People should not be expected to put up with this and are urged to get checked

Women who experience any kind of problems with their period have been urged to get checked by a healthcare professional. A TV doctor has said that “it’s not normal” for some of these issues to ‘take over our lives’.

Known for appearing on health segments on BBC Breakfast and ITV’s This Morning, women’s health specialist Dr Nighat Arif said people should never be made to put up with these issues, especially if they start affecting how you live. The NHS GP claimed that just because something is common to you does not mean it is “normal”.

She said: “You know, it’s not normal to have blood leak through your period products. You know, that period pain that is doubling you up and stopping you from doing activities every day is not normal.

“So, therefore, you need to please go and find the underlying causes for that. Please get your healthcare professional to check for the underlying causes of heavy menstrual bleeding. That could be uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, bleeding disorders such as von Willebrand’s, and also underactive thyroid conditions or misdiagnosed thyroid conditions.

“A copper IUD or copper coil. Pelvic inflammatory disease. Any infection or discharge alongside your heavy menstrual bleeds could indicate pelvic inflammatory disease. And then explore management options.”

According to the NHS, most women experience their period every 28 days roughly, but it’s common for periods to be more or less frequent than this. In some cases, it can be as early as every 21 days or as late as every 35 days.

Experts have assured women that their periods “can change”, such as lasting longer or getting lighter. The NHS claims that this “does not necessarily mean there’s a problem” but can be investigated to rule out any possible conditions.

The NHS has lots of information online about possible period problems that an expert can diagnose if symptoms align and testing confirms this is an issue. Read more about it here.

Dr Nighat pointed out in her video that Wellbeing of Women has an online symptom checker for those with period-related issues. It is free to use and available to access here.

The tracker has been developed in partnership with GPs, gynaecologists, pharmacists and women to help tackle the normalisation of period-related symptoms. Results from this symptom checker should not replace advice from your healthcare professional.

Dr Nighat said: “You can jot down all your symptoms and take a letter to a healthcare professional to navigate the next part of the journey. Common is not normal. Always investigate heavy menstrual bleeding.”

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn “expects” British heavyweight Anthony Joshua to fight again following the death of two close friends – but admits there are no “guarantees”.

The 36-year-old sustained minor injuries in the road traffic accident in Nigeria on 29 December that killed Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele.

The two-time world champion returned to training in January, posting a video on social media of him working out with the message “mental strength therapy”.

Hearn, who has promoted Joshua since he turned professional after winning gold at the 2012 Olympics, believes he will step back inside the ropes this year.

“I don’t think there are any guarantees he fights again, but at the same time I expect him to, because it is something that he loves,” Hearn said in an interview with First Round TV.

“And it is something he can carry those guys with him through as well and it is something he wants to do.

“From a boxing sense, physically it wasn’t easy what he went through either. People probably don’t realise the extent of that.

“He has been training, but he is not ready yet and won’t be for a while to return to boxing training.”

‘These comments go against everything for which Manchester has traditionally stood’

Andy Burnham has criticised comments on ‘immigrants’ by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The mayor of Greater Manchester, in a stinging rebuke, said the comments ‘go against everything for which Manchester has traditionally stood’.

And in what appears to be a reference to the Glazer ownership of United, Mr Burnham spoke of ‘those who have offered little contribution to our life here and have instead spent years siphoning wealth out of one of our proudest institutions’.

Sir Jim, the founder and chairman of one of the world’s largest chemical companies, Ineos, said in an interview that ‘the UK has been colonised by immigrants’.

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday night described the comments as ‘offensive and wrong’ – and called on him to apologise.

In an interview with Sky News, the Ineos owner said: “You can’t have an economy with nine million people on benefits and huge levels of immigrants coming in.

“I mean, the UK is being colonised. It’s costing too much money. The UK has been colonised by immigrants.”

“If you really want to deal with the major issues of immigration, with people opting to take benefits rather than working for a living, if you want to deal with that, then you are going to have to do some things which are unpopular and show some courage.”

He went on to describe Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as ‘an intelligent man’ with ‘good intentions’.

But in a statement issued on Thursday morning, Mr Burnham criticised the comments – and said footballers who have arrived in Greater Manchester over the years ‘have enhanced the life of our city-region’. He also praised the contribution of NHS workers and those in other industries.

The mayor said: “These comments go against everything for which Manchester has traditionally stood: a place where people of all races, faiths and none have pulled together over centuries to build our city and our institutions, including Manchester United FC. Calling for curbs on levels of immigration is one thing; portraying those who come here as a hostile invading force is quite another. It is inaccurate, insulting, inflammatory and should be withdrawn.

“Footballers who have arrived from all over the world to play in Greater Manchester have enhanced the life of our city-region, as have the many people working in Greater Manchester’s NHS and other essential services and industries.

“We appreciate their contribution as a city-region famous for the warmth of our welcome. If any criticism is needed, it should be directed towards those who have offered little contribution to our life here and have instead spent years siphoning wealth out of one of our proudest institutions.”

Sir Jim bought a minority share in Manchester United in late 2023 and his Ineos group has since taken control of football operations.

The billionaire has presided over a variety of contentious changes since becoming part of the ownership, with ticket pricing and availability causing particular anger among United fans.

Local diversions are in place

A Co Down road has been closed this morning after a serious road traffic collision took place.

The Ballynahinch Road between Hillsboroough and Annahilt is closed at its junction with the Tullynore Road as a result of the incident.

Local diversions have been put in place and motorists are advised to avoid the area and seek alternate routes if possible.

READ MORE: Police appeal for missing man who was last seen on the weekendREAD MORE: Belfast restaurant announces temporary closure after car crashes through window

Traffic disruption is expected as the situation is dealt with by the authorities.

Belfast Live have approached PSNI and NIAS for updates on the incident.

More to follow.

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Christopher John Eadie, known as Chris, was found dead in the garden of his home on the Sandringham estate near King’s Lynn by his partner Joanne.

A new photograph of King Charles at Sandringham has been issued by Buckingham Palace to mark his (Image: Millie Pilkington/Sandringham Estate/PA Wire)

Norfolk Coroner’s Court heard the 63- year- old self-employed decorator had worked at the estate for more than 30 years and took enormous pride in carrying out projects for the late Queen and later King Charles.

His brother Mark Eadie told this newspaper that highly skilled Mr Eadie’s “perfectionism” meant he was frequently appointed for “the top jobs” within the Royal household, including painting the bedroom of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

But in recent years, work from the estate became less frequent following management changes and the introduction of new contractors, something that deeply affected him.

Mr Eadie, told the hearing Chris was a “talented perfectionist” who lived for his work.

“My brother was absolutely brilliant at his job,” he said. “He had incredible attention to detail and wouldn’t let anything go unless it was perfect.”

He added his brother was immensely proud of working for the Royal Family, carrying out jobs discreetly inside royal residences.

“He was loyal and wouldn’t talk about what he did, but I know he painted William and Kate’s bedroom and even met their children once in the garden. He said they were lovely,” he said.

The Royal Family (Image: Prince and Princess of Wales/Josh Shinner)

But one job in particular left him devastated.

Mr Eadie had been tasked with painting a pagoda over a Buddha at Sandringham in colours requested by the King. Although Chris felt the colours were “a bit garish”, he painted it exactly as instructed.

However, the King was not happy with how it looked and ordered it be repainted.

Mr Eadie said Chris dutifully stripped the structure and prepared it ready for new colours chosen by the King, only for the final painting work to be handed to another contractor.

“After all that detailed preparation, someone else was given the job,” his brother said. “He was devastated.”

The court heard that around the same time Chris had begun losing weight and suffering from a lack of appetite, becoming convinced he might have cancer.

Phone conversations with his brother revealed his mental health was deteriorating as worries over both his health and work at Sandringham mounted.

Christopher John Eadie with one of his sons (Image: Memorial)

His former partner, Joanna described him as a loving father to his two sons who took huge pride in his career and his long service to the royals.

But she said the reduction in work from Sandringham after decades of loyalty deeply upset him with the pagoda incident becoming a particular source of angst.

Six weeks before his death she found him sitting in the dark at home and later feared he had been considering harming himself.

In the days before he died she told the court he became unusually affectionate, something she now believes was part of saying goodbye.

Police officer David Norris told the inquest officers were called to the address after his partner discovered a note inside the house and found Mr Eadie hanging in a small garden space between sheds.

Paramedics attempted to resuscitate him after cutting him down but were unable to save him.

Inside the house officers found the handwritten letter and a bottle of open spirits.

Toxicology tests later showed only a small amount of alcohol in his system, along with raised levels of paracetamol, though not enough to have caused death.

A post-mortem examination concluded he died by hanging.

Medical evidence showed Mr Eadie had visited his GP earlier in the year complaining of weight loss and abdominal discomfort and later began taking antidepressants after reporting anxiety and work-related stress.

His medication for anxiety ran out shortly before his death on October 10, 2025, and a repeat prescription had not been requested.

Edward Parsons, land agent for the Sandringham Estate, said Mr Eadie had never been directly employed by the estate but was one of many contractors used for work, with jobs allocated based on requirements.

He said though Mr Eadie had been awarded a number of jobs in 2025, a decision had then been made not go ahead with work.

In his final note, Mr Eadie apologised to loved ones, writing: “Tell everyone I love them so much. I am sorry.”

Summing up, the coroner Yvonne Blake said worries about his health combined with work concerns had led to a decline in Mr Eadie’s mental health.

However, she concluded there was insufficient evidence to say he intended to end his life and recorded a conclusion reflecting mental health deterioration rather than suicide, saying: “I am not satisfied that he intended to die. He had a decline in mental health and was upset about work. These things prevented sufficient clarity of mind.

“He took his own life but the deterioration in mental health means I am not concluding suicide.”

She expressed condolences to his family, describing him as a man who clearly took immense pride in his work and was deeply loved by those close to him.

“I know he was a man who took great pride in his work. He was self employed but did a lot of work at Sandringham. He felt discarded not having as much work there as he used to and he put this down to different contractors being used.”

But the numbers disappointed the City. Derrick Dunne, CEO of YOU Asset Management, said: “These figures are a real warning shot across the bows of the Government and Bank of England, both of whom are trying to steer the economy with tighter fiscal and monetary policies than are probably now healthy.

“Best fitting jeans I have ever had. I have all three colours. I am hoping you will do white for the summer.”

M&S shoppers are raving about a pair of jeans they say think tick all of the boxes, with countless customers hailing them as the ‘best fitting’ denim they’ve ever tried on. The jeans have built up a loyal following due to their comfy fit and flattering shape, with some shoppers admitting they’ve gone back to buy them in several colours.

The Magic Shaping High Waisted Straight Leg Jeans are currently priced at £46 from M&S. Available in three colour options – light indigo, black, and indigo mix – they come in sizes six to 24 and short/petite, regular, and long lengths.

Designed to smooth and support without feeling restrictive, the jeans have become a go-to piece for daily wear, whether dressed up with boots and a blouse or kept casual with trainers and a jumper. Their popularity remains strong, with more than 100 pairs purchased in the last five days, the retailer’s website says.

The jeans feature M&S’ ‘Magic Shaping’ technology, which works to create a sleek silhouette while maintaining comfort. A straight-leg cut is paired with subtle back darts to enhance the figure, while the high-rise waistband is designed to be gap-proof, remaining firmly in place all day long.

Finished with classic five-pocket detailing and added stretch, they’re crafted for all-day comfort whilst maintaining style. For those looking at other options, the New Look Blue Mid-Rise Elasticated Waist Wide Leg Jeans are available at £34.99 on its website, reports the Express.

These also come in multiple sizes, boast a wide-leg and ‘slouchy’ style, and include both front and back pockets along with a fly-zip and button fastening.

Or Next stocks the Mid Blue Denim Mid Rise Stretch Bootcut Jeans for £28 on its website, offered in a range of colours, sizes, and both regular and petite fits, reports OK!.

The Magic Shaping High Waisted Straight Leg Jeans have gained impressive ratings on the M&S website. One shopper said: “Perfect fit and (the) right length, best fitting jeans I have ever had. I have all three colours. I am hoping you will do white for the summer.”

Another wrote: “A better fitting jean – snug around the waist and slim legged. Well pleased with (the) fit.”

A third noted: “These jeans are a very good, comfortable fit. I would purchase again.”

Some customers did deduct a star, with one saying: “I always buy M&S jeans and these are lovely. They fit really well, have just enough stretch and look good on. The size is ok and the denim is good, too.”

Another mentioned: “Jeans are as described but the material is a little heavy weight – the plus with that is they will wear well over a long period.”

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Following Forest’s 0-0 draw with Wolves on Wednesday, Dyche sounded like a man who knew what was to follow.

After an incredible 35 attempts on goal without scoring – more attempts than any team Dyche has managed in his 351 games in charge – the draw left them just three points clear of the drop zone.

A frustrated Marinakis was pictured frequently during the City Ground draw with him appearing to be growing increasingly frustrated with every missed opportunity.

Post match – and before his dismissal – Dyche said: “The owner has been fair to me, without a shadow of a doubt. If anyone chooses to change in football now, that’s their decision. We’ve all seen it.

“People can demand change, and then it’s always whether they change or not.

“If the owner wants to make a change then that’s up to him, and that’s the way football is now, that’s just the reality of it.

“I understand the noise here has changed significantly since the last few games.”

Dyche undoubtedly arrived at Forest in difficult circumstances, but he appeared to steady the ship after a poor run of results under Postecoglou, winning seven of his first 12 games.

If results were taken from when Dyche took over, Forest would be mid-table, six points above third-from-bottom Tottenham.

He was even nominated for Premier League manager of the month a week ago, with two wins and one loss from their past six matches.

Speaking on Match of the Day, just an hour before Dyche’s dismissal, ex-England striker Alan Shearer backed the former Burnley boss.

He said: “I think with his know-how and his experience in the Premier League, I would without a doubt stick with Sean.”

Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy, added: “I think for this battle at the bottom you wouldn’t want a better manager than him.

“He’s been there, done it, he stays calm. I think they’d be crazy to get rid of him.

“The other thing as well I suppose for Marinakis is if it wasn’t for him they wouldn’t be in the Premier League and they wouldn’t be in Europe.

“So maybe he’s got the right to do what he wants, but I don’t think there’s a manager you could bring in who is as capable as [Dyche] in this fight.”

The manatee was searching for warmer waters when it got stuck in a storm drain at a historic beach – the species remain a protected following thousands of starvation-related deaths

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A more than 400-pound manatee is making a recovery at a theme park in the United States after getting stuck in a storm drain.

Multiple fire rescue units and officials from a conservation commission, a university and a towing service were brought in to rescue the 410-pound manatee from a storm drain in Melbourne Beach in Florida on Tuesday, February 10. The animal got stuck while seeking warmer waters.

Crews from fire rescue units, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the University of Florida and even Jack’s Wrecker Service convened on the scene after a worker with Melbourne Beach spotted the manatee, the city’s Vice Mayor Terry Cronin told WESH-TV in Orlando.

“We’re in the process of improving the storm drain across Melbourne Beach. Our people were doing a survey. And one of the surveyors noticed a manatee in what is called a baffle box,” Cronin said.

The big fella was taken to SeaWorld Orlando where it is being cared for in one of the park’s medical pools, where they work to stabilise and rehabilitate rescued manatees to then be returned to the wild.

SeaWorld Orlando rescued 56 manatees in 2025 and has already taken in seven this year.

“He’s breathing on his own, moving independently and showing interest in food,” spokesperson Stephanie Bechara said.

“Our teams are adjusting water levels to support buoyancy and comfort as part of his care,” Bechara added.

Manatees are a protected species and are still recovering from a mass starvation event.

In 2021, officials recorded more than 1,100 manatee deaths, mostly caused by starvation.

Florida’s fish and wildlife agency said deaths have decreased significantly, with 565 deaths recorded in 2024, and 555 deaths in 2023.

James Smith believes he’s now in a field that’s ‘more future-proof’ than the corporate world

James Smith felt undervalued and anxious about the future as he witnessed artificial intelligence’s growing presence in his workplace. And then he reached breaking point in the corporate sphere and made a dramatic change.

He walked away from his tech role in the city and shifted to straightforward, hands-on labour in his local community. Offering gardening, carpentry and removal services amongst many others, the 34 year old revealed he’s the happiest he’s been in his professional life and bringing in roughly £3,000 monthly without being accountable to a boss. The resident from Stanstead in Suffolk has now explained his transition from shirt and tie to work boots.

He said: “I just didn’t enjoy the office politics and the fact that no matter how hard you worked it was still the same pay and hours in the day. I didn’t feel appreciated either by the boss and as soon as that starts, I find it hard to put in the same effort.

“I was working in SAAS sales for a recruitment company in London in 2022. The company were trying to enforce office-based work for my team in particular while people were working remotely (from other countries) which I couldn’t understand.

“The company in question now uses AI as a tool to help companies find staff without having to sift through CVs so human jobs have been lost. This was a big reason why I started looking at working for myself.”

James had explored various roles beyond the corporate sphere before. Since leaving school, he’d been his mum’s carer and had worked in retail, but chose an office position thinking it would offer a more relaxed environment. He said: “I soon realised there was just as much pressure in an office!”

The breaking point came from an unexpected source – James’ own manager: “I had bought a pick-up truck as I had always wanted one from being a child. I was sat at my desk one day and my manager sitting next to me said: ‘You’ve got a truck sat at home on the drive and you’re here at work every day!’

“That was probably my light bulb moment, and I realised I could be doing something else. I started off with just doing small garden jobs and rubbish collection on Airtasker and I have now completed a course in carpentry, trained as a locksmith and have invested in a van to offer more services through Airtasker.”

Reflecting on his decision today, James insists there’s “absolutely nothing” that could tempt him back to corporate life: “My worst days on Airtasker are better than my best days in an office.

“Before, I would have to travel into the same office every day to do a job that was completely over the phone and computer,. Now I’m out and about helping people.

“It’s the happiest I’ve ever been in my working life. If you have the capacity then I say go for it, there’s no better security than being your own boss. You can work as hard or as little as you need to and you’re answerable to no-one.”

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James reckons there’s greater job security in manual work compared to the corporate sector at present. He said: “Even though there have been huge advances in AI I think we are a few years off being able to do the things that I do, including the kind of tasks I take on through Airtasker.”

He acknowledges that owning a truck provided him with a significant advantage in his current line of work. He said: “I was lucky enough to have a truck to allow me to offer my services straight away, until I had a van though I was limited in the jobs I could offer so I can’t imagine how people who only have a car cope.”

James’s career change isn’t unique, according to AirTasker. The platform’s recent figures revealed the UK ranks among its fastest-expanding markets, with a wider economic transformation placing greater value on practical, hands-on abilities.

The City of Westminster College has also seen a stark increase in the last few years of students being more interested in hands-on courses like construction and built-environment. CEO Stephen Davis noted students are having to think more strategically to find a career that can offer security long-term in the face of AI, according to Reuters.