Noah’s dad Rhys has given an update on the search for the youngster while clarifying that he is “only mildly autistic and has partial hearing loss”.

He says the emergency services believe that he has gone further away than the immediate areas around the playground where he disappeared.

He wrote: “Thank every single one of you who have taken part in the search for our boy Noah. To clear things up because people really do make up their own stories, he is only mildly autistic and has partial hearing loss, he is fully capable of every day tasks.

We still have nothing, all the emergency services and all of you have shown how strong this community is, with people coming from far and wide (…).

“The emergency services are very confident that the high risk areas (Decoy pond, railway lines) are all clear.”

Rhys continued: “This means knowing our boy, he has gone even further, could I ask that all of you brilliant people out there today expand further if you are able to? Reference where I have outlined, and maybe even further than this,

“I cannot go another night knowing he’s out there alone, please don’t give up on him guys. He is out there somewhere and I appreciate every single one of you.”

Free family-friendly events featuring fireworks will be held at Wythenshawe Park, Heaton Park, and Platt Fields Park on Saturday, November 7.

The evening will include a reduced-noise, low-impact display at 5pm for families and SEND audiences, and a main display at 8pm.

Lantern-making workshops will also be held in the lead-up to the events, with lantern parades taking place before the 8pm fireworks shows.

This return follows the pause of major fireworks events in 2019 following the Covid-19 pandemic, when funding challenges spurred a change of direction.

As a result, the council shifted its focus to funding a range of community-focused events across the city’s parks during the autumn season, rather than the larger one-off fireworks events.

These community-focused events will continue and are set to expand further in local parks this year, particularly during the October half-term school holiday, offering a mix of themed activities.

With additional council investment, the fireworks events on November 7 will be a grand finale to the community activities happening across the city.

Councillor Garry Bridges, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “I’m delighted we’re keeping the Fireworks this year in Manchester.

“Residents tell us how important it is to create opportunities for our communities to come together and celebrate.

“Our fireworks display is exactly one of those events that bridge culture and background — and so it’s fantastic to bring back these free community displays that give families, friends and neighbours a shared experience — and without cost being a barrier.

“It is even more important that everyone feels welcome and able to participate, which is why we have designed our early evening display with inclusivity for families with young children and people with SEND as an essential element of the day and evening celebrations ensuring that no-one has to miss out on the fun.”

Councillor Basat Sheikh, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, said: “We are delighted to announce and welcome the return of our much-loved fireworks celebrations.

“Our parks should be shared spaces that create opportunities for Manchester people to gather, which is why bringing back the fireworks displays was top of our agenda.

“And we also recognise the importance of community, which is why we will also continue to invest in a wide range of activities in our parks throughout the year.”

The trio appeared side by side in the dock at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court during a brief mention of that case on Wednesday

Three men have appeared in court in Dungannon charged in connection with a model of a mosque being placed on a Loyalist bonfire in Co Tyrone in July.

Tyler Somerville, 28, of Jacksonville Road in Moygashel, Simon Dilworth, 58, of a different address on Jacksonville Road and John Black, 38, of Prince Andrew Crescent in Moygashel all faced one charge in terms of offensive material.

The charge is that on July 8 2026 they displayed written material which was threatening, abusive or insulting, intending to stir up hatred or arouse fear contrary to Article 9(1) of the Public Order (Northern Ireland) Order 1987.

It came after a model of a mosque was on a bonfire in Moygashel, Co Tyrone in July as loyalist bonfires were being built across Northern Ireland to mark the anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.

The trio appeared side by side in the dock at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court during a brief mention of that case on Wednesday morning.

All indicated they understood the charge.

A detective constable told the court he believed he could connect the accused to the charge.

No issues were raised during the first appearance of the three men with connection.

While all three had previously been out on police bail, they left under £250 court bail.

A fourth co-accused is set to appear on September 23, with all four to “travel together” going forward.

Meanwhile, Mr Somerville has been permitted to travel on a one-week holiday which had been booked before his arrest for the alleged offence.

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

One officer told his colleague “I hope you get raped”

Two further officers have been sacked from the Metropolitan Police following a BBC Panorama undercover film exposing misconduct at Charing Cross station. This makes a total of 13 officers that have lost their jobs since an investigation was launched by the Independent Office for Police Conduct in October.

PC Mason O’Connor and PC Lloyd Hunter of the Central West Command Unit have both been sacked after “appalling” comments they made while off-duty as the investigation into the conduct at the station continues.

A hearing for PC O’Connor, was held on Tuesday, 15 September following allegations in a pub on October 2024 he said to a female colleague: “I hope you get raped on your way to Waterloo”.

The incident was reported after the Panorama episode aired in October 2025 that highlighted issues within the police station as officers were filmed calling for immigrants to be shot, boasting about excessive use of force and joking about rape and sexual assault.

The hearing found the allegation proven and that PC O’Connor breached standards of professional behaviour for authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, and discreditable conduct, according to the Met Police. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here

Allegations against PC Hunter were also made and proven at a hearing on August 27. During an off-duty drink in November 2024 he made comments that trivialised the use of force, suggested that he would enjoy using force on members of the public and that he “hated” homeless people.

Both officers have been sacked and will be added to the College of Policing’s barred list to prevent them re-joining policing or working for a number of other police-related bodies.

Commander Simon Messinger, Professionalism, said: “Two more officers have now been dismissed for their appalling comments and attitudes. I hope this sends a very clear message about the standards we expect from all our officers and the Met’s determination to improve our culture across the organisation.

“We continue to support the ongoing IOPC investigation.”

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Staying trim, fit and healthy is no longer just determined by what you eat, as scientists are increasingly concerned with when you eat, too. 

A growing body of evidence suggests that eating the majority of calories as early as possible in the day could accelerate weight loss, lower blood pressure and keep you fuller for longer.

Last year, scientists from Slovenia found restricting meals to an 8am to 4pm window resulted in ten pounds weight loss over three months, as well as reduction in body fat and stabilisation of blood sugar levels. 

Critics say the effect is merely a result of fitting in fewer calories in a shorter space of time.

But is that really the extent of the benefit?

According to registered dietitian Sophie Medlin, there is reason to consider meal timings – and not just for those looking to lose weight. 

The body’s ability to utilise food depends on the interaction with our daily routine; that is, the time we wake up, sleep and exercise, she says. 

Here, she reveals the truth about the optimum time for breakfast, lunch and dinner – and the worst time to snack if you’re looking to shift extra pounds. 

Is eating earlier really better?

There’s no denying that research suggests eating more of our energy earlier in the day could produce some benefits for weight and heart health, says Ms Medlin. 

Perhaps the most in-depth study is a 2024 meta-analysis⁠ which found that earlier calorie distribution and time-restricted eating produced reductions in weight – albeit relatively small.

‘Our bodies run on approximately 24-hour circadian rhythms,’ says Ms Medlin. ‘These influence how good our body is at converting blood sugar to energy and digesting food, as well as the level of our appetite hormones.’

In general, the body is more efficient at converting sugars in food into energy – and therefore calories burned – during the most active part of the day.

‘Eating earlier gives us more opportunity to use energy through movement,’ she adds. 

One 2022 Harvard study asked 16 overweight and obese adults to stick to an early eating schedule for two weeks, and then pushed the meals back by four hours, but consuming the same calorie intake.

Early eaters ate one hour after waking – at around 8am, on average, – while the late eaters waited five hours, with some having their first meal as late as 12pm. 

Those in the early group ate dinner at around 4.30pm, compared to 8.30pm in the late group. 

Results showed that those on the later schedule had much higher blood levels of hormones associated with hunger, and lower levels of compounds released in response to fullness. 

The researchers concluded that eating later could trigger changes in the gut that increase hunger signals, risking weight gain.

Big names including Rishi Sunak, Jennifer Aniston and Hugh Jackman swear by fasting to keep their health and weight on track

However, Ms Medlin caveats: ‘This study is interesting but it only involved 16 adults. More conclusive evidence is needed to prove the theory.’ 

She admits, though, that delaying most of our food until late evening could disrupt appetite regulation, and make blood sugars go awry. 

What about skipping breakfast?

Intermittent fasting – which involves limiting calorie intake for a few days a week – remains popular among Britons. 

Most adherents follow a similar schedule: skipping breakfast and saving their calories for lunch and dinner, while cutting out the snacks.

A review on the diet plan published earlier this year suggested it could result in a body weight reduction of about 3 per cent (roughly five and a half pounds in an average man).

However, a wealth of other reviews have found that the benefits are likely just the result of eating fewer calories. 

Scientists have found similar weight loss with other low-calorie diets. And some research suggests skipping breakfast could cause you to overeat. 

One large observational study examining the dietary records of 23,488 American adults found that people who skipped both breakfast and lunch consumed, on average, about 187 more calories at dinner.

Another study involving almost 3,000 older adults found delaying the first meal of the day by even an hour was associated with an 11 per cent higher risk of death. 

‘Skipping breakfast risks a pattern whereby you eat very little throughout the day and then consume a large proportion of the day’s food late at night,’ says Ms Medlin.

‘This can encourage overeating, and large, rich meals close to bed may cause reflux, bloating or disturbed sleep.’

She adds that, as the body is less able to convert food to energy at night, excess calories are more likely to be stored as fat. 

Is there an optimum time for every meal?

According to Ms Medlin, there aren’t any specific timings that guarantee that we won’t overeat, become sluggish, or lose focus.

However, there are ‘useful windows’ to stick to which are based on the strongest scientific evidence. 

‘Breakfast could be eaten within around one to two hours of waking up, lunch approximately four to five hours later, and dinner ideally two to three hours before bed,’ says Ms Medlin.

‘For someone following a conventional sleep pattern, that might mean breakfast between 7am and 9am, lunch between 12pm and 2pm, and dinner between 6pm and 8pm.’

But most crucial is ensuring the hours before bed are not the ‘main eating period of the day’, she adds. 

‘Finishing a main meal approximately two to three hours before lying down is a sensible target. This provides time for digestion and can reduce reflux or discomfort.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has thanked party leaders for their support following the death of his father, Roy, on Monday.

All opposition leaders sent condolences to him as he cancelled engagements earlier this week.

Burnham had previously spoken about the fact his dad did not know he had become prime minister, due to his advanced Alzheimer’s.

Posting on social media, he thanked, external “everyone who has shared a kind message about my dad, particularly the leaders of the other parties”.

Burnham added: “My family and I have been helped though this difficult time by people’s warmth and compassion. It means a great deal to us and we wanted to say thank you.”

Speaking to journalists on his first day back at work on Wednesday, Burnham thanked all those who had sent “so many lovely messages” to him and his family.

“It’s hard and it will be hard for a little while but better to get back to the job,” he said.

“I also want to thank the leaders of the other parties, all of whom sent a message, and it shows there is decency in British politics still and that’s lovely to see, so thank you from us all, the whole family.

“But my dad would want me to be back out there bringing some of the changes that he always pushed me to make.”

He has described how his father, a former telephone engineer, had raised him with “laughter, love and support” alongside his mother Eileen in Culcheth, Cheshire.

In July, Burnham spoke about his father’s condition and said it had influenced his drive to reform adult social care in England.

The husband, a man in his 60s from Stockport, pleaded guilty to 60 charges

The trial of 12 men accused of sexual offences is expected to start next month after a husband admitted drugging and raping his wife over a 20-year period.

The husband, a man in his 60s from Stockport, pleaded guilty to 60 charges. His guilty pleas were entered on Monday (September 14).

He admitted charges of rape, assault by penetration, administering a substance with intent, sexual assault, attempted rape and sharing intimate photographs or film. The husband will no longer feature as a defendant in the trial.

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The Manchester Evening News and other media organisations are not naming the husband in order to protect the anonymity of his wife. The law entitles her to anonymity for life. A further 12 defendants are due to go on trial on October 5. They all deny sexual offences.

They are David Graves, 59, of Milton Avenue, Derbyshire; Robert Stewart, 70, of Sandpiper Drive, Stockport; Karl Lindsay, 56, of Wordsworth Drive, Taunton; Philip Wild, 58, of St Davids Road, Cheadle; Graham Brougham, 74, of Birtwistle Road, Rudheath; Northwich, Daniel Rayner, 42, of Sherwood Drive, Whitstable; Sean Peers, 38, of Sandwich Road, Eccles; Mohammed Sabir, 28, of no fixed address; Jordan Wallace, 31, of Hindsford Close; Wythenshawe, Alan Keelan, 42, of Foscarn Drive, Wythenshawe; Richard Townsend, 37, of Woodland Street, Heywood; and Jonathan Kirk, 43, of Telford Close, Macclesfield.

The jury were originally sworn in on September 4 and were recalled to court today (September 16) to be addressed by Judge Maurice Greene. He told jurors: “You were told amongst other things that the prosecution’s case concerns allegations of sexual offending by a number of men on a female.

“You were also told that 14 men have been identified to date and one of them was [the husband]. That is [the wife’s] husband.

“Some of you may have seen or heard on the news on Monday that a man from Stockport had pleaded guilty to drugging and raping his wife, and that he admitted multiple offences of rape, attempted rape, assault by penetration, sexual assault and administering a substance with intent.

“His identity is protected in the public domain to protect [his wife’s] identity. Of course the man who pleaded guilty was [the husband]. He will no longer be a defendant in this case.

“As a result of those pleas, there is work to be done by the parties in this case. You were also told that the case could not sit in any event in the week commencing September 28.

“That is still the case. What I am going to do is ask you to come back to this court on Monday October 5. On that date I anticipate the trial will commence.”

The judge said he hoped that the trial would conclude by December 18.

Proceeding.

The probe will cover the period of his 21-year membership of the party

The Ulster Unionist Party has launched an independent safeguarding review into Jeffrey Donaldson, covering the period of his 21-year membership of the party from 1982 to his resignation in December 2003.

The review has been commissioned by UUP leader Jon Burrows MLA and will be led by Anne Marks, an independent, trauma-informed safeguarding consultant with more than thirty years’ frontline experience in trauma and victim-survivor support. Anne Marks will be supported by an advisory group of independent victim advocates.

The UUP said the review will provide a “confidential, independent, and trauma-informed channel” for anyone with relevant information to come forward. This includes members of the public, former and current Ulster Unionist Party members, staff, constituency workers, elected representatives, volunteers, witnesses and confidants.

The party said it is “deliberately broad in scope”, and while Donaldson was convicted of offences against children, the probe will receive information concerning alleged sexual misconduct, harassment, coercive or controlling behaviour, bullying, misogyny, intimidation, exploitation, abuse of status or authority, retaliation, and other boundary violations involving adults.

Donaldson, 63, was convicted at Newry Crown Court earlier this year of 18 sex offences, including one count of rape, relating to the abuse of two women when they were children. The offences were committed between 1985 and 2008.

Where the law requires disclosure, the Independent Safeguarding Professional will refer information directly to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, without recourse to the Ulster Unionist Party.

The review will examine, among other matters, any concerns reported to the party during the 1982 to 2003 period, the response those concerns received, the extent to which Donaldson’s status and power affected that response, and what the party can learn to strengthen its safeguarding practice, standards and culture. Concerns raised about behaviour post-2003 will, with consent, be shared with the relevant review or body.

The UUP said the review has been shaped by consultation with a number of victims’ groups, whose expertise in supporting survivors of abuse has informed the process at every stage. This has included Men’s Advisory Project, Nexus NI, NI Survivor Council (NISC), Victim Support NI and Women’s Aid.

At the conclusion of the Review, the Independent Safeguarding Professional will author a report setting out her findings and recommendations. The Ulster Unionist Party said they have committed to publishing the report as far as is legally possible.

Ulster Unionist Party Leader Jon Burrows MLA said: “The conviction of Jeffrey Donaldson exposed one of the most serious breaches of trust in public life in Northern Ireland. My first thoughts, today as ever, are with the two women whose courage brought his crimes into the light.

“Jeffrey Donaldson was a member of the Ulster Unionist Party for 21 years, from 1982 to 2003. That fact carries an obligation. We owe it to the victims, and we owe it to the public, to establish honestly and independently whether there is anything the party should have known, should have acted upon or should have done differently during those years.

“That is what this Review is for. It is independent. It is led by one of the most experienced safeguarding professionals in Northern Ireland. It is confidential for anyone who comes forward, and it has a direct referral pathway to the police where the law requires. Whatever it finds, this party will act upon its findings.

“I want to say clearly to anyone with information, or with an experience they have carried, sometimes for many years: please come forward. Your voice will be heard, and you will be given all the support necessary.

“This review was designed in consultation with victims’ groups, whose expertise and honesty have shaped it. I am grateful to them, and to those they represent, for the work they have done alongside us to ensure this process can command confidence.

“The Ulster Unionist Party called on the UK Government for a full independent public inquiry into what was known about Jeffrey Donaldson throughout his public career. That inquiry has been declined.

“In its absence, we are determined to ensure that anyone affected by this man during his years in the Ulster Unionist Party has the opportunity to be heard, to have their experience properly examined and to help ensure the full truth is told. That is what this Review is for.”

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Andy Burnham is facing increasing pressure to clarify his plans for increasing defence spending from the head of Nato and Labour’s union paymasters.  

Mark Rutte, the former Dutch premier is expected to use a speech in Oxford tonight to publicly hold his feet to the fire over increasing spending on the UK’s depleted military.

At the Ditchley Foundation’s annual lecture in Oxfordshire, the Nato chief will praise the UK, describing it as ‘serious about security’.

But in what could be seen as a pointed remark about the need to go further, he will add: ‘The UK is already investing more in defence. And I welcome the new Prime Minister’s assurance that his government will meet its Nato commitments.’   

The Government faces a challenge in how to hike defence spending to 5 per cent over the next decade, as it grapples with rising borrowing costs caused by the US-Iran war, and multiple domestic pressures on the public finances. 

UK defence spending is expected to rise to around 2.7 per cent of GDP by 2027, but Mr Burnham has raised alarms that it will not meet an interim target of 3 per cent by 2030.

Last week he sparked uproar by refusing to cut the UK welfare bill to fund a boost to defence spending, saying: ‘National security cannot come at the expense of social security.’

But the PM is also facing pressure from Labour’s union paymasters to pour money into defence to create jobs.

Unite boss Sharon Graham said that the UK had been ‘running our hand across our mouth in defence for ages’ and said it should form part of a ‘proper plan for the reindustrialisation of Britain’. 

UK defence spending is expected to rise to around 2.7 per cent of GDP by 2027, but Mr Burnham has skirted around a further target of 3 per cent by 2030

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She told Politico: ‘I’m in conversations with members and employers in defense, and these people are making decisions now about whether they stay in Britain.’ 

However unions are divided, with the University and College Union using the TUC conference to pass a motion demanding the cash should be used to fight climate chance and renationalise utilities instead.

Pushing the body to back its ‘wages not weapons’ campaign, UCU general secretary Jo Grady lashed out at the US and Israel for its ‘war of aggression against the people of Iran’.

‘Our lives don’t feel more secure because BAE systems is getting another multi-billion-pound contract. A global arms race does not make us feel safer,’ she told the conference.

‘There is a choice, because every pound spent on bombs doesn’t get homeless people off the streets, it doesn’t build a new school, it doesn’t feed a hungry child, it doesn’t help the desperate NHS, the crumbling transport infrastructure or the crucial need for a programme of insourcing and renationalisation.’

Nato allies have agreed to hike their defence spending to 5 per cent of economic output by 2035, amid burgeoning threats from Russia and China, and demands from Donald Trump’s America that European member states invest more in their own security. 

Unite boss Sharon Graham said that the UK had been ‘running our hand across our mouth in defence for ages’ and said it should form part of a ‘plan for the reindustrialisation of Britain’.

However the University and College Union’s Jo Grady used the TUC conference to say that the cash should be used to fight climate chance and improve schools and housing instead

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Chancellor John Healey quit as defence secretary in June over Sir Keir Starmer’s refusal to commit to the 3 per cent target, saying it was the minimum needed to keep Britain safe.

Mr Rutte will use his speech to say that the UK ‘is leading, along with Nato allies, the push back against Russia’s dangerous and reckless campaign against us’.

He will add: ‘Collectively we will continue to strengthen our ability to deter and defend all allies, against any threat. Nato will not be intimidated by Russia’s campaign of hostile actions. Russia wants to stop us helping Ukraine – but their actions will only lead us to do more for Ukraine. Russia’s actions are a sign of weakness, and a symptom of Putin’s failure in Ukraine.’

Elsewhere in his speech, Mr Rutte will address the changing nature of the military alliance.

Mr Rutte will say: ‘To stay transatlantic, Nato is becoming more European. A Nato with Europe, and Canada, spending more, producing more, and doing more for their security. This is the idea of Nato 3.0.

‘Building for the future. A stronger Europe, in a stronger Nato.’