A Ukrainian skeleton racer has been banned from competing at the Winter Olympics after he insisted on wearing a helmet depicting athletes killed since Russia’s invasion.

Vladyslav Heraskevych, 27, told reporters he would appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“It’s hard to say or put into words. It’s emptiness,” he said in response to the ban.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had pleaded with Heraskevych ‌to adhere to guidelines and avoid potential disqualification.

It argued the helmet violated rules which prevent political statements while athletes are competing.

The IOC had allowed him to ‌wear a black armband while competing and display his “helmet of remembrance” depicting 24 images of dead compatriots before and ​after the men’s skeleton race on Thursday.

But the athlete remained defiant after a ​meeting between the two sides on Wednesday afternoon failed to break the impasse.

President Kirsty Coventry was unable to change his mind after speaking to Heraskevych on Thursday morning before the race. She said she did not disagree with his “powerful message”.

“I really ‌wanted to see him race. It’s been an emotional morning,” Coventry said.

“It’s literally about the rules and the regulations and that in this case… we have to be able to keep a safe environment for everyone and sadly, that just means no messaging is ‌allowed.”

Separately, the IOC said in a statement on Thursday that it was “very keen for Mr Heraskevych to compete”.

“This is why the IOC sat down with him to look for the most respectful way to address his desire to remember his fellow athletes who have lost their lives following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

Ukraine’s Olympic Committee had backed their athlete, who ⁠is also the team’s flagbearer for the Games and also displayed ⁠a “No War in Ukraine” sign at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, days before Russia’s invasion.

Heraskevych said even if he wanted to change a helmet he would ​have no time to prepare one that would fit him.

“For us and ​the athletes the field of play is sacrosanct. These people have dedicated their whole lives for this moment,” IOC spokesperson Mark ⁠Adams said at a news conference on Wednesday.

Staff will be redeployed and the footprint will be taken up by more produce.

Bosses at Marks and Spencer have this morning announced that the cafe offering within their foodhall store at Heathfield Retail Park in Ayr is to close.

Ayrshire Live can reveal that the cafe will close in early April with staff redeployed to other roles within the store.

The news has been met with dismay – with the retail giants admitting it’s “disappointing news” for customers.

One source said: “Marks and Spencer at Heathfield intend to close their cafe at the beginning of April. And it is to the dismay of so many customers, especially elderly ones, who go there and enjoy a coffee while doing their shopping. This is the wrong move from Marks and Spencer.

“It’s a similar story in Dunblane. The people there are devastated because their cafe is to be closed. It looks as though Marks and Spencer are only considering profit over customers, it’s not a good look.”

Ayrshire Live can further reveal that the cafe space will be re-purposed from early April and the store team will share an exact date with customers closer to the time. And cafe colleagues will transfer across to other roles in the foodhall.

David Anderson, Regional Manager for Scotland Central at M&S, said: “We know many of our customers want to be able to shop a wider range of M&S Food. That’s why, after reviewing our Ayr Heathfield Road store, we are re‑purposing the café space to provide more products, including more produce from our Select Farm partners.”

He added: “We understand this will be disappointing news for some of our customers; however, our team will continue working hard to serve them in store.”

Ukraine skeleton pilot Vladyslav Heraskevych reacts to being banned from competing at the Winter Olympics for continuing to wear a helmet which features images of athletes killed during Russia’s invasion of his home country.

WATCH MORE: Winter Olympics Video

Available to UK users only.

The number of patients waiting more than 12 hours in A&E has soared to a record high.

The latest NHS England data shows the figure shot up from 50,775 in December to 71,517 in January. This is the highest number since monthly records began in August 2010.

The number waiting at least four hours from the decision to admit to admission stood at 161,141 last month, up from 137,763 in December and the second highest figure on record.

Some 72.5 per cent of patients in England were seen within four hours in A&Es last month, down from 73.8 per cent in December.

One in four people (137,763) in December waited for more than four hours between admission and staff finding them a bed, while one in 10 (50,775) waited more than 12 hours. That’s almost 50,000 more patients than the NHS target.

The Government and NHS England have set a target of March 2026 for 78 per cent of patients attending A&E to be admitted, discharged or transferred within four hours.

This is a breaking news story, more follows…

The 44-year-old professional dancer was found dead in a hotel room

Robin Windsor had lost his “glow” after being dropped from Strictly Come Dancing, actress Lisa Riley told an inquest on Wednesday, February 11.

The 44-year-old professional dancer was found dead in a hotel room in Shepherd’s Bush, west London, in February 2024. Giving evidence at West London Coroner’s Court, Riley reflected on the changes she saw in her former dance partner in the years after he left the BBC show.

Riley was paired with Windsor during the penultimate series he competed in, in 2012. She described how quickly they formed a close bond once they began working together.

“To say we hit it off was an understatement,” a written witness statement from Riley read to West London Coroner’s Court on Wednesday.

“We were literally joined at the hip. I had only just lost my mum in the July. I, myself, was in a very difficult place. Robin was my rock,” it said.

Windsor joined Strictly Come Dancing in 2010 as a Latin and ballroom professional. Over four series, until 2013, he partnered actresses Patsy Kensit, Anita Dobson and Lisa Riley, as well as Dragon’s Den star Deborah Meaden.

A back injury prevented him from performing in 2014. He was subsequently dropped from the main line-up in 2015, although he later returned for a Christmas special alongside TV presenter Alison Hammond.

“It was from this moment, on to the time of his death, he kept slipping deeper and deeper into depression,” Riley said. His glow had gone.”

Riley told the court that she and Windsor developed a deep friendship built on openness and honesty, and that they stayed in touch after their time on the programme.

“He literally told me everything,” she said.

“I trusted him and he trusted me. There were many, many happy times to begin with and together we did have so much fun.”

She said Windsor had spoken to her about struggles with self-doubt, including feelings of “never feeling good enough” and experiencing “imposter syndrome”.

“Robin was and always has been very influenced by other men. It became a standing joke that he fell in love after three days.”

According to Riley, Windsor had concerns about his body image, which led him to take steroids. She said this, alongside alcohol, negatively affected his wellbeing. She also described financial pressures, telling the court he had accumulated significant debts and would spend heavily on designer goods.

“Money problems also played a part of his darker days. He was drowning in debts which led to weekends I wouldn’t hear from him.”

Riley said the last time she contacted Windsor was around Christmas 2023 after noticing what she described as a troubling post on Facebook. She sent him a text message to check in.

Jurors heard Riley said: “I of course text him straight away and he replied saying he was ‘fine, just usual ups and downs of life’.”

The inquest is ongoing.

Manchester City’s £20million recruit gave another defensive masterclass in the win over Fulham and might well prove to be one of the best January signings in Premier League history.

Marc Guehi can play. He can see a pass, he can execute a pass. He is not big on the Cruyff turn but he can beat a man. He is confident on the ball. He can be an attacking presence, having eight Premier League goals and seven assists to his name. Guehi can do a lot.

Over four-and-a-half seasons at Crystal Palace, his game developed to such an extent that every marquee club in Europe coveted his services. But there is one thing Guehi loves doing, one thing that identifies him as an elite footballer in the way that goalscoring defines Erling Haaland: defending.

Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as a Preferred Source in your Google search settings

After the routine win over Fulham, Guehi had his usual moment of solitude and prayer before joining the team’s appreciation of the support. In return, Guehi was given acclaim that was noticeably vociferous.

Try MEN Premium NOW for just £1

That was because, in a way, Guehi’s performance – particularly in the second half – was every bit as watchable as, say, Nico O’Reilly’s dynamism, Bernardo Silva’s orchestration, Antoine Semenyo’s savviness.

Manchester City supporters are well accustomed to acknowledging the sort of thrilling move that ended with O’Reilly sublimely clipping in the second of the night. They are well accustomed to acknowledging Silva’s intelligence and indefatigability. They are well accustomed to acknowledging smooth attacking machinery.

But what was being acknowledged after the final whistle against Fulham was the nuts and bolts provided by Guehi. The clearances, five of them. The ground duels won, four of them. The tackles won, two of them. The recoveries, four of them. The game-leading 97 passes.

What was being acknowledged was the simple stuff. In a game that had been won by a three-goal margin, these are outstanding numbers.

Talking of numbers, Guehi has actually accumulated eight yellow cards this season, high for him. But he has invaluable discipline in his game. Arne Slot was straw-clutching when suggesting Guehi should have been sent off at Anfield but had he seen a straight red card for his offence against Mohamed Salah, it would have been the first of his career.

And Guehi is a great reader of the game, his anticipation of an attacker’s movements exemplary and, equally importantly, he can second-guess a teammate’s intentions. It was not flawless – Fulham had one or two very presentable chances – but Guehi’s partnership with Ruben Dias had a look of reliability that has not always been familiar to City eyes.

He has made four appearances for City since his £20million move – a move that has instantly put him into the top ten of January transfer window signings – but it is already clear he will be that rarity under this manager: an automatic starter. The defensive Haaland.

When Guehi signed, Guardiola said: “After two or three days, play good or bad, I don’t care. But he is a great signing for the next five, six, seven, eight years.” On the evidence so far, the City boss is spot-on.

The HER VOICE: Leadership for Life programme blends visibility of female role models from businesswomen and alumnae to current pupils with assemblies that applaud female achievement and lessons that build a sense of self. Inspiring and purposeful experiences are woven naturally through school life, with events such as the inaugural HER VOICE: Leadership for Girls event, a cornerstone of the school calendar. Bringing together over 50 girls from across the area, the one day event hosts five interactive, practical and reflective workshops to inspire a lifetime of leadership. In September 2025, the event successfully encouraged pupils to articulate their ideas and recognise the value of their perspectives as they explored communication, confidence, ethical decision-making and teamwork. 

International Women’s Day is also a key moment within the programme. Celebrated through a full day of workshops led by accomplished women from a wide range of fields, the event invites girls to think broadly about ambition, resilience and the many paths leadership can take. It reinforces the message that there is no single definition of success, while encouraging curiosity and open dialogue. In the week leading up to the event, departments across the school come together to explore themes such as the women’s rights movement, female empowerment and finding one’s voice, ensuring learning is both meaningful and connected.

Leadership at Queen Mary’s is also modelled through connection. Built on the belief that girls must “see it to be it”, the school’s monthly Twilight Talks bring leading businesswomen into school to share their stories with pupils and parents alike. These evenings are warm and conversational, offering honest insights into careers, challenges and choices, followed by thoughtful Q&A sessions. Girls learn that leadership journeys are rarely linear, and that perseverance, adaptability and self-belief matter just as much as talent.

Beyond these events, leadership is nurtured daily through opportunities to take responsibility, support others and contribute meaningfully to a close-knit community. In a school where everyone is known, girls feel safe to try, to fail and to try again. This sense of belonging underpins Queen Mary’s motto, “her best day, every day,” and reflects the school’s belief that happy girls grow into confident leaders.

The inaugural HER VOICE: Leadership for Girls event is a cornerstone of the school calendar (Image: QUEEN MARYS SCHOOL)

Queen Mary’s is proud of its small, family-feel environment, where ambition is encouraged without pressure and individuality is celebrated. Nestled within the 40-acre Baldersby Park estate between Ripon and Thirsk, academic excellence sits alongside emotional intelligence, creativity and wellbeing. Pupils benefit from small class sizes and improved academic outcomes of, on average, one grade per subject. The school’s rich co-curricular programme includes over 60 clubs, with debating, STEM, coding, horse riding, hockey, music, and dance among the most popular.

To discover how every girl at Queen Mary’s is supported to make each day her best day, families are warmly invited to attend Open Events on 6th March and 25th April, book a private visit, or speak with the friendly admissions team on 01845 575000 or admissions@queenmarys.org. To learn more, visit queenmarys.org/leadership.

The fire service was called to a main road in Cambridge with reports of a roof fire

A fire broke out at a property in Cambridge on Wednesday night (February 11). Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to Elizabeth Way in Chesterton, Cambridge, at around 10:30pm with reports of a roof fire.

Firefighters from Cambridge and Cottenham attended and crews arrived to find a fire in the roof of a house. The fire ultimately affected three properties.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called just after 10:30pm to reports of a roof fire on Elizabeth Way in Chesterton, Cambridge. Crews from Cambridge and Cottenham attended along with the aerial appliance and command unit.

“Firefighters arrived to find a fire in the roof of a house, which affected three properties. They used hose reels to extinguish the fire and a positive pressure ventilation fan to clear the smoke.

“A fire investigation will be carried out to determine the cause of the fire.”

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson said: “We were called at 10.41pm yesterday (11 February) with reports of a fire at a property in Elizabeth Way, Cambridge. Officers attended and the road was closed while fire crews tackled the blaze.

“An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.”

To get more breaking news and top stories delivered directly to your phone, join our new WhatsApp community. Click this link to receive your daily dose of CambridgeshireLive content.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.