“We are also working with airlines on increasing capacity out of Muscat for British nationals, with priority for vulnerable nationals, and a Government charter flight will fly from Muscat in the coming days, prioritising vulnerable nationals, but British nationals in Oman must wait to be contacted by the foreign office regarding these options, and we will continue to work 24/7 on supporting British nationals in the region.”

Emergency services were on the scene after the three-vehicle crash near Hutton Hill at about 7.25am on Monday (March 2).

North Yorkshire Police said the crash involved a blue Toyota Aygo, silver Vauxhall Corsa and a grey Mazda 2.

The drivers of the Toyota Aygo and the Vauxhall Corsa suffered serious injuries following the crash, the force said.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said a person was cut from their car after the crash.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service said two people were taken to hospital after road ambulances and two air ambulances were called to the scene.

North Yorkshire Police said the A64 was closed for several hours while the scene was investigated and the vehicles were recovered.

As The Press reported, the A64 reopened at 2pm on Monday after the crash caused long delays for drivers.

The crash also resulted in Thompsons Fish and Chip Restaurant, in the Malton Road section of the A64, closing for the day on Monday after saying “access to our premises is currently very difficult”.

North Yorkshire Police urged anyone with information about the crash to contact the force.

“We are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or anyone who may have relevant dashcam footage,” a police spokesperson said.

“If you can help, please email joshua.tulip@northyorkshire.police.uk. Alternatively, you can call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for Joshua Tulip.

“Please quote reference 12260037839 when passing on information.”

“Once you go beyond the first 10/15/20 metres of the culvert, it’s black. It’s not like black like night, where you can see in your bedroom; you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face”

A witness has told the Noah Donohoe inquest that there was “complete and utter darkness” in the tunnel system where the schoolboy’s body was found.

Owen McGivern, an official from the Department for Infrastructure Rivers, was also questioned at Belfast Coroner’s Court about access to the culvert system from the rear of houses in a north Belfast estate.

The inquest into the death of the schoolboy at Belfast Coroner’s Court, which is being heard with a jury, is now into its sixth week.

Noah, a pupil at St Malachy’s College, was 14 when his naked body was found in a storm drain tunnel in north Belfast in June 2020, six days after leaving home on his bike to meet two friends in the Cavehill area of the city.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of death was drowning.

Mr McGivern was questioned on Tuesday by Donal Lunny KC, who represents the PSNI at the inquest, about lighting in the tunnels.

He told the court: “Once you go beyond the first 10/15/20 metres of the culvert, it’s black. It’s not like black like night, where you can see in your bedroom; you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

“It is complete and utter darkness.”

The witness was then asked about the risks associated with gas in the culvert system.

He said gas within the tunnels would only arise when it was “agitated”.

He said: “I’ve been in it several times and the gas alarms never went off.”

Mr Lunny asked Mr McGivern about desilting work which had begun in the tunnel network before Noah disappeared, but the work had had to be stopped.

Mr McGivern said: “There were a couple of factors, Covid was a big factor.

“But before that we took the material away, the material was identified as contaminated so we then had to deal with getting rid of contaminated material and then Covid happened so we had to pause and then unfortunately Noah happened.”

Malachy McGowan, representing Noah’s mother Fiona Donohoe, told the court that the jury had been on a site visit on Monday to the scene where Noah’s body had been found.

The barrister said the grill over the culvert, which had been in place in June 2020, was a debris screen, intended to prevent larger branches passing through, but wide enough to enable a person to pass through the bars.

The witness confirmed this.

Mr McGowan said the inquest had heard evidence from a number of local residents about whether they could access land near to the entry to the culvert system.

The witness said the department accepted some local residents could access the area from their back gardens.

Mr McGowan asked how the department would have known people could access the area.

Mr McGivern said the department would have known this from speaking to local residents.

He was asked if the department was aware that children would have visited the area.

The witness said: “I don’t know about that.”

The barrister pointed to media reports after Noah’s body was found, which showed a local parent raising concerns about her children being able to access the area of the culvert entrance.

He added: “Would you accept that the best and most appropriate way to identify the real risk of children playing at or near a culvert is to consult with local residents?”

Mr McGivern agreed.

The inquest continues.

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The U.S. Embassy issued the statement after growing tensions following the US and Israel attack on Iran

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Americans in Oman have been told to ‘take shelter’ due to the ongoing strikes in the Middle East. The US Embassy issued the stark warning this morning (March 3) as well as advising people stock up on emergency supplies.

The statement read: “Due to ongoing activity outside of Muscat, the U.S. Embassy in Oman has instructed staff to shelter-in-place (i.e., take cover). We recommend all Americans in Oman do the same until further notice.”

Americans have been told to build up an emergency supply of food, water, medication, and other essential items, the Mirror reports. This comes after after a joint attack on Iran by the US and Israel.

The country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the initial strikes on Saturday, February 28.

Since then, Iran has launched a number of retaliatory strikes on various military bases in the Middle East and beyond. On Sunday, an Iranian missile strike killed nine people in the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh.

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The ‌Israeli military said it had ‌also begun attacking the Iranian proxy group Hezbollah at sites across Lebanon.

At least 52 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Beirut’s suburbs and southern Lebanon on Monday, while 154 were left injured, according to state-run media. The attacks came after Hezbollah fired missiles and drones towards an IDF site in the northern city of Haifa.

Iran has today held a mass funeral for 165 schoolgirls and staff killed over the weekend in what it described as a US-Israeli attack on a girls school in the city of Minab. The latest warning to Americans comes just a day after the US Embassy in Bahrain told US nationals that “terrorist groups are intent” on attacking them.

Americans were asked to avoid hotels in the capital city due to possible attacks which the embassy warned could come “with little or no warning”. In an alert issued yesterday morning, the embassy said “drone and missile attacks from Iran continue,” as it warned US nationals “terrorists may attack with little or no warning”.

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The charity is closing 88 shops this year due to rising costs, with up to 100 additional closures by 2027

Cancer Research UK has announced it will shut 88 of its charity shops this year as it grapples with soaring costs, inflation, and evolving shopping patterns. The closures form part of a strategic overhaul that will see the high street presence trimmed to 320 top-performing outlets, meaning roughly 90 shops will shut by May, with up to 100 additional closures planned by April 2027.

While the charity intends to launch 12 new out-of-town superstores over the coming two years, it will simultaneously wind down its online marketplace.

Cancer Research UK maintains the closures are essential to “spend more on life-saving cancer research, expecting to increase the financial contribution to research by approximately £12.4million over the next five years”, reports the Express.

Michelle Mitchell OBE, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, told Express.co.uk: “I am deeply grateful to our dedicated supporters, volunteers and staff for their role and contribution in beating cancer together.

“Without action, we predict many of our shops will become unprofitable. A smaller, high-performing retail operation will mean we will fund more life-saving cancer research and better serve our customers, staff and volunteers.

“This news will be difficult. Our decisions have been taken after serious consideration. We’re committed to supporting everyone affected by these changes, and will provide clear information and support throughout the process.”

Cancer Research stores closing

• Aberdeen, 19 Rosemount Viaduct, AB25 1NE
• Airdrie, 5 Bank Street, ML6 6AF
• Balham, 168 Balham High Road, SW12 9BW
• Ballymena, 49 Ballymoney Street, BT43 6AN
• Banbury, 9 Parsons Street, OX16 5LW
• Barnstaple, Gammon Walk, EX31 1DJ
• Belfast, Bloomfield 17 Bloomfield Avenue, BT4 1RX
• Biggleswade, 24 High Street, SG18 0JL
• Birkenhead, Borough Pavement, CH41 2XX
• Birmingham, 245 High Street, Erdington, B23 6SS
• Bognor, 1-2 Clock Walk, P021 1SG
• Bolton, 6 Newport Street, BL1 1NB
• Bradford, 34-36 Ivegate, BD1 1SW
• Burton, On Trent 25 Station St, DE14 1AU
• Chesham, 34 High Street, HP5 1EP
• Clevedon, 1 Station Road, BS21 6NH
• Clydebank, 23 Sylvania Way South, G81 2UA
• Coatbridge, 20-22 Main Street, ML5 3AE
• Cotteridge, 20 Watford Road, Birmingham, B30 1JA
• Crewe, 10 Market Street, CW1 2EG
• Derby, 826 Osmaston Road, Allenton, DE24 9AA
• Dewsbury, 22 Longcauseway, WF12 8EN
• Dudley, 258 Castle Street, DY1 1LQ
• East Barnet, 276 East Barnet Road, EN4 8TD
• Edinburgh, 9-10 Ormiston Terrace, Corstorphine, EH12 7SJ
• Epping, 197 High Street, CM16 4BL
• Fakenham, 26 Market Place, NR21 9BS
• Falkirk, 18 Vicar Street, FK1 1JL
• Galashiels, 55 High Street, TD1 1RZ
• Gillingham, 90 High Street, ME7 1AX
• Glasgow, 420-424 Victoria Road, G42 8YZ
• Gosport, 98 High Street, PO12 1DS
• Gravesend, 34 New Road, DA11 0AB
• Halesowen, 79 High Street, B63 3BQ
• Harrogate, 24A Oxford Street, HG1 1PU
• Hazel Grove, 129B-C London Road, Stockport, SK74HH
• Hemel Hempstead, 101 Marlowes, HP1 1LF
• High Wycombe, 8 Church Street, HP11 2DE
• Hornchurch, 8 Station Lane, RM12 6NJ
• Keswick, 24 Main Street, CA12 5JD
• Kings Lynn, 61 High Street, PE30 1AY
• Lancaster, 54-54A Market Street, LA1 1HS
• Leeds, 28 L&S Lane, LS1 6LB
• Lincoln, 254 High Street, E20 1QJ
• Lisburn, 4 Smithfield Square, BT28 1AD
• Louth, 20 Market Place, LN11 9PD
• Ludlow, 3 Castle Street, SY8 1AS
• Maidenhead, 101 High Street, SL6 1JX
• Maidstone, 19 Gabriels Hill, ME15 6HR
• Market Drayton, 27 High Street, TF9 1QF
• Melton Mowbray, 6 South Parade, LE13 0PU
• Merthyr, Tydfil 14 Graham Way, CF47 8BT
• Mill Hill, 37 The Broadway, NW7 3DA
• Moreton, 242 Hoylake Road, CH46 6AD
• Newark, 26 Stodman Street, NG24 1AW
• Newcastle, Under Lyme 19 Ironmarket, ST5 1RF
• Northwood, 38 Green Lane, HA6 2QB
• Paddock Wood, 5 Commercial Road, TN12 6EN
• Penrith, 10 Angel Lane, CA11 7BP
• Perth, 27 Scott Street, PH1 5TQ
• Redditch, 4 Market Place, B98 8AA
• Redruth, 71 Fore Street, TR15 2AF
• Retford, 25 Carolgate, DN22 6BZ
• Ross On Wye, 11 Market Place, HR9 5NU
• Rotherham, 74 Effingham Street, S65 1AL
• Rushden, 22 High Street, NN10 0PW
• Selby, 40A Gowthorpe, YO8 4ET
• Sevenoaks, 137 High Street, TN13 1UX
• Shrewsbury, 9 High Street, SY1 1SP
• Sidmouth, 19 Fore Street, EX10 8AL
• Skipton, 91 Caroline Square, BD23 1DA
• Slough, 8 Park Street, SL1 1PD
• Southend On Sea, 5 Warrior House, Southchurch Road, SS1 2LZ
• St Ives, 6 High Street, TR26 1RR
• Stalybridge, 44A Grosvenor Road, SK15 1RR
• Stockport, 26 Princes Street, SK1 1SE
• Stoke, 44 Devonport Road, Plymouth, PL3 4DH
• Swansea, 19 Union Street, SA1 3EH
• Swindon, 28 Havelock Street, SN1 1SD
• Tiverton, 15 Bampton Street, EX16 6AA
• Urmston, 16 Station Road, M41 9JN
• Welling, 26C Bellegrove Road, DA16 3PU
• Welwyn Garden City, 20 Howardsgate, AL8 6BQ
• West Bromwich, 203 High Street, B70 7QZ
• Whitby, 70 Baxtergate, YO21 1BL
• Wick, 36 Bridge Street, KW1 4NG
• Wigston, 6 Bell Street, LE18 1AD
• Workington, 26-32 Murray Road, CA14 2AG

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Emergency services were called to a crash between a car and train today (Tuesday, March 3)

A person has died after a crash involving a car and train. British Transport Police were called to the crash at around 10am today (Tuesday, March 3) at Dimmocks Cote level crossing in Ely.

Officers and paramedics attended, but sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. Another person is being treated for minor injuries.

A BTP spokesperson said: “BTP were called at around 10.15am this morning to reports of a collision involving a train and a car at Dimmocks Cote level crossing in Ely. Officers responded alongside paramedics and sadly a person has been pronounced dead at the scene.

“Enquiries are ongoing to identify the person and inform their next of kin. Another person is receiving treatment for minor injuries.

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances of what happened, any witnesses who haven’t already spoken to police are asked to text BTP on 61016 quoting the reference 198 of March 3.”

As a result, rail passengers face a “major disruption” through Cambridgeshire.

There are currently no trains running between Cambridge and Ely, and disruption is expected until at least 4pm. The A1123 Newmarket Road is also closed in both directions whilst the incident is dealt with.

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Lawn care season has arrived and experts say following four key steps this month will help create healthier grass in the months to come

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The lawn care season is upon us, which means it’s time to arm ourselves with the proper equipment and materials to achieve a verdant lawn. Having a few essential tools makes maintaining your lawn considerably simpler.

The process includes scarification, aeration, over-seeding and top dressing. The work you invest in your lawn now will reap rewards in the coming months.

Your lawn grass is emerging from its winter slumber. If it’s grown long, you can give it an initial high cut. Ideally, we should scarify the lawn using a spring tine rake in early spring or a scarification rake from mid to late spring. Scarification involves raking the lawn to remove as much thatch and moss as you can, reports the Express.

This enables light and air to reach the living grass beneath. Following this, we can aerate the lawn by piercing it with a garden fork or aeration spiker. The holes ought to be four to six inches in depth and distributed across the entire lawn.

These perforations will ease ground compaction and allow fresh air to reach the existing grass roots.

The ground is then prepared for spreading grass seed over the entire lawn or targeting bare and sparse areas as needed. The seed will settle into the ground and should be topped with a layer of lawn dressing.

Top dressing grass seed will support the germination process, introduce nutrients to the soil and shield seed from birds. Specialists at BLACK+DECKER recently revealed the optimal time to dust off the lawnmower and take on the lawn once more.

If you’re interested in purchasing top-notch grass seed, please visit www.bostonseeds.com and use the promotional code GWTLAWN2026 to receive a ten per cent discount on your order.

You can follow Tom on Instagram, TikTok and Youtube @garden_with_tom for more timely gardening advice and tips.

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One of the best BBC dramas of the late 2010s has just had all three seasons added to Netflix

Netflix is now streaming a three-season BBC drama that has left viewers feeling inspired.

Starring some very familiar faces from the world of British TV and tackling challenging topics with care and sensitivity, The A Word deserves a place at the very top of your watchlist.

Breakout star Max Vento portrays Joe Hughes, a young boy whose dysfunctional family discovers he has autism.

Originally convinced he simply has hearing problems, parents Paul (played by Lee Ingleby) and Alison (Morven Christie) must learn to cope with Joe’s communication difficulties.

Meanwhile, Alison’s brother Eddie (Greg McHugh) and his wife Nicola (Vinette Robinson) are having issues of their own, whilst Joe’s grandfather Maurice (Christopher Eccleston), a widower with a rather blunt view of the world, must learn to adapt to the changes in his family.

Filmed around the Lake District, the drama’s stellar cast also features other familiar faces, such as Death in Paradise’s Ralph Little, Inspector Morse icon Clare Holman, and Coronation Street’s Julie Hesmondhalgh.

Breakout star Aaron Pierre, who will next be seen in HBO’s DC superhero series Lanterns and led Netflix’s hit thriller Rebel Ridge, also makes an appearance in The A Word’s second season.

Fans have been raving about the hit BBC series even after it came to an end in 2020, so it is definitely not one to miss now it’s become even more widely available on Netflix.

One fan on IMDb called the first season the “Best Program on TV” other than Game of Thrones. They raved in a 10/10 review: “There are not enough dramas featuring this issue, and the lad who plays Joe needs recognition for how well he plays the part – true to life.

“From the start of this program, to the end, it has had me in tears due to how it mirrors my family’s life – with a child who is Autistic, going through the diagnosis, coping with relatives and friends’ views on this. And the strain it places on your relationships is very well portrayed.”

Another fan called it “The best drama I’ve ever seen”, adding: “I have just binge watched the three series over the past few days. Couldn’t stop watching it. It was so well acted by all. So believable.”

“Wonderful show beautifully portraying a tough topic,” someone else wrote.

“Amazing show, portrays Autism Spectrum Disorder really well,” they went on. “The child playing Joe is brilliant, his acting is so authentic. The entire cast does a wonderful job getting down to the root of emotions that follow a ASD diagnosis.

Get Netflix free with Sky for Bridgerton Season 4

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‘Dearest gentle reader’, as the fourth season of Bridgerton follows second son Benedict love story, there’s a way to watch this fairytale-like season for less.

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“The dry humour and authentic setting really draws in the viewer. Such a welcome contrast to the bright shiny TV Hollywood pumps out, this show is television at its best.”

And a final fan said: “A must watch for every family. The series is very interesting and I believe that every family should watch it because there is lots to learn.

“I enjoy each and every moment of the drama. I am really thankful to all the people who have made this possible.”

Whether you’re keen to learn more about autism or are simply after a compelling new drama for your next streaming session, Netflix has you covered with this eye-opening series.

The A Word is available to stream on Netflix.

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new **Everything Gossip** website.

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Yesterday, Monday, was National Offer Day, meaning pupils in their final year of primary school have discovered where they will spend the next five years of their education.

The proportion of pupils receiving their first choice is the highest in three years, at nearly 87%. Overall, 97% of Year 6 pupils were offered one of their preferred choices.

Bolton Council’s Executive Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Cllr Martin Donaghy, said: “An offer has been made to every child who has applied for a place in Bolton.”

More pupils have received their first choice this year, with the figure now standing at 86.7% (3,688).

Eight per cent (341) received their second preference.

First-choice allocations are up by just over 100 compared with last year, while second preferences are down by around 100.

For third preference, 2.2% (93) of Year 6 pupils received this outcome, down by 13 compared with last year.

Pupils with no preference accounted for 3.1% (131), a decrease of nearly 70 from last year.

Cllr Donaghy added: “These figures reflect the hard work of the council and local schools to increase both the number and variety of places on offer.”

The total number of pupils was lower this year, at 4,253 — down by 72 from 2025, which had also seen a decline compared with 2024.

Parents or carers wishing to appeal a decision must contact the school’s admission authority, which is responsible for organising the appeal panel.

Details of a school’s admission authority can be found on the local council’s website.

The panel is independent and considers the case presented by both the admission authority and the parent before deciding whether the school should admit the child.

The deadline for appeals is Monday, March 30.

Decisions by the appeal panel are binding — if an appeal is upheld, the admission authority must offer the child a place at the school.

The actor also played Bert Fry on Radio 4’s The Archers for 25 years

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Eric Allan, one of the earlier stars of Emmerdale, has passed away after over 25 years on screen. The veteran actor died at age 85, he played Frank Blakey back when the soap was known as Emmerdale Farm.

After leaving the show in 1974 after his character married Janie Harker in Emmerdale’s first ever wedding, Eric became a soap familiar after playing farmer, Bert Fry, on Radio 4’s The Archers for 25 years. He took over the role of Bert from Roger Hume, who had died the previous year.

The Mirror reports Eric reflected on his career in 2021, saying of Bert: “He’s the character the production team tend to turn to if the storylines are getting too depressing and a bit of light relief is called for.”

The star, who leaves behind wife, Susan, and their son and daughter, was also known for film, Bleak Moments and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes series. His other notable TV roles included playing tabloid sports editor opposite David Warner in the BBC series Hold the Back Page in 1985.

Eric also starred as Les Fox, one of Bet Lynch’s boyfriends in Coronation Street in 1977 and also played guest roles in Z Cars, The New Avengers, Bergerac, The Bill and EastEnders. Born in 1940, Eric grew up in Yorkshire and Wolverhampton, but his family moved to Canada when he was 15.

The actor returned to the UK when he was 18 to study at famed drama school, RADA. He started out in the industry in Leicester and Nottingham theatres, before spending several years with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

There, Eric worked with director, Mike Leigh, and played the lead in his controversial first feature film, Bleak Moments. In the film, Eric played Peter, the repressed suitor of socially awkward Sylvia (Anne Raitt).

The film was notorious for its scenes of toe-curlingly awkward dating, but, still, audiences loved the characters: “When Anne Raitt says to Eric Allan, ‘I was thinking it would be great if you took your trousers off,’ Leigh recalled of one screening, “well, the audience let out the most almighty cheer.”

Eric also played the quarryman in Leigh’s television film Nuts in May (1976), and appeared in many of Leigh’s stage plays. Writing in his book Mike Leigh on Mike Leigh, the director shared: “Eric is an extremely nice man.”

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