The Middleham Open Day takes place in one of Britain’s most celebrated racing towns, with nine leading training yards set to welcome guests from 9:30am on Good Friday, April 3.

Visitors will get the chance to meet unbeaten Classic contender Crown Relic and multiple Group 1 winner Fallen Angel, among other racing stars.

Dawn Goodfellow, chief executive of Racing Welfare, said: “Middleham Open Day is one of the most special days in our calendar.

“It gives people a genuine insight into life behind the stable doors, while celebrating the dedication, skill and community that define this town.

“The success of this year’s employee award winners shows just how strong that community is.”

Karl Burke’s Spigot Lodge will offer a close-up look at Crown Relic, Fallen Angel, and Royal Champion, who has earned nearly £2.4 million in prize money.

At Charlie Johnston Racing, visitors can watch horse swimming demonstrations from 9:45am, take part in a live Q&A, and meet horses such as Venetian Lace—entered in both the English and Irish Guineas—alongside Epsom Derby runner-up Lazy Griff.

The Middleham Marketplace opens at 9am with trade stands and a traditional hounds parade, before entertainment begins on Low Moor at 11:30am.

The afternoon activities include Retraining of Racehorses Showing classes, family-friendly events, and a parade from 1pm by Lady Buttons, the popular ‘Queen of the North’, in the main arena with owner Jennie.

The inter-yard Challenge starts at 2:15pm, followed by the Aiskew Equine and Pet Supplies Dog Show at 3pm.

The day also celebrates the people behind the sport, including recent winners of the 2026 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards from Middleham.

Among them are Kieran Kourdache of Karl Burke Racing, who was named Rider/Racing Groom Award winner and Overall Employee of the Year; Freddie Wilks of Charlie Johnston Racing, who took the Newcomer Award; and Hayley Clements of Micky Hammond Racing, who received the Community Award.

All proceeds from the day support Racing Welfare, the industry’s only charity that helps racing workers and their families.

The charity offers confidential assistance with health, housing, finances, careers, and more.

Ms Goodfellow said: “Every ticket sold helps us continue to support racing’s people when they need it most.”

Tickets are on sale now at www.middlehamopenday.co.uk.

Yards open from 9:30am, with events on Low Moor beginning at 11:30am.

It helped that this was very much an informal show. There was a pleasingly homespun feel to things, with Blake remixing his songs live on stage, getting the beat wrong on the kick drum (and pausing to laugh), and spinning out the intros to various tracks into experimental, fascinatingly varied segues — all that, in between idly chatting to the audience, putting down his own guitar-playing skills and telling himself to “do his job.”

Diana Henry is the Telegraph’s much-loved cookery writer. She shares recipes each week, for everything from speedy family dinners to special menus that friends will remember for months. She is also a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 4, and her journalism and recipe books, including Simple and How to Eat a Peach, are multi-award-winning. A mother of two sons, Diana can satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.   

40-year-old Tabitha Kay Willow, who may also be accompanied by a guide dog, has not been seen or heard from in weeks despite extensive enquiries.

Police are searching for a vulnerable woman who is missing from Thurso.

Tabitha Kay Willow, 40, was reported missing in February 2026, but was last confirmed to have been seen weeks earlier.

Despite extensive enquiries, officers have so far been unable to trace her, and say nobody known to them has been in touch with her since she was last sighted.

Tabitha, who also uses the name Mae Jenkins, is fully mobile and can walk unaided, although she sometimes uses a wheelchair. She may also be accompanied by a guide dog, though no description of the animal is available.

She is believed to speak with an English accent and has a distinctive tattoo of three bats on her right wrist.

Anyone who may have seen her, or who has information about her whereabouts, is urged to come forward. Even the smallest detail could prove crucial in helping trace her and ensure she is safe.

Information can be passed to police by calling 101, quoting incident reference PS-20260319-2375, or via the Police Scotland website.

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They called for a more robust change in the culture that leads to violence against women and girls

The city of Derry has been brought to a standstill after the murder of young mum-of-two Amy Doherty.

Amy, 28, was found injured in a house in the Summer Meadows Mews area of the city on Saturday morning, 21 March. She was taken to hospital where she later died.

Shockwaves have been sent through the city, and representatives have spoken out against the dangers that women face.

SDLP Foyle MLA Sinéad McLaughlin said: “This is an unspeakable loss for the family and friends of Amy Doherty.

“From the outpouring of love following her death, it is clear how special she was and the positive impact she had on so many lives in our city.

“It is unimaginable that her two young children will now grow up without their mother.

“Our city is hurting following Amy’s death.

“The loss of a young woman in such circumstances has rightly made people angry and has once again brought into sharp focus our failure to deal with the scourge of violence against women and girls.

“We need to see a societal response to violence against women and girls, starting with conversations in our homes, schools and workplaces with family and friends.

“We also need proper investment in prevention, support for victims of abuse, and a justice system that supports victims rather than discouraging them from coming forward.

“The lives of Amy’s loved ones have been changed forever and we have a responsibility to confront these issues head on, challenge misogyny wherever it exists and work to eliminate violence against women and girls from our society so that no other family has to endure such a devastating loss.”

Sinn Féin MLA Ciara Ferguson has said there is shock and devastation across Derry.

She said: “There is widespread shock and devastation across the city to learn that police have launched a murder inquiry after a woman was found dead in the Summer Meadow Mews area of the city.

“Our heartfelt thoughts are with this woman’s loved ones as they face the unimaginable loss which this horrific crime has brought upon them.

“A young woman’s life was taken in the latest act of violence against women and girls and I appeal to anyone with information to bring it forward to the PSNI.

“The Executive’s Strategic Framework to End Violence Against Women and Girls sets out how it aims to tackle this scourge in our society.

“But we must all do more to confront the causes and cultures behind this violence and to do everything possible to bring the harm and abuse of women to an end.”

A vigil has also been organised for Friday, March 27 at 7pm at the Guildhall to remember Amy and the lives of other women killed across Northern Ireland.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter.

Coco Gauff admitted she still battles with imposter syndrome after overcoming Belinda Bencic to reach the Miami Open semi-finals for the first time.

The 22-year-old two-time Grand Slam champion is the youngest American to reach the women’s singles semi-finals at the tournament since Serena Williams in 2004 – the year Gauff was born.

Gauff, ranked fourth in the world, won four straight games after conceding a break of serve in the deciding set to close out a 6-3 1-6 6-3 victory in two hours and 15 minutes.

If Gauff reaches the final, she will overtake former world number one Iga Swiatek and move to third in the WTA rankings next week.

But following her win over Swiss 12th seed Bencic she said that she is still learning “to believe that I belong where I am”.

“I think sometimes I can get imposter syndrome and, even when they are saying my accomplishments when I walk on or during the warm-up, it doesn’t feel like me and I’m like, ‘oh, actually, you do have a good career’,” said Gauff.

“But it doesn’t feel like that sometimes. When you’re working on things, and especially with my serve, it just feels like I shouldn’t be where I am. But tennis doesn’t lie, the ball doesn’t lie, so I just have to believe myself.

“My coach has been reminding me – remember who you are, you’re a good player. They’ve been putting that into my head. At moments, I believe in it, and other moments, I don’t. I’m just trying to believe in it more.”

Now here’s a thing. At a time when women painters have never been more prized and sought-after, at the Royal Academy we find an almost unknown mid-seventeenth century Flemish female artist who would be at ease in any collection featuring Rubens and Van Dyck. Michaelina Wautier, along with her brother Charles, was for centuries lost to view, despite her obvious standing as an artist during her career and her distinguished patrons. Indeed, it was only really in 2018 that she came on the radar with an ambitious exhibition of her work in Antwerp. Now the hunt is on for other works by her, but for now, most of her known (or assumed) paintings are assembled in the Royal Academy for this intensely pleasurable exhibition.

This year’s Easter production from RYT is ‘Grease the Musical’, which will be pe

Grease is the word in Malton as youngsters from Ryedale Youth Theatre (RYT) take to the stage for a much-loved musical.

rformed at the Milton Rooms from April 1 to 4.

Grease opened on February, 5 1971 in Chicago, in a damp, drafty, former trolley barn called the Kingston Mines Theatre.

A non-professional cast of 18 actors played the first of its scheduled “four performances only” to a full house of 120 seats. Almost immediately the show was extended…then again, and again, and again. The rest, as they say, is history.

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A year later, on February, 14 1972, Grease opened in New York. Within six months a national tour crossed the US and Canada. A company opened in Australia. The first London production opened at the New London Theatre with a young, unknown Richard Gere as Danny Zuko – soon the role eventually assumed by co-producer Paul Nicholas. Soon the foreign productions, touring companies and stock and amateur groups seemed to span the globe.

The T-Birds – Jack Robinson, Jonathan Stockhill, Lucas Dawson, Alexander Summers,

The huge success of the motion picture in 1978 resulted in a whole new legion of Grease fanatics. The movie version of Grease holds the record for “more concessions sold” than any other film in motion picture history.

Formed in 1991, RYT is a voluntary organisation involving young people, aged 8-18, in the Ryedale and York areas in all aspects of the performing arts and in particular musical theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes.

The Pink Ladies – Rizzo (Evie-Mae Dale) Frenchie (Hattie White) Marty (Stephanie Rastenis) Jan (Morven Caddy)

A spokesperson for RYT said: “Each Easter we welcome up to 70 young people to participate in a theatre production, an enriching experience that inspires creativity, teamwork and confidence.

“Our organisation is entirely run by dedicated volunteers and we rely heavily on the generosity of our supporters to fund our productions.

Eugene (Isaac Patterson); Miss Lynch (Lily Gibson) Patty (Tilly Dawson)

“Grease doesn’t have a message. It gives you a flavour of being a teenager in the 50s – when rock ‘n’ roll and putting grease on your hair were the most important things in life. If people come along to the show and take it on that level then we’ll give them a party. In fact, if you come out of the theatre feeling that you’ve been to the best party in town, then we’ll know that we’re getting it right. A party of the best kind. It was fun then, but it’s just as much fun now!”

“What Grease is really all about – more than anything else – is having fun. So, just sit back, kick off your blue suede shoes, and relax. Have a ball! Grease is, after all, a celebration.

Ryedale Youth Theatre presents ‘Grease the Musical’ at The Milton Rooms, Malton on April 1 to 4. Evenings at 7.15 pm. Thursday and Saturday Matinee at 2pm.

Sandy (Beth Steel) and Danny (Jonathan Stockill)

Tickets available from www.yourboxoffice.co.uk

As emissions continue to rise and governments fail to respond with anything like the urgency required, it’s tempting to conclude that the prospects for a liveable planet are growing dim.

But as spring arrives, there is one striking spark of light. Sunlight, to be precise – captured on solar panels and pumping out electrons down the wires, on a scale unimaginable even a decade ago.

The amount of solar installed worldwide doubled between 2022 and 2024 alone. In the first three quarters of 2025, it accounted for 83% of all new electricity-generating capacity. Key to this is the continuing collapse in costs, which have fallen by close to 90% per kWh in just the last decade. Crucially, the cost of batteries – essential for storing the power generated – has plunged by a similar amount in that time.

Over a longer period, the vertiginous fall in solar’s costs is unprecedented for any energy technology: in 1975, it was $100 (£75) per watt. Today it’s just $0.20 (£0.15) – a fall of 99.8%. It used to be just about the most expensive way imaginable of generating power. Now, for much of the world, it is the cheapest.

It’s not just affordability that’s boosting solar, but alacrity, too. In 2004, it typically took a year to install a gigawatt (GW) of solar power (an amount roughly equivalent to the capacity of a nuclear reactor or one of the larger gas-fired power plants). In 2016, that had come down to a week. By 2023, it took just 24 hours. And it’s still falling.

In his new book, Here Comes the Sun, veteran environmentalist Bill McKibben highlights some of the consequences of this double whammy in price and pace. In Pakistan alone, to give one example, enough solar has been installed in the last 18 months to account for one-third of the country’s current grid capacity.

Combined with similar, if less dramatic, falls in the cost of wind power (down 80% in a decade), these trends explain why, as of this year, renewables are now growing fast enough to exceed all new global electricity demand, and are already producing more energy than coal.

In the UK, renewables now meet 37% of our needs, compared to 35% from fossil fuels. Sure, the latter still delivers over half the world’s electricity, but their share is starting to shrink. Donald Trump may continue to “dig coal” and rail against the “stupidity” of wind and solar, but when it comes to new power sources, the energy markets are trumping Trump, all while his war in Iran adds fresh urgency to the renewable energy transition.

This has a direct knock-on effect on the prospect for curbing carbon emissions. Globally, these are still on the rise – albeit fractionally. But a shift is under way, and no more strikingly so than the world’s biggest emitter – China. It may be notorious for its large number of coal plants, but it’s also a world leader in renewables. It added nearly 400GW of solar and wind capacity in 2025 – as much as the rest of the world combined.

In 2004, it took a year to install a gigawatt of solar power. By 2023 it took just 24 hours, and it’s still falling

Along with industrial efficiency improvements, this explains why analysts now believe the country’s carbon emissions are flatlining or even starting to decline – despite growing electricity demand. And if China, the world’s factory, can achieve that particular elusive feat of ‘decoupling’, then anyone can.

It’s no coincidence that it’s also leading the way on the electrification of its massive transport feet. One in two vehicles now sold in China is electric. And EVs’ growing market share is now being mirrored elsewhere, including in the UK, where the figure is one in four – and rising. By comparison, petrol car registrations are down by a quarter year on year.

Since power and transport combined account for a hefty share of global carbon emissions, the trends under way here offer an unmistakable ray of hope amid increasingly serious climate warnings. There’s a mountain still to climb, but at least there’s a path to the summit.

Martin Wright is a director of Positive News

Main image: Shutterstock

Eating out, even occasionally, can quickly add up – turning what should be a simple lunch into a significant expense.

But across the UK, major restaurant chains, pubs and supermarket cafés are rolling out “kids eat free” and £1 meal deals, helping families enjoy meals out without stretching the budget.

These offers are becoming increasingly important as households continue to feel the squeeze.

Zoe Morris, savings expert at VoucherCodes, says: “The school holidays can put extra pressure on family finances, especially when it comes to food.

“Eating out can feel like a luxury, but these deals make it far more accessible.

“Whether it’s a quick lunch while shopping or a family dinner, planning around kids eat free offers can make a real difference. In some cases, families can cut the cost of a meal out by nearly half.”

The deals are available across breakfast, lunch and dinner, and while many require the purchase of an adult meal, the savings can still be substantial – particularly for larger families.

Below is the full list of where kids can eat free or for less this Easter 2026.

(Image: Ian West/PA Wire)

Supermarket cafés and casual stops

(Image: IKEA)

Restaurant chains

Pubs and family dining

Breakfast deals

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The Easter school holidays in most parts of the UK run from late March into mid-April, although dates can vary by region.

With demand likely to be high, it’s worth checking terms and booking ahead where possible.

Most offers require an adult meal purchase and may be limited to specific days, times or locations. It’s always worth checking details in advance.