Record View says if Andy Burnham becomes Prime Minister, his first priority has to be getting a grip on the cost-of-living crisis that continues to bite hard.
Andy Burnham’s by-election win is almost certainly his first step towards replacing Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
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Starmer may stumble on for a few days, even a few more weeks, but the UK is set for its second Labour prime minister since the general election.
Starmer has been a steady presence on the international stage but domestic blunders have cost him and he’s on the way out.
Burnham is a talented politician who as mayor of Greater Manchester has made a positive difference to people’s lives.
But leading a country is a different matter and he will have a tough job on his hands if he gets the top job he craves.
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Record readers will want to be reassured he is up to the job. His first priority has to be getting a grip on the cost-of-living crisis that continues to bite hard.
Bringing down energy prices should be just the first stage of a wider plan to get more money into people’s pockets.
Suggestions he might raise the tax-free personal allowance for income tax would be a welcome step in the right direction.
He also has to recognise the world is a dangerous place and the UK must address a gap in defence spending.
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A sound strategy to protect the country is essential and he must be bold in raising extra money for our armed forces.
Another top order issue is tackling the rising social security bill. Welfare spending protects the vulnerable and boosts people’s incomes – stances no Labour government should go against.
But a generation of young people are being given welfare benefits instead of the support they need to get a job. A compassionate and effective set of welfare reforms is needed to get the UK working again.
Burnham has the drive to be PM and much of what he says makes sense.
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But he must have a laser-like focus on making people’s lives better, otherwise he’ll go the same way as Starmer.
Sea the light
Politicians love to talk about a just transition away from North Sea oil and gas. But there’s been precious little evidence of any “justice” as the oil capital of Aberdeen is left to rot.
Voters in the city made clear to the SNP at Thursday’s by-election how they feel about that. The Nationalists were comprehensively thrashed in a seat they won just two years ago.
The Tories could scarcely believe the scale of their victory, given it’s more than 50 years since they last won a Westminster by-election north of the Border.
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All parties – including the Tories – must share the blame for the failure to prepare for the inevitable job losses from the North Sea energy sector.
We can’t see a repeat of the 80s and 90s when former pit villages were effectively abandoned when the Tory government closed down an entire industry.
Voters in Aberdeen made their voices heard. Holyrood and Westminster must ensure they’re listened to.
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King Charles has said he is “greatly saddened” by the incident and is being kept regularly updated on developments.
He said “his thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased and with all those injured or affected by such a tragic incident”, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson added.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch and East Midlands Railway (EMR) are investigating the crash, after one train collided into the back of another on the same line shortly after 5pm.
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Eddie Dempsey, the general secretary of the RMT union, said the driver and former union rep was killed, but as of Saturday morning, the driver has not been named.
A total of 33 people were taken to hospital while 56 sustained minor injuries.
Passenger Pete Knapp, 40, recalled: “There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming, people were so scared and confused.”
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer described the crash as “hugely concerning” and said he is “grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident”.
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Locals provide snacks for dozens stuck on trains behind crash
Locals brought snacks for dozens of people stuck on a train behind the two trains that crashed on Friday.
Footage shows the passengers walking up the closed rail line after leaving the stationary train.
“Thoughts are with everyone involved in the Bedford train collision today. I was on the train behind and stranded for hours,” wrote on passenger on X.
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“Huge thanks to my partner and neighbours, who brought water and snacks for passengers when we stopped outside my house. Humanity at its best.”
Alex Croft20 June 2026 12:59
‘We were picked up and shaken like dice’: Witness recalls horrific moment trains collided near Bedford
A witness described how people were “picked up and shaken like dice” following a train crash that killed a driver and injured more than 80 people near Bedford on Friday.
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Eyewitness, Dr Pete Knapp, 40, described the moment he was “flung” into a chair as the two trains collided. He said: “There was a moment of being flung into the chair in front, and then I saw smoke. People were crying, screaming, people were so scared and confused.
“I got up and I saw a lot of people who were unable to speak, had broken legs, and then I managed to get out of the train and because I’m quite thin I was able to squeeze out through the gap in the doors.”
He added: “My first thought was I needed to get out of the train just in case it was a terrorist explosion, I thought it was safer to get off the train.”
Dr Knapp said he had not felt the train slow down before the crash, but other passengers told him they had.
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He said he he saw people with “life-threatening, major injuries, minor injuries” as well as “people with bandages, people who couldn’t see straight”, while others like him were still able to walk.
Dr Knapp added: “I’ve got blood all over my trousers and my back hurts like hell but I’m alright.”
Alex Croft20 June 2026 12:36
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How have MPs responded to Bedford crash?
Ministers and local politicians have said the crash is “very concerning” as they shared their condolences with those affected.
In a statement on X, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Hugely concerning reports of a collision involving two passenger trains near Bedford.
“First and foremost, my thoughts are with the family of the person who has sadly lost their life, and with those who have been seriously injured.
“I am grateful to the emergency services for their swift response to this tragic incident.”
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Heidi Alexander said she was “deeply concerned” by reports of a collision between two passenger trains in Bedfordshire.
In a post on X, the transport secretary said: “I’m deeply concerned to hear reports of the collision involving 2 East Midlands Railway passenger trains.
“I’m grateful to emergency services who are on the scene, attending to those affected.
“We’re working quickly with the rail industry and local partners to support passengers.”
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Early on Friday evening Bedford and Kempston MP Mohammad Yasin told The Telegraph: “I am very concerned by the early reports of an incident this evening just outside Bedford and Kempston, involving two Midland Mainline trains travelling towards London.
“My thoughts are with everyone involved, their families, and all those who may be affected.
“I want to thank the emergency services and railway staff who are responding to the incident.”
Alex Croft20 June 2026 12:14
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Network Rail ‘deeply saddened’ after death of train driver
Network Rail has said it is “deeply saddened” after a train driver “tragically died” in a statement released on Saturday morning.
“Our thoughts are with their family, friends and colleagues, and with everyone affected,” it said.
“Our teams are on site working closely with the emergency services and industry partners. We want to thank the emergency services and the wider railway family for their professionalism and swift response.
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“In the meantime, we ask passengers to please check before they travel.”
Alex Croft20 June 2026 11:52
Bedford train crash passenger ‘angry’ after horror collision
Brett Byatt, a teacher who lives in Bedford and was unharmed in the crash, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Saturday: “Yesterday I was pretty shocked. This morning it feels surreal, and I think I’ve moved into the stage of anger now.
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“I don’t know at whom, who specifically, but it’s more about we’ve got one of the oldest railway networks and signal failures happen a lot, and now I’m just wondering… why wasn’t that signalled to my train and why did that train driver lose his life over this?”
A train driver died and more than 80 people were injured after the collision. Investigations are set to begin into the cause of the crash, after one train collided into the back of a stationary train on the same line shortly after 5pm.
Alex Croft20 June 2026 11:29
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Driver who died was on 16:40 Corby train to St Pancras – Aslef
The driver who died in the train collision on Friday was on the 16:40 Corby train to St Pancras, Dave Calfe, general secretary of the train drivers’ union Aslef, said on Saturday morning.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the railway family will be “feeling the sadness and sorrow” of the loss of their life.
The Rail Accident Investigation Branch is looking into what lessons can be learned, he added.
Mr Calfe said: “The most important thing for us is that we learn the outcomes from incidents like this and prevent them from happening in the future.”
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Alex Croft20 June 2026 11:05
King Charles ‘deeply saddened’ by Bedford rail crash
The King is “greatly saddened” by the rail crash near Bedford on Friday evening, Buckingham Palace spokesperson has said.
King Charles is being kept regularly updated on developments and “his thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased and with all those injured or affected by such a tragic incident”, they added.
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Alex Croft20 June 2026 10:52
Trains crashed ‘because of problem with automatic warning system’, says Simon Calder
Travel expert and former Independent correspondent Simon Calder has said the trains crashed as a result of a technical fault on the rail lines.
The train in front, which was running late on its way south to London, had come to a halt “because of a problem with the automatic warning system which warns train drivers if there is a red signal ahead”, he told Cathy Newman on Sky News.
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The Rail Accident Investigation Branch says it is currently investigating the cause of the crash.
While the driver was travelling to sort this out, the 16:40pm from Corby was on the same southbound line and collided with the stationary train.
“The pictures we are seeing are just shocking for the train to have struck with such force that we had a derailment is really worrying.
“Of course, railways are in general extremely safe… but if you are involved in an accident where you were previously travelling quickly and suddenly come to a halt then that is, I’m so sorry to say, going to involve some serious injuries.”
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Alex Croft20 June 2026 10:27
Witness says most people in his carriage could not stand or move their neck after crash
A passenger on one of the trains that collided said he thought 90 per cent of people on his carriage had serious injuries, could not stand or move their neck.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Brett Byatt said: “The people in first class ended up with stomach and rib injuries, because they went into the tables they have in first class, and EMR (East Midlands Railway) trains, the way that they’re structured with seats, was probably the worst way it could have been structured for a train crash, in the sense that there’s nothing… because they’re, they face each other in the three by three and the two by three, and the seat… when people flew into one another, the seats that they were on, like, broke backwards into the people behind them.”
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The teacher, who lives in Bedford and was unharmed in the crash, added: “I’ve said before that I’d probably say 90 per cent of the people on my carriage had injuries, I’d probably say from three to four of us were uninjured in a full carriage.
“Everyone else had either a serious wound that was bleeding profusely, or a situation where they couldn’t stand, or couldn’t move their neck, or I saw a woman’s snapped leg.”
89 people were injured in the crash (Reuters)
Alex Croft20 June 2026 10:13
Watch: Emergency workers on scene after two trains collide in Bedford area
Emergency Workers On Scene After Two Trains Collide In The Bedford Area
The 30-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment to a serious head injury, where he later passed away surrounded by his family.
12:18, 20 Jun 2026Updated 12:20, 20 Jun 2026
Funeral details have been announced for a man who died following an assault outside a bar in West Belfast on Friday.
Carl Holland, who was 30-years-old and from the local area, was assaulted outside a licensed premises on the Suffolk Road on Friday night, June 12.
It is understood that a verbal altercation occurred at the venue earlier that evening. Later, the male suspect arrived by taxi, punched the victim, and then left in the same taxi.
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The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to a serious head injury, where he later passed away surrounded by his family.
A 20-year-old man arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent was subsequently released on bail to allow for further enquiries.
A 46-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm were also released on bail to allow for further enquiries.
Late of Rinnalea Walk, a funeral notice described Mr Holland as the dearly beloved son of the late Janice and Paddy; cherished grandson of Anne and her partner Ricky; much loved nephew of John, Thomas, Charlie, Annie, Marion, Bridie, Sally and Margaret and loved godson of Joe.
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He will be reposing in the Chapel of Rest (98 Stewartstown Road) from Sunday for those wishing to pay their respects before returning home to his grandmother’s house on Thursday evening. House strictly private.
His remains will leave his grandmother’s home on Friday at 12:15pm to arrive at St. Oliver Plunkett Church for 1pm Requiem Mass. Committal to follow at Roselawn Crematorium.
Family flowers only. Donations in Lieu of flowers if desired to Cancer Focus NI c/o O’Neill’s Funeral Directors 98 Stewartstown Road Belfast BT11 9JP (Tel:028 90620099) or online to www.oneillsfuneraldirectors.co.uk.
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Carl was the victim of an assault, which happened outside licensed premises in the Suffolk Road area of the city on the night of Friday, 12th June.
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“The male suspect arrived by taxi, he punched the victim, and then left in the taxi. This was at approximately 9pm.
“Carl was taken to hospital for treatment to a serious head injury, where he remained in a critical condition until his untimely death.”
Police have also reiterated an appeal to anyone with information to come forward: “From enquiries, we know that a verbal altercation had taken place, inside the premises, earlier that same evening.
“I am asking anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to get in touch. I’m particularly keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the assault, or the earlier altercation, and who may have captured footage, whether CCTV, mobile phone or dash cam.
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“You can contact officers on 101 or report online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport quoting reference number 1174 13/06/26.”
Alternatively, information can be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers, with total anonymity, on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
The theme of this year’s festival is ‘Forged by the Foyle: It’s in Our DNA’
The Foyle Maritime Festival returns to Derry’s iconic riverfront later this month for four unforgettable days of maritime magic.
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Northern Ireland’s premier maritime celebration transforms the River Foyle into a spectacular showcase where majestic tall ships from across Europe dock alongside world-class entertainment, featuring circus performances, street art, live music stages, on-the-water activities, family friendly workshops, continental markets and culinary adventures with award-winning local produce.
In anticipation of the 2027 opening of a £15 Million investment, Derry North Atlantic Museum, DNA Museum, the theme of this year’s festival is ‘Forged by the Foyle: It’s in Our DNA’.
The riverfront will come alive daily from 12 noon to 11pm between Thursday, June 25, and Sunday, June 28.
This year will bring back crowd pleasing classics as well as Northern Irish debuts.
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Here are some of the things you won’t want to miss.
1. Galeón Andalucía
This year, festival organisers are delighted to welcome the magnificent Galeón Andalucía with its Northern Ireland debut.
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Built in southern Spain, this 55-metre, six-deck replica of a Spanish galleon offers a glimpse into the age of exploration. It is also the only sailing vessel of its kind in the world.
Don’t miss the opportunity to come aboard and experience history firsthand.
2. Tall Ships
The Phoenix is owned by a French company who are touring Europe to showcase the magic and splendour of this magnificent Tall Ship. The ship wowed spectators with her cannon salutes and majestic sails in 2024 and organisers are honoured to have her take a break from an intense film schedule to drop anchor at the festival once again.
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Making its debut at the festival this year, a “sea snail” tall ship typically refers to the beloved classic 56-foot Danish schooner Sea Snail or the formidable “iron snail” sailing vessels. These rugged, historic tall ships are heavily known for hands-on, traditional sailing experiences, blue-water adventures, and enduring intense storms when modern fiberglass boats fail. This particular vessel was Sea built in Denmark in 1932 as a North Sea wet fish boat – she had a hold that was filled with sea water to keep the fish alive! Converted from fishing to charter/sail training in 1980, she currently resides in Co Down.
The festival is honoured to welcome the French Ecole Navale and their sail training vessel, Mutin which is part of the Marine Nationale. This ship played an undercover role as a spy-boat during the second world. Taking cover in Plymouth when the Germans bombed her port town of Brest, she was requisitioned to the British Secret Services for the remainder of the war carrying out special missions for British agents as far as the Adriatic coasts before returning to the French Navy in 1945.
Built in Crosshaven, Cork in 1956 as a naval tender, Eabora was converted to sail by renowned Scottish novelist Alistair MacLean, famous for bestselling novels and films including Where Eagles Dare and When Eight Bells Toll.
MacLean purchased the boat as part of his research for When Eight Bells Toll, immersing himself in life at sea to bring authenticity to his writing. The vessel remains closely linked to the adventurous spirit and maritime legacy that inspired many of his celebrated works.
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Built in Denmark in 1936 for fishing in the North Sea, Klevia has been restored and traditionally rigged as a Gaff Ketch and is registered as a sailing vessel in the UK. Another stunning vessel, we can’t wait to welcome back this beautiful boat into Foyle Port.
3. Sails of Solace Light Show, Thursday 25th, Friday 26th & Saturday 27th June 10pm-3am each night
Step back in time and enjoy a breathtaking illuminated riverscape, with masts and beams stretching into the night sky reminiscent of days when the Derry Docks were home to a fleet of working ships.
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For 2026 Visual Spectrum will transform our visiting Tall Ships into a unified artwork of light and reflection, presenting them in a new light that celebrates their grandeur and majesty while the timing of the display invites visitors to revel in a private viewing as the city and ships sleep.
Some special installations from Wonderlights will enable a family of seals and the ghost of Dopey Dick to appear under the cover of darkness, look to the horizon and see golden sails stretching towards the night sky.
This curated experience invites visitors to come at their leisure outside the trading hours of the festival and enjoy the space and time to take in the festival riverscape with the masts of visiting ships and their illuminated reflections creating a temporary but beautiful experience that disappears with dawn each day.
4. Water Activities
No maritime festival would be complete without a full programme of activities on the river.
First port of call is the Water Registration Tent, managed by the Loughs Agency who have curated a packed itinerary that caters for all ages and abilities and will delight participants and spectators alike.
The tent is located beside the South Pontoon entrance, where all taster sessions and tours depart. A changing tent is also available in the family festival hub for anyone taking the plunge and needing to dry off.
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Experienced providers will offer inclusive, bespoke experiences for all abilities. Some sessions require booking, while others are available for walk-ups where possible.
Crowds at the Foyle Maritime Festival 2026 are also set for another adrenaline-filled spectacle as The Edge Wakeboarding Team returns to the River Foyle with a daily programme of high-energy wakeboard performances.
Their performances have been a standout attraction at previous editions of the festival, drawing large crowds to the riverfront and creating unforgettable moments on the water.
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5. Rockshore Sounds
No trip to the festival would be complete without taking time to enjoy the buzzing atmosphere of the Festival Village and listening to a fantastic array of acclaimed local and national musicians and performers.
Perched perfectly between two watering holes, the Rockshore Stage is where the party’s at.
A packed programme of music includes performances from Altan, George Houston, We Love Sax, John Deery & The Heads, and Reevah.
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6. Derry – Londonderry North Atlantic (DNA) Museum Activities
Through hands‑on activities and lively encounters with characters from the past, discover how our city and district has been shaped by the landscape and the people who have called it home.
Using our collections and archives, maps, and stories, learn about surprising connections as we bring history to life, showing how places, journeys and relationships have shaped who we are today. Additionally, discover too what life was like for the many women who worked in our shirt factories.
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7. Vintage Funfair with the Amelia Earhart Wheel
Step back to the charm of old seaside promenades with a vintage funfair experience along the banks of the River Foyle. Enjoy classic attractions, grab an ice cream, and soak up the atmosphere of a perfect traditional seaside escape.
Take a spin on the Amelia Earhart Wheel and enjoy stunning views across the river and festival grounds.
The festival will come to a spectacular close with a synchronised fireworks display on the river around 11pm on Sunday night. An enchanting Dusk Chorus will be delivered by NI Rock Choir who will sing a moving and uplifting ensemble of songs inspired by the occasion. The performance will begin at approximately 10.25pm in The Dock, alongside Tall Ship, The Phoenix and Spanish replica vessel The Galleon Andalucia, setting the scene that will close four days of maritime magic.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza (AP) — An Israeli strike early Saturday killed at least two children in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian health officials said.
Despite an October ceasefire between Israel and the militant group Hamas, the enclave has seen near-daily Israeli attacks that have killed over 1,007 Palestinians, the Gaza Health Ministry said.
Saturday’s strike hit an apartment in Gaza City around 2 a.m local time, according to the ministry, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue teams work on recovering more bodies. There was no immediate information on the number of the wounded.
At the site of the attack, an Associated Press reporter saw scattered rubble and chunks of concrete stained with blood.
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The bodies of the two sisters, 4-year-old Zina and 14-year-old Lana, were sent to Shifa Hospital’s morgue, where they lay shrouded in white hospital bags, surrounded by family members.
“I was sitting at home. The rocket fell on us without a warning,” said their cousin, Mohammad Safadi, who had a forehead wound.
He said both he and his wife were wounded in the attack.
“This ceasefire the occupation and the negotiation team speak of … is this really a ceasefire? We are civilians. I never held a weapon,” Safadi added.
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The Israeli military didn’t immediately issue a statement, but said it was looking into the incident. Israel says it is targeting Hamas and other militants who pose a threat.
Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the truce.
The war erupted when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel’s retaliatory military offensive in the Gaza Strip has since killed 73,018 Palestinians, including those slain since the ceasefire, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday.
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The health ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records that are generally considered reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants but says women and children make up around half of all fatalities.
You sit down to start a task you care about. Nothing happens. You open your phone instead. Minutes turn into hours. You feel restless, flat, or oddly exhausted, even though you haven’t done much at all.
For many neurodivergent people, this cycle is painfully familiar. It’s often described as a motivation problem or a focus issue. But for those who are ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or autistic and ADHD (AuDHD), these experiences are closely linked to how dopamine – a vital brain chemical involved in motivation and reward – is regulated.
Due to this experience, some neurodivergent people have started to turn to a simple tool: the “dopamine menu”. Popularised in 2020 by Jessica McCabe, a YouTuber and ADHD advocate, a dopamine menu is a personalised list of activities that can help provide small, regular boosts of motivation and pleasure throughout the day.
For people who find themselves stuck or overwhelmed, it offers a structured way to access activities that feel rewarding or regulating. But to understand why this approach can be helpful, it is important to understand what dopamine is and how it works.
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Dopamine is often referred to as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter, but this is an oversimplification. While it does play a role in pleasure, dopamine is also closely linked to motivation, anticipation and the ability to initiate and sustain tasks.
Dopamine is often referred to as the “feel-good” neurotransmitter (Getty Images)
It is produced in three areas of the brain: the hypothalamus, substantia nigra and the ventral tegmental area. Outside the brain, it is also released from the adrenal glands, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract.
Dopamine is involved in multiple cognitive processes including learning, attention, mood regulation, focus, memory and reward. It also plays a role in pain perception, sleep and movement.
Dopamine is released in response to certain activities such as spending money, eating, drinking and sex. This dopamine “burst” reinforces that we like this activity and motivates us to do it again. Not all dopamine increases are equal. Some activities provide short, intense bursts, while others lead to more gradual and sustained changes.
Why this matters for neurodivergent people
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Some neurodivergent people have a different relationship to dopamine than neurotypical people. The most discussed neurotype when it comes to dopamine is ADHD.
Research suggests that people with ADHD typically have a lower baseline level of dopamine, and may process it differently. This can lead to a greater drive to seek stimulation.
People with ADHD are also more likely to develop addictions, such as to substances, video games, gambling or the internet, and are at higher risk of relapse. This demonstrates the importance of appropriate, tailored support, rather than framing such behaviour as purely a matter of choice.
Regardless of neurotype, many people find themselves turning to quick, easily accessible sources of dopamine, such as scrolling on a phone. While these can provide short-term relief, they are often not satisfying in the longer term and may leave people feeling more depleted.
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Designing your own sources of reward
About the author
Rebecca Ellis is an Assistant Researcher in Public Health at Swansea University. This article was first published by The Conversation and is republished under a Creative Commons licence. Read the original article
This is where dopamine menus can be helpful. Rather than relying on a narrow set of high-intensity activities, a dopamine menu provides a wider range of options that can support more consistent regulation throughout the day.
In her 2020 video, Jessica McCabe describes dopamine menus in sections, although they can be adapted to suit individual needs.
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“Appetisers” are small, quick activities such as watering plants or making a coffee. “Meals” are more substantial activities that take longer, such as going for a walk, cooking or playing a board game. “Sides” are additions that make less enjoyable tasks more appealing, such as adding music or a podcast. “Desserts” are enjoyable activities best used in moderation, such as scrolling on social media or watching television. While “specials” are less frequent, more novel experiences, such as attending an event, eating out or going on a trip.
The process of creating a dopamine menu starts with identifying activities you enjoy and considering how they might fit into your daily routine. Making these activities more accessible – for example, leaving a yoga mat out or preparing materials in advance – can reduce the effort required to get started. It can also be helpful to add small barriers to activities you are trying to reduce.
What’s important is that dopamine menus are not to-do lists. They are optional, flexible and designed to reduce pressure rather than create it. By enabling us to decide in advance what feels supportive or enjoyable, they can reduce the cognitive load of choosing what to do in moments of low motivation.
So, rather than fixing a lack of motivation, dopamine menus offer a way of working with the brain’s natural rhythms, and creating space for small moments of energy, interest and ease throughout the day.
Signs have gone up at the supermarket in the Great Park development in Newcastle confirming the fishmonger and butcher stands will reopen this month.
They confirm “fresh cuts are back on the block” with “skilled butchers” returning to the store on Monday (June 22).
A week later on Monday, June 29, the fish counter will reopen, with signage reading: “Dive into fresh fish done right, with skilled fishmongers preparing your fish just how you like it.”
The butcher counter will reopen on June 22. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
The retailer closed both stands at its Great Park town centre shop in April last year.
At the time Rami Baitieh, Morrisons’ chief executive, said the changes were a “necessary part of our plans to renew and reinvigorate” the brand as some areas were “simply uneconomic”.
The Great Park store’s café, which also closed last year, is not reopening.
The fish counter will reopen on June 29. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
The 20,000sq ft supermarket only opened in March 2023, after residents of the huge estate spent years campaigning for one.
Featured on the list are stores on Queen Street in Redcar, on Zetland Road in Loftus, on Esk Close in Guisborough, and on Stokesley High Street.
The retailer said its convenience stores are subject to continuous review, but the stores to be closed have been loss-making, despite remedial action.
A statement continued: “This situation has been exacerbated in more recent years by significant cost increases resulting from Government policy choices, which have made returning these stores to profitability even more difficult.”
Italian news agency Ansa reported that the Italian ambassador to the Dominican Republic met the deceased woman’s husband at the hospital. The embassy is helping around 285 Italian tourists who were staying at the resort or nearby, issuing emergency passports to those whose travel documents were destroyed in the fire and arranging flights home.
Festival-goers are can look forward to clear skies on day two of Scotland’s biggest music festival
Scots heading to TRNSMT on Saturday, June 20, will enjoy better conditions than its rainy day one kick off . While clouds aren’t going away just yet, sunny spells are in the majority for Glasgow.
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Music revellers gathered in a rather wet Glasgow Green on Friday, June 19, to enjoy the first day of TRNSMT music festival. Despite getting off to a drenching start, conditions cleared for revellers to enjoy Richard Ashcroft’s closing set followed by a stint in the fan zone to watch Scotland’s World Cup defeat.
Met Office weather maps for today show temperatures starting off strong, reaching a balmy 15C by noon. As the day progresses, this number is to rise gradually before peaking at 18C by 2pm. The mercury will gradually drop into the evening but is to remain in the mid teens.
The Met Office said in its Strathclyde forecast for Saturday: “This morning will be dry although one or two showers possible across Argyll. Then this afternoon will be dry with some bright or sunny intervals, Maximum temperature 18C.”
For tonight, the national forecaster adds: “This evening will be dry with some late sunshine. Then the rest of the night will remain dry with some lengthy clear periods. Light winds. Minimum temperature 10C.”
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Music fans with Sunday tickets are to be the luckiest weather wise, with temperatures climbing further. “All parts will have a dry day with some sunny spells, some cloud bubbling up by afternoon. Warm. Maximum temperature 21C,” the Met Office added.
This warming weather is due to a band of pressure that has been gradually rising northwards which will allow Southern Scotland to enjoy warmer weather. However the same can’t be said for Northern Scotland, where scattered showers can be expected.
TRNSMT’s Saturday line-up will see acts like The Fratellis, English Teacher and The Last Dinner Party take to the main stage throughout the day, with Kasabian closing as the final headline act.
Loyle Carner is the main headliner for the notable King Tut’s stage and a number of new acts will light up the BBC Introducing Stage.
It comes after footage was shared of a large crowd of revellers caught in a brawl at the festival site on Friday evening. The video showed two teens punch each other by the Big Wheel before a steward eventually got involved and broke up the scrap.
Commander Neerav Patel, who leads the Met’s operations against illegal e-bikes, said: ‘Officers will be using an intelligence-led approach to precisely target hotspots, make arrests, and clear thousands of illegal vehicles from our streets.’
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‘We are not starting from scratch,’ adding the force has ‘already seized over 2,500 illegal e-bikes and e-scooters in the last year’.
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