‘Amazing house, high standard, fabulous views’

This luxury eco-friendly beach house sits just steps from the sand along the Glamorgan Heritage Coastal Path and is made for an unforgettable group getaway. Sleeping up to 10 guests across four bedrooms the Southbank beach house in Ogmore-by-Sea is ideal for family holidays or trips with friends with sandy beaches and a coastal walks right on the doorstep.

Surfing, fishing, pony trekking, and golf are all nearby and, with local restaurants and a convenience store close at hand too, Southbank is peaceful yet everything you need is within easy reach.

Inside the home is modern and spacious with impressive designs. The beach house has an open-plan kitchen, dining, and living space framed by panoramic sea views. Large glass doors overlook the beach. Love dreamy Welsh homes? Sign up to our newsletter here

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Upstairs the bedrooms include two sea-facing king-size rooms with veranda access, a family room perfect for children, and sleek bathrooms throughout. Visitors highly praise the “superb” children’s bedroom that features a climbing wall.

Outside you’ll find a large decked terrace, hot tub, barbecue area, and enclosed garden while practical extras like off-road parking, an outdoor shower, and space for bikes and surfboards make this beach house as convenient as it is luxurious.

The Southbank beach house is a popular stay among Holiday Cottages and is fully booked for both July and August. It is available to book for other dates and a four-night stay in February would cost roughly £1.500.

For a cosy romantic retreat the Hen Beudy located in Eryri is a loved property by reviewers who call it a “beautiful cottage, clean, comfortable, with everything you could possibly need plus more”. It is available to book on Sykes Cottages in April for a slashed price of £453, which is down from £701.

Another cottage fit for a getaway is the Ty Crwn roundhouse in Ceredigion, described by one stayer as “absolutely stunning, unique, cosy, and beautifully finished”.

A guest of the beach house described the place as “Our stay at Southbank was a little slice of luxury. Perfect for all ages, the house is ideally situated for beach walks… and dips in the hot tub when the weather isn’t playing ball! The house is equipped to an exceptionally high standard and I was only sorry we couldn’t stay longer. Would love to come back if we get the chance.”

This beach house is incredibly popular, meaning availability over the next few months is limited. Guests have snapped up a stay in the beach house due to its prime location and luxury feel.

One reviewer expressed how suitable the beach house was for their girls getaway: “We stayed here for a girls weekend away and were totally blown away how beautiful the property was, and the views in the morning having a cuppa were incredible. Loved how we could walk down to the beach in 1 minute and was direct access. We loved the kitchen and living area, bedrooms were lovely and beds comfy, we are about to book for 2026 as we loved it so much!”

City of York Council’s fostering team will be at the LNER Community Stadium on Saturday, February 7, ahead of York City’s match against Forest Green Rovers to talk with fans about fostering opportunities and raise awareness of the growing need for foster carers in the city.

Councillor Bob Webb, the council’s executive member for children, young people and education, hopes the matchday will be a chance to reach new audiences.

He said: “Football brings people from all walks of life together and we’re excited to use this opportunity to let people know we’re always looking for foster carers to provide safe, loving homes for local children and young people.

“Fostering can be incredibly rewarding, and I can assure people thinking about it that there is a role for everyone.

“Our great team of advisors will be on hand to chat with anyone who thinks they can provide a safe and loving home.

“There are lots of different options available and our friendly, specialist team will help guide you through the application process and beyond.”

The fostering team will be available for informal conversations before and after the game, offering information about the fostering process and the support available.

Their stadium visit comes as part of the council’s ongoing campaign to recruit more foster carers across York.

For more information about fosteringcall 01904 555678 or visit fostering.york.gov.uk

Puddlers Corner and Rotary Way in Consett have been shut since Monday (February 2) due to a 12-inch burst water pipe.

The closure has been in place near the roundabout by KFC and McDonald’s. Water supply to homes was not affected.

Northumbrian Water confirmed the burst has since been repaired. The road is expected to reopen on Saturday (February 7), after weather conditions delayed repairs of its surface.

Customer’s water supplies have not been affected (Image: NORTHUMBRIAN WATER)

“We expect this work to be finished by mid-morning on Saturday (February 7), and we’d like to thank our customers and road users for their patience while we get everything back to normal.”

As GAME enters administration for the second time, a reader does not regret its absence from the high street and argues digital downloads are preferable to physical games.

I doubt anyone spared a tear for GAME this week. They’re not dead yet but they’ve clearly got more than one foot in the grave, since all that’s left of it now is the website and those little booths in Sports Direct. GAME isn’t a sympathetic victim in all this because when they had all the power they were expensive, offered very bad trade-in deals, and never had any stock of anything but the most vanilla, mainstream games.

But what can you expect? They were a big nationwide company with a virtual monopoly (almost a literal one once they bought Gamestation) and their business was primarily selling games to non-gamers and casuals who only cared about Call Of Duty and FIFA.

No one at GAME (usually including the people at the till) cared about video games, they were just running a business and made no effort to do anything than put boxes on shelves and a new poster in the window when a new game come out. I’m sorry for the people that lose their job but I’m sure they predicted this was going to happen as much as everyone else did.

In a sense it doesn’t really matter what happened this week, because GAME has been irrelevant for years. I doubt the website even does that well anymore, since there’s no point using that over Amazon. More importantly, digital overtook physical sales ages ago, on everything but Nintendo at least, so this is just hammering one of the last nails into the coffin.

I know everyone says that’s a bad thing, but I really don’t see it that way. Sure, making it harder to trade-in games isn’t good but there’s still CeX if you want to and they’re in pretty much every town now, just like GAME was in their heyday.

Beyond that the benefits of physical become really suspect. I agree with the argument that it’s best to have the whole game on a disc, because otherwise you don’t really own it, but almost no game runs off a disc without massive additional downloads, and that’s been the case since at least the last generation. It might be playable from the disc but it’s never complete.

I find the argument that you get better sales to be wrong too, as digital sales are often much better than anything you get in a store. The only exception is on day one but then it’s never been a good idea to buy a game that early on. It’s a shame you can’t get a coupon or some kind of club card to do something about that, but as far as I’m concerned it’s the only flaw and balances itself out over time anyway, with the better sales, since day one games were never that cheap for physical either.

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People laugh at the benefits of digital being that it’s more convenient but why is that? Nowadays I’ve got a dozen or more different games at my fingertips at any time and if I want a new one I can buy it instantly. And I know publishers aren’t the greatest but I’d still 100% of my money go to them than half of it going to a shop like GAME.

At least that way more of it might get pumped back into game development and if it’s an indie game it definitely will. So I really don’t see how digital isn’t better than physical and I don’t see the end of GAME as a bad thing at all.

I’ve loved gaming since I was a kid, so GAME should’ve been my favourite place to be. Instead, it always seemed very clinical and corporate and I never felt it was never a good advertisement for gaming, since it’s all some people would have ever seen of it. It won’t be missed by me.

By reader Gannet

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.

Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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Before the parade, creative director Marco Balich’s show was based around the principle of ‘armonia’ – meaning union, connection, agreement – with “a narrative aimed at uniting territories, people and values within a shared vision”.

It featured sections labelled ‘Italian beauty’ and ‘fantasia’, with a tribute to fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who died aged 91 in 2025.

Meanwhile, American singer Mariah Carey – one of the world’s best-selling female artists – was decked out in a sparkling white outfit as she performed a version of Volare.

“We stand ready to make Olympic history again, inspired by the values that unite all of us: excellence, friendship and respect,” said Giovanni Malago, president of the organising committee for Milan-Cortina 2026.

“The co-ordination of so many different bodies in the pursuit of one dream has been a powerful expression of this country’s ability to deliver such a complex project.

“I have never been as proud to be Italian as I am tonight.”

It was left to International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry to declare the Games open.

As the first female IOC president, it is the first time the Olympics have been officially opened by a woman.

“This is why we all love the Games. Because through you, we see the very best of ourselves,” she told the athletes.

“You remind us that we can be brave. That we can be kind. That we can get back up, no matter how hard we fall.

“The spirit of the Olympic Games is about so much more than sport. It is about us – and what makes us human.

“This is the magic of the Olympic Games: inspiring us all to be the best that we can be, together.”

While events such as curling, figure skating and ice hockey have already begun, the first five gold medals of the Games will be won on Saturday.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said investigators are “aware of a new message” about 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the missing mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie.

“Investigators are actively inspecting the information provided in the message for its authenticity,” Sheriff Chris Nanos said in a statement posted Friday afternoon, adding that tips and further information from the public were still encouraged.

Nancy was last seen by family Saturday night at her detached ranch-style home in the Catalina Foothills, outside of Tucson, Arizona. The elderly grandmother’s blood was found on her porch, the sheriff confirmed Thursday.

Police have described the disappearance as a possible abduction.

A ransom demand – with an initial deadline of Thursday at 5 p.m. and a second one Monday – is being investigated by the FBI. Investigators are yet to identify any potential suspects as the search continues for a sixth day.

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Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have already released two videos online pleading for the return of their mother. The second was posted Thursday, with Camron Guthrie urging the suspected kidnapper to “reach out.”

The second message appeared to be a “response” to the Guthries’ messages, according to Mary Coleman, anchor for local Tucson outlet KOLD 13 News, who saw the purported message authorities are investigating for validity.

The “new message” sent to media outlets about the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie’s mother was “just as coherent” as the first but did not appear to be another ransom note.

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Coleman told CNN that the message was just as “coherent” as the first message and was “put together well.” She said that it appeared as though the sender was trying to prove they were the person who had sent the previous message.

“I will say, the FBI and PCSD were classifying the first as a ransom note and I will say that I don’t think that they will classify this second one as a ransom note,” Coleman said, adding that the second note did not contain further deadlines.

Coleman was asked whether the new note was “in response” to videos put out by the Guthrie family and whether it contained proof that Nancy Guthrie was still alive.

open image in gallery

“I can’t disclose whether it includes that, but I will go as far as to say that it does seem like it is a response to some of those videos that were made,” she said.

Earlier Friday, the sheriff said he remains hopeful investigators will find Nancy.

“You have to have hope. This is somebody’s mom. We’re going to find her,” he told NBC News.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has also shared her heartbreak over Nancy’s disappearance and explained the government is doing what it can to help search for her.

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The FBI is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie and/or the arrest and conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.

Donald Trump was also asked about law enforcement response during a press gaggle on Air Force One Friday.

“I think we’re doing very well,” the president told reporters. “We have some clues. I think that are very strong, and I think we could have some answers coming up fairly soon… from DOJ or FBI or whoever that could be definitive, a lot has taken place in the last couple of hours.”

He added: “A lot of a lot of things have happened with regard to that horrible situation last couple of hours.”

The home, on Lilywhite Terrace in Easington Lane, has been boarded up after the smash on Wednesday (February 4).

Northumbria Police says a white Ford transit crashed into the terraced house at 9.15pm and toppled onto its side, causing extensive damage.

The home, on Lilywhite Terrace in Easington Lane. (Image: CONTRIBUTOR)

The driver, a 36-year-old man was found to have serious injuries and was rushed to hospital alongside a passenger, who suffered minor injuries.

Pictures taken in the minutes after the crash show where the van impacted the house.

Glass and brickwork can be seen strewn across the pavement and the window was pushed inward. The van was also heavily damaged and left on its side, with much of its bumper, bonnet and windscreen crumpled.

On Friday (February 6), the home remained fenced off due to it now being classed as a “dangerous structure” by the council. Temporary traffic lights have been put in place.

The home, on Lilywhite Terrace in Easington Lane. (Image: CONTRIBUTOR)

A full investigation into the smash remains ongoing, as police appeal to witnesses to come forward.

A force spokesperson added: “We are carrying out an investigation into the collision and would appeal for anyone with information – particularly those with dash cam footage of the moments leading up to the incident – to contact us.”

The home, on Lilywhite Terrace in Easington Lane. (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Anyone with information should contact police by sending a direct message on social media, using the live chat or report forms on their website, or calling 101 quoting reference NP-20260204-1090.

A Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Spokesperson added: “We can confirm that on Wednesday, February 4, two appliances attended an address in Easington Lane after a Road Traffic Collision involving a van crashing into a house .

“The emergency call was received by our Control Room team at 9.25pm and crews from Rainton Bridge and Farringdon Community Fire Stations were dispatched.

The home, on Lilywhite Terrace in Easington Lane. (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

“Crews made the scene safe and isolated the gas and electric at the house before leaving the scene shortly after 10.10pm.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We dispatched three ambulance crews, a clinical team leader, our duty officer and two crews from our hazardous area response team and were supported by our colleagues at Great North Air Ambulance Service.

“Two patients were taken by road to Sunderland Royal Hospital for further treatment.”

Sprouted potatoes could have dangerous toxin levels.

We’ve all been there – that stomach-dropping moment when you swing open the cupboard and discover a forgotten spud that’s seen better days. Wrinkled, sprouting shoots, sometimes with creepy tentacles stretching towards any hint of daylight.

When potatoes hit this state, you’d rather bin them than go anywhere near your dinner plate, but what about catching them earlier in their decline?

Can you risk eating a potato that’s started budding, or are you flirting with a dodgy tummy?

Mark McShane, a chef and food safety expert at Food Hygiene Certificate, said there’s a telltale signal worth watching for, reports the Express.

Mark explained: “The main concern with sprouted potatoes is the increased presence of naturally occurring toxins called glycoalkaloids, particularly solanine and chaconine.

The sprouts and green parts of the potato contain compounds which become toxic when people consume large amounts.”

“People can safely use a knife to remove small sprouts from the potato which remains edible as long as its body remains hard and shows no green discoloration.

“The potato should be thrown away when it reaches the stage of soft, wrinkled, or heavily sprouted condition.

“The green tint that sometimes develops under the skin is another warning sign because it indicates that glycoalkaloid levels may be elevated.”

Scoff enough of this nasty substance, and you could end up feeling sick. The Food Standards Authority notes that whilst glycoalkaloid poisoning is uncommon, it’s not impossible.

Symptoms of glycoalkaloid poisoning:

• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea

To stop your spuds turning green and sending out shoots, Mark suggests stashing them somewhere cool and dry, well away from that plastic bag they came home in.

He explained: “Light exposure should be avoided because it causes potatoes to develop a green colour and to begin sprouting, which happens when people store potatoes inside plastic bags or in spots that receive direct sunlight.”

“Rest Easy Karen, gone to soon, thinking of all your family.”

A requiem mass will take place this Tuesday for a woman who passed away in Fuerteventura on January 19.

A post on Funeral Times said Karen Doran was the beloved partner of Aaron, much-loved daughter of Cecilia and the late Noel, and adored mother of Louise and Thomas. She was also a much-loved sister, grandmother, aunt and friend to many.

The post read that her death was: “Deeply regretted by her loving family circle.”

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Karen will be reposing at her home from Sunday afternoon, at the request of the family before she will leave her home at 2.30pm, to arrive at the Holy Cross Church for a 3pm Requiem Mass which will progress afterwards to Roselawn Crematorium for 5.20pm.

Tributes were made to Karen on facebook including one that read: “She will be forever missed by all who knew and loved her.”

Another commented: “I am in shock at your passing, the memories of me, you and Annmarie will live on in our hearts forever, a true friend.”

A third wrote: “Rest Easy Karen, gone to soon, thinking of all your family.”

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

Disabled people are waiting over 100 days on average for DWP Access to Work applications to be processed, with delays affecting job security and causing some to have job offers withdrawn, according to a National Audit Office report

Disabled individuals have faced average waits exceeding 100 days for their applications seeking workplace support to be processed, a new report has revealed. A disability equality charity said the National Audit Office (NAO) public spending watchdog’s findings “lay bare the brutal reality for disabled people trying to get into and stay in work”.

The NAO report highlights significant “delays and backlogs” in handling applications to the Access to Work scheme, which was established in 1994 and covers England, Scotland and Wales. Those applying – who have physical or mental health conditions or disabilities – can request grants to cover practical workplace assistance, mental health management support, or funding for communication aids during job interviews.

Applications to the scheme have “increased significantly” in recent years, the NAO observed, with total submissions more than doubling from 76,100 in 2018/19 to 157,000 in 2024/25. Whilst the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ), which oversees and finances the scheme, acknowledged it lacks a definitive explanation for the surge in applications, it “believes the growth in demand is likely to have been driven by a rise in the identification of mental health conditions and neurodiversity across society”.

The report highlighted DWP data which showed a rise in the number of individuals with mental health or learning conditions applying for support under the scheme. This figure increased from 11,200 (30 percent of all customers receiving payments) in 2018/19 to 37,900 (51 percent) in 2024/25.

Additionally, the number of people with conditions categorised as “other”, believed by the department to include those with neurodivergent conditions, also saw an increase, reports Wales Online.

The average waiting time for processing an application escalated to 109 working days in November 2025, a significant jump from 66 working days in 2024/25 and 28 working days in 2021/22. This is far beyond the department’s target of 25 days.

The NAO stated that these delays had “a negative impact on individuals and employers”.

The report revealed: “Four of the organisations we consulted said that application delays and late payments have affected employees’ job security, and one noted that in some cases delays have resulted in people having job offers withdrawn. Late payments can also have an impact on employers. Three of the organisations we consulted commented that payment delays were leading to cashflow problems, noting that delays were particularly damaging for small businesses.”

The NAO reported that the DWP has received a “growing number of complaints” from customers, primarily concerning the time taken to process applications. The report highlighted that the department had increased its staff numbers working on the scheme in an effort to manage the rising number of cases and address the backlog, resulting in an increase in spending on staff administering the scheme from £12.6 million in 2021/22 to £24.4 million in 2024/25.

The NAO stated that the department “does not expect the backlog to fall significantly in the short term” and is “waiting for the outcome of the Government’s consultation on the future of the scheme before committing to plans for further improvements”. Gareth Davies, head of the NAO, commented: “The Access to Work scheme plays a valuable role in helping people with disabilities or long-term health conditions secure and sustain employment, and demand for the scheme has grown significantly.

“Maximising the value for money of the scheme will require government to improve how it administers the current system, to get on top of the backlogs and to properly assess the scheme’s impact.”

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee, acknowledged that whilst the scheme “provides significant value for people with disabilities or physical or mental health conditions to secure or stay in work”, spikes in demand have resulted in “significant backlogs and delays in processing applications and payments, affecting both employees’ job security and employers’ cash-flow”.

He continued: “As DWP looks to secure the greatest value from the scheme, it must address identified data gaps, align guidance with the Government’s objectives to support case workers and carry out work to ensure productivity targets can be met.”

James Taylor, director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, commented: “This report lays bare the brutal reality for disabled people trying to get into and stay in work. Disabled people face constant barriers, rejection and frustration, and Scope’s employment services have supported customers who’ve had to leave jobs altogether because Access to Work support didn’t arrive in time.

“Access to Work can be a lifeline that allows disabled people not just to work, but to thrive. But the Government must urgently get a grip on the backlogs and properly understand the scheme’s impact on disabled people, employers and the wider economy.”

Mark Gale, who serves as policy manager at Sense, the national disability charity, highlighted the scheme’s crucial role in helping to “break down the many barriers disabled people face getting a job and staying in employment, but sadly as this report shows Access to Work can be a barrier in itself if people do not get support in time”.

He added: “Reducing delays mustn’t come at the expense of some disabled people becoming ineligible to receive this funding. Instead, we want to see more investment into Access to Work, including better promotion of the scheme, so that every disabled person has a fair chance to stay in employment.”

A spokesperson from the DWP acknowledged the challenges ahead: “We are streamlining processes and increasing staffing to improve the customer experience, but we recognise the scheme we inherited is failing both employees and employers, and needs reform. That’s why we are looking carefully at this scheme and welcome the NAO’s recommendations.

“Through the keep Britain working review, we’re also working with employers to build a system that genuinely supports disabled people to access the opportunities that work provides.”