The plans, submitted to Blaenau Gwent council planners, are to convert Elmwood House in the Georgetown area of the town into a “sui generic house” class so that it can become a 14-bedroom HMO.

Plans have been submitted to turn a building in Tredegar into a 14-bedroom HMO. The plans, submitted to Blaenau Gwent council planners, are to convert Elmwood House in the Georgetown area of the town into a “sui generic house” class so that it can become a 14-bedroom HMO.

Some in the area have expressed worries over the plans, while others have backed the plans and said the most important thing is that people in need of a home are accommodated properly.

The proposal has been submitted by Pascal Stumpers of Cobra Real Estate Limited. Planning agent Charlotte Hall, of Harvey Bowes, explained the proposal, saying: “Elmwood House is a substantial building located within a residential area of Georgetown, Tredegar. The site is sustainably located with access to local services and transport.”

She said the council has no article four directions or policies specific for HMO concentrations and the proposal should be assessed against general planning principles including amenity, design, and highways.

Ms Hall said: “The proposal retains a residential use and makes efficient use of an existing building. The scheme provides generous bedrooms, multiple bathrooms, and high-quality communal areas.

“The site promotes sustainable travel with cycle storage and car ownership is expected to be low. The proposal represents a sustainable form of development and should be supported.”

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A management plan for the HMO has also been lodged with the proposal. Ms Hall said: “The property will be professionally managed with a named responsible person available 24/7. All tenants will be referenced and tenancy agreements will include strict behavioural clauses.”

These “house rules” include no anti-social behaviour, no excessive noise after 10pm, respect for neighbours, and proper waste disposal.

Ms Hall continued: “Neighbours will have access to a contact number and complaints will be logged and resolved within 48 hours. The property will comply with fire safety regulations and licensing requirements. The management approach ensures minimal impact on the surrounding area.”

The application has gained much interest on social media, with some residents concerned over the type of people that could end up living at Elmwood House.

One neighbour said: “The question now facing residents is whether a 14-room HMO at this location is genuinely needed or whether it represents yet another example of communities being reshaped to suit speculative property interests.” Others have pointed out that the site is close to schools.

Some comments also pointed out that people don’t notice other HMOs in the area and that there is a need to “help and house” homeless people.

A decision is expected by a deadline of July 9.

The Ministry of Defence said the incident happened just before 4am on Wednesday and images show the destroyed aircraft at the scene in Devon – as tributes pour in from the Royal Family and senior officials

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The Princess of Wales has released a statement following the devastating helicopter crash during a training exercise that claimed the lives of three Royal Navy personnel.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the incident took place just before 4am on Wednesday (June 3), with photographs revealing the wreckage at the site in Devon. The Princess of Wales, serving as Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm, expressed that she is “saddened” by the tragic events.

In a statement released by Kensington Palace across the royals’ social media platforms, the Princess said: “I was so saddened to hear of the tragic loss of three service personnel from the Fleet Air Arm following a helicopter training exercise last night. William and I hold their families and friends in our hearts at this very difficult time.”

Both Kate and the Prince of Wales are understood to be reaching out to the bereaved families in the coming days. It is further understood that King Charles has been informed of the incident and intends to write privately to the families concerned.

Police confirmed that emergency services were alerted at approximately 3.45am following reports of a crash at Sourton Down, near Okehampton, Devon, reports the Daily Star.

The head of the Navy, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, stated: “I am deeply saddened to share the news that three crewmembers onboard a Royal Navy Merlin Mk4 helicopter have died after it crashed in the early hours of this morning near Sourton, Devon.

“I know this will come as a huge shock to all in our naval community, and my deepest condolences go out to the families, friends and loved ones impacted by this tragedy.”

The MoD confirmed that the families of the service personnel who lost their lives in the incident have been notified.

In an official statement, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he was “deeply saddened” by the crash, subsequently describing the incident on social media as “utterly tragic”.

Defence Secretary John Healey said he was “devastated” at the three deaths of personnel who “served with excellence and will be much missed”.

Merlin helicopters, such as the Merlin Mk4 involved in the incident, typically carry a crew of four and are capable of transporting up to 24 troops.

In 2024, a Merlin Mk4 ditched in the Channel during a training exercise, killing Lieutenant Rhodri Leyshon.

The area lies between the Royal Navy’s air bases at Yeovilton in Somerset and Culdrose in Cornwall.

The crash site is situated close to Okehampton battle camp, a military facility on the outskirts of Dartmoor which has been utilised for training Merlin helicopter crews from the Commando Helicopter Force.

The Merlin helicopter is predominantly deployed for anti-submarine warfare, though the aircraft can also be used for search and rescue, cargo transfers and maritime patrol, according to the Royal Navy’s website.

This year is the company’s 60thanniversary and the 40th anniversary of its first appearance at York Theatre Royal: hence the summer production choice of Johann Strauss II’s party opera, wherein lavish host Prince Orlofsky seeks fresh amusement at his New Year’s Eve party. What better place for disguises, deception and revenge served with chilled champagne?

On an earlier occasion, Doctor Falke had been humiliated by his old friend Herr Eisenstein, who persuaded him to dress for a party as a bat [Die Fledermaus]. After much amusement and ridicule, eventually he was abandoned to wander the streets of Vienna. Falke plots his revenge with a cocktail of hidden secrets, mistaken identities and a splash or two of champagne that leads to a comedy of errors that soon takes flight. Will the bat be revenged?

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Olivia Turner and Alexandra Mather will share the role of Rosalinda; likewise, Stephanie Wong and LaLa Marais both will play Adele, after the decision to double cast the principal roles was made in response to the high calibre of talent displayed at the auditions.

Here Olivia and Alexandra answer a series of questions on being the two faces of Rosalinda in York Opera’s Die Fledermaus.

How would you describe Rosalinda’s character?

Olivia: “She is a glamorous and spirited character who enjoys flirting with her many admirers. She is intelligent and likes to think she can outwit her unfaithful husband.”

Alexandra: “She’s sassy, spirited and more than a little mischievous. She’s intelligent and enjoys staying one step ahead of everyone around her. While she’s quick to challenge her husband’s infidelities, she’s not entirely innocent herself, which gives the character a wonderfully cheeky hypocrisy. She’s fun-loving, free-spirited, flirtatious and full of personality.”

Do you play a different role on the nights when you’re not playing Rosalinda?

Olivia: “No, I will only be performing the role of Rosalinda tonight and on Friday.”

Alexandra: “No. Rosalinda is quite a substantial role, so we’re making the most of our nights off when we’re not performing! That said, I’ll certainly be there watching and cheering Liv on. I’ll be performing the role of Rosalinda tomorrow and on Saturday.”

Have you performed inDie Fledermauspreviously?

Olivia: “No, this is my first time performing inDie Fledermaus, but I watched a production at the Royal College of Music, which I really enjoyed.”

Alexandra: “No, this is my first time, although it’s a piece I’ve wanted to do for a very long time. I’ve been familiar with and loved the music for years, so it’s a real pleasure finally to be performing it.”

What’s your big number in the show?

Olivia: “Csárdás, where I am disguised as a Hungarian Countess and am trying to convince the party I am Hungarian through the music of my homeland.”

Alexandra: Like Liv, my showcase number is the Csárdás. However, my personal favourite piece to perform is probably the Watch Duet. I remember seeing a performance featuring Joan Sutherland when I was about 14 and becoming completely obsessed with it. It’s one of the pieces that first sparked my interest in opera, so performing it now feels particularly special.”

Have you worked separately or together in rehearsal?

Olivia: “During rehearsals we would generally run the scenes separately to allow each of us to explore our own ideas and styles, but we have been supporting each other throughout the process, which has been helpful.”

Alexandra: “A bit of both. We’ve rehearsed scenes separately so that we could each develop our own interpretation of Rosalinda, but we’ve also spent a lot of time watching and learning from each other. It’s been a very supportive process, and it’s always useful to have someone nearby who knows your lines when you suddenly forget them!”

What is your history of performing with York Opera?

Olivia: “This is my first time. Everyone has been so welcoming and it has been a pleasure to be involved in this 60th anniversary production.”

Alexandra: “I’ve been performing with York Opera for nearly ten years, and I feel incredibly privileged to be part of the company. They are one of the most welcoming and supportive groups I’ve ever worked with. It may sound clichéd, but they really do feel like a family. York Opera provides opportunities for performers to sing and act at a very high level alongside a full orchestra and exceptional musicians, and I’ve always felt both challenged and supported here.”

What is the principal joy of singing on the York Theatre Royal stage?

Olivia: “I am very excited as this will be my first time singing on the Theatre Royal stage.”

Alexandra: “York Theatre Royal is a fantastic venue. It’s large enough to feel exciting and impressive, but intimate enough that you never lose the connection with the audience. Smaller comic moments still land beautifully, and you can really feel the audience responding to what’s happening on stage. It’s also wonderful to bring local audiences into a thriving local theatre and support a venue that plays such an important role in York’s cultural life.”

York Opera in Die Fledermaus, York Theatre Royal, tonight (3/6/2026), tomorrow and Friday, 7.30pm, Saturday, 4pm. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.

Tyler Adams insists he is ready for the “responsibility” of being a face of this World Cup.

Bournemouth midfielder Adams, 27, is a huge star in the United States and, while he can enjoy the relative privacy of his life on the serene south coast, he is ready to be on every billboard, every advert and every TV station this summer. But Adams is used to embracing challenges because his football journey has gone from New York Red Bulls to RB Leipzig, Leeds and now Bournemouth because he was so driven to achieve his goal.

That is why this summer is not about pressure. It is about embracing an incredible opportunity this summer as he believes Mauricio Pochettino’s US side can ride a wave – and also “grow the game” in the United States.

Adams said: “You know, so many people have an opportunity to play in a World Cup. Not so many people have an opportunity to do it on home soil. When I play games here at Bournemouth. It’s a special occasion. My kids are in the stands. My wife and it’s great. But I’m gonna have my mom, my dad, my brothers, everyone. They don’t get to see me on a daily basis and they’ll be there to support me and I think that’s the most special thing. To be able to take that all in, and it really be a family experience is going to be special.

“But I wouldn’t say pressure. I think I feel a responsibility of some sorts that we can really change the way people view the game in the US.

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“We have an opportunity to really grow the game at ten folds. I think in the past you go and play a World Cup in Qatar and, yes, some people will watch and it’s the biggest viewed sport globally. But not necessarily in the US. But fans are going to gravitate towards the game now with it being in the US and being so many opportunities to watch so many different games.

“So, for me, I feel a responsibility that if we play well, There will be young kids out there that are going to want to play the game and really have an impact on the game as well.”

Adams is a special character. That is why he was the youngest captain at the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022 and, at 23, was also US’s youngest captain since 1950. This time, Mauricio Pochettino named veteran Tim Ream to captain the team. He is a leader who has watched the team develop under Pochettino while also improving his own game immeasurably after moving to the Premier League, first with Leeds and then under Andoni Iraola who led Bournemouth into Europe before leaving the club.

Adams sees similarities between the two managers and they have both championed him to become the energetic, tenacious and classy midfielder of today.

“I feel like this season, even with the hiccup with injury in the middle of the season, I’ve been able to play some of my most consistent football of my career,” said Adams who feels he is nearing his peak.

“I feel like I am getting to that point. I feel like I have been able to now take in and develop over the past years so much.

“I think from my journey in New York to then Leipzig, and you know, playing Champions League football at such a young age, and then you know, my biggest dream was to play in the Premier League.

“So making that transition to Leeds and playing at a club with such stature in history before coming here down to Bournemouth. They set out what they wanted to achieve and we feel as if that is coming to fruition.

“The manager (Iraola) was such a genuine human being, a great guy to go to work with every single day. He’s someone that you want to fight for, compete for and ultimately learn from. He’s done an amazing job.

“I have a great relationship with Mauricio. I think every manager is a little bit different. But they’re so detail-oriented on every single thing and I think the relationships that they have with the players are very similar.

“So, you know, for me when I go into the national team. It’s a sit-down with Mauricio, And we get to start talking between anything between 30 minutes and an hour about ‘what’s the season been like for you? What are you working on? What do you need to improve on?’

“So I think that relationship means a lot. But in terms of on the field as tacticians, they play a similar style of football which is very demanding, very chaotic.

“I think we’re finally coming together and I think it took a period of time to try and adjust to the process of Mauricio and his tactics. But wow, it’s starting to come around, and I think when everything clicks, you see the team that we have and what we’re capable of.”

Adams admits the 2022 World Cup was a bit of a blur. It was hard to take it all in. But if that was a learning process then it has set him up well for this summer.

This is a player with his head screwed on. He is a father of two boys, settled in Bournemouth, he enjoys the quiet life and his career decisions are reaping rich rewards.

Adams graduated from the New York Red Bulls academy then moved to Germany at just 16 and arrived at RB Leipzig not speaking the language but ready to learn. He loved his time at Leeds and is now at his best at Bournemouth. That has prepared him well for the next challenge when he knows it will be a huge summer for the joint hosts with so much expectation and hope on his shoulders.

Adams said: “Mauricio has stressed this to the team that all this outside noise is out of your control. It’s what’s on the inside of this team and that’s why he’s making sure that he picks the best 26 players that are going to be the best team.

“It doesn’t necessarily have to be the best players and I think that uncertainty has allowed me to also, you know, free my mind up as well. I am not thinking that I am guaranteed a spot on the national team.

“I am playing every single day like I have a point to prove to him and make sure that I give myself the best chance to be there.

“I think I’ve been through a lot in my career and as a person. You know, I’m a father now. I have kids now. I look at things from a different perspective. I know that on the field I’m an animal. I get after things. I want to win.

“That’s just my personality. I’m competitive, I get on you, but off of the fields we’re relatable. We can talk about family or any scenario. Having a family and becoming a father has been a great change for me and my life and in my career.”

Adams can see Pochettino coming back to the Premier League in the future – the ex-Tottenham boss has never hidden his desire to return to club football – but for now they are both focused on the World Cup.

“He’s super focused and keen on obviously having a successful World Cup,” said Adams. “The preparations go into that. That being said, any Premier League team that he might manage one day will be very fortunate to have him.”

And there is no limit to Adams’ own ambitions this summer – and they want to embrace the home support and see it as an advantage rather than a pressure.

He added: “I think you go into this experience, into this World Cup, with one goal in mind and that’s to win. When you’re in a tournament format, anything can happen. You know people might want.

“They want to label us underdogs or put certain expectations on us, but we don’t put expectations on ourselves and I think that’s the most important thing. Because Mauricio even said a couple of weeks ago: ‘Why why are you going to a tournament if your mindset isn’t to win?’ You don’t go to a tournament just to have fun.

“We know we can compete. So I think when we get all cylinders fired, we have an opportunity to do something special. I mean you’ve seen what’s possible in previous years.

“I think that the fans are going to help us and push us to that level. When you’re playing in an eighty thousand seat stadium and you have seventy five percent of it rooting for you as as a home team, that could be something special. So we’re going to be riding on that.”

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NEW YORK (AP) — A prediction market reported former U.S. Rep. George Santos to federal prosecutors after he boasted he’d be going to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, then bet against his own attendance, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

Kalshi, the online prediction marketplace, referred Santos to the Department of Justice after detecting suspicious trades made by him ahead of Trump’s Feb. 24 speech, the person said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Kalshi also reported the trades to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a federal regulatory body that has vowed to crack down on insider trading in prediction marketplaces.

The Justice Department and the CFTC didn’t immediately respond Tuesday to inquiries from the AP.

Santos also did not respond to text messages or phone calls.

The referral was first reported by NPR. Santos told NPR that he wasn’t aware of the investigation. He declined to say whether he had a Kalshi account.

“I’m not saying yes, I’m not saying no,” Santos told NPR.

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The convicted ex-congressman had repeatedly discussed his intention to attend the State of the Union, which came just four months after he was granted clemency by Trump in a fraud case that led to his expulsion from the U.S. House.

On the eve of Trump’s speech, Kalshi put the odds of Santos attending at close to 75%.

Then, minutes into the speech, Santos posted on X that he had been waylaid at the airport. Immediately, several social media users accused him of running another scheme.

“Santos talking to his accountant and telling him to open his Kalshi account and bet all his money on No,” one user wrote, alongside a meme of Al Pacino counting money in the movie Scarface.

In March, Santos addressed the complaints on his podcast.

“I guess people lost money,” he said. “Some people made unexpected money. That’s to show you how fragile these markets are.”

Santos, who won office as a Republican after inventing a bogus persona as a Wall Street dealmaker, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft in 2024.

After serving just 84 days, he was ordered released by Trump, who called Santos a “rogue” but said he didn’t deserve a harsh sentence and should get credit for voting Republican.

Prediction markets, including Kalshi and its chief rival Polymarket, have drawn scrutiny as their businesses have expanded — with some lawmakers urging the platforms to do more to guard against insider trading.

Both companies have said they are reporting suspicious trades to federal regulators. Some investigations have led to criminal charges. In April a soldier involved in the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was charged with using classified information to win more than $400,000 predicting the date of his capture on Polymarket.

In April, the Senate approved a bipartisan resolution to prevent its own members from using prediction markets.

___

The story has been updated to correct in the first sentence that Santos is a former congressman, not a current one.

​The Scarborough and Whitby area has the highest relative rate of crime in North Yorkshire, with 87.56 crimes recorded for every 1,000 people in 2025-26, up from 82.44 the previous year.

​The relative crime rate is 38.66 in Ryedale, 69.36 in York, 46.63 in Harrogate, 34.07 in Richmondshire, and 44.70 in Selby.

​Overall recorded crime increased by 8 per cent from 8,267 in 2024-25 to 8,910 in 2025-26.

​In 2024-25, the Scarborough and Whitby area saw a reduction in recorded crime across most categories, with some exceptions, such as shoplifting and possession of weapons, while it still had the highest relative rates of crime in the county.

​There was a 19 per cent increase in thefts, while fraud fell by 39 per cent and vehicle offences fell by 14 per cent, according to a recently published report.

​North Yorkshire Police said that shoplifting continues to place “significant pressure on local services, rising 27 per cent from 957 to 1,259 offences this year”.

​“The command’s shoplifting positive outcome rate was 72.77 per cent, supported by 209 arrests and 30 voluntary attendance interviews.”

​Over the next 12 months, North Yorkshire Police said that its Operation Sun, which runs from July–September 2026, will involve with 12 multi-agency deployments a month targeting anti-social behaviour, retail crime, street crime, night-time economy issues, and violence against women and girls.

​There are also 40 planned deployments linked to Open Air Theatre events to reduce alcohol-related disorder and anti-social behaviour, alongside stronger community engagement through initiatives such as a Beat Bus and improved links with seldom-heard communities to build trust and improve the flow of information.

A man who was holding hostages inside a California office building for about 12 hours was shot and killed by the FBI early Wednesday, police said.

The hostages were found unharmed inside the downtown Bakersfield building that houses a bank and a school district office, the Bakersfield Police Department said in a statement.

The suspect was killed in “an officer-involved shooting” involving FBI personnel, the department said.

The standoff began Tuesday afternoon when officers responded to a call of a bomb threat at the Chase Bank building, a four-story office building with dark-tinted glass windows all around. Police said the man had barricaded himself inside with several people.

The department’s crisis negotiation team talked with the suspect by telephone and eventually two hostages were released Tuesday night, police said.

Nearby buildings, including City Hall and the police headquarters that are just a block away, were evacuated and some roads were temporarily closed during the hostage situation. Bakersfield, a city of about 380,000 residents, is the seat of largely rural Kern County and is about 100 miles (160 kms) northeast of Los Angeles.

A spokesperson for JPMorgan Chase said the bank branch is on the ground floor.

Officers established a perimeter around the area and warned the public to stay away.

“We have every single resource at our disposal out here to bring this to the safest resolution possible,” Bakersfield police Sgt. Eric Celedon said Tuesday.

Jacob Davidson, a livestreamer known as Dad’s Gone Live, was a block from the bank at his family’s tattoo shop when he started getting calls about the bomb threat.

“I went into the bank’s parking garage and watched the cops enter the back of the bank. This is the biggest police presence I’ve ever seen in this town,” Davidson said.

His livestream captured through a window in the building a woman rocking back and forth Tuesday night before crouching below the window. Later, two hands could be seen waving.

Dressed head to toe in black, he had his face covered and wore thick black gloves.

Police have released CCTV footage showing Natalie McNally’s killer, Stephen McCullagh, wearing rubber gloves as he boarded a bus on his way to murder her.

McCullagh was sentenced to 31 years behind bars on Wednesday for the murder of his pregnant partner, Natalie McNally in December 2022.

Mr Justice Kinney said he was “satisfied beyond reasonable doubt” that McCullagh’s attempt to fake a YouTube live stream was “an integral part” in his planning of the murder.

The Judge also highlighted McCullagh’s attempts to avoid detection, which included attempts to change his appearance on the night of the murder and the “manipulation” of his friends and Natalie’s family in the aftermath.

The footage released by the PSNI shows McCullagh boarding a bus at Redwood in Dunmurry and travelling to Lurgan.

Dressed head to toe in black, he had his face covered and wore thick black gloves.

McCullagh then paid the driver in cash.

After dropping something, he bends down to pick it up and takes off one of the black gloves, revealing a yellow rubber washing up glove below.

McCullagh then proceeds to take his change before moving to the back of the bus.

Ms McNally was 32 years old was 15 weeks pregnant when she was beaten, strangled and stabbed by McCullagh in her Silverwood Green home in Lurgan between 8.50pm and 9.30pm on Sunday December 18, 2022.

A jury of six men and six women found Stephen McCullagh guilty of her murder back in March.

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

George Stafford defied his family’s expectations as he completed the 1.3 mile route in Consett in just one hour and 40 minutes when they thought it’d take double that.

Setting off from the Travellers Rest in Consett at 10.30am today (Wednesday, June 3), George reached Greenways Court care home at about 12.10pm raising more than £5,000 for St Cuthbert’s Hospice.

George Stafford, 100, from Consett has raised around £5,000 in total for St Cuthbert’s Hospice (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

You can still support the fundraiser here.

George halfway through his walk (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

George decided to mark his 100th birthday not with a party, but by raising money for the hospice which cared for his son’s wife Judith, who died there in 2022, aged 66, from oesophageal cancer.

George said: “It probably means as much to my son Gary as it does me because they made her last weeks that much more bearable and hopefully this money will make a big difference to a lot of families.”

After crossing the finish line, he said, “It means everything”, but joked he “could’ve done it in ten minutes back in the day”.

While he said he had no immediate plans for another major fundraising feat, he added that “you never know”.

100 year old George Stafford at the start of his charity walk from The Travellers Rest in Consett to Greenways Court Care Home also in the Delves Lane area of Consett. Children from Delves Lane Primary School see him on his way (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

His son Gary Stafford, 67, said: “I am just so proud of him, he’s done so well.”

Children of Delves Lane Primary School waved him off on the walk with banners and birthday cards (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

George said it had “brought some tears” seeing familiar faces cheering him on along the route, as well as all children from Delves Lane Primary School, where he once taught, who created banners and birthday cards to support him at the start of the walk and again as he passed the school.

George said: “They all had the banners up in the air and sang happy birthday as we went past, it was lovely and gave me a tear. Some cars were even tooting and made me feel like royalty.”

100 year old George Stafford halfway through his charity walk from the Travellers Rest in Consett to Greenways Court Care Home passing Delves Lane Primary School (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

Residents and staff at his care home gave him a big welcome home as he finished the challenge.

One taxi driver even stopped to hand over change for the collection as he passed.

George on his walk linked with his son Gary and the home’s activity coordinator Tracy (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

After completing the challenge, he said he was looking forward to a lie down.

“It was tough but all completely worth it”, he said.

The challenge was inspired by a desire to give something back to St Cuthbert’s Hospice and help other families facing similar experiences.

George had previously explained his motivation, saying: “I didn’t really plan it, I just woke up one morning and thought that it was something I wanted to do. If it’s good enough for Captain Tom, it’s good enough for me!”

George Stafford, 100, from Consett has raised around £5,000 in total for St Cuthbert’s Hospice (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

His son, Gary, said the family was overwhelmed by the public response.

He said: “My wife spent her last three weeks there and the staff were brilliant. She had also been in for respite care before that, and she was desperate to get back when we knew she was close to the end.

“I still go down a couple of times a year with flowers and chocolates because of what they did for our family meant so much.

“This is my dad’s way of helping other people and giving something back to St Cuthbert’s Hospice after they did so much for us.”

Children of Delves Lane Primary School waved him off on the walk with banners and birthday cards (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

George added: “I’m doing it now, because I’m 100 and if it wasn’t a good effort, it wouldn’t be worth doing.

“I’m doing it in memory of my wife, who died with cancer, and my daughter-in-law.

“St Cuthbert’s Hospice looked after my daughter-in-law and made her last days more pleasant than they would have been if she’d been in hospital or at home.”

George Stafford, 100, from Consett has raised around £5,000 in total for St Cuthbert’s Hospice (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

Despite reaching his 100th birthday, George has never regarded his age as a personal achievement.

Asked the secret to a long life, he joked: “I keep away from women.”

Gary admitted he was initially surprised when his dad announced the challenge.

George got a standing ovation and big cheers as he arrived back to Greenways Court care home after his walk (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

He said: “I thought he was stupid when he first said he was doing it.

Born in Ebworth, George later moved to Consett after marrying and spent 50 years living in the town before settling in Shotley Bridge.

George in the middle, getting kissed on the cheek by two of his former pupils (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

He lived with his wife Sheila Mary until her death in 2003 and moved into Greenways Court care home in Consett two years ago.

Before becoming a teacher, George worked in a variety of industries across the North East, including the Thomas Hedley soap factory in Newcastle, the Coal Board and the Consett Steel Company.

Although he left school at the age of 14 and spent years working in industry, he never gave up on his ambition to teach.

100 year old George Stafford at the end of his charity walk from the Travellers Rest in Consett to Greenways Court Care Home (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

George, linked with his son Gary, on the walk passing Delves Lane Primary School (Image: CHRIS BOOTH)

In his 40s he retrained at Sunderland Polytechnic, opening the door to a second career in education.

He went on to teach at schools across Consett, including Consett Secondary School and Moorside Comprehensive, inspiring generations of local pupils.

Outside the classroom, he enjoyed gardening and continued playing golf well into his 80s.