Subway’s first town centre store will finally open its doors this week, on Thursday, September 24, after months of work on the new unit.

The store has been fitted out at 43 Dalton Way, in the former Carver Residential estate agents.

Dalton Way in Newton Aycliffe where Subway is opening (Image: GOOGLE)

Work on the new Subway progressed in July, with electrical work completed and the unit being fitted out.

The Northern Echo previously reported the store was expected to open by the end of July, after plans initially targeted a May 2026 opening at the beginning.

Newton Aycliffe town-centre bosses confirmed the opening date on Facebook.

In its latest Facebook update, town-centre bosses wrote: “That unmistakable Subway smell…

“That’s right… The bread is baking, the toppings are waiting, and we’re getting very close!

“Subway Newton Aycliffe is nearly ready to open its doors!

“And because we know you’re curious (we are too), keep your eyes peeled tomorrow for a little sneak peek behind the scenes.

“We’ll be showing you what’s been going on behind the scenes as they get everything ready for opening day on Thursday!

“Not long now… the countdown is on.”

File image of a Subway (Image: UGC)

Subway is known for its made-to-order sandwiches, salads and freshly baked bread, with customers able to choose from a range of fillings and toppings.

The new store is the first Subway to open in Newton Aycliffe town centre.

Subway was founded in 1965 when 17-year-old Fred DeLuca teamed up with family friend Dr Peter Buck, who invested $1,000 to launch a submarine sandwich shop.

Before the Newton Aycliffe launch, the nearest Subway branches were in Darlington and Ferryhill.

A Co Down road has been closed in both directions following a suspected chemical leak.

Emergency services are currently at the scene on the Steps Road in Magheralin.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “The Steps Road in Magheralin is currently closed in both directions due to a suspected chemical leak. Please seek an alternative route for your journey at this time.”

The NIFRS said: “We are currently dealing with a hazardous incident involving gas on Steps Road, Magheralin, Lurgan. Local residents are advised to keep windows and doors closed and avoid the area.”

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“Whether you’re commuting, meeting friends or exploring the city, cycling is often one of the quickest, most convenient and most affordable ways to get around. By offering a 50 per cent discount on a Santander Cycles Monthly Pass, we’re making it even easier for more people to experience the benefits of cycling.

By JAMES TOZER, NORTHERN CORRESPONDENT

Published: 16:52 BST, 22 September 2026 | Updated: 16:56 BST, 22 September 2026

As Microsoft confirms almost 300 new job losses across Xbox, the chances of Ninja Theory surviving the bloodbath have decreased dramatically.

Just as the rumours suggested, Microsoft has announced another new round of layoffs across all of its Xbox studios, with Rare and Halo being put under the control of Activision, and Bethesda taking responsibility for Obsidian Entertainment.

All of that will entail job cuts of various amounts, but at least the studios will continue in some fashion. British studio Ninja Theory may well not be so lucky though, as Microsoft has not been able to find a buyer for the company, which is best known for the likes of Heavenly Sword, Enslaved: Odyssey To The West, DmC: Devil May Cry, and Hellblade.

According to Microsoft, two separate attempts to sell off Ninja Theory have fallen through and they will now, ‘begin consultation with employees on a proposed closure while continuing to explore other paths forward.’ That leaves a sliver of hope that they could be saved but it doesn’t look good.

Although Hellblade has never been a big seller, a third entry in the series was recently announced, with analysts suggesting the early announcement, without a release date, was done specifically to make the company seem more desirable to potential buyers.

Ninja Theory was also thought to be an attractive purchase because of their high quality motion capture studio, but it may be that the asking price was too much.

There’s no indication of who was interested in buying them, or why the deals fell through, but Microsoft’s statement makes it sound like they’ve all but given up now.

This is all part of the big ‘reset’ of Xbox, initiated by new boss Asha Sharma, that will see 3,200 staff laid off before July 2027. 1,600 went this July, so with 268 losses today that still means 1,332 more people at Xbox are going to lose their jobs sooner rather than later.

The only positive to come from the mass layoffs is that studios Compulsion and Double Fine have successfully returned to being independent companies, although the latter, at least, has had to lay off staff itself, in order to keep going.

As part of today’s announcements, Undead Labs was also announced as having gone independent, having apparently secured a publishing deal with an unnamed party. It’s unclear if that means State Of Decay 3 will now be a multiformat release, but Microsoft is boasting that it will be a day one Game Pass title.

Meanwhile, the fate of Dishonored and Deathloop Arkane Studios, who are supposed to be working on Marvel’s Blade, remains uncertain. Since they’re based in France, they have stronger labour laws protecting them and Microsoft states only that ‘consultation’ is expected to ‘continue through the end of the year.’

It’s unclear what will result from that but the chances of them continuing on as before, without either being shut down or folded into another company (most likely Bethesda) seems remote.

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GBBO presenter Alison Hammond reportedly lost 11 stone over five years. She has described how a pre-diabetes diagnosis and advice from her late mother motivated changes to her diet and exercise routine

The Great British Bake Off fans are excited that the Channel 4 show is back tonight (September 22) for series 17. Nigella Lawson is joining the tent as a permanent judge, with a fresh group of amateur bakers preparing to put their skills to the test.

The chef and food writer succeeds Dame Prue Leith, whose nine-series stint ended when she stepped down earlier this year. Fans also have a brand-new spin-off show to look forward to alongside the main competition.

However, a familiar face that is returning is presenter Alison Hammond, who has co-hosted alongside Noel Fielding on GBBO for three years. Observant viewers may have noticed that the 51 year old This Morning star appears considerably slimmer these days, having dropped an impressive 11 stone over the past five years.

Here we examine Alison’s remarkable weight loss journey in detail – from her approach to her reasons.

Weight loss transformation

Alison has shed between 11 and 13.5 stone over a five-year period, reducing her weight from 28 stone at her peak to approximately 15–17 stone.

She accomplished this impressive transformation through sustainable lifestyle modifications, including dietary changes and regular personal training sessions, rather than turning to drastic measures or weight-loss medication.

Heartbreaking reason she lost weight

The popular TV presenter was motivated to begin her health transformation after receiving a concerning pre-diabetes diagnosis. Her late mother, Maria, who lived with type 2 diabetes, also urged Alison to address her weight shortly before she died in 2020.

“I’ll never forget when my mum was really ill in hospital,” Alison shared during a segment on This Morning. “She looked at me – she’s never commented on my weight my whole life-and she said, ‘Alison, don’t end up like me; try and sort out your weight.’”.

Methods she used to shed the pounds

Alison has been vocal about avoiding weight loss injections such as Ozempic or Wegovy, stating she preferred a more traditional approach.

The presenter focused on sensible eating habits. Rather than cutting out whole food groups, she embraced a “cutting back, not cutting out” approach.

She dramatically reduced her sugar intake and made portion control a priority.

She also kept up regular strength and personal training sessions. The broadcaster began working out up to four times each week with a personal trainer.

Rather than forcing herself through gruelling cardio sessions she loathed, she focused on achievable, short strength-training workouts and Reformer Pilates.

Alison also stressed lifestyle modifications over the bathroom scales. She emphasised that her biggest success was bringing her blood sugar back to normal levels and reversing her pre-diabetes, rather than hitting a specific number on the scales.

Boost to her online confidence

Followers have noticed that Alison now posts content with a renewed sense of self-assurance on Instagram. While she has always been cherished for her bubbly and captivating personality, her recent social media presence demonstrates a notable shift towards celebrating her strength, wellness accomplishments, and fashion sense.

The presenter’s posts have garnered tremendous praise from fans and celebrity friends alike, who say her refreshed look is “oozing confidence.”

Rather than hiding her health and fitness journey, Alison regularly posts videos of herself working up a sweat, lifting heavy weights, boxing, and taking part in Reformer Pilates sessions. She uses her platform to openly credit her personal trainers and wellness coaches for the profound impact they have had on her life.

Her social media feeds are equally packed with striking “glow-up” photographs. Her styling team consistently shares collections of images capturing her looking utterly radiant at red carpet events, dressed in towering heels and sophisticated gowns or sleek black mini-dresses that beautifully highlight her 11-to-13-stone transformation.

Mirror Political Editor Lizzy Buchan writes in from New York…

Andy Burnham is gearing up for his biggest test yet on the world stage – a prime time sit down with Donald Trump.

But the Prime Minister seemed relaxed and ready last night for his foray into the lions den with the US President.

On the plane from London last night, he endured a 40-minute grilling from journalists on everything from the US relationship to the Budget but still joked that he was disappointed no one had asked him about TV star’s Danny Dyer’s rant about him.

This trip is a marked contrast from the last time I watched a PM meet the mercurial US President.

Tensions were sky high when Keir Starmer travelled to meet Trump in the Oval Office last year.

The PM and his team were calm but steely, using all their time to prepare for every possible grenade the US President could lob their way. In the end, Starmer pulled off his charm offensive but the whole trip felt extremely high stakes.

Burnham is a different kind of politician. He seems to enjoy the job of PM in a way that Starmer never did, taking this sort of test in his stride.

He will be well prepared for whatever Trump throws at him – but his team seem quietly confident that he can charm Trump enough to get through it unscathed.

We’ll know soon enough if his strategy works.

One objection said transport links into the city are “insufficient”

A further 180 homes could be built in a Peterborough suburb but locals want the land to be used for a new railway station instead. Work is ongoing to build new homes in Hampton Woods, Peterborough.

O&H Properties Ltd has proposed to build the new homes on land south east of 2A Broadway in Yaxley, south of Peterborough and east of Hampton. It sits within the Hampton Woods village of the wider Hampton East Urban Extension, a large settlement providing thousands of new homes.

The wider Hampton community includes Hampton Hargate, Hampton Vale, Hampton Green, Hampton Beach, Hampton Water and more. Hampton Woods is the latest development area of the Peterborough suburb. An application for up to 180 homes is the latest proposal.

The new homes are proposed to be built across a 6.79 hectare site, with a village green including a play area, included in the plans. The applicants say it will act as a “central open space and destination within the development, helping to establish a strong sense of place”.

The applicant said: “Hampton Woods is envisioned as a distinctive and accessible continuation of the wider Hampton community, shaped by its strong relationship with the surrounding landscape and natural features; framed by woodland, Beeby’s East Lake and green spaces.

“A landscape-led approach underpins the vision, with linear green and blue corridors, structural tree planting and active travel routes connecting homes, streets and public spaces. The village green forms the heart of the community, anchoring the neighbourhood and the intersecting green spaces.

“Together, contemporary buildings, streets, landscape, and infrastructure will create a sustainable, attractive, and well-connected village that fosters a strong sense of place, community pride and long-term resilience.”

Reacting to the plans, which were lodged in September, one local wrote: “A vast number of new homes are being built across the area, yet the transport links into the city remain insufficient, to say the least. The existing roads are often too narrow, heavily congested, and subject to frequent repairs, creating significant delays for residents.

“The available land should be considered for the development of a small local railway station, providing residents with a faster, more direct and reliable connection into the city centre. On particularly busy days, a journey by car can take around 30 minutes, contributing to increased traffic, pollution and stress for those travelling into the city.

“A local rail connection would not only reduce pressure on the roads but could also provide much better access for evening and weekend commuters. This would make it easier for people to visit and spend time in the city outside traditional working hours, potentially supporting local businesses and increasing revenue within the city centre.”

Another person said the proposal “erodes the essential physical separation and green buffer between Yaxley village and the expanding Peterborough/Hampton urban area”. They said that developing this site “reduces the open gap separating Yaxley from the council boundary, undermining local spatial strategy”.

Additionally, the formal objection said: “The proposed development permanently eliminates the opportunity for crucial rail infrastructure. Given the lack of local employment opportunities within Peterborough, residents must commute outside the city for work.

“Allocating this specific land for housing rather than a train station deprives the area of essential regional rail connectivity and forces hundreds of new residents into total car dependency, worsening congestion on Broadway and surrounding local routes.”

At the time of the fire neighbours reported hearing ‘loud bangs’ before emergency services found a body inside the campervan

A retired engineer died in a fire which sparked a police investigation, an inquest has found. Darren John Edwards, 60, was identified as the man whose body was found in a burnt out campervan following a serious fire near Porthcawl seafront last year.

Residents reported hearing “loud bangs” before emergency services found a body inside a campervan on Mackworth Road after the alarm was raised in the early hours of August 28, 2025. Forensic investigations were carried out at the scene, with South Wales Police initially treating the death as “unexplained”. Officers were unable to identify the body for some time.

An inquest has now concluded the death was an accident which is believed to have started with a gas camping stove. Mr Edwards had also consumed high levels of alcohol which likely impacted upon his alertness to the fire, an investigation found.

Pontypridd Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Edwards, a retired engineer from Newport, was living in the campervan at the the time of his death and spent much of his time visiting different locations in Wales.

In late August he had spent a number of nights sleeping in the vehicle in the Porthcawl area, the inquest heard.

Emergency services were called to what was described as a “fire incident” involving multiple vehicles in Mackworth Road. Once the fire was extinguished, emergency personnel found a deceased person inside one of the vehicles.

The road was cordoned off while investigations were carried out to determine the circumstances surrounding the fire.

The inquest was told the campervan was later identified as belonging to Mr Edwards and it was his body which was recovered from the campervan.

The origin of the fire was likely a gas camping stove, the inquest heard.

A post mortem examination identified that Mr Edwards died as a result of smoke inhalation. He had also consumed high levels of alcohol which the inquest heard likely impacted upon his alertness and response to the fire.

The medical cause of death was given as 1a, smoke inhalation, and 2, alcohol toxicity.

Area Coroner Patricia Morgan concluded that the death was an accident.

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