The rankings come from a new study by White Stores, which analysed public gardens listed by the Royal Horticultural Society using Google ratings, climate data, visitor facilities, and the range of attractions on offer.

Topping the list in the North East is Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, which earned a score of 76.23 out of 100 and was praised for its facilities, including a wildflower meadow and expansive parkland.

Rob Mead, buying director at White Stores, said: “Not everyone is lucky enough to have a garden of their own to enjoy, but the UK is well known for its public gardens.

“There are hundreds dotted around the UK so anyone can enjoy a day out among the flowers.

“These gardens offer more than a great day out for a family of all ages, and they’re great inspiration for people looking to decorate their own outdoor spaces.”

The research highlighted County Durham’s strength in horticultural attractions, with the region securing all three of the top spots in the North East.

Raby Castle

In first place, Raby Castle, Park and Gardens received high marks for its welcoming facilities and natural beauty.

The site earned a Google rating of 4.6 from more than 3,700 reviews, reflecting public appreciation for its historical charm and serene setting.

See more about Raby Castle here: We take a look inside stunning new floral exhibition at County Durham castle

Raby Castle and The Rising development (Image: Contributor)

Durham University Botanic Garden

Taking second place with a score of 72.90, the Durham University Botanic Garden was recognised for its diversity, scoring 8.00 for variety.

The “underrated” 10-hectare Botanic Garden at Durham University is set amongst “beautiful” mature woodlands on the southern outskirts of Durham city and is open to the public.

It features a broad range of plant collections and educational exhibits and has 2,418 hours of annual sunlight.

Crook Hall Gardens

Crook Hall Gardens came third with a score of 65.12 and matched Raby Castle’s 4.6 Google rating.

Visitors praised its city-centre tranquillity and picturesque design, while its wildflower meadow contributed to a strong visitor review score of 8.54.

Crook Hall Gardens (Image: PA MEDIA)

Other North East highlights

Gateshead’s Birkheads Secret Gardens and Northumberland’s Bide-a-Wee Cottage Gardens completed the top five.

Birkheads was noted for its “coffee shop” charm and plant variety, though Raby Castle was still considered to offer the most extensive facilities for families and groups.

The study also highlighted the region’s focus on biodiversity, with four of the top five gardens in the North East featuring wildflower meadows.

Wider findings showed that the North East has five gardens listed in the study, compared to 37 in the South East and 36 in the South West.

John Siddell sexually abused three boys under the age of 14 between 2018 and 2021 while living in Leicestershire, but attempted to avoid justice by faking a severe disability – until CCTV footage caught him out

A paedophile pretended he couldn’t walk or talk by faking a disability in a bid to dodge prosecution for his vile crimes.

Leicester Crown Court heard John Siddell, 41, was spotted at Elvis Presley nights at a social club and was filmed walking without assistance, all while claiming to be seriously ill as police probed his sexual offences against three young boys.

His brother, James Siddell, 44, aided him in keeping up the deceit about his condition, even going so far as to tell psychiatrists he was unfit to stand trial.

John Siddell sexually abused the youngsters, all under 14, between 2018 and 2021 while living in Leicestershire. On Tuesday, he was caged for 15 years plus a two-year extended sentence, while his brother received two years and nine months behind bars.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Keith Raynor described the brothers’ conduct as “scheming and devious”. He said: “They misrepresented John Siddell’s mental and physical abilities, the behaviour of both of them entirely corrupting and undermining the course of justice.”, reports the Mirror.

Prosecutor Claudia James told the court the brothers led a “not-so-covert double life”. She said: “The brothers’ busy social lives in part unravelled their deception, as documented by social media, photos taken on their phones and their own home CCTV.” Ms James remarked that when John Siddell displayed physical debilitation, it “could not be more different” from footage showing him “walking, talking and engaging with others in his local social club”, including while watching a Newcastle United fixture.

She noted he took selfies where he managed to smile and pose with his head raised and eyes open, while in one photograph he was seen enjoying a pint of Guinness. Video evidence showed him walking without assistance and utilising his wheelchair as a “trolley” to transport household goods over a mile in June 2022.

A statement from someone who provided care for him in hospital during July 2024 described him as “the most verbal non-verbal person I have ever seen”, the court was told.

Judge Raynor stated Siddell remained hospitalised for a fortnight “at the taxpayers’ expense” while an “extremely pressed National Health Service should have been doing their job with other deserving patients”.

Siddell persuaded psychiatrists he was incapable of participating in a criminal trial during an assessment where his brother acted as his spokesperson. John Siddell “presented as wheelchair-bound, refused to open his eyes and was unable to hold his own head up”, Ms James stated.

During a fact-finding hearing, a jury established that he had abused the boys.

A different psychiatrist determined in May 2024 that there was “no reliable basis” that Siddell was unfit to stand trial. The court was told that the previous month, a police officer had observed him “sat upright in his wheelchair communicating with James” before “dramatically changing once arriving at the office for his assessment”.

Following charges of perverting the course of justice, neither defendant appeared at a plea hearing in July the previous year, with claims that John Siddell had suffered a seizure and been rushed to hospital.

In September, he pleaded guilty to five counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, five counts of sexual assault, one count of causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, and four counts of causing or inciting a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity.

Both brothers admitted perverting the course of justice between November 2021 and August 2025.

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A statement read to the court on behalf of the victims, who cannot be named, revealed they are “still dealing with the effects of the abuse”.

The brothers, of Bolam Drive, Ashington, Northumberland, failed to appear at their sentencing hearing on Tuesday.

Speaking in defence of John Siddell, barrister Jamie Adams described his client as a “very vulnerable and disadvantaged human being” who has received diagnoses of epilepsy, autism and learning disabilities. Mr Adams further stated that Siddell’s family members have “exaggerated John’s ill-health throughout his life to get some financial benefit”.

Barrister Nicholas Peacock, representing James Siddell, informed the court his client came from a “generationally dysfunctional family who largely survived on the benefits system”.

Signing off her letter, Phillips added: “I want a Labour government to work and I will strive as I always have for its success and popularity, but I’m not seeing the change I think I, and the country expect, and so cannot continue to serve as a minister under the current leadership.”

This week’s reception promises to be just as grand, including a stop inside Zhongnanhai, the rarefied compound where China’s top leadership lives and works. The agenda too will be just as thorny, with Iran being a new source of tension, alongside trade, technology and Taiwan.

Corporations were reportedly asked to fork up as much as $1 million to sponsor Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s forthcoming America-themed road trip reality show, according to leaked documents.

The top $1 million package includes being featured on a stop of Duffy’s Great American Road Trip, plus “branded activations and product showcases at multiple destinations,” according to slides obtained by Politico.

The steep price tag doesn’t appear to have stopped sponsors from hitching their wagons to the show, which is set to be released this summer as part of the American 250th anniversary celebrations.

Top-tier corporations, including Toyota and Boeing, are listed as sponsors of The Great American Road Trip, Inc.m the non-profit of the same name producing the show.

“The Great American Road Trip Inc. is an independent non-profit with three key pillars: 1. To celebrate America’s 250th birthday; 2. To promote travel and tourism and; 3. To bring a focus the transportation, infrastructure and ingenuity that built America over the past 250 years and will build America over the next 250 years,” Tori Barnes, executive director of the group, told The Independent via email when asked about the reported sponsorship packages. “We are supported by partners who share these goals and believe in encouraging Americans to rediscover the people, places, and experiences that define our country.”

The Independent has contacted the Transportation Department, Toyota, and Boeing for comment.

Critics alleged that major corporations with potential business before transit regulators shouldn’t be sponsoring a media project involving the nation’s top transit official.

“One has to wonder whether the decision to prominently feature Toyota in this project is because Toyota paid for a sponsorship or because the secretary actually thinks that promoting Toyota is in the best interest of the American public, American automakers and the people that work for that industry,” Donald Sherman, president of the watchdog group Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility, told NPR.

The group has filed a complaint with the DOT’s inspector general, asking for an investigation into whether Duffy violated federal gift and travel rules.

“Production costs were paid for by the Great American Road Trip Inc., not taxpayers,” Duffy wrote last week on X. “Zero taxpayer dollars were spent on my family…Neither myself nor my family received a salary or production royalties. The five part series will be freely accessible by the public on YouTube.”

Outside of ethics concerns, critics have alleged the sight of Duffy taking a made-for-TV road trip is insensitive, given the ongoing spike in oil prices because of the Trump administration’s decision to wage war on Iran.

“The conflict of interest here is glaring,” The View panelist Ana Navarro said recently. “I don’t know how many Americans, how many average Americans, will be able to go on a road trip when I’m paying $5.99 for a gallon of gas. It just seems that the tone deafness has no limits.”

Trump himself brushed off such Iran-related affordability concerns on Tuesday.

“I don’t think about American financial situation — I don’t think about anybody,” he told reporters. “I think about one thing: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon.”

High-priced corporate donations have flowed to other Trump-related entertainment projects, including the White House ballroom and the upcoming UFC fight at the White House.

Police are appealing for any witnesses or dashcam footage

A scooter rider has been taken to hospital with “serious” injuries following a crash in Cambridge. Officers and paramedics were called at about 9.25am this morning (May 12) to Queen Edith’s Way, at the junction with Wulfstan Way, to the crash.

The collision involved a grey Hyundai Tucson and a white Piaggio MP3 three-wheeled scooter. A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “The scooter rider, a 55-year-old man from London, was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital with serious injuries.”

The Hyundai driver, a 44-year-old woman from Milton Keynes, was uninjured and arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by careless driving and driving while unfit through drugs. She remains in custody.

Police have asked for any witnesses or anyone who has dashcam footage to report it. You can do this through the force website by quoting reference 35/35105/26, or Operation Bodmin. Anyone without internet access should call 101.

But Guardiola says it is up to the players to take VAR out of the equation.

“When this happens it is because we have to do better, not the referees or VAR,” he continued.

“I never trust anything since I arrived a long time ago. Always I learned you have to do it better, do it better, be in a position to do it better because you blame yourself with what you have to do, because (VAR) is a flip of a coin.”

Guardiola was speaking before Wednesday’s meeting with Palace, which they need to win to cut Arsenal‘s lead at the top of the table to two points.

That would still leave Arsenal needing to drop points in their remaining two games – against relegated Burnley and Palace – for City to have any chance of winning the Premier League title.

“Of course it is not in our hands in the Premier League. Always I say to the players, ‘Do it, do it, do it better’,” Guardiola added.

“The only thing we can do is do it better, that is only in your control.”

Guardiola’s side will play in their third FA Cup final in three seasons when they meet Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday.

An appeal has been launched German Shepherds Miki and Kenai, who both served with North Yorkshire Police and retired just months apart, who each require major operations costing more than £2,500.

The Thin Blue Paw Foundation, a charity supporting working and retired police dogs across the UK, hope to raise £5,000 to cover the full cost of their treatment.

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Kieran Stanbridge, founder of The Thin Blue Paw Foundation, said: “Miki and Kenai both served with enthusiasm and commitment during their time with the police, but the job has taken a toll on their bodies and they’ve been left in daily pain due to arthritis and hip dysplasia.

“Now they both need surgery to repair these major injuries so they can run and play again. We’re incredibly proud to be there for Miki and Kenai, but we need your help, so please donate if you can – every single pound will go to good use.”

Six-year-old Miki, who lives in Northallerton, served as a general purpose police dog from March 2021 until his medical retirement in October 2025.

Miki at full health (Image: Thin Blue Paw)

He was diagnosed with spondylosis, hip dysplasia, and a ruptured cruciate ligament and now, his other cruciate ligament has ruptured meaning he needs further TPLO (Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy) surgery.

Miki lives in North Yorkshire with his former handler Claire Starkey, her husband and their 12 other dogs – including Claire’s working search and detection dog, spaniel PD Jax.

She said: “Miki was so much more than a police dog to me, he is very much my best mate.

Miki with his owner and handler Claire Starkey (Image: Thin Blue Paw)

“Miki was a pleasure to work with and we had some fantastic results; tracking suspects from vehicles, finding vulnerable missing people, locating missing children, and also finding key items of property discarded from burglaries. 

“Miki has been my superhero at work and deserves the very best of health in retirement. He is enjoying retired life; he gets to run through the countryside, albeit slowly, and he can have a ball whenever he wants.”

Kenai, a seven-year-old who served as a general purpose and firearms support dog, retired at the end of last year, but on Saturday (May 9), he broke his leg while playing fetch – less than a month into life with his new owners.

Kenai at the vets (Image: Thin Blue Paw)

His owner, Ashley, said: “As soon as we met him, we fell in love. From day one, it’s like he’s always been with us. He’s such a good dog; he’s like a big puppy. He’s really soppy and soft; you’d never believe that he’d been a police dog trained to bite when needed.

“We’re trying to give him the best retirement we can; every weekend we take him somewhere new to explore so we can introduce him to a normal pet life.

“We were playing fetch and as he caught the ball and turned he suddenly yelped. We rushed him to the emergency vets who carried out x-rays and discovered he’d fractured his elbow.”

Kenai at full health (Image: Thin Blue Paw)

Kenai underwent surgery on May 11 and is now recovering at home.

The Thin Blue Paw Foundation supports more than 180 retired police dogs across the UK with financial assistance for veterinary care, therapy, and medication and also campaign for Pensions for Police Dogs so the cost of their care doesn’t fall solely on their new owners.

To donate to Miki and Kenai’s fundraising appeal please visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/north-yorkshire-police-dogs and to donate to the Thin Blue Paw Foundation, please visit https://donate.thinbluepaw.org.uk/.

There were also “clear examples of companies getting it right”, including every product surveyed from Pollen + Grace, The Gym Kitchen, and Urban Rajah, which all met calorie and salt reduction targets, had no red warning labels on front of pack, and none of their sandwiches were classed as high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS).