Nigel Farage has said he is ‘not worried’ after police announced it was reviewing a complaint over his party’s prize draw.

Under a competition launched by Reform UK, one lucky winner as well as their entire street had their energy bills covered by the party.

On Thursday, Mr Farage shared a video of himself and his treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick turning up at the home of ‘June from Wigan’, presenting her with a bouquet of flowers and a giant cheque for £1,758.

Voters could enter the draw by filling out a questionnaire on their voting habits, including which party they had voted for at the last election and who they intended to support now.

However campaign groups have expressed concerns that the giveaway may breach Electoral Commission guidance as acts that ‘incentivise voter behaviour’ can amount to ‘treating’ or ‘bribery’ which are considered a form of corruption.

Unveiling the ‘Nigel Cut My Bills’ promotion, Mr Jenrick promised voters if they ‘give us your details’, Mr Farage would appear at their home and foot their energy bills for a year.

However it emerged that June and her husband Ray Dibble were both no strangers to Reform and Mr Farage.

The couple had appeared at a campaign event for the party’s predecessor, the Brexit Party in 2019 and were described as ‘staunch members’ by Reform’s Wigan branch.

Greater Manchester Police confirmed on Saturday that it was now reviewing a complaint about the draw.

It is as of yet unclear what offence is being looked into but the matter has not yet progressed to a full investigation.

Asked by reporters whether the giveaway could have broken election rules, Mr Farage insisted he wasn’t worried.

Reform said that the competition had been approved by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

But the Open Rights Group said the promotion risked turning democracy into a ‘data harvesting exercise’, adding that the party was not telling entrants what their responses would be used for.

Its legal and policy officer, Mariano delli Santi, said: ‘Reform are asking the public to hand over sensitive data about their voting habits without being transparent about how it will be used.

‘This is a clear breach of transparency obligations under UK data protection law. Nothing in their privacy policy suggests they are not acting unlawfully in many other way.

‘Aside from the potential breach of data protection law, offering financial incentives in exchange for people’s political views risks turning democratic participation into a data-harvesting exercise.’

In a statement, the ICO said that it had spoken to Reform about the competition and ‘improving transparency’ in the way they handle personal information.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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The village railway station offers regular trains into the capital

A home where you can commute to major cities, but also be surrounded by countryside, is one that many of us dream of to have the best of both worlds. It can be especially tricky to find a village that has a train station with direct routes and plenty of amenities.

Whittlesford is situated around seven miles from Cambridge, nestled next to the River Cam. The village’s train station, Whittlesford Parkway, has regular trains to London Liverpool Street station making it ideal for anyone who works in the capital.

Cambridge is a short 20-minute drive away. Alternatively, a direct train will take you into the city centre in less than 10 minutes.

A park, a pub, and a school are a few other things that make this village so special. The Lawn has a children’s play area, large green space, and sports pavilion. The park sits in the middle of the village acting as a great meeting point.

The Tickell Arms pub is found in the heart of the village and offers seasonal dishes. This included classics like pie of the day and sausage and mash, as well as other dishes like risotto and chicken supreme.

The gastropub has an average of 4.5 out of five stars on Google after more than 1,000 reviews. One guest commented: “The pub exceeded my expectations, and I don’t often get a chance to say that.”

Another wrote: “The Tickell Arms is one of the Cambridgeshire restaurants in the Cambridge area, and, in my opinion, the best of them.” Whittlesford is also home to two other restaurants called Provenance Brix + Mortar and the Restaurant at Red Lion Hotel.

A big factor for families in deciding where to make the move is having a local school for their children. There is only one school in the area, William Westley Church of England Primary School, but Sawston Village College is easily assessible by car.

Whittlesford is a beautiful village for families, so property prices reflect its desirability. Over the last year, the house prices have an overall average of £606,250, according to Rightmove.

The majority of properties sold in Whittlesford during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £760,000. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £500,000, with terraced properties fetching £405,000, making the area relatively expensive.

In comparison, according to Office for National Statistics, house prices in South Cambridgeshire have an average of £430,000 as of January 2026.

Justin Bieber is preparing to mark his first proper comeback this weekend at Coachella festival, four years after abandoning his tour in 2022

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Justin Bieber is preparing to mark his first proper comeback this weekend at the Coachella festival, four years after abandoning his tour in 2022. The superstar will headline the main stage on Saturday, April 11.

Justin became a household name at just 13. Although it may appear as though the Baby singer has lived a glamorous and perfect life full of fame and fortune, Justin admitted that when he looks back on his career, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Looking back over the past five years of his career, Justin admitted that times were ‘pretty dark’ for him.

We take a look at some of his lowest moments, from run-ins with the paparazzi to concerns over his friendship with disgraced rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs…

Paparazzi run-ins

Justin got into an altercation with a tabloid snapper when he left a cinema with his then-girlfriend Selena Gomez back in 2012. It all kicked off when the pap allegedly blocked Justin’s car, and according to TMZ, a lawyer had advised him to call 911 and file a police report against the pop star.

Later that year, Justin was accused of driving at speeds of over 80mph during an incident where he called 911 to complain about chasing paparazzi. He told the responding officer his surname was “Johnson”, before he explained: “I was going to go fast so I could lose these people, and then I got pulled over, and the police told me that if they kept following me, to call in.”

In 2013, a pap was fatally struck by a car after attempting to take photos of Justin’s white Ferrari. He was hit because ‘he didn’t look before crossing the street’.

Just months later, in June, Justin was accused of hitting a paparazzi photographer in June while driving in the city of Los Angeles.

The paparazzo claimed Justin pinned him between his white Ferrari and a parked car before driving off without getting out of the car. At the time, Justin claimed he had no idea there were allegations that anyone had been hit by his expensive vehicle.

Nightmare in Brazil

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Justin’s 2013 trip to Brazil descended into chaos when he was spotted jumping into a car outside Rio de Janeiro’s infamous brothel Centaurus, wearing what appeared to be only a white sheet, according to Page Six.

He was later kicked out of his hotel for “breaking the rules.” Just days later, he was photographed spraying graffiti on a building, and civil police charged him with “defacing a building or urban monument by graffiti or other means.”

Jail stint

In 2012, TMZ claimed Justin’s speed peaked at 100mph while being chased by paparazzi. He told chat show host Jimmy Fallon about his constant run-ins with the law: “You know what, the police really like to pull me over. I don’t do anything, I promise.”

Then in 2014, he was charged with a DUI, resisting arrest, drag racing and an expired license during a drunken night out with friends in Miami. He consequently spent the night in jail.

Racist slurs

In 2014, TMZ leaked a five-year-old video in which Bieber can be heard telling a racist joke using the n-word, in a clip filmed in 2011. In another leaked video, Bieber is seen using the n-word as he performs a parody of his song, “One Less Lonely Girl.” Bieber later apologised for his comments, saying: “As a kid, I didn’t understand the power of certain words and how they can hurt.

“I thought it was ok to repeat hurtful words and jokes, but didn’t realize at the time that it wasn’t funny and that in fact my actions were continuing the ignorance. I thought it was ok to repeat hurtful words and jokes, but didn’t realize at the time that it wasn’t funny and that in fact my actions were continuing the ignorance.

“Thanks to friends and family I learned from my mistakes and grew up and apologized for those wrongs. Now that these mistakes from the past have become public I need to apologize again to all those I have offended. I’m very sorry. I take my friendships with people of all cultures very seriously and I apologize for offending or hurting anyone with my childish and inexcusable mistake.

“I was a kid then and I am a man now who knows my responsibility to the world and to not make that mistake again. Ignorance has no place in our society and I hope the sharing of my faults can prevent others from making the same mistake in the future. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to say but telling the truth is always what’s right. Five years ago I made a reckless and immature mistake and I’m grateful to those close to me who helped me learn those lessons as a young man. Once again….I’m sorry.”

Storming off stage

2014 wasn’t the best year for Biebs. During a gig in Manchester, the star stormed off stage because fans in the front row were screaming. Just a few days later, he stormed off for the second time after just one song. He later admitted he doesn’t “always handle things the right way”, telling fans he was having a “rough week.”

The following year, Justin called out a live TV audience for not clapping “on the right beat”. Justin also shocked fans when he stormed off stage during a TV performance in Oslo in the same week. The singer, who also walked out of a radio interview just the previous day, cut his appearance short after one of his fans spilt something on the stage, and then he couldn’t get it cleaned.

Drug use

In 2021, Justin shared an insight into his drug use during the height of his fame. In a bid to numb the overpowering feeling of emptiness, the singer would resort to taking drugs in a bid to make himself feel something during his low points.

He told GQ magazine: “I was surrounded by a lot of people, and we were all kind of just escaping our real life. I think we just weren’t living in reality. I think it would have probably resulted in just a lot of doing drugs and being posted up, to be honest.”

Justin’s drug use got so bad at one point that his security guards would be forced to sneak into his room at night to check his pulse to make sure that he was still alive.

“There was a sense of still yearning for more,” he explained. “It was like I had all this success and it was still like: I’m still sad, and I’m still in pain. And I still have these unresolved issues.

“And I thought all the success was going to make everything good. And so, for me, the drugs were a numbing agent to just continue to get through.” “I just lost control of my vision for my career,” Justin added. Thankfully, the singer ‘saw the light’ after meeting his wife Hailey, who he married in 2018.

P Diddy claims

Justin’s former friendship with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs hit the headlines after the disgraced rapper’s 2024 arrest. Combs is serving a four-year sentence after being convicted on prostitution-related charges. The 56-year-old is currently in a special drug treatment unit and is only eligible for release in 2028. Diddy was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking at a trial that ended in July.

The pair first became friends back in 2009 when they met at the VMAs. At the time, Justin had just been signed by singer Usher, who himself lived with Diddy when he was a young musician.

Resurfaced videos between Justin and Diddy fuelled further concerns last year. One clip features the pair hugging; however, fans claim Justin was being checked for a wire. The clip, believed to have been filmed in 2021, shows Combs patting Justin on the back and chest several times.

A spokesperson for Bieber said in a statement, published by TMZ: “Although Justin is not among Sean Combs‘ victims, there are individuals who were genuinely harmed by him. Shifting focus away from this reality detracts from the justice these victims rightfully deserve.” Sources also informed TMZ on Thursday that the Coming Home rapper never abused Bieber in any way.

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Police were called to a property in Leaden Roding, near Dunmow, at 10.45pm on Friday, where officers found the teenager fatally injured.

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A community has been left reeling after the death of a 19‑year‑old woman mauled by her family’s seemingly harmless dog that “slept on her bed”.

Police were called to a property in Leaden Roding, near Dunmow, at 10.45pm on Friday (April 10), where officers found the teenager fatally injured. Despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The canine believed to have carried out the attack has been seized, while friends and relatives have named the victim as Jamie‑Lea Biscoe, paying tribute online to the “beautiful” young woman whose life was cut short in the tragic incident.

“Our darling Jamie-Lea rip our girl,” a relative wrote on Facebook, as another, Tina Wells, described the dog as a “seven-year-old lurcher” which was a “family pet”. Ms Wells added: “She slept on my granddaughter’s bed. It’s devastating.”

A 37-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury resulting in death, following the death, Essex Police confirmed.

“It’s really tragic,” a neighbour said, adding “I feel for the whole family. She was well-liked by the kids. We didn’t know what happened until this morning.

“For all concerned, it’s devastating. We feel for the family. We’re still trying to process it. It has been a shock.” Another added: “They kept themselves to themselves, they never caused us any problems. It’s just very, very sad and very tragic.”

Essex Police Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said: “I know this incident will be a shock to the local community. My thoughts, and those of us all at Essex Police, are with the loved ones of the woman who died yesterday.

“We will have officers in the area throughout today so please come and speak to them if you have any information or have any concerns. Experienced detectives are leading the investigation to understand exactly what has happened.”

The full statement from the force read: “A woman has died following an incident involving a dog at a house in Dunmow. We were called to an address in Leaden Roding at 10.45pm on Friday 10 April and officers were on the scene quickly where they found a 19-year-old woman with serious injuries.

“Sadly, despite the best efforts of emergency services, she was pronounced dead at the scene. We have been carrying out enquiries to establish the circumstances, and we believe she had been attacked by a dog at the property in Long Hide.

“Specialist officers ensured the scene was safe and the dog has been seized. A 37-year-old man from Dunmow was arrested on suspicion of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury resulting in death. He is currently in custody.”

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Officers responded to several reports of small fires being set around Sherburn in Elmet, near Selby, on Friday evening (April 10).

North Yorkshire Police said it worked with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to “locate and extinguish the fires quickly, while also making efforts to identify the individuals responsible”.

A force spokesperson urged parents and carers to “please speak with their children about the dangers and consequences of this behaviour”.

“Setting fires, even small ones, poses significant risk to people, property, and the wider community,” they said. “It also diverts emergency services away from other priority incidents, where someone may urgently need our help.”

The spokesperson said North Yorkshire Police would be increasing patrols in the “affected areas over the coming days to provide reassurance and to deter any further incidents”.

They added: “If you have any information that may assist our enquiries, please contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, or report online. In an emergency, always dial 999.”

Sick Tracey Connelly, who was jailed at the Old Bailey in 2009 after the death of Baby P, is up for parole soon. But a detective who interviewed her ahead of her son’s death has spoken out saying she should remain in jail

A detective who interviewed the monstrous mum of Baby P says she should not be given a “second chance”.

Sick Tracey Connelly was jailed at the Old Bailey in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her 17-month-old son Peter at their home in Tottenham, north London, on August 3 2007. Her then-boyfriend, Steven Barker, and his brother, Jason Owen, were convicted of the same crime.

Connelly is set to go before a parole panel next month but Jon Wedger, who interviewed her before Peter died, says she should never be given a second chance at freedom.

Mr Wedger, a former Met Police, told the Sun: “She was a very very controlling woman… straight away I knew how manipulative she was.”

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Just days before Peter’s death, Mr Wedger questioned Connelly at a police station near where she lived in Haringey, North London. A decision had to be made on if Connelly would be held on remand or her bail extended in relation to suspicions she was beating Peter.

Connelly adopted a pretence as a caring mum and gave “ridiculous” excuses for her little boy’s injuries.

But suddenly, Connelly “couldn’t control herself” and this was the moment “the monster in her came out”. Mr Wedger said: “I turned round to her and said ‘that is the monster your child sees’.”

In a previous interview, Mr Wedger said: “I outwitted her, and she lost the plot. She went from being this really sweet, smiley, nice person – in a heartbeat that psychopath came out and she stood up and went ‘you c***’ and gobbed in my face.”

Mr Wedger thinks during the hearing Connelly will“come across as plausible, respectable but she’s a liar”. He added: “I don’t think that woman should ever be given a second chance.”

Last year, Connelly broke her silence on her son’s death and admitted she was a “bad mother”. She said she ignored signs about Barker, saying. “I failed to protect them, I put my needs first, I took all my anger at the world on my older children. I didn’t give them what they needed and they deserve a whole lot better than me.”

In 2013, Connelly was released, but recalled for breaching parole conditions in 2015. She was released again in 2022, but recalled after she failed to follow the conditions of her release at a bail hostel. She had “developed an intimate relationship with a man”, which was hidden from a probation officer, her parole opening heard.

Known publicly as Baby P, Peter suffered more than 50 injuries despite being on the at-risk register and receiving 60 visits from social workers, police officers and health professionals over eight months. The case shocked the nation due to the extent of Peter’s injuries.

Connelly admitted the offence of causing or allowing the death of her son and was handed a sentence of imprisonment for public protection with a minimum term of five years.

Connelly told the Parole Board last year there is “a lot more I probably could have done to protect my children” before the death of Peter which saw her then-partner Barker and his brother living at the family home.

She said: “If I had told the professionals this man was living with me, if I had explained we were more than he was just visiting, there are 101 different things I could have done. I’m ashamed to admit, I was in my own head, in my own bubble. I wanted my prince charming and unfortunately my children paid for that.”

She said one of her children “couldn’t stand him” but her “selfishness didn’t acknowledge it” and added “they were stuck in a worse situation that allowed my son to die.”

Seaham Hall, the five-star coastal hotel and spa resort, has announced a new partnership with Aston Martin Newcastle to deliver a programme of exclusive guest experiences in 2026 and beyond.

As part of the collaboration, hotel guests and Aston Martin customers will be invited to a series of luxury car showcases and test drives.

Some guests will also have the opportunity to enjoy exclusive use of an Aston Martin during their stay.

It’s a five-star partnership. (Image: Seaham Hall)

Ross Grieve, managing director at Seaham Hall, said: “We are delighted to be starting the new year launching our partnership with Aston Martin Newcastle, a brand that shares our values of luxury, innovation and true excellence.

“This union will allow us to continue to create truly exceptional experiences for guests and Aston Martin customers at Seaham Hall, something that we strive to deliver with each and every visit.”

Chris Hall, head of business at Aston Martin Newcastle, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Seaham Hall, an iconic North East venue and the perfect spot to showcase Aston Martin Newcastle.

“As well as our cars being on display throughout the year, we have some very exciting events and guest experiences lined up.”

The hotel is a popular spot for celebrities. (Image: Will Foxx)

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Seaham Hall was recently ranked in the top 50 boutique hotels in the UK and named one of the best hotels in the world by La Liste for 2025.

Its five-bubble-rated Serenity Spa has also collected awards including Best Boutique Spa at the Boutique Hotelier Awards, and AA’s Best UK Spa Award in 2023 and 2024.

The hotel was also named Small Hotel of the Year 2025 in the North East England Tourism Awards, and featured in The Sunday Times Top 100 Best Places to Stay in 2024.

BBC period drama Call the Midwife is set to continue with a new movie set in 1972

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Rebecca Gethings has teased the release of the forthcoming Call the Midwife movie and it’s good news.

The 50-year-old actress has played Sister Veronica on the BBC drama since 2023, taking over from Sister Hilda (Fenella Woolgar), but was left questioning her faith during series 15, which aired earlier this year.

Set in 1971, a new era saw Sister Veronica make a heartbreaking confession to Geoffrey Franklin (Chris Harper), confirming her wish to experience motherhood herself, despite having dedicated her life to the Church.

The nun then decided to leave Nonnatus House for up to six weeks to decide whether she wanted to leave the religious order, have a family, or continue her duties.

During this tough time, Sister Veronica was known as Beryl before she eventually re-joined Nonnatus House to the delight of Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter).

The story of Call the Midwife is now set to continue with a new movie set in 1972 at an overseas location, and Sister Veronica could make an appearance.

At the end of series 15, Sister Julienne informed the midwives that the services provided by Nonnatus House will be “altered”.

She announced, “Sister Veronica and Sister Catherine and I have decided that Nonnatus House will become a house of prayer and charity while we discern our next steps.”

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Sister Julienne then appeared to tease three possible locations for the movie as she shared plans to join a new one-year medical mission.

She added: “One of them would be in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, one of them would be in British Columbia, and one would be in a remote part of Australia.”

Although the cast for the Call the Midwife movie hasn’t yet been confirmed, given Sister Julienne’s words, it could potentially involve the three remaining nuns: Sister Veronica, Sister Catherine (Molly Vevers), and Sister Julienne, plus other cast members, including Doctor Turner (Stephen McGann).

The Call the Midwife team hasn’t yet confirmed the finer details of the movie, including its release date or when filming will commence, but it could be sooner than fans think.

Rebecca Gethings recently hinted on Instagram that the forthcoming film could be released soon.

Sharing a short video clip featuring a scene between Beryl and Chris Harper as Geofrey, the actress wrote: “Available now on BBC iPlayer xx.”

One fan wasted no time in asking about the film and inquired: “Cheers! (and Call the Midwife movie coming out?? Is that true?” as Rebecca replied: “Yes, there will be one in the not too distant future, I believe.”

Along with the movie, Call the Midwife is also set to release a prequel set during World War II and series 16.

Call the Midwife is available to stream on BBC iPlayer