New government data revealed the 10 constituencies with the highest levels of child poverty in the East of England and two Cambridgeshire areas are among them

Two areas in Cambridgeshire with the highest levels of child poverty have been revealed. New government data revealed the 10 constituencies with the highest levels of child poverty in the East of England – and two Cambridgeshire areas are among them.

The new data, published on March 26, 2026, for the years 2022 to 2025, shows that Peterborough and North East Cambridgeshire had the highest levels of child poverty in the region.

According to The Children’s Society’s research, the data showed that 41.1% of children up to and including age 15 in Peterborough live in poverty. In North East Cambridgeshire, 30.8% of children live in poverty.

This new data shows that nearly 1 in 4 children across the East of England are living in poverty, after the cost of housing. Across the UK this figure stands at 27% equating to 4 million children.

Scrapping the two-child limit will come into effect on April 6, 2026. Increasing eligibility for free school meals in England will come into effect from September 2026, alongside other measures which aim to lead to a reduction in child poverty across the East of England.

Andrew Pakes, the Labour MP for Peterborough, said: “Ensuring every child in Peterborough gets the best start in life is a top priority for me and for this government. The reality is that too many families here – the majority of them in work – are still facing the daily reality and pressures of child poverty.”

Mr Pakes added: “That is why I am proud to have voted to lift nearly 10,000 children in our city out of poverty by ending the two-child limit. That cruel cap has been the biggest single driver of child poverty in Peterborough. Scrapping it is an important step in easing the pressures that push families towards Peterborough Foodbank, the Care Zone and others doing such important work supporting those in need.”

Jezz, 22, who is a Youth Ambassador for the End Child Poverty Coalition, and grew up in the East of England, said: “For so many young people like me, life starts with the odds stacked against them. Poverty is a weight they are forced to carry with them throughout childhood, and for many, into later life.

“The disadvantages it deals in education, and the harm it can cause to wellbeing and to health, makes any idea of a fair start in life a fantasy. I hope that behind each data point we can think of the child’s life that is fundamentally shaped and altered by this experience and begin to treat the crisis with the seriousness it deserves.”

Mark Russell, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society, which is a member of the End Child Poverty Coalition, said: “These figures lay bare the reality for families across the East of England – too many children are growing up in poverty which has lasting consequences for their health, education, and futures.

“We welcome steps like scrapping the two-child limit and expanding free school meals, but these numbers are a stark reminder that the work is not even close to being done.”

Mr Pakes continued: “I am determined to make Peterborough a better place for families and children. Last week we opened our fifth new Family Hub in the city and are extending more breakfast clubs at primary schools over the coming months, so no child has to start the day hungry.

“I’m also proud that around 16,000 more local children will benefit from a free school meal every school day come September.”

At 52, the Bolton-born comedian and presenter underwent a “crazy” body transformation, so drastic that some fans even thought it was AI generated.

After finishing the challenge involving two workouts a day, clean eating, lots of water and endless commitment, Paddy didn’t stop there.

He then did a 25-day “cut” to get himself extra trim for a fitness photoshoot with Men’s Health UK, and is now looking to pack on more muscle.

A cutting phase in the fitness world is when athletes strategically focus on losing body fat while maintaining as much muscle mass as possible.

The technique is most commonly used in bodybuilding, in the lead-up to stepping on stage, with athletes putting their best foot forward to get in peak condition.

Paddy said his short mini-cut has given him huge admiration for the industry.

“Massive respect to all you amateur and pro bodybuilders,” he said.

“Your dedication is admirable. After going on a 25-day cutting diet for my Men’s Health UK shoot, I thought putting a bit of size back on would be easy.

“I was wrong. In my opinion, it is so much tougher than the cutting.

“I’ve got big Steve Coleman Fitness back in my corner, so I’m sure we’ll get there.

“But getting those good calories in while keeping an eye on the ‘auld’ waistline is hard work, baby.”

Paddy showed off his impressive 75 day results. (Image: Paddy McGuinness Instagram)

Steve is a renowned personal trainer who has coached several high-profile clients, including Daniel Radcliffe and Ben Shephard.

Steve said: “So proud to have coached Paddy McGuinness for this April’s Men’s Health UK cover.

“The cover is the moment everyone sees, but the real work happens in the weeks and months before.

“The early mornings, the sessions, the structure and the consistency that make it possible.

“Massive credit to Paddy for the discipline and commitment he brought to every session. He showed up, trusted the process and put the work in.

“A huge thank you to the team at Men’s Health for having me involved and capturing all of Paddy’s hard work.

“Career moments like this always feel a little surreal. I am always grateful.

“I’ll share some of the training and nutrition tips that I implemented with Paddy soon.”

Paddy’s age makes his muscle-gaining venture all the more impressive.

Both men and women start losing muscle mass as they age, with most people experiencing a decline of between three per cent and five per cent per decade after turning 30.

Resistance exercise, such as weight training, is one of the best ways to counteract the loss of muscle mass as you age.

Homes at 43 Poplar Street in Tyldesley and 15A Hendon Road in Wigan have been subject to long-running issues despite warnings and intervention, with neighbours reporting serious disruption and distress.

At the property in Tyldesley, problems included persistent drug-related activity, harbouring of wanted offenders, and serious incidents involving weapons and threats.

A kidnap victim was also found at the address, leading to multiple arrests.

Despite ‘years of interventions,’ criminal behaviour continued, and Wigan Council and Greater Manchester Police applied for a full closure order at Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court.

However, only a partial closure order was granted.

A spokesman for Wigan Council said: “Our recent successful applications of these closure orders demonstrates our dedication in protecting residents and communities from harm.

“We take any report of anti-social behaviour very seriously.”

The partial closure order means the tenant can remain at the property, but no visitors are permitted.

The council said the activity had caused “significant and ongoing impact on neighbours, including sleep disruption, fear, intimidation, and health deterioration.”

A second partial closure order was issued at 15A Hendon Road following repeated complaints of noise-related anti-social behaviour.

This included loud music, shouting, arguments, and offensive language.

The behaviour was described as severe enough to cause “sleep disturbance and distress to vulnerable neighbours.”

Interventions at that address included advisory and warning letters, a noise abatement notice, a community protection warning, and joint visits from council officers and police.

The council spokesman said: “Further breaches of orders will not be tolerated.”

Under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, closure orders can restrict access to all persons or allow access only to specific individuals.

They can apply to all or part of a property.

The orders are designed to protect the wider community and reduce harm caused by persistent anti-social behaviour.

Wigan Council continues to encourage residents to report such behaviour and has reaffirmed its commitment to using all available legal powers to keep communities safe.

No further details have been released regarding the occupants of either property.

With a career spanning over two decades, this nineties heartthrob has taken to the stage with a new look – as fans are left gobsmacked over the unrecognisable star

He’s an iconic indie star that had fans swooning in the Noughties – but can you recognise him now?

Fran Healy, frontman of the band Travis, shocked fans with a completely look during a recent performance at Estero Picnic Festival in Colombia.

The 52-year-old rose to fame over two decades ago, and is known for hits such as Why Does It Always Rain On Me? and Sing. Travis heavily dominated the charts during the Nineties and early Noughties.

Swapping his signature bright red locks for a bleached look, the star looked unrecognisable on stage. He also wore a blue jumper and thick rimmed round glasses as he joined a number of artists, including his Travis bandmates Dougie Payne, Andy Dunlop and Neil Primrose at the Columbian festival infront of a bustling crowd.

READ MORE: Gemma Collins posts wedding photo after secret ceremony but fans aren’t convinced

Other performers included The Killers, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyler the Creator and Swedish House Mafia for the three-day festival. Travis joined The Killers for a performance as well as their own set on Sunday.

Fran was born in Stafford but he was raised in Glasgow before he formed Travis in 1991 while studying at the Glasgow School of Art. The band are still going, and are currently performing across South America, with a show in Chile this month and next, and then heading to Viña del Mar, Frutillar and Santiago.

Despite taking breaks throughout their career spanning two decades, they have never parted ways. Travis released their tenth album, L.A Times, in 2024, with Fran writing the majority of their albums.

Away from the bright lights and the stage, the frontman lives in Los Angeles, having moved there in 2017 with his wife Nora Kryst, a German photographer.

The couple split after 23 years together in 2019. They share a 20-year-old son named Clay, who studies at an art school in New York, and has started a band of his own. Of the break-up, Fran said the pair transitioned from ‘lovers to parents’ but still refers to her as his ‘soul sister’.

The star suffered more heartbreak when he lost his best friend Ringan Ledwidge to cancer in 2021. Then, Travis also sacked their long-standing manager after more than 25 years together. “It was like being in a storm and you think you might sink,” he told the BBC in 2024. “Then it clears, because that’s what life does.”

Meanwhile, Fran said sacking their management was one of the “most empowering moments” as it allowed him to take control of the band again.

During a US gig last year, the frontrunner was rushed off stage and taken to hospital after twisting his ankle. He took to Instagram to tell fans it wasn’t broken but just a “gnarly sprain”.

The FA Cup returns this weekend with eight teams competing for a place in the semi-final at Wembley later this month.

Manchester City and Liverpool kick off the action with their tie at the Etihad Stadium at 12:45pm on Saturday.

Chelsea are next up as they host League One side Port Vale at Stamford Bridge at 5:15pm before Southampton host Premier League leaders Arsenal at St Mary’s at 8pm.

In the only FA Cup tie held on Sunday, West Ham play Leeds United at the London Stadium at 4:30pm.

When is the FA Cup semi-final draw?

The FA Cup semi-final draw will be held on Sunday, April 5, after West Ham’s quarter-final tie against Leeds United at the London Stadium.

The match kicks off at 4.30pm and the draw will take place approximately 15 minutes after full-time.

How to watch the FA Cup draw on TV and live stream

The draw will be available for fans to watch on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max.

The draw will also be streamed live for free on the TNT Sports YouTube channel.

When will the semi-final games be played?

The two semi-final ties will take place on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 at Wembley.

Are there replays in the FA Cup this year?

Replays are not in use in any of the full rounds of this season’s FA Cup.

The FA scrapped replays from the first round onwards in last year’s competition and that has continued into the 2025/26 campaign.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Easter is around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about how to decorate your eggs.

Whether you’re dying eggs for your table spread or planning to hide them for an egg hunt, it’s important to follow food safety guidelines to minimize germs and maximize your egg quality.

You have some time to eat your eggs

Eggs are remarkably long lasting, so there needn’t be a giant rush to eat them.

“Stores usually do turn over eggs pretty quickly, so the recommendations is you should consume eggs three to five weeks after you purchase them,” said Kara Lynch, food safety educator with Michigan State University Extension.

There is also a benefit in letting eggs age just a bit, as older eggs can be easier to peel. That’s because eggs shrink over time within the shell, creating an air pocket between the egg and the shell.

Hard boil your eggs

Egg processors clean eggs before they reach store shelves, but it also is important to thoroughly cook eggs to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, especially salmonella. That bacteria lives naturally in the gastrointestinal and reproductive tracts of chickens, said Kimberly Baker, associate extension specialist at Clemson University.

To cook your eggs, place them in a saucepan, fill it with water and bring it to a boil. After that, put the lid on, turn the heat off and let it sit for about 12 minutes. Some also favor turning down the heat and simmering eggs.

You can vary the time in the hot water depending on a desire for harder boiled or slightly creamier eggs, but the yolk should be pretty solid to be safe. Boiling them for too long can risk creating green sulfur development on the outside of the yolk.

How to cool the eggs

After that, Don Schaffner, food science department chair at Rutgers University, said there are two options.

You can run your eggs under cold water to reduce the temperature. From there, you can color them right away or place them back in the fridge until you’re ready. Or, after you’ve boiled them, you can let them air dry until they’ve cooled.

The boiling process sanitizes the eggs, and as long as they are kept out of water, Schaffner said, they will remain safe to eat.

“You’ve boiled the egg, you’ve gotten rid of any bacteria that might be in the egg. And now you’ve air-cooled it, right? So it’s going to cool more slowly, it’s probably going to cook more,” he said. “But most importantly, you don’t have to worry about any bacteria from the water getting internalized into the egg.”

It’s OK to get food dye on your eggs

Either artificial or natural food dye is OK as long as the dye label says it’s food grade. For those keeping track, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been updating its guidance and regulations regarding certain dyes.

And no, it’s not a problem if the dye seeps through the shell.

“Eggs kind of naturally have their own abilities to absorb only so much,” Baker said.

As you’re decorating the eggs and have the eggs outside, she suggested keeping your eggs in an ice bath, so they can stay at a cooler temperature while you’re decorating.

Follow the 2-hour rule

Eggs should generally be kept at or below 40 degrees (4.4 degrees Celsius) to minimize the risk of contaminants.

Cooked eggs that weren’t air-cooled should spend no more than two hours at room temperature. And that’s cumulative, including the time spent decorating and the time spent hiding during the Easter egg hunt.

But if it’s particularly warm, then that two-hour rule may be shortened to one hour, Lynch said.

Hard boiled eggs are generally good for about a week in the fridge.

Give your eggs a rinse before peeling

Be careful with your eggs as you handle them.

One of the biggest concerns is making sure your eggs haven’t cracked during an Easter egg hunt, making them vulnerable to contaminants. And once the egg has been hard boiled, there’s no way to kill bacteria that get inside, Baker said.

“We don’t want to be putting them in the soil or in lawns where pets have gone to the bathroom,” she said.

Whether the eggs are hidden outdoors or in a corner of your home, you should rinse them in cool water before you peel them. And wash your hands, too, just in case the eggs have picked up something.

Consider using plastic eggs

If the Easter egg hunt means your eggs will be at room temperature for longer than two hours, experts recommended using plastic eggs for the hunt instead of real ones to minimize food safety risk.

“If it’s an outdoor Easter egg hunt at any time, I would say go with the plastic eggs and be safe,” Baker said. “And use your dyed Easter eggs as your centerpiece on your table or your buffet, and enjoy them that way.”

NEW YORK (AP) — On a recent weeknight, three tenants of an aging Bronx building were trading apartment horror stories inside a packed ballroom lined with city bureaucrats.

The occasion was the third in a series of “rental rip-off hearings,” a new forum launched by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for disgruntled renters to air their complaints directly to housing officials — and in some cases, the mayor himself.

As she waited in line, Gulhayo Yuldosheva said she worried that noxious mold in her apartment had worsened her child’s asthma. Nearby, her downstairs neighbor, Marina Quiroz, was showing a video of rats scurrying through her kitchen to a representative of the city’s tenant protection office.

Ann Maitin, a longtime resident of the same building, had just met with the mayor.

“He let me go over my three minutes,” she said, holding up a spiral notebook’s worth of grievances.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist swept into office on a promise of zealous tenant advocacy, framed the event as a struggle session for renters, assuring the standing room only crowd that their stories would guide the city’s efforts “to actually hold landlords accountable when they don’t follow the law.”

To the residents of 705 Gerard Avenue, this raised a practical problem: No one seemed to know who actually owned their building.

“It feels like such a basic question,” said Maitin, a retired Verizon technician who recently organized the building’s tenant association. “You’d think we’d have the right to that information.”

Their situation is hardly unique. As corporate owners and investor groups have grown their share of the rental market in New York City, they are increasingly shielding their identities behind limited liability companies, or LLCs.

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The practice, which has also been spreading nationally, is legal. But experts warn it could complicate Mamdani’s promised crackdown, making it harder for the city and tenants to track the chronically negligent owners whose buildings the mayor has vowed to target and even seize.

“There are these big slumlords that everyone knows are doing predatory investment, but pinning them down is going to be difficult, for the LLC reason,” said Oksana Mironova, a housing policy analyst at the Community Service Society. “That’s a problem for the administration, and it’s even worse for tenants.”

‘They treat us the same as the rats’

For Yuldosheva and her neighbors, finding their landlord is one of many problems afflicting their six-story building near Yankee Stadium.

Heat and hot water outages are regular enough that some tenants keep a thermometer on their fridge and the city’s complaint hotline on speed dial. Common areas are often filthy, and increasingly populated by drug users. Getting help with an urgent maintenance issue “feels like waiting for Christmas in July,” said Maitin.

During a monthslong elevator outage, a tenant who uses a wheelchair, Tommy Rodriguez, said he was forced to “slide down the steps, like a kid.” Calls to the building management about a repair timeline went unanswered, he said.

Growing up in the building in the 1980s, Rodriguez recalled the previous landlord as a friendly and responsive neighborhood presence.

“This felt like a home before,” Rodriguez said. “Now they treat us the same as the rats.”

A large rodent had recently chewed a hole through his couch cushion. He handled the extermination himself, with a two-by-four.

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A distressing breakthrough

Recently, tenants received a clue about their landlord, following the partial collapse of another Bronx building. The man identified in news stories as the owner of that building, David Kleiner, shared a Brooklyn office with their building manager, Binyomin Herzl.

A handful of tenants visited each of the building’s 72 units, logging an array of decrepit conditions and unusual alterations.

“We didn’t want to become the next news story,” said Yuldosheva, pointing to a crack in the wall of a bedroom shared by her three children — a result, she feared, of the subway that rumbles just below her windows.

Lawsuits show that Herzl has been ordered to pay more than $100,000 for violations across at least six Bronx buildings, several of which were found by a judge to pose an imminent hazard.

Reached by phone, Herzl said he didn’t own any of those properties, but simply acted as a middleman between tenants and the true owners, whom he declined to list. “There’s no one landlord,” he said. “It’s a group of investors.”

Kleiner, who was previously featured on the city’s “worst landlord” list, confirmed his partial ownership of 705 Gerard in a brief phone call, but declined further comment.

Herzl, meanwhile, attributed the tenants’ complaints to “normal wear and tear” of a nearly century old building. He said Mamdani should focus on improving the city’s public housing, rather than going after private landlords.

“Our buildings look like five star hotels against his,” he added.

From fines to seizures

When landlords refuse to address a serious violation, like heat or hot water outages, the city can step in and order repairs, then bill the owner directly.

In the last three years, inspectors have ordered emergency repairs at 38 buildings that list either Herzl or Kleiner as an owner, according to records provided by the city’s housing department. The men have been billed $446,521 for those repairs.

Mamdani has proposed using such fines as a vehicle to bring distressed rental properties under city stewardship, by aggressively pursuing liens on delinquent landlords and buying up their portfolios through foreclosure auctions.

Just as the city can shut down unsanitary restaurants, Mamdani has said, landlords that “repeatedly put New Yorkers at risk will not be allowed to operate in New York City — with no exceptions.”

In reality, the process is resource-intensive and legally fraught. It is made more complex by the nest of LLCs often used by landlords to obfuscate the full scope of their portfolios, according to Cea Weaver, director of the Mayor’s Office to Protect Tenants.

“It’d be great to have a better sense of who owns the buildings that we are regulating and overseeing,” she said.

State legislation that would have made it easier to identify LLC owners was recently vetoed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul amid pressure from landlords.

New Yorkers vs. Bad Landlords

Kenny Burgos, the CEO of the New York Apartment Association, a landlord lobbying group, said Mamdani’s tenant proposals — including freezing the rent for regulated tenants — would force landlords to cut back on maintenance and services.

“That’s going to take away from the elevator budget, the boiler budget, the heating budget,” he said. “It’s a question of math: These buildings are crumbling because of policy, not because of bad landlords.”

He characterized the rental rip-off hearings as “show trials” that took a “tribal approach” to the city’s affordable housing crisis.

Despite the combative branding — “New Yorkers vs. Bad Landlords,” blares one promotion — the Bronx event mostly resembled a standard constituent service night: City officials fielded questions about local laws, helped residents with paperwork and connected them to service providers.

Maitin left feeling “glad to be heard by someone who can actually do something about the problem,” but felt it was too early to tell “if it’s all talk.”

The next morning, she was surprised to find the building’s superintendent applying a fresh coat of paint to a staircase. Outside, workers were removing scaffolding that had been in front of the building for years.

“I think they caught wind of the rental rip-off,” Maitin said. “They’re scared.”

Paul Scholes insists Michael Carrick has done a ‘great job’ at Manchester United but still believes there is a better option to become the club’s permanent manager.

Carrick has won seven of his ten games in charge of United since being hired as caretaker manager following the sacking of Ruben Amorim in January.

The ex-United midfielder has taken the Red Devils up to third in the Premier League table, above top-four rivals Aston Villa, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Scholes has described Manchester United’s transformation as ‘unbelievable’ and insists his former teammate Carrick is ‘putting real pressure’ on the Old Trafford owners to get the job on a permanent basis.

Carrick’s return was only expected to be temporary but United’s recent resurgence has convinced many pundits and fans that he should be handed the reins on a full-time basis.

Scholes wants to see how Carrick deals with a period of ‘adversity’ before endorsing him for the job, however, and believes the ‘perfect’ candidate is Carlo Ancelotti.

Currently preparing to take Brazil into this summer’s World Cup, Ancelotti is one of the most decorated managers of all time, winning titles in England, Italy, Spain, France and Germany and lifting five Champions Leagues.

‘Michael Carrick is doing great, it’s unbelievable the change,’ Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast. ‘If you put yourself in the owner’s shoes or whoever is making the decision, he’s putting real pressure on them to get the job.

‘The people making that decision might have to think about it a little bit differently because I don’t think you need the most technical or talented coach.

‘You’re at a big club with good players who know what they’re doing, maybe they need a man-manager more than anything.

‘If you look back to Sir Alex [Ferguson] he was never a coach really but he knew the players, he knew what the players needed and how to treat players to get the best out of them.

‘If you look at Real Madrid with Carlo Ancelotti, Zinedine Zidane, I don’t think they’re the most technical or tactical coaches but they’re good man-managers.

‘Ruben Amorim seemed obsessed with tactics and it didn’t work, Xabi Alonso seemed the same at Real Madrid. Do those type of big clubs need those coaches or a more man-manager?

‘I don’t know what Michael’s coaching style is like but I can imagine as a man-manager he’s very good because he’s brilliant with people and players.

‘The question over Michael is does he have the experience? I know he’s managed in the Championship but this is obviously different.

‘Can we see Carrick winning United the Premier League? Look, we don’t know yet.

‘Now the perfect one out there… Ancelotti is still out there, I know he’s with Brazil, but he’s that perfect one for Manchester United where you think he would make players feel a million dollars and he’s got the experience of winning trophies.

‘The only question would be is he too old? That’s the only thing, is there anyone else of that ilk with a bit more experience?

‘The way you judge a Manchester United manager is to look ahead and think, “can United win the league with this manager?” It’s not a case of finishing in the top-four, you need a manager who you think can win you the Premier League.

‘The great thing someone like Ancelotti has is experience – I know that sounds obvious – but we don’t know yet how Michael Carrick will deal with going through a bit of adversity.’

Fellow Old Trafford legend Nicky Butt initially had reservations about Carrick getting the Manchester United job but now expects the 44-year-old to be in charge for the start of next season.

‘It’s amazing what he’s done because the club was in turmoil,’ Butt said. ‘It’s brilliant what they’re doing.

‘If I was a betting man I’d be putting my money on Carrick being the permanent manager. How can you sit here now and say he shouldn’t get the job?

‘There’s not that many other options, who else would they go for? There’s nobody jumping out for me.

‘I honestly thought it would be Thomas Tuchel but then he signed a new deal with England so that’s off the table.

‘So if you look at what Michael Carrick is doing and then the other options out there, I think he gets the job now.’

Manchester United will look to consolidate their place in the top-four of the Premier League when they host rivals Leeds United on April 13.

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These are the things we did – and ate – while on our school holidays back in the day

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The season of summer isn’t nearly as fun when you’re an adult as it was when you were a kid. And between the weather, the discontinuation of some of our favourite treats and holidays abroad being far more common than holidays at home, summers just aren’t what they used to be.

You can’t blame us, then, for being nostalgic for the summers we experienced growing up. From trips to the likes of Portrush or Newcastle to the thrill of playing outside ’til way past your normal bedtime, there’s no comparison to the summers of our childhood.

Take a walk down memory lane with us as we revisit some classic childhood memories of summers in Northern Ireland. If you were a kid here in the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s or ‘00s, some of these likely played a role in your past summers.

A trip to Barry’s Amusements

Located in Portrush and Bangor, Barry’s Amusements was home to many summer memories over the years. First opened at the pier in 1926, the Portrush location is the longest-running amusement park in Northern Ireland, though it’s now called Curry’s Fun Park under new ownership.

Many generations spent a summer’s day at either location through the years. Those who went to the Portrush Barry’s will remember various fairground rides such as its Dipper roller coasters, the Satellite, the Freak Out and so on, while visitors to the Bangor location (now demolished) particularly loved riding the Ghost Train and playing games at the arcade.

Watching summer TV schedules

These days, kids watch shows on every streaming service known to man or else YouTube videos of adults unboxing toys. We’ll never understand this on-demand selection of children’s programming when we grew up with TV channels airing marathons of kids shows to make the most of summer viewership.

Depending on your age, you might’ve been glued to anything like ‘Why Don’t You?’, ‘ThunderCats’, ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’, ‘Ed, Edd n Eddy’ or ‘Hey Arnold!’ and so on. And on a rainy day, your square eyes were in front of the telly so long you’d catch repeats of the episodes shown that morning in the evening.

Going to Dreamworld

Another one for the amusements lovers, Dreamworld off Boucher Road was very well-named. Its swinging Fredo-sponsored ship and the PlayStation area made it a haven for kids in the late ‘90s/early ‘00s.

Swimming at Pickie Pool

While Bangor is still home to Pickie Funpark, it was once home to the be-all-and-end-all of Northern Irish swimming: Pickie Pool. First opened in 1931, it was an outdoor sea-water pool with a 35ft diving board.

Pickie Pool attracted many casual swimmers looking to make the most of a sunny day. It also hosted many participants and spectators of swimming and diving contests until it was demolished in the late ‘80s.

Going on family picnics

There was nothing like making use of local scenery for a day out that cost your parents nothing but the price of the journey there and the packed lunch they brought along. Whether it was at Belfast Castle, Mount Stewart, Minnowburn or elsewhere, as long as we had a packet of Fives and space to run around, we were happy out.

Eating old-school ice-creams & ice-lols

The power the ice-cream man and the freezer in the local corner shop had over us knew no bounds. Our favourites included a 99, Dale Farm classics like Pear Picking Porky, Polly Pineapple and Joker, or HB products like Fat Frog and Loop the Loop.

Fish and chips by the sea

There’s plenty of gorgeous coastal towns and villages in Northern Ireland, and plenty of gorgeous food to be had within them. As a kid, nothing beat a day of being burnt alive at the seaside, finished off with a trip to the chippy – be it Morton’s in Ballycastle, John Macs in Newcastle or so on.

Visiting Belfast Zoo

Still a summer staple, a trip to the zoo was a must during the weeks you had off school as a kid. Remember the days of watching the birds at the free flight area or having your snacks or belongings nicked by Tina the kleptomaniac elephant?

What other childhood memories do you have of summer in Northern Ireland? Let us know in the comments below

Village Cakery, run by couple Andy Hope and Bradley Skeen, launched its new premises on Fore Bondgate, having operated from their home in Cockfield.

The bakery welcomed its first customers on Friday, April 3, marking a major milestone for the couple who first started the business in 2024.

The Village Cakery opened in Bishop Auckland pictured owners Andy Hope & Brad Skeen (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Photos inside the shop show the new bakery ready for customers, with displays set up of the wide range of cakes and baked goods the business has become known for.

Village Cakery began mainly producing celebration cakes, with Andy explaining that opening a physical shop had always been part of the plan. But despite months of preparation, he said the moment still feels surreal.

Andy said: “It is daunting, but the excitement is just unbelievable.”

The Village Cakery opened in Bishop Auckland pictured owners Andy Hope & Brad Skeen (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The couple, from Bishop Auckland, secured the keys to the Fore Bondgate premises on Sunday, March 1 and have been preparing the shop ever since.

Andy said: “We had always talked about opening a shop, but it was about Christmas time when we decided to do it.

“We viewed a few shops around Bishop because we were both born and bred here, and it is where we want our base to be.

“We are all about the community, working together to make a better high street.

“We are trying to get the other shops involved in our opening by giving out 20 per cent discount vouchers.”

The Village Cakery opened in Bishop Auckland pictured owners Andy Hope & Brad Skeen (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The bakery was originally started by Andy before his sister joined the venture, with the business initially building its reputation at markets across the region.

After taking a short break, Andy restarted the bakery with Bradley, with the pair deciding to fully commit to growing the business.

The Village Cakery opened on Fore Bondgate in Bishop Auckland pictured Imogen Watkins (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Andy said: “We just decided to dive right in, do it properly, get the shop, go to markets and just do everything we possibly can.

“It has gone so well. The markets that we’ve had this year have just been phenomenal.”

The Village Cakery opened on Fore Bondgate in Bishop Auckland (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Village Cakery opened on Fore Bondgate in Bishop Auckland (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

The Village Cakery opened on Fore Bondgate in Bishop Auckland (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Customers visiting the new shop can expect a wide selection of baked goods, with the owners keen to keep introducing new ideas.

Andy added: “We are always trying to do something different. We are going to trade back on TikTok, and we are looking to do home delivery service.

“Down the line, we’re looking to do bakery classes or demonstrations. The possibilities of what you can do are pretty much endless.”