Lying face-down in a floating cabana during an aromatherapy massage in a 500,000-year-old cave is the closest thing to nirvana I’ve ever experienced.
My cabana sits above an azure underground lake, and I’m entirely surrounded by stalactites, hanging like icicles from the roof, and stalagmites (mounds formed on the floor) in Prospero’s Cave, Bermuda.
It’s hard to imagine a more calming setting as I feel my muscles relax, to the soundtrack of the drips of water (or calcium carbonate deposits, more accurately) falling from the ceiling, echoing around this ancient cavern.
This cave and the nearby Cathedral Cave form a pair of expansive ancient underground limestone grottos beneath Grotto Bay Beach Resort & Spa.
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Guests can also take a dip in the Cathedral Cave’s naturally cool waters – which reaches depths of nine metres – a welcome relief from the balmy outside temperatures.
A refreshing dip in the cool cave waters at the Grotto Bay Beach Resort (PA)
These caves were first discovered during Bermuda’s early colonisation. It’s thought that Sir George Somers, whose ship was wrecked near the country’s shore in 1609, first discovered Prospero’s Cave.
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Now, the resort’s Natura Spa, set inside the cave itself with just three overwater cabanas, offers an exclusive setting for a variety of treatments – and it’s said to be one of the few places in the world for such a unique experience. It also marks the beginning of my wellness journey on this beautiful archipelago in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Famous for its pink-sand beaches and turquoise waters, the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, comprising seven main islands within an archipelago of 181 in total, is positioning itself as a leading destination for wellness-focused travellers.
I’m pleasantly surprised by the mild winter temperatures in January, ranging from 16 to 20 degrees Celsius, a respite from the harsh British winter and some eight hours away by air.
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A view of the private pink sand beach at the Rosewood Bermuda (Rosewood Bermuda/PA)
But Bermuda feels worth visiting for the warmth and hospitality of its people alone. Walking around the capital, Hamilton, on Main Island, with pastel-coloured buildings lining the waterfront, splashes of street art, and charming shops and cafés, it’s almost impossible to pass anyone without being greeted with a smile.
I’m staying at the luxurious five-star Rosewood Bermuda on Tucker’s Point in Hamilton Parish, home to Bermuda’s largest private pink‑sand beach.
The sand has a subtle pink hue on several beaches here, thanks to the presence of a microscopic marine organism, foraminifera – its bright red or pink shells mix with white sand and tiny coral fragments, giving the distinctive colour.
And a trip to Bermuda wouldn’t be complete without a visit to nearby Horseshoe Bay, the island’s famous crescent-shaped pink-sand beach with dramatic limestone cliffs.
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My spacious room, complete with its own private balcony and a dark-wood, four-poster king bed, has views straight over the North Atlantic Ocean.
This 240-acre resort also features a spa, five scenic swimming pools, and three restaurants with two bars, the perfect setting to relax and unwind.
The island’s food and drink scene celebrates flavours and produce unique to its shores. A driver, Tim, insisted I couldn’t leave without trying a Dark ’n’ Stormy, made with Gosling’s Black Seal rum and ginger beer, and the famous Bermuda fish sandwich: fried white fish served on toasted raisin bread. It’s a challenge I happily accept.
The main objective on this trip, however, was to explore the full range of wellness experiences Bermuda has to offer.
One stop on the wellness tour is a barre class at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. Also known as the ‘Pink Palace’, the hotel boasts an impressive art collection, including original works by Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst, and prides itself on being Bermuda’s only luxury urban resort.
But no one embodies Bermuda’s wellness ethos quite like Jessica Burns, founder of The Retreat House, described as “a sanctuary for connecting more deeply with yourself, others and the natural world of Bermuda”.
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A Bermuda native, Burns established the business after losing her mother, Kim, to ovarian cancer in 2023. Leaving behind her corporate career in London, she returned home to transform the beach-facing property her mother had rented to tourists for more than a decade into The Retreat House.
Local vegan chef Doreen Williams-James who led our foraging tour (Lynn Rusk/PA)
Since 2024, she’s hosted a range of retreats, from the Kim Burns Retreats for people living with cancer, to programmes designed for expectant mothers. Her aim, she tells me, is to help establish Bermuda as “one of the world’s leading wellness destinations,” encouraging travellers to embrace the island’s healing nature.
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With its turquoise waters, lush tropical greenery, and unhurried pace of life, Bermuda naturally fosters relaxation and restoration.
But it’s also rich in natural culinary sources and medicinal plants. I join a foraging tour with local vegan chef Doreen Williams-James on Cooper’s Island Nature Reserve, at the south-eastern tip of the island. She leads us on a leisurely walk, pointing out edible and medicinal plants along the way, including Old Spice, fennel, wood sorrel, hibiscus, and scurvy grass.
“I grew up eating scurvy grass, a coastal, vitamin C-rich plant, as a child,” Williams-James explains.
“My father would take me out at this time of year to pick it – it only grows once a year. When sailors first arrived on the island, their diet consisted largely of salted pork, which led to vitamin C deficiency and scurvy. They discovered that eating this plant cured the disease, which is why [we know] it’s so high in vitamin C.”
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She also touts the health benefits of eating seasonally: “At this time of year, there are so many plants naturally high in vitamin C. Eating what’s in season can help prevent illness and support healing through food.”
Lynn Rusk at Horseshoe Bay (Lynn Rusk/PA)
Foraging isn’t just a popular activity on the island, it was once a way of life. Williams-James adds: “For the older generation, foraging was simply how they lived – that’s what they ate and relied on. When I go foraging now, younger people often look at me and think, ‘What is she doing?’ But I’m seeing more of them join my tours because they want to eat better and embrace a different lifestyle.”
From a massage in an ancient cave to foraging in the wild and spending time on unspoilt beaches, I leave Bermuda feeling refreshed and ready to take on the challenges of city life once again.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said a 17-year-old and an 18-year-old were arrested within hours of the Harrogate householder reporting the crime yesterday (February 17). They had also found the stolen car.
Four more suspects have been arrested, after another vehicle believed to be involved in the burglary was traced, pursued and stopped in a Bradford housing estate. Inside were two men from the West Yorkshire city, both aged 19, who were both arrested.
Two more suspects both from Harrogate and aged 17, were arrested earlier today (February 18).
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The burglary occurred in the early hours of yesterday morning, when raiders broke into the house and used keys found in the property to steal the owner’s car from outside the properly.
The same day, police traced the car and intercepted it in a Harrogate street. Two people ran away from it and after searching the area, officers found the 17-year-old and 18-year-old, who are from Bradford.
All six suspects were arrested on suspicion of burglary or theft or a combination of both and remain in police custody for questioning.
Police and fire crews were called shortly after 10.30pm on Tuesday
Kirstie McCrum and Nick Horner
16:02, 18 Feb 2026
A vehicle came under gunfire in a residential street, with the driver subsequently crashing before all occupants abandoned the scene.
Emergency services rushed to Radnor Close in Rednal, Birmingham shortly after 10.30pm on Tuesday (February 17). Both police and fire crews responded to the incident, with firefighters alerted to the collision at 10.44pm, described as a vehicle striking a stationary van.
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Officers confirmed the vehicle had been targeted by gunfire before colliding with the parked vehicle, with those inside fleeing on foot. Authorities stated no injuries have been reported to them – whilst a West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed they received no call-out, reports Birmingham Live.
The street was cordoned off, with a damaged black Volkswagen visible wedged against the driver’s side of a white van.
West Midlands Police has launched an investigation and is appealing for witnesses, particularly anyone with dashcam footage, to contact them.
A force spokesperson stated: “We are investigating after shots were fired at a car in Radnor Close, Birmingham, at just after 10.30pm yesterday (Tues). Officers understand that the car hit a stationary vehicle before the occupants fled the scene.
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“No one has reported any injuries to us. Investigators are working to establish who was involved and trace those responsible.”
The statement added: “We will have extra patrols in the area in the coming days to offer reassurance to the community. Anyone with information including dashcam and mobile phone footage should contact us on 101 quoting l crime reference 20/151300/26”.
“Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”
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West End performer and television star Mead, now 44, made his breakthrough when winning the BBC One reality show Any Dream Will Do in 2007, going on to star in the Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat tour that brought him to the Cumberland Street theatre in 2010.
Lee is no stranger to Barnum, first playing the show-hosting Ringmaster in a school production when he was 13 or 14 in his home town of Southend-on-Sea.
“I had such a brilliant time and I thought the story and the characters were wonderful. And it had all these fantastic songs, like Come Follow The Band, The Colours Of My Life and There Is A Sucker Born Every Minute.”
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Lee’s friend Chris was cast in the lead role. “And he was a great Barnum, but I remember thinking, ‘It would be lovely to play that part one day’.”
Now, three decades later, his wish has come true at last as he headlines a lavish new UK tour of the 1980 musical by Cy Coleman (music), Michael Stewart (lyrics) and Mark Bramble (book).
Barnum: The Circus Musical tells the story of legendary American showman, marketing genius and master of spectacle P.T. Barnum, who revolutionised entertainment in the 1800s through the Barnum & Bailey Circus and the Greatest Show on Earth.
As he steps into the ring for the 2026 tour, Lee says: “It’s an absolute classic and I can’t quite believe I now get to play Barnum some 30 years after that school production. I think I must have somehow manifested it.”
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Barnum’s tour show is directed by Jonathan O’Boyle, choreographed by Strictly Come Dancing alumna Oti Mabuse and features more than 20 actor-musicians, alongside acrobats and international circus acts.
Starring as Barnum is not only a dream come true for the Any Dream Will Do winner but also an homage to his grandfather Bert and grandmother Lil, who did not have much money, meaning that a trip to the theatre was very rare for them.
“But they saved up for a year and a half to see Barnum at the London Palladium and they loved it,” says Lee. “It stayed with them their whole lives. Sadly they’re no longer with us, but I know they would have been so proud to see me in it. Every performance is going to be for them.”
Since Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Lee has starred in Wicked, Legally Blonde, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chicago and Sister Act and plenty besides. “But this is definitely my most challenging role,” he says.
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“It’s one of those rare roles for a leading man. It’s an enormous part, with huge monologues and so many songs, and I don’t think I leave the stage for two hours, apart from the interval of course.”
Then add the tightrope walking, a discipline that has required several months of intense training for Lee. “It’s the kind of thing you learn at 24, not 44,” he says. “I’ve had to get myself fit and put in the work. The rope is about 7ft off the ground and, although I trained with a harness on, there’s no harness during the show itself.
“You have to use your whole body, your whole core and every ounce of your focus and energy to get across that wire, but I like a challenge.”
Does he play an instrument too in this actor-musician show? “I don’t, no. I already have enough to do with the acting, singing, dancing and tightrope walking!” he says.
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As with Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of P.T. Barnum in The Greatest Showman, the musical looks at the real man behind the on-stage showman, not least how he had a wife named Charity but became infatuated with Swedish singer Jenny Lind.
“So he’s a flawed character, as most human beings are,” muses Lee. “As an actor, it’s interesting to explore that side of him alongside all the spectacle. It makes for great drama.”
When researching the role, “it was interesting to learn about Barnum’s tenacity and his drive, which I think you have to have to be as successful as he was,” says Lee. “At times he kind of put his wife to one side, even though she was so supportive and loving, so I guess you could say that he was very selfish.
“But he wanted the world to see all these amazing acts that he brought together, like the oldest woman in the world, Joice Heth and General Tom Thumb. It was his passion.”
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Lee picks The Colours Of My Life as his favourite song in the show “because the melody is beautiful and it’s about him trying to explain to Charity why he is the way he is, with all the different colours to him as a person and why he wants to light people up, entertain them and make them happy,” he says.
Those sentiments now apply to Lee’s own performance too.
Lee Mead stars in Barnum: The Circus Musical at Grand Opera House, York, February 24 to 28, 7.30pm plus Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Sally Pattle, Lib Dem for Linlithgow, who runs a bookshop in the town, raised an amendment calling for consultation with traders across West Lothian before introducing the new rules.
West Lothian councillors have backed the introduction of service standards governing cleaner streets.
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But one councillor fears the new standards will be used to generate income through fines on shopkeepers.
Tackling commercial waste bins sitting on pavements is a key element to the new plans but some shopkeepers believe they will face fines while they have no control over when commercial waste operators lift their bins.
Sally Pattle, Lib Dem for Linlithgow, who runs a bookshop in the town, raised an amendment calling for consultation with traders across West Lothian before introducing the new rules.
“No official consultation with the business community has been carried out,” Councillor Pattle told a meeting of the council’s Executive.
She said traders feared that the council would start enforcement with traders facing fines over collection times they could not control with commercial operators.
Interim NETs Land and Countryside Manager Victoria Mungall stressed that the council saw enforcement as a last resort, adding the council wanted to work with traders and the commercial refuse operators to improve services.
Councillor Pattle told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that budget proposals to be decided next week indicated increasing the council’s income through enforcement fines.
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Fellow Linlithgow Councillor Pauline Orr pointed out that many shops in Linlithgow had difficulty storing bins and asked how officers could “reasonably enforce new rules.”
Ms Mungall told the meeting: “It’s important to note that by bringing in the service standards there’s no change to the legislative powers that we currently hold so at the moment we do fine bins that cause obstruction under the Section 56 of the Roads Scotland Act.
“It’s important to note that our intentions of bringing standards forward doesn’t change. It is not intended that we’d penalise businesses for situations where a bin has been left out over collection time or there’s a storage issue that becomes apparent.
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“What we intend to do is work with businesses to determine a better pace for them to have their waste collected and to offer support on how we can work to better have their waste collected.”
Linlithgow’s Labour councillor Tom Conn suggested adopting Councillor Pattle’s amendment would leave the council without any of its existing power of enforcement.
The amendment gained the support of only two Conservative councillors on the Executive. The SNP’s three members of the committee- including Councillor Orr- abstained.
Apart from the concerns about the potential enforcement for commercial waste collection problems there was broad welcome across the chamber for the pledge to improve services.
The wider policy agreed covers service delivery times for street cleaning in towns and villages and fly -tipping.
Ms Mungall told the meeting the plan “places particular emphasis on education behaviour change, enforcement and community ownership.”
She added: “This will be supported by improved monitoring so that we can better understand trends and target resources where they have the greatest impact.”
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The introduction of the new service standards within its Cleaner Communities Team, as well as a new Litter Prevention Action Plan (LPAP) for 2026/27.
The standards set out how the council will work to tackle environmental issues such as littering, fly tipping, graffiti, dog fouling and more, through a combination of education, enhanced infrastructure, community engagement and more stringent enforcement- including the use of more mobile CCTV to tackling hotspots for fly-tipping and streamlining of existing technologies.
The area has already seen an improvement in performance in the independent litter audits from Keep Scotland Beautiful, increasing to 90.2% in January 2026. However the council still lags behind a national figure of 91%
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A council spokesperson told the LDRS: “The introduction of new service standards for both proactive and responsive work, appointment of an external contractor and modernisation of the Urban Clean Team is expected to lead to further progress in the future.”
Councillor Conn, the Executive councillor for the environment and sustainability said: “I welcome this new focus on West Lothian’s environment, which takes a holistic approach to try and tackle the challenges.
Emergency services were called to the Masham area at around 12.20pm (February 18).
A man, believed to be the sole occupant of the aircraft, has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “At 12.21pm today (18 February) we received a report of a light aircraft crash in the Masham area.
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“The Air Accident and Investigation Branch has been informed.
“A man, believed to be the sole occupant of the aircraft, has been taken to hospital with serious injuries.”
A spokesperson from North Yorkshire Ambulance Service said: “We received a call from police colleagues at 12.24pm on Wednesday afternoon to report a light aircraft crash in the Masham area.
“A number of ambulance resources were dispatched to the scene, including an ambulance, a team leader and a Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and one patient was airlifted to hospital.”
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The Air Accident and Investigation Branch have been contacted for more information.
The inquest was held into the father-of-one at Lawrence Court in Huntingdon today (Wednesday, February 18). A “large number” of Liam’s family attended the inquest, including Liam’s aunt Karrie Roper and his uncle. Coroner Caroline offered her condolences to the family before starting the inquest.
A post-mortem carried out after Liam’s death confirmed he died of “multiple traumatic injuries” as a result of a road traffic collision. The inquest heard that Liam had “multiple injuries to his spleen”, he suffered a “substantial haemorrhage” to his left lung, and “cuts and bruises” to his right lung.
Liam also suffered a “traumatic head injury”. The post-mortem ruled that these injuries would have led to “significant blood loss”, causing Liam to go into shock.
A statement read out on behalf of Cambridgeshire Police confirmed they were called to the crash at around 1.15pm on July 5. The court heard that Liam was riding a blue Yamaha motorbike, and the crash involved a white Mercedes Sprinter van.
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Coroner Jones told the court the van was driving towards the Eye Green roundabout, with Liam travelling behind. The van “slowed down” towards the roundabout, as the traffic was also slowing down.
The inquest heard that for a “reason unknown”, Liam, who was wearing a helmet and protective gear, went into the back of the van. Liam then “came separate” from his bike and went into the opposite lane.
One witness said they saw Liam “fly off his bike” and his helmet came off. The court also heard that around four witnesses attended to Liam before calling the East of England Ambulance Service.
Liam was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital by the ambulance service. Before arriving, Liam went into cardiac arrest.
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He was taken to the critical care unit, but he was sadly pronounced dead at 4.08pm in hospital. After concluding the inquest, Coroner Jones offered her condolences to Liam’s family and friends on their “very sad loss”.
Last year, Liam’s auntie Karrie shared a tribute to her nephew. She said he was “full of energy” and he “never stopped laughing”.
Karrie added: “He never stopped making jokes. He would always come in from work and tell me the gossip. He loved travelling and going out with his mates. His friends meant a lot to him and were friends for life. He also loved his food, he had a big appetite.”
At least 12 people have been killed after an explosion and fire at a fireworks shop in eastern China, the country’s state media has said.
Emergency services put out the blaze at the unnamed shop in the town of Xiangyang, in central Hubei province on Wednesday afternoon, the official Xinhua News Agency said.
Flames engulfed a 50sqm (538sqft) area of the premises, state broadcaster CCTV said.
Image: Lunar New Year celebrations at an amusement park outside Beijing, China. Pic: AP
Three things you might have missed from China this month, with Helen-Ann Smith
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Firework-related blasts are not uncommon in China, where they are used widely and often indiscriminately during celebrations such as the Lunar New Year holiday, which began on Tuesday.
On Sunday, eight people died and two others were injured after a similar incident at a fireworks shop in eastern Jiangsu province, also in eastern China.
Someone had set off fireworks too close to the shop, according to officials.
In June, a blast at a fireworks factory in neighbouring Hunan killed nine people and injured 26 others.
Pyrotechnics have been banned in some Chinese cities for safety and air pollution reasons, but the measures are controversial as firecrackers are traditionally used to scare off evil spirits and remain central to the new year celebrations.
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The latest incident comes a day after the Ministry of Emergency Management warned that “fireworks are still the biggest risks during the Spring Festival period”.
Investigators are now looking into the cause of the Xiangyang explosion, Xinhua said.
Iain McKenzie, chief execitove of The Guild of Property Professionals, said: “Encouragingly, the wider economic backdrop has become more supportive. Inflation easing to around 3 per cent and intensifying competition among lenders are already pushing mortgage rates down, improving affordability, particularly for buyers with larger deposits.
This Land Ltd is trying to overturn Cambridge City Council’s decision to refuse to grant permission for plans to build new homes next to an oil depot.
A council owned development company is trying to overturn a decision of another council to block plans to build new homes next to an oil depot in Cambridge.
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This Land Ltd, a development company wholly owned by Cambridgeshire County Council, has launched an appeal to try and get permission to build 12 new homes on land off Ditton Walk.
Planning officers said they recognised that mitigation measures had been proposed by the developer to reduce the impact of the noise, including a 2.5metre or 3.5metre high fence along the boundary between the depot and the houses.
Mechanical ventilation was also proposed to be installed in the homes to reduce the need for people to open their windows. However, officers said there was a disagreement between them and the developer on how the noise impact had been measured.
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Officers said there was also an ‘agent of change concerns’, saying there was a risk of people moving into the homes and complaining about the noise at the oil depot, which could possibly lead to unreasonable restrictions placed on the business. Councillors agreed unanimously to refuse the planning application.
Developer argues homes will offer ‘satisfactory living accommodation’
The developer has now lodged an appeal to try and overturn this decision and have asked for the case to be considered at an informal hearing.
In a statement of case submitted by the developer it argued the proposed development would offer “satisfactory living accommodation” for people, which it said had been the conclusion of two independent acoustic consultants.
The developer said: “Given that the site is allocated for residential development, it must be considered possible to satisfactorily develop the site for residential development whilst also addressing noise.
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“By proposing that the scheme is refused for noise related reasons, officers are essentially arguing that that allocated residential principle of development is not suitable for the site.”
The developer went on to state that “all reasonable steps” have been taken to minimise noise, including the proposed fencing. They said: “It is important to note that the site layout was designed with noise mitigation in mind. Buildings screen gardens from noise, and most plots have been moved as far from the fuel depot boundary as possible.”
The developer highlighted that the one house that is on the boundary of the depot had been designed so it would not have any windows to habitable rooms on the “worst affected facade”.
The developer also said they did not think it would be “suitable” to reduce the number of homes any further, pointing out that the proposed density is already below that proposed for the site in the local plan.
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They said: “Elsewhere on the site, habitable rooms with windows on the worst affected facades generally have secondary openable windows on other facades (where overlooking and other site constraints allow).
“In any case, the dwellings will have whole house ventilation systems to achieve the required ventilation rates and thermal comfort with windows closed. It is not considered that any further meaningful mitigation could be provided given the constraints of this allocated site.”
The developer went on to say that the proposed development would offer “significant benefits”, including redeveloping a vacant brownfield site, creating a biodiversity net gain, and building new affordable homes. The city council will have an opportunity to publish its own statement of case, before a planning inspector considers the appeal.
A full planning and listed building consent application has been submitted to North Yorkshire Council for the redevelopment of Manor Farm, off Moor Lane, near Thirsk.
The scheme would see the farmhouse and agricultural buildings converted into a restaurant, with luxury guest accommodation including a swimming pool and spa.
A total of 15 guest bedrooms are proposed, as well as six boutique accommodation pods, an orchard and nuttery, a parking area and two extensions to outbuildings.
A masterplan of the proposal for Manor Farm, Thirsk.
Polytunnels, a water treatment plant and an area for solar panels are also planned.
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The application has been filed by applicants Letty and William Hunter Bell to complement the existing Thirsk Lodge Barns business.
Supporting documents state: “Following the success of Thirsk Lodge Barns, where over 200 weddings and events are hosted per year, there is a need to enhance the offering, and provide additional accommodation which would look to cater for the wider wedding party.
“The proposals would also enable a standalone boutique hotel with garden and spa facilities for public use when not in private use for weddings.”
The nearby Thirsk Lodge Barns site was created after being given planning permission in 2019.
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Agents for the applicants say the Manor Farm site would be redeveloped using the same ethos.
They add: “Manor Farm is a Grade II listed building, with substantial structural defects. The change of use will facilitate the repair and stabilising of this listed building for the future.
“The public benefits arising from the proposal clearly outweigh the specific and limited instances of harm identified to the listed building and its traditional farm buildings.”
Natural England said it had no objections to the scheme.
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North Yorkshire Council’s ecology team said there were “quite complex” protected species issues on this site involving bats, badgers, nesting birds and barn owls.
However, they said “clear and comprehensive” mitigation and compensation measures had been put forward.
