Local residents have raised concerns about the recent appearance of the site

An ‘illegal’ lorry park has been issued an Enforcement Notice by a Cambridgeshire council. An investigation into environmental concerns relating to the lorry park is ongoing, according to Huntingdon MP Ben Obese-Jecty.

Mr Obese-Jecty said Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) has issued an enforcement notice and is investigating environmental concerns relating to an ‘illegal’ lorry park on the edge of Brington. The Enforcement Notice has reportedly been appealed by the landowner and a decision by the Planning Inspectorate is due.

Mr Obese-Jecty visited the site earlier this week and said that he had been contacted by nearby parish councils and local residents who have raised concerns about the recent appearance of the site and the activities taking place there.

He said that the council’s Environmental Health Service had visited the site and investigated concerns regarding pollution, oils, and fluids leaking into nearby waterways. The service requires more evidence of environmental pollution before they are able to take further action, Mr Obese-Jecty said.

The MP said: “I will continue to monitor this situation closely and the outcome of the Planning Inspectorate’s decision.”

A spokesperson for HDC said: “I can confirm we did issue a Planning Enforcement Notice in September 2025 against the unauthorised material change of use of the land. The tenants of the land have submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate against our Enforcement Notice, which is currently under consideration and we await the Inspectors [sic] decision.”

The prosecution argues Stephen McCullagh put on an ‘act’ to police after his girlfriend was found with horrific injuries in her home

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A man accused of murdering his pregnant girlfriend allegedly tried to cover his tracks by pre-recording a clip he said was ‘livestreamed’ online at the time she was killed.

The mum-to-be, Natalie McNally, 32, was brutally attacked and killed in her own home in Lurgan, Co Armagh, just a week before Christmas on December 20 in 2022.

Stephen McCullagh, 36, of Lisburn, appeared before Belfast Crown Court this week on suspicion of her murder, which he denies, reports The Mirror.

The prosecution argues McCullagh murdered his partner and tried to cover his back for the crime – going so far as to suggest an ex of McNally’s was behind the attack. He also reportedly insisted he had been live streaming a game on YouTube for six hours at the time of the attack.

He sat in the dock between two prison guards on Monday morning as the trial got under way. Family and friends of Ms McNally are watching on from the public gallery.

A jury of six men and six women have been sworn to serve during the trial, which is expected to last for around five weeks, before Judge Mr Justice Patrick Kinney.

Prosecuting barrister Charles MacCreanor KC said it is their case that the defendant murdered Ms McNally and then “put on an act” to cover his tracks.

This included suggesting that an ex-partner of Ms McNally’s had been responsible, telling police there was “blood everywhere”, and that “someone had knocked 10 bells out of her by the look of it”.

Giving an outline of the evidence that will be heard during the trial, Mr MacCreanor contended that McCullagh, known on the online platform YouTube as Votesaxon07, concocted a “cover story” that he had been livestreaming himself playing video games on the evening of Sunday December 18.

But it is the prosecution case that McCullagh had pre-recorded six hours of himself playing video games which he broadcast as live that Sunday evening, and instead he took a bus to Ms McNally’s home in Lurgan.

McCullagh’s distressed sounding 999 call on the night of Monday December 19 was also played during the first day of the trial.

“We say that this is a planned, calculated, pre-meditated murder by the defendant,” Mr MacCreanor put to the jury. One which he hoped to get away with. Natalie McNally had suffered serious and multiple fatal injuries.”

He said her cause of death was found to have involved compression of her neck, “suggestive of finger tips grasping”.

She also suffered three stab wounds to her neck caused by a bladed weapon and five lacerations to the back, top and right of her head “in keeping with having sustained at least five heavy blows”.

He said any of these could have caused death alone.

He went on: “Natalie McNally was pregnant at the time and Stephen McCullagh was the father of her unborn child.”

The time of death has been estimated to be between 8.50pm and 9.30pm on Sunday December 18 2022. McCullagh made a 999 call at around 10pm on Monday December 19 from her home in Lurgan, and told police the last time he saw Ms McCullagh had been on Sunday afternoon.

“On the prosecution case, this call is false, it’s an act, it’s put on by him, part of his plan to do the murder and get away with it,” Mr MacCreanor KC said.

He said the ambulance service and police were quickly at the scene, and reported finding McCullagh with Ms McNally.

“Natalie McNally is lying at the top of the stairs … which was the living area of the home,” he said. “It’s clearly apparent to paramedics that Natalie McNally is dead, everything is consistent with this being an attack upon her, presence of blood and the visible injuries.

“Stephen McCullagh is described by the paramedics as performing CPR to the female and he’s described as being quite visibly upset.”

He said police described McCullagh as being “distraught and overcome”.

“Again, we say this is all part of an act, a front,” he said. During the 999 call, McCullagh is heard audibly upset and sobbing as he asked for emergency services to come to Ms McNally’s address in Lurgan, urging: “Please come as soon as you can”.

The operator talks McCullagh through how to position Ms McNally and administer CPR compressions as he waited for paramedics to arrive, encouraging him to “keep going”, telling him he was giving her the best chance.

The trial continues.

British number one Jack Draper marked his post-injury return to action on the ATP Tour with a straight-set victory over Frenchman Quentin Halys in Dubai.

Competing on the men’s tour for the first time since the US Open last August, Draper won 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 on his debut at the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The 24-year-old, who has slipped to 15th in the world after reaching a career-high ranking of fourth in June, will play Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan or France’s Arthur Rinderknech next.

Draper contested his first competitive match for 164 days when he played at the Davis Cup Qualifiers earlier in February, beating Norway’s Viktor Durasovic in straight sets.

But he had remained absent from tour-level singles competition since withdrawing from the US Open before his second-round match because of a left arm injury six months ago.

Draper won the prestigious Masters 1,000 title at Indian Wells and reached the fourth round of the Australian and French Opens in a promising start to his 2025 season.

But he began struggling with a bruised bone in his service arm during the clay-court swing in April, and the issue progressively worsened.

The cardigan is fluffy and cosy for those colder spring days.

As spring starts, you might be packing your winter wardrobe away and wanting to add some more colourful pieces to your outfit rotation. You could treat yourself to some new clothes in time for the new season to freshen up your style.

Tesco’s clothing brand F&F has just released the F&F Knitted Fluffy V Neck Cardigan in Blue that is a useful layer to have in your wardrobe. The cardigan also comes in two other colours, burgundy and mink, ideal for spring.

The cardigan has been designed with a “classic V neckline and button up fastening” and has “ribbed cuffs” for a “neat finish”. The cardigan is currently being sold for £22.50 and can be worn as a top or layered over a camisole with jeans for a simple yet stylish look.

The fluffy cardigan was posted on the Tesco F&F Instagram page, which currently has 886K followers. The post was captioned: “Ready for the weekend coffee date with the girls.”

If you want to get your hands on this cardigan or anything else from the brand’s collection, you can go to the Tesco website to browse all of its pieces. You can also go in person to a Tesco store with a clothing department.

If this cardigan is not quite in line with your style, Boden has some other options to choose from. There is this Valeria Crochet Trim Cardigan, which has a cute flower print on it, or this Emilia Cotton Crew Cardigan that reviews say is “extremely good quality and very well made”.

New Look also has plenty of pieces in for the springtime. There is this Cream Cotton Rich Crochet-Look Knit Scalloped Collar Cardigan that has a bold black trim around the collar and sleeves or this Blue Hammered Button Cotton Rich Chunky Knit Cardigan, which comes in a range of different colours.

Ms Badenoch appeared to discuss her party’s proposed pledge to cut the amount of interest paid on some student loans amid widespread concerns over costs.

The Tories have promised to limit the rate on Plan 2 loans to the retail price index (RPI) in a move that will heap further pressure on the Treasury.

Following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ November budget, the salary threshold at which repayments kick in under the system will be frozen at £29,385 for three years, leading to many having to pay more.

Martin Lewis is calling on the Chancellor to change a key decision on student loans she made in the last budget, calling it a breach of the contract graduates originally signed.

Martin Lewis questions Kemi Badenoch about the Conservatives’ proposals. pic.twitter.com/aj5r6mklF6

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 23, 2026

Interest on Plan 2 loans is charged at the rate of RPI inflation plus up to 3%, depending on how much a graduate earns.

The Conservative leader has announced plans to restrict this to RPI only, which the Tories argue would help higher numbers of graduates pay off their debt.

However, Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis, also appearing on GMB this morning, said the move would not help lower and middle earning graduates.

Mr Lewis said: “If you want to help the middle earning students the most important thing is the repayment threshold should be increased. When the Tories brought this in it was a graduate contribution scheme.”

In response, the Conservative leader said: “This is exactly why young people are suffering. We have a lot of people who finished university where they did not have to pay fees, didn’t have to take out loans, and now you are saying nothing can be done.”

Before Mr Lewis replied: “I am not saying nothing can be done, I am saying what you should do.”

He added: “I 100 per cent agree in principle and I have objected to it since the Conservatives brought it in in 2012. I have said we should not have above inflation interest rates.

“Lowering the interest rates will not only help those who can clear within the first 30 years which means lower and middle earning graduates won’t benefit from that change.

“If you have ££1 billion to help students the most direct thing that would help all students would be not freezing the repayment threshold, it would be increasing the repayment threshold.”

Yesterday (February 22), the Education Secretary has said she will “look at” Plan 2 student loans amid widespread concerns over repayment costs, but refused to commit to changing the system.

Bridget Phillipson insisted she wanted “fairer” arrangements for graduates but warned that the Government was dealing with “a question of priorities” when asked whether the burden would be eased.

Speaking to broadcasters on Sunday, Ms Phillipson said it was “galling that the very people who designed, implemented and delivered that system are now complaining about the fundamental problems that they see within it”.

She also hit out at suggestions to reduce the number of people entering university, which she said were coming from those who “had the benefits of a university education” themselves and wanted to deny it to others.

“I’m not in the business of pulling up the drawbridge behind me and saying to other young people who are ambitious, who want a chance to go to university, that they’re going on to study on poor-quality courses,” Ms Phillipson said.

Asked whether the Government would change the Plan 2 system, over which critics have accused the Treasury of acting like a “loan shark”, she told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “I will look at it, of course I will.”

The acclaimed feature film will receive its television debut next month on BBC iPlayer

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The highly praised feature film Aontas is scheduled to land on BBC iPlayer next month, forming part of BBC Gaeilge’s Seachtain na Gaeilge programming roster.

This Irish language crime thriller has earned global recognition across the film festival circuit throughout 2025 and is set to make its television premiere next month on BBC iPlayer, BBC One Northern Ireland and TG4.

The narrative focuses on three unlikely criminals, spearheaded by Mairéad (Carrie Crowley), a woman on the brink of breakdown, as they plot to rob a rural Irish Credit Union.

As their plan begins to unravel, Mairéad and her two accomplices, sister Cáit (Bríd Brennan) and Sheila (Eva-Jane Gaffney), swiftly realise they can’t escape their past.

The cast is completed by Seán T. Ó Meallaigh (Colly), Marcus Lamb (Dara), Art Parkinson (Éamonn), Naseen Morgan (Elma), Niall Mac Eachmharcaigh (Brian), Bríd Ní Chumhaill (Nóirín), Mary Ryan (Mary), Christopher Grant (Caoimhín), Frankie McCafferty (Len) and Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhrighde (Con), reports the Mirror.

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READ MORE: Industry season 4 episode 7 Points of Emphasis explained ahead of finaleREAD MORE: Sky News issues breaking news update from BBC after Baftas racial slur fury

Belfast-based writer Damian McCann and Sarah Gordon crafted the screenplay, whilst Órfhlaith Ní Chearnaigh and Christopher Myers produced for Púca Pictures. Funding for Aontas was provided by Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, BBC Gaeilge and TG4, with support from Yellowmoon.

Aontas scooped Clár Teilifíse/Scannán na Bliana at the Oireachtas Media Awards held in Belfast in November 2025.

It also secured Best Film Feature at the San Diego International Film Festival 2025, San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, Maryland International Film Festival, Three Rivers Film Festival, Ojai International Film Festival, Manchester International Film Festival and Irish Film Festival London.

Lead actress Carrie Crowley previously shared her thoughts on why she believes “it’s a great time to be an older woman” in cinema.

Speaking to the Irish Mail on Sunday, she remarked: “‘It’s a very good time to be an older woman. I think maybe 30 years ago, would there have been many interesting parts? Probably not, because they were looking for the hot totty all the time.”

The 1997 Eurovision presenter feels the contribution of older women, and their significance in television and cinema, is at last being acknowledged by the industry. “Now we have come to understand that there are stories in older characters and older women. They don’t have to be the leads in the story but they are very much a part of it.”

The actress also discussed how young people don’t require much convincing these days as she believes there is a “hunger for the language among the younger generation”.

And she feels its usage is “now much more widespread” as it is “not just the little elite groups but it is being opened out to other people, regardless of the level they can use it”.

She attributes this to artists such as rappers Kneecap and a shift in attitudes, with more people now prepared “to give it a try.”

The film launches on BBC iPlayer, BBC One Northern Ireland and TG4 on Monday 16 March.

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North Yorkshire Council’s Skipton and Ripon area planning committee will debate the application for land off Swinton Road on Tuesday (March 3).

The application was first submitted in 2022 and has been amended several times since, with the number of homes reduced from 48.

The scheme would include 18 affordable properties.

Masham Parish Council has raised a number of concerns and says revisions made to the scheme have not addressed the issues.

These include fears over flooding; additional pressure on Masham sewerage works, increased traffic and highway safety given current speeds and visibility on Swinton Road.

Some 48 local residents have also raised objections over the five rounds of consultation.

A wide range of concerns have been raised, including the scale of the scheme, the loss of agricultural land, that the density of the homes is too high anf the lack of open space and play facilities in the estate.

But a report by planning officers concludes that the application should be passed.

It states: “The scheme would make a positive contribution to delivering housing on an allocated site, including affordable homes, and those that are accessible and adaptable.

“When taking account of the council’s housing land supply at 2.2 years, there is not such significant harm created by the development that would outweigh the benefits provided by the scheme.

“Having regard to the overall planning balance, the proposed scheme complies with the overarching objectives and policies of the local development plan and national planning requirements and thus it represents sustainable development.”

The application will be decided by councillors rather than officers because it is deemed a sensitive site, which Councillor Felicity Cunliffe-Lister has an interest in the land as the owner of Swinton Park.

Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson was heard shouting a racial slur while Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award at the Baftas

Tourette’s campaigner John Davidson has issued a statement after a tic in which he shouted a racial slur at the Bafta awards ceremony on Sunday evening led to widespread backlash.

Mr Davidson, who is the subject of the movie I Swear which was nominated for a number of Baftas, could be heard shouting various expletives throughout the ceremony due to his Tourette’s. He shouted the N-word when Sinners stars Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award at the start of the night.

He has since said he is “deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.” Mr Davidson also confirmed he left the auditorium early as he was aware of the “distress” his tics were causing.

It comes after the BBC apologised for not editing a racial slur out of its coverage of the Baftas. Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

In a statement on Monday Mr Davidson said: “I wanted to thank Bafta and everyone involved in the awards last night for their support and understanding and inviting me to attend the broadcast.

“I appreciated the announcement to the auditorium in advance of the recording, warning everyone that my tics are involuntary and are not a reflection of my personal beliefs. I was heartened by the round of applause that followed this announcement and felt welcomed and understood in an environment that would normally be impossible for me.”

Mr Davidson added: “In addition to the announcement by Alan Cumming, the BBC, and Bafta, I can only add that I am and always have been deeply mortified if anyone considers my involuntary tics to be intentional or to carry any meaning.”

He concluded the statement by saying that I Swear, “more than any film or TV documentary, explains the origins, condition, traits and manifestations of Tourette Syndrome.

“I have spent my life trying to support and empower the Tourette’s community and to teach empathy, kindness and understanding from others and I will continue to do so. I chose to leave the auditorium early into the ceremony as I was aware of the distress my tics were causing.” For the latest TV and showbiz news sign up to our newsletter

After widespread criticism that the racial slur was broadcast a BBC spokesman said: “Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the Bafta Film Awards.

“This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional.

“We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.”

Charity Tourettes Action said it “deeply understands” the harm of the racial slur but called for understanding of the condition. The charity said it was “incredibly proud” of Mr Davidson and those involved in the film I Swear, which tells the story of his life having developed the condition when he was 12.

A spokesman for the charity said: “We also want to address the negative comments that have surfaced following John’s involuntary vocal tics during the ceremony.

“We deeply understand that these words can cause hurt but, at the same time, it is vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome – tics are involuntary. They are not a reflection of a person’s beliefs, intentions, or character.

“People with Tourette’s can say words or phrases they do not mean, do not endorse, and feel great distress about afterwards. These symptoms are neurological, not intentional, and they are something John – like many others with Tourette’s – lives with every single day.”

It went on to say that it had found the “backlash” to the incident “deeply saddening”.

During the broadcast the awards ceremony’s presenter Alan Cumming issued an apology for the language viewers may have heard.

He said: “You may have heard some strong and offensive language tonight. If you have seen the film I Swear you will know that film is about the experience of a person with Tourette syndrome.

“Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language. We apologise if you were offended.”

Mr Davidson was made an MBE in 2019 for his efforts to increase understanding of Tourette syndrome and help families deal with the condition.

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Under the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act, officials can bypass the courts when reclaiming some benefit debts, marking a significant shift in enforcement.

As Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, explains: “Make no mistake, the DWP’s new powers to reach further into citizens’ lives are significant.

“Our committee of course firmly supports Government in its responsibility to ensure people are paid the correct benefits.

“But it is essential that these extensive new powers – of compulsion of disclosure over banks and financial institutions, of recovering funds directly from people’s accounts without the aid of the courts – have the risk of over-reach mitigated against right from the outset.”

The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Act 2025 is now law.

In our latest blog, Nicola Spruce explains what this means in practice and why keeping the DWP updated is more important than ever.

👉https://t.co/C1gcasywVj#WelfareBenefits #DWP #BenefitsAdvice pic.twitter.com/qSb7bsplJR

— Renaissance Legal (@renaissance_uk) January 29, 2026

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When can DWP take money from people’s bank accounts?

The power applies where:

A claimant owes money due to benefit overpayments

• Fraud or serious non-compliance has been established
• The person has the means to repay but refuses to engage

Instead of pursuing lengthy court action, DWP can issue a formal recovery notice and instruct a bank to deduct funds directly.

Ministers say the measure targets those who deliberately avoid repayment – not vulnerable claimants struggling to pay.

How direct deductions work

The process includes:

1. Identifying confirmed debt owed to DWP
2. Assessing affordability and financial position
3. Issuing notice before recovery action
4. Instructing the bank to transfer funds

Safeguards are written into the legislation, including oversight and reporting requirements.

The government says it will not seize funds without due process, and that protections exist for hardship cases.

Why the new powers are being introduced

The DWP cites data that benefit fraud and error cost £9.5 billion in 2024–25, around 3.3% of total benefit spending.

The Act is expected to save £1.5 billion by 2029/30, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility, as part of wider plans to save £14.6 billion by 2030/31.

Ministers argue that without stronger recovery tools, significant sums remain unpaid for years.

Minister for Transformation Andrew Western MP says: “It is right that as fraud against the public sector evolves, the government has a robust and resolute response.

“The powers granted through the Bill will allow us to better identify, prevent and deter fraud and error, and enable the better recovery of debt owed to the taxpayer.”

Concerns about how the DWP will use these new powers

However, the Public Accounts Committee has warned that such “significant” powers must be used proportionately to maintain public trust.

MPs have called for:

• Clear transparency over how often direct deduction powers are used
• Reporting on their impact
• Strong safeguards to prevent misuse

The committee also noted that DWP’s accounts have been qualified for 37 consecutive years due to fraud and error — raising questions about internal controls.

What this means for claimants

For most benefit recipients who report changes and respond to DWP letters, there will be no impact.

But if you:

• Ignore repayment requests
• Refuse to engage over confirmed debt
• Deliberately withhold information

Money could now be taken directly from your account without court action.

Experts say the safest approach is simple: engage early, respond promptly, and seek advice if you cannot afford repayments.

Recommended reading:

A DWP spokesperson said: “We have introduced major reforms to ensure people are paid the correct benefits, to recover overpayments and to help save billions of pounds for the taxpayer.

“The powers in the Fraud, Error and Recovery Act have numerous safeguards and will be independently overseen.

“We will not have access to claimants’ bank accounts when checking they are receiving the correct benefits.

“We are forecasting an ambitious reduction in fraud and error levels to 2.8% by 2028-29, the lowest level since tax credits were introduced in 2003-04.”

Mike Land has completed numerous stunts including a world record attempt for pulling a 1.5 tonne van for 24 hours

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A man who woke up in a full body cast after falling 40ft after his bungee snapped has continued to take part in extreme stunts, giving the reason “what’s the worst that can happen?”

Mike Land, 55, has completed numerous stunts including half and full marathons, cross-country cycling races, and a world record attempt for pulling a 1.5 tonne van for 24 hours. All of these have raised tens of thousands of pounds for charitable causes as reported by Manchester Evening News.

His next challenge is taking part in the British Heart Foundation’s London to Brighton bike ride for the second time. Going back years however, it was March 1993 when then 22-year-old Mike decided to take part in a charity bungee jump held near his home in Swindon.

His friends signed him up for the jump from a 170ft crane because, he said: “out of the group of us, I was the only one that was stupid enough to do anything”.

When his name was called and he was strapped into his harness at the top of the crane, Mike said he asked the instructor for “the scariest option available”.

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Mike said: “He said, what we’ll do is I’ll hold your harness, and you lean out of the crane on your tiptoes, and then I’ll push you so you don’t have to jump, you’ll go out backwards. And he said: If you swan dive backwards, you won’t see any ground until it comes into view.”

Memories from that day include the instructor counting down from five before pushing him from the crane. Based on accounts from onlookers, Mike later learned that “at the full stretch, the rope snapped out of the crane”.

“But the momentum was still carrying me back up… so I was floating up as my rope was getting whipped to the floor, and people said time stopped still,” he said.

Mike fell nearly 40ft to the ground, landing on his head and neck. He recounts: “I dropped to the floor, hit the ground. The rope luckily missed me, because it could have taken my arm off. And I woke up in Princess Margaret Hospital in Swindon.”

Mike remembers waking up in a full body cast and being X-rayed, as doctors believed he could have broken his back and his neck, among other serious injuries. He remained in traction, an orthopaedic treatment where weights and pulleys are used to immobilise injuries, for three days.

However he was told that “somehow, luckily”, all he had was a hairline fracture on the right side of his pelvis, damaged ribs on his left side, and a gash on his chin. He recalls being examined at an Army medical centre, and being told that “because you were so relaxed, not understanding what was happening, you just bounced and flexed”.

“He said, if you had tensed up and were screaming, you could have done a lot of damage.”

After being discharged, he had to use crutches for a few months, but was otherwise unharmed from his catastrophic fall. He has suffered some amnesia, losing memories of his school days and childhood and enduring short-term memory loss for around a month after the incident.

“The 10-year school anniversary came round, and everybody was like: Mike, do you remember me? And I’d be saying I do remember some faces, but I can’t remember anything we did. I can’t remember going to school, I can’t remember trips, I can’t remember parties and all sorts,” he explained.

“They would give me little stories and say: ‘Mike, you do realise you’ve always done stupid things – we jumped off a railway bridge into the Trent and all that kind of stuff’.

“So I said: ‘Well, okay then, that says it all really, I was always stupid!’”

During his recovery from his accident, Mike noticed he’d gained some weight from being less mobile, so he decided to begin working out to shed some pounds.

In his friend’s garage gym, he would follow VHS workout videos and started getting fitter. Then, one day, a colleague asked if he fancied doing the Stroud Half Marathon.

“I thought, well, yeah, I’ve never run a half marathon before,” he said. “It took me forever,” he added of the race itself.

“They were closing up by the time I got in.” Mike decided he’d like to get better at running, so joined a local run club and “got the bug”.

“I ended up doing a 10k after a couple of months, and then I did two half marathons two months later, and a cross-country marathon within six months of joining the club. Now, it’s 40 half marathons later, nine marathons, I’ve done Ride London, London Classics (which recognises those who have completed the London Marathon, the RideLondon 100 and the two-mile event at Swim Serpentine), Tough Mudder… You just get hooked, don’t you?”

Aside from working in a gym and helping others reach their fitness goals, Mike continues to race, and has done several races in costume, including the Great North Run and the Berlin Marathon dressed as Captain America. In 2025, he attempted to break the Guinness World Record for pulling a van to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

He pulled a 1.5 tonne van, unassisted, around an empty warehouse for 24 hours for the record attempt, covering 27 miles total and raising over £17,000 for the charity. However, he fell short of the Guinness World Record for the farthest distance pulling a vehicle in 24 hours by an individual, which is 32 miles.

This year, Mike is taking on the British Heart Foundation’s London to Brighton bike ride for the second time, a 54-mile ride from Clapham Common to Brighton Seafront that covers the gorgeous countryside south of the capital and some gruelling hill climbs. He hopes to add to his growing fundraising total for various charities through his physical challenges as, he said, with “any charity, charity people are so amazing. So yeah, why not?”

Grace Howarth, event lead at the British Heart Foundation said: “Whatever the reason, the money raised by our London to Brighton Bike Ride goes into helping fund the next medical breakthroughs for the 7.6 million people in the UK currently living with heart and circulatory conditions and brings us closer to our vision of a world where everyone has a healthier heart for longer.

“We wish Mike and all our riders the best of luck for the day.” While his list of challenges is ever-growing, there’s one in particular that he’d like to tick off in 2026 – jumping out of an aeroplane.

Even after all he’s been through, he’s not deterred by the prospect of skydiving. “What’s the worst that can happen?”, he smiled.

Mike is taking part in the London to Brighton Bike Ride in June to raise money for British Heart Foundation.

Visit www.bhf.org.uk/l2b to sign up.