Councillors representing Brotton said East Cleveland Hospital was under-used with an X-ray department having also been out of action for several months, although this was related to equipment failure, not staffing.

Services at the facility are commissioned by the North East Integrated Care Board (NE ICB) and delivered by the South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, part of the University Hospitals Tees group.

Councillor Graham Cutler, a Brotton ward councillor, said a minor injuries unit should be piloted at the hospital where members of the public could walk in for treatment.

He also highlighted how Redcar and Cleveland had no 24/7 urgent care provision, unlike other areas, with Redcar Primary Care Hospital – the nearest such facility – closing at midnight.

Cllr Cutler said East Cleveland residents faced “health access inequality” and establishing a minor injuries unit could reduce unnecessary 999 ambulance calls as well as ease the pressure on Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital, which has both an A&E and urgent treatment centre.

He said some “geographically isolated” residents had experienced “massive waits” at both Redcar and Middlesbrough with others choosing to travel further afield for treatment to Whitby and Scarborough.

Services at East Cleveland Hospital, which is in Brotton, include general rehabilitation, assessment of present and future care needs, diagnostics, drug administration, blood transfusions, pain control and palliative care.

Outpatient clinics are also held at the hospital for example for patients receiving physiotherapy.

University Hospital Tees said enabling works were required to be carried out in order to install a new X-ray machine, although this would not be until the autumn.

A spokeswoman did not directly address future plans for the community hospital, but said it was working in partnership with the NE ICB and the wider NHS to “optimise service provision”.

Councillor Cutler, along with fellow Brotton ward councillors Barry Hunt and Martin Fletcher, have persuaded members of Redcar and Cleveland Council’s adults, wellbeing and health scrutiny committee to undertake further scrutiny sessions to look at urgent care provision in the area, as well as explore potential for the delivery of additional services at East Cleveland Hospital.

It is expected to seek information from the relevant NHS organisations and could produce a report with recommendations, which they would be required to respond to.

A recent meeting of the committee heard how  the hospital “remained a substantial and suitable building, but was currently under utilised” with potential also to deliver the likes of mental health support and drug and alcohol services.

Meanwhile, some residents were said to fear that the site could eventually close altogether and it was perceived as a “white elephant”.

Karen Hawkins, a director of delivery at the North East Integrated Care Board, covering the Tees Valley area, told the meeting upgrading East Cleveland Hospital would require significant staffing, potentially drawing resources away from other sites.

It was suggested by the committee there could be benefit in re-examining opening times and demand patterns at the Redcar Primary Care Hospital.

Clarification was also sought on whether any discussions about service closures were taking place, with reassurance given that the intention was to integrate primary and community care within existing facilities rather than build new estates.

Cllr Hunt told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that half of the Brotton facility was not being used.

He said:  “We’ve had support from the scrutiny committee and councillors across the board.

“They have an X-ray unit at Brotton and it hasn’t been working for ages.

“East Cleveland is missing out.

“Why do you have to go to Middlesbrough to sit for hours just to get a finger stitched?

“Someone has got to fight for this, it’s very important.”

The University Hospital Tees spokeswoman said: “A new x-ray machine for East Cleveland Hospital has recently been purchased and plans are in place to carry out enabling works to accommodate the new machine which will allow the machine to be installed by autumn 2026.”

She said it was continuing to explore the best possible ways in which to continue the transformation of services and optimise patient experience, and “considering a range of options to ensure services are safe, sustainable and meet future needs”. 

A spokesman for the NE ICB added: “In line with the priorities outlined in the [NHS] ten year health plan, the ICB is committed to ensuring that service delivery shifts away from acute hospital settings to local communities, with a focus on prevention.  

 “As such, we are working with system partners on how we can best utilise modern facilities closer to home for physical and mental health community-based services.”

A 10-month-old girl has died along with two other people after a tree toppled during an Easter egg hunt in northern Germany, police say.

The 100-foot tree fell on four people participating in the event on Sunday morning in woods near the town of Satrupholm.

The baby girl died in hospital, while her 21-year-old mother died at the scene as she was being treated by first responders, as did another 16-year-old girl.

An 18-year-old woman suffered serious injuries and was brought to the hospital by helicopter.

The incident took place as around 50 people from a nearby residential facility for new mothers, pregnant women and children hunted for eggs in the area, which had been under a high winds warning from the German weather service.

Grief counsellors were sent to the scene, where pictures published by the Bild news site showed several Easter eggs scattered on the ground and two of the victims covered in white sheets.

The facility that held the event is part of the state-funded child welfare system and supports pregnant women and new mothers who need help, according to its website.

The mountain got plenty of sun on Sunday and is set for ‘a lot of fine weather’ over the next few days

Pen y Fan drew a huge number of hikers on Easter Sunday. With the sun shining over south Wales’ highest peak, the car parks were so full that most visitors had to park on the grass verges of the main road.

When our photographer visited this afternoon, there were hundreds of people enjoying the Powys mountain’s magnificent views of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) national park.

Staff were kept busy in the car parks, while ice cream was available from a van. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.

Many of the hikers brought their dogs with them.

Sitting in the heart of the national park, the top of Pen y Fan is some 886m above sea level.

It is one of the most popular walks in Wales, with views that take in many miles of rolling hills.

If you’re thinking of a visit to Pen y Fan over the coming days, here’s what the Met Office has to say.

“High confidence for a lot of fine weather next few days,” the mountain forecast reads. “Some uncertainty about cloud amounts, though some very warm sunshine possible Tuesday and Wednesday.

“Moderate confidence for the timing of a rain band clearing through early on Thursday, introducing cooler more changeable conditions later in the week.”

On Monday, the Met Office estimates a “medium” chance of poor visibility and “challenging route-finding conditions” on the mountain.

“Visibility could be significantly less than 50 metres in all directions with few or no visual references,” the forecaster warns.

“Distances become hard to judge and cliff or cornice edges can be difficult to recognise. These conditions require good navigational skills. There is a risk of white-out conditions when mist or fog is combined with extensive snow cover.”

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Leicester did not help themselves at times – some of the front-line defence, particularly in the first half, was woeful – but the Tigers were fighting fires everywhere. If Bielle-Biarrey, with that iconic red scrum cap, is not cutting you to shreds, then Jalibert will, or Lucu, one of European rugby’s most underrated players, will squeeze you out of the contest with his calmness, kicking and control. The ovation Lucu, Bordeaux’s scrum-half and captain, received on 50 minutes as he departed was cacophonous; as was the roar Ben Tameifuna ignited when the wardrobe-on-wheels thundered over for a score soon after coming on. If Bordeaux cannot go round you, they will go through you, instead.

Outclassed, outfought and out-thought, the challenge for Leicester now is to ensure that there is a response in the league. For Bordeaux, it might only be Toulouse who can stand between them and an historic European and domestic double.

Match details

Scoring sequence: 3-0 Lucu pen, 8-0 Woki try, 10-0 Lucu con, 15-0 Rayasi try, 20-0 Lucu try, 22-0 Lucu con, 27-0 Bielle-Biarrey try, 29-0 Lucu con, 34-0 Lamothe try, 36-0 Lucu try, 36-5 Perese try, 36-7 Searle con, 41-7 Tameifuna try, 43-7 Lucu con, 43-12 Searle con, 43-14 Searle con, 48-14 Rayasi try, 50-14 Reus con, 55-14 Retiere try, 57-14 Reus con, 62-14 Rayasi try, 64-14 Reus con.

Bordeaux: S Rayasi; P Uberti, D Penaud, Y Moefana (Janse van Rensburg 50, Reus 51), L Bielle-Biarrey; M Jalibert, M Lucu (capt, Retiere 50); J Poirot (Perchaud 46), M Lamothe (Barlot 58), C Sadie (Tameifuna 46), B Palu, A Coleman (Bochaton 64), B Vergnes-Taillefer, C Woki, M Gazzotti (Matiu 58).

Leicester: F Steward; A Radwan, I Perese (Wand 60), J Woodward (Searle 41), O Hassell-Collins; J O’Connor, J van Poortvliet (Whiteley 54); A van der Flier (Haffar 47), J Blamire (Clare 47), W Hurd (Loman 47), H Liebenberg (c), H Wells, J Moro, J Manz (Palmer 38), O Cracknell (Henderson 54).

Referee: Andrew Brace (Wales).

Attendance: 32,930.

Luke Tweddle, 25, has spent three years living in Australia and admits it’s better overall – but he’s planning to return to the UK and says England still excels in three key areas

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A British expat living in Australia has proclaimed it a “better country” than England – yet he insists there are still three aspects of the UK that remain superior.

Luke Tweddle, 25, from Surrey, has spent the past three years living in various locations across Oz, including Adelaide and Sydney, and currently resides in Perth with his girlfriend. Despite pointing out numerous advantages to life in Australia, particularly the weather and overall lifestyle, he is due to return to England before long.

In his latest travel vlog, the content creator addressed one of the most frequently asked questions – ‘Is Life In Australia Actually Better Than The UK?’

READ MORE: Donald Trump’s sweary Iran war rant decoded by expert – FOUR key ‘hoax’ momentsREAD MORE: Royal Family’s newest members join William and Kate for debut at Easter service

Speaking to his subscribers, he said: “Everyone always says that life in Australia is way better than life in the UK. But as a 25-year-old Brit that obviously grew up in the UK and then spent three years living in Australia, the answer actually isn’t that simple.

“Because depending on which part of life you are looking at, Australia wins in some ways. And believe it or not, the UK does actually win in some ways as well,” reports Surrey Live.

Nightlife

Concerning one area where the UK comfortably outshines Down Under, Luke said: “There is one side to the social life though that I do think the UK does a lot better than Australia and that is the nightlife and the whole night-time culture.”

He pointed out that Australian culture was considerably more geared towards early mornings, popping to coffee shops, strolling along beaches and outdoor exercise. Luke added that the nightlife wasn’t especially remarkable even in the major cities.

He said: “To be honest, if you are 18, 19 years old and nightlife is a priority, I actually wouldn’t recommend Australia because you’re just going to be disappointed with the nightlife.”

Luke observed that even he, having spent three years in Australia, has transformed into more of an early riser, noting that many venues don’t stay open until the small hours.

Activities

When it comes to things to do, Luke praised both countries, saying there was a similar range of activities available. However, he highlighted that in Australia, leisure pursuits were heavily reliant on good weather conditions.

He explained: “The only negative is when it does get to winter time, Australia literally hibernates because I don’t feel like there’s anywhere near as many activities, it is all so reliant on the weather.

“Obviously in the UK where we cannot rely on the weather at all, pretty much every activity is okay to do whatever the weather is, and a big part of the activities are inside.”

He added: “Obviously, in the UK, if you don’t care about the sun, and being outside, the UK has got lots to do. Sports are great in the UK, the pub culture is great, and there are a lot more indoor activities.”

Location

He explained that the biggest challenge about residing in Australia was the enormous distance from home, and being apart from friends and family. Luke characterised this element of staying in Australia long-term as the “real negative”.

He continued: “And unless you really make a close circle here in Australia I feel like no matter how long you stay here, you will never make as many connections as you have back home, especially someone like me who’s got a lot of friends and family back home and just Australia’s location in general…

“Aussies won’t be affected because they’ve grown up with that. That’s all they know and everyone they know is here. But if you’ve moved from the UK and been in Australia for a while, it is a really deciding factor when it comes to saying or leaving.”

Final thoughts

In the same video, which you can watch in full here, Luke highlighted all the benefits of Australia compared to England. He acknowledged the wages were better, the work environment was more laid-back, the scenery was more beautiful, public transport was more dependable and that it typically felt safer.

Yet in conclusion, he observed: “Now if you ask me which county do I think is better? The answer is obvious… Australia wins in nearly every way. But it’s a weird situation where that’s the case, but I also don’t want to stay, and I think a lot of Brits will relate to this.”

Explosives of “devastating power” have been found near a pipeline supplying Russian gas to Hungary and Serbia, according to Serbia’s president.

Aleksandar Vucic said two backpacks with “large packages of explosives” had been left a few hundred metres from the Balkan Stream pipeline.

It’s an extension of the Turk Stream pipeline that carries gas from Russia under the Black Sea to Turkey.

Mr Vucic said millions could have been cut off if the explosives had detonated.

“I just had a talk with [Hungarian prime minister] Viktor Orban, and informed him that if the gas pipeline had been cut there, Hungary would not have had gas and we in northern Serbia would not have had gas,” he told reporters.

Mr Vucic warned anyone trying to destroy Serbia’s infrastructure would face a “merciless” response and “harsh and severe punishment”.

On Instagram, he said the explosives potentially had “devastating power”.

Mr Orban, who arranged an emergency defence council meeting for Sunday afternoon, said on X “the equipment needed to detonate it” had also been discovered.

The incident comes seven days before Hungarian voters decide whether to extend his 16 years in power.

His party is currently behind in the polls, although many people say they are still undecided on who to back.

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Mr Orban, who is seen as one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s closest allies in Europe, increased security around the country’s energy infrastructure in February and has framed the election as a choice between war or peace.

The Hungarian leader has often been a thorn in the side of other EU nations and last month blocked a €90bn loan to Ukraine.

The Masters is almost upon us as the golfing elite prepare to descend upon Augusta this coming week for the first major of the year

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The Masters is just around the corner as golf’s finest prepare to make their way to Augusta this week. The opening major of the season is always amongst the most eagerly awaited events in the sporting calendar, but 2026 looks set to be especially memorable.

Rory McIlroy will arrive in Georgia as defending champion, hoping to claim consecutive titles. The Northern Irishman finally achieved the career Grand Slam by securing his maiden Green Jacket last year, though his build-up to this year’s tournament has been far from straightforward.

A back problem has limited the champion’s recent appearances, meaning McIlroy hasn’t competed as frequently as he would have liked. However, a lighter schedule may prove beneficial given the recent weather disruption at the Valero Texas Open.

There had been speculation that Tiger Woods might make his comeback at what is arguably his most legendary venue. However, that will not materialise, while one golfing icon has shared his thoughts on Woods’ recent arrest in the latest headlines from the sport.

Weather Chaos Hits Texas Open

Despite some questions over McIlroy’s reduced activity ahead of the Masters, his choice to bypass this weekend’s Texas Open has proved wise. Severe weather in the Lone Star State forced organisers to halt the tournament on Saturday. Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre held a two-shot lead over Ryder Cup teammate Ludvig Aberg when the third round was suspended on Saturday. Play had already been delayed for six hours on Saturday before officials eventually decided to abandon the day’s proceedings.

The concern now centres on the possibility of play extending into Monday. MacIntyre and Aberg had completed just six holes of their third round when play was halted, leaving a substantial amount of golf still to be played before a champion is crowned.

This justifies the choice made by the likes of McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and other Masters contenders to bypass the tournament. Rather than waiting around for play to restart, they can focus on their Augusta preparations in a more productive way while their competitors endure a challenging weekend, though they forfeit the opportunity to compete for their share of the £7.4million prize fund.

Nicklaus addresses Woods arrest

Jack Nicklaus has expressed his support for Woods following the golf legend’s recent arrest for driving under the influence. Woods was apprehended after crashing his vehicle in Jupiter, Florida, with footage subsequently emerging of him appearing agitated during his arrest and while in the rear of a police vehicle.

Discussing the incident ahead of the Masters, Nicklaus said his longtime friend “needs help” after this latest incident. Woods had been anticipated to make some form of appearance at the Masters but has since announced he’ll be taking time away from golf to concentrate on his wellbeing. Nicklaus shared with the Palm Beach Post: “Sometimes you get, you know, too far down the line and you just need somebody to help you. I think he probably needs some help.

“We all want to help him. We’re all on his side. Obviously, I feel bad for Tiger. I like Tiger. I don’t just like him, I like him a lot.”

Rose’s caddie’s admission

Justin Rose’s caddie has revealed the British star can be demanding at times. Rose, aged 45, has experienced a revival in recent years and garnered considerable fan support following second-place finishes at both the Masters and The Open over the past two seasons.

He’s also played a crucial role in Europe’s victorious Ryder Cup campaigns in 2023 and 2025. Yet caddie Mark Fulcher acknowledged that such success requires those around him to maintain peak performance levels.

In conversation with Beyond The Clubhouse, Fulcher commented: “He’s tough, at times, but he’s also very fair. He puts in 100% effort, and all he expects of his team members is to put in the same, so if we all do that, then nothing can be said at the end of the week.

“We’re talking about what he needs at a certain time, and energy conservation is really important. He’s 45, incredibly fit, amazingly fit for his age, but we all have to understand that, you know, Father Time is catching up.

“We have to be aware of the boundaries. I think we’re all pretty good at controlling them.”

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The two men on-board, aged in their 30s, are in a critical but stable condition.

Two men were taken to hospital after a motorbike collided with a crash barrier.

The single-vehicle collision happened on Pond Park Road East in Lisburn, on Saturday, April 4.

Police said they received a report that a motorbike had collided with a crash barrier at around 4.25pm.

READ MORE: Easter Sunday crash claims life of 20-year-old manREAD MORE: North Belfast assault leaves young man with possible life-changing injury

The two men on-board, aged in their 30s, had sustained serious injury. Both men remain in hospital at this time, in a critical but stable condition. A PSNI spokesperson said: “We would appeal to anyone who may have witnessed the collision, or the manner of driving leading up to it, to contact us. We would be particularly keen to hear from anyone with relevant dashcam footage. The number to call is 101, quoting reference 994 of 04/04/26.”Alternatively, you can submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/. You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.

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Walker Smith, 54, said he was ‘crying inside’ when he was dismissed

A Waitrose worker has been fired after trying to stop a shoplifter from stealing luxury Easter eggs, it has been reported.

Walker Smith, 54, was a Waitrose employee for 17 years before being sacked. He revealed he was “crying inside” when bosses showed him the exit.

Mr Smith was a shop assistant at a Waitrose branch in Clapham Junction, south London. He says he was carrying out his usual role when a shopper told him that someone had filled up a bag with eggs.

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The usual protocol is to avoid approaching shoplifters, and to report it to a manager, according to The Mirror. But after seeing repeated thefts over the years, Mr Smith decided to act, he said.

He was said to have confronted the thief and snatched their bag. There was reportedly a brief struggle, before the bag ripped and several Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs fell onto the floor. The shoplifter made a run for the exit, but Mr Smith picked up a piece of broken Easter egg and “threw it out of frustration” toward some trollies. He insists these were not thrown toward the thief.

He was reprimanded by his boss at the time but a few weeks later, he was hauled into a meeting with store managers. Mr Smith said he made a final plea for forgiveness, but was told he was being sacked.

Bosses said they were unable to “discuss an individual case” but that Mr Smith’s claims were ‘not the full facts of the situation’.

‘Demoralised’

But Mr Smith told the Guardian: “I tried to stay strong and I didn’t say a word but inside I was crying. They led me out the back door by the bins. I just felt demoralised.

“Waitrose is like my family. My friends are there. I was there for 17 years, I must have been doing something right. I’m not a bad or violent or aggressive person. I just got frustrated seeing this day in and day out and not seeing Waitrose do much about it.”

Mr Smith later thanked supporters on his personal Facebook page. He said his priority for now is to find a new job.

He wrote: “Thank you everyone for getting in touch with kind messages and support, I really appreciate it. I didn’t think it would blow up like this but now it has my priority is getting a job.

“I’m based in Clapham Junction so if you or anyone you know is looking for a reliable, conscientious employee please reach out. I was at Waitrose for 17 years so warehousing, customer service – except dealing with shoplifters(!), or similar would be amazing.”

What Waitrose has said

Waitrose, meanwhile, said the safety of its staff was very important, which is why it had policies for responding to shoplifters. Staff had previously been injured when confronting thieves.

A Waitrose statement read: “The safety and security of our Partners and customers couldn’t be more important to us, and we have policies in place to protect both. We’ve had incidents where our partners have been hospitalised when challenging shoplifters. Luckily, they have always recovered, but that might not always be the case.

“There is a serious danger to life in tackling shoplifters. We refuse to put anyone’s life at risk and that’s why we have policies in place that are very clearly understood and must be strictly followed.

“As a responsible employer, we never want to be in a position where we are notifying families of a tragedy because someone tried to stop a theft. Nothing we sell is worth risking lives for.

“The reporting on this does not cover the full facts of the situation. While we would never be able to discuss an individual case, we can assure you the correct process is being followed, which includes a standard appeals procedure.

“We have campaigned for some time for more to be done to protect shop workers from offenders, including retail crime being made into a specific stand alone offence.”