“It raises their hopes but I am afraid, in practice it will offer nothing in the way of conclusion or finality because, although there will be court cases, and there will be inquests, and there will be trials and reviews and challenges, as the Secretary of State himself has said, the prospect of conviction now is vanishingly small.

Collagen has become a staple of skincare advertising and social media wellness trends. But it is not just a buzzword.

It is the most abundant protein in the body and helps support structures throughout the body, including skin and bone.

For women, collagen loss can become especially noticeable during perimenopause and menopause. Some studies suggest that skin collagen may fall by as much as 30% in the first five years after menopause, with further losses of around 2% a year after that. On social media, this is sometimes called the “collagen cliff”, but the underlying idea is not new. Researchers have been writing about the effects of menopause on skin for decades, with papers from at least the 1940s pointing to the connection.

This sharper drop happens on top of the gradual changes that come with ageing. Collagen appears to decline over time, with some estimates suggesting a fall of around 1–1.5% a year from early adulthood.

Oestrogen helps regulate many processes in the body, including the production of collagen. In animal studies, oestrogen has been shown to increase collagen production and skin thickness. Human research has also found benefits for skin thickness, elasticity and wound healing.

This is partly because oestrogen acts on fibroblasts, the cells responsible for making collagen in the skin. When oestrogen levels fall during perimenopause and menopause, this signalling becomes weaker. The result is less collagen being produced, along with thinner skin, reduced elasticity and lower water content.

Collagen loss cannot be stopped entirely, but some factors can speed it up. One of the most important is ultraviolet radiation from the sun and tanning beds. This increases enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases, which act like the skin’s demolition crew, breaking down structural proteins such as collagen. These enzymes are found at higher levels in skin that has been damaged by the sun.

Ultraviolet radiation reduces the amount of new collagen that fibroblasts produce. People with darker skin tones tend to show less wrinkling, probably in part because higher melanin levels offer some protection against ultraviolet damage. But darker skin is not immune to photo-ageing, which means skin ageing caused by sun exposure.

Smoking appears to accelerate collagen loss. One study found that smoking reduced skin production of type I and type III collagen by 18% and 22% respectively, contributing to premature ageing of the skin.

Vitamin C is essential for collagen production. Around 100mg per day is enough for most adults, although smokers may need more. Many wellness supplements provide much larger doses, often around 1,000mg a day, but more is not necessarily better; around 2,000mg a day causes unpleasant gastrointestinal issues.

Products that claim to boost collagen are increasingly popular, but the evidence behind them is mixed. Topical collagen creams are unlikely to replace collagen lost from the skin because intact collagen molecules are too large to get through the skin barrier. They may help moisturise the outer layers of the skin, but they are unlikely to make a major difference to the skin’s own collagen levels.

Oral collagen supplements have been linked in some studies to improvements in skin hydration and elasticity. However, the scientific literature remains mixed. Reviews point to limitations in the evidence, including small study sizes, potential conflicts of interest and inconsistent findings, leading researchers to urge caution when interpreting the results. In the same way that collagen can’t be absorbed through the skin, the body has to digest it to absorb the amino acids that make collagen and there is no way to ensure the amino acids that made that collagen go to the skin or wherever you hoped it would. Hydrolysed collagen is better for absorption but there is still no guarantee that the body uses it where you want it to.

Hormone replacement therapy may offer more consistent benefits. As well as helping with other symptoms of menopause, HRT has been shown in some studies to improve skin thickness, elasticity and hydration. One study reported that women receiving HRT had a 48% increase in skin collagen content compared with untreated women, and other studies have reported similar trends. Some evidence suggests that transdermal (through-the-skin) oestrogen may also have measurable effects on skin collagen. But the overall risks and benefits of HRT always need to be considered on an individual basis.

Some dermatologists and cosmetic practitioners also use procedures designed to stimulate collagen production. Laser resurfacing treatments aim to trigger repair processes in the skin and remove damaged collagen. Newer versions of these treatments are designed to reduce side effects.

Microneedling is another commonly suggested option, although it is not risk free. Potential complications include pain, bruising, bleeding, infection, changes in skin colour, and in rare cases abnormal growths. It can also cause hyperpigmentation, which means patches of skin become darker than the surrounding area.

By the time menopause begins, collagen has usually already been declining for years. Protecting the skin from ultraviolet damage, avoiding smoking and getting enough vitamin C may help support the body’s natural collagen levels.

Menopause may speed up collagen loss, but the picture is more complex than social media slogans suggest. While collagen supplements remain popular, the science behind them is still developing. HRT has a clearer scientific basis for improving skin thickness, elasticity and hydration in some women, although it is not suitable for everyone. When it comes to collagen, the science is more helpful than the hype.

Dwain Hall, 54, pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder and kidnapping of Sonia Exelby, 32, from Portsmouth, whose body was found in a shallow grave in Florida after she failed to board a return flight to London

A Florida man accused of murdering a woman he encountered on a fetish website is set to stand trial later this year.

Dwight Hall, 54, pleaded not guilty to the first-degree murder and kidnapping of British woman Sonia Exelby, 32, who travelled to the US from her home in Portsmouth in October last year. Court documents seen by the Mirror revealed that Sonia had made the trip to Florida “to be possibly sexually abused, tortured and murdered”.

A post-mortem examination established that Sonia died as a result of four stab wounds, with her body subsequently discovered in a shallow grave. Hall initially denied any knowledge of or contact with Sonia, but later told investigators the pair had been intimate, according to documents.

Hall made a brief court appearance on Wednesday, during which a judge set out the timeline for proceedings. Jury selection for his trial is scheduled to commence on November 16.

The case will be heard in Marion County, Florida, and is anticipated to last approximately one week, reports the Mirror.

Sonia’s body was uncovered in a shallow grave in woodland after she failed to board a return flight to London on October 13. Those close to her said Sonia had battled mental health difficulties and may have been in a “vulnerable” state when she allegedly began communicating with a man she had met on a fetish website.

Their exchanges allegedly progressed from discussions of bondage and suicide to Sonia voicing a wish to be killed. An affidavit stated that if Hall had been compelled to assist in her death, he would have taken her to Alligator Alley, where wildlife “would have taken care of her.”

When quizzed over whether he had killed Sonia, Hall declined to respond but reportedly stated “she’s happy now because she got what she wanted.” It emerged that Sonia may have had second thoughts about the plot but felt trapped with no means of escape.

Detectives uncovered messages Sonia had sent to a friend through the online messaging platform Discord, dated 11 October, the day after she touched down in the US. Sonia said: “I’m sorry he keeps taking my phone, he doesn’t trust me with it. He made it clear there was no way out unless I shoot him. I was questioning it last night.”

Yet, remarkably, the goal was the signal for Brentford to take hold of the game. It is no exaggeration to say they should have scored three times after going behind and Andrews, the impressive Brentford head coach, was crestfallen their endeavour was not rewarded.

A better connection from Igor Thiago at the back post, when Keane Lewis-Potter zipped a ball across the six-yard box, would have resulted in a Brentford equaliser in the 23rd minute and then, in the next attack, Michael Kayode was denied by Senne Lammens’s outstretched arm.

The worst was still to come. Thiago, one of the players of the season, found himself clean through on Lammens after a ball from Ouattara but, rather than shooting, he hesitated, took a touch then slipped over.

It prompted one of those growls to tumble out of the Stretford End, a wake-up call that ideas needed to be bucked up. When Ayden Heaven slid in to dispossess Thiago a couple of moments later, the decibels were cranked up further. This could not continue.

And it did not. Understandably pursuing their ambition, Brentford got their angles wrong just outside the United penalty area, Diogo Dalot thundered into Kevin Schade, the ball arrived at the feet of Fernandes and off he went, a matador actively pursuing his target.

Fernandes had options on both sides, but you knew he was going to pick the right one – a little nudge to his left invited Benjamin Sesko to run and the perfectly weighted pass arrived at his feet, the Slovenian even having time to hoodwink Van den Berg and clip his finish over Kelleher. It was the Portuguese’s 19th assist, one off record holders Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne for a single season.

Banks including Santander, HSBC UK, Barclays, Skipton Building Society, and Virgin Money all adjusted their mortgage offerings, highlighting growing competition across the market.

According to financial information website Moneyfacts, the average two-year fixed homeowner mortgage rate on the market last Wednesday (April 22) morning was 5.83%, down from 5.87% on Tuesday (April 21).

Santander led with another round of cuts

Santander has reduced rates for the second time in April, introducing further cuts of up to 0.25 percentage points from Friday (April 24) . The changes applied to first-time buyers, home movers, and those remortgaging.

Among the headline deals:

• A 98% loan-to-value “My First Mortgage” fell to 5.60%
• A 5% deposit, three-year fixed deal was launched at 5.55% with no fee and £250 cashback
• A 15% deposit, two-year fix was offered at 4.80% (£999 fee + £250 cashback)
• A 15% deposit, five-year fix came in at 4.98% with no fee and £250 cashback

HSBC UK also refreshed its mortgage range after cutting rates the previous week, with reductions across products for buyers and remortgagers.

Barclays and Skipton Building Society had already lowered their rates earlier in the week, while Virgin Money introduced cuts across residential and buy-to-let deals.

Why have rates moved?

Mortgage pricing, which is influenced by swap rates, had begun to ease – allowing lenders to pass on some reductions.

At the same time, global uncertainty, including tensions in the Middle East, continued to create volatility and kept expectations of higher interest rates in place, limiting how far rates could fall.

Recommended reading:

According to Moneyfacts at the time:

• The average two-year fixed mortgage rate was 5.83%
• The average five-year fixed rate was 5.73%

Both were slightly lower day-on-day, but still well above early March levels, when two-year fixes averaged 4.83% and five-year deals 4.95%.

Are you switching your mortgage deal soon? What’s the best deal you’ve found? Tell us in the comments below…

​Following opposition from local residents, politicians, and campaigners, ​Europa Oil & Gas’ proposal to install a 125ft (38m) rig in the village of Burniston, close to the North York Moors National Park was stalled at a meeting on Friday, April 24.

Following an almost five-hour meeting in Scarborough, councillors said they were ‘minded to refuse’ the scheme for a temporary wellsite that sought to explore for gas.

​The preliminary refusal is subject to the Government’s appraisal of Europa’s environmental screening and is dependent on whether the Secretary of State requests further details, and could mean the application returns to the planning committee.

​Ginnie Shaw, of Frack Free York and Villages, joined hundreds of campaigners and residents at a demonstration before the meeting started on Friday.

​Commenting on the turnout at the demonstration, she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “It shows the strength of opposition to fracking at Burniston.

“Two friends of mine in their 80s who live in Scarborough came to support this lobby, there’s a number of us from York, and there are people from across Yorkshire. People are here who really believe that fracking is not a good thing and who oppose it.”

​Planning officers had recommended approval of the application and said the scheme would not have an unacceptable impact on residential amenity or tourism, and that short-term impacts could be mitigated. They also said they were satisfied that the use of proppant squeeze did not justify refusal of the application.

​The proppant squeeze method has been likened to “small-scale fracking” and is allowed under current legislation.

​Helen, a Scarborough resident who also participated in Friday’s demonstration, said: “We’re here because we don’t agree with fracking being practised at all, let alone in a rural area that seems quite sacrificial to central government.

“This is massively regressive and it shouldn’t even be considered. I think it’s shocking that it is being considered in 2026 – it’s just not good enough.”

Anti Gas Rig Demo Scarborough Town Hall. Courtesy Numminen, Ldrs….

​William Holland, the CEO of Europa Oil & Gas, told the committee: “Developments of this nature can be carried out responsibly, and we are committed to working constructively with the local community throughout.

​“The development is limited, and it does not determine any future development. Let’s be clear, if we are successful, we will make another application and it will create jobs and support the UK economy, it will also create gas that will be consumed here in Yorkshire.”

​The company has said the scheme would be beneficial to the local economy and that there is no ‘loophole’ in the moratorium on fracking.

​Speaking on Monday, April 27, Green Party councillor Andy Brown, a member of the strategic planning committee, said: ”It was really pleasing that councillors from so many different parties agreed that this development was an industrialisation of a heritage coastline – one that was against many North Yorkshire and national policies.

​“The Greens may have proposed rejection at the meeting, but representatives of all parties present voted that this was the wrong form of development for our community. The strength and importance of such cross-party collaborative decision making should never be underestimated.”

Europa Ceo Wiliam Holland. Courtesy Numminen, Ldrs

​Alison Hume, the Labour MP for Scarborough and Whitby, told demonstrators on Friday that she was “as frustrated” as residents that the Government “hasn’t stepped in and put an end to this application”.

​“This is nonsense. I am continuing to lobby the Government on your behalf, and I stand with you. There will be no fracking in Burniston.”

Wellbore Illustration. Europa Oil And Gas

​Local Conservative ward councillor Derek Bastiman told the LDRS after the meeting: “I’m absolutely over the moon with the result.

​​“Councillors considered everything, and they explored every avenue. I was very pleased that they listened to us, to me as the divisional member, and the three parish councils I represented.”

​Europa’s CEO, Mr Holland, added after the meeting: ​“I’m quite confident that the grounds that it’s been rejected on, when we go to appeal, and we will appeal it, the decision will be overturned at appeal.”

Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh warns bird feeders can attract rats during spring breeding season – but there’s a simple solution to keep them away from your garden

Rats are a familiar nuisance in gardens, and with spring now upon us, the problem is only set to worsen. As the weather warms up, many households will be keen to spend more time in their outdoor spaces.

However, spring marks the peak breeding season for rats and mice. They’re on the hunt for food and shelter, and our gardens often provide perfect nesting locations and easy pickings.

Infestations can become incredibly difficult to eliminate and expensive to tackle. It’s crucial to prevent rats from taking hold, and Alan Titchmarsh has some essential guidance.

The gardening expert has highlighted how one activity beloved by gardeners could actually be inviting rats in. Feeding birds may be luring these rodents into your garden, as they’re equally keen to feast on the offerings.

Alan said: “Most gardeners, myself included, love encouraging garden birds, so bird feeders are everywhere in this garden. But, they can also be a magnet for rats.”.

Fortunately, there’s a way to prevent rats from going after the bird food and infiltrating your garden. Alan explained it’s all down to the positioning of your bird feeder.

He said: “The key to success with them is to position in the open, in the middle of your lawn. Rats hate running through exposed areas.

“If you put your bird feeder alongside a hedge or wall, that’s great as they have shelter and they rush out and grab what they want and rush back.” Alan advises positioning your bird feeder right in the centre of your garden, well away from bushes, hedges and walls. As a bonus, this will also give you a far better view of the birds when they pop by for a meal.

The gardener urged: “So, in an open space is by far the best place for a bird feeder. Then, you shouldn’t have the rat problem.”

Alongside repositioning the feeder, Alan has another handy tip for keeping rats out of your garden — simply avoid leaving any bird food out overnight.

Alan said: “Put it out first thing in the morning.” He acknowledged that many gardeners might have reservations about this approach, given that birds tend to feed early in the day.

However, he insists this won’t cause any problems for the birds, as they’re perfectly capable of waiting a little while. Alan added: “If you have had a rat problem, they can wait half an hour before you put it out.

“That way, you’ll enjoy the garden birds and hopefully not a rat in sight.”

Sedgefield Community College has been shortlisted for ‘Secondary School of the Year’ at the TES Schools Awards.

The school faces tough competition from seven other schools around the UK.

The TES Schools Awards are a highly prestigious national educational awards.

The winner of ‘Secondary School of the Year’ will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Grosvenor Hotel in London on Friday, June 19.

Headteacher Paul Fleming said: “We’re delighted that the fantastic efforts of our students, families, governors and staff have been recognised and that we have been shortlisted for this award.

“With so many exceptional schools in our region and beyond, it is an honour to have been acknowledged in this way.”