The death in Poynton is not being treated as suspicious
19:28, 25 Feb 2026Updated 19:28, 25 Feb 2026
Police sealed off a pathway and area of woodland on Tuesday night (February 24) after a woman was tragically found dead. Officers and paramedics attended the incident off Woodside Lane in Poynton, Stockport.
Emergency crews were called to the scene shortly after 7pm to concerns for welfare reports regarding a woman. A woman, aged in her 60s, was found dead at the scene.
A number of incident response units and police cars were seen stationed along Woodside Lane following the incident, with a walkway and wooded area also cordoned off by police who were standing guard amid investigations.
The death is not currently being treated as suspicious, Cheshire Constabulary said. A file is being prepared for the coroner.
A spokesperson for Cheshire Constabulary said: “At 7.05pm on Tuesday 24 February, police were called by paramedics to concerns for the welfare of a woman on Woodside, Poynton.
“Officers attended and sadly a woman in her sixties was declared dead at the scene. The death is not being treated as suspicious, and a case file will be prepared for the coroner.”
Warning: This video contains graphic imagery of the victims of stabbings and shootings, as well as images of those killed in street violence
One of the most powerful and feared criminal organisations in Mexico has unleashed a wave of violence across 20 Mexican states, following the death of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho”, shortly after being captured amid a bloody firefight in Jalisco.
Members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) have turned many towns and cities where the cartel is active into war zones.
BBC international correspondent Quentin Sommerville travelled to Culiacán in northern Sinaloa state, another Mexican cartel hotspot at war with itself after the removal of its cartel leader in 2024, Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who is now in prison in the US.
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The BBC followed two paramedics in Culiacán, Julio César Vega and Héctor Torres, who attend to victims following violent incidents. Héctor said the violence in Culiacán had never been so bad or gone on for so long.
Detectives have released new details and are continuing to quiz a suspect after two men walked into the Manchester Central Mosque on Upper Park Road in Victoria Park on Tuesday night (February 24). They were seen acting ‘suspiciously’ at the mosque as hundreds of worshippers engaged in prayer during Ramadan.
It was reported they were carrying bags, with one believed to be containing an axe, a hammer and a knife. One man, who was in high-vis, has since been arrested and remains in custody, police said. Weapons including an axe and a knife were found.
Security staff had initially questioned the man who had been seen acting suspiciously during a ‘congregation involving hundreds of worshippers’. Hammad Khan, president of the mosque, said the incident involving the two males, one he described as being white and one as black, has left Muslims fearing for their safety. “Everybody is very, very fearful”, he said. Police are still hunting the second suspect.
The incident has not been deemed terror-related, but investigations remain ongoing alongside Greater Manchester Police and Counter Terrorism Police.
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While speaking to the public on Wednesday evening (February 25), Hammad Khan, president of Manchester Central Mosque, said it is ‘imperative’ places of worship remain a sanctuary for people across Greater Manchester.
“Manchester has always been a community which has been very cohesive and we’ve had multi faith events all throughout its history, and it is something we will continue to do,” he told reporters. “Mosques and another places of worship, places of peace and sanctuary for people. It is imperative that we maintain that for the communities in Greater Manchester and across the across the world.
In a new statement issued on Wednesday night, the mosque has revealed it is implementing tougher security measures ‘with immediate effect’, in the interests of ‘safeguarding worshippers and visitors’. Greater Manchester Police have also announced they are increasing patrols in the area for community reassurance.
“Until further notice, access to and from the mosque premises will be restricted to one designated entrance,” the mosque said. “Security personnel and authorised volunteers will be present and may, where necessary, carry out checks on bags and other items.
“Worshippers are requested to cooperate fully with these arrangements and to comply with any reasonable requests or directions given by security personnel or authorised volunteers. Worshippers are also advised, where reasonably practical, to attend the mosque in groups and to exercise vigilance when travelling to and from the mosque and whilst on the premises.
“These measures are being introduced on a precautionary basis in order to promote the safety and security of all worshippers and visitors.”
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Police update
Speaking outside Manchester Central Mosque on Wednesday evening, Assistant Chief Constable John Webster said: “Last night, a concerning incident took place here at Manchester Central Mosque. A man with a bag containing an axe was acting suspiciously, during a congregation involving hundreds of worshippers.
“The security staff here acted on their suspicions to challenge the man. One of our special constables, who was off-duty and was part of the congregation, called the incident into us and we responded within 15 minutes by searching the suspect, arresting him, and seizing the items he had on him.
“There was no suggestion of verbal threats or confrontation, but it’s really important the security staff here and volunteers acted on their suspicions, on their instincts, to call us. I thank them for their actions.
“This is a time where Muslims come together to observe Ramadan. They should feel safe in their place of worship. We do give places of worship increased attention during this period, as we do with all religious festivals.
“We do understand, and we are listening, to all concerns. We’ll be listening to the concerns here at the Manchester Central Mosque here this evening. I look forward to some further conversations.
“We cannot be everywhere all the time, I wish we were. We are increasing patrols to offer security and reassurance to our Muslim community. Our officers will be on 12-hour shifts to be able to do this, certainly in the short term.
“And when incidents of concern do happen, we are in your community to act and respond. I thank the off-duty special constable for their action to ensure we could get our patrols here to detain this man.
“There is an ongoing police investigation, and we are working to locate the second suspicious man to understand who he is and what he was doing at the mosque. We’re still questioning the detained man to understand what he was doing here with an axe in his bag.
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“I know this uncertainty can cause concern, but it is key that we have time to question the suspect, explore every line of enquiry and speak to as many witnesses as possible to understand the nature of this incident.
“We are taking this very seriously and we are working with detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing North West, but it I have to stress, this has not been declared a terrorist incident. When we know more, I will ensure we update you too. Thank you.”
Lancashire Police confirmed that the closure is in place while officers deal with what has been described as a police incident.
The force said the road is expected to remain shut “for some time” as the situation is assessed.
In a statement, police said: “We want to update you and let you know that M61 J8 is currently closed in both directions due to a concern for safety.
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“We anticipate that the road will be closed for a some time, whilst we assess the situation.
“In the meantime, we’d recommend looking for an alternative route and driving carefully, leaving plenty of extra time to get to your destination.
“We’ll keep tabs on what’s happening and we’ll update you here once the road is open.
“As always, thank you for your patience and stay safe if you’re out and about today.”
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Eye witnesses have reported that vehicles have blocked the hard shoulder.
National Highways said the incident is affecting the northbound and southbound carriageway at Junction 8, with lane closures in place in both directions.
The incident has been classified as an “authority operation”.
Motorists travelling in the area are advised to seek alternative routes, allow extra time for their journeys and drive with caution.
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Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
Tony Devenport, who used to own a go-kart track in Wales, had denied killing Stephanie Blundell but was found guilty after a trial
A “cowardly” north Wales man has been found guilty of murdering his “caring” and “fun-loving” girlfriend at his home. Tony Devenport, 57, was found guilty of killing Stephanie Blundell on Wednesday following a 16-day trial at Chester Crown Court.
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At around 12.20pm on Sunday, July 20, 2025, Cheshire Police were contacted by the father of the victim who told police that he had found his daughter’s lifeless body at Devenport’s house in Canal Street in Chester.
Within minutes officers and paramedics were at the scene. Ms Blundell, 41, was found dead inside the address.
She had visible injuries to her face, neck, and body. Devenport, who has links to Prestatyn and other parts of north Wales, was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.
During questioning he denied being responsible for Stephanie’s death. A post-mortem examination later confirmed the injuries on Stephanie’s body were a result of a sustained and violent assault.
Devenport, a property developer and former owner of a go-kart track in north Wales, was charged with Stephanie’s murder and an alternative count of manslaughter, reports NorthWalesLive. Following a trial he was found guilty of murder. Don’t miss a court report by signing upto our crime newsletter here.
Following the verdict detective inspector Andrea Price of Cheshire Constabulary’s major investigation team said: “Though I am pleased with today’s outcome there are sadly no winners in this case.
“Stephanie’s family described her as a fun-loving, caring, beautiful girl, and my thoughts are with them today as they continue to come to terms with such a loss.
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“No parent should ever have to go through the pain of losing a child nor should they have to sit and relive that trauma by way of a trial.
“Devenport was a coward. He has shown no remorse for his actions and throughout the investigation he has refused to admit what he did.
“Thankfully the case presented in court against him was overwhelming and left the jury with no option but to find him guilty of murder.
“While nothing will ever bring Stephanie back I do hope her family can find some comfort in knowing Devenport will now be held accountable for what he’s done.”
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Devenport is due to be sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Friday, February 27.
DI Price added: “Many victims of domestic abuse suffer in silence, isolated from those closest to them. If one thing can come from Stephanie’s tragic death it’s encouraging other victims of domestic abuse to come forward and contact us.
“We treat all reports of domestic abuse extremely seriously and will use all the powers available to us to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic abuse visit the Live Fear Free website or call the helpline on 0808 80 10 800.
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Bere Grove Care Home, Gales Rise, Horndean is proud to offer monthly Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) sessions in partnership with Recapture Life, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing the quality of life, independence, and wellbeing of those living with memory loss and cognitive decline.
Manchester United legend Lee Sharpe has had his say on transfer speculation surrounding Bruno Fernandes and Red Devils-linked Chelsea star Cole Palmer
Lee Sharpe believes that Cole Palmer would prove an ideal successor to Bruno Fernandes, should the Portuguese maestro choose to depart Manchester United this summer. The Wythenshawe native, 23, has flourished at Chelsea following his switch from Manchester City in 2023.
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And when speculation emerged earlier this year suggesting Palmer was pining for home in the capital, United were swiftly linked with a stunning move for the attacking midfielder. However, Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior moved quickly to dismiss any notion that Palmer was unhappy at Stamford Bridge.
Speaking to BetBrain, he said: “I’ve seen the rumours about Cole Palmer returning to Manchester United, that he’s a boyhood fan of the club. Maybe if Bruno Fernandes leaves Old Trafford, then Palmer could be an option to replace him, but if he stays then I don’t see how Palmer gets into the team.
“Palmer is a really exciting player and I’d love to see him in a United shirt, but there are a lot of boxes that need to be ticked before they go and get a player of his calibre.”
It comes as Fernandes’ future beyond 2025/26 has been thrown into doubt, despite the club captain pledging his loyalty to the Reds on numerous occasions. The 31-year-old’s existing deal runs out next summer, though there remains an option to extend his tenure by an additional 12 months.
Nevertheless, given the considerable attention from the Saudi Pro League last summer, it’s unclear whether his head could be turned should another tempting proposition come his way. It is understood that Fernandes will only enter discussions with his representative regarding his future following this summer’s World Cup in North America.
Meanwhile, United are yet to reach a verdict on fresh terms for Fernandes, largely due to the club still awaiting the appointment of a permanent manager. Whether he remains or departs, United would be prudent to strengthen their midfield this summer.
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Casemiro is poised to leave Old Trafford when his contract concludes this summer, leaving United short of options beyond the Brazilian, Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte – who has found it difficult to settle in the Premier League.
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Consequently, the Reds have been connected with several targets ahead of the summer window, including Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson amongst others. Additionally, United CEO Omar Berrada has hinted that the club’s transfer activity is far from finished as they adopt a ‘football-first approach’.
He said: “We are now seeing the positive financial impact of our off-pitch transformation materialise both in our costs and profitability. We continue to take a football-first approach and invest in both our men’s and women’s first teams.
“On the pitch our men’s team sits 4th in the Premier League and our women’s team are 2nd in the Women’s Super League, as well as reaching the League Cup Final and the quarter final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League.
“Today’s results demonstrate the underlying strength of our business as we continue to push for the best football results possible for our Men’s and Women’s teams.”
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Whether that backing will stretch to the £100million valuation many reckon Wharton’s, Baleba’s and Anderson’s talents command, remains uncertain.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
Vernon Kay is currently hosting his new BBC show, Do You Know Your Place?, alongside The Traitors star Paul Gorton
Olivia Wheeler Content Editor Screen Time
22:02, 25 Feb 2026
Vernon Kay has disclosed that he and his wife Tess Daly spent considerable time discussing her choice to leave Strictly Come Dancing last year.
The BBC radio presenter appeared alongside Joe Swash, Rob Rinder and Jordan Banjo on ITV’s Loose Men in November, where the panel explored the significance of making major decisions together in relationships.
Vernon explained on Loose Men back in November: “It’s a team effort, a relationship is when two become one,” he began.
“It’s important that you make those big decisions together, or at least, make a decision and then share it.
“We had a big one recently in our household, and we sat and shared it for quite a while which is what you have to do when something has been in your life for so long, like Strictly Come Dancing.
“You have to sit and make a decision and share it, and come up with how, what, where, when, why.”
Last year, Tess and her co-host Claudia Winkleman revealed they would be departing Strictly Come Dancing following the conclusion of the 2025 series.
Vernon publicly backed his wife straight away after the announcement, resharing news reports on his Instagram Stories and posting a fan’s illustration of Claudia and Tess, with the caption: “What a fantastic duo they have been.”
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Vernon, who assumed Ken Bruce’s BBC Radio 2 programme in May 2023, has been wed to Tess since 2003, with the pair raising two daughters.
Several weeks following her Strictly declaration, Vernon demonstrated his support for Tess again when she collected her MBE honour in November. She was honoured in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting and collected her award at Windsor Castle on 12 November.
Vernon commemorated the milestone with a touching tribute posted on Instagram. He said: “Huge congratulations Tess, since we met your drive, dedication, focus and professionalism in how you work and live is a huge inspiration.
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“You deserve your MBE today. 21 years at the helm of Strictly Come Dancing is a record for any female in entertainment telly. Let’s pop those corks!”. Tess responded to his supportive words with several red heart emojis.
Do You Know Your Place? airs on BBC Two, weekdays at 6.30PM.
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The airport has confirmed the new system will come into effect from midnight on March 26, allowing drivers to enter and exit the car park without stopping at barriers or pay stations.
Announcing the change, a spokesman said: “We’re introducing a new barrierless parking system, so you can simply drive in and out without stopping.
“No barriers. No queues. No pay stations.
“Your vehicle will be recognised automatically, and you can pay after your visit – online, by phone, or via Auto Pay.
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“This change takes place from 00:01 on March 25, 2026.
At the time, Manchester Airport said the changes would “streamline the drop-off and pick-up process, making it quicker, more convenient, and stress-free”.
When the forecourt system was rolled out, Manchester Airport’s landside operations director Sue West said: “Here at Manchester Airport we’re always looking for ways to make our passengers’ lives easier.
“By removing barriers in our drop-off and pick-up zones it will speed up the process and make it feel seamless.”
However, the barrierless system has proved controversial, sparking debate among Bolton residents.
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Yasmin Qureshi has voiced her concerns over the barrierless drop-off system (Image: Office of Yasmin Qureshi MP)
Yasmin Qureshi raised the issue in Westminster after receiving complaints from constituents who were fined £100 at the airport.
The penalties followed confusion with payment systems, with some unable to complete payment despite “genuine attempts to do so”.
She said: “The current system is unfair, confusing and punitive. It does not work for passengers, and it is time for a change.
“The aim of a barrierless system is to keep traffic moving, but we have to be honest about the human reality.
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“A parent unloading luggage at 5 am or a carer helping an elderly relative to the terminal door is not thinking about an online payment later that day.
“They should not receive a penalty notice in the post just because there is no clear or simple way to pay at the time.”
The penalties followed confusion with payment systems, with some unable to complete payment despite “genuine attempts to do so”.
In response, a Manchester Airport spokesperson said: “Dropping passengers off at Manchester Airport is free if drivers use the drop-off area at JetParks One.
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“This is served by regular shuttle buses that take passengers to the doors of our terminals in just a few minutes.
“For those that want to be able to drop passengers off on our forecourts, we offer a service that lets drivers pay £5 for five minutes.
“This is cheaper than is offered at most comparably sized airports and our analysis shows it allows most people more than enough time to drop passengers off, thanks to our barrierless exits which remove bottlenecks.
“People can, however, stay for longer at a small extra charge – that rate is also cheaper than at most comparable airports.
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“Space in our drop-off and pick-up zones is finite so charging to use them helps make sure they are available to people who need them and function efficiently while also helping us manage traffic on our road network.”
The new barrierless system at the T2 multi-storey car park comes into force from March 26, with drivers urged to ensure payment is made by midnight the following day to avoid a charge.
Artificial intelligence is accelerating a global economic revolution that began back in the 1970s. Researching the impacts of AI on different sectors of society highlights an important parallel moment in history: the creation of the “service economy” in the US.
In 1972, amid a period of global turmoil, a group of OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) economists sought to reinvent how nations thought not only about wealth but the very purpose of society. They did this by proposing a broad new category of commerce: services.
It seems hard to imagine now, but until then economists had perceived and measured trade largely in terms of goods alone. Money was made by exchanging tangible, physical products (wheat, guns, butter). To become a rich nation, the wisdom went, you needed to add unique value to your raw materials (crops, iron) by turning them into more complex products (processed foods, steel) that gave you a competitive advantage over other countries.
Instead, this new category of services lumped together a diverse range of “intangible” jobs and social goods – from teaching and driving trains to social housing and water – in a huge new economic basket. It suggested there could be common standards by which to trade in them globally, creating metrics that offered a new source of wealth for investors.
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While it would be two decades until the General Agreement on Trade in Services became a cornerstone of the newly formed World Trade Organization in 1995, the reimagining of jobs and social goods as tradeable services had an immediate effect on nations around the world. It spurred a new wave of private enterprise, and changed how and why essential societal activities were provided.
It also enabled the rise of the generalist boss and the creation of the “CEO class”. To run complex sectors from public transport to healthcare required accepting a view of management as a skill divorced from the specifics of the activity being managed.
Statistics and benchmarks became more important than the particulars of the task at hand, since they determined how services were valued in the market. Consulting firms supercharged this new era of key performance indicators, audits, rankings and standardised workflows.
While trade unions and the public sometimes resisted these changes through strikes and street protests, they were largely unable to stem the tide. Many governments came to see their role less as providers of public goods, more as managers of services outsourced to the private sector. This dramatic shift in how global trade operates set the scene for how we view and measure AI today.
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Services on steroids
At its core, AI technology is about seeing patterns across data that, due to scale and complexity, we humans cannot. Acting on what AI tells us can, for example, save lives through early detection of cancer. Yet within that promise, how AI is sold today looks very much like services on steroids.
The services revolution helped create common standards and means of valuation across different sectors of society. Today, when politicians and CEOs speak of AI, it is usually in terms of universal models that can be applied to almost anything, regardless of context or human values.
This understanding is only possible in a society in which many of the sector-specific challenges of, say, health services and utility companies are ironed out and glossed over by those operating and investing in them. The services approach has enabled this.
Amid strategies of mass data capture and subscription services, there is the assumption that only the private sector can be a provider – and that the solutions are largely the same. AI is the lucrative but badly defined tool with which mainly US providers are seeking to drive home their existing competitive advantage.
But this leaves us with an important question from history.
CNBC.
Who benefits?
Looking for parallels between what we see as AI today and the creation of the services economy points to the classic question, cui bono? Who benefits?
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The invention of trade-in-services greatly expanded the range of activities in which financiers might speculate. Through pension funds and private shareholding, many people’s personal wealth grew rapidly as a result.
But it has also led to the rise of large multinational corporations, for example in energy and water utilities. Anger over rising prices and exorbitant CEO bonuses in these sectors are in part a consequence of the services revolution.
The present approach to AI is following a similar, but much-accelerated, path. The rollout of AI has not only made a small group of companies extraordinarily rich and powerful, it has created a global sovereignty crisis.
To use and regulate AI wisely requires being clear-eyed about whether we are talking simply about technology, or a broader political project. Given the evidence of the services revolution, we believe it is time to look beyond the hype and examine more rigorously what AI actually means for different sectors of society – and what exactly it is trying to achieve.
With many people looking for medicines in supermarkets, the Money Saving Expert has shared a way to pay less and save money.
Amber O’Connor and Eilidh Farquhar Trainee Trends, Showbiz and Lifestyle Writer
21:16, 25 Feb 2026
Martin Lewis has shared a handy way shoppers can pay less for medication when shopping at a pharmacy or supermarket. With prices of medicines rising over the years, the money saving expert has revealed a ‘hidden’ code that Brits need to look out for.
With many medicines claiming to do the same thing, it can be hard for shoppers to choose which tablets will work best for them. And with branded items receiving more advertisement, quite a few of us choose them over cheaper alternatives.
However, the MoneySavingExpert website has revealed that people could be paying half the price if they checked the ingredients rather than the brand name. The website advises: “It’s important to realise you can often save big by buying an identical pill, just in different packaging. Some tablets are half the price of their doppelgangers.”
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In order to make sure you aren’t overspending on your non-prescription medication, which is usually sourced for cold, flu, allergies or pain relief, shoppers are advised to look out for a nine-digit identification code on the packaging, reports the Express.
The money saving tool’s guidance states: “How to spot which tablets are identical. Check the ‘PL number’ on the packet. It’s a unique licence number given to a particular drug made by a particular manufacturer.”
This ‘hidden’ code is usually found under the distributor’s information on the back or side of medicine packets. Martin Lewis also highlighted the nine-digit code in a variety of TV shows.
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In a previous appearance on This Morning, he shared that branded doesn’t always guarantee that you are getting the best. He explained: “If they have an identical PL code, which is on the back of the packet, they are the same tablet.
“Not the same active ingredient—the same tablet. “Big pharmaceutical companies spend millions of pounds promoting this, ‘Go with the name you know.’ And that’s just baloney in most cases.”
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To prove his point he compared a £1.85 product with a branded £4.99 medicine, both of which had the same PL code. He added: “This happens all over the place”.
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Many people on social media were blown away by this money saving tip, with the clip racking up over 2,000 likes when it was uploaded on Facebook.
Thousands of people also flooded the comments section, with one person who worked in a pharmacy explaining that most shoppers wouldn’t listen when they gave this advice.
They wrote: “I work in a well-known pharmacy. We tell people of the price difference in pain meds and hay fever stuff mostly, and it’s amazing how many people dare not buy the cheaper own-brand stuff. It can make about £12 difference in some cases. Branding really works.”
With another person adding: “I worked in a pharmacy for years trying to get people to buy the store’s own cheaper brand, but most customers would say only the branded medicines worked!!”
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A third also shared that they have not taken on Lewis’ advice, writing: “Used to buy expensive hayfever tablets for my daughter. Now buy Wilkinson’s own, same PL code and only 89p a box.”
This was followed by another social media user adding: “I’m always baffled when people buy expensive branded paracetamol or ibuprofen. let’s hope more people take heed of this video and start buying medicines more sensibly.”
