Motorists will not be able to drive, park or wait along a stretch of Micklegate, between its junctions with Priory Street and Bar Lane from 12am on Monday (March 9) until 11.59pm on Monday (March 23).

It comes after City of York Council announced that the street would be closed for sewer works to be carried out safely.

Recommended reading:

The road will be closed for motorists from Monday (March 9) (Image: Newsquest)

A council spokesperson said: “It is envisaged that access will be maintained for cyclists and pedestrians throughout the works period.

“An alternative route for diverted vehicles will be signed during the works period via Nunnery Lane, Bishopgate Street, Skeldergate Bridge, Tower Street, Clifford Street, Nessgate, Low Ousegate, Bridge Street.”

The stretch of road may be re-opened at an earlier date if sewer works are completed before the scheduled finishing time.

Traffic signs and barriers will be in place to re-direct motorists, and residents will maintain access to their homes.

Emergency services will be still able to proceed down Micklegate.

For more information please contact highway.regulation@york.gov.uk.

Bridgerton series 4 has released its four remaining episodes on Netflix, and one major development has puzzled fans.

Penelope Bridgerton (née Featherington), who is played by Nicola Coughlan, had been the individual behind the gossip column persona.

However, in series 4, she decided to put down her pen, but a new anonymous person has seemingly decided to take up the mantle.

In the finale, Penelope and her husband, Colin Bridgerton (Luke Newton), are left shocked as a new column is distributed across Mayfair.

Showrunner Jess Brownell shared she was excited about this new story thread as it wasn’t a part of the Bridgerton books the series is adapted from.

“Penelope was Julia Quinn’s Whistledown, so we knew we couldn’t really play with that reveal for too long because people could just Google it,” she said to Tudum.

“But now, we get to play with audience expectations.”

Who is the new Lady Whistledown?

Fans have brought up a few ideas on the identity of the new Lady Whistledown, with some thinking it will be Hyacinth.

In a post on the r/Bridgerton Reddit page, a user shared: “I wanna know who everybody thinks is the new Lady Whistledown is now that Penelope is retired because I personally think it’s Hyacinth, but who knows.”

Some agreed as one wrote: “She mentioned wanting to find herself before looking for a husband, and now has the idea to sneak into balls.”

Another concurred, adding: “I think it’s Hyacinth too – that or maybe Varley is airing out everyone’s dirty laundry after hearing so much.”

Not everyone was on the same page, as one shared: “Hyacinth seems unlikely to me: she’s too young and too spooked by John Kilmartin’s death.”

Some viewers guessed it might be Alfie, due to the accent change in Lady Whistledown’s voiceover towards the end.

One person theorised: “It’s Alfie, the lady’s accent change to his toward the end. He is an avid reader.”

In reply, another said: “The change in voice at the end was bizarre and startling”.

Meanwhile, one viewer shared: “Alfie might also be a lovely choice.

“A queer(ish) character, a man, a servant: it might continue the theme about inclusion and diversity, right?”

Other characters that were brought up as possible options included Cressida, Varley, Mrs. Mondrich or an entirely new character.

Who do you think the new Lady Whistledown is? Let us know in the comments.

Shop York runs until Sunday (March 22).

Delivered by York BID in partnership with Indie York, the scheme invites shoppers to spend £50 in 50 days across more than 100 of the city’s retailers.

Locals can log their visits through a Shop York Passport to be in with the chance of winning a wide range of prizes from York businesses.

Recommended reading:

With just three weeks still to go, participating businesses are already welcoming a boost in footfall during a traditionally quieter trading period – with shoppers flocking to discover new and previously overlooked spots across the city.  

Businesses are welcoming increased footfall during a traditionally quieter February (Image: Supplied)

Speaking about this, Avorium director, Tom Calvert, said: “Our city is a shopping hotspot for residents and visitors, and Shop York is a brilliant initiative to encourage spending at a time when the high street is typically quieter.

“We’re already experiencing the benefits of the promotion and are excited to push York’s independent shopping scene to new heights with Shop York.”

Bettys in York also features in the scheme (Image: Supplied)

Jenny O’Hara, from York Gin, added that the scheme offered something “genuinely exciting” for customers, with the chance to win some “amazing prizes”.

She added: “It helps keep more spending within the city, and it’s so easy to use in practice – minimum effort, no fuss and a great way to drive February footfall.

“As a business, it’s a win-win.”

The Shop York Passport also unlocks special offers, treats and promotions available only to participants.

More information is available at the Visit York Information Centre in Parliament Street, participating businesses in the city centre and at www.shop-york.co.uk.

What began as childhood anxiety and graphic fears about death soon escalated into relentless, unwanted thoughts that she says ‘changed my life forever’

A young woman says she spent four years believing she was a paedophile before making a discovery that transformed her future.

Molly Lambert, 22, developed intrusive sexual and violent thoughts as a teenager. It left her convinced she was a danger to others.

What began as childhood anxiety and graphic fears about death soon escalated into relentless, unwanted thoughts.

At 15, while revising for exams, Molly, from Manchester, became consumed by the belief that a single intrusive thought meant she was a ‘monster’.

Click here to prioritise Manchester news in Google from the MEN

For six months, she lived in constant fight‑or‑flight mode – barely eating, not sleeping and terrified of being alone. But after seeing a video of a woman talking about paedophile OCD (P-OCD) – a type of OCD in which an individual has unwanted sexual thoughts or images about children – on TikTok, Molly was able to get diagnosed in July 2025.

P-OCD is not paedophilia, and Molly is now speaking out to help others who may be silently suffering with intrusive thoughts. The digital PR worker and mental health advocate, living in Deansgate, said: “I genuinely thought I was a paedophile.

“No matter what you’re worrying about, it’s the same brain process each time, but when it’s that deep, and such a horrid thought, the shame is unbearable.”

Looking back, Molly believes the signs she was actually suffering from a type of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) were there from childhood. She said: “I always had OCD traits. I had graphic images about death, I was scared of everything.

“I’d obsess over things like Madeleine McCann and worry I would get kidnapped. If there was a Brownie trip coming up, I’d think about every single thing that could go wrong until my mum had to pick me up.”

But the turning point came when she was 15, during a family trip through an airport. “I saw a little girl wearing a crop top and short skirt and thought, ‘That’s weird for a child to wear that,’” Molly said.

“And then I panicked – ‘why would I even notice that? Why would I think about that? She’s a child’.”

Though the thought faded at first, it returned months later while she was revising for exams. She said: “I was 15 and I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m a paedophile – I thought, I’m never going to forget this thought. My life is over’.”

From that moment, Molly says she was trapped in her own mind. “It was fight or flight constantly. Every thought was dark, I wasn’t eating properly, I wasn’t sleeping, I was so scared of being alone and going to bed,” Molly said.

“I was lying to my parents saying I was stressed about exams, but I just couldn’t put it into words.”

The intrusive thoughts expanded beyond one fear, and Molly began to question her past. She said: “I was thinking – ‘what if I’ve hurt someone? What if I’ve raped someone? What if I fancy my friends?’

“I even have a phobia of dogs and I’d think – ‘what if I fancy my dog?’. I knew I didn’t feel anything, but what if I was unsafe to everyone?

“The shame was overwhelming, I felt like a monster. I couldn’t even tell anyone what I was going through.”

Six months after the first thought, Molly started her first job at a café in a swimming pool. She said: “I remember thinking, there are kids here and I honestly thought to myself that I would have to kill myself on my way home.

“That’s how convinced I was that I was dangerous.”

Despite loving children and describing herself as a “kid person,” she began changing her life choices out of fear. Molly said: “I told my parents I wanted to work in retail instead, I was changing my life because I thought I was unsafe.”

For four years, Molly suffered in silence, even studying psychology at university without realising she had OCD. She said: “I thought OCD was cleaning and tidying, that wasn’t me at all. The more controlling forms of OCD like mine are the ones we don’t talk about.”

But after coming across a TikTok video in 2021 she was able to get diagnosed. Molly said: “It was a girl saying people think OCD is about cleaning, but she thought she fancied her niece, and I realised that there were people like me – and that I think I knew the issue.

“The weight that lifted off my shoulders was crazy. I thought only freaks had this.”

She began researching intrusive thoughts and confided in a friend at university, who encouraged her to seek therapy. Eventually, after breaking down to her parents, she started professional treatment, and was officially diagnosed in July 2025.

She said: “I was hysterically crying. I couldn’t even talk about the six months I thought I was going to kill myself.

“My therapist said it is an awful thing to go to but that it is way more common than you would ever expect.

“Getting all of that outside of me was the biggest part of my journey. It felt like I was in a war with myself, but now I knew what I was fighting.”

While Molly still experiences intrusive thoughts daily, her reaction to them has changed. “My brain can still say, ‘You’re a paedophile,’ but now I can tell myself that’s not true,” she said.

“OCD won’t let you move on from intrusive thoughts. Everyone has them, but OCD makes them stick.”

Therapy helped her move from severe to mild on the diagnostic scale, though she admits recovery is ongoing. “I still have days where I feel consumed but now I can recognise it for what it is; an overly obsessive part of my brain,” she said.

Molly now uses her social media platforms to raise awareness and says she receives both support and hate. She said: “I get a lot of hate, but this conversation is so important for the people suffering in silence.”

She believes the stigma around certain intrusive thoughts makes sufferers feel uniquely evil when in reality, OCD often attacks a person’s core values. Molly said: “The scariest part is how many people might not be here anymore because of this. I remember thinking I’d be 50 and never escape these thoughts, or I would be dead.

“Always talk to someone, once you understand what it is, you realise it’s not you. It’s OCD.”

To learn more about Molly’s journey, you can follow her TikTok – @mollambert

Only thirty-six hours ago, Trump’s envoys were meeting with a high-level Iranian delegation in Geneva to discuss a diplomatic solution.

The initial noises were positive. Conversations that I had with figures involved in those negotiations were optimistic that the sides were drawing close to a provisional agreement, although some obvious and significant gaps remained.

Notably, one issue that wasn’t discussed was Iran’s ballistic missile programme – which alarmed the Israelis because of the threat those missiles pose to them.

US and Israel strike Iran – follow latest

On Friday morning, Oman’s foreign minister Badr Albusaidi, who has mediated several rounds of talks, including those in Geneva, flew to Washington at short notice to brief US vice president JD Vance in person.

Albusaidi then gave two extremely rare interviews on US television to explain what was on the table. It was a desperate and honest attempt to keep the sides talking.

But there were already signs that things were unravelling.

Mike Huckabee, the US ambassador to Israel, sent an email to embassy staff on Friday morning warning them that if they wanted to leave the country they “must do so TODAY”.

Read More:
UK issues travel warning as Middle East crisis worsens
Trump is going for regime change despite positive talks with Iran

It had an air of unplanned urgency, rather than a controlled diplomatic evacuation.

Perhaps they had just learnt something was imminent. Maybe Netanyahu, who has always been deeply sceptical of negotiations, had already decided to attack.

British diplomats were relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as they were during the 12-Day War last June. Western embassies and military outposts around the region were emptied of non-essential staff.

Then late on Friday evening I started to hear word of a possible attack overnight. From my own experience of multiple Middle East wars, it’s very hard to pick out the truth from a wall of noise, but the signs were clearly bleak.

The cork is now out of the bottle.

President Trump, with the help of Israel, is going for regime change. It’s all or nothing.

Iran’s ability to respond might be limited, following the attack on its ballistic missile sites last summer, but already strikes have been reported across the Middle East, not just Israel.

The Iranian regime won’t roll over; they will die fighting and will drag the region into a wider conflict if needs be.

Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique has been linked with the Manchester United manager job

Luis Enrique has been tipped for a potential return to Barcelona despite speculation connecting him with the managerial position at Manchester United. The Reds have already been linked with numerous potential candidates who might assume the role at Old Trafford permanently.

Michael Carrick was appointed as United’s interim head coach until the end of the season last month, and has enjoyed a remarkable stint in charge thus far, remaining undefeated whilst securing victory in five of his six fixtures in charge.

Enrique, currently managing Paris Saint-Germain, has been mentioned as a possible candidate to take the manager’s job at United in the summer, alongside various other names being discussed as potential alternatives.

However, a report from Catalunya Radio has suggested that Barcelona might view Enrique as a contender to become their next manager. This comes despite Hansi Flick steering the club to the La Liga title last season, whilst they currently sit one point clear of fierce rivals Real Madrid this campaign.

READ MORE: Marcus Rashford ‘reaches agreement’ to leave Man United after crunch meetingREAD MORE: Man United’s Harry Maguire ‘concern’ as Michael Carrick stance clear after £15.6m decision

Barcelona’s presidential election is scheduled for next month. It has been reported that Enrique’s name features on the shortlist of several presidential hopefuls for the managerial position going forward, and could be proposed for the role depending on which candidate secures victory, reports the Mirror.

FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page

Current Barcelona president Joan Laporta is understood to favour keeping Flick as manager, though that stance could change should a new president be elected. This could prove a significant setback for United, should the speculation prove accurate that Enrique is being considered for the permanent managerial position at Old Trafford.

Carrick himself could be a contender for the full-time role, provided he maintains his impressive run of results through to the end of the campaign and secures Champions League qualification.

The prospect of United turning to Enrique has already sparked debate, with former Chelsea coach Jody Morris arguing that retaining Carrick would be the wiser option.

“Carrick has been unbelievable,” Morris said on the latest episode of In The Mixer earlier this week. “I was moaning about Ruben Amorim. I just couldn’t have what he was doing. How can you not play Kobbie Mainoo?

“I have a lot of time for Michael Carrick. He was on my Pro Licence course and I’ve been on a few League Managers’ Association things with him.

“He’s an astute student of the game. Straight away, he comes in and Kobbie Mainoo’s in there and he’s been brilliant. It would be criminal not to give him the job if he carries on.

“I’m always up for young English coaches getting the job. And I think he’s done an outstanding job so far. The fans are loving him as well. There’s a real feel-good factor around Man United which hasn’t been there for a long time.”

Morris added: “I’d still go with Carrick, because I honestly don’t think Luis Enrique would come to Man United.”

Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott echoed Morris’s view. He said: “I don’t know if Enrique goes there now because I don’t think he sees them as genuine contenders.

“I think Carrick should get the job because I don’t know if Enrique helps them to become contenders. I think Carrick definitely does that. I think he has a stronger connection to the club, the fans, everything to help them get to that stage.”

Ensure our latest 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.

—-

Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.

Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.

You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.

And, finally, if you would rather listen to our expert analysis then make sure to check out our Manchester is Red podcast. Our shows are available on all podcast platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and you can also watch along on YouTube.

The pub used to be a hive of activity but has been empty for many years.

Cambridge is a city known for its high density of pubs. Whether you are looking for somewhere to soak up the sun next to the River Cam in summer or want a historic pub with a roaring fire in winter, the city has plenty of options for drinking spots.

However, over the years, the city has lost a lot of its popular pubs that many residents might remember. Found on the busy Maids Causeway, the Zebra is one of the lost pubs in the city that has been boarded up for a number of years.

The old Zebra pub building is right next to the Grafton Centre, which is currently being redeveloped into new labs and offices. References to the pub date back to 1861, and it has gone through a range of different landlords.

The pub was known for its “excellent pizzas” and was described as being “always busy and well regarded” by people in the area. The Zebra was briefly closed to allow for it to be refurbished and opened under new management in September 2010.

The reopening didn’t last long, as the pub closed for good in 2011. It briefly opened as a toy shop with people living in the accommodation upstairs. According to CAMRA, “a string of licensee changes left it somewhat in limbo”.

After the toy shop closed, the building was boarded up and a planning application was approved in 2014 to turn the building into student accommodation for Anglia Ruskin University. A second application was submitted in 2017 to completely demolish the Zebra pub.

The plan was to build six new two-bedroom apartments. Since the second application was proposed, little to no work has been done to the Zebra pub over the last few years. The building has now been covered by scaffolding and plastic sheets.

If you are walking past the pub any time soon, you might notice some builders going in and out of the area. It is still not known what will happen to the building but it does seem like there have been some developments. Cambridge City Council was approached for more information about the planning process regarding the Zebra.

What do you hope will become of the historic pub?

Paris Saint-Germain have asked for their Ligue 1 match before their Champions League clash with Chelsea to be moved, a development that would hand the French side a huge advantage.

The defending European champions progressed into the knockout phase of the Champions League this week after narrowly seeing off Monaco in a play-off.

Friday’s draw fed them into a round of 16 tie with Chelsea – a repeat of last summer’s Club World Cup final in New Jersey where the Blues sealed a thrilling 3-0 victory where Cole Palmer ran the show.

PSG will host the first leg of the tie at Parc des Princes on Wednesday 11 March with the second leg to follow six days later on Tuesday 17 March.

The French champions are scheduled to face Nantes on the weekend between those two legs.

PSG have now made a special request for that game to be moved to a later date to ensure Luis Enrique’s side are in the best possible condition for the pivotal second leg at Stamford Bridge.  

A statement from the LFP confirmed PSG’s request, also confirming Nantes have already agreed to the fixture being postponed.

‘In order to best prepare for its two Champions League matches against Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain has approached the LFP Board of Directors, with the agreement of FC Nantes, to request that the match be played the week of April 20, 2026,’ the statement said.

‘The decision of the LFP Board of Directors will be announced as soon as possible.’

Nantes and PSG found themselves in an identical position last season with their league match falling between the Champions League quarter-final clash between the French club and Aston Villa.

PSG led 3-1 for the first leg and had a full six days off to recover for the second led at Villa Park where they won 3-2.

Chelsea are unlikely to be given any similar favours from the Premier League.

In between their two games against PSG, the Blues will host Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 14 March in what is expected to be a pivotal game for Liam Rosenior’s side in the race for a top five finish.

MORE: Ray Parlour predicts Mikel Arteta won’t start ‘different class’ Arsenal star against Chelsea

MORE: Marcel Desailly recommends Chelsea sign ‘very smart’ former Liverpool star

MORE: Unai Emery makes concerning Man Utd claim after Aston Villa defeat at Wolves

I also admired the beautiful riverside views while tucking into my sweet treat

On a sunny winter’s day, I enjoyed a sweet brunch that seemed more like a dessert – while admiring beautiful river views. It’s been a cold and wet winter so far in 2026, but on a visit to St Ives, there was a rare sunny day.

While on a walk along the river and admiring the swans, I stumbled upon a cute restaurant called The River Terrace. The restaurant is hidden away in a historic archway. It created an instant cosy vibe even before stepping in. As I went in, I was shown to my table.

Once I sat down, I admired the décor. The inside was very rustic, with large wooden beams towering over me and other diners, as well as homely wooden dining tables and chairs.

Feeling hungry, I scoured the menu for its brunch options. There were a few good options on offer, including a full English breakfast. But I wasn’t feeling like something savoury – I desired something sweet.

I saw that the restaurant offered stuffed French toast. This was toast filled with lemon mascarpone, topped with berry compote, crumble and maple syrup. The price felt a little bit steep at £14.50, but I chose this to see what it was like.

Before getting my food, I ordered an iced vanilla latte. This crisp cold latte was very refreshing. The vanilla essence in it was extra sweet, and it has a very creamy taste to it. After only having to wait 10 minutes, my food came. I was surprised with how big this dish was.

For the £14.50 price, I was hoping to have something quite large and I was proved right. The stuffed toast was beautifully presented, with the crumble lightly scattered across all of it, and a handful of berries placed on top.

It looked too good to eat, but of course I tucked in. The toast was certainly stuffed, as it was quite deep to cut into. I took a bite of the lemon mascarpone with a bit of crumble first. The crumble was warm and almost melted in my mouth.

It had a sweet crunchy taste, and combined with the beautifully bitter mascarpone added an extra level of sweetness. Next, I tried it with some of the berries. This was my favourite part. The berries were rich in flavour and succulent. I tried a large berry on its own, and this had a delicious tangy taste to it.

By the end, I was very full and I took a minute to look at the riverside views from the door next to me. The sun shone on the river as it peacefully flowed by. This was one of the best parts of the restaurant where you could enjoy tranquil river views while eating.

What made it even better was the swans. For a sunny day, I think the River Terrace is the perfect place to stop by for a filling brunch.

It’s also the perfect place if you want to admire pretty riverside views, with some wildlife in the mix.

All of our food reviews are paid for by the writer. The establishments do not know we will be reviewing their food, allowing us to make fair judgements on each place.

Mercedes’ rivals have succeeded in securing a rule change following a pre-season technical row over engine performance.

Audi, Ferrari, Red Bull and Honda had been pushing for a change in the regulation governing compression ratios on the basis they believed Mercedes had secured an advantage through clever use of materials technology.

Formula 1’s governing body the FIA said on Saturday that a change to the way the compression ratio was measured would be introduced on 1 June, with a further revision for the 2027 season.

A statement said the rule change had been approved unanimously by all power-unit manufacturers.

The compression ratio is a measurement of the cylinder displacement between the two extremes of the piston stroke. Typically, an increase will lead to more power.

Some estimates of the gain Mercedes could be achieving have been as much as 0.3 seconds a lap, but Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has said it amounts to “a few horsepower – in England you would say a couple, which is more like two and three”.

The original rule stated the ratio would be limited to 16:1 in the new engine rules introduced this year – a change from 18:1 under the previous regulations – and this was measured at ambient temperature.

Mercedes’ rivals were pushing for the compression ratio to be measured at operating temperature.

The Mercedes engine has been measured by the FIA at both ambient and operating temperature and complied with the limit of 16:1 at all times, senior F1 insiders have told BBC Sport.

Compression ratios tend to decrease as an engine rises in temperature because of thermal expansion of the materials involved. The belief was Mercedes had found a more effective way to limit this loss than other manufacturers.

From 1 June, the compression ratio will be measured at 130C as well as ambient temperature, and from next year only at 130C.

That means that from next year, manufacturers will be able to have engines that exceed a compression ratio of 16:1 at ambient temperature, even though this reduction from the previous limit was introduced into the 2026 regulations to make the rules more appealing to new manufacturers.

Audi and Ford both entered F1 because they were attracted by the new power-unit rules, which introduce a near 50-50 split between internal combustion and electrical power, and Honda reversed a decision to quit.

A statement from the FIA said: “A significant effort has been invested in finding a solution to the topic of compression ratio.

“The regulations introduced for 2026 represent one of the biggest changes in recent memory.

“All parties acknowledge that with the introduction of such significant regulatory changes, there are collective learnings to be taken from pre-season testing and the initial rounds of the 2026 championship.

“Further evaluation and technical checks on energy management matters are ongoing.”

This last sentence is a reference to discussions over energy deployment and recovery.

Drivers have complained that because cars are energy starved this has led to unusual and counter-intuitive driving techniques – and there are various proposals to change the rules to make energy management easier.