Eight caravans had been parked at Longsight Park last Thursday (May 14), before Bolton Council served a legal notice ordering those on the site to leave.

The authority carried out welfare checks before beginning legal proceedings and confirmed no health concerns were identified among the occupants.

Attention has now turned to preventing similar incidents from happening again, with councillors and council officers reviewing security at the park.

Proposals being considered include upgraded metal barriers, stronger locks and pull-up bollards at entrances to the site.

Caravans and tents spotted on Longsight Park. (Image: NQ)

Cllr James Moller, of Bradshaw ward, said: “They’ve now left and they are locking the gate today [May 21].

“They’re updating the metal barrier and putting a new lock on. The council is also looking at what other measures they can put in place to stop people cutting it off.

“We’ve proposed improving the barriers and putting in pull-up bollards as well. We want to make it secure but still easy to access.”

Bolton Council said it had followed the appropriate legal process after becoming aware of the unauthorised encampment at the park.

A Bolton Council spokesperson previously said they were “aware of an unauthorised encampment at Longsight Park”.

They added that “all the appropriate welfare checks” had been carried out, and they “started the legal process to have the encampment removed”.

The discussion around extra security measures also follows previous concerns about quad bikes damaging the land earlier this year.

Jarrod Bowen has been linked with a move to Manchester United this summer, and he was speaking following West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League

Manchester United-linked Jarrod Bowen has suggested he has no plans to leave West Ham United following the club’s relegation to the Sky Bet Championship. The Hammers needed a victory against Leeds United and for Tottenham Hotspur to lose at home to Everton to stay up and send Spurs down instead.

And although Nuno Espirito Santo’s side kept their side of the bargain with second-half goals from Taty Castellanos, Bowen and Callum Wilson, Spurs, who had not won at home in the league this year, beat Everton 1-0 to ensure it would be they who are playing in the Premier League next season.

United are one of a number of Premier League clubs who have been linked with a move for Bowen. The Guardian recently reported that the Reds were considering the England international as an option on the left wing.

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Chelsea and Liverpool have also been linked, but Bowen insisted following the game at the London Stadium that he has no plans to leave the Hammers this summer.

“Ultimately, this season we haven’t been good enough and we’ve paid the price,” he told Sky Sports.

“I’m under contract here. I’ve been here six and a half years. I’ve had some really high moments and this is a low moment that will outweigh everything.

“There’s going to be rumours, there’s going to be talk. Ultimately, what I see is getting this club back in the Premier League because that is where it deserves to be.

“This is a really, really low moment, but we have to bounce back because there’s no other way. This is a really difficult moment.

“You never know what the future holds. For me, I want to get this club back in the Premier League. Right now our vision is to do that.”

Before he continued: “We have to go away now, not enjoy our time off because you’re never going to enjoy your time off with the season we’ve had, but stay with your family and loved ones, recover well and prepare well for when we come back in and get promoted.”

He then concluded: “Not really [a consolation that West Ham did what they needed to] because we never wanted to be in this situation.

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“Coming into the game, we had to take care of ourselves and hold onto that bit of hope that we had. That’s all we could do. We were relying on another result. Ultimately, it’s not enough.

“[I just feel] hurt. I’ve been here six and a half years now. Had a lot of good moments and this outweighs all of it. Getting this club relegated… it hurts.

“We shouldn’t be in the position we’re in but we’ve found ourselves in it and we’ve not done enough to stay up. Hurt is the only thing.”

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

The journey by taxi last year with her female cousin – covered from head to toe, only their eyes visible, as the rules decree – was an exceptional thing to do, and risky in Afghanistan, where at any moment they might be caught by the Taliban inspectors enforcing rules banning women travelling long distances without a male relative escorting them.

Located in the sought-after semi-rural area of Dearden Fold, the property is arranged over three floors and has been finished to a high standard throughout.

It features modern design elements, energy-efficient features, and flexible living space.

Open-plan living area with wall panelling and wood-burning stove (Image: Zoopla)

Charles Louis, the estate agent listing the property, said: “Set within a highly regarded semi-rural pocket of Dearden Fold, this substantial and beautifully presented detached home offers a superb blend of modern design, energy-efficient features, flexible living space, and a stunning outdoor setting.

“Arranged over three floors, the property is finished to an exceptional standard throughout, with high-quality fixtures, contemporary styling, and a layout ideally suited to modern family life.”

The ground floor features a spacious open-plan living and dining area that flows into a contemporary fitted kitchen.

Contemporary kitchen with gloss units, double oven and tiled floor (Image: Zoopla)

Moving to the living room, there is modern styling, including wall panelling, integrated shelving, and a contemporary wood-burning stove.

A dining room is situated between the living room and conservatory and benefits from plenty of natural light.

The kitchen is equipped with modern wall and base units, a double oven, hob, extractor fan, wine cooler, and ample storage.

Main bedroom with feature slatted wall and fitted shelving (Image: Zoopla)

There is also a bright conservatory offering additional reception space with views of the garden.

Underfloor heating is installed throughout the space, and large windows allow for plenty of natural light and a direct connection to the outdoors.

Upstairs, the property includes generously sized bedrooms and a versatile additional room that could be used as a home office or guest room.

Family bathroom with walk-in shower, freestanding bath and tiled walls (Image: Zoopla)

The family bathroom is fitted with a freestanding bath and a walk-in shower.

The estate agent added: “The flexible layout caters equally well to families and professionals alike.”

Outside, the landscaped rear garden includes decked seating areas, a lawn, a gazebo, and a koi pond.

Charles Louis “a standout feature, designed for both relaxation and entertaining, with decked seating areas, lawn, gazebo, and an attractive koi pond”.

The front of the property includes a private driveway with an electric vehicle charging point and electric security gates.

Rear garden with decking, lawn, gazebo and koi pond (Image: Zoopla)

Solar panels with battery storage help to reduce running costs.

A spokesman said: “The rear garden is a true highlight, featuring a large decked seating area, lawned garden, mature planting, gazebo and an attractive koi pond, creating a tranquil outdoor retreat.

“Enjoying open countryside views while remaining conveniently close to Ramsbottom and local amenities, this impressive home offers an exceptional balance of lifestyle, comfort, and location.”

A Taste of Wensleydale Café and Tea Room, in the heart of Bainbridge, has become a popular stop for walkers, cyclists and tourists travelling through Wensleydale thanks to its homemade food, friendly atmosphere and picturesque setting.

The café’s owners recently shared photographs on social media after meeting the Prince of Wales when he made a surprise visit to the village earlier this month.

Prince William visited Bainbridge to tour the community-owned River Bain Hydro project and meet residents, businesses and community groups.

During the visit, he praised the “great community spirit” in the Yorkshire Dales and described the area as “a beautiful part of the world”.

For the owners of A Taste of Wensleydale, the royal visit added another memorable moment to life in the small village of around 480 residents.

Nestled near the meeting point of the River Bain and River Ure inside the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Bainbridge is one of the Dales’ oldest settlements and was once known by the Roman name Virosidum.

A Taste of Wensleydale Café and Tea Room (Image: A TASTE OF WENSLEYDALE)

Today, the village is known for its traditional stone cottages, village green and proximity to Semerwater, North Yorkshire’s second-largest natural lake.

A Taste of Wensleydale has become increasingly popular with visitors exploring the area and currently holds a strong 4.5-star Tripadvisor rating alongside an impressive 4.8-star Google rating.

Reviewers regularly praise the café’s homemade cakes, Yorkshire pudding wraps, sandwiches and warm welcome.

One TripAdvisor reviewer described it as “a lovely friendly little place in a beautiful village”, while another called it a “complete jewel”.

A visitor who stopped off after a walk in the Dales wrote: “The cakes were excellent and the pot of tea for two gave us three cups each. Well worth a visit if you are in the area.”

Others highlighted the café’s bakery products, including sourdough bread, homemade pork pies and fresh cakes.

One customer praised the “excellent hospitality” and described the sausage sandwiches as “top notch”.

Dog walkers and cyclists also regularly mention the welcoming atmosphere and outdoor seating overlooking the village.

The café has become part of the wider appeal of Bainbridge itself, which continues to attract visitors looking for a quieter and more traditional Yorkshire Dales experience.

The Yorkshire shepherdess, author and presenter, has built a huge following through her Channel 5 and More4 programmes, which document life in the remote Yorkshire Dales alongside her large family.

Who is Amanda Owen?

Amanda is an English shepherdess, writer and television presenter.

She lives and works at Ravenseat Farm in Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales, where she became known for sharing the realities of hill farming and rural family life.

Amanda Owen (Image: James Speakman/PA Media Assignments)

Amanda first gained widespread attention through social media under the name “The Yorkshire Shepherdess”, with her growing popularity eventually leading to publishing deals and television opportunities.

Over the years, she has become one of the most recognisable figures in British farming television.

Where is Amanda Owen from?

Amanda Owen lives at Ravenseat Farm in Upper Swaledale in North Yorkshire.

The remote hill farm sits near the village of Keld and close to Kirkby Stephen on the Cumbria border.

Ravenseat is a working sheep farm covering around 2,000 acres in one of the most isolated areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

How many children does Amanda Owen have?

Amanda Owen has nine children:

• Raven
• Reuben
• Miles
• Edith
• Violet
• Sidney
• Annas
• Clementine
• Nancy

Her children regularly appeared alongside her in Our Yorkshire Farm and continue to feature in Our Farm Next Door on More4.

Several members of the family have also gone on to appear in their own spin-off programmes.

Is Amanda Owen still married to Clive Owen?

Amanda Owen separated from husband Clive Owen in 2022 after 22 years of marriage.

Despite the split, the pair have continued to work together on television projects and farming life at Ravenseat.

Both Amanda and Clive currently appear together in More4’s Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids, which follows the restoration of the nearby farmhouse Anty John’s.

What TV shows has Amanda Owen been in?

Amanda Owen first appeared on television in documentaries about life in the Yorkshire Dales before becoming a household name through Our Yorkshire Farm.

Her television appearances include:

• Wainwright Walks: Coast to Coast with Julia Bradbury
• The Dales
• New Lives in the Wild UK with Ben Fogle
• Our Yorkshire Farm
• Winter Walks
• Amanda Owen’s Extraordinary Farming Lives
• Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids

She has also featured on several BBC Radio 4 programmes and made guest appearances on seasonal farming shows, including Winter on the Farm.

What happened to Our Yorkshire Farm?

Our Yorkshire Farm became one of Channel 5’s biggest factual hits after launching in 2018.

The documentary series followed Amanda, Clive and their children as they managed Ravenseat Farm in the Yorkshire Dales.

Amanda Owen and Clive Owen (Image: CHANNEL 4)

In 2022, Channel 5 confirmed that the programme would not return in its original form.

However, several spin-offs followed, including:

• Beyond the Yorkshire Farm: Reuben & Clive
• Reuben: Life in the Dales
• Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids

The More4 spin-off has continued the family’s television success by documenting the renovation of Anty John’s farmhouse.

Has Our Farm Next Door been renewed?

Yes. Channel 4 previously confirmed that Our Farm Next Door: Amanda, Clive and Kids has been recommissioned for a fourth series.

Series three ended in February 2026, and while an official air date for the next instalment has not yet been announced, more episodes are expected later in 2026 or in early 2027.

The show follows Amanda, Clive and their children as they balance farming life at Ravenseat with the ambitious restoration project at Anty John’s.

Has Amanda Owen written any books?

Amanda Owen has also enjoyed success as an author and has written several books inspired by farming and family life in the Yorkshire Dales.

Her books include:

• The Yorkshire Shepherdess
• A Year in the Life of the Yorkshire Shepherdess
• Adventures of the Yorkshire Shepherdess
• Tales From the Farm
• Celebrating The Seasons

A statement from Northern Ireland Fire Rescue Service South says that it is a pile of scrap metal which is ablaze, with images showing crews at the scene.

It reads: “Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service are currently engaged in firefighting operations to extinguish a fire in a large quantity of scrap metal at Clearway Metal Recycling, East Twin Road, Belfast.

A total of 9 pumping appliances, an aerial appliance, high volume pump and 60 firefighters are engaged in firefighting operations.

“The fire is in a pile of scrap metal measuring approximately 50m x 50m. Crews are utilising the high volume pump to convey water to the fire. There are no reported injuries and all persons are accounted for.

“Operations will continue for some time. Members of the public are encouraged to stay away from East Twin Road and keep windows and doors closed.”

Welcome to the second edition of our monthly property column bringing together practical, real-world insights from Tom Simpson, managing director of homes at Yorkshire Building Society, alongside other industry experts.

This month, Tom takes a look at what the journey to homeownership really looks like and the steps involved at every stage of the process.

Are your finances in order?

Before you start, the first hurdle is understanding your finances. This means working out what savings you have, as well as any debts (such as credit card or car finance agreements).

You should also find out your credit score (there are organisations which provide this service for free).

This matters because factors like borrowing too much, missing bill payments or defaulting on a loan, for example, can damage your credit history.

However, keeping up to date with regular commitments or paying off a loan can help your score improve. Having no history of managing regular payments can be an issue, too.

These are the factors which are important to lenders, and many would‑be buyers underestimate how much small, consistent positive financial habits really matter when it comes to showing your reliability. Being on the electoral roll is also important, as it helps a would-be lender to check who you are.

How much can you afford?

When you have a clear idea of your financial ‘health’, the next step is to look at what price of property you can afford.

This involves looking at all your incomings and outgoings and determining how much free cash you have left to commit to a mortgage. Lenders use this to work out how much they can lend to you, which you can comfortably repay without stretching yourself too far.

The typical total lending amount lenders apply is 4.5 times income, but this can go up as high as 5.5 or six times, depending on your circumstances.

Remember that the lender will factor into their calculation how much you already owe on other financial commitments.

There are online calculators you can use to get an idea of how much you are likely to be able to borrow, but they’re no substitute for a tailored affordability assessment.

A calculator can’t understand your career trajectory, your spending patterns, or the nuances of your financial commitments. This is where a broker or independent mortgage adviser could help.

Bear in mind, too, that it’s not just the home itself you’ll need to pay for. You’ll also need savings towards a deposit and other costs associated with buying, such as conveyancing costs (charges associated with the legal process of transferring property ownership from one person to another); the valuation (used by the lender to determine what the property is worth), a survey (optional, but recommended, as an expert’s inspection of the condition of the property), and of course making it your own with things like decoration and furnishing.

Finding your dream home

Once you know how much you can afford, it’s time to house hunt.

When choosing where to live, try making a list of what’s most important to you – for example, how many bedrooms do you need? Do you need a garden?

If you find somewhere you like, visit the property at different times and days of the week. This way you’ll get a good sense of the area and the community, and you’ll be able to find out what traffic, noise and parking are like. Be sure to ask as many questions as you can so that there are no surprises later on.

When you’re settled on a home you love, it’s time to make an offer, and once you’ve had an offer accepted, you can actually apply for a mortgage.

How do I get a mortgage?

The mortgage process itself is often where first‑time buyers feel most intimidated.

Before you start looking for a mortgage, you’ll need to know your loan-to-value (LTV). This is calculated based on the difference between your deposit and the value of the home you want to buy, and will guide you towards mortgage deals which are suitable for you.

Products are usually available from 60% LTV (where the borrower has a 40 per cent deposit and is borrowing 60 per cent of the property’s value), up to 95 per cent LTV (where the borrower has a five per cent deposit and is borrowing 95 per cent of the property’s value).

In terms of the mortgage application itself, first, you need a Decision in Principle, or DIP.

This is a signal that a lender is open to lending to you. To get this, you will need to arrange a conversation with a lender or a mortgage broker and tell them your deposit, outgoings and the price of the home you want to buy.

If your affordability and credit record stack up against their criteria, you will be given a DIP. Once you have that, you can make an offer on your desired property, and once that’s accepted by the seller, you’ll need to hire a conveyancer (to manage the legal side of buying a home).

Next, you’ll submit your full mortgage application via your broker or lender. You’ll need to provide more detailed information and documentation about your finances as well as the home you want to buy. They will also check your credit history and carry out their valuation of the property.

Once your mortgage application is approved, your lender will then issue a formal mortgage offer outlining the terms of your loan and a full breakdown of costs. You’ll pay your deposit, legal costs and any associated fees through your conveyancer.

After that, you’ll sign and return the offer so that your conveyancer can begin the exchange of contracts with the seller’s conveyancer. This is the point at which you become legally committed to the purchase. Finally, completion takes place — the moment ownership transfers to you, and you can collect the keys to your new home.

The bottom line

The first‑time buyer journey need not be mysterious or inaccessible, and if you’re unsure, speaking to a mortgage adviser via your chosen lender, or an independent mortgage broker, can help you navigate the process with confidence.

For more information, visit www.ybs.co.uk/mortgages.

A 16-year-old boy suffered serious chest and face injuries in an alleged Dudley machete attack by two suspects on a moped who fled the scene

A teenage boy has been left with serious injuries following a machete attack. It comes as police are searching for the alleged attackers.

Officers confirmed the 16-year-old was slashed at around 2pm on Saturday while on Duncan Edwards Close in Dudley, West Midlands, when “violence broke out”.

It is believed the victim was approached by two young men riding a moped, who allegedly set upon him with a machete before making their escape.

The youngster sustained severe wounds to his chest and face and was rushed to hospital, where surgeons were required to operate. West Midlands Police have launched a formal investigation, are examining footage of the incident, and have appealed to members of the public for any information they may hold.

Detective Inspector Joe Davenport, from the force’s Major Crime Unit, stated the victim “could easily” have lost his life during the assault, adding that officers are working to establish the full circumstances and motive behind the attack, reports the Mirror.

He said: “This was an horrific attack in the middle of the day and it could easily have resulted in this boy losing his life.

“We’ve been working tirelessly since then to understand exactly what happened, and who was responsible, and I’d urge anyone with information to get in touch with as soon as possible.”

West Midlands Police confirmed the teenage victim remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital. It read: “We’re appealing for the public’s help after a teenager was left seriously injured when violence broke out involving a group of people with machetes in Dudley.

“The 16-year-old was taken to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition today after violence broke out just before 2pm yesterday (Saturday) on Duncan Edwards Close.

“It’s believed he had been walking in the area when he was approached by two young men on a moped. They attacked him before fleeing. He was left with serious injuries to his chest and face, and has undergone surgery.

“We’ve recovered CCTV and mobile phone footage, and are now asking for help from the public to help us identify and arrest those involved.” The statement further noted: “Extra patrols are taking place in the area today.”

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Victory combined with results elsewhere cemented Sunderland’s place in Europe next season, capping off a sensational top-flight return for the club, who earned promotion exactly one year ago to the day after beating Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.