Durham County Council’s planning committee approved plans for five properties on land near St Gregory Close in Staindrop.
Matthew Houghton, the applicant, said the homes will be a mix of three and four-bedroom properties.
But Staindrop Parish Council joined nine others in objecting to the plans after raising concerns about the local landscape, impact on current residential amenity, flooding, and infrastructure capacity.
Advertisement
“There is already permission for a large number of new houses in Staindrop and the impact of two significant developments upon resources within the village is unknown,” parish councillors said.
An objection letter added: “The approval would represent another missed opportunity to provide affordable housing for local people. This is what the village needs, rather than ‘executive style’ housing.
“The house designs lack innovation and style and are inappropriate for Staindrop.”
Mr Houghton said he has worked closely with the council’s planning department to ensure the scheme is sensitive to the area and delivers high-quality housing.
Advertisement
He added: “We are mindful of recent large housing schemes in Staindrop and Barnard Castle that have upset local people, but what we offer is something different to that. The benefit of small, local builders and developments is that we can provide more bespoke and interesting houses with much less visual impact, using local materials and contractors.
“Not only are the houses an attractive and different product, but the construction phase delivers a serious benefit to the local economy.”
Despite the successes of Staindrop Primary School, Mr Houghton said it currently has to advertise further afield for pupils, and the new housing will boost local services in the village.
He added: “Supporting local small-scale builders in their endeavours will reduce reliance on volume housebuilders to deliver the much-needed housing to achieve the council’s targets, and in doing so will result in much greater benefits to the local economy.”
Advertisement
Members of Durham County Council’s planning committee unanimously supported the application.
The new trail will only be at the National Trust site for a few weeks.
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Advertisement
A National Trust site in Cambridgeshire has announced a new trail will be opening in the spring inspired by a famous children’s book. Anglesey Abbey has revealed it will have a new sculpture trail for families to visit at the start of spring.
The trail will bring the “much-loved” characters from The Wind in the Willows to life around the gardens of the National Trust site. The trail will follow Kenneth Grahame’s characters Badger, Toad, Mole, and Ratty the Water Vole on a “modern-day adventure”.
The trail will also feature a “cast of newly introduced species”. While walking around the gardens, you will learn more about how wildlife, farming, people, and the environment are all connected making the experience quite educational.
All of the sculptures have a unique design and have been placed in “key locations” around the gardens to allow visitors to explore “while engaging with art, storytelling, and nature”. The sculptures cover themes like biodiversity and conservation.
Advertisement
Visitors will be able to use trail maps to guide them around the gardens. The map will also feature more information about the characters, artists, and ideas that inspired the new trail.
Meghan Curteis, Experience and Visitor Programming Manager at Anglesey Abbey, said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Wind in the Willows sculpture trail to Anglesey Abbey this spring. It’s a wonderful way for visitors to explore the gardens, enjoy some fantastic artwork and reflect on the important connections between nature, wildlife and people, all while spending time outdoors with family and friends.”
The trail has been created by Wild in Art in collaboration with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The trail is part of a “wider programme of public activities” to celebrate the 50th anniversary of wildlife research at APHA.
Advertisement
Charlie Langhorne, Managing Director and Co-found, Wild in Art said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the Animal & Plant Health Agency and the National Trust to bring this much-loved story to life in such a beautiful and inspiring setting.
“The trail will be a spectacular celebration of artistic talent, using sculpture as a three-dimensional canvas to spark curiosity, open up conversations and create moments of connection with nature and the environment for people of all ages. We hope visitors will enjoy discovering each one and the stories they tell.”
The trail will only be available at Anglesey Abbey from Saturday, March 28, until Tuesday, May 5. Entry to the National Trust site costs £19 for adults and £9.50 for children between the ages of five and 17.
Advertisement
Anglesey Abbey is around a 21 minute drive away from Cambridge via the B1102. The site has a car park that is free to use for all visitors.
A foam roller may be basic, but it’s also one of the highest-impact recovery tools you can have in your arsenal, especially for relieving tight glutes, hamstrings, calves and upper back. This one’s designed with a textured, trigger-point style surface to mimic hands-on pressure, which helps you target stubborn knots rather than just rolling around.
For the price, it’s a great entry point if you’re starting to take recovery seriously, and it’s simple enough to use while watching TV. Pair it with slow breathing, and you’ll feel your body downshift.
Protesters commemorating people killed during a deadly government crackdown in Iran last month have clashed with security forces at a university in Tehran.
Students chanted anti-regime slogans, including “death to [Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei”.
They faced off with members of the Basij, a volunteer internal police force which is a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to anti-government media.
Diana Magnay provides analysis from Tel Aviv
Advertisement
Footage shows violent clashes at the Sharif University of Technology on Saturday, while other clips on social media showed protesters with bloody head injuries.
There were also reported demonstrations at the Amir Kabir University of Technology and the University of Tehran.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is considering military action against Iran.
Advertisement
Mr Trump warned on Friday that strikes were possible even as Iran’s top diplomat said Tehran expected to have a proposed deal ready in the next few days.
It follows talks with the US over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Image: The Middle East-bound USS Gerald R Ford aircraft carrier, seen from Gibraltar on Saturday. Pic: Reuters
America has scaled up its military presence in the Middle East in recent weeks.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group will shortly be joined by the USS Gerald Ford, which passed Gibraltar on Saturday en route to the region.
“I guess I can say I am considering that,” said Mr Trump when asked by a reporter at the White House on Friday about a limited strike on Iran.
Advertisement
Image: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a meeting in Tehran on 21 February. Pic: Reuters
Meanwhile, Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran’s president, sounded a defiant tone during a meeting with Paralympic athletics on Saturday.
“We will not bow our heads in the face of these problems,” he said. “We will try to bring honour and pride to our country.
“As long as we are alive, and we can breathe, we will sacrifice our lives for our country.
“By God’s grace and strength, we will not lower our heads in the face of these difficulties. Even though the outside world and global powers are unfairly pressing us to submit, we will not bow our heads, just as you [athletes] refused to bow to difficulties.”
Tactical voters in Gorton and Denton should back the Green Party to stop Reform UK, according to two prominent organisations.
Days before the electorate hit the ballot box in the Greater Manchester constituency, Tactical.Vote and StopTheTories.Vote have concluded that supporting the Greens is the best way to prevent Nigel Farage’s party gaining another MP.
Gorton and Denton has typically been a Labour seat, but the growing popularity of both the Greens and Reform – alongside Keir Starmer’s declining approval rating – means the three parties have been locked in brutal battle for the constituency.
The recommendation comes after a poll from Omnisis of 452 people put Green candidate Hannah Spencer on top with 22% of the vote, while Reform’s Matt Goodwin would take 20% and Labour’s Angeliki Stogia 18%.
Advertisement
A Green Party spokesperson said: “We are delighted that the tactical voting organisations, who just want to make sure that Reform’s politics of hate doesn’t slip through the middle because of a split in anti-Reform vote, are urging people to vote Green.
“The evidence is clear that only the Green Party can beat Reform in Gorton and Denton, and we would urge Labour voters to lend us their vote, to ensure that Reform don’t get a foothold in Manchester to spread their division and hatred.”
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The single poll this recomendation is based on has been criticised for its sample size and showed a huge number of people in this race are yet to make up their minds.
“Only Labour has the breadth of support across the constituency to get this over the line.”
Advertisement
Reform has been approached for comment.
The tactical voting advice comes after Green’s internal canvassing data predicted Reform is on track to win 35.7% of the vote, the Greens 35.5% and Labour 22.5%.
Green leader Zack Polanski also wrote to Powell over the weekend, after the senior Labour figure claimed his party does not have the “base or the breadth of support” to win the seat in a letter earlier this month.
“If you are as concerned about stopping Reform as you proposed in your letter, the course is now clear: in the spirit in which you wrote to me, you should now urge your members and former voters to back Hannah Spencer on the 26th February to stop Reform and make hope normal again,” he said.
Bolton Mountain Rescue Team (BMRT) said that friends Lizzie and Catherine had set off from Rivington village to walk the Angelzarke amble.
The pair undertook the walk on a bitterly cold Valentine’s Day (February 14) when ice had formed on many parts of the 24-mile moorland trail.
Lizzie slipped on the ice and was suddenly in immense pain – realising immediately that she had broken her wrist.
At the same time, BMRT volunteers, Mark and Martin, were on their way to another reported fall in Holcombe, Bury, when they were redirected towards Belmont while other team members continued to the earlier incident.
Advertisement
A woman was rescued from the moors after slipping on ice (Image: Bolton Mountain Rescue Team)
Lizzie’s location was able to be pinned down thanks to a What3Words coordinate given by Catherine, leading them to a lane by Greenhill Farm off the A675.
Mark, one of the team’s remote rescue medical technicians, was able to ease Lizzie’s pain with a strong painkiller and she was placed in their rescue vehicle while they waited for ambulance crews to arrive.
Lizzie was then taken to hospital for treatment and surgery, with BMRT wishing her a swift recovery and thanking Catherine for her help.
Katie’s daughter, who she shares with ex-husband Peter Andre, has now addressed the new relationship after growing concern from her family members about the relationship.
Advertisement
Speaking to The Sun, Princess, 18, said: ‘She’s crazy but it’s my mum. . . I mean, if she’s happy, I’m happy.
‘No, I haven’t met Lee, and, yes, I’ve seen mum since she got married.’
Katie and Lee are still in Dubai despite claiming they were heading back to the UK (Picture: @wesleeeandrews)
Princess said her mum has had ‘so many people do her wrong’ (Picture: Getty)
Princess will discuss her mum’s four marriages on the first episode of her ITV reality show, revealing that she’s seen her heartbroken throughout her childhood.
‘I’ve seen first-hand what heartbreak can look like, and my mum is the prime example,’ she says. ‘She’s had so many people do her wrong, and growing up seeing that has given me an eye-opener of what people can really be like.’
Princess added that Katie’s past has made her vulnerable when it comes to relationships, but her dad Peter and step mum Emily MacDonagh’s marriage gives her hope.
Advertisement
‘Because of that, my guard is up. But obviously, I see my dad and Emily, and think true love does work.’
Katie has now claimed that she’s planning a second UK wedding to Lee, after their Dubai nuptials, which none of her friends and family attended, came as a complete shock to her loved ones.
Discussing their relationship, a source previously told Metro that Katie’s family are ‘rightfully concerned’ about her announcing that she is now intending to have Lee’s baby.
Katie claimed she’s having Lee’s child (Picture: @wesleeeandrews)
Katie’s family members have been left concerned over her new relationship (Picture: @sophie_pricey/Instagram)
‘The Instagram posts were the first time anyone has heard of a pregnancy, so it’s all coming as a complete shock at the moment. It’s no secret that Katie wants more children, but this feels extreme even for her.
‘They have no idea what the long-term plan is with Lee in this marriage or if they’ll live in the UK or Dubai. Everyone has been kept in the dark about the relationship from the start and they’re desperate to understand what her intentions are.’
‘Princess learnt about her mum’s wedding online like everyone else and has been completely horrified’, the source said.
‘She’s read the stories and all the stuff on TikTok about his ex-wives and instantly alarm bells started ringing’, according to The Sun.
The source continued: ‘Princess is very sharp and realised straight away that if her mum wouldn’t listen to her or any of their family, she might take on board what women in the same situation have had to say about it all.
Advertisement
The insider also described Princess as ‘utterly heartbroken and deeply concerned’ about Katie.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Canada’s curlers claimed Olympic gold at the expense of Team GB (Credits: AP)
Canada’s controversial curlers let rip and hit back at the cheating jibes that have plagued their team en route to a gold medal triumph at the Winter Olympics.
Marc Kennedy had been at the centre of one of the biggest scandals that the sport has ever experienced couldn’t hide his jubilation after playing a lead role in a narrow win against Team GB.
‘It means the world to me to see my teammates with a medal around their neck,’ Kennedy said. ‘I don’t know if people will ever understand what we went through this week as a team — what I put them through this week as a team.’
Brad Jacobs’ team defeated Bruce Mouat’s all-Scottish squad 9-6 inside Cortina’s ice arena after a trying two weeks for the sport’s powerhouse.
Advertisement
‘When some things went down this week and people were using some pretty outrageous words like ‘cheating’ associated now with our team,’ Jacobs said, ‘I’ll guarantee you that that only motivated us further.’
Kennedy’s profanity-laced rant got attention far beyond the ice when several players were accused of double-touching the rock, a rules violation.
The sport was sent into turmoil during the round-robin phase when Oskar Eriksson of Sweden accused Kennedy, Canada’s vice skip, of touching the rock again after initially releasing it down the sheet of ice. Kennedy responded with an outburst full of expletives.
This was the moment Canada won gold in the men’s curling 🥌Proud of Bruce Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan who added a silver to Great Britain’s medal tally 🥈 pic.twitter.com/gQjnBDEGa7
‘I let my emotions get the best of me,’ Kennedy said. ‘I stood up for my teammates. I’ll never back down from that. We moved on, we moved forward and we did something amazing and a weaker team would have fell flat on their face.’
It’s Canada’s first gold in men’s curling since the 2014 Sochi Games, when they also beat Britain in the final with Jacobs as the skip. This is his first Olympics since — he lost in the Canadian Olympic trials for 2018 and 2022.
‘For anyone who called us cheaters, for anyone who said negative things about Marc Kennedy, about us, about Canada, about our families,’ Jacobs said, ‘I hope that the image of us standing on top of the podium, embracing one another, smiling ear to ear with our gold medals is burned into your brain forever.’
Kennedy was also on the Canada team that won gold 16 years ago on home ice in Vancouver.
Advertisement
‘He’s an animal to be able to accomplish all that he has and to still do that today at 44,’ said Tyler Tardi, the team’s alternate who roomed with Kennedy. ‘He’s been one of the best players in the world for, gosh, 20 years. So he just knows everything, knows how to deal with it all, and hats off to him.’
Mouat, meanwhile, felt a handful of missed shots in the final two ends proved crucial in what turned out to be a gutwrenching defeat.
Mouat, Grant Hardie, Bobby Lammie and Hammy McMillan were looking to upgrade the silver medal they won four years ago in Beijing after a bumpy ride to the final, which saw their semi-final qualification hinging on the results of other matches on Thursday morning going their way.
While they eventually defeated Switzerland on Thursday evening in their semi-final, their challenge again faltered in the Cortina Olympic Curling Stadium, with a 6-5 advantage ahead of the ninth end eventually resulting in a 9-6 defeat.
Advertisement
Canada claimed gold after a 9-6 win over Team GB(Credits: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
The penulitmate end proved particularly costly as Britain conceded three points and while they had the hammer in the final end, they could not capitalise, with a double take out from Mouat good but not quite good enough as Canada stole a point to seal victory.
Mouat said: ‘I think we put ourselves in a really good position to win the game. It just came down to a few shots in the ninth and 10th – all of us missed one.
‘We’re disappointed – very disappointed – but we battled so hard all week just to get here.
‘I’m trying to remind myself how much of a fight it was even to win a medal. I’m incredibly proud to be able to say I’m a two-time Olympic medallist.
‘When I was five, six, seven years old and dreaming of being an Olympian, I’d have been unbelievably proud of this. That’s what I’ll try to hold on to.’
Advertisement
Team GB had to console themselves with a silver medal(Credits: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
Mouat now has two Olympic silver medals and he is eager to continue his pursuit of gold.
He said: ‘I’m 100 per cent continuing. I love the game, I love the sport and I love my team-mates. I’m not done yet.
‘We’ll definitely have a debrief. I’d love to play with the guys again, but we haven’t had that conversation as four individuals yet. Personally, I want to continue – and we’ll go from there.’
Hardie admitted he was ‘heartbroken’ after another Olympic near miss, but also pointed to those important missed shots at a key stage.
Bruce Mouat has vowed to fight on in his search for an Olympic gold medal (Credits: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)
He said: ‘We lost that final four years ago, it took us a long time to get over it and find the motivation to go again. We found it and we were so hungry to go and deliver a gold this time and unfortunately it just didn’t quite happen.
‘It was really unfortunate timing we delivered a bad end after eight brilliant ends to flip the game and be in the driving seat. That’s going to be a tough one to look back on.
Advertisement
‘I’ve loved this nine-year journey with these boys. We’ll go and have a drink tonight and celebrate another Olympic medal, which we’re very proud of. The future’s not on my mind at the moment.’
Opposition Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Cllr Paula Widdowson said legal routes for getting rid of household waste were being blocked off amid a rise in fly-tipping.
Cllr Andrew Waller, Liberal Democrat ward member for Westfield, said his party’s proposal for community skips would help households without cars to dispose of rubbish.
City of York Council’s Labour environment spokesperson Cllr Jenny Kent said York had one of the lowest levels of fly-tipping in Yorkshire and recently-created Neighbourhood Caretakers were already bringing positive results.
It comes as council figures showed there had been 2,807 incidents of fly-tipping reported in York in the nine months since April last year.
Advertisement
RECOMMENDED READING:
The figure compares to 2,954 in the year up to the end of March 2025, 2,500 in 2023/4 and 2,368 in 2022/3.
The Liberal Democrats put forward proposals for community skips for people to throw away their household waste in areas where fly-tipping is an issue in their alternative budget proposals.
Proposals to spend £52,000 on the skips tabled along with other Liberal Democrat budget amendments were voted down on Thursday, February 12.
Advertisement
The council’s ruling Labour group’s budget for 2026/7 which was voted through included an extra £90,000 for Neighbourhood Caretakers which launched in September.
The council team responds to issues including fly-tipping following in response to reports from residents and councillors.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Widdowson said the rise in fly-tipping also came as fees for the council’s Garden Waste Subscription Service had risen to £52.
The opposition’s deputy leader and environment spokesperson said: “For many residents, particularly those without cars, older residents, or people on low incomes, getting rid of waste has become much more difficult and when legal routes are blocked off, fly-tipping goes up.
Advertisement
“Community skips are a targeted response, put them in the places that are worst affected, give people a legal, accessible way to dispose of waste, and you reduce fly-tipping, clean up neighbourhoods, and save money in the long run.”
Westfield’s Cllr Waller said ‘tidy-up vans ‘ were also used to help residents clean up waste when his party ran the council with the Greens.
The Liberal Democrat said: “These initiatives are particularly beneficial for areas with low car ownership.
“The funding for community skips would have supported the reinstatement of this initiative, so it’s disappointing that Labour voted it down.”
Advertisement
York Council’s Labour Environment Executive Member Cllr Jenny Kent (second, left) with Neighbourhood Caretakers. Picture is from York Council
Labour’s environment executive member said the Liberal Democrats had not opposed hikes in green waste charges in the budget meeting.
The Liberal Democrats proposed spending £100,000 to discount some of the charges.
Cllr Kent said: “The Liberal Democrats have shown in their budget proposals that they support the green waste collection charge and has no intention of reversing it, so their criticism is hypocritical at best.
“While any fly-tipping is too much, York has one of the lowest levels of fly-tipping in Yorkshire.
Advertisement
“The council’s waste team do a great job, responding quickly to incidents such that at the end of 2025, only two live reports required clear ups.
“With the launch of a new Neighbourhood Caretakers team last year, Labour is cleaning up our neighbourhoods and residents are already seeing the positive results.”
The news comes as part of a wider shake-up of costs following a government pledge to deliver an average £150 cut to household energy bills.
Latest industry forecasts indicate that Ofgem will reduce the energy price cap by £117 to £1,641 per year for a typical dual fuel household.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in November that savings would be achieved by scrapping the Energy Company Obligation (Eco) scheme, which was introduced by the previous Conservative government.
Advertisement
However, not all customers should expect a direct £150 discount, as actual savings will vary based on household size and energy usage.
British households set for lower energy bills
Ned Hammond, deputy director of customer policy at Energy UK, said: “At a time when many households are struggling with their bills, action taken by the Government to provide a considerable discount on energy bills is hugely welcome.
“While the saving will be £150 for the average household, it is important to note that the discount is applied to the unit rate.
“Therefore, households will experience significantly different savings depending on their energy consumption, some much higher and others substantially lower than £150.
Advertisement
“In addition, other moving parts, such as network charges and wholesale costs, mean energy bills will not necessarily fall in line with the saving provided.
“Indeed, the price cap is projected to drop by around £115 from April 1.”
🏠 Here are 10 energy saving tips that you can do around your house to reduce your energy usage and in turn reduce your energy bills.
Much of the reduction is expected to come through a lower price per unit of electricity, and households are being advised to watch for updates from their suppliers following Ofgem’s formal announcement.
Cornwall Insight, an energy consultancy, estimates that the changes will reduce the cap by around £145 per year once VAT and pricing adjustments are included.
Some of the savings have been offset by higher charges related to the operation and maintenance of Britain’s energy networks.
Wholesale prices have risen slightly since December, with the cost of gas particularly volatile due to “geopolitical factors.”
Advertisement
Emily Seymour, energy editor at consumer group Which?, said: “Households can expect a significant cut to their energy bills in April, which will come as a relief to millions of people struggling with cost-of-living pressures.
“The bulk of this change is expected to be applied to your electricity price per unit, so your exact savings will depend on your usage.
“Look out for communications from your energy provider in the coming weeks to see how it will affect your bills.”
Advertisement
Simon Francis, co-ordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “We know that energy bills can be confusing and trying to decide when to switch tariffs or change supplier is a big decision which can overwhelm people.
“As well as setting the price cap, Ofgem should play a greater role in ensuring that the tariffs reaching the market are fair and don’t discriminate against specific customer groups.
“Sadly, the responsibility currently falls to households to pay careful attention to any changes in their unit costs and standing charges.”
Recommended Reading
Advertisement
He urged households to note the changes in unit costs and standing charges, rather than focus on the headline “average energy bill.”
Cornwall Insight said it expects the cap to remain steady throughout 2026, with only a small rise forecast in July.
This stability is due in part to wholesale costs remaining lower than when Ofgem set the January cap level.
However, it noted that the cost of gas is particularly volatile due to “geopolitical factors.”