YORK store Boyes was renowned for its Christmas displays.

In the 1920s and 30s, children went on rides through the store with themes such as ‘A trip to the Moon’ or’ A journey below the sea’.

And today, we share precious memories of working at this iconic shop, Boyes in Bridge Street.

After the Second World War, children walked rather than rode, passing a series of tableaux, before meeting Father Christmas in his grotto.

The grotto was quite a remarkable affair – a series of scenes depicting Santa Claus’ journey from the Arctic to the home of an English boy and girl.

With his reindeer and a train of other faithful friends, Santa Claus travelled from one little scene to another and eventually descended a chimney.

Boyes by Ouse Bridge in York in the 1960s or 1970s

The mechanism behind this panorama was a complicated arrangement, consisting of a bicycle chain driven by an electric motor, and was constructed from ‘odds and ends’ by the store’s engineer.

Similarly, the shop windows were always dressed for Christmas with impressive displays, including model railways, waterfalls and Alpine scenes.

Dougie Weake has vivid memories of working at Boyes in Micklegate. He started in the tools department on the first floor in 1965 at the age of 15.

“We had everything that you would expect – wallpaper, paint, brushes, screwdrivers, screws, you name it – on these old, rickety, wooden counters, that must have been there since the store opened in 1912. The staff were amazing. It became a very, very close-knit family. Boyes was a family department store and we were all part of this family.

Shoppers queue outside Wright’s pork butchers and pie shop in Bridge Street next to Boyes.

“The Bargain Basement was probably the busiest of all the departments in the store. People would go down for the bits of cloth, which they made into a fancy dress or curtains or whatever. It was a rummage and there were people fighting over the same cloth. On the top floor, we had the staff canteen, segregated, with girls at one side, boys the other. You could see each other through the serving hatches.”

Boyes always went big at sales. They had, for example, the ‘red-hot sale’, when they hired a fire engine and drove around the streets of York with big signs.

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Or the ‘monster sale’ with a flatbed truck and a big papier mâché monster on the back, with staff throwing sweets to passers-by and attracting people to come to the sales.

Dougie continued: “Christmas was massive. Before I started in the display department, Bob [Gibson] built a cowboy village in the new part of the store – saloon bar, jail, etc. George Boyes said: ‘We need an actor to play a cowboy’. So of course muggins here got the job!

“I was tall and thin as a bean pole. They hired a costume – six guns, hat, boots, the whole thing – and I walked around the store inviting people with children to go up and see Father Christmas in the jail and have an orange juice or sarsaparilla in the saloon bar.

“They also hired a horse which I rode around town as Hank Beanpole, to attract people to come and see Father Christmas. I’m still called ‘Hank Beanpole’ by people who knew me then.”

Susan Major is part of the Clements Hall Local History Group’ in York.

For more stories and photos of this area of York, the Clements Hall Local History Group’s latest book Micklegate, The Great Street of York, is out now. It costs £15, and is available at Waterstones in the city centre and at Monks Cross; the Amnesty bookshop on Micklegate; Pextons Hardware, and Frankie & Johnny’s Cookshop on Bishopthorpe Road.

The announcement came after a number of clues that sparked rumours, including a series of “TS” billboards – a play on Toy Story and Swift’s shared initials – appearing in various cities including London, Mexico City and Los Angeles, featuring the same blue and white cloud imagery that is synonymous with the film.

Have you ever stayed in the bath or swimming pool for ages and noticed that your fingers and toes went all wrinkly? Well, 11-year-old Maya from London wanted to know why that happens.

She joins our host Eloise to get the answer from biologist Tom Smulders on the first episode of season two of The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast.

In each episode of The Conversation’s Curious Kids, a curious kid joins host Eloise to ask a top researcher their burning question. There’s an experiment in this episode which you can try out too while you listen. If you want to join in, prepare a bowl of warm water.

To listen to season two, follow us wherever you get your podcasts, or listen on the Yoto Player via the Discover section on the Yoto interactive audio platform for kids.

You can also listen back to season one and read lots of answers to questions sent in by children around the world in our Curious Kids series.

Got a question? Pop it in an email, or record it and send us the audio to curiouskids@theconversation.com.

This season of The Conversation’s Curious Kids is supported by the University of Southampton in the UK, a world-leading research-intensive university with a global network of international students and campuses in Malaysia and Delhi.

Disclosure statement

Tom Smulders does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Credits

This episode of The Conversation’s Curious Kids was hosted and mixed by Eloise Stevens. The producer was Katie Flood and the executive producer was Gemma Ware. Sounds of Marlin and Dory getting eaten by, and being inside a whale from Finding Nemo.

As Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury settle into life as a family of four, fans remain curious as to what their newborn son will be called.

The reality royalty couple, who first met on Love Island in 2019, welcomed their second baby last week, after three-year-old daughter Bambi’s birth in January 2023.

Molly-Mae kept her new son’s gender private throughout her pregnancy, only revealing it after the initial post announcing his birth.

Speculation has since been rife about his name, following the stir that Bambi’s caused last time – and the fact that Molly-Mae has already warned everyone is going to ‘hate’ their choice.

And now it’s being reported that their new baby’s name will be revealed for the first time on Tommy’s shorts this weekend when he boxes Eddie Hall in their pay-per-view match on Saturday.

A source told The Sun: ‘The little man’s name will be on Tommy’s shorts at his fight along with Bambi’s. That’s how they are going to announce it to the world.

‘The shorts will be two-toned colour. It was Tommy’s idea and Molly was very open to it.’

The insider continued: ‘Now the little fella is here it’s a no-brainer — what better way to announce his name than on his dad’s boxing shorts.’

They also said that Molly-Mae was ‘now obsessed with it’ and hoping to be there at the match, with plans for Tommy’s walk out to include music and blue fireworks.

After the new mum returned home from the Portland Hospital, she shared a black and white photo of her family all cuddled up on the sofa.

‘I can’t believe I have two children,’ she wrote on Instagram stories alongside the picture, which showed Bambi sat on her dad’s lap while Molly-Mae held their newborn in her arms, covering his face with a small heart emoji.

Her cosy updates from home have continued, with the influencer and entrepreneur also getting candid about how different her experience as a mother had been this time around.

‘Thank you for healing so many of my newborn fears little one,’ she wrote on a photo of her new son resting asleep on a blue blanket.

‘The peace and happiness I feel this time around is something I wished for but didn’t know would come.

‘The difference compared to this stage with Bambi is indescribable.’

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If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE: Molly-Mae Hague celebrates being a ‘boy mum’ with fresh snaps of newborn baby

MORE: Tommy Fury in frantic dash to be with Molly-Mae Hague as she gave birth

MORE: Molly-Mae Hague admits she ‘spiralled’ over harsh comments after Venezuela Fury’s wedding

Marston’s has launched 50,000 commemorative glasses across its pubs nationwide, with several venues in Bolton and Greater Manchester taking part from June 11.

The glasses feature a St George’s flag-inspired design and come in a keepsake presentation box.

Neil Campbell, Chief Operating Officer at Marston’s, said: “The World Cup is one of those moments in the calendar that brings the whole country together, with pubs right at the heart of the action.

The glasses are limited edition (Image: Marston’s)

“We’re incredibly proud of the role our pubs play in bringing communities together to share these memorable moments, whether that’s celebrating a big victory or tensely watching another nail-biting penalty shoot-out.”

Participating venues in and around Bolton include the York on Newport Street, the Poacher in Blackrod and the Jolly Crofters in Horwich.

The Sparking Clog in Radcliffe, the Talbot in Atherton and the Bridge Tavern in Radcliffe will also stock the glasses while supplies last.

Fans can buy the commemorative glass for £5, or purchase one for £2 when buying a qualifying round of drinks.

The glasses will be available at more than 700 Marston’s pubs across the country.

Only 50,000 have been produced nationwide and they will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last.

Mr Campbell added: “We wanted to create something special for England fans – a keepsake that captures those shared good times and gives our guests something to take home with them.”

The summer window is fast approaching as Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham all look to get transfer business complete before the World Cup begins this week. Arsenal have their eyes on Bournemouth striker Eli Junior Kroupi, who took the Premier League by storm in his debut season. The Gunners also hold interest in Sandro Tonali, while talks continue for wonderkid Jeremy Monga.

Pakistani airstrikes killed at least 13 people, including 11 children, in Afghanistan on Wednesday, renewing hostilities between the neighbours.

The two nations have engaged in months of fighting that has already killed hundreds of people and displaced many more.

Afghan government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the latest airstrikes targeted the provinces of Khost, Kunar and Paktika, and killed 11 children, one woman and an elderly man.

There was no immediate acknowledgment of the strikes from Pakistan.

Though the situation along the border has been calm since the strikes, Kabul has previously responded to Pakistani strikes by targeting the neighbour’s posts along their frontier.

The border has remained closed to bilateral trade since October last year.

The strikes came a day after suspected Pakistani Taliban militants attacked a security post in the Hasan Khel area of northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan, triggering an intense gunbattle in which six personnel of the Federal Constabulary were killed and many wounded, according to Pakistan’s interior ministry.

Authorities said on Tuesday that security forces killed eight of the attackers and thwarted an attempt to overrun the checkpoint.

Interior minister Mohsin Naqvi later attended funeral prayers for the dead personnel in Peshawar. Mr Naqvi paid tribute to the dead and expressed condolences to their families, saying that their sacrifices would not be forgotten.

He also said Pakistan remained united in its fight against militancy and that operations against groups threatening peace and security would be intensified.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have engaged in deadly fighting since late February, when Afghan forces launched a cross-border attack in retaliation for Pakistani airstrikes.

Pakistan later declared it was in open war with Afghanistan, following a surge in militant attacks on civilians and security forces inside the country.

In March, Afghanistan said a deadly Pakistani airstrike hit a drug-treatment centre in Kabul, killing more than 400 people. The death toll could not be independently confirmed.

Pakistan disputed the claim and denied targeting civilians, saying it struck an ammunition depot.

The latest strikes came months after China hosted peace talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan in Urumqi. Beijing later said the two sides had agreed not to escalate the conflict and explore a solution.

Authorities in Pakistan said Beijing and other friendly countries were still encouraging both sides to reach an agreement for durable peace.

Masood Khan, a security analyst based in Islamabad, said Pakistan’s priority was ending attacks by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, commonly known as the Pakistani Taliban, which was suspected of operating from Afghan soil.

Mr Khan said the solution to the tension lay in enforcing a decree by Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada ordering the Pakistani Taliban to stop attacks in the neighbouring country.

“That decree must be implemented sincerely and faithfully,” he said.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harbouring militants that carry out deadly attacks inside Pakistan, especially the Pakistani Taliban. The group is separate from but allied with the Afghan Taliban, which rules Afghanistan. Kabul denies the allegation.

The trial is taking place at the Preston store and features smart carts equipped with touchscreens, sensors, cameras and built-in scales.

Dubbed “Fancy AI trolleys” by one customer, the Caper Carts, supplied by US technology company Instacart, are designed to identify products as they are placed inside, automate weighing, and track spending in real-time.

Gordon Macpherson, Productivity Director at Morrisons, said: “We’re constantly looking for ways to bring innovation to the weekly shop to enhance the experience for our customers.

“We’re excited about bringing the first fully-integrated AI-powered trolleys in the UK to a first store soon, and look forward to testing customer response and building understanding of how the technology works within the Morrisons store estate.”

The trolleys also allow customers to scan items as they shop and weigh fresh produce directly in the cart.

The onboard screen keeps a running total, and the system is linked to Morrisons More cards so discounts and offers can be applied as you shop.

Once the shop is complete, the trolley generates a barcode that can be scanned at a self-checkout to finalise payment.

The trolleys are already in use at major retailers in the US, including Kroger, Aldi, and Coles, but this is the first time the technology has been trialled in the UK.

UK supermarket rankings in 2026

Despite the excitement, concerns about theft and vandalism have been raised online.

One Reddit user wrote: “Trolleys with tablets on that will be left outside? Sure none of them will get stolen.”

Another commented: “They’ll be stolen, broken, in the canal in a few days.”

A third simply asked: “So what happens when they find themselves in the local river or canal?”

Morrisons says the trolleys are equipped with anti-theft features.

If a customer attempts to leave the store without paying, the trolley will reportedly flash red to alert staff.

Instacart also claims the carts are weatherproof, are designed to be stored and operated like standard supermarket trolleys, and have batteries charging automatically when grouped together.

The supermarket first announced the trial last year and is using the Preston launch to gauge customer reaction before any wider rollout across the supermarket’s store network.

At least 12 people were killed and nine injured on Tuesday evening when gunmen opened fire at an informal settlement in Cleveland, east of Johannesburg, police said on Wednesday.

Police believe more than 10 suspects were dropped off in a minibus in an informal settlement in the Cleveland suburb of Johannesburg late Tuesday night and opened fire on people.

Eight men and three women were killed in the attack, according to South African broadcaster eNCAnews.

The suspects arrived in a white Toyota Quantum and entered the settlement from two access points, before fleeing in the same vehicle after carrying out the mass shooting.

The motive for the attack remains unknown.

Informal settlements in South Africa are unplanned residential areas usually made up of shacks or similar structures.

South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates, averaging about 60 a day.

“It is alleged that more than 10 suspects were dropped off by a white Toyota Quantum near a petrol station in Cleveland,” the police statement reads.

“The suspects allegedly entered the informal settlement through both entrances and moved through the area, opening fire on residents and community members at multiple locations before fleeing the scene in the same vehicle.”

Local officers responded to a “complaint of shooting in progress” at around 11:10pm local time on Tuesday (10:20pm BST).

This is a breaking news story, more to follow…