Detective Sergeant Tom Barker, from North Yorkshire Police, said it is believed that the offenders were trying to steal car keys from the homes in Pateley Bridge, Dacre Banks, and Summerbridge on Thursday morning (September 3).

He said no one has “come to any physical harm”, as he moved to reassure residents by saying “incidents like this are rare”.

DS Barker said it is “unusual for offenders to return to the same area in quick succession”, but urged residents to “remain vigilant”.

He said there will be an increased police presence as the force investigates the three reports of burglaries at homes in Pateley Bridge, Dacre Banks and Summerbridge.

The detective said residents should “ensure appropriate security measures are in place to make it as difficult as possible for criminals to target their homes and vehicles”.

Anyone with information that could help the police investigation is asked to phone 101 quoting reference 12260172459.

Information can be passed anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

​Wilson’s Food Hall in Seamer, near Scarborough, wants to construct a “modest” glass extension which would replace a currently “undefined outdoor seating area”.

​The popular and well-rated establishment said that the extension aims to provide additional, “comfortable seating that can be used throughout the year, rather than only during favourable weather”.

​“This would allow the business to trade consistently across all seasons, reducing its exposure to seasonal fluctuation and improving its long-term financial resilience.

The Type Of Glass Extension Propsoed By Wilson’S Food Hall In Seamer. Courtesy Of Applicant

​“The additional capacity would enable Wilson’s Food Hall to meet existing demand that currently cannot be accommodated, safeguarding both the business itself and the local jobs it supports,” it added.

​If plans are approved by North Yorkshire Council, the glass extension would protrude 3.2 metres from the front elevation and would be 7.3 metres wide.

​The business’s outdoor seating hours were extended to 7.30am to 7pm, Monday to Sunday, earlier this year.

​“Although the scheme was found acceptable, some initial concerns were raised regarding the impact on amenity by local representation and the council’s environmental health team. This proposed development would, in fact, reduce the impact on amenity by controlling the noise emissions,” the applicant said.

​“The proposal is a modern intervention and would improve the overall appearance of the existing building. In regard to heritage, the application sits within the Seamer conservation area and as such, the proposal is considered to preserve, and to some extent, enhance the conservation area,” according to a planning statement submitted to the council.

Elevations Of Extension Propsoed By Wilson’S Food Hall In Seamer. Courtesy Of Applicant, Harrison Pick.

​It comes as the business is hoping to turn the Newby and Scalby Community Hall into Wilson’s Food & Community Hall. However, the proposal has been met with objections from local residents who are concerned about a lack of consultation by the trustees of the current community hall.

​North Yorkshire Council has not set a date for deciding on the proposed extension plans which are currently open to representations from members of the public.

Hazel McQueen, one of the organisers from the Say NO To Larbert Data Centre group, told the Press Association: “When you see the amount of people here today, and the fact that Larbert alone had 7,000 objections, [Mr Swinney] needs to listen to the people, he needs to listen to the people of Larbert and the people of Scotland.

The war of words between the two camps has escalated in recent days with accusations flying around

Former South Africa head coach Nick Mallett has accused the All Blacks of “basically cheating” as the war of words between the two camps continues ahead of their blockbuster third Test in Johannesburg this weekend.

‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ has exploded into life in recent days, as the Springboks levelled the series with a victory in the second Test in Cape Town on Saturday. After watching his side fall to the 33-26 defeat, frustrated New Zealand boss Dave Rennie hit out at their opponents’ scrummaging technique, accusing the world champions of “walking around” during scrums.

Rennie alleged that the South African forwards were gaining an unfair advantage by illegally angling sideways rather than staying square and driving straight, claiming that the hosts were “able to walk around and go straight through our tighthead.”

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That prompted a furious response from Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus, who slammed Rennie’s comments as “nonsense” and told reporters: “We’re not f***ing walking around. We’re scrumming through.”

Now, Erasmus’ comments have been echoed by former Boks chief Mallett, who has in turn accused the All Blacks of turning the scrum into “a joke” by repeatedly collapsing it in the hope of having it reset or winning a penalty.

“What they do now is they don’t want to stay up because if they collapse, they force the referee to make a decision between one or the other side,” he told the Talking Boks podcast. “So you have a 50 per cent chance of getting it right, of actually getting a penalty.

“Whereas the referees should be good enough to see who is actually pancaking, who’s going down. So this Saturday, we’re going to come as hard as we can in the scrums and hopefully we’re going to get better reward for our dominance in that area of the game.”

“If Rassie is correct in saying the first six scrums went down and there was only a penalty in the 35th minute when Marx and Ox Nche came on, then that’s inexcusable,” Mallett added.

“You’re turning it into, basically, a joke because the side that puts the ball in just collapses the scrum. How can you go forward if the scrum is lying on the ground? You can’t. So, in fact, they are basically cheating to stop themselves giving a penalty away.”

Mallett’s comments come after Springboks scrum guru Daan Human hit back at Rennie’s claims and insisted that his side have been scrummaging legally throughout the series.

Aldi has confirmed that store workers will be given the chance to enjoy more time with their family and friends around Christmas, as all shops will close for 24 hours on Boxing Day.

Customers will be able to return to shopping at Aldi when shops reopen the following day on Sunday, December 27.

Aldi stores will also close on New Year’s Day and reopen on Saturday, January 2, 2027.

Opening times will vary locally in the days before Christmas, with many stores extending their hours to help customers pick up everything they need for the festive period.

Explaining the decision, Rachel Geary, Communications Director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is a special time for our customers, but it is also one of the busiest periods of the year for our teams.

“Our colleagues work incredibly hard to ensure customers can pick up everything they need ahead of the big day.

“We never take that effort for granted. Closing our stores on Boxing Day is one way of saying thank you and giving colleagues a proper chance to rest, switch off and spend more time with the people closest to them.”

Customers are encouraged to check the Aldi Store Finder nearer the time for the latest opening hours at their local store.

Aldi Store Assistants earn £13.50 per hour nationally and £14.88 inside the M25, rising to £14.47 and £15.20 respectively with length of service. Aldi also remains the only major supermarket to offer paid breaks, worth around £1,500 a year to the average store colleague.

Meanwhile, research from consumer group Which? has named the UK’s cheapest supermarket.

The budget retailer topped the list for August, according to consumer group Which?, based on a comparison of 92 popular grocery items.

Shoppers would have paid up to £30.09 less at Aldi than at Tesco, where the basket cost £189.45, and £26.19 less than at Sainsbury’s, which totalled £185.55.

Morrisons was £34.75 more expensive at £194.11, while Waitrose shoppers would have paid £223.75 for the same items—£64.39 more than at Aldi.

Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: “We’re proud to have been recognised as the UK’s cheapest supermarket for the tenth consecutive month.

“This achievement reflects our continued commitment to offering dependable value every time our customers shop with us.

“As families prepare for the new school year, we know household budgets can come under added pressure, so we’re focused on making quality groceries more affordable and helping customers make their money go further.”

Aldi has topped the Which? rankings every month in 2026 so far, following its title of Cheapest Supermarket of the Year for 2025.

Billionaire investor Leon Black has taken legal action against the House Oversight Committee after refusing to show up for a scheduled congressional deposition on Thursday.

Instead, he filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block subpoenas issued as part of the panel’s probe into disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Lawmakers originally served Black with two subpoenas during a private voluntary interview in June after he reportedly declined to answer questions about nondisclosure agreements. One subpoena demanded that he produce NDAs and related files, while the second ordered him to return for a deposition.

In his lawsuit, Black argues that the subpoenas exceed the committee’s authority by seeking personal information unrelated to Epstein or any legitimate legislative purpose. The filing asks a federal judge to strike down the subpoenas as invalid and prevent the committee from enforcing them.

“The Committee is on a fishing expedition that oversteps its authority and completely ignores its responsibility,” Black’s attorney, Susan Estrich, said in a statement. “This is no longer about finding the truth about Epstein. It is about trying to destroy Mr. Black.”

Lawmaker calls for Leon Black to be held in contempt

Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, argued that Congress “must hold him in contempt immediately.”

“By refusing to testify today, Leon Black is now defying two Congressional subpoenas,” Garcia said. “Black gave Jeffrey Epstein over $180 million over six years. He funded Epstein’s abuse and trafficking of women. Multiple women have also accused Black of sexual assault. His connections to Epstein and his unwillingness to cooperate are unacceptable. We must hold him in contempt immediately.”

The committee’s chair, Kentucky Rep. James Comer, accused Black of “hiding behind litigation rather than provide answers to the American people.”

Comer’s statement cotinued, “Our investigation is examining how the federal government for decades failed survivors of Jeffery Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s crimes and how Mr. Epstein sought to curry favor with influential individuals to avoid scrutiny. Mr. Black’s testimony is crucial to our investigation as he was one of Mr. Epstein’s fee paying clients and has several nondisclosure agreements. Our deposition is moving forward this morning for the record and there will be an empty chair for Mr. Black. I will speak with our members about next steps.”

Leon Black’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein

Black co-founded and served as chief executive of the private equity firm Apollo Global Management before stepping down in 2021 amid public fallout over his ties to Epstein.

He is one of several high-profile individuals to feature in the probe into Epstein and the network of wealth and influence surrounding him. Others involved in the investigation include former Democratic President Bill Clinton, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

Files released by the Department of Justice regarding the Epstein case mention Black repeatedly. He was also featured in a collection of birthday greetings made public by the committee last year, which included a poem attributed to Black referencing “Blond, Red or Brunette, spread out geographically.”

Prior to his June 26 interview, Black maintained that he was unaware of Epstein’s “nefarious activity” until 2019, asserting that his payments to Epstein were for legitimate advice based on his “unrivaled network of relationships” with prominent figures.

People in England now have to wait an additional year to receive their free bus pass

The age that you can get a bus pass for free in England has changed this year as a major update to the State Pension comes into affect.

The Department for Transport previously confirmed that from April 2026, individuals in England will have to wait an additional year to receive their free bus pass.

Since April, the waiting period for a free pass in England has been extended by another 12 months. This change corresponds with the planned increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67, set to be fully implemented across the UK by 2028 for both men and women.

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This modification to the official retirement age has been in the pipeline since 2014, with a further increase from 67 to 68 expected between 2044 and 2046. The Pensions Act 2014 fast-tracked the increase in the State Pension age from 66 to 67 by eight years.

The UK Government also adjusted the phasing of the State Pension age increase, meaning that instead of reaching State Pension age on a specific date, individuals born between March 6, 1961, and April 5, 1977, will be eligible to claim the State Pension once they turn 67 – and the same will apply to their concessionary bus passes.

The Department for Transport has confirmed concessionary bus passes will also be impacted by the State Pension age change.

A spokesperson said: “We fully recognise bus passes are vital to many older people, providing access to essential services and keeping people connected through free local travel. We’re already in the process of making ambitious reforms to improve bus services for all passengers and supporting local areas to improve reliability and affordability.”

It comes despite a substantial campaign last year that pushed for the same concessionary travel benefits as those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – where free bus travel is available from the age of 60 – in England, complimentary travel is only granted from the age of 66, aligning with the state pension age.

State Pension age is scheduled to increase from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, as set out in the State Pension Act 2014. The DfT added: “Local authorities in England have the power to offer concessions in addition to their statutory obligations, for example, by lowering the age of eligibility. These are additional local concessions provided and funded by local authorities from local resources, depending on the needs and priorities of each area.”

The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme provides free off-peak bus travel to those with qualifying disabilities and individuals who have reached state pension age (under the Pension Act 2014), operating from 9.30am to 11pm on weekdays and throughout weekends and Bank Holidays.

In response to a substantial petition on the Parliament website last year, calling for free bus travel for those aged over 60 in England, the DfT said that funding had been distributed to local authorities, which could be utilised to provide free travel from age 60.

It said: “The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme costs around £700 million annually. Any changes to the statutory scheme must be carefully considered for their impact on its financial sustainability.”

Vogue Williams‘ husband Spencer Matthews gave a glimpse of their fourth child with in a sweet Instagram post shared on Thursday.

The Irish TV presenter, 40, and the former Made In Chelsea star, 38, announced the birth of their baby boy via her Instagram on Tuesday evening and Spencer returned to the site to post a ‘bump to baby’ post two days later.

The star, who is already parent to sons Theodore, seven, and Otto, four, and daughter Gigi, six, posed in her hospital room in a sports bra and knickers with her bump on show in the first image in the post. 

The next shot saw her walking in the park with the swaddled newborn, whose name she is yet to reveal, while looking svelte in a white T-shirt.  

In announcing her news, Vogue wrote: ‘Our beautiful baby boy has arrived safely… The house is bursting with excitement, love and happiness and we couldn’t be more delighted.’

The family received congratulatory messages from their famous friends, including Holly Willoughby, who branded her ‘super mamma’, Amanda Holden and Zoe Ball.

The Irish TV presenter, 40, and the former Made In Chelsea star, 38, announced the birth of their baby boy via her Instagram on Tuesday evening and Spencer returned to the site to post a ‘bump to baby’ post two days later

The mother-of-four has not yet revealed the name of their newborn after revealing she and Spencer had changed their baby boy’s name at the last minute.

The couple had originally planned to call their fourth child Elvis, inspired by the rock’n’roll legend. Ahead of her due date, Vogue revealed they had made a U-turn and needed to decide on a new name.

Speaking on her My Therapist Ghosted Me podcast this week, Vogue said: Do you know what? Big news from my week.

‘We have changed our baby name – we have no name. You know the name was pretty full on and I loved the name.

‘Spenny has been getting a few phone calls from family members regarding the name.’

The mother-of-four has not yet revealed the name of their newborn after revealing she and Spencer had changed their baby boy’s name at the last minute 

The couple announced they were expecting baby number four on social media in April, with Vogue sharing some pictures on Instagram with the caption, ‘BABY NUMBER 4 INCOMING…’ 

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Her co-host and pal Joanne McNally quipped: ‘I just don’t think Gary is that controversial.’ Vogue continued: ‘I honestly thought though because it’s been on my mind I just, I haven’t ever been 100 per cent comfortable with it.

‘But because as much as I love the name it’s such a big name to take on when you’re little or trying to get a job when you’re older.

‘I have got other very cool options, though that was my favourite name,’ before she confirmed: ‘We were going to call the baby Elvis, I love it.’

The couple announced they were expecting baby number four on social media in April, with Vogue sharing some pictures on Instagram with the caption, ‘BABY NUMBER 4 INCOMING…’

Vogue and Spencer tied the knot in 2018. However divorce rumours swirled last year after they failed to publicly mark their seventh wedding anniversary – months after Spencer stepped down from their joint podcast Spencer & Vogue to focus on his own project, Untapped.

But Vogue previously insisted she and her husband are ‘happy’ and that their marriage is secure, while dispelling past rumours of a potential crisis.

Speaking to The Sun, the presenter said she has reached a point in her life where only ‘their truth’ matters, stressing that they remain very much a happy couple.

She recalled: ‘When he left our podcast, everyone was like, “What’s going on?”‘

Vogue also admitted to worrying about their children hearing the ‘baseless and cruel’ gossip at school.

There’s not much else to go on when it comes to prediction which other games we’ll see at State of Play today.

I’m not a betting man, but if I had to put money on one game being shown, it would be God of War Laufey. The game was announced back at the last State of Play in June with 17 minutes of raw gameplay.

Since then, it’s been confirmed that it’s headed to PS5 consoles on February 16, 2027. With six months until launch, it seems likely that we’ll get a new trailer for the game here.

I also reckon we’ll see a launch trailer for Marvel’s Wolverine, which is set to launch on September 15. I doubt that we’ll learn anything new about the game given we’re so close to release, but it makes sense that a final trailer would be shown here to tease out a few last minute pre-orders.

Other than those two, it’s pretty much anyone’s guess as to which games we’ll see later today. Of course, we’ll likely see the usual smattering of indie titles thrown in here, as well as hopefully a few surprises that we’re not expecting.

By LEWIS BROWNING, SPORTS REPORTER

Published: 14:14 BST, 3 September 2026 | Updated: 14:30 BST, 3 September 2026