In the latest budget report, the department was found to have overspent by £20.833m last year due to “soaring demand”.

Council officers linked this to a lack of available placements, and said external placements can cost more than £15k per week for just one child.

Cllr Martin Donaghy, the executive cabinet member for children’s services, said this is “not sustainable at all”, adding that he’s made it clear to officers they “haven’t got a blank chequebook”.

He said Warrington Council had brought the service “in-house” and built a children’s home.

Cllr Donaghy said the cost of a placement “was a third of what it would be in the private sector”.

He said: “I’ve asked for the details on that, because I would imagine it’s a substantial capital investment, but nothing’s off the table”.

The Tonge with The Haulgh councillor said he would also ask for an update on Project Skyline – a plan for local councils in Greater Manchester to buy properties to convert into children’s care homes.

He said: “At the end of the day, we cannot continue to sustain this level of overspend – no department could and we can’t either.”

The engines are still 1.6-litre V6 turbo hybrids, as they have been since 2014, but one of the two electrical motors that recovered energy has been removed.

The total amount of electrical energy has been increased by a factor of three, but the battery is more or less the same size. If the battery is fully depleted, the engine loses 350kw (470bhp), leading to potentially dramatic speed differentials.

Drivers will be backing off towards the end of straights – and being careful about when they apply the throttle – to ensure the most efficient energy usage, even on a qualifying lap.

The cars are also smaller and lighter, have less downforce and have ‘active aerodynamics’ – where both front and rear wings open on the straights to increase speed and the possibility for energy recovery.

Norris said the new car “certainly feels more powerful and quicker” on the straight.

“The biggest challenge at the minute is battery management and knowing how to utilise that in the best way,” he said.

“It’s not simple. You can explain it in quite simple terms. It’s just you have a very powerful battery that doesn’t last very long, so knowing how to use it in the right times, how much energy, how much of that power you use, how you split it up around the lap…

“The biggest challenge is how you can recover the batteries as well as possible, and that’s when it comes down to using the gears, hitting the right revs.

“Obviously, you’ve got some turbo lag now, which we’ve never really had before. All of these little things have crept back in, but I don’t think that changes too much.

“In a perfect world, I probably wouldn’t have [all] that in a race car, but it’s just F1. Sometimes you have these different challenges.”

His team-mate Oscar Piastri said the cars were “not as alien as I think we might have feared” and insisted he “didn’t think F1 had lost its identity at all”.

The Australian added: “There’s going to be some things to get used to but in terms of some of the fears that maybe we had before we got on track, a significant majority of those have been alleviated now.

“There’ll be some differences, but I think fundamentally they’re still the fastest cars in the world.”

I’m standing on a beach in St Lucia, watching a kite the size of a small car whip across the sky, waiting to kitesurf for the very first time.

My mind is in scream-if-you-wanna-go-faster mode, while my body wants to wet itself, from fear or excitement, I do not know.

Because there’s nothing quite like the promise of being dragged across water at high speed while attached to what is essentially a parachute in a windstorm.

To be fair, it takes around two to three days to be let loose on the water.

But today, I’m going to piggyback my instructor and get a taste of what it’s like to be a pro. So, while he sits on the beach and instructs me to wrap my limbs around him like an octopus, I’m just trying to remember if I updated my travel insurance…

But here’s the thing about St Lucia – and the place I’m staying at, Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, in particular – it’s the perfect place for adrenaline junkies like me, who love jumping in feet first while everyone else looks on vaguely concerned for their safety.

Why St Lucia?

When you think of St Lucia, you might picture honeymooners sipping rum punch beneath the Pitons.

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And, for sure, you can do that from sun up til sunset – whether you’re single, married, coupled, divorced, caught on a Coldplay cam, or living it up on a mates’ trip.

With dramatic volcanic hillsides and lunar-like beaches, there are good reasons that it’s known as the ‘honeymoon capital of the Caribbean’.

But there is more to this place than meets the eye.

In fact, what I love about Coconut Bay – which I always think is the biggest pain in the arsenal when holidaying with anyone, whether you love them or not – is that we all want different things.

For those who want to fly and flop, you’ve got a mile-long beach, five pools, and eight restaurants serving everything from fresh seafood to proper Creole cuisine (with plenty of live music and entertainment at night). Park yourself by the pool – or in a hammock hung over the ocean – with a cocktail and don’t move for a week. No one will judge you.

And for those who can’t sit still for more than five minutes, there’s a water park, tennis, basketball, kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, wind foiling, and even pickleball courts.

Or – like me – you can try to scale random coconut trees, which may or may not have been rum-induced.

But what I’m actually here for is kitesurfing, because St Lucia is one of the best places in the world to do it.

The conditions (they’re absolutely perfect)

From November to July, Coconut Bay’s shoreline transforms into a kitesurfer’s paradise with the onshore winds blowing at a consistently balmy 15-25 knots.

Inside the reef, there’s a protected bay with steady winds and flat, shallow water.

This is where beginners, like me, spend their time learning to control the kite without being immediately swept out to sea.

But about 300 metres out from shore? That’s where the experienced riders face the Atlantic swell with clean lines of waves and the kind of wind that keeps you airborne.

Watching them execute back rolls and kiteloops made me want to be them. Immediately.

The piggyback situation

So, back to me, wrapped around my instructor like an overexcited koala.

He’s explaining something about body position and keeping my weight centred, but I’m mostly concentrating on what the right level of grip with my thighs is, without it being too weird. Or pulling a muscle.

Once in place, we wait for the wind to pull us forward into the water, like some human backpack situation, and then suddenly, the kite catches, and we’re off.

And, oh my God.

The acceleration is instant. We’re skimming the surface like a stone, spray hitting my face — it lasts only seconds, but it feels like I’m flying.

We work with the wind, zigzagging back and forth, with me shrieking like a banshee. It’s exhilarating. If I lived here, I’d be doing it all the time.

When we finally stop, and I peel myself off him, my face is aching from grinning, and I’m already calculating how quickly I can learn to do this on my own.

Learning to fly (sort of)

Because these smaller kites have enough power to drag you across the sand if you’re not paying attention, it’s important to know what you’re doing.

Which is why resort guests over ten years old can take a complimentary ‘taster session’ on the beach with a trainer kite, while paid lessons are for the golden oldies from 16 and up.

Proper lessons start with theory on the beach (there are worse places to learn).

Wind windows, safety systems, how not to kill yourself or anyone else…followed by flying progressively bigger kites until the instructors trust you won’t be a danger to society.

The instructors at Coconut Bay’s Surf Shack are brilliant, funny, and patient while I’m struggling with the basics of balancing.

And they’ve got all the gear you could possibly want to rent by the hour, day, or multiple days. There are even special Surf and Stay packages for those who want to commit more than my last boyfriend did.

I watched a family take their first lesson together. The teenage son was attempting to look cool while clearly being just as terrified as his dad.

But, by day three, he was up on the board, his mum cheering him on as though he’d just won an Olympic medal.

And that’s the thing about kitesurfing – the learning curve is steep but, when you finally get it – even for a few seconds, it feels incredible.

When you need a break (and you will)

The thing about throwing yourself around in wind and waves all day is that eventually your body stages a full rebellion.

So, after absolutely battering myself, I admitted defeat and ‘dragged’ myself to the Sanctuary Spa for a massage in an ocean-front cabana where the lull of the waves lures you into some seriously deep, restful shuteye in no time.

I can also highly recommend the Chocolate ‘Cocoa Tea’ Sugar Scrub – made with Lucian chocolate, warm tropical oils, and nutmeg – as I can the amount of drool I found on my pillow after my masseuse gently woke me like an ogre from my slumber.

Beyond the beach

St Lucia itself is, of course, stunning. Who would have thought it from a Caribbean island.

So, when you need a break from attempting to master the elements, there’s plenty to explore.

The island has the world’s only drive-in volcano, which is exactly what it sounds like and brilliantly bizarre.

There’s also the second-highest lighthouse in the world at Moule-à-Chique, and let’s not forget those Pixar-perfect Piton Mountains.

Being the water baby that I am, I opted for a whirl on a catamaran, snorkelling in water so clear you could see the side eye from every fish that swam by.

Another day, I lolled around like a hippo in a hot spring, after lathering myself in some detoxifying mud, at the sulphur springs, followed by some waterfall action.

The verdict

I came to Coconut Bay specifically to throw myself into kitesurfing and see how quickly I could get decent at it.

It turns out – like most things in life – that’ll take more than 72 hours to achieve.

However, whether you’re already obsessed with kitesurfing and want some seriously ideal weather conditions, or you’re a complete beginner who needs somewhere forgiving to learn, St Lucia delivers.

And the best part is that it’s just five minutes from the airport, which means you can be face-down in a cocktail – or up on a kiteboard – within an hour of landing.

And if you’re travelling with people who think you’re mental? You can leave them by the pool while you’re out living your best life. Everyone wins.

And if it all goes horribly wrong? Well, there’s always the spa. And the rum. Quite a lot of rum.

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EXCLUSIVE: The SNP will host a delegation of WASPI campaigners at the Scottish Parliament and has challenged the Labour leader to meet them.

The SNP has called on Anas Sarwar to apologise to WASPI campaigners in person when they visit the Scottish Parliament today.

The Scottish Labour leader previously described the UK Government decision not to offer compensation as a result of changes to the state pension as “wrong”.

Women Against State Pension Inequality (WASPI) claims 3.6 million women born in the 1950s – including hundreds of thousands in Scotland – were not properly informed of the rise in state pension age to bring them into line with men.

Keir Starmer said the UK Treasury could not afford to pay out compensation – with Labour ministers warning the total cost could have risen to more than £10bn.

The SNP will now host a delegation of WASPI campaigners at the Scottish Parliament and has challenged Sarwar to meet them.

In a letter to the Labour leader, Nationalist MSP Clare Haughey said: “Before becoming leader of the Labour Party in Scotland, you said you backed the WASPI campaign, and if elected, that they would receive the compensation they deserve.

“Similarly, before coming to power across the UK, the Labour Party also promised to compensate the WASPI women. Well, you are now Labour Party leader in Scotland, and the Labour Party are in power in Westminster – and yet the WASPI women are still waiting to receive the compensation they deserve.

READ MORE: SNP urged to apologise for ‘playing politics’ over Queen Elizabeth University Hospital scandalREAD MORE: Anas Sarwar accuses Stephen Flynn of ‘disgusting’ attack in row over Labour MSP’s friendship with paedophile

“WASPI campaigners will be attending Parliament on Thursday, to discuss the impact of your government’s betrayal with MSPs – and I am urging you to attend.

“This is your chance to meet with them, apologise for the Labour Party’s betrayal, and outline what steps you will take, as leader of the Scottish Labour Party, to support their campaign going forward.”

Asked if he supported the UK Government’s decision, Sarwar said in 2024: “I think they’re right in the apology, I think they’re right in recognising injustice, I think they’re wrong on the compensation.”

He said he recognised the difficulties the government was facing with public finances, but said ministers could have looked at some form of “targeted” or “tapered” support rather than blanket compensation.

Sarwar added that he believed ministers could have arrived at “a fairer compromise”.

Senior Labour figures – including Sarwar, his deputy Jackie Baillie, and Starmer – publicly backed the WASPI campaign in recent years.

Starmer signed a pledge in 2002 drawn up by Scottish campaigners for “fair and fast compensation”.

But Labour did not commit to compensation in its 2024 manifesto.

The Record asked Scottish Labour for comment.

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The Dark Skies Station, based at Danby Lodge National Park Centre in North Yorkshire, will be opened by the North York Moors National Park Authority as a permanent facility dedicated to astronomy and space science.

It aims to broaden public access to the National Park’s internationally recognised dark skies through year-round education and stargazing sessions.

The Dark Skies Station (Image: Olivia Brabbs)

John McCue, a founder member of the Cleveland and Darlington Astronomical Society and associate lecturer with the Open University, said: “This observatory represents a significant step forward in how people can experience and understand the night sky above the North York Moors.

“It allows us to offer high-quality, inclusive observing experiences in a place where darkness is still something truly special, opening up views of planets, star clusters, and distant galaxies to people of all ages and abilities.”

The facility features a large, state-of-the-art telescope housed in a retractable-roof observatory, designed for both visual observation and astrophotography.

The Dark Skies Station (Image: Olivia Brabbs)

With a focus on accessibility, the telescope includes adjustable viewing positions suitable for children, wheelchair users, and visitors with other access needs.

The accessible, timber building also includes a warm room for up to 30 people, where talks and hands-on learning can take place.

A compact smart telescope inside the room captures digital images of celestial objects, which visitors can download as mementoes of their visit.

The site also includes an interactive exhibition, Discover the Universe, which explains basic astronomy concepts through tactile and audio-visual displays.

Outdoor observing area is available for larger groups to gather under the open sky.

The Dark Skies Station will open as part of the North York Moors’ 2026 Dark Skies Festival, and will host public drop-in sessions on Saturday, February 14 and Sunday, February 15 from 11am to 4pm.

Visitors are invited to explore the new facility and hear directly from those involved in the project.

One-hour sessions titled What’s Up in the Night Sky will be held at 11am and 2pm on both days.

Environmental sustainability has been a key focus in the design and construction of the building, which uses FSC-certified timber, UK-made insulation from carbon-neutral suppliers, and roof tiles containing a high proportion of recycled material.

Solar panels and an air-source heat pump provide renewable energy, with surplus electricity helping to power the Danby Lodge site.

Funding for the project came from multiple sources, including the Wolfson Foundation and a legacy donation.

The facility will support a year-round programme of public observing sessions, community outreach, and educational events.

The North York Moors was designated an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2020 in recognition of its efforts to reduce light pollution and protect the natural nightscape.

For more information about the Dark Skies Festival and the full schedule of events, visit darkskiesnationalparks.org.uk.

Ofsted carried out an ‘unannounced’ inspection at the nursery in January

A nursery has suddenly closed after Ofsted raised concerns about children potentially being at “risk of harm”. Ofsted carried out an inspection at the Smarties Pre-School and After School Club in Hay Street, Steeple Morden, on January 15.

Following the inspection, Ofsted suspended the nursery’s registration, meaning it has temporarily stopped running. Inspectors said they believed children could be at risk of harm in the nursery.

An Ofsted spokesperson said: “We don’t comment on individual providers. But, I can confirm that we suspended this pre-school’s registration, which is our standard procedure when we have reason to believe children are potentially at risk of harm.”

A Smarties spokesperson confirmed an “unannounced” inspection was carried out in January. The spokesperson added: “We can confirm that the registration of Smarties Pre-School and After-School Club (Smarties) was suspended by Ofsted on January 16, following an unannounced inspection on January 15.

“We fully support Ofsted’s role in ensuring that providers maintain robust safeguarding arrangements and eliminate any risk of harm to children. Following the inspection, Ofsted identified areas where safeguarding arrangements required strengthening.

“The committee is working closely with the local authority to address these matters and to complete the necessary actions as quickly and thoroughly as possible.”

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