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Pollice announced this weekend that the reports had centred around Old Station Park in Horwich, with several cases of anti-social behaviour having been raised.

In response, officers say they have plans to increase their patrols around the park and they have encouraged members of the public with any information or concerns to contact them.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Officers from the Horwich neighbourhood policing team have been made aware of a number of issues involving anti-social behaviour on Old Station Park.

“Abuse towards members of the public using the park will not be tolerated and action will be taken against any individuals identified as being involved.

“Plans are in place to increase patrols in the area.”

Old Station Park has previously been at the centre of concerns about anti-social behaviour.

In December last year United Utilities said they believed an “unknown third party” had damaged water drains leading to flooding.

Anyone with any further information or concerns can call police on 101 or 999 in the event of an emergency.

Alternatively, members of the public can call independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The day drew in huge crowds, who – unperturbed by the wind – enjoyed eight races on Saturday (June 13).

Now in its 55th year, the annual event raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

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Speaking about this, Amy Hebdon, Macmillan relationship fundraising team manager, said: “We had such an incredible field of jockeys again this year, spanning all ages and experience.”

Eight races were held on the day – including the Ernest Cooper Ride of Their Lives charity race (Image: Newsquest)

She added: “I am always blown away by their dedication, bravery and perseverance as they prepare for this challenge whilst also holding fundraising events, raising thousands of pounds of vital funds for Macmillan so we can be there for people living with cancer in Yorkshire.

“Macmillan Cancer Support receives no government funding and relies almost entirely on donations – we simply couldn’t help the growing number of people who need us without the support and generosity of the riders and their supporters.”

Kind-hearted volunteers were on hand to raise vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support on the day (Image: Newsquest)

The day’s races included the Ernest Cooper Ride of Their Lives charity event.

The special race, which has been held at York Racecourse for the past 14 years, sees 12 amateur riders take part in a one-mile challenge, raising at least £4,000 each for the charity.

Coming in first was Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor for the Sunday Times, riding Epictetus.

She was joined by six participants from Yorkshire, including Danny, a strength and condition coach at Jack Berry House in Malton, who despite training almost 100 jockeys for the Macmillan Raceday, only got in the saddle himself last year.

Angelika and Peter stopped off for the races on their way to Scotland from Germany in their campervan – and said they “loved it” (Image: Supplied)

The 43-year-old, from Scarborough, works for the Injured Jockey’s Fund – helping to rehabilitate riders and wished to thank the Macmillan nurses who supported his father through throat cancer.

He said: “The jockeys have been saying I need to learn to ride for years, so I thought it was about time I took up the challenge and experienced the thrill of horseracing.

“Working with jockeys all this time has given me a thorough understanding of the extreme physical and physiological demands placed on them and now it’s time for me to experience it myself.

“I’ve also seen first-hand how amazing Macmillan nurses are after they helped treat and support my dad to make a full recovery from throat cancer in 2018.

“They supported him through the entire process and are nothing short of extraordinary.”

One hundreds and forty volunteers helped collect additional funds for the charity (Image: James Barton – Macmillan Cancer Support)

More than £115,000 was raised for Macmillan through the Ernest Cooper Ride alone.

The total amount raised was aided by a first-of-its-kind abseil down the four-storey Knavesmire Stand, ticket contributions and donations gathered by 140 volunteers over the two days.

A thousand free tickets to the event were also provided to cancer patients and their families by Macmillan.

For more on this and the incredible work the charity does year-round, please visit here.

For a long time, the race seemed to be heading the way of one of the Mercedes drivers, as Russell converted his pole position into a lead from Hamilton and Antonelli at the start and the two raced in that order for almost the first half of the race.

The divergent strategies of the three cars became apparent as soon as Hamilton pitted on lap 11 to change his soft tyres.

Russell and Antonelli had started on the medium compound, but Mercedes chose to bring them in after Hamilton to protect track position, even though the team’s radio communications made it obvious they knew they were on a different strategy.

When Hamilton pitted for a second time on lap 27, Antonelli began to pressure Russell for the lead, closing right up on his team-mate and trying a couple of times to pass into Turn One.

But the two drivers were warned not to waste too much time fighting, in the context of their battle with Hamilton.

Russell stopped for a final time on lap 36, Antonelli a lap later, handing the lead to Hamilton, who still had one stop to make.

Hamilton’s job initially looked like it was to lose as little time as possible to the advancing Mercedes on their fresher tyres, before pitting, dropping to third, and trying to catch them again.

But Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin broke down at Turn Nine on lap 40, and that led to a VSC being deployed to recover the car safely.

Under a VSC, cars have to slow down and maintain their gaps, but as they are travelling slower, it means a pit stop costs relatively less time than under racing conditions.

Hamilton had a 14-second lead, and that was enough margin to stop under the VSC and come out still in front.

It put him in a strong position, out front and with tyres that were eight laps fresher. Only a problem now could cost him a victory and the car ran like clockwork to the end for Hamilton’s 106th grand prix victory and Ferrari’s first since Mexico 2024.

There were two small ironies. Hamilton’s win was Ferrari’s first in Spain since 2013, when the man who delivered it was Alonso, whose retirement caused the VSC that delivered this next one to his old arch-rival.

And the post-race interviews were conducted by Nico Rosberg, Hamilton’s former Mercedes team-mate, with whom he had also had an acrimonious relationship when they were in the same team – and 10 years since the pair crashed together on the first lap of this race when competing for the title.

Offices were called to York Road at about 4pm on Saturday (June 13) after reports that numerous people were fighting with weapons. 

Upon attending the scene, a man was seen brandishing a red crowbar and fled the area – before later being found by police. 

A 38-year-old was arrested on suspicion of affray and remained in police custody for questioning yesterday evening. 

Cleveland Police said officers are investigating the circumstances surrounding the disturbance and have been carrying out extensive CCTV enquiries.

PC Warnock, from Hartlepool’s response team, said: “We believe there were several other people involved in the fighting during a time when the area was very busy with traffic and pedestrians.

“I want to take this opportunity to appeal to anyone who witnessed it take place, has dash cam, mobile or phone footage to get in touch with us.

“You can do this by calling 101 or visiting our website and quoting reference number 113967.”

Information can be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

No one likes dry chicken, but it happens all too easily if you overcook the dish – and chefs are recommending you add a 65p staple to keep it juicy every single time

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You can ensure your chicken dishes remain succulent every time by incorporating one ingredient before cooking. Chicken is famously challenging to cook to perfection. Undercooking risks food poisoning, yet the anxiety surrounding undercooked poultry frequently leads people to overcook it – resulting in dry, tough, and unappetising meat.

Achieving that perfect balance of thoroughly cooked chicken that remains juicy and tender isn’t straightforward, and social media is awash with countless tips and tricks aimed at helping people master the art of cooking the poultry properly. One such cooking technique on TikTok has recently gained widespread attention, as it claims to deliver “the juiciest chicken breast you’ve ever had” – and requires just one 65p ingredient you’ve likely got sitting in your kitchen cupboard.

The tip was posted by Arash Hashemi, a self-taught cook who frequently shares keto-friendly recipes that are rich in protein and minimal in carbohydrates. Following a protein-heavy diet means Arash requires his meals to be flavourful, and his chicken method ensures it’s consistently perfectly moist.

He said: “This is the secret to the juiciest chicken breast you’ve ever had. These are practically dripping with juice.”

Arash started by seasoning his chicken, opting for herbs and spices including paprika and oregano, alongside yoghurt and lemon juice, though you can customise this to your preference.

However, in his marinade, he included one particular ingredient that helped guarantee his chicken would remain juicy – baking soda.

Baking soda is an effective tenderiser for chicken that functions by increasing the surface pH level of the meat. This stops the proteins from contracting and releasing moisture during cooking, ensuring your chicken remains juicy and tender.

Commenters on the post were astonished by the straightforward trick, with numerous people admitting they had no clue that achieving juicy chicken was as simple as incorporating one ingredient into their marinade.

One person said: “Baking soda on every chicken from now on. What?!”

Another added: “I wanna say thank you so much for posting this video. I have this for dinner, and my chicken came out sooooo tender and juicy. I’ve been cooking chicken wrong the whole time.”

How to cook a chicken breast

Arash also proceeded to detail precisely how he prepares his chicken breast to ensure it turns out juicy. Firstly, he ensures his chicken is at room temperature before cooking, which means removing it from the fridge for a short while.

Don’t leave chicken out for an extended period, as this can allow bacteria to develop and raise your risk of food poisoning. But allowing it to rest while you prepare the remainder of your meal is acceptable.

He then placed the chicken in a frying pan with some oil, cooking it over a medium heat with a lid on for three minutes. After the time had elapsed, he turned it over, replaced the lid, and cooked for a further seven minutes.

He then removed the chicken from the pan and allowed it to rest for five minutes before serving. Bon appetit!

Rugby legend Lewis Moody was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last year

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Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody has offered an update on his health as he continues to battle motor neurone disease (MND). Moody was diagnosed with MND in September last year and went public with the news a month later.

MND affects motor nerves in the spinal cord and the brain and affects a person’s ability to walk, talk, breathe and swallow through muscle weakness, stiffness and paralysis.

Currently, there is no cure for the condition, but treatment can slow down the progression of the life-limiting disease.

Moody noticed the symptoms when he was exercising in the gym, where he became aware of weakness in his shoulder.

The 47-year-old played for Leicester Tigers and Bath during his illustrious career in rugby, and has now taken on the responsibility of helping raise awareness for those diagnosed with the condition.

JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE Latest news, analysis and much more

Now, a few months on from announcing his diagnosis, Moody has opened up on how it continues to affect his day-to-day life.

“My finger strength is slightly diminished, but otherwise, hopefully, there is nothing else at the moment,” Moody said in an interview with The Guardian.

“I can still do everything. It’s just a case of managing energy because, if you get depleted, it drops away quickly. I have to sleep more regularly and listen to my body but, touch wood, the disease is moving slowly.”

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Moody went on to explain why he is determined to help other people who have been diagnosed with MND.

He said: “The times in my life where I felt really alive was when I felt the greatest adversity. For me, there’s probably no greater adversity than what I’m facing now.

“But so many people are doing amazing things in the MND space all the time. Many of them have no platform and don’t get attention.

“But I get the opportunity to help those individuals – and I want to impact that space with real purpose for all of us living with MND.”

Available for over a year

Royal Marine Commandos have boarded a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the English Channel in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Marines, joined by National Crime Agency officers, with the support of the RAF, intercepted and boarded the vessel in a six-hour operation – the first operation of its kind by UK armed forces.

The vessel, Smyrtos, will be held and monitored off the south coast of England as investigations continue, the MoD said.

Joe Pike joins Laura and Paddy to go through what we know about the operation, and put it into context in light of a week of resignations over the government’s defence investment plan.

A full list of candidates and loads more information about the Makerfield by-election is available here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgrp1z8n4w2o

You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say “Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers.

You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord
Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480.

New episodes are released every day. If you’re in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd

Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC.

The presenters were Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O’Connell. It was made by Chris Flynn. The social producer was Jem Westgate. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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To achieve the crispiest roast potatoes, there’s one ingredient everyone should be adding to the saucepan before parboiling

Everyone loves a crispy roast potato, but ensuring the results are golden and crunchy can be difficult. There are myriad methods and techniques home cooks can use to achieve crispy edges and fluffy insides on a roastie, but you don’t have to wait until they’re in the oven.

Food content creator Emma, better known as Ems Foodie Fix on TikTok, recently shared some top-secret tips for creating the crispiest roast potatoes. Emma explained that she learned all she needed to know about making the best roast potatoes from a pub chef.

In a TikTok video from earlier this month, she said: “A pub chef taught me four secrets to make extra crispy roast potatoes. Listen to that crunch.”

You can give the potatoes a helping hand right from the start. When parboiling the potatoes, add bicarbonate of soda to the saucepan.

The same method is used by American chef and food writer J. Kenji Lopez-Alt. Kenji’s recipe calls for adding half a teaspoon of baking soda to approximately two litres of water, enough to cook about three pounds (450g) of cubed potatoes. The potatoes are then par-boiled in the baking soda water.

So how does it work? As baking soda is alkaline, adding it to the water for the potatoes creates an alkaline environment that breaks down the potato’s outer edges, releasing starches and forming a starchy slurry that crisps beautifully when roasted.

Once the potatoes are parboiled, drain away the water and give them a good shake in the colander. The baking soda will help the edges of the potatoes break down more easily, making them craggy.

These craggy edges will crisp up beautifully when roasted. When roasting the potatoes in the oven, Emma recommended turning them at least four times.

Turning will allow the potatoes to be coated in the chosen fat and help the skin turn golden brown. Emma’s last tip is all in the seasoning.

All you need is a simple mix of salt and fresh rosemary to give the spuds some flavour. However, the seasoning should be added after the potatoes are roasted.

Emma said: “We want flavour, not tiny burnt twigs.”

Emma’s video has been viewed over a massive 80,200 times, receiving 5,617 likes and 14 comments. Emily simply replied: “So good.”

JP-ZoSo suggested: “They look fab! I usually add semolina powder to the parboiled spuds, then oven fry them in a shallow tray of Olive oil.”

Zargaloz commented, “These look absolutely amazing,” while another agreed, “Cor, you’ve made me hungry now they look perfect.”

Nicole said: “The most perfect potatoes.”

Chef’s tips for the crispiest roast potatoes

• Add bicarbonate of soda to the water before boiling.
• Give the potatoes a good shake (or chuff) after parboiling.
• Turn the potatoes at least four times in the oven.
• Season with salt and rosemary.

Though he’s “not praying for hat-tricks”, many would have been asking the man above for a favour or two as Scotland eyed up their first World Cup win in 36 years.

It was evident early doors against Haiti that if anything was going to happen, Gannon-Doak would be at the heart of it.

Keeping it simple, when he received the ball down the right, he looked to attack. A sight that makes Scotland supporters rejoice, such has been its rarity in recent times.

When McTominay skelped a post, it was on the end of another dazzling Gannon-Doak burst. He set up Che Adams shortly after for a shot that would be parried right in the path of McGinn, who was wheeling away in ecstasy seconds later as Scotland scored their first World Cup goal since 1998.

For 83 minutes, Gannon-Doak was the youngest man to appear at a World Cup for Scotland. That’s until his 19-year-old pal Findlay Curtis came on.

The pair play in a care-free manner. They don’t carry the years of missed qualifications or even the recent disappointments at the Euros. And it shows.

Gannon-Doak departed with 15 minutes to go against the Haitians. A collective gulp was inhaled.

“He had a cracker tonight,” former Scotland winger Pat Nevin said on BBC Sportsound.

“He’s what you want a Scotland player to be,” added ex-captain Scott Brown on BBC One.

Like few others, Gannon-Doak gets the faithful going. Believing. Hoping.

Like the rest of his generation, we’ve grown up believing ‘it’s the hope that kills you’, but with this 20-year-old driving the team, it’s difficult not to.