Police have shut the A689 in Sedgefield this evening (March 9) between the Sands Hall roundabout and the A177 La Raaj roundabout.

The nearby Spring Lane – which goes over the A689 – has also been closed from Sedgefield to Foxton, Durham Police confirmed.

The nature of the incidents remain unknown at this stage.

“We would thank motorists to avoid the route – diversion will be through Sedgefield to come out Stockton Road whilst emergency services work”, a spokesperson said.

Snow is soon expected to fall across parts of the UK — reportedly around 60% of the country — as a low pressure moves in from the west and temperatures drop rapidly

The Met Office has detailed snow is expected to fall in locations as low as 200 metres in the coming days.

In a forecast posted on YouTube, the weather agency has said snow is anticipated across large swathes of the nation, including the Northwest of England, as early as Friday. It is a stark contrast to the balmy weather last week, during which the mercury hit 19C in Greater London.

Annie Shuttleworth, meteorologist with the Met Office, said in the clip: “Quite a notable change in the air mass on Thursday night into Friday will bring a very different feel to the weather by the end of the week. It will be considerably colder to start the day (Friday). We are expecting a patchy frost particularly in sheltered areas. Sheltered because the winds will be quite strong on Friday as well.

“Now, the rain will continue to move in from the north and west. So, it’s northwestern areas that will see frequent showers, some of these falling as snow to around 200 meters. That’s relatively low for the time of year, but also a mix of hail in there as well. That brings a risk of ice too through Friday morning as well as into Saturday morning.”

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Weather maps issued by the Met Office show a messy outlook on Friday with white hues across the country, including across the Northwest of England, north Wales and parts of Scotland. A blue hue covers other parts, such as the Southwest of England.

The mercury exceed 15C in Goudhurst, Kent, on Sunday, but temperatures are anticipated to fall in the coming days. It will feel as cold as -7C on Friday — largely due to a fierce westerly wind — and remain this way throughout the weekend, notably on Sunday.

Ms Shuttleworth added: “Wherever you are, it’s going to be feeling chilly quite widely. We’ll just be in those single figures by day… Now, the general theme remains unsettled into the weekend.”

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It will be rainy on the weekend after the snow, especially across the Northwest of England. This will follow heavy rain on Thursday, particularly across the Northeast of England in the morning and most of Wales in the afternoon.

There are 21 flood warnings in place already ahead of the unsettled period. All of these are for waterways across the Southwest of England, such as Groundwater flooding for the Hooke in West Dorset and Groundwater flooding for the Till, which is in Wiltshire.

One Piece fans have just a few more hours to wait until the highly anticipated second season finally drops on Netflix.

Two years ago, Matt Owens and Steven Maeda’s adaptation of the 1997 manga series by Eiichiro Oda was released on the streaming platform.

For the uninitiated, the series follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as they pursue their individual goals together and seek the ‘One Piece’, a legendary treasure found and hidden by the former King of the Pirates, Gold Roger.

The first season – which ran for eight episodes – was hailed by several critics as one of the best live-action manga/anime adaptations of all time.

As Empire detailed in its review: ‘It’s the fun, quirky adaptation that One Piece fans and newbies alike deserve.’

Meanwhile Mashable declared: ‘Whether you’re a diehard One Piece fan or a novice like myself, you’ll find something to love here. Heck, you may even start to have more faith in live-action anime and manga adaptations.’

‘Given everything stacked against it, it’s pretty impressive how much Netflix’s version fits into such a short season, and it’ll be a relief for novices and die-hard fans alike that the end result is an enjoyable ​summer binge-watch,’ The Wrap added.

Fans also praised the series, which they admitted they’d held extremely high expectations for.

‘I have to admit I was sceptical at first, not believing that an anime adaptation could be brought to life successfully. It’s an emotional rollercoaster. Extremely well made!’ user GP posted on Rotten Tomatoes.

Following its release, the first season of One Piece became the most-watched Netflix show during the second half of 2023.

Just two weeks after it hit screens, the series was also renewed for a second season, which will be released overnight. The new episodes are set to drop on Netflix for UK viewers at midnight.

According to Tudum, the Straw Hats will face their ‘fiercer adversaries and the most perilous quests yet’.

As teased in the official synopsis: ‘Luffy and the Straw Hats set sail for the extraordinary Grand Line – a legendary stretch of sea where danger and wonder await at every turn. As they journey through this unpredictable realm in search of the world’s greatest treasure, they’ll encounter bizarre islands and a host of formidable new enemies.’

The first season starred Iñaki Godoy, Emily Rudd, Mackenyu, Jacob Romero Gibson, and Taz Skylar as the Straw Hat Pirates.

This time around there is a string of new characters, including Mikaela Hoover as Tony Tony Chopper, Rigo Sanchez as Dragon, Yonda Thomas as Igaram, Callum Kerr as Smoker, Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday, and Joe Manganiello as Mr. 0.

When the trailer for season 2 was released a few weeks ago, many fans said they ‘couldn’t wait’ to tune in. ‘When a trailer makes you smile all the way through. you know that it has delivered something very special, we cannot wait,’ @DeanWindow-yo4vc commented on YouTube.

‘I cannot believe how much they invested into the CGI here. They are not scared to get fantastical. I love it,’ @nandatou shared.

‘To the Netflix Execs: I’m willing to pay an absurd amount of money for this series. Keep it on, keep it good,’ @cameronedy3364 added.

The One Piece manga was introduced in 1997 and currently has over 600 million copies in circulation worldwide, making it the best-selling manga series ever and the best-selling comic series in volume format.

The Netflix series has also already been renewed for a third season.

One Piece is streaming on Netflix.

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Wild garlic, oyster mushrooms and sea beet were once regularly gathered and eaten as part of meals across the UK. Today, some people have concerns about eating food growing in the woods or hedgerows, but are keen to discuss why – as our research shows.

Our small study looked at current public attitudes to eating wild foods in the English county of Dorset.

In previous centuries, knowledge about what to pick and eat and even how to cook was passed down through generations.

In 16th-century Britain, rural households ate pottage (a kind of soup made from oats) and foraged for other ingredients including sorrel and leeks. Coastal communities gathered samphire and sea beet, while hazelnuts were gathered from forests and hedgerows. Wild game, such as rabbit and deer, and freshwater eels were considered ordinary foods for those who could find them.

My team’s research into public attitudes to “wild food” was based in Dorset, a strongly agricultural county. Working with an experienced forager, we selected ten foods growing wild in the county and available around the UK. We then asked a mix of farmers and people in the food industry including chefs and experienced foragers about whether they would feel comfortable eating these items.

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When shown photographs of commonly available edible species including nettles, mushrooms (wood ear and oyster), blackberries, wild garlic, elder, cleavers (a native wildflower), hawthorn, hazelnut, and sea beet, many participants expressed surprise about how little they knew about the foods growing in their back gardens and nearby woods.

One farmer in the group said: “I grew up in the countryside, I was always curious about plants and what was growing outside. But I’m always surprised about how little I know and I’m someone who loves plants.” The people we spoke with were not confident about how to identify food sources on their doorsteps and add them into their cooking.

Two people out of the group of 11 correctly identified the two types of mushrooms, wood ear and oyster, that are common in Dorset and widely foraged globally. Several participants admitted they were a bit afraid of eating mushrooms. One farmer said that wild mushrooming “terrifies me a little bit”.

A foraging expert said: “A lot of people are scared because they’re told when they’re a kid, don’t touch the mushrooms, they might be poisonous.”

One grower said that consumers have become used to buying all their food from shops, but they are less comfortable with buying, or finding, foraged food. Participants said they would be comfortable buying oyster mushrooms in a supermarket, but they would feel less secure buying them at a market, for instance.

But we found some participants were enthusiastic about trying out new wild ingredients. One said: “If you can eat something that you’ve grown, picked or foraged, it kind of has a special feeling about it.”

Another said: “I’m going to have them. It’s free! I mean, why wouldn’t you?”

It should be noted that inexperienced foragers should seek guidance on which fungi are safe to eat as not all are edible, and some are poisonous.

Participants’ perspectives shifted after discussing foraging and consumption. One participant commented: “This shows the loss of knowledge and understanding of how to find and eat wild foods, even in rural communities.”

Wild foods, such as the ones in our study, were once part of a staple diet but are not widely available in supermarkets, although a few do crop up at farmers’ markets. Examples of these include wild garlic, wood ear mushrooms, elderflower, nettle, cleavers, hawthorn, sea beet, chickweed and sea purslane.

Rebuilding knowledge about local wild foods could help reconnect people with their food environment.

Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) pushed Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) to breaking point in tonight’s Coronation Street when he threatened him in horrifying scenes.

It was supposed to be a happy day for the couple as they celebrated Theo’s birthday, but his impossibly high expectations, manipulative and controlling behaviour and explosive temper resulted in a quick downward spiral.

Todd’s gift of a blender clearly fell short of Theo’s expectations, even after Todd explained how he thought it would be something Theo could get good use from given his enjoyment of exercise and healthy eating.

Add to that the fact that Todd had had to ask Theo for the money to buy his present, and Theo had given him only £200 and warned that it also needed to cover his birthday meal, and it seems Todd was being set up to fail from the get-go.

Unfortunately, Theo made it clear that he wasn’t impressed by spending the rest of the day making digs about Todd’s gift-giving.

Theo only grew more agitated when Todd turned up late to his birthday meal at the Bistro due to a situation at work.

In a bid to get back at Todd for this, Theo ordered the most expensive wine on the menu and racked up an enormous bill, which was only made worse when he insisted that they pay for Gary Windass (Mikey North) and Maria Connor’s (Samia Longchambon) meals too.

And by ‘they’, he, of course, meant Todd.

Viewers will recall that Theo previously increased his control over Todd by taking control of his bank account and cutting up his cards. The move came after Theo found Todd’s credit card bill, and he insisted that he was doing it to help keep their finances on track.

Though he brushed off Todd’s concerns by assuring him that he just had to ask when he needed cash, Theo left Todd in a difficult situation when he disappeared for a week leaving Todd with no access to his money.

In tonight’s episode, when faced with the bill, Todd was forced to admit that he couldn’t afford to pay it, leaving Theo furious at having to pick up the tab on his birthday.

Of course, he refused to acknowledge the fact that it was down to his actions, even suggesting that Todd pay with his card instead of cash, leaving Todd frustrated.

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By the time they got home, Theo was drunk and in a bad mood, and Todd asked him not to drink any more alcohol for the evening.

This only made Theo angrier, and he launched into a rant about how terrible his birthday had been.

When Todd offered to make them some coffee, Theo’s tirade continued, as he threw mugs and containers at a horrified Todd.

As Theo searched the drawer for spoons, Todd leapt into action and tried to calm him down, only for Theo to reach for a knife and threaten Todd with it.

Todd’s reaction was devastating, as he urged Theo to use the knife to ‘put him out of his misery’, asserting that he couldn’t put up with living like this any longer.

Will this be a reality check for Theo and his vile behaviour, or will Todd find the courage to leave before Theo gets the chance to hurt him again?

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It’s said Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have recently had a strained relationship with members of the royal family, such as Prince William and Princess Kate

The “turning point” in Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship with the royal family was just before the couple announced they were leaving for the US, an expert has said.

It is understood “something must have happened” before the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made the bombshell declaration in January 2020. Grant Harrold, a former royal butler, said the couple had a healthy relationship with the Prince and Princess of Wales until they quit The Firm, and they became known as the “Fab Four”.

But it was reportedly in the months before their announcement when their relationship appeared to sour. Mr Harrold said: “We saw William, Kate, Harry, and Meghan do so many things together initially, but the turning point was a few months before the announcement that they were stepping away from royal duties. They were doing events in the summer prior to that, so something must have happened in between.”

Speaking on behalf of OLBG, Mr Harrold said Prince William was “genuinely happy” his brother had met someone. Photographs taken of the four together in 2019, including a snap at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, captured just how close they were.

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However, Express US reports “something must have happened” and then Harry and Meghan left the UK. In a statement released when they made this decision, the couple said: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution

“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty the Queen. It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.”

READ MORE: Harry and Meghan reveal ‘sensitivity’ by ‘avoiding’ awkward clash with William

It is believed Harry and Meghan did not consult Queen Elizabeth or the then-Prince Charles before releasing their bombshell statement in early 2020. Since then the Duke of Sussex, 41, told The Telegraph: “I don’t think he fully appreciated the impact the statement would have in terms of them not consulting the Queen. He regrets that.”

Harry and Meghan’s bombshell statement led the Queen to issue her own comment, confirming the couple were no longer “full-time working members of the royal family.”

In the statement, she said she would have “preferred” the Sussexes to stay, but admitted she understood the decision and supported their “wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.”

Jason Hughes, 40, a popular maths teacher tragically died after he slipped and was allegedly run over by a student who was behind the wheel of a pickup truck

A beloved teacher tragically died after a student allegedly ran him over “in a prank gone wrong.”

Married maths teacher and dad-of-two Jason Hughes, 40, died when a toilet papering prank went horribly wrong. His death comes after school officials warned of previous pranks that had gone “too far.”

Teens, including Jayden Ryan Wallace, 18, threw toilet paper at Mr Hugh’s garden, with the rolls being a key part of the prank, police said. But when Mr Hughes came out of his home, the teenagers got into two different vehicles to flee – one of which was Wallace’s pickup truck.

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But Mr Hughes slipped on the road as he approached the vehicle and was run over be Wallace’s truck, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said of the March 6 incident. Wallace stopped and attempted to administer aid to Mr Hughes until paramedics arrived.

Tragically, Mr Hughes later died in hospital. Wallace, Elijah Tate Owens, 18, Aiden Hucks, 18, Ana Katherine Luque, 18, and Ariana Cruz, 18, all of Gainesville, Georgia, were arrested at the scene.

Wallace has been charged with first-degree vehicular homicide and reckless driving in connection with the death. The four other teens were charged with criminal trespass and littering on private property.

Following Mr Hughes’s death, his family said they would support dropping the charges. They told The New York Times: “This is a terrible tragedy, and our family is determined to prevent a separate tragedy from occurring, ruining the lives of these students.”

“This would be counter to Jason’s lifelong dedication of investing in the lives of these children,” he said. Wallace and Mr Hughes were close Matt Williams, a friend of the late teacher told ABC News: “The family wants to make clear that they knew these kids and they loved them and these kids loved the Hughes’s. This was not a malicious act.”

Mr Hughes’s family said the teacher knew the prank was going to happen and had been excited for it. The statement said: “We are thankful for the outpouring of prayers and support as we grieve the loss of Jason.

“We ask that you continue to pray for our family and also for the students involved in the accident along with their families. Please join us in extending grace and mercy to them as Christ has done for us.”

A GoFundMe campaign, which has far exceeded its goal, said Mr Hughes was a father to two young boys and was married at the time of his death. The campaign said: “Jason’s life was a blessing to so many, and his untimely passing will be indescribably difficult.”

The age limit had been backed by peers earlier this year after growing calls from campaigners including actor Hugh Grant.

Supporters of the Australian-style ban said parents are in “an impossible position” over the online harms their children are being exposed to.

Others, including the NSPCC, warned a ban could drive teenagers into unregulated corners of the internet.

MPs voted 307 to 173, majority 134, against the proposed change to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which was brought forward by Conservative former minister Lord Nash.

However, a ban could still come in future after the Commons supported a Government bid to give additional powers to the Secretary of State.

Highly rated Bath attack coach Lee Blackett was appointed to the England set-up in September after a successful secondment on the summer tour of Argentina and the United States.

Scrum-half Ben Spencer, who worked under him at Bath, insists Blackett is operating as he did at club level.

“He’s definitely been himself,” said Spencer.

“He’s a great guy, he’s brilliant around the lads and he’s one of those guys who really gets the best out of people.

“He’s always speaking really positively around the group about scoring four tries in every game that we play.

“So in terms of that, I’ve definitely seen the same side of Lee that we saw at Bath.

“We’re all in this together, coaches, players, we’re going through a tough time at the minute. We had a great 2025 and that’s where we want to get back to and the only way we’re going to do it is together.”

Spencer says the faith is mutual, with the coaches giving the players freedom to go off-script and ignore a gameplan in which contestable high balls are a key way of moving up the pitch, if they see another opportunity.

“We’re absolutely given the licence,” said Spencer, who kicked the ball 14 times out of hand, the most of any player, in the defeat by Italy.

“It’s something that Lee talks about and Steve talks about in terms of playing what we see.

“So yeah, in terms of going away from plan, it’s not an issue.”

Whether you’re simply looking to weigh yourself from time to time or want to track everything from your BMI to your body fat, it’s important to find the best bathroom scale for the job.

More budget-friendly options come in at £40 or less, but you can spend up to £200 if you’d like to track more advanced measurements, or if you want to link them to an accompanying health or fitness app.

I put a range of bathroom scales to the test from leading manufacturers like Garmin, Eufy, Renpho and Withings to see which offered the best accuracy, weight capacity and ease of use, so you can buy with confidence.

I’ve reviewed each of the bathroom scales in detail below, but if you’re in a rush, here are my top five at a glance:

Which are the best bathroom scales? At a glance:

How to choose the best bathroom scale for you

Depending on what you’re looking for, there are three different types of bathroom scales to choose from – mechanical, digital or electronic ‘weight only’ scales, and body analyser scales, including smart scales.

Mechanical scales are for those who prefer the traditional style of weighing, as they provide an instant reading without the need for batteries or apps.

Digital or electronic scales have a digital display and offer a more precise and accurate reading than mechanical scales, which are typically limited by the size of the dial. Most are battery powered but some are solar or bodyweight powered.

Analyser scales not only measure weight, but also have the ability to show you wider information about your body composition, displaying stats such as body fat percentage, body water percentage, BMI, muscle mass and bone mass.

Some analyser scales are classed as ‘smart’ meaning that you can track your progress and goals using either a dedicated app or one of the more general fitness apps via Bluetooth.

Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended

Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best products. No manufacturer ever sees copy before publication and we do not accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more.

How we tested bathroom scales