Today, the house is a popular destination for weddings

A manor house that’s popular for weddings was used to house Belgians during the First World War. The war was a time of fear and uncertainty, as normal life was turned upside down.

Many people had to flee their home countries, including some that left Belgian and found safety in Cambridgeshire. In August 1914, Germany invaded Belgium.

This forced around 250,000 Belgians to flee their home country and find refuge in Britain. To help in the effort, local communities and large houses were used to try and help house people in need.

Histon Manor was used to accommodate Belgian refugees between 1914 and 1918. Before it was used in the war effort, the house had a “colourful history”, according to the Histon Manor website.

Between 1877 and 1897, the house was owned by William Peed. He made significant changes to the building, including reducing the three-storey hall to a two-storey manor house.

Peed appeared to be a country gentleman on the surface, but a newspaper quote from 1897 put paid to that image. One morning, he disappeared owing millions of pounds. He left his wife and children penniless.

Today, the house is owned by The Biggs family, who bought it in 2018. While it is still a home, it can be used for weddings.

On the manor website, it said it’s a “discreet venue of understated luxury, coupled with warmth and charm”. Its vast front lawn is a perfect place for a marquee.

Within its 11 acres of grounds, it includes four separate formal gardens, woodlands, an island and a moat. It’s described as “one of Cambridge’s most sought after shoot locations”, as it is a great place to take photos.

“It’s the year of the half and half”

I popped into Common Market this week to grab some lunch and I noticed that a brand new food vendor had opened.

I knew something was coming when I heard that Badmaash was closing, but something has very quietly taken its place. Phat Dragon opened between two viral favourites, Wing Society and Smash Bros, so it is in great company. The minute I noticed it was there, I knew I had to get something from it and report back on what everyone can expect from it.

What I ordered:

The menu really focused on the famous ‘half and half’ that we have all come to love, so I went for the one that I reckon most people will be ordering, and that was the salt and chilli chicken half and half with curry sauce.

There was also a range of Chinese-inspired sides on the menu, so I decided on the spring rolls. They had a satay filling and came with a satay dip too. However, it is worth noting that the filling on these will change regularly.

What I liked:

Straight away, when I was handed the half and half, I noticed the weight of it and it was packed so full that the box wouldn’t actually close. I really liked how the chosen sauce came in a large tub, which was on the side, so you could choose whether to dip or pour it.

Now, when it comes to the actual taste, this was some of the freshest and best Chinese food I’ve had in quite some time. The downfall of a half and half is often the chips, and there wasn’t a soggy chip in sight with this one, and they were cooked to perfection. The salt and chilli seasoning was perfectly balanced across the chicken and the chips.

The spring rolls were the size of my head, and that’s not an exaggeration. It must have been so big because it was so full of flavour. These paired with the satay sauce, were absolutely brilliant, and you need to give them a go when you head in.

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What I would change:

Honestly, very little because I went in very shortly after they had opened, and that’s not something I like to do because every restaurant and food establishment deserves the time to bed in. It’s a simple menu on offer here but that’s not a bad thing in my opinion.

How much it cost:

The half and half was £13, and the spring rolls were £7, which is £20 in total, and in my opinion, I thought that was pretty good. The portion sizes were enough for these to be shared, and that’s exactly what I did with them, so it came to £10 per person. So, compared to other comparable ‘street food’ vendors, I think it’s pretty spot on.

All in all, I really mean it when I say this is one of the most exciting new food spots to arrive in Belfast City Centre in some time. It was exactly what Common Market was missing and I can already see it becoming one of the most popular food vendors in the bustling food market.

Their motto on Instagram is that it’s “the year of the half and half”, and I really see the vision here. A fantastic street food vendor picks a few things and really works on them to get them right, and Phat Dragon has done just that. It has taken a fan favourite and nailed it.

In the interest of fairness and transparency, we pay for all the meals and drinks we review. This ensures that we are giving accurate and honest representations of the food and service that we receive. So, unless we state otherwise that we were invited down, we have paid for the meal ourselves and visited without the knowledge of the eatery, so you can trust our opinions aren’t skewed by a freebie.

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Millions claiming benefits including Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments will see payment rates increase from April 2026

Millions of individuals receiving benefits, including Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments, are set to see their payments increase from April. The majority of welfare payments are adjusted every year by the level of inflation from the previous September, which was 3.8%.

Universal Credit standard allowance will rise by 6.2% – higher than the rate of inflation. However, as Universal Credit is paid in monthly payments, people won’t notice the higher payment rate until at least the May payment.

Universal Credit is replacing six older legacy benefits – including Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Housing Benefit.

Meanwhile, the state pension will increase by 4.8% under the triple lock promise. The triple lock guarantees the state pension rises each April by the highest out of inflation (using the previous September inflation figure), wages (average growth between May and July) or 2.5%, reports the Mirror.

Most benefits are paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) but Child Benefit is paid by HMRC.

Attendance Allowance

• Higher rate: £114.60
• Lower rate: £76.70

Bereavement Benefit

For deaths between April 9, 2001 and April 5, 2017

• Widowed Parent’s Allowance: £156.65

Bereavement Support Payment

• Standard rate (lump sum): £2,500
• Standard rate monthly payments: £100
• Higher rate (lump sum): £3,500
• Higher rate monthly payments: £350

Carer’s Allowance

Child Benefit – paid by HMRC

• Eldest or only child: £27.05
• Other children: £17.90

Disability Living Allowance

Care component

• Highest: £114.60
• Middle: £76.70
• Lowest: £30.30

Mobility component

• Higher: £80
• Lower: £30.30

Employment and Support Allowance

Contributory and New Style ESA – Personal Allowances

Single

• Under 25: £75.65
• 25 or over: £95.55

Lone parent

• Under 18: £75.65
• 18 or over: £95.55

Components

• Work related activity: £37.95
• Support: £50.35

Income Related ESA – Personal Allowances

Single

• Under 25: £77.52
• 25 or over: £97.75

Lone parent

• Under 18: £77.52
• 18 or over: £97.75

Couple

• Both under 18 with child: £117.
• Both under 18 (main phase): £97.75
• Both under 18 with child (main phase): £153.61
• One 18 or over, one under 18 (certain conditions apply): £153.61
• Both over 18: £153.61
• Claimant under 25, partner under 18: £77.52
• Claimant 25 or over, partner under 18: £97.75
• Claimant (main phase), partner under 18: £97.75

Income Related ESA – Premiums

Enhanced disability

• Single: £22
• Couple: £31.40
• Severe disability
• Single: £86.05
• Couple (lower rate): £86.05
• Couple (higher rate): £172.10
• Carer: £48.15

Pensioner

• Single with work-related activity component: £105.90
• Single with support component £93.95
• Single with no component: £142.45
• Couple with work-related activity component: £176.55
• Couple with support component: £164.60
• Couple with no component: £213.10

Components

• Work related activity: £36.55
• Support: £48.50

Guardian’s Allowance

Guardian’s Allowance is paid by HMRC

Housing Benefit

Single

• Under 25: £75.65
• 25 or over: £95.55
• Entitled to main phase ESA: £95.55

Lone parent

• Under 18: £75.65
• 18 or over: £95.55
• Entitled to main phase ESA: £95.55

Couple

• Both under 18: £114.35
• One or both 18 or over: £150.15
• Claimant entitled to main phase ESA: £150.15

Dependent children

State Pension Age

• Single or lone parent (State Pension age or over): £256.00
• Couple (State Pension age or over): £383.35
• Single or lone parent (reached state pension age on or after 1 April 2021): £238.00
• Couple (both reached state pension age on or after 1 April 2021): £363.25
• For the claimant and the other party to the marriage where one or more members of the marriage are State Pension age or over: £383.35
• For each additional spouse who is a member of the same household as the claimant and one or more of the members are State Pension age or over: £127.35

Income Support

Single

• Under 25: £75.65
• 25 or over: £95.55
• Lone parent
• Under 18: £75.65
• 18 or over: £95.55

Couple

• Both under 18: £75.65
• Both under 18 – higher rate: £114.35
• One under 18, one under 25: £75.65
• One under 18, one 25 and over: £95.55
• Both 18 or over: £150.15

Dependent children

Industrial Death Benefit

Widow’s pension

• Higher rate: £184.90
• Lower rate: £55.47
• Widower’s pension: £184.90

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

• Standard rate: This is between £46.78 and £233.90 depending on your award level.

There are other premiums available depending on your circumstances.

The first major domestic trophy of the season is Manchester City ‘s. And after a dominant 2-0 win against Arsenal in the English League Cup final on Sunday, it may not be the last.

Manchester-born Nico O’Reilly scored both goals in the second half at Wembley Stadium to not only give City the win on the day but potentially also deliver a psychological blow in the race for the Premier League title as Pep Guardiola aims to chase down Arsenal’s nine-point lead at the top of the standings.

“(It’s an) unbelievable feeling to win a final and to beat this team. We know how good they are,” O’Reilly told Sky Sports. “We need to build on it now, it’ll give us momentum.”

This was serial trophy-winner Guardiola flexing his muscles. It was his 16th major trophy as City manager and a record fifth League Cup. He has won 34 career titles as a manager including his time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

And, once again, he was stamping out Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s own ambitions, having twice beaten him to the league title in recent years.

Arsenal remains favorite to be crowned league champion this season for the first time since 2004, given its big lead. But with second-place City having a game in hand and the teams still to play each other in Manchester at the Etihad Stadium, the picture could look very different in the coming weeks.

City’s win also ended Arsenal’s bid for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies this year – including the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.

O’Reilly, who came through City’s academy, was the unlikely hero with both goals from left back.

He took advantage of Arsenal goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga’s fumble to head City in front on the hour. And he headed in a second four minutes later to effectively kill off the match.

“My whole family came down today (to watch) … I know they’ll be buzzing and I can’t wait to see them,” O’Reilly said.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) which erupted from the Sun will strike Earth leading to the dazzling show

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Brits could catch dazzling lights tonight as officials say it is ‘likely’ Northern Lights will appear. The phenomenon happens as the debris from a massive Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) which erupted from the Sun on Monday, finally strikes Earth leading to the dazzling show.

Space weather conditions are perfect for a display this weekend, with a period of intense solar activity meaning the beautiful lights will be visible across many parts of the UK. The AuroraWatch UK account on X posted the alert this afternoon, stating: “Red alert: aurora likely.”

The CME is a large cloud of plasma ejected into space, it usually accompanies a Solar Flare, which is an eruption of light and radiation. When the disruption from the CME reaches Earth, interactions with our planet’s magnetic field cause the iconic lights in the upper atmosphere.

Solar activity could remain high, according to the Met Office‘s Space Weather Forecast, meaning the aurora could be widely seen again tonight, The Mirror reports.

It said: “Solar winds will be between slightly elevated and elevated at first, following the arrival of the second of the anticipated CMEs. Several further CME arrivals are forecast to potentially arrive at or near to Earth through March 21, likely increasing solar winds to become elevated to strong at times.

“In addition a coronal hole fast wind is expected from March 21 and this could maintain elevated to strong solar wind through the period.”

The northern lights are also more likely to be seen at this time of year as around the spring equinox the Earth’s alignment with the Sun means it is more exposed to solar wind activity.

For a strong chance of seeing the aurora find a dark location without light pollution and facing north.

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The proposed solar farm could cover 24 hectares of agricultural land

A new solar farm could be built in a Cambridgeshire village. AGR Renewables proposes to build a solar development with battery storage on land off Ness Road in Burwell.

In total, the site will be around 24 hectares. It will include solar panels up to 3m high, battery storage, a control building, security fencing, CCTV cameras, access tracks and other related infrastructure.

If approved, it would be up for 40 years. This would then be decommissioned and the site would return to agricultural use.

In its EIA screening request, the developer said: “The proposed development would facilitate the generation of renewable energy and this would conserve natural resources that would otherwise be used to generate power.

“Whilst the solar panels, frames and ancillary equipment would use natural resources during construction this would not be in significant quantities that could have wider significant environmental impacts, with many of the components such as the panel supports and the glass of the photovoltaic panels constructed from recyclable materials.”

If approved, the solar farm would not produce “significant waste” during its construction or operation. The proposed site is also not near homes. East Cambridgeshire District Council has approved previous plans for energy-related applications next to the Ness Road site.

The closest, which is around 2.6km away, is part of the “nationally significant” Sunnica Energy Solar Farm project. This solar farm will cover around 2,500 acres of solar panels and battery storage.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband approved plans for this solar farm in summer 2024. It is proposed to be across four sites, including Mildenhall and West Row, Freckenham and Worlington, and in East Cambridgeshire, close to Newmarket.

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Conner McGowan was left bruised and bleeding after stepping in to protect a pal from a gang of yobs.

UFC fighter Paddy ‘The Baddy’ Pimblett has sent out a message of support to a schoolboy after he was set upon by a teen gang in Dundee. Conner McGowan, 12, intervened to protect his female friend after they had made a trip to the city from Fife.

The brave lad was allegedly then threatened with a knife and hit over the head with a bottle and had his head stamped on. The young lad sustained facial injuries as well as cuts to his legs and head following the brutal attack near Dundee’s High Street on Friday night at around 9pm.

Conner is a massive UFC fan and idolises Pimblett so when his hero heard what happened he sent the lad a video message.

It said: “Yes Conner, mate. I heard about your amazing bravery. Well in for defending your mate. And I hope that you get well soon, mate, and recover soon. Lots of love from the Baddie.”

Pimblett also gave the youngster VIP tickets to attend the Cage Warriors event in Glasgow next month. Fife Flyers ice hockey club have also invited the 12-year-old along to a match as a special guest.

A spokesperson said: “Incidents like this should never happen, and we stand firmly with Conner and his family as he continues his recovery. To lift his spirits, we’d love to invite Conner along to a Fife Flyers game as our special guest.

“Captain Garet Hunt, Ethan Somoza, and the team would be proud to meet him and show him around the dressing room. We’re sending our very best wishes and hope to see you soon Conner!”

Conner’s mum, Lori Roache, told the Record that her son and his two pals decided to travel through to the city from their hometown in Springfield, Fife.

The 30-year-old said: “The three of them were just minding their own business when they were approached by a gang of about 20 boys and girls.

“The girl Conner was with was singled out by the crowd so he stepped in and told them to leave her alone and the three of them tried to leave the area.”

Unfortunately, the incident didn’t end there. Lori claims the group were “like a pack of animals” and they “could have killed” her son.

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She said: “Suddenly, a gang of twelve boys aged between 15-17 surrounded my son. One of them held a knife up to Conner’s face and then another smashed a bottle over his head.

“Once he fell to the ground they were on him like a pack of animals, punching him and stamping down on his head. He is really badly injured but I am just glad he is alive. They could have very easily killed him by kicking his head like that.”

Conner was meant to have been home at 8.30pm but his phone had run out of battery and at the time of the attack, Lori was driving around looking for him.

While she was in the car one of her son’s fiends sent her a message to say what happened and she immediately raced to Dundee and took him to Ninewells Hospital. The lad was given treatment and allowed home but has been left extremely distressed.

The mum-of-four said: “After learning what happened I was screaming and bawling the full way there and can barely even remember the 20-minute drive.

“I put Conner in the car and took him to the hospital where he was given treatment and discharged in the early hours of the morning.

“He has to go back in a week to have the stitches removed and get more X-rays to check there is no lasting damage. He was running on adrenaline last night but it has hit home today how serious this is and he is really traumatised.

“I am scared to let him out the house now. He’ll obviously need to go back out one day but I’ll make sure he isn’t straying far away like that ever again. These thugs who attacked him can’t get away with it and need to be tracked down before they kill someone.”

Police Scotland confirmed they have launched a probe into the attack. They are working to trace those involved.

A spokesperson for the force said: “Around 9pm on Friday, March 20, police received a report of a disturbance involving a group of youths in an alleyway, near the High Street, Dundee.

“Two males, aged 12 and 14 and a 17-year-old female were injured in the incident. Enquiries are ongoing to trace those involved.”

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Gaynor Simpson faced every parents’ worst nightmare when her son Ross Simpson was left fighting for his life with sepsis and meningitis three years ago.

The 54-year-old received a phone call from Ross to say that he was feeling unwell, prompting him to come home from university the following day.

However, quick-thinking Gaynor recognised her son’s symptoms were similar to that of meningitis and rushed him to hospital.

(Image: KennedyNews/GaynorSimpson)

However, quick-thinking Gaynor recognised her son’s symptoms were similar to that of meningitis and rushed him to hospital.

The 21-year-old student, who also developed sepsis, spent the next 10 days in intensive care before his condition thankfully began to improve.

The killer bug has sparked widespread concern this week after 20 meningitis cases have been reported in Kent in what’s since been declared by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as a national incident.

The vast majority of young people are not protected against bacterial meningitis as the jab has only been offered to babies since 2015, but Gaynor believes the vaccine should be rolled out to young people too.

Gaynor, who lives in Glasgow, said: “Ross had phoned me on the Tuesday evening to say he wasn’t feeling particularly well. He felt a bit off colour and didn’t have an appetite.

“He’d been an absolutely fine. Then on the Wednesday evening he said he was awake a lot on the night and had a bit of a headache, which was gone now.

“I asked him if he wanted to come home and I could keep an eye on him, and we’re very thankful that he did.

“He took paracetamol and went for a sleep. Then it was about 7ish and Ross told me that he thinks he might need to go to the doctor.

“He was sat in his bed with his head in his hands and said he couldn’t stand the pain in his head.

“Then he was sick over the side of the bed. I asked him if he had a stiff neck and he said yes, then asked him why the light was off in his room and he said he couldn’t stand the light in his eyes.

“Then I said I think this is meningitis.”

Gaynor rushed Ross to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow where he was taken to ICU after becoming unresponsive.

Later that night, Ross was placed on life-support and a lumbar puncture confirmed he had contracted meningitis and later sepsis.

Ross remained in intensive care for 10 days before his condition began to improve and he was discharged home.

Gaynor said: “The first three days were really uncertain. We were told it was very possible that he might not make it.

“He was incredibly ill. He was on life support for five days then he managed to turn a corner.

“It was a long road to recovery. We’re very lucky. It’s the worst thing that any parent can possibly go through. You’re not the same person again after that.

“It’s a cruel and very unforgiving disease. It’s terrifying how quickly it can move. It’s so important that people know the symptoms.

“Ross had been to a party about a week before and there was a girl at that party who also ended up in hospital.

“We only knew about this other case after Ross ended up in hospital. He probably did get it at the party, you just don’t know.

“It’s just unlucky they both ended up developing it and thankfully both survived.”

What is meningitis? The key symptoms to look out for

Gaynor believes many parents may not be aware that it is possible to pay for the MenB vaccine privately for young adults aged 16-24, known to be a ‘high risk’ age group.

Now, Gaynor is urging others to remain vigilant of meningitis symptoms after the recent outbreak reported in Kent.

Gaynor said: “It is infuriating and heartbreaking in equal measure that we almost lost our son who’s in a high-risk group and we didn’t know anything about this vaccine.

“This vaccine should be offered to that high-risk group. People have no idea there’s another vaccine out there.

“When the news broke about this outbreak, I was just utterly heartbroken because I know exactly how those parents feel.

“It brought it all back for me. You realise you were so close to a very different outcome.

“It’s just about being aware of the symptoms. We don’t want people to have health anxiety, but it’s really important that people have these symptoms in the back of their mind and get to hospital as quickly as they can.”

How to check your vaccination record on the NHS app

• Go to The NHS App
• Open the GP Health Record tab – read and click through the security warning
• Open the Immunisations tab
• Scroll down through your list of vaccines and related information

If you do not see a meningitis vaccination, that does not mean you have not already had one. There are a number of reasons why the NHS app may not have all your immunisations records, including:

• Old records – vaccinations from many years ago may not be recorded on the app
• Overseas jabs – vaccinations received abroad are not automatically added to the app
• GP record gap – if your doctor has not updated their records, there will be a gap in the app
• Access rights – you may need to ask your GP to enable your ‘detailed coded record’

Your GP or a pharmacist will be able to see your full NHS Summary Care Records (SCR), so if in doubt speak to one of them.

Meningitis symptoms

• a high temperature
• cold hands and feet
• vomiting
• confusion
• breathing quickly
• muscle and joint pain
• pale, mottled or blotchy skin (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
• spots or a rash (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin)
• headache
• a stiff neck
• a dislike of bright lights
• being very sleepy or difficult to wake
• fits (seizures)

And in babies:

• refuse feeds
• be irritable
• have a high-pitched cry
• have a stiff body or be floppy or unresponsive
• have a bulging soft spot on the top of their head

Different types of meningitis 

Viral

• Viral meningitis  is the most common form. It is rarely life-threatening but can still cause serious illness. It tends to resolve on its own, though can leave infected feeling very unwell during recovery.
• Mollaret’s meningitis  is a rare and recurring form of the disease. Mollaret’s is a chronic condition, most often linked to infection with the Herpes Simplex virus type 2. 

Bacterial

• Bacterial meningitis  is a serious and fast-moving condition that requires urgent hospital admission and prompt treatment with antibiotics to prevent life-threatening complications.
• Meningococcal disease.  This term covers two major illnesses, meningitis and septicaemia (blood poisoning), which can occur independently but more often together, making it especially dangerous.
• Pneumococcal meningitis  is a life-threatening infection that causes inflammation of the protective layers around the brain and spinal cord, it requires swift medical intervention.
• TB meningitis  is caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. This form of the disease is linked to tuberculosis and can be difficult to diagnose due to its gradual onset.
• Group B streptococcal (GBS) meningitis  is the leading cause of meningitis in babies, and can cause septicaemia and pneumonia, making it a significant concern in newborns.
• Neonatal meningitis  affects newborns and is divided into “early onset” and “late onset”, depending on how soon after birth the condition develops.
• E. coli meningitis  is the second most common bacterial cause of meningitis in newborns. E. coli meningitis is a serious condition primarily affecting the very young.
• Hib meningitis  is like pneumococcal meningitis, and is a life-threatening disease causing inflammation around the brain and spinal cord – though it has become much less common due to vaccination.
• Listeria meningitis  is caused by Listeria bacteria found in certain foods like unpasteurised soft cheeses, pâté, and shellfish. This form can lead to potentially fatal complications.

Other 

• Fungal meningitis  is a very rare form of the disease and shares similar symptoms but typically develops more gradually rather than suddenly.
• Chemical meningitis  is unlike most other forms because it is not caused by an infection. Instead, it is triggered by exposure to a particular substance or chemical that causes inflammation.
• Parasitic meningitis  is extremely rare and occurs when certain parasites infect and inflame the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
• Cryptococcal meningitis  is caused by a fungus found in soil and bird droppings, and is most commonly seen in people with weakened immune systems.
• Non-infectious meningitis.  Not all meningitis is the result of an infection; this variety is triggered by non-infectious causes like certain medications or other medical conditions.
• Malignant/carcinomatous meningitis  is a serious condition when cancer cells spread to the meninges. It is associated with advanced cancer and presents significant treatment challenges.