This beach is a great place for families to visit

Going to the seaside isn’t just for summer, beaches are also great to visit in autumn. While Cambridgeshire is landlocked and isn’t lucky enough to be home to beach destinations, there are some beautiful choices just a stone’s throw away.

Suffolk and Norfolk, both home to some stunning beaches, are within driving distance of Cambridgeshire. These two counties provide Cambridgeshire locals with the perfect opportunity to enjoy a day out to the beach.

One beach that’s worth the visit, and only a two-hour drive from Cambridge, is Sea Palling in Norfolk. Set in a quiet village on the north Norfolk coast is the sandy beach of Sea Palling.

Visit North Norfolk describes it as an area of “unspoilt natural beauty”. The beach is ideal for families as it has safe waters to swim in.

The beach is lucky to have soft sands and even when the tide comes in, the sand is still there unlike other beaches further up the coast.

These are calmed down by the man-made coastal defence reefs. It is a popular beach, but it’s never too overcrowded so it’s a good destination to visit if people don’t want a place that’s too busy.

It has amusements, cafes and amenities near the beach. The beach was also awarded Blue Flag status for several years, which means the beach has met certain standards for cleanliness, safety, environmental management and education.

In the winter months, this beach is a great place to walk the dog as it’s less crowded. There are restrictions in place for dog walking in the summer.

As well as a visit to this glorious beach, it is also worth a visit to the Hickling Broad nature reserve, run by the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the National Trust’s Horsey Warren.

These two nature spots are perfect for people who love bird watching or just want to be closer to nature. With this beach being within easy reach of Cambridge, it might be worth a visit this autumn.

The ninth Kearsley Scarecrow Festival has seen plenty of creations displayed across Kearsley, Stoneclough, Prestolee and Ringley over the weekend.

Residents, businesses, schools, nurseries, groups and organisations have all created displays for this year’s trails, which could be explored on foot, by bike or by car.

(Image: Tracey Wilkinson)

But among the fun was a particularly poignant creation, with a Three Bears picnic display made in memory of Colin Dean, who had died recently after winning scarecrow competitions over the years.

Cllr Crossley said: “The Three Bears picnic came up and that was in memory of someone who died recently, who won the scarecrow competitions over the years.

“So that’s a memorial for Colin, which is amazing.”

The festival ran over two days, with visitors heading out on Saturday despite poor weather.

Cllr Crossley said the conditions had not stopped people from taking part, with many choosing to travel around the trails by car.

She said: “We had 65 scarecrows out yesterday, and we’ve got them out today, over two days.

“The weather didn’t stop anyone, everyone came out, mainly in the cars.

(Image: Tracey Wilkinson)

“But there’s been some fantastic displays this year, absolutely amazing.

“And we’re just so proud of how everyone’s come together as a community.”

A long list of locations took part across the ward, ranging from homes and streets to schools, churches, businesses and community organisations.

They included Spindle Point School, St Stephen’s School, Kearsley Academy, Kearsley Cricket Club, Kearsley Mount Methodist Church, St Stephen’s Church and the 24th Farnworth Scout Group.

(Image: Tracey Wilkinson)

Businesses including Tesco Express, KW Barbers, Unity Brook Inn and Pet Supplies were also among the locations on the trails.

The festival has become an established tradition in the area, with previous events attracting more than 100 displays.

This year’s programme cost £2 and provided maps showing visitors where to find the recorded 65 creations.

Programmes were available from Kearsley Mount Methodist Church and The Grapes Hotel, while fundraising activities included a tombola, raffle, guessing the weight of a cake and guessing the name of a scarecrow.

(Image: NQ)

Money raised through programme sales and fundraising activities is put back into the local community, according to information supplied by organisers.

Cllr Crossley had also joined in herself, creating a Love Your Garden themed display on Fernside.

Former councillor Tracey Wilkinson was praised by Cllr Crossley for the work she put into organising the event.

Cllr Crossley said: “Tracey Wilkinson puts in so much every year and they’ve worked hard.”

The festival has previously been used to raise money for projects in the community, including park benches and defibrillators.

(Image: Tracey Wilkinson)

It has also provided a chance for families to explore different parts of the ward, with the scarecrow trail having included Kearsley, Stoneclough, Ringley and Prestolee in previous years.

This year’s displays stretched from Teak Drive, Manchester Road and Trent Way to Highfield Street, Queensway, Bolton Road and Springfield Road.

And despite Saturday’s weather, Cllr Crossley said organisers were expecting even more people to head out on Sunday.

She said: “We’re out today and we’re expecting a lot more today because of the weather.”

With 65 scarecrows scattered between homes, schools, businesses and community buildings, the ninth festival once again turned streets across the ward into one large trail, while one display also provided a chance to remember a familiar face from competitions gone by.

Catherine Connolly was welcomed to the school by Lady Susan Haughey CBE the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire and Provost Kenneth Duffy.

The President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, was entertained by pupils from Coatbridge primary schools at a special event held at St Patrick’s Primary School as part of an official four-day visit to Scotland.

Uachtarán na hÉireann Catherine Connolly was accompanied by her husband, Brian McEnery, during the visit to the school on Thursday, 17 September.

She was welcomed to the school by Lady Susan Haughey CBE the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire and Provost Kenneth Duffy.

The hour-long visit saw President Connolly enjoy a display of Irish culture from pupils, including a Gaelic football display, songs from the school choir and Irish dancing.

Pupils from nearby St Augustine’s, St Bartholomew’s and St Mary’s primary schools also took part in the celebrations.

Jacqueline Hagerty, Head Teacher of St Patrick’s Primary School, said: “It was an immense honour and a very proud moment for me to welcome President Catherine Connolly to our school and to share with her the rich cultural links between Ireland and the town of Coatbridge.

“With my own strong Irish identity, this visit held a particularly special significance for me personally. It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the heritage, culture and connections that are such an important part of our school community.

“I could not be prouder of our pupils, who represented our school with such enthusiasm, confidence and pride, and of the wider school community for embracing this very special occasion.

“It was a memorable experience that I hope will inspire our pupils and leave them with a lasting sense of pride in who they are, where they come from and the diverse community they are part of.”

Pupil Adaline Stevenson added: “It was a really special experience to sing a solo for President Connolly. I was nervous at first, but I felt proud when I stood up and sang with the choir.

“It was amazing to perform for her and to be part of such an important visit. I loved seeing how our Scottish and Irish cultures could come together, and I will remember the day for a very long time.”

In a statement, President Connolly said: “I am very pleased to have the opportunity of making an Official Visit to Scotland. Ireland and Scotland are bound by strong ties of friendship, culture and language, with people moving between our countries for centuries.

“The positive, lasting impact made by the Irish community in Coatbridge, and indeed across Scotland, shines a light on the many ways in which immigrant communities add to their new homes.

“At a time when the dominant narrative seeks to impose distinctions on the basis of “them” and “us”, restricting and impoverishing our language and thought process, the brave immigrants who arrived all those years ago are a powerful example to us.

“They have left a legacy which honours the nuances of their Irish and Scottish identities, while recognising that these identities are interwoven on so many levels.

“It was a pleasure to meet with the pupils and staff of St Patrick’s Primary School, and to watch a demonstration of their GAA training, dancing and singing, as well as having the opportunity for a discussion with them.”

President Connolly’s visit to St Patrick’s Primary School in Coatbridge celebrated the school’s strong connections to Irish culture and traditions.

Situated in the heart of Coatbridge, the school has strong and long-standing links with the local Irish community.

The school works hard to promote and celebrate these cultural links through its values, traditions and community partnerships.

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A reality check is not necessarily a bad thing. There has been a lot of hype and excitement on Tyneside and a self-congratulating tone to their own end of summer appraisals.

But this was a reminder of the team’s limitations and the fact that only three of their eight summer signings started the game, with two more coming off the bench, underlined they are a work in progress.

In truth, that is fine. It is the start of September and the Premier League campaign is only three games old. They have a new manager and a new-look team. There has been a significant amount of change in a very short period of time.

It was not the easiest summer, and despite the insistence from senior figures at the club that they had always remained calm and methodical during their summer reset, there was a whiff of crisis only a few weeks ago.

When Eddie Howe quit as manager and Bruno Guimarães, the captain, forced his move to Arsenal at the start of August, Newcastle looked in disarray. So, to have started the season unbeaten from three games against Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Bournemouth is encouraging.

It is also worth highlighting just how good the visitors were. In the first half Bournemouth were superb, rushing Newcastle, forcing mistakes and pouring forward in numbers. In Alex Scott, just as he was in their victory here last season, Bournemouth had the best player on the pitch.

That opens up another conversation. Newcastle played like this a lot at home in Howe’s final season in charge, especially in the second-half of the campaign, but tended to lose not draw the game.

On this occasion, they secured a decent point with a late equaliser thanks to substitute Ramsey, who looked good when he replaced the off-colour Lewis Miley.

Bournemouth will feel they should have held on. They had taken a deserved lead through Marcus Tavernier, who took advantage of a static and ball-watching Amar Dedić to bundle home from close range.

Jamie Carragher was ‘surprised’ Andoni Iraola did not sub off Florian Wirtz at half-time after the Liverpool star’s ‘really poor’ performance against Bournemouth.

An Alexander Isak goal was the difference at the Vitality stadium on Sunday as Liverpool won 1-0 on Iraola’s first game back at his former club.

The Reds remain unbeaten this season and move up to sixth in the Premier League but it was another difficult game, with players still struggling to adjust to their new manager’s tactics.

Among those is Wirtz, 23, who has largely underperformed since his then-record £116million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen last year.

Though he did play a part in the winning goal, Carragher was incredibly unimpressed with the attacking midfielder’s performance in the first-half.

‘That’s the third time Wirtz has got balls in simple areas and he has to do better,’ the Liverpool legend said on Sky Sports. ‘Simple passes, simple controls.

‘Wirtz has been really poor again. It’s just nothing. Nothing is happening there at all.

‘In the main, people have been understanding of his situation. He’s new to the league and Liverpool were poor last season.

‘When you come for that price tag, people want goals and assists.’

And when the teams reemerged after the break, Carragher expressed his shock as to why Iraola hadn’t hauled off the German international.

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2027 ranks Durham as the North East’s top university and names it University of the Year for the region.

Durham sits well clear of every other university in the region and remains one of Britain’s most prestigious institutions, known for its academics, historic setting and strong graduate employment prospects.

Its academic reputation was also reflected with a record 22 subjects ranked among the world’s top 100 in the 2026 QS World University Rankings by Subject, including three in the top 10.

Despite dropping three places from third to sixth nationally, Durham remains one of the country’s top-tier universities.

Durham University ranks best in North East and sixth in the country in Times Good University Guide 2027. (Image: Durham University)

Durham University (Image: Durham University)

For students weighing up their options closer to home, the guide also reveals how other North East universities fared in the national rankings.

Newcastle University was the region’s second highest-ranked institution, placing 30th nationally and fifth in the North and North East rankings.

Northumbria University followed in 52nd place nationally, securing seventh spot in the regional table.

Northumbria University (Image: Supplied)

Teesside University was ranked 68th in the UK, placing eighth across the North and North East, while the University of Sunderland came 106th nationally and 13th regionally.

The annual guide ranks universities based on teaching quality, student satisfaction, graduate prospects, continuation rates and entry standards.

Teesside University (Image: Supplied)

University of Sunderland (Image: Supplied)

Helen Davies, editor of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, said: “What shines through more than ever this year is an emphasis on preparing students for future careers.

“Universities have tailored their campuses to suit hands-on learning with mock courtrooms, simulations of clinical settings and trading floors.”

The latest rankings cement Durham’s position as the North East’s leading university and a top choice for students across the UK.

The ‘ageing’ swimming pool was built in the 1970s

New details have been revealed for a multi-million pound upgrade set to take place on a city centre swimming pool. In July, Peterborough City Council approved £794,000 of funding to help towards a major refurbishment of the Jack Hunt swimming pool in Netherton.

This funding will contribute towards the £3.8 million refurbishment of the “ageing” pool, which was built in the 1970s. The Keys Academies Trust, which oversees Jack Hunt School where JLS star Aston Merrygold went to school, has now submitted plans for the pool upgrade.

The purpose of the plans is to provide a “purpose-built fitness suite alongside improved changing facilities”. The plans added: “The development encourages physical activity for pupils whilst also making the facilities available for community use outside school hours, extending health benefits beyond the school population.”

The applicant also believes the upgrade represents a “sustainable development by improving existing educational and sporting facilities within an established school campus.”

As part of the upgrade, the applicants propose to change the inside of the existing changing facilities to improve the layout and functionality in accordance with Sport England guidelines.

The other proposals are:

• Erection of a first-floor extension above the existing changing facilities to provide a new fitness suite over both floors;
• Installation of new windows and doors to the existing single-storey building;
• Re-cladding of the existing single-storey building to complement the proposed extension and reflect the appearance of more recent additions across the school campus;
• Associated external hard landscaping works to match existing.

The extension is proposed to be a two-storey building, with the roof extending from the established sports hall.

The fitness suite will be accessed through the existing school campus. However, for the public it will be accessed via the main school reception.

The reception area will be managed until 9.30pm. Parking on the school site and access from Bradwell Road will stay the same.

Campaigners say the upgrade works was decided ‘without full and comprehensive cost benefit analysis of all options’

Loch Lomond’s Bonnie Banks risk being ‘severely damaged’ by plans to upgrade the A82, according to a conservation group.

Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs is speaking out about the Scottish Government’s proposed revamp of the stunning lochside route.

The Scottish Government believes the best option to improve the route is to create a ‘low road’, a proposal which would widen and straighten the A82 as it runs along the iconic water’s edge.

But the “significant engineering works” at the lochside put the area at risk, according to campaigners. Friends of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs say the ‘low road’ decision was made “without full and comprehensive cost benefit analysis of all options”.

The group’s chairman, John Urquhart, said a fresh report by Greenspace Scotland, that measures the monetary and health value of Scotland’s Blue Spaces, has backed up its position on the proposals, writes the Helensburgh Advertiser.

He said: “Greenspace Scotland has reinforced the argument we have been making for several years that the Scottish Government’s plans for the A82 upgrade risk severely damaging one of the last stretches of Loch Lomond’s Bonnie Banks which can readily be accessed and enjoyed by the public.”

The proposal would see “significant engineering works” along the side of the loch, with the road widened and straightened in the process.

Mr Urquhart said the work could destroy “bluebell rich temperate oak rainforest, rocky headlands and attractive shingle beaches”.

He said similar upgrades south of Tarbet, had resulted in the “once beautiful shoreline” being replaced with a heavy rock armour used to protect road edges. The group say a “holistic approach” inspired by the Pass of Killiecrankie is the better option.

They want to see a new route, a ‘high road’. above the railway line, bypassing Ardlui and Tarbet, leaving the current road in place for “locals, as well as for visitors walking and cycling and accessing the loch.”

Mr Urquhart said this would create a “straighter, faster and safer route”, providing stunning views over the loch while also resolving serious road safety concerns in Ardlui and Tarbet, saying the Falls of Falloch car park could be “completely re-imagined”.

Transport Scotland says the A82 is a “vital artery” for communities and many sections of the road date back to the 1920s, meaning it is much narrower in places than it would be if built today.

The government body says it will ensure future upgrade “fits within the area’s outstanding landscape” and environment and “maintains the renowned beauty of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park” whilst minimising disruption.

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By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: 11:27 BST, 20 September 2026 | Updated: 15:14 BST, 20 September 2026

Labour’s Bridget Phillipson hit back today at Manchester United’s ‘tax exile’ co-owner Jim Ratcliffe after he claimed the UK is ‘on the slide’.

The founder of chemicals giant Ineos, who moved to low-tax Monaco from the UK in 2020, said Britain is in decline because of high taxes and immigration.

Ms Phillipson, the Labour Party chairman, has now become the latest Government minister to push back against Sir Jim’s remarks.

She claimed the multi-billionaire had lost the ‘moral high ground’ about making ‘pronouncements’ about the UK by deciding to become a ‘tax exile’.

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‘I do think you lose the moral high ground in the argument you make… by making these kinds of pronouncements while choosing to make decisions that he is within his rights to make to become a tax exile,’ Ms Phillipson told the BBC‘s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

‘And of course, he was also someone, as I understand it, who was a big supporter of Brexit. That was over a decade ago now, but we’ve seen the impact of Brexit on our economy.’

Labour’s Bridget Phillipson hit out at Manchester United’s ‘tax exile’ co-owner Jim Ratcliffe after he claimed the UK is ‘on the slide’

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Ms Phillipson, the Labour Party chairman, said Sir Jim’s had lost the ‘moral high ground’ over making such remarks because he has chosen to become a ‘tax exile’

Ms Phillipson added: ‘That’s why this Government is committed to making sure we do have a better trading relationship with the EU, which will be a central part of how we make sure we do see stronger growth.

‘But on that point about growth and business, we are seeing strong signs in terms of business investment.

‘We have seen good levels of growth within the economy. Is there more to do? Absolutely, and that’s what the Chancellor (John Healey) will be determined to set out.’

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Sir Jim had claimed Britain ‘was a fantastic place’ but is now ‘on the slide’ and that he has ‘no confidence’ in the country.

‘We had the greatest empire in the world. We were a great people. We won two world wars. We’re good, honest folk,’ he told the BBC’s Big Boss Interview podcast.

‘But unfortunately, at the moment, I think the UK is on the slide. It’s quite difficult to see how we arrest it.’

Asked what issues politicians should focus on, Sir Jim said immigration was ‘clearly one’ as well as high taxes.

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Ms Phillipson is the second Labour minister to criticise Sir Jim over his comments.

Treasury minister Torsten Bell suggested in a social media post on Saturday that Sir Jim has a ‘patriotism problem’.

He claimed Sir Jim ‘hates his own country while complaining he doesn’t get big enough subsidies from it’ and ‘laments the hit to manufacturing driven by a Brexit he supported’.

Earlier this year, Sir Jim told Sky News the UK had been ‘colonised by immigrants’ before he said he was sorry if those remarks had ‘offended some people’.

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Speaking to the BBC, John Dighton, who was evacuated from Pavilion Court, said that he was told to leave his flat at about 19:00 on Saturday.

The 50-year-old said: “We don’t know how long we will be out for but we have grabbed stuff for a couple of days.

“The worst thing is the not knowing. We are at a hotel over the road from the flats.”

Ross Honeycomb, 39, was staying at the hotel with his family and told the BBC on Saturday how they were woken by fire alarms at about 01:00.

He said: “I thought I was dreaming, it was horrifying.

“We looked out and there was smoke billowing from the underground car park. Later we started hearing explosions.”

Kevin Crawford, 91, and his wife Kathleen, 82, said they had booked in for a two-week stay at the hotel.

The couple, from London, told the BBC that they were in their room on the sixth floor when they heard a fire alarm.

“We saw the fire but we thought the fire brigade had it under control,” said Kevin.

“We managed to sleep through it. At the time, we didn’t realise how bad the fire was.”

The council’s chief executive, Susan Priest, said on Saturday: “The extent of support of organisations, including Three Hills, Morrisons and the Salvation Army, has been amazing and helped to ensure that visitors and residents were looked after, supported and had food and hot drinks.

“This was an extremely difficult day, firstly for the hotel guests and this evening for our residents who have had to move out of their homes.”