“One of the mistakes of previous governments, that it’s pretty important that this Labour government doesn’t fall into, is the sort of focus on infighting, believing that constant changing of leaders is going to solve some of the very difficult problems that this country and in fact, the world faces,” she told Times Radio.

GMP Bolton shared on social media their Bolton West team had to issue a number of traffic offence reports yesterday, Saturday, February 7.

The post said the reports were issued for poor parking in the Horwich area, and police tend to see this increase in this type of parking at weekends and on match days.

Photos shared along with the post show cars parked along pavements.

They are working with residents, councillors and Bolton Wanderers in the community to tackle the issue (Image: GMP Bolton)

They asked residents and visitors to the area to park safely and ensure they are not blocking pavements, driveways or parking on junctions.

The post read: “HORWICH – The Bolton West team have today had to issue a number of traffic offence reports for poor parking in the Horwich area.

“We see an increase in this type of parking at weekends and on match days. The Bolton West team works with our residents, councillors and Bolton Wanderers in the community to tackle the issue of unsafe parking.

“We urge residents and visitors to the area to park responsibly, not blocking pavements, driveways or parking on junctions.”

Kylesku Lodges in the remote Sutherland region of the Highlands is seeking a housekeeper to join the team from March until October this year.

A conservation charity is offering an “extraordinary” opportunity to live and work in one of Scotland’s most remote and stunning locations, surrounded by nature “in every direction”. The John Muir Trust, which is dedicated to protecting wild places across the country, is seeking a seasonal housekeeper for its Kylesku Lodges in the Sutherland region of the Highlands.

The lodges, located near the iconic Kylesku Bridge, sit in what is considered one of Europe’s most sparsely populated areas. Charity bosses are looking for someone to join their team from March until October this year in the one-of-a-kind role, providing care and maintenance for the lodges while enjoying the unique tranquillity of the Highlands.

The successful candidate will live in a renovated static caravan on site, which comes equipped with high-speed WiFi. This means that even while immersed in the wilderness, there is the ability to stay connected for personal or professional needs.

The lodges sit on 45 acres of land owned by the John Muir Trust. Additionally the lodges overlook the peaceful Loch a’ Chairn Bhain and offer breathtaking views of Quinag, a striking three-peaked mountain which the charity cares for – with beauty right on your door step.

The area is rich in wildlife and natural beauty, with expansive lochs, climb-able mountains and stunning forests surrounding the lodges. The charity also works closely with neighbouring communities to boost the local economy while protecting the delicate ecosystems in the region.

The role itself involves looking after ten lodges alongside lodge manager Karen Vickers. While weekend work is required, weekday shifts are lighter, offering a balance between responsibility and time to enjoy the scenery.

Applicants must hold a full UK driving licence and have access to their own vehicle, as the remote location requires mobility.

Karen Vickers spoke about the appeal of the role, saying: “Kylesku is one of those places that stays with you. When the wind drops, the silence is extraordinary and you’re surrounded by mountains, sea lochs and wildlife in every direction.

“For someone looking to step away from the noise for a season, this role offers a rare chance to slow down, be part of a small, welcoming team and live in a truly special part of the Highlands.

“The added bonus is knowing your work supports the John Muir Trust’s efforts to care for wild places and the communities around them.”

For those seeking a change from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, this position offers a rare chance to combine practical work with a deep connection to nature.

For those interested in the role, extra information can be found on the official website for the Kylesku Lodges. You can access the website by clicking here.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council approved an application from housebuilder Crest Nicholson for the proposed development for 2.45 Hectares of agricultural land north of Main Street in Wilberfoss, on January 30 – the village is eight miles east of York just off the A1079.

The developer said “the proposed layout will create a distinctive high quality residential development which is sympathetically designed to respect the surrounding built and natural environment.”

However, Wilberfoss Parish Council said it could not support plans for the development at the western end of the village, raising concerns in its role as consultees over plans to add a new junction on Main Street and its impact on the safety of access for traffic flows to the busy A1079 York to Hull Road.

The development would feature a new access road close to one corner of Main Street in the village (Image: Kevin Glenton)

In planning documents, the council also said developers should contribute to the cost of a new roundabout at the western junction of Wilberfoss.

Neighbouring Newton upon Derwent Parish Council said the development represented further “creep” in the expansion of Wilberfoss and the impact of traffic at the A1079 junction which is almost opposite one of its main access roads.

Seventeen objections were received from the public, the majority from residents expressing concern over the expected increase in housing, pressure on local schools and healthcare amenities, in addition to increased flooding concerns in nearby Moorfield Way.

The plans include a total of two one-bedroom houses, 18 two-bedroom houses, 33 three-bedroom houses, three four-bedroom houses and 14 five-bedroom houses.

Within this, Crest Nicholson’s plans include a provision of 20 per cent affordable housing in one, two and three bed units.

Three units are reserved for self-builds and an open space and play area is included in the proposal.

On June 19 last year, East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s director of planning and development management recommended to defer and delegate approval of the scheme subject to matters including the securing of developer financial contributions to off-site sports facilities and primary school places, as well as the provision of the self-build plots.

A signal failure in the Poplar area has brought the DLR to a partial standstill, with no service operating between Stratford and Canary Wharf, or between Stratford International and Canning Town. On the rest of the line, trains are running with severe delays as engineers work to restore the system.

Jesse Dear, now 19, smashed a terracotta pot on the ground in the outside area of Haxby Sports Bar during a brawl, said Jessica Noble, prosecuting.

Then he threw shards of the pots, hitting the Good Samaritan on the hand, injuring it so badly, he feared he could lose it.

The man, who works as a postman, had to undergo two hours of surgery to repair his hand, have eight internal stitches and 22 external stitches and doctors have told him at best he will only regain 70 per cent of the use of his fingers.

The postman was trying to prevent a group of girls being hit during the brawl which erupted when the club was full of people watching England play Slovenia in the European Championships in 2024, said Ms Noble.

In a personal statement the postman said of Dear: “He is immature, violent and a danger to society. He has not learnt from his mistakes. He is clearly an angry and disturbed man.”

He said he had had to give up his postman job, which he had loved.

Dear has previous convictions for affray and assault and had been in court four days before the incident when he was given a youth rehabilitation order. He received another youth rehabilitation order a few months later.

York Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

The Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, said to Dear of the postman: “His observations about you in 2024 were spot on.”

He told Dear: “I would dearly like to lock you up. What you did to that man had a profound impact upon him. The system has let him down.”

Because Dear was 17 when he injured the postman, the judge had to sentence him in a way that a youth court would have sentenced him. “My hands are tied,” the judge said.

He gave him an 18-month community order with 180 hours’ unpaid work and 15 days’ rehabilitative activities.

He warned Dear that if he breached the order by not doing the unpaid work or rehabilitative activities, he would lock him up for 16 months.

Dear, of Constantine Avenue, Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm and affray.

The police and licensing authority insisted on changes at the bar immediately after the brawl. The bar imposed restrictions on who could enter for a time and did not show a later England match.

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The court heard police identified Dear from CCTV of the incident in November 2024 but didn’t send a file to the CPS to decide if he should be prosecuted until February 2025 and he wasn’t charged until the end of 2025.

Oliver Norman, for Dear, said he had not reoffended since the brawl which happened at a time when he was violent.

“Fortunately, he has been able to move on from that time in his life,” she said.  He was working with rehabilitative organisations to reform himself.

He had left school aged 12 without qualifications and a structure to his life. In 2026, he had a job as a tree surgeon, which was enabling him to live a law-abiding life.

Interactive museums, puddle jumping, pizza galore, golf, exceptional food and acting like Royalty, it was an action packed weekend exploring the city

Being a tourist in Belfast when you feel like you already know the city and surrounding areas well is a difficult task. I’ve worked in the city for almost 11 years and feel like, especially through my job, I’ve seen and experienced so much of it.

But Tourism NI set us the challenge of exploring Belfast as tourists with our young children, aged 7 and 4, and I have to admit, it really opened my eyes!

“Wow, look how many pink buses there are, let’s count them” ; How big does City Hall look at night? It’s class.” ‘Is that a real dinosaur fossil? ’ ‘It’s like New York mummy, look how big the buildings are?’ These are just some of the statements my children made as we explored Belfast; some made me chuckle, but it really made me look at things from their perspective.

We kicked off our weekend with lunch in Little Wing on Lisburn Road, which was a huge hit with the children and us adults alike. The food is fresh, tasty, and served with a smile by their brilliant staff, who were so attentive and ensured the children were kept entertained with colouring. They were also fascinated to watch their pizzas being crafted and put into the big wood-fired oven. It’s always a highlight for me, when you can see your food being created right in front of your eyes.

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Bellies full, it was time to burn off some energy, and there was no better spot to explore than the Ulster Museum. The weather was miserable, but that didn’t stop the kids from enjoying a puddle jumping contest, walking through Botanic Gardens on the way to the museum. Thankfully, we were well equipped with wellies and waterproofs. It was even nicer to get into the warm museum and explore with a warm coffee in hand from their coffee shop.

My two had never been to the Ulster Museum before, so it was a great experience; they were particularly amazed by the giant dinosaurs and by the opportunity to examine the artefacts up close. There’s no better time to visit the Ulster Museum than this month, with the NI Science Festival running. There’s a huge programme of events for all ages, some you will need to pre-book, but they are free.

It was then time to check into our hotel for the evening. We stayed at the Clayton on Ormeau Avenue, which was a great central location in the city, the perfect base for exploring and shopping. The rooms were spacious and perfect for a family, and for being in the city centre, the noise at night was minimal, which I was pleasantly surprised by.

We were booked to dine in Fratelli’s on Friday night, and this was one of the highlights the children have talked about since. They got to enjoy the ‘Little Boars’ experience, which allowed them to create their own pizzas with a choice of two toppings. Complete with chef’s hat and apron, they set to work creating their own masterpieces, and this was such a win for us; they were happily amused at the table while we waited for our dinner without the need to reach for the emergency iPads to save the boredom. They also loved the activities on the menu to keep them occupied while their pizzas were in the oven.

I opted for the Chicken Parmigiana for the main, while my husband went for the steak. My main was lovely, really tasty sauce, the only downside was the size, it was huge, which meant I couldn’t finish it, but other than that it was beautiful. My husband complimented the steak as well, saying it was cooked perfectly. The kids’ pizzas were devoured, and I think that was also a testament to letting them ‘make’ them themselves; they enjoyed every bite.

Day two- more interactive museums, golf and the nicest meal ever

We kicked off our day with a beautiful breakfast in the Clayton hotel, everything was fresh and warm, we couldn’t fault it, the fruit and granola pots were a huge hit with us, and given how quickly they disappeared and needed replenishing by the staff on the buffet, it seems we weren’t the only fans.

From there it was off to a firm favourite of ours, and that was W5 at the Odyssey. We’ve been here a few times with the children, and I’m glad to say it’s a place they never tire of. There’s so much to explore; the interactivity of W5 is unbeatable in my eyes, not to mention the brilliant soft play and other climbing areas, which allow them to burn off some more of that energy. It’s the perfect rainy day activity, and you can honestly easily spend a few hours here, followed by lunch or a snack at the Coffee Lab. My children are huge pizza fans and couldn’t pass the pizza slice option for lunch, whilst I grabbed a ham and cheese toastie, and my husband selected the Spicy Chicken ciabatta. This was the perfect grab-and-enjoy lunch, which we needed before we headed to our next destination.

Next up was Colin Glen, a place I have visited over the years but never realised they had a Trackman golf driving range. My husband and I are big golf fans, he plays as well, whilst I don’t really, but I do love a driving range. Our son is also recently taken up the sport so he was delighted to try this one out. We were greeted by the very friendly staff who gave us some clubs and a tasty basket of treats and showed us to our bay, which we had for two hours.

I was surprised how brilliant this was for the kids, aside from the usual Trackman features, where you can play some of the biggest courses in the world, there are really fun interactive kids’ games and challenges which proved really popular.

We really wanted to take a walk around the lovely trails around Colin Glen, but sadly, the weather was just not on our side. We will most definitely be back; it’s a great spot to entertain the whole family for a few hours.

Dinner on night two was a highlight for us all. We were booked into Home, which I have eaten in before, but it was many years ago. Even as we walked through the City centre, I was struck by my kids amazement at the lights and the size of City Hall saying it looked even bigger at night, and counting many pink Metro buses they could spot, it dawned on me that I walk through the city centre so often I never notice the little things anymore, it was nice to stop and appreciate them through the eyes of a child.

Home was a hive of activity as you would expect on a Saturday night in the city but again, somewhere I felt comfortable with the children. They, too, were well cared for by the exceptional staff who attended to their every whim. Both my husband and I couldn’t pass up the steak special with a gorgeous rocket and parmesan salad, plus chips and seasonal veg. While the children had chicken goujons and chips, and what I noticed immediately was just how fresh the children’s chicken was; you could tell simply by looking at it that they were handmade.

Both our steaks were cooked to perfection, I don’t think either of us wanted it to end. The steak itself was so flavoursome that it didn’t need any sauce to enhance the experience. We of course opted to share desserts and I can also highly recommend the sticky toffee pudding, it didn’t last long!

Day three- A Titanic adventure and feeling like Royalty

Our final day exploring started off with a visit to Titanic Belfast, again somewhere I have been lots for work, but I’ve not done the tour since it first opened. Admittedly, I was a bit sceptical about if the children would enjoy it, but I was really impressed. The children were given their own little map at the start and they had to tick off each of the characters they spotted along the way. This was such a fun activity, and some of the characters were harder to spot than others. But the highlight was the immersive experience with the Shipyard Ride, it was incredibly real, and it really brought you back in time to experience the sights and sounds of working at H&W. The exhibition is worth a trip for this alone.

Heading for home, we had to make one final stop just outside of Belfast to visit the stunning Hillsborough Castle and Gardens. Thankfully, the weather was much kinder and it was brilliant to let the children burn off some energy as we explored the stunning grounds. Despite the fact that it’s winter and a lot of the gardens aren’t blooming yet, it’s hard not to be impressed by the landscape. The children loved playing and exploring, and pretending they were King and Queen for the day at the Palace doors.

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Having burnt off some energy, it was time to refuel for heading home, and we were booked in for lunch at The Parson’s Nose, which I had heard great things about but had never tried. A very cosy setting awaited us to warm up as we delved straight into the Sunday lunch menu, packed with favourites. I chose the Turkey and Ham Roulade whilst my husband went for the Roast Beef. My son had the children’s fish of the day, and my daughter had the children’s roast chicken.

We didn’t wait very long and were soon tucking into a beautiful Sunday roast, every bite was savoured! My son’s fish was huge and so fresh, he loved it, and it wasn’t at all greasy for battered fish, which was a big win in my eyes. Of course, we left a little room for dessert, and I’ve honestly never seen my chatterbox four-year-old daughter so quiet, she didn’t speak until her children’s sticky toffee pudding was devoured! We loved everything about The Parson’s Nose and will definitely revisit the next time we are in the area.

So maybe the next time you’re thinking of a weekend break, look a little closer to home and explore what’s right on our doorstep, I guarantee you’ll be impressed!

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

NEW YORK (AP) — Hollywood largely ceded attention to football over a slow box-office weekend, with the survival thriller “Send Help” repeating as No. 1 in ticket sales and the Melania Trump documentary “Melania” falling sharply in its second weekend.

Super Bowl weekend is typically one of the lowest attended moviegoing times of the year. It was the second slowest weekend last year and in 2024 it ranked dead last for moviegoing.

Studios instead put their focus on advertising movies for the massive television audience. Among the trailers expected to hit the NFL broadcast Sunday were The Walt Disney Co.’s “Mandalorian and Grogu,” Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic, “Michael” and Universal Pictures’ “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie.”

In North American theaters, the Disney.-20th Century Studios release “Send Help,” directed by Sam Raimi, lead all films with $10 million in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. With $53.7 million globally thus far, the R-rated survival thriller has proved a solid midbudget success. Disney meanwhile watched its remarkably long-lasting “Zootopia 2″ cross $1.8 billion worldwide in its 11th week of release.

“Melania,” from Amazon MGM, added 300 theaters in its second weekend but dropped steeply with to $2.4 million in ticket sales, down 67% from its much-discussed debut. The rapid downturn means the Brett Ratner-directed documentary is likely heading toward flop territory given its high price tag. Amazon MGM paid $40 million for film rights, plus some $35 million to market it.

The North American total for “Melania” stands at $13.4 million. Amazon MGM has not released international figures, though they’re expected to be paltry.

Kevin Wilson, head of domestic distribution for the studio, said the movie’s box-office performance “is a critical first moment that validates our wholistic distribution strategy, building awareness, engagement, and provides momentum ahead of the film’s eventual debut on Prime Video.”

The film’s ticket sales — which would be very good for a less expensive documentary — were a talking point throughout the week. Late-night hosts Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel hammered the movie’s sales. Kimmel called them a “rigged outcome.” Elsewhere in theaters, the Italy-set Kevin James romantic comedy “Solo Mio” debuted with a robust $7.2 million, a major win for Angel Studios, best known for its faith-based releases. “Stray Kids: The Dominate Experience,” a K-pop concert film released by Bleecker Street, launched with $5.6 million, and an additional $13.2 million overseas. The Luc Besson-directed Bram Stoker adaptation “Dracula” opened with $4.5 million, a studio-best debut for the indie distributor Vertical.

One of the most unusual releases in theaters, however, remains the low-budget indie “Iron Lung.” The YouTube filmmaker Markiplier, whose real name is Mark Fischbach, self-financed and self-distributed the R-rated video game adaptation, along with writing, directing and starring in it. In its second weekend, “Iron Lung” collected $6.2 million, bringing its two-week total to $31.2 million. It cost $3 million to make.

Top 10 movies by domestic box office

With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore:

1. “Send Help,” $10 million.

2. “Solo Mio,” $7.2 million.

3. “Iron Lung,” $6 million.

4. “Stray Kids: The Dominate Experience,” $5.6 million.

5. “Dracula,” $4.5 million.

6. “Zootopia 2,” $4 million.

7. “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” $3.5 million.

8. “The Strangers: Chapter 3,” $3.5 million.

9. “Shelter,” $2.4 million.

10. “Melania,” $2.4 million.

That England visit comes at a crucial time for Scotland and their coach Gregor Townsend.

He came into the tournament courted by Newcastle Red Bulls and with question marks over his commitment to the cause.

A tame display in some horrendous weather in Rome as Italy picked up a famous 18-15 win has left some calling for a change.

Former Scotland forward John Barclay told Rugby Special: “I thought before the Six Nations that Scotland had to finish third or above.

“If they don’t, which is now going to be very hard, I think it becomes a necessity to see a change.

“It’s a good group of players and if you are not seeing an improvement there is an option for change. That might be the best thing for Gregor and for Scotland.”

The conditions made the going tough, but it was Scotland’s heart, not hands, that were questioned.

“Italy were more aggressive and that’s down to desire, not the rain,” former Scotland and British and Irish Lions prop Peter Wright told BBC Scotland.

“Townsend is an experienced coach and should have known they couldn’t play the rugby they wanted to play in those conditions. Scotland lost the war in the set-pieces.”

The defeat was a fifth away loss in a row in the Six Nations for Scotland and their beleaguered coach.

Before the match, Townsend – who is contracted as head coach until the end of the 2027 World Cup – dismissed a report that he has agreed to take over at Newcastle Red Bulls after the World Cup as “pure speculation”.

More displays like this may make that contract end date a moot point. Scotland need to dig deep and find another level of performance against England.

Expect recalls for Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham to provide energy and – Scotland will hope – ammunition.

Available for over a year

As the government prepares to introduce a strategy to boost fostering in England, Amol speaks to foster carer and author Louise Allen about the crisis in the system and what it will take to fix it.

At the end of March 2024 there were 83,630 children in care in England, of whom 56,390 were being fostered, but there is a shortfall of around 6,000 foster carers nationwide.

In this episode Louise explains why we need to be more honest about the realities of caring for often vulnerable kids and focus on retaining foster carers rather than recruiting new ones.

She also explains why there needs to be more practical support like providing a cleaner for every fostering household so that they can focus on emotionally supporting the children in their care.

(00:03:10) Why is there a fostering crisis?
(00:06:20) Why do we have so many children in care?
(00:08:49) Louise’s story: growing up in care
(00:16:13) The effect of smartphones
(00:20:08) Why is there a shortage of foster carers?
(00:23:37) Why do people foster?
(00:27:28) The recruitment process
(00:30:33) Foster care v residential care
(00:33:10) What is the fostering allowance?
(00:39:09) Louise’s RADICAL ideas
(00:45:06) The government’s fostering reforms
(00:47:30) The importance of giving children social capital
(00:52:19) Amol’s reflections

GET IN TOUCH

* WhatsApp: 0330 123 9480
* Email: radical@bbc.co.uk

Episodes of Radical with Amol Rajan are released every Thursday and you can also watch them on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002f1d0/radical-with-amol-rajan

Amol Rajan is a presenter of the Today programme on BBC Radio 4. He is also the host of University Challenge on BBC One. Before that, Amol was media editor at the BBC and editor at The Independent.

Radical with Amol Rajan is a Today Podcast. It was made by Lewis Vickers with Anna Budd. Digital production was by Gabriel Purcell-Davis. Technical production was by Dave O’Neill. The editor is Sam Bonham. The executive producer is Owenna Griffiths.

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