who have two children, would gain views of the famous common but the side of their house that they want to open up looks directly at the facade of an even bigger property belonging to legendary investor Nick Sleep, worth over £10 million.

And Mr Sleep and his wife Serita, both 58, insist Mr Stovell’s bathroom, sitting room, kitchen, balcony and garden would be in ‘direct line of sight’ if Mr Stovell’s renovation plans went ahead.

The streets bordering the Common are highly sought after – with current or recent residents including Gordon Ramsay and Jack Dee.

Objecting to the plans in April, Mr Sleep, a father-of-three, said enlarging the size and removing the obscure glazing from the windows would leave his family feeling ‘overlooked within our property and private garden’.

He said: ‘The proposal includes enlarging the size and removing the obscure glazing from the windows on the south elevation in order to afford the occupiers a view over Wandsworth Common.

Luke Stovell, 39, and his and his Australian partner Alex Waite purchased his property for £5,825,000 three years ago – and how want to make changes to his home to give them a better view of the Common 

But Nick Sleep and his wife Serita, both 58, insist the renovations would put many rooms in ‘direct line of sight’ of their home, particularly compromising the privacy of their garden 

‘[The house already] has direct views over Wandsworth Common to the east, but it does not have a direct view of the Common to the south, instead the southerly view is over the house and garden of [my house] with the Common lying beyond our property.

‘A view over the Common to the south is therefore a view across our home first, with direct line of sight into our bathroom, sitting room, kitchen, balcony and garden.

‘It is for this reason that as a courtesy, and for as long as we have owned [our house] (over ten years), the former owners frosted the south facing windows.

‘We therefore object to both the enlargement of the windows on both floors and to the removal of the obscure glass, especially given the proposed change of use of the rooms and a more intensified use leading to the perception of being overlooked within our property and private garden.’

Nick Sleep – who has been described as ‘the greatest investor you’ve never heard of’ is famous in City circles for having achieved a 921% return on investment for clients in just 13 years.

His success followed early investments in Costco, Amazon and ASOS which paid off massively, making millions for his clients. He gained significant fame after his investor letters were leaked to the public.

His opponent, Mr Stovell, is a partner with Lascaux, a high end hedge fund support company, after growing up in Wadhurst, East Sussex, recently named as the best place to live in the country.

Mr Stovell has a lower profile in the City – but inadvertently did attract attention last year when he was cited in industrial tribunal proceedings.

In one episode when ten women and just two men attended an after work drink, Mr Stovell likened the gathering to a ‘hen party’.

He also is said to have joked that his ideal employees would be ‘top sh***ers’ – though it was accepted that this was shorthand for ‘confident, sporty, team players’ rather than referring to their sexual prowess.

He was also said to have claimed he liked to hire ‘rugby lads’ and to have said of potential female employees: ‘Pregnancy is going to be an issue for anyone presentable with a normal personality’.

The company was found guilty of unfair dismissal, harassment related to sex and of victimisation in relation to one female employee – but cleared of many more charges.

Other neighbours in ‘the toast rack’ have also objected to Mr Stovell’s plans for the house.

A second near neighbour, Simon Munyard, a company director, said: ‘The proposed plan for No.1 extends the current balcony into a “Terrace”, doubling the depth of the existing balcony and extends its area across the entire back of the property.

‘We have no indication as to what this space is to be used for but as it is nominated as a Terrace, we are concerned that any use of this extended space will negatively impact on the privacy of our garden and allow direct visibility from the terrace into our bedroom, which is not possible from the existing balcony that only extends half the width of the house.

‘We would request that the Terrace is not approved to run the full width of the back of the house but is restricted to the same width as the existing balcony.’

A third neighbour, Roger Armstrong, a surveyor and local historian, added: ‘I would not call the existing pebbledash to the side elevation incongruous in its current un-painted condition.

Mr Stovell wants to install floor-to-ceiling windows, a terrace, lightwells, a vast side extension and extend a basement at his home (pictured). But following objections from neighbours, the plans were thrown out by Wandsworth Council 

Objecting to the plans, Mr Sleep, a father-of-three, said enlarging the size and removing the obscure glazing from the windows would leave his family home (pictured) feeling ‘overlooked within our property and private garden’ 

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‘It reads as a later feature that has mellowed with age, but on a flank elevation it does not seem out of place. The proposed extremely wide flat roofed first floor bay could however be seen as somewhat incongruous.

‘The heritage statement provides no information as to how the brickwork would be detailed and an additional window has been added adjacent to the bay.

‘The ground floor front elevation is improved, but whether adding a further ball finial to the front wall pier is of any value is doubtful. The issue of overlooking the adjacent house [Mr Sleep’s] needs to be addressed if the scheme is to proceed.’

Following these representations, the plans were thrown out in May by Wandsworth Council.

The authority dismissed the project as being of ‘excessive scale, bulk, and inappropriate design’, adding how the redevelopment would ’cause harm to the character and appearance of the host property’.

Nick Calder, Wandsworth’s Head of Development Management, added: ‘The proposed terrace would by reason of its size and siting, lead to increased overlooking and a consequent loss of privacy, harming neighbouring residential amenity.’

But earlier this month, Mr Stovell appealed the decision.

In a monster 106-page document, he attempted to undermine the council’s ruling by questioning why neighbouring properties have been granted planning for similar plans but not him.

He said: ‘It is highly pertinent that numerous properties along Baskerville Road have been granted various alterations and extensions to their rear, some with component elements – in particular rear ground floor extensions and dormer windows, being at a greater scale than that proposed for those parts of these appeal proposals.’

Mr Stovell, is a partner with Lascaux, inadvertently attracted some attention last year when he was cited in industrial tribunal proceedings for terms he had used within the company setting 

In a 106-page document, Mr Stovell questioned the council’s rejection of the plans at his home (pictured) when neighbouring properties have been granted planning for similar projects

Contesting the council’s conclusion that his plans were of ‘excessive scale, bulk, and inappropriate design’, he said: ‘These have been designed in a considered manner that responds to the site constraints, the existing built form and plot, and the character of the surrounding area.’

He also accused Wandsworth Council of an ‘overly rigid interpretation of design policy,’ claiming his property should receive special treatment because it is end-of-terrace and possesses a ‘greater degree of variation in form and architectural expression’ than other homes on the street.

Urging planners to reconsider his application, he said: ‘In this context, the proposal does not rely on strict replication of the adjoining property but instead provides a considered and site-specific design response.’

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Pros

Cons

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No Videoslots Casino app

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Verdict: is Videoslots Casino right for you?

Overall, Videoslots is a great choice for dedicated slots players who want the biggest library, a deep live casino product and strong ongoing promotions.

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Responsible gambling

When using casinos online, it is vital that you remember to gamble responsibly. Remember that the Videoslots welcome bonus is only available to people aged 18+ based in the UK.

Gambling is a form of entertainment, not a way to make money. Losses can mount quickly if you aren’t careful, so it helps to set a budget when you sign up to a new casino and stick to it. Never wager more than you can afford to lose.

If you need to, incorporate the use of responsible gambling tools into your play. Those offered by Videoslots include self-assessment calculators, deposit limits, loss limits, max-bet limits, reality checks, self-exclusion and time-outs.

Should you wish to seek help for gambling-related issues, there are several charities and healthcare providers who offer support and information:

We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.