A vehicle has smashed into a wall outside a property minutes away from the site of the A66 crash and subsequent deadly house fire near Middlesbrough.

The incident took place in the early hours of Thursday morning at a house on Steele Crescent, South Bank.

It is located near the site of a crash on the A66 which killed seven people on Saturday, and a house fire in Grangetown on Wednesday, where a seven-year-old girl and her aunt died.

Officers from Cleveland Police were called to the house – which was empty at the time – after 12.30am on Thursday.

An investigation has been launched and police have not confirmed whether there is any link between the previous two incidents and today’s crash.

Local policing Superintendent Emily Harrison said: ‘The property was empty at the time and we have not currently received any reports of any injuries.

‘Officers are conducting inquiries to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident.

‘Our investigation is in its early stages and it has not yet been confirmed whether this incident is linked to wider organised crime.’

The crash occurred the same morning that inquests were opened into the deaths of two police officers who were among those killed when their vehicle was hit by a car driving the wrong way down the A66.

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, died in the resulting head-on collision with a Volkswagen Passat on Saturday.

Teesside Coroners’ Court heard that ‘all occupants of both vehicles were sadly pronounced dead at the scene’.

In short, consecutive hearings, coroner Paul Appleton said Pc Blades was identified by his wife, and Pc Clough by his partner.

The provisional cause of death was said to be head and neck injuries for Pc Blades, and neck injuries for Pc Clough.

Mr Appleton said: ‘At this stage it is understood that there had been a police pursuit of the Volkswagen Passat.

‘It entered the A66 carriageway against the flow of traffic, at which stage the pursuit was aborted.

‘A short time after… the Volkswagen Passat collided with a police vehicle, which had not been directly involved in the prior pursuit.’

Inquests will open this afternoon into the deaths of the young men who were in the Passat during the collision – Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23-year-olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak.

On Wednesday, seven-year-old Valentina Foster and her aunt Natalie McDonald, 34, died following a fire at a house in Grangetown.

Tributes have been left outside the property, including flowers and toys, plus a photo of the pair and the words: ‘RIP Natalie and Valentina you will be missed.’

A teddy bear was left with a note which said: ‘Now she dances with butterflies Valentina.’

Prime minister Andy Burnham has said the government is offering ‘all of the support that the authorities need’ following the house fire.

‘The important thing, it’s a terribly tragic event that’s happened with the loss of a young woman and her seven-year-old niece,’ he said.

He continued: ‘Utterly devastating, and I’m sure there’s a whole community that is grieving, not just what happened at the weekend, and particularly we should stress our deepest respect for the police officers lost in the line of duty and sending our sympathies to their families.

‘And we will obviously make sure that the support is there for them going forward.

‘The only thing I can say this morning is there is an investigation under way. It will be the fullest possible investigation. The authorities will have all of the support that they need.

‘We do need to understand the extent to which they may be connected, but they may not be. So I think it’s too early to jump to conclusions.

‘But what we can say at this point in time is that all of the support will be provided to get to the heart of what has happened here.’

Police have arrested 17 people following the crash as part of investigations into alleged organised crime. Two have been charged and the others have been bailed.

Police have previously said the five young men in the Passat may have had links to ‘serious and organised criminal activity’, with four having previous convictions.

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The show has been on hiatus since presenter Andrew “Freddie” Flintoff was almost killed during filming in December 2022.

He presented alongside Paddy McGuinness

The presenters of the new series have not been named by producers.

The former cricketer was taken to hospital with facial and rib injuries following the accident at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, when he was driving a Morgan Super 3.

The car, which did not have a roof, flipped upside down and skidded on the tarmac before coming to a stop.

After the crash, the BBC said Top Gear would be “rested” for the foreseeable future, after reaching a financial settlement with Flintoff, an agreement reportedly worth around £9 million.

However, the BBC’s director of entertainment Ed Havard confirmed the news of the return at the Edinburgh TV Festival on Thursday.

(Image: John Walton / PA Wire)

Speaking at a panel event, he was asked whether the show would be returning to the national broadcaster.

He said: “There has been a lot of speculation about this and we can confirm that Top Gear is coming back.

“I’m not going to talk about talent today.”

Havard had been asked whether Jimmy Carr would be hosting. He replied: “Jimmy would be a great host but I won’t be discussing that today.

“We will have more information on Top Gear shortly.”

Paddy also suffered a crash during the filming the show.

Talking on the Restless Natives podcast about Top Gear, The Sun reported, McGuinness said: “I was in this race in America.

“I hit a wall at about 70 or 80 miles an hour.

“You could feel your brains rattling.

“Thank the Lord I walked away from it.

“But I remember that night being in my bed at the hotel and literally having a bit of a panic attack.”

Find out when the popular retailer is planning to close this year.

It might still be August, but some retailers on the high street are already beginning to think about the Christmas period. One of them is Home Bargains.

The discount chain has officially confirmed to the Daily Record that it will be closing all 76 stores across Scotland on three specific days. It will come in handy for those who are planning a trip later in the year.

All shops will be remaining closed on Christmas Day (December 25), Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year’s Day (January 1). It follows similar moves made by the retailer over the years to ensure staff are giving plenty of time with their loved ones over the holidays.

Like many major brands on the UK high street, the bargain firm often switches up its hours in the build-up to Christmas. While it was always common to remain closed on December 25, the decision to remain so on the two following days has become a more recent tradition.

In the past, many would reopen for the all important Boxing Day and New Year sale events. However, this was changed as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic, leading quite a few to keep their doors closed.

While Home Bargains has not provided an official comment, a spokesperson has told the Daily Record in previous years: “We know how hard all our colleagues have worked throughout the year.

“Being a family-run business, we recognise the importance of spending quality time with our loved ones. Therefore, we feel it is only right to support our valued store teams by giving them extended time off around Christmas and New Year.”

Alongside remaining closed on these three days, the discounter has also been known to close a little bit earlier on Christmas Eve. In the past, it has operated at reduced hours, with many tending to close at around 5pm, although this may potentially differ this December.

The decision hasn’t just affected all Scottish stores, as all 617 stores across the UK will be closed on Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year this year. Shoppers can find their local store by using the store locator tool.

While it might seem very early to be considering Christmas just now, Home Bargains is usually popular during the holiday period since it offers affordable prices across seasonal must-haves, such as decorations, gift wrapping and décor items including candles and wreaths.

To gear up for the inevitably busy time of year, the bargain retail chain has already begun to stock its Christmas range ahead of schedule. In fact, the firm teased its loyal 1.2 million Instagram followers with a ‘sneak peek’ of its upcoming festive range.

On the retailer’s website, shoppers will already find everything from trees and gift sets to adorable seasonal ornaments, such as ceramic LED houses and pastel gingerbread houses. The popular Polar Express collection has also made a return for 2026.

Based on the iconic 2004 animated Christmas film, the seasonal range comes with a selection of themed velour pyjamas for the whole family, making them perfect for cosy Christmas movie marathons, lazy mornings and for Christmas morning itself.

Despite the early announcement, some shoppers already seem to be delighted, as many have responded to Home Bargains’ Christmas range under its Instagram reel. One such comment read: “Oh wow I can’t wait. It all looks fabulous.”

Another eager customer wrote: “Stop I’m so excited!!!!”

And someone else added: “Died and gone to Christmas heaven.”

There has been a significant fall in the use of hotels to house asylum seekers waiting for a Home Office decision, data shows.

In June 2025 there were more than 32,000 people in hotel rooms, but by June this year it had halved to more than 16,000.

There has also been a drop in legal migration arrivals, asylum claims and small boat arrivals to the UK compared to a year ago.

The Home Office said the figures showed that policies to control migration are having an effect – but said there was still more to do on the issue of small boat crossings.

There was also a similar fall in the number of family members coming to the UK to join someone already legally in the country, while asylum claims were also down by a fifth.

Some 38,000 illegal arrivals were detected in the year to June – 33,000 of them on small boats across the sea from France.

More up to date figures show the trend in small boat arrivals has continued to be lower than last year. Correspondingly, claims for asylum have also fallen.

Some 86,000 people sought asylum – down a fifth on the previous year. About half of those applications for help came from people who were already legally in the UK, rather than having arrived on a small boat.

The rise in the use of hotels coincided with an increase in arrivals across the English Channel from 2019 and a slowing down of Home Office decisions as to how many of these claimants had a genuine right to stay in the UK or should be told to leave.

One of the first decisions of the new Starmer government in July 2024 was to order officials to work faster in deciding these claims, with a target of ending the use of hotels within five years.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “A little over two years into office and the asylum backlog is down, the number of asylum seekers in hotels is falling, illegal working arrests are at record levels, and deportations and returns are up markedly.

“Small boats numbers are also now falling, but we are not complacent and there is more we must do.”

The number of people in houses around the country paid for by the Home Office has gone up from 65,000 at the end of 2024 to 69,000 in June this year – arrangements that are part of a decade-long standing contract with private providers.

The number of asylum claimants waiting for an initial ruling on their case – meaning they are told whether they have a genuine case for protection or should leave the UK – was 40,000. That is down from the peak of 175,000 in June 2023.

In turn, some 40,000 found not to have a reason to be in the UK (either foreign offenders, visa overstayers or failed asylum applicants) were removed from the country in the year to June 2026 – an 8% increase on the year before.

Officials say about a third were failed asylum seekers – the highest number for 16 years and double the rate of removals that occurred in 2021.

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Banning under-16s from social media was one of Keir Starmer’s last acts as prime minister before he stepped down in July 2026. Following Australia’s ban on under-16s in 2025, which turbocharged the debate globally, the UK ban is timetabled for early 2027.

As Meta’s $18bn (£13.2bn) recent settlement over teen addiction to its online platforms demonstrates, there is growing recognition that social media poses real risks to young people.

Thinking around this issue is constantly developing. Popular platforms such as Instagram and TikTok offer an endless stream of algorithm-driven material tailored specifically to each consumer. And while the full effect of social media use on developing brains is unclear, parents, teachers and politicians have all expressed concerns around the social and emotional impact of this consumption on young people.

Social media feeds off a portrayal of real life that is fundamentally unreal. And in an age of filters, AI and engagement farming (using manipulative and often misleading tactics to boost engagment), the distinction between performance and reality online is increasingly blurred. In the face of this targeted barrage, children and teenagers are ill-equipped to distinguish between reality and the performance of that unreality flickering across their screens.

I’m a classicist and theologian with an interest in how culture and performance shape our ideas of what it is to be human. It strikes me that there is a fascinating parallel for this contemporary debate in the Greco-Roman obsession with theatricality and drama. The great dramas of classical Athens remained popular for a millennium, inspiring new genres and theatrical styles throughout the Mediterranean world.

Imitating life, imitating Fear

As research, including my own, into this breadth of ancient media production has developed over time, one theme has emerged again and again: as theatrical performance grew into a cultural staple, it was accompanied by the fear that just as art imitates life, so art could overcome reality itself.

This “theatrophobia” – a fear of the theatrical – appears throughout the literary record. This was a genuine anxiety, yet one that clearly fascinated ancient audiences.

Drama embodied the artistic imitation of life, and in doing so spoke to contemporary debates, offering moral or emotional exemplars. But how was the audience to best respond? What if the “wrong” lesson was learned? The potential impact was enormous. As theatrical events spread beyond the theatre and into homes, marketplaces and political spaces, the boundary between performance and reality had to be continuously renegotiated, lest performance overtake reality itself.

The second-century satirist Lucian of Samosata experimented with this anxiety. In a text defending the popular genre of pantomime (don’t picture the local am-dram Christmas production here, but rather a single actor/dancer staging a one-man play, accompanied by a singer and surrounded by delighted crowds), Lucian includes a story of an actor playing the Trojan war hero Ajax who was consumed by his role:

In dancing Ajax going mad immediately after his defeat, he so overextended himself that it might well have been thought that instead of acting insane he was insane, for he tore the clothes of one of the men that beat time with the iron beater, and snatching a flute from one of the accompanists, with a vigorous blow he cracked the crown of Odysseus, who was standing near and exulting in his victory. Indeed, if his helmet had not offered resistance and borne the brunt of the blow, poor Odysseus would have lost his life through falling in the way of a crazy dancer. The whole theatre, however, went mad with Ajax, leaping and shouting and flinging up their garments …

“Ajax” here forgets his mania is only performed and wreaks violent havoc on stage. But his actions corrupt his audience too, who enthusiastically pile into the ensuing chaos.

In another text, where Lucian parodies contemporary history writers, the satirist recalls a similar scene in the city of Abdera, where the whole populace is overcome by “tragedy madness” after enjoying a performance of Euripides’ Andromeda in the heat of summer. The Abderians descend into a kind of tragic apoplexy, sick with fever and reciting endless quotations.

Lucian’s exaggerated anecdotes were lighthearted, but they only amused because they resonated with his readers. The boundaries between performance and reality were porous. This made drama exciting, but it also made it dangerous. How could one ever truly know where the boundary lay? For the unsuspecting audience, this could have disastrous results.

Modern anxieties around social media represent the latest iteration of this ancient theatrophobia. We are dealing with an online dimension that privileges performance and exploits the sense that art can imitate and even hyper-realise life itself. The ancients continually returned to this anxiety because it really mattered: one could take performance too far, with real-world consequences.

As young people’s lives are played out as much on TikTok feeds as in reality, the distinction between performance and real life continues to blur. While the blunt instrument of an age-graded ban will go some way to addressing the dangers posed by this new world of performance, it doesn’t necessarily address the root issue.

A simple ban cannot be the end of the public debate on this matter. Instead, we must recognise – and challenge – the theatricality and explicit performativity of social media. It is not too late to avoid getting lost in the production.

A £1.3 million project to safeguard Whitby’s historic Grade II* listed Old Town Hall and bring it back into public use was completed this month and was officially reopened on Tuesday (August 25), as long-standing market traders joined councillors, local businesses and stakeholders to celebrate its revival following a major restoration project that has secured its future “for generations to come”.

The Historic Grade II Listed Whitby Old Town Hall Has Been Safeguarded For Future Generations Following The Completion Of A £1.3 Million Restoration Project.

The reopening marks the completion of extensive renovation works to the 18th-century landmark after significant deterioration caused by age and weathering had left parts of the building at risk.

The transformation has been welcomed by market traders who were temporarily relocated to Dock End while the renovation works were carried out. They are due to return to the Market Place on Thursday, August 27.

Whitby Old Town Hall Market Day. BFF, NYC

Artist Gary Jamieson has traded in the town for the last 16 years and believes the new-look marketplace has transformed the area.

He said: “The restoration of the Old Town Hall has given Whitby’s historic marketplace a breathtaking new lease of life.

“As the resident caricaturist, I’m thrilled to be back sketching under these iconic arches and welcoming locals and visitors back to our creative hub.”

Ross Powdrell, who has been a trader in Whitby since 2010, said: “After 20 months trading in our temporary location on New Quay Road, we are looking forward to returning to the Old Town.

“Whitby Market is unlike other markets. It is small, with only a handful of traders, but absolutely steeped in atmosphere and history. I’m very much looking forward to trading in such beautiful surroundings, especially now the renovations are complete.”

The project was launched in early 2025 after the condition of the building deteriorated significantly, with further structural issues uncovered once restoration works got underway.

Without major investment, its condition would have continued to worsen, placing the Old Town Hall at increasing risk, the council said.

As a result, major repairs were carried out to the building’s distinctive clock tower and roof, while stonework and mortar on its façade and columns have been carefully restored.

The first floor, which has been unoccupied since 2017, has also been refurbished and modernised.

The project has been funded by money awarded to Whitby as part of the Government’s Towns Fund, as well as by North Yorkshire Council.

North Yorkshire Council’s deputy leader Cllr Mark Crane said: “This is a proud day for Whitby and it’s great to see one of the town’s most historic landmarks restored and brought back into full use.

“The Old Town Hall is situated in the heart of the town’s historic marketplace, and this investment has not only protected an important building for future generations but also created a high-quality venue that can support cultural and community activities, and help attract more people into the town centre.

“The scale of deterioration uncovered during the project showed just how important this investment was. Without intervention, its future would have become increasingly uncertain.

“It is therefore pleasing to see it restored to such a high standard and to hear such positive feedback from market traders, businesses and the wider community about the difference it will make to the town.”

Whitby town councillor Linda Wild, a member of the project’s steering group, cut the ribbon alongside Cllr Phil Trumper, who represents the Whitby West division, to mark the Old Town Hall’s reopening.

Whitby Old Town Hall. Cracking To Lintel. NYC/BFF

Mrs Wild said: “It was lovely to see the Town Hall officially come to fruition and be renovated. It has been standing there in the market square since 1778 and now it has been completed it will stand for a long time to come.”

Cllr Trumper said: “I was honoured to cut the ribbon with Cllr Wild after the fantastic restoration. Everyone involved should be so proud of what they have achieved.”

Cllr Neil Swannick, who represents the Whitby Streonshalh division on North Yorkshire Council, also welcomed the completion of the project. He said: “I’d like to thank the project team and everyone who has played a part in this restoration.

“This project was about ensuring that one of the town’s most important and historic buildings will still be standing for future generations – and it’s great to see the end result.”

The design was led by architects and engineers at Align, the council’s property consultancy.

(Image: Newsquest)

Janette Manrara candid glimpse into her life after leaving her role on Strictly Come Dancing’s spin-off show, It Takes Two

Janette Manrara has given fans a candid glimpse into her life after leaving her role on Strictly Come Dancing, which comes after she recently revealed she’d landed two new jobs.

The dancer and presenter joined the BBC One dance show back in 2013 as a professional dancer, before leaving in 2020. The following year, she took over from Zoe Ball as the host of It Takes Two, alongside Rylan Clark and then Fleur East.

But, amid a number of changes to Strictly ahead of the 2026 series, Janette confirmed in June that she had left Strictly’s spin-off series in a video posted on her YouTube account.

She said at the time: “Strictly Come Dancing has changed hugely, and I am no longer a part of It Takes Two or the main show. I’ll still be involved in other ways. But that just means that I’m free to pursue and do many other projects that I’ve always wanted to do and never really thought about doing.”

It was last week that Janette was confirmed to be in the cast of the world premiere of Affluenza, which begins performances at Riverside Studios in London on September 26 as part of the Mainstage Season. She’ll star alongside Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp, who makes his stage debut, as well as stage and screen stars Juliet Cowan and Wallis Currie-Wood.

It came after Janette also revealed that she’ll be starring in her first-ever pantomime this Christmas. Last week, she announced that she’ll be taking on the role of Tink in The All New Adventures of Peter Pan at The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury.

But the mum-of-one has now taken to social media and given fans a glimpse at what she said were “things that humbled me lately”. In the post, Janette included a look at what it’s like looking for new work, as she admitted to going to three auditions, but booking none of the jobs. “We carry on,” she said.

Janette also admitted she questioned “whether I was good enough for a job”, which she said knocked her confidence, but she also included other life moments, including losing arguments with her three-year-old daughter, Lyra Rose, when it came to eating her dinner and watching TV.

Captioning her post, Janette wrote: “#TinyDancerBIGthoughts A little reality check because Instagram is a highlight reel. So here are some of my ‘outtakes’. Turns out being humbled is… humbling. Your turn — what humbled YOU lately?”

Top Gear is to return to TV, the BBC has confirmed, four years after the show was “rested” when co-host Andrew Flintoff was injured in a crash during filming.

The long-running motoring programme has been off air since 2022, when the former cricketer suffered serious facial and rib injuries when his open-topped three-wheeled car overturned at the show’s test track.

He was one of three presenters at the time along with Paddy McGuinness and Chris Harris.

The hosting line-up for the comeback has not yet been announced, although the Sun newspaper last week reported that comedian Jimmy Carr was in talks to join. BBC Studios told the newspaper at the time that they did not comment on speculation.

(Image: Harper Green School)

Rated ‘Good’ in all areas by Ofsted, Harper Green continues to build on the progress it has made in recent years. The school is also celebrating another successful set of GCSE results this summer, with students achieving success across a wide range of academic and vocational subjects. Secretary of State for Education Lucy Powell MP joined students and staff at Harper Green on Results Day as they celebrated their achievements.

The school’s broad and ambitious curriculum combines academic study with a strong vocational and technical offer, giving students opportunities to develop practical skills and explore different pathways into further education, training and employment.

(Image: Harper Green School)

This includes Harper Green’s dedicated Construction Hub, which supports its Construction and the Built Environment course and was officially opened by Andy Burnham during his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester. The Hub gives students hands-on experience and an insight into careers across the construction sector, alongside specialist facilities including purpose-built dance and drama studios and extensive sports facilities.

Outside the classroom, students can get involved in a wide range of activities including sport, performing arts, educational visits, student leadership and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

(Image: Harper Green School)

Headteacher Ms Heppenstall said:

“The response to our free blazer and tie initiative last year was incredibly positive, so we’re delighted to be continuing it for a second year. It’s one of the many ways we can support our families and help make the transition to secondary school as positive as possible.

“Our Open Evening is a fantastic opportunity for families to see how Harper Green continues to grow and develop, meet our staff and students and discover the wide range of opportunities available both inside and outside the classroom. We look forward to welcoming families in September.”

(Image: Harper Green School)

Families attending the Open Evening will be able to register for their child’s free blazer, ready for the start of Year 7 in September 2027.

To register for the Open Evening, visit www.harpergreen.net/openevening.