Rufus Davies sustained fatal head injuries in the collision

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A two‑year‑old boy died after being struck by a family friend who was reversing onto her driveway, an inquest has heard.

Rufus Davies suffered fatal head injuries in the collision, which occurred in May last year while he was visiting friends with his parents. Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court was told the toddler had been moments from greeting the family friend when the incident unfolded.

The family had parked on the driveway of a property in Tidcombe, near Marlborough, and were waiting for their friend, Tamsin Hayward, to arrive. As Mrs Hayward approached, Rufus’s mother, Olivia Davies, allowed him to get out of the car.

“I told Rufus that Tamsin had arrived, and he was so excited to see her, he wriggled to get out of the car,” Mrs Davies described in a written statement. “I opened the driver’s door and helped him down. He ran round the back of the car.

“I figured Tamsin would park the nose of her car straight in next to mine and that in the time between his feet touching the ground and running behind my car she would have parked. It turns out she wanted to reverse her car in.

“I reached for my phone, water bottle and jumper from the passenger side, and as I got out of the driver’s door, I heard my daughter say to me, ‘Mummy, Rufus has been hit by Tamsin’s car’. I then ran to the back of my car and saw Rufus laying on the floor.”

Realising she had hit the toddler with her vehicle, Mrs Hayward got out of the car and began to perform CPR until paramedics arrived. However, the two-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene shortly afterwards.

In a written statement, Mrs Hayward said she backed her Porsche Macan onto her driveway, which was her standard routine.

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“I always drive very slowly in through the gate and into the drive,” she said. “Olivia and her daughter were standing on the grass outside their car on the driver’s side. I was really happy to see them and waved at them and said ‘hello’ as I drove in and had my driver’s window down.

“I knew that Rufus was also coming that day, but he wasn’t standing with Olivia and her daughter on the driver’s side or anywhere to be seen on the driveway when I drove in. I drove forward into the driveway, moving anti-clockwise around the grass circular island on my driveway.

“Apart from Olivia and her daughter, the driveway was clear and there was no one else to be seen. I drove approximately 180 degrees around the island, drew to a stop to then reverse back into my usual parking space.”

She also claims to have checked her wing mirrors and rear-view mirror before backing up, performing a careful manoeuvre. “In the second, I was looking between my right wing mirror and rear view mirror, about halfway into the parking spot, I felt the car had gone over something on the driveway,” she recalled.

“The bump I felt was on the passenger’s rear side of the car. I exited the car and saw a child lying on the gravel. To my horror, I realised the gravity of the situation and that Rufus must have been running behind me whilst I was reversing. I then saw Olivia running towards the back of the car with a look of horror on her face. I called 999 immediately.”

The car had no faults, and Mrs Hayward had tested negative for drugs and alcohol, according to PC Alexander Way, a collision investigator.

“The case has failed the Crown Prosecution Service threshold for any prosecution under the Road Traffic Act as the location is not deemed a public place or road, and the driving is not deemed under current case law as careless,” the investigator said. “It’s an extremely tragic incident with the most devastating of outcomes.”

Rufus had died from a diffuse traumatic head injury following an impact with a motor vehicle, a post-mortem examination found. Ian Singleton, the area coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, recorded a conclusion of misadventure.

“Rufus was so excited to see Tamsin that he wanted to get out of the car, so he was helped down and ran around the back of his mother’s car, unwittingly into the path of Tamsin’s car,” he said.

“The police investigation noted that at 1.03 metres tall, Rufus would not have been visible through the rear window unless he was 4.3 metres away and the parking sensors would not extend that far, creating an area in which a child of Rufus’s height would be invisible.”

Mr Singleton added: “That remains me to pass to the family of my very, very sincere condolences on your loss. I cannot imagine.”

​Haven Leisure’s plan for 17 static caravan bases at its Reighton Sands Holiday Village near Filey has been refused after almost 80 objections were made by members of the public.

​North Yorkshire Council officers raised concerns about the character of the coastal area, while current caravan owners objected as they had “paid a premium for sea view pitches and were told nothing would ever be built in front of them”.

​The scheme at the holiday park, which is around five kilometres south of Filey, had proposed siting the caravan bases on land containing a derelict former residential building and garage and would have included decking, as well as associated access, landscaping and infrastructure works.

​Objections were made by 77 members of the public who had “concerns about loss of tranquillity, use of a valued green space and views enjoyed for decades”.

​They also raised concerns that the “development is greed over conservation and contrary to national climate priorities”.

​A new internal access road would have been created for the proposed static caravans.

​Reighton and Speeton Parish Council also objected, citing concerns about increased traffic through the village, particularly along the narrow St Helen’s Lane.

​The parish council also highlighted a “continued expansion of holiday parks along this stretch of coastline leading to cumulative visual impact, and additional pressure on local infrastructure and emergency services during peak seasons”.

​Council planners described the proposal as “an intrusive, skyline-breaking and urbanising form of development which would be readily visible from the beach and immediate coastal hinterland”.

​The authority’s principal landscape officer raised “significant concerns and considers the site highly sensitive due to its location within the coastal hinterland adjacent to open access land, the England Coast Path setting, and the strongly valued wild, open cliff top character”.

​According to a planning report, the site is close to the coastal fringe where the landscape is notably open, elevated and visually exposed, offering extensive long range intervisibility across the wider coastal corridor.

​Despite modifications made by the applicant, including a reduction in the scale of the proposal, officers decided that it “would erode the character and appearance of the undeveloped coastal buffer and would neither be visually unobtrusive nor capable of successful integration within the surrounding landscape given the exposed landform and absence of effective nature containment”.

​The council concluded: “The harm identified could not be acceptably mitigated by planting or minor layout changes given the site’s topography and exposure”

​The application was refused by North Yorkshire Council.

Shaz and Claire Wicker have proudly received the “Two Together” weight-loss accolade.

Two Monklands slimmers are inspiring others across the community after transforming their lives side-by-side, proving that with the right support, anything is possible.

Shaz and Claire Wicker, who attend Stacey McKendrick’s Slimming World group in Whifflet, have proudly received the “Two Together” accolade, recognising their dedication, commitment and the incredible support they’ve given each other throughout their journey.

Attending the Saturday 9.30am group at Calder Parish Church Hall, the hard-working pair made the decision to join after wanting to feel “healthier, happier and more in control of their lives”.

Together, they have already achieved an amazing one-stone seven-and-a-half pounds weight loss – a result of consistency, commitment and supporting each other every step of the way.

Shaz and Claire said: “Life gets busy and it’s so easy to fall into bad habits.

“We both knew something had to change and doing it together made all the difference.”

Their journey began thanks to a trusted family recommendation, when their sister-in-law, a Slimming World consultant in Sleaford, encouraged them to try Stacey’s group.

And that one decision has changed everything.

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From their very first visit, Shaz and Claire found more than just a group, they found a community.

They added: “Walking through the door can feel scary, but straight away we felt welcomed.

“There’s no judgement, just support, understanding and people who genuinely want you to succeed.”

Their success has been built on teamwork, encouragement and celebrating every win big or small.

The pair explained: “We’ve been there for each other through everything.

“We keep each other going, especially on the tough days, and celebrate every achievement along the way.”

READ MORE: Aldi looking for people to join its new Parent Panel

Now celebrating both their weight loss and “Two Together” award, Shaz and Claire hope their story will inspire others who may be thinking about taking that first step to sign up to Slimming World.

They said: “If you’re thinking about joining, just do it.

“That first step is the hardest but it could be the best decision you ever make.”

Slimming World Consultant Stacey McKendrick, who runs the Whifflet group, added: “Shaz and Claire are a true example of the power of support.

“Watching their journey has been incredible.

“They lift each other up, stay focused and even have a good laugh with all the members in class.

“They fully deserve this recognition and I’m so proud of them both.”

People can call Stacey on 07533 764697 for more information about her Slimming World groups.

READ MORE: Coatbridge’s St Patrick’s Primary School receives positive report from HM Inspectors

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Half Man is an upcoming BBC drama that explores “brotherhood, violence, and the intense fragility of male relationships”.

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Half Man will soon be landing on the BBC, featuring recognisable talent from Baby Reindeer and Fantastic Four.

The original six-episode drama, which was filmed in and around Glasgow last year, hails from multi-award winning actor and creator Richard Gadd, who achieved worldwide recognition for his divisive Netflix series Baby Reindeer.

Gadd returns with Half Man, a production that “explores brotherhood, violence, and the intense fragility of male relationships”.

The BBC has announced Half Man will launch on Friday, April 24, via BBC iPlayer from 6am, with instalments released on the platform each week.

It’s also been revealed that BBC One and BBC Scotland will broadcast Half Man “within the week”, though the precise date remains unconfirmed.

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American audiences, however, will access the forthcoming drama slightly earlier on Thursday, April 23, through both HBO and HBO Max.

Previewing what Half Man has in store, the BBC has released its official synopsis: “Niall and Ruben are brothers. Not related in blood but the closest you can get. One, fierce and loyal.

“The other, meek and mild-mannered. Inseparable youth. Brought into each other’s lives through death and circumstance, all they have is each other…

“But when Ruben turns up at Niall’s wedding three decades later, everything seems different. He is on edge. Shifty. Not acting like himself.

“And soon, an explosion of violence takes place which catapults us back through their lives, from the eighties to the present day.”

Half Man will chronicle 30 years in the lives of these “broken men”, with the BBC dramatically stating: “When things fall apart… it is sometimes the closest relationships which break the hardest.”

Gadd assumes the “shifty” character of Ruben, alongside BAFTA-winning actor Jamie Bell, renowned for his roles in Billy Elliot, All of Us Strangers and Rocketman, who plays his “brother”, Niall.

The cast also features Mitchell Robertson from Mayflies, Stuart Campbell from SAS Rogue Heroes, Neve McIntosh from Tin Star, Marianne McIvor from Screw, as well as Charlie De Melo from Rivals and Coronation Street.

Half Man premieres on Friday, April 24, at 6am on BBC iPlayer.

Brussels’ largest railway hub, Midi station, was evacuated on Monday afternoon after police discovered suspicious bags, causing widespread disruption to all train traffic.

The incident occurred just one day after the tenth anniversary of deadly terror attacks in the Belgian capital.

A police spokesperson confirmed to Reuters that the station was closed following the discovery of one suspicious bag inside a train and another on a platform.

Officers, supported by an anti-explosive army squad, were dispatched to investigate the items.

The closure brought significant parts of the Belgian capital’s rail network to a standstill.

Vincent Bayer, a spokesperson for state-owned railway operator SNCB, told Reuters that no trains had arrived at or departed from Midi station, a crucial high-speed connection point for routes to Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Germany, since approximately 5.30pm (1630 GMT). The adjacent Midi metro station was also shut down.

SNCB stated on its website: “The duration of the disruption is still undetermined. We are waiting for additional information from the police forces.”

The incident comes as Brussels remains sensitive to security threats, with commemorations held on Sunday for the victims of the 22 March 2016 coordinated bombings by Islamic State militants at Brussels Airport and Maalbeek metro station.

The governing body promised a “thorough review” in the wake of the resounding 4-1 defeat Down Under, a tour plagued by criticisms of sloppy preparation, excessive drinking and selection mistakes, but has concluded evolution under McCullum as head coach and Key as managing director is preferable to swinging the axe.

Plans lodged with City of York Council would see new signs installed on the doorway of Lendal Cellars and at the top of the alleyway leading down to the pub.

Owners Greene King stated they were part of a revamp that would see the inside and outdoor area of the pub improve to enhance its value for the community.

The plans would see signs with hand-painted lettering and timber blackboards installed outside the pub, off Lendal.

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They would be painted in its owner’s green and copper colour scheme and feature a drawing of a monk sampling drinks from barrels in a cellar.

Signs with information about the pub’s history would also be displayed on the wall of the alleyway connecting Lendal to the venue’s entrance.

Lighting including a small lantern and a menu case are also set to be installed.

New signs planned outside Lendal Cellars, in York. Picture is from Greene King/York Council’s planning portal

Plans stated: “The use of individual letters and hand-painted signwriting reflects traditional signage methods commonly associated with historic public houses and reinforces the building’s established identity.”

The latest plans come after an application for the full refurbishment of the pub was submitted in November.

Greene King’s plans include refurbishing the beer garden including the installation of an outside bar, new seating and lighting.

Wooden floors inside the pub would be replaced, toilets would be refurbished and changes are also planned to the existing bar.

The council is yet to decide on the plans.

In a written statement to MPs, she said the proposed 360km per hour speed was faster than any high-speed train in service in the world, and meant safety tests would need to wait until the new railway line between London and Birmingham was finished, or that trains would need to be sent abroad for testing.

The five barns would become 10 new properties under the proposals

Barns which belonged to the notorious Norfolk farmer, Tony Martin, could be turned into new homes. The barns are part of the farm at Bleak House near Emneth in Norfolk. Bleak House became well-known following the shooting of two burglars in 1999 which ignited a national debate on householders’ rights.

Martin was sentenced to life for murder after fatally shooting 16-year-old Fred Barras in August 1999. Barras had broken into the semi-derelict site alongside his accomplice, Brendon Fearon, 29. They’d travelled from Newark, Nottinghamshire to raind the property where Martin stored antiques.

When Martin heard them, he opened fire from an upstairs bedroom with a pump-action shotgun. Both burglars were shot, with Barras dying at the scene. Fearon was treated in hospital.

His charge was later downgraded to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. After serving time, he returned to his Norfolk farm, in 2003.

Plans have been submitted by Jacqueline and David Wadsley, who Martin left his estate worth over £2.5 million to following his death, aged 80, last year. The five barns would become 10 new properties under the proposals.

Martin and Mrs Wadsley first met more than two decades ago when she was the landlady at the Hare & Hounds, the village pub he frequented after his release from prison.

In a planning statement issued to the Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, the couple say they hope to convert five barns, described as “functional agricultural buildings and modest in appearance”, into homes.

The planning statement by the Wadsleys’ agent says: “The site comprises a group of detached agricultural barns located within a rural farmstead setting. The barns are arranged in clusters across the site and are set within areas of hardstanding and grassland, surrounded by mature trees and open fields.

“Two of the barns are steel-framed structures, whilst the remaining three are of traditional brick construction with roofs finished in metal sheet cladding. The structures are characteristic of functional agricultural buildings and are modest in appearance.”

The couple are asking the council for consent under permitted development rights which allow agricultural buildings to be turned into homes without full planning permission.

Bleak House is not included in the plans.

For millions, State Pension Age increases mean retirement is no longer a distant dream, it’s a looming source of stress, and too many are approaching the finish line without a clear plan.

• 32% of UK workers say they aren’t confident they’ll retire with a comfortable income
• Confidence drops sharply with age: 48% of 45-54-year-olds and 40% of those 55+ feel unprepared
• Nearly 1 in 5 (17%) approaching retirement have no financial goals
• 19% of workers have never logged in to check their pension value
• Only 27% check their pensions at least once a year

“The reality is that many workers are staring at a foggy retirement horizon,” says Mark Futcher, Head of DC at Barnett Waddingham, following the Employee workplace pensions in the UK – Office for National Statistics report.

“Too many people are approaching retirement without knowing where they stand or whether their current savings will support the lifestyle they want,” he says.

Women are disproportionately affected

• 42% of women lack confidence in their retirement income
• Just 27% of men express similar concerns
• Women are less likely to have formal financial goals or plans in place

Small changes can make a big difference

Experts stress that retirement planning doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Simple actions today can have a major impact over the long term:

• Check your pension balance regularly using projection tools
• Increase contributions after a pay rise
• Take full advantage of employer-matched contributions — it’s free money
• Explore the support tools your scheme provides, from guidance to transfer tools

“Employers and pension providers also need to make it easier for workers to understand and use these tools,” Futcher adds.

“Improving retirement outcomes is a shared effort — small steps now pay off big later.”

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3 easy steps to check your pension today

1. Log in now
Don’t wait another day – 1 in 5 UK workers have never logged in to see their pension balance. Checking your account helps you understand exactly where you stand.

2. Set clear goals
Even a simple target – like how much income you want at retirement — makes a huge difference. Nearly 1 in 5 nearing retirement have no goals, so start planning early.

3. Maximise contributions
If your employer offers matched contributions, don’t leave free money on the table. Small increases, even after a pay rise, compound into a significantly bigger pot over time.

Use your pension’s online projection tools to see how small changes today could change your retirement picture.