Each year a residents’ parking permit scheme is set up in the streets around Heaton Park for the massive Parklife Festival.

The aim is to minimise the impacts on residents as tens of thousands of people descend on the area for a weekend of music.

But figures released after this year’s event suggest that the scheme is not working.

A Freedom of Information request reveals that 414 fines were issued for breaches at Parklife 2026, and 81 of these were later withdrawn.

Residents in the area said the event is ‘out of control’, with a number of people telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service that some event-goers are actively ignoring the parking restrictions because the cost of the fine – particularly when split between four or five passengers – is worth risking.

Two residents living within the parking zone said they have previously stopped drivers to warn them about the restrictions, only to be told the charge each was low enough that it “doesn’t matter”.

Parklife Parking Scheme (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)

Another pair of residents likened the fee to the cost of a beer – £6.30 for a bottle of Corona at the festival – when divided five ways.

Fines start at £70, Bury Council has said. However, these are understood to reduce to £35 if paid within two weeks.

Bury Council issued 344 fines for breaches of the scheme in 2026, with Manchester City Council issuing a further 70.

Of these, 78 and three were cancelled without need for payment by the two authorities respectively.

Bury Council said, while it did not have precise figures, it believes the number of fines handed out this year was a slight reduction from previous years.

Parklife is one of the country’s biggest music events, with around 80,000 people attending each day of the two-day June festival.

This year’s line-up included big names in the electronic, hip hop and pop world such as Skepta, Zara Larsson and Calvin Harris.

“It’s absolutely out of control,” one resident who just gave his name as Michael said. He lives at the edge of the park with his young family.

He added: “They didn’t have enough people monitoring the roads, stopping people, or they’re taking some student, sticking him on there with no instructions, not telling him to refuse cars.”

He believes other places in Manchester should be considered as the location for the festival or, if it stays in Heaton Park, the gates into residential areas should be closed off, and organisers should instead use the entrance by the Sainsbury near Junction 19 of the M60.

The issues extend beyond just parking problems, Michael added.

He said: “They don’t really care about the local residents. People are coming here; they’re taking all sorts of funny stuff; there are unsociable things.

“They’re overusing the resource (Heaton Park), and they need to start looking at using other parks that are in Manchester or taking a field somewhere out in the countryside and turning that into Parklife. It’s gone ridiculous.”

“They’re not bothered about fines,” David Cotton, 69, said.

“If there’s four of them in the car, they’ll just park anywhere, and they’ll just share the fine.”

“If you’re going to get fined £35 and it’s £6 a pint, that’s the cost of five pints, isn’t it?” Joan Hamilton added.

They believe that parking should be set up in Heaton Park itself for events like Parklife.

Ms Hamilton added: “Just spread it out a bit more. I remember going years ago to Bonfire Night, and they had parking in Heaton Park. It took ages to get out, but we had it.”

Catherine Cooper, 79, and Anne Bentley, 75, spoke more positively about the festival and other events held at Heaton Park, saying they love to sit out with a glass of wine and wave at people as they go by.

But they too raised some concerns about the impact the events have locally.

Ms Bentley said: “At 12 o’clock at night when they empty the park, there’s a big massive crowd going down the road. There are hundreds. But they (the organisers) do clean up now, I’ll give them that. They never used to.”

Parking in the area is often difficult, even when events are not on, the ladies said. While residents get a permit through the door ahead of the events, Ms Cooper said, they have ‘never’ had anyone come out to discuss the issues and potential solutions with them.

She added: “We have spoken in the past to cars that come up and we say ‘you’ll get a fine’ and they say ‘oh well, there’s five of us, so it’s only a fiver each. It doesn’t matter’.”

People also use the bushes across the road from their homes as a toilet or a place to do drugs, she said, adding: “It is very unpleasant when you’re sat in your living room watching telly and you look across and all you can see is girls’ bottoms.”

Patrick Boyle, 45, lives and works in the area around Heaton Park. He said the issues are not too bad around his home, but there can be issues around his workplace in Bent Lane.

Mr Boyle, who works at Beech House care home, added: “We’ve had nightmares regarding people coming onto our grounds and urinating. It’s quite noisy, it can be quite disruptive, but it only happens once a year.”

Patrick Boyle, 45, Heaton Park Resident. (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service)

However, he believes it is down to festival-goers to sort the problems rather than the organisers, saying people need to be a bit more “respectful of the area”.

When it comes to the permit scheme, he felt the greater difficulty is if you need to get a taxi because they are not allowed down some of the blocked-off roads.

On the fines, he added: “To be quite honest with you, with the cost of travel like trains and stuff like that, it probably nine times out of 10 will be cheaper to take the fine than to pay for travel, so I can completely understand that.

“Especially if you’ve got say five people in your car, you just split the fine between the five of you.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted Bury Council, Manchester Council and Parklife management company Engine No.4 for comments.

Bury Council said the permit scheme was run under the direction of Manchester Council, adding there was a debrief each year to discuss changes for future events.

Manchester council said Engine No.4 was in charge of managing the scheme and the query was better directed to them.

The LDRS had not received a response from Engine No.4 at the time of publication.

Waitrose had the shortest average shelf life of six UK supermarkets with 7.7 days, according to a new Which? investigation, with Tesco coming a close second

Waitrose has been named the worst supermarket for sending out online orders with short shelf life on perishable food.

The posh grocer had the shortest average shelf life of six UK supermarkets with 7.7 days, according to a new Which? investigation.

It was worst on average for several products, including scones, bread, fresh pasta sauce, fresh tagliatelle, houmous and pork sausages.

In some examples, Which? found two packs of Waitrose beef mince and a pack of chicken thighs arrived with a use-by date the day after delivery.

Advertisement

Tesco was the next worst, with an average of 8.8 days shelf life on its fresh food. One shopper received fresh pasta sauce and pork sausages both with 3.4 days of life left – far below the seven and five days’ life Tesco says shoppers should expect for these products.

Sainsbury’s had an average shelf life of 10.2 days. Three items, sweetcorn and two packs of basil, had a best-before date on the day of delivery.

The typical shelf left for Ocado was 10.4 days. Which? found two packs of honey roast ham had more than 20 days left – however, one shopper received basil that was in date but black and wilted.

Morrisons performed well overall, but one substituted raspberry trifle had less than four hours until it expired. In contrast, Which? found one shopper received houmous with 24.38 days left. One mystery shopper however, received an opened pot of pineapple from Morrisons that had leaked over other groceries.

Which? found that Asda delivered the freshest groceries overall. Five shoppers received beef mince with at least 18 days left before its use-by date, while one pack of cod had seven days remaining.

A tomato and mascarpone pasta sauce ordered by Which? from Asda had an average of 33.6 days remaining.

Which? used 12 mystery shoppers to order the same list of 29 fresh groceries from Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose. More than 2,000 perishable items were ordered and delivered.

Researchers then added the number of full hours remaining from the time of delivery to midnight on the use-by date for each item and calculated an average time per supermarket.

Average remaining shelf life ‘use by’ per supermarket

• Asda – 11 days
• Morrisons – 10.4 days
• Ocado – 10.4 days
• Sainsbury’s – 10.2 days
• Tesco – 8.8 days
• Waitrose – 7.7 days

Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, said: “When you pay for a supermarket delivery, you expect your fresh food to have a reasonable amount of time left on it.

“Our investigation found a striking difference between supermarkets, with some shoppers getting several days’ less time to use their groceries than others – and in some cases, just hours.

“It’s particularly hard to swallow when you’re paying premium prices but getting food with a much shorter shelf life.

“Supermarkets need to make sure their freshness promises actually deliver, so shoppers aren’t left having to change their meal plans, rush to use food or throw away groceries they’ve paid for.”

A spokesperson for Ocado said: “We are proud of our Fresh+ promise, making us the only UK online grocery retailer to offer a life guarantee on all fresh products.

“Our promise guarantees a minimum number of days of freshness on products ranging from fruit and veg to bread and milk, ensuring customers can trust Ocado to deliver the freshness they are looking for on each and every delivery.

“If customers aren’t 100% happy with a product’s freshness, they can easily arrange an immediate refund online or through our app.”

A spokesperson for Tesco said: “We work hard to select the freshest items with the longest expiry dates for all our Grocery Home Shopping delivery and Click + Collect orders and we highlight any items that have a shorter shelf life than we would like as part of our Freshness Guarantee.

“If customers are not happy with any items at the time of delivery or collection, they can hand them back for a full refund.”

A spokesperson for Waitrose said: “We are committed to offering the freshest and highest quality products, reflected in our growing online grocery sales.

“And in response to increasing customer demand for products with simpler ingredients, we have removed preservatives from some of the items in this analysis where they are common, including our houmous.

“Our online grocery pickers are trained to choose the longest dated products they can, and our most recent customer survey showed that the vast majority of our online customers rated the shelf life of our products as good or excellent.”

A spokesperson from Asda said: “Freshness matters to our customers, so it’s great to see Which? find that Asda delivers the freshest groceries overall.

“We’ve worked hard to improve our online delivery service and availability, and we’re committed to making sure customers get fresh, quality produce and outstanding value, every time they shop with us.”

The Venus and Jupiter bond only intensifies, bringing a happy-go-lucky vibe. Today is all about peace and love.

Sagittarius, Libra and Scoprio, this cosmic placement may make you emboldened. Approach something, or someone, you have been wary of.

Use the bright energy that has been afforded to you over the past few days to provoke real change. You have the power.

Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Tuesday August 18, 2026.

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.

To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

This week’s feelgood factor, created by the lovely joust between relator Venus and luck-maker Jupiter, continues, but is tested by the complex blend between the Moon and deep Pluto. Unfortunately, a friend may find your successes difficult, or might it be you who is feeling left in the shade? It may be best to try and think the best today, however wary you are.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

You may find that however obliging you try to be, someone you encounter in a worldly or professional situation may prove unyielding or be unappreciative. In fact, it can seem that they take some strange enjoyment from not meeting you halfway. If so, see this quickly, but then try to detach yourself. What’s really showing up here is your developing confidence.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

In recent weeks you have seen you finding your voice and expressing your ideas with added sparkle. However, this has probably mainly been when you feel mentally switched on and curious. So today, when someone reminds you of the need to attend to a routine issue, one that doesn’t grip you, you may find yourself tensing up, resenting it or pushing back.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

Even if you like to keep your household expenditure on an even keel, you may have been tempted by something rather hard to resist. If your budget allows, why not? But if you share your finances with another person, things could get complex if they don’t have the same yearning or desires. To help, consider whether this item has a practical benefit.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

Life has felt sunny and vibrant, and rightly so. For with such an impressive posse of planetary players in your sign, your natural charisma has been turned up to max. Continue to strut your stuff, Leo, but also know that the Moon’s journey through the intense Scorpio creates some complexities from nowhere, and sadly jealousy may be at the root of some of this.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

The desire to withdraw and enjoy some peace may be stronger than usual. Yet even in the calmest surroundings, a conversation or message could stir up old dormant feelings. Before reading too much into someone’s words or motives, pause. True, they may have felt a little jarring, but don’t add oxygen by responding in kind. Take time to ruminate on this.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

With Venus, your ruling planet, continuing to enjoy such an uplifting link with Jupiter, here is every reason to embrace life’s pleasures and enjoy good company. Even so, today’s lunar angle to Pluto suggests that one person’s reaction could leave you wondering where you stand. It may be that their insecurities or mood are behind this, so please try to rise above this.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

With the Moon in your sign briefly but powerfully clashing with your modern ruler Pluto, this can trigger raw emotions that run deeper than those around you realise. Part of the issue is that you see undercurrents that others miss. Trust your instincts but accept you can’t control how things will play out. This can still be a successful time, if you shrug off such distractions.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

The upbeat influence of Venus and Jupiter continues to encourage you to widen your horizons and surge ahead with optimism. Yet fleetingly today’s more intense influences suggest that a private worry or lingering doubt could cloud your thinking. Rather than letting this concern dampen your spirits, remind yourself just how much progress you’ve already made.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

Someone else’s expectations could leave you feeling under pressure, particularly if money or responsibilities are involved. While you are usually willing to shoulder your share, today is a reminder that healthy boundaries matter too. Just know that the support and encouragement from good friends is more valuable than appeasing such a hard-to-please person.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

With Pluto continuing its powerful journey through your sign, today’s awkward square to the Moon may make you aware of differences between your own ambitions and someone else’s expectations. You are likely feeling very driven at the moment too, and impatient for things to progress at your pace, but this could feel testing to the routines or pace they are used to.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

This week’s lovely Venus and Jupiter sextile continues to create the potential for warmth and goodwill, especially through small, thoughtful gestures. And yet, today’s Moon vibes hint that an old anxiety or hidden concern could briefly surface. If so, don’t dismiss this; rather, acknowledge it is part of you, but know not one everyone can see or realise is there, Pisces.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

Check out the tarot horoscope reading for the month of August here.

Prefer us to the others? Then tell Google!

As a loyal Metro reader, we want to make sure you never miss our stories when searching for your news. Whether it is the latest politics news explained, live football coverage or a showbiz scoop.

Advertisement

Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

Add us as a Preferred Source

MORE: Daily horoscope August 17, 2026: Today’s predictions for your star sign

MORE: What does the week have in store? Your tarot horoscope reading for August 17 to August 23

MORE: Daily horoscope August 16, 2026: Today’s predictions for your star sign

Firefighters remain at the scene of a fire that started at a nature reserve nine days ago

Villagers have said a large fire at a nature reserve is a “huge loss” to the area – as they praised “hero” firefighters who continue to battle the blaze nine days on. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service were first called to the fire at Holme Fen Nature Reserve on August 8.

Since then, firefighters have faced “unprecedented pressure” as they continue to deal with the fire, including the fifth heatwave of the summer last week. Residents in Holme described the fire as “terrible” and said it has had a severe impact on the nature reserve. Villagers have also experienced smoke blowing over into the village.

Janice Osborn said the fire has “destroyed” some of the nature reserve, adding that the fire has caused a “huge loss” to Holme. Janice added: “We have had a lot of smoke blow over, but it’s not as bad as compared to the people that live closer.

“We find it worse in the evening, around 9 to 10pm. It wasn’t fun when it was 36C, but that’s a small fry compared to what the firefighters are facing.”

One mum, who asked not to be named, also said the smell and smoke has been “worse at night”. She said: “The last two nights we have had to keep everything closed. It’s not a constant though. When my kids went to a holiday club in Peterborough recently, it smelt more over there.”

The woman said it’s “reassuring” to have the firefighters on scene. She added: “In that heat, I don’t know how they do it. I feel bad complaining about the heat.” She said she also finds it “really sad” that Holme Fen has been affected.

She said: “I have seen the drone footage and there is like a big gaping hole in the middle of it. It’s going to take a long time to recover.”

One woman who lives in Vicarage Road, and asked to remain anonymous, said the smoke has stopped her and her husband going for their usual walks. She said: “It’s like having a bonfire next to you. We’ve had to close our windows from time to time. It’s impacting our walking as we walk a lot.

“In the village, we can’t go out as it gets onto your chest, and then it’s going on in the nature reserve so we can’t go there. It’s terrible for the little creatures. [The firefighters] are working their socks off, but whether they win the battle is another thing.”

A spokesperson for Holme Fen said: “Visitors are asked to stay away to keep the roads clear for emergency services and because the site is unsafe. Peat fires can spread underground and are notoriously difficult to extinguish.”

Long-term resident Robert S, who asked not to include his full surname, said it is “very sad” as a lot of the nature reserve has been “destroyed”. He added: “Whatever the cause it, it’s not good at all. The firefighters have had a lot to deal with.

“The smoke has fanned over here, it’s caused a bit of a stink at night. We were trying not to keep the windows open, but it was hard in the 30 degree plus heat.”

Another man, who did not want to be named, described the smell of smoke as “horrendous”. He added: “We have to give enormous gratitude to the firefighters, especially in the weather we’ve had. If they didn’t have the resources they’ve had, it could have been a lot worse.”

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue remained at the scene on Monday (August 17). Area commander Wayne Swales said firefighters are continuing to “battle the conditions” at Holme Fen.

He added: “Although temperatures have reduced from during the week, it has still been hot on the fire ground, but crews have stood up to the challenge exceptionally. Thanks to the fantastic teamwork from all crews across the county and the incredible support from our National Resilience colleagues from all over the country, we look to be a better position.

“Steady progress has been made and we are discussing our tactics regularly to try and hopefully start to scale back our firefighting. We will know more over the next day or so.”

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Monday that oil drilling in northern and northeastern coastal regions could be “a passport to the country’s future” after visiting a Petrobras offshore drilling vessel following a find announced last week near the mouth of the Amazon River.

Petrobras, Brazil‘s majority state-owned corporation, said on Friday that it had detected hydrocarbons during exploratory drilling about 180 kilometers (112 miles) off the coast of Amapa state. The country’s coastal regions near the mouth of the Amazon are known as the Equatorial Margin.

The exploratory drilling began in October. Environmental and Indigenous groups have since sued the Brazilian government and Petrobras to halt exploration, arguing the licensing process failed to properly consult traditional communities, underestimated spill risks and did not adequately assess climate impacts. The company has long argued it has never caused spills in its drillings.

“When I say ‘passport,’” Lula said, “I’m not denying my commitment to the fight for a day when we no longer need fossil fuels, because Brazil will continue to be the king of biofuel innovation and will remain a major player in renewable energy.”

Lula, who faces what is expected to be a tight election in October for a fourth term as president, spoke at an official event in the municipality of Oiapoque in Amapa after visiting the vessel.

Lula has pushed both for drilling and alternative energy

Under Lula, Brazil has backed the need to transition away from fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas that heat the planet and impact its climate.

The position was touted at the U.N. climate summit Brazil hosted last year, and also in other forums, such as an April meeting in Colombia that focused on shifting away from fossil fuels. At the same time, the country is ramping up new drilling investments.

The Equatorial Margin is believed to hold significant oil and natural gas reserves, and preliminary estimates suggest the basin could contain up to 10 billion barrels of oil, with a potential value of about 3.8 trillion reais ($720 billion).

“All of our studies indicate substantial potential. This discovery confirms our findings, and we will continue exploring,” the Petrobras president, Magda Chambriard, said Monday about the latest find. The company still needs to conduct further research to determine how much oil the area contains, she added.

Still, according to Shigueo Watanabe Jr., an energy expert with the Brazilian nonprofit ClimaInfo, commercial drilling remains a distant prospect at this stage. Determining whether extraction would be commercially viable would require further research that could take up to a decade.

Lula’s announcement appears to follow a political calendar

Lula spoke in Oiapoque a day after kicking off his election campaign at the Vila Euclides Stadium outside Sao Paulo — a city where he rose to political fame 47 years ago as a metalworkers union leader during the country’s 1964-1985 military dictatorship.

The leftist leader, who is running against Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro — the lawmaker son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro — said Chambriard, the head of Petrobras, has told him the new-found oil is of high quality.

Lula, wearing the orange uniform of oil workers, held up a small bottle of black crude oil that he described as “blessed,” and said that he would like to keep it in a safe.

At stake, he said, are both “the interests of the country and the interests of the company,” referring to Petrobras.

“And Amapa’s right not to end up as merely an exporter of acai and tucunare,” he said, referring to the region’s top products, the coveted berries and the freshwater fish.

Displayed behind him was a huge photo of Lula from his visit to the drilling vessel earlier Monday, showing the president holding up both hands stained with black crude — a gesture he famously made in 2008, when he announced the discovery of vast offshore oil reserves in southeastern Brazil.

Back then, Lula was at the height of his popularity. Now, he has become a polarizing figure, with opinion polls showing that nearly half of Brazilians approve of his administration, while a similarly large share disapprove of it.

Breno Rodrigues de Messias Leite, a political scientist and professor at the Federal University of Amazonas, said Lula’s Monday trip sends an important message to voters, especially in northern Brazil and its state capitals, where he has faced criticism.

“For the Amazon, the possibility of gaining access to some of the world’s largest oil reserves changes the equation,” Leite said.

“Lula wants to be reelected, and he wants the states in the northern region, especially Amapa, to have an electorate that is favorable to him,” he added.

___

The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

A report to Darlington Borough Council’s Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Committee says the number of children requiring more complex care arrangements is increasing, particularly those needing residential homes with high staffing ratios or specialist solo placements.

Such placements are in short supply nationally and are significantly more expensive because smaller homes cannot benefit from economies of scale, the report says. The sharp increase in external residential care costs is not unique to Darlington and reflects a wider North East and national trend.

Nick Wallis, cabinet member for children and young people, said: “The complexity of children’s needs has become very marked and something that we are fighting all the time.” 

Despite the pressures, the council said the overall quality of residential and foster care available in the borough remained high.

Thirteen of Darlington’s 16 children’s homes are currently rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, while the other three are rated Requires Improvement.

All Darlington children placed with independent fostering agencies are also with providers rated Good or Outstanding.

The report says the council has reduced its reliance on independent fostering agencies by increasing the number of children placed with its own foster carers – a move which was praised as “really positive” by committee members during Monday’s meeting. 

In June 2026, 79 children were living with Darlington foster carers, compared with 63 in independent fostering agency placements. No children aged five or under were placed through an independent agency.

The number of independent fostering placements has fallen from 98 to 67 over the period examined by the council, while external residential placements have increased from 28 to 36.

The council said the increase in complexity was happening despite the number of children in care continuing to fall.

It said children requiring high staffing ratios increasingly needed smaller dual-occupancy homes or solo placements, with limited availability nationally.

Darlington’s relatively small population also makes it difficult to develop specialist solo placements at scale because there are comparatively few children requiring this type of care, the report said.

The council is working with providers to develop more small-scale residential provision locally, with two new dual homes expected to open over the coming year.

A further two council-operated children’s homes are also being developed and are awaiting Ofsted registration.

Food additives used to boost flavour in apple juice, yoghurts and red wine could hold the secret to treating lymphoedema – severe swelling in the arms and legs.

Research published in the journal Nature found that the compounds, called cyclodextrins, may be able to reverse the swelling.

The findings, based on animal studies, could potentially improve the lives of up to 450,000 people in the UK who live with the condition, many as a result of treatment for cancer.

For example, about one in five people will develop lymphoedema in their arm following breast cancer treatment, such as surgery to remove lymph nodes or radiotherapy to clear cancer cells. 

Lymph nodes are bean-shaped structures located all around the body that filter waste from lymph fluid, which is formed of liquid and waste produced by tissues.

The nodes clean the fluid carried in the lymphatic vessels before it joins the bloodstream.

But the nodes are also often the first place cancer cells migrate to when they develop in nearby tissues such as those in the breast, head or neck, before travelling on to other vital organs such as the lungs. 

Surgically removing the nodes – to reduce the risk of cancer spreading – or treating them with radiotherapy can damage and cause blockages in the lymph system, leading to a chronic build-up of lymph fluid, causing swelling – sometimes so severe it can make simple tasks such as getting dressed or finding clothes to fit extremely difficult.

Research suggests the impact on quality of life can be considerable.

Treatment options are limited. Patients are initially told to try compression sleeves or stockings on their swollen limbs.

But these must be worn daily and can cause skin irritation and itching which may be uncomfortable and also restrict movement.

Another option is a type of massage, manual lymphatic drainage, which patients can do themselves. This needs to be done regularly to have good results.

Surgery to ‘replumb’ lymphatic vessels so fluid does not build up is available on the NHS, although at around £15,000 the procedure is used sparingly. Likewise, liposuction – where excess fluid and fat is broken up using lasers or high-frequency sound waves, before being sucked out by a machine – may help but is not widely available on the NHS.

The latest study, by scientists at the National University of Singapore, suggests there is a cheaper and more practical solution.

The researchers focused on cyclodextrin, which forms from starch, which for years has been used throughout the food and drink industries to improve the smell and taste of numerous products.

This is because it has a unique cellular structure which means it can ‘trap’ unwanted odours in foods and drinks that might sour the overall flavour and experience.

Professor Kefah Mokbel, a consultant breast surgeon at the London Breast Institute, said the findings open a ‘new therapeutic avenue’

Crucially, cyclodextrin is also widely used to remove cholesterol from dairy products such as cheese and butter to produce low-fat versions. It does this by encapsulating cholesterol crystals inside its hollow interior and then attracting water to flush them away.

This is significant because when the Singapore team analysed skin tissue from women with lymphoedema who were having treatment for breast cancer, they found that reduced lymphatic flow was associated with large amounts of cholesterol accumulating in surrounding tissue.

Lymphatic vessels transport cholesterol from the tissues back to the bloodstream. But this study showed a build-up of cholesterol in the surrounding tissues plays an active part in causing lymphoedema. This cholesterol was found to be causing inflammation and scarring to the vessels which also blocked the normal flow of lymph.

The next step was to see if cyclodextrin’s cholesterol-lowering powers could alleviate this swelling.

The researchers treated mice that had lymphoedema by injecting cyclodextrin into the affected area regularly over eight weeks.

The results showed it significantly reduced the swelling and inflammation – but as a bonus, researchers also found that cyclodextrin appeared to help regenerate the damaged lymphatic vessels, leading to a gradual reversal of the symptoms.

Babak Mehrara, chief of the plastic and reconstructive surgery service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, who wrote a review of the recent study for Nature, said: ‘Lymphoedema is a fluid retention problem but fluid accumulation causes inflammation, which inhibits the function of existing lymphatics.

‘That leads to more fluid accumulation and more inflammation. Fat deposits and cholesterol build-up then occurs as a result of the inflammatory changes.’

Professor Kefah Mokbel, a consultant breast surgeon at the London Breast Institute, said the findings open a ‘genuinely new therapeutic avenue’.

He added: ‘This is potentially groundbreaking because lymphoedema remains a chronic condition with no cure.

‘The study identifies excessive cholesterol deposition in affected tissues as a potential target for treatments. But we need carefully designed human trials to establish safety and efficacy.’

He added that cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins would be unlikely to work as they target cholesterol in the bloodstream, rather than specifically in the lymph nodes.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Discord, the popular platform for gamers to communicate online, said on Monday it suspended its livestreams in Brazil after criticism that it failed to protect children and adolescents. The move takes place in the wake of a suicide case.

Brazil’s government under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and the country’s Supreme Court have tried to regulate the use of the internet by minors, with mixed results so far, at a moment when countries, including Australia, Canada and Indonesia, are undertaking similar efforts.

The decision comes after Brazil’s national agency of data protection ordered the suspension last week. The U.S.-based company added it is in conversations “to seek a solution that allows us to reestablish those resources for our users in Brazil.”

“We remain committed to working with public policymakers in Brazil to help create an online experience that is safer for all, on Discord and across the internet,” said the platform.

A suicide draws attention to digital protections for minors

In July, an underage girl in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul was allegedly coerced by other users into committing suicide during a livestream on the platform, putting the company under increased scrutiny.

Brazil’s first lady Rosângela Lula da Silva, known as Janja, said on Aug. 6 that the platform should be taken offline, citing the case.

“I can’t accept seeing a 13-year-old girl self-harming live on the internet, on Discord, hanging herself and dying,” said Janja at a ceremony in the capital, Brasilia, during which Lula signed a law that increases the punishment for those who commit sexual violence against children and adolescents.

Five teenagers were arrested in connection with the death, according to an Aug. 4 statement by Brazil’s justice ministry.

“Livestreams have been repeatedly used to facilitate violence, harassment and the incitement of self-harm and suicide,” the country’s data protection agency said in a statement Wednesday.

The agency cited robust evidence that the company had not sufficiently prevented risks of exposure to content that “represent serious violations of the rights of children and adolescents within its service, especially inducement, incitement, instigation, or assistance to violence, self-harm, and suicide,” it said.

Discord has more than 90 million active daily users worldwide, according to its website.

Brazil rolled out a law seeking to boost protection of minors online earlier this year. The law requires that minors under 16 link their social media accounts to a legal guardian to ensure supervision.

Digital services must also implement an effective age verification mechanism that goes beyond self-declaration that the user is over 18 to protect them from accessing inappropriate or prohibited material.

In February, Discord postponed its controversial age verification policy after receiving backlash from users with concerns about their privacy. It later said in a statement that it was nonetheless rolling out age assurance measures to comply with Brazilian law.

The Trump administration has accused Brazil of targeting American social-media companies, and cited the issue among the reasons for imposing tariffs on Brazilian imports.

In 2024, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the shutdown of X until the network owned by Elon Musk complied with orders to remove accounts spreading disinformation.

___

Savarese reported from Sao Paulo.

___

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Plans to swap four signs at the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet for ones featuring the branding of its new owners Fraser Group PLC have been approved by City of York Council.

The outlet’s application stated the changes came as part of a rebranding exercise taking place after the sale of the site was announced earlier this year.

Council planning officers stated the new signs would not have a negative impact on public amenity or safety.

Submission of the plans in June follows the announcement that the site had been bought by Fraser Group PLC from previous owners Aviva Investors in April.

RECOMMENDED READING:

The move also saw retail mogul Mike Ashley’s group, which also owns Sports Direct, take over the East Midlands Designer Outlet near Derby and Nottingham.

Plans for the York site, in St Nicholas Avenue, include installing four illuminated signs at the site’s north, south, east and west entrances along with two on totems.

They would bear the outlet’s new owner’s Frasers Plus name and logo.

Council planning officers stated the new signs were based on simple designs and fitted with the scale and position of existing ones.

Plans for new signs at the West Entrance of York’s McArthurGlen Designer Outlet (Image: Fraser Group)

Officers stated: “The proposed totem advertisement will not be any more visually prominent than the existing which in turn will ensure that the visual appearance of the surrounding area is not eroded by additional advertisements.

“This proposal seeks to maintain a consistent signage design across the site.

“The fascia signs are to be located 1.6m above each entrance which accords with the scale of the existing ones and ensures they are positioned appropriately and do not dominate the shopfront.”

Frasers Group chief executive Michael Murray said the strategic acquisitions supported their vision for the group which owns more than one fifths of the UK outlet market.

Paul Tyler, McArthurGlen’s centre manager for York, told The Press in April he did not expect the take over to affect day-to-day operations.

York’s Designer Outlet is home to more than 100 stores along with a number of food and drink outlets.

It covers an area of about 23,000 square metres, or almost 250,000 square feet, and first opened in 1998.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — O.J. Brigance, who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens before waging an unyielding battle against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, has died. He was 56.

The Ravens announced Brigance’s death on Monday.

“We are devastated by the awful news that we have lost O.J. Brigance,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement. “O.J. was a beloved legend, mentor and man to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. He was a vibrant person who became one of the first Ravens heroes with his passionate play, including the first tackle in the 2000 Super Bowl.”

Brigance was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2007. Not long after that, he and his wife, Chanda, formed the Brigance Brigade Foundation, an organization whose mission is to “equip, encourage and empower” those afflicted with ALS.

Despite using a wheelchair and a communication device that translated his messages, Brigance served as senior adviser for player engagement with the Ravens, a job he started in 2004. In addition to assisting players in each phase of their career, Brigance proved a source of motivation within the organization.

“Every day I walk by, not just to tell him how much I love him, but to tell him that he is the one thing that lets me not complain about anything,” Ravens Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis said in 2012, his final pro season. “I played with that guy. His spirit is just awesome.”

Brigance is the only player to win a Canadian Football League title and a Super Bowl championship for a team in the same city, Baltimore.

“While winning CFL and NFL championships are great personal remembrances, I wouldn’t say any of these events define me,” he said. “Rather, they are part of an accumulation of life events which catapulted me to do what God wanted me to accomplish. If you were to remove any of those events, I wouldn’t be the same person or have the position of influence. With that being said, I consider the Brigance Brigade to be the most significant achievement of my life because of my ability to touch the lives of others.”

Brigance said his career as a professional football player — he played linebacker and on special teams — helped prepare him for the fight against ALS.

“Many people think football is all about strength and physical ability,” Brigance said in a 2012 interview with The Associated Press. “While these are integral parts of one’s success, the fortitude, discipline and the desire necessary to play the sport are characteristics that are readily transferrable to everyday life.”

Brigance didn’t set out to be an example of how to live under difficult circumstances, but he had no intention of letting ALS get him down. He and Chanda collaborated to help and encourage others with the disease.

“I have found that when adversity strikes, there is a decision to be made. We chose to respond and continue to live, and also help others living with ALS to respond also,” he said. “We have found that we have been a great encouragement not only to those within the ALS community, but to people in all walks of life.”

Orenthial James Brigance was born Sept. 29, 1969 and played in college at Rice in his hometown of Houston. He began his professional career in 1991 as a linebacker for the British Columbia Lions. He played three seasons with BC, making 20 sacks in 1993, before joining the Baltimore Stallions. In his second season in Baltimore, the team won the 1995 Grey Cup.

In 1996, Brigance was signed by the Miami Dolphins as a free agent. He was twice voted a team captain during his four seasons there and was the Ed Block Courage Award recipient in 1999. He was honored with the NFL Players Association’s “Unsung Hero Award” that same season.

Brigance’s lone season with Baltimore was 2000. He had a team-high 10 tackles on special teams during Baltimore’s playoff run, which ended with a 34-7 win over the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.

Brigance played for the St. Louis Rams in 2001 and 2002, and his final game was with New England in 2002.

“I am devastated and at a loss for words. O.J. was one of the most genuine, sincere people I have ever known,” Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome said. “From the moment he arrived in Baltimore, you could feel his energy. His amazing smile, welcoming nature and infectious personality made everyone around him feel like family.”

And his tenacity would serve him well long after his playing days ended.

___

See AP’s full NFL coverage here