Grand National Festival winner Laafi has been disqualified and jockey Patrick O’Brien has been banned for breaking rules around the use of a whip.

The six-year-old horse was a 20-1 winner of the Debenhams Handicap Hurdle at Aintree last Friday.

However, the British Horseracing Authority’s (BHA) whip review committee concluded that O’Brien had used his whip 11 times after jumping the second-to-last hurdle – four times more than the permitted number.

As none of the uses of the whip were for safety purposes, Laafi was disqualified and O’Brien has been handed a 28-day suspension.

The panel’s report read: ‘Patrick O’Brien, the rider of the winner, LAAFI (FR), was found to have used his whip four times above the permitted level of seven from jumping the second last hurdle.

‘Taking into account that none of the uses were clearly and unequivocally for safety purposes, LAAFI (FR) was disqualified under Rule (L)47.11. As this was a Class 2 race restricted to conditional and amateur riders only, the penalty in respect of being above permitted level was doubled.’

Melon, who finished runner-up behind Laafi, has now been declared the winning horse of the race which was restricted to conditional jockeys and amateur riders.

The ruling from the BHA does not have an impact on bets placed on the race as all wagers were settled according to the official result on the day.

Laafi is the first winning horse to be disqualified from a race due to whip-related offences since last June.

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Scarlett Moffatt rose to fame on Gogglebox alongside her family, including her younger sister Ava-Grace — but what is she up to now?

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Scarlett Moffatt rose to prominence on Gogglebox alongside her family, including sister Ava-Grace — but what has she been up to since?

The much-loved TV personality joined the Channel 4 programme back in 2014 with her mum Betty and dad Mark. Scarlett’s sister Ava-Grace also made a brief appearance on the show, stepping in front of the cameras for the first time at just seven years old.

In 2016, however, Scarlett departed and went on to compete in — and ultimately triumph in — that year’s I’m A Celebrity series. Since then, Scarlett has kept herself firmly in the spotlight and is set to return to screens for the 2026 series of I’m A Celebrity South Africa.

Following Scarlett’s Gogglebox departure, in 2017 she revealed her family had been axed from the programme, leaving the much-adored clan “gutted”.

Alongside a photo of Scarlett and her parents at the National Television Awards, she wrote: “We are going to miss doing #gogglebox so so much but can’t wait to watch the new series (good luck my fellow Goggleboxers you will smash it love the Moffatts).”, reports the Mirror.

One fan in the comments section said they were “gutted” over the Moffatts’ exit. Scarlett responded at the time: “We are gutted too, thought my Mam and dad (and little Ava) would still be able to do it but we will still be watching.”

But what became of Scarlett’s younger sister Ava-Grace? Scarlett — who is 15 years older than Ava-Grace — treated fans to an update on her sibling’s 18th birthday in 2024.

Taking to her Instagram, Scarlett disclosed that Ava-Grace’s path in life has taken an entirely different direction from her own. The TV personality shared a series of photographs of Ava-Grace spanning from her early years as a baby right through to the present day.

Scarlett wrote about her younger sibling, who looked considerably more grown-up compared to her appearances on Gogglebox: “My little sister is 18!! Ava despite our 15 year age gap I could only have dreamed for how close we are.

“Watching you grow up into the amazingly kind, intelligent, beautiful, bloody hilarious lady has been a blessing.

“Always stay unapologetically yourself, keep wearing your quirky earrings like the ones that are little goldfishes in a bag or fried eggs and go and smash studying archaeology at university. P.s buzzing you can now come to brunches with me.”

Gogglebox airs every Friday at 9pm on Channel 4.

“10 years ago we never envisaged opening a bakery”

A popular Co Down bakery is expanding into Belfast.

Round House Bakery opened in Hillsborough back in 2022 by couple, Hannah and Shane Donaldson, who started their baking journey delivering loaves of bread to households up and down the country.

After selling out their speciality cradled loaves at markets and fairs across NI, their bricks-and-mortar store in the Co Down village has become a foodie hot spot over the past four years.

READ MORE: Co Down couple opening new bakery after starting off at home with a small ovenREAD MORE: Viral Belfast pizza shop Flout! announces opening date for city centre location

Last month, Round House Bakery announced it would be opening a second bakery in Belfast City Centre. The new location is preparing to open in the Cathedral Quarter in the original Neighbourhood Cafe unit in the Cathedral Buildings.

It joins Flout! Pizza as some of the first tennants announced for the restored space which was destroyed after a fire in Ocotber 2022.

Although no opened date has been confirmed, Hannah and Shane took to social media to share the exciting news.

An Instagram post reads: “Round House 2.0 coming soon to Belfast!

“10 years ago we never envisaged opening a bakery. Just the two of us, fascinated by food, drink & hospitality, wildly passionate about bread and what it could be. That passion hasn’t wavered. This December will mark 4 years of our little shop in Hillsborough.“Almost everything we make is pure sourdough from large-format miche to bakery-style pizza. We bake direct or ambient. We don’t cold proof our bread dough.“The bakery is a busy place and we’re so thankful to serve our wonderful community. There’s no set opening date for Belfast yet but will keep you posted Can’t wait to share with you all our exciting plans for Cathedral Quarter!”

They are currently looking to expand their “top-tier team” and are looking for bakers, front of house staff and drivers to join the Round House team.

Find out more about Round House and its expansion here

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What’s On newsletter.

Since the deadly Hamas-led attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, which triggered the Gaza war, UN agencies and Israeli rights groups have reported an increase in claims of abuse of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including routine beatings, sexual violence, starvation and severe medical negligence. Dozens of Palestinians are reported to have died in detention as a result.

Reform has been hit by scandal in Wales, with one candidate standing down last month after a photo emerged of him appearing to do a Nazi salute

One of Nigel Farage’s Reform candidates peddled a Covid conspiracy theory – and even branded the late Queen a “fraud” who should be overthrown.

Farage once opened up about being “slightly depressed” at Queen Elizabeth II’s death, praising her as “the most respected person in the world”. But in stark contrast, Reform’s local elections candidate Emma Clatworthy laid into her, alleging “she’s not our Queen” – citing her German descent. Clatworthy, standing in south Wales, referenced a “cult” leader who apparently claimed the Queen swore to “trade off” her subjects.

She also falsely claimed people cannot catch a virus and to advance her argument referenced the Rothchilds – a Jewish banking family often used in anti-semitic comments. Reform has been hit by scandal in Wales, with one candidate standing down last month after a photo emerged of him appearing to do a Nazi salute.

In Telegram posts uncovered by Hope Not Hate (HNH), Clatworthy, 43, wrote: “The government are actors, there [sic] only to distract us, give us a false sense of security and false sense of control over our lives thinking that they are there for us.

“We don’t need a government so large they’re like blood sucking ticks, taking all our money and doing nothing for us only for the corporations. They need to go, the whole system needs to be taken down and rebuilt, by us the people. The Monarch needs to go she’s not our Queen never has been she’s a fraud, they’re all German decent [sic]”.

In the February 2021 post, she referenced Mark Christopher, the leader of a “cult” who was later jailed over a kidnap bid. He and three others in the “anti-establishment cult” were found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court in 2024 over the incident the year before in which they stormed a court and tried to kidnap a coroner. Clatworthy wrote: “… if you look at the clips Mark K Christopher (Federal Post Master Judge, London) does he shows us how we’ve been duped by our own language and he breaks the Queens speach [sic] down and shows you how she’s not swearing to represent us the people, she’s swearing to trade off us….” She added: “We need to learn the correct processes to over throw the monarch…”

In another comment on the same day during the Covid pandemic, she wrote: “The problem we have is people have been brainwashed and programmed since they started school… people are even rushing to get a vaccine that can kill them just to go back to the ‘norm’.” Her comments were made in a Telegram group called “LAWFUL/LEGAL Q&A” which carries a picture showing the words: “The Great RE-OPENING”.

In a message on another Telegram group, Clatworthy wrote in August 2021: “You can’t catch a virus its the biggest lie big pharma ever spun. A virus is dead cells excreted at the end of your immune system doing what it’s designed to do. It’s not alive that’s why they can’t give you antibiotics or anything for the flu. Flu shots don’t prevent flu they give you the flu. ..this has been happening over and over and over again, it’s all big pharma lies and business.”

One user questioned her, saying: “So all the Virologists, Scientists, Doctor’s and medical experts are all WRONG. !!! REALLY!!!??” To which Clatworthy replied: “Yes, not all of them, most of them are telling the truth go and look it up. Dr Sam Bailey is a great source of info. They’ve written books on it also. Virologists didn’t exist initially it was a combined organisation, changed by Rothschilds, Rockefeller when they took over med school and sciences. Go and look it up before you did it, have we not learned any lessons yet. It’s germ theory vs terrain theory”.

This is an apparent reference to Samantha Bailey, who it later emerged had her medical registration cancelled in New Zealand and was ordered to pay over $148,000 [£64,000] after posting Covid misinformation. The NHS website says: “COVID-19 spreads very easily through close contact with people who have the virus.”

HNH’s Director of Research Joe Mulhall said: “Emma Clatworthy has a history of voicing dangerous conspiracy theories online. The fact Reform UK has selected Clatworthy as a Senedd candidate is disappointing but not surprising.”

On Facebook, Clatworthy says she has trained in “integrative health and functional medicine”. In a post this week she explained: “I am now developing my work in clinical practice and community health education, focused on prevention, resilience, and helping people understand their health before they reach crisis point.” Late last month, she posted: “Today, I’m proud to announce that I have been selected as a Senedd Candidate for Bridgend and the Vale of Glamorgan”.

Clatworthy told the Mirror: “The comments you reference are from several years ago, during a period where I was exploring a wide range of ideas and discussions online. Like many people, I was trying to make sense of complex issues at the time. I made a conscious decision to step away from those spaces. As a candidate, my priority is to serve people fairly, thoughtfully, and with a focus on real-world outcomes that improve lives.”

Reform declined to comment.

He broke into his ex-partner’s home and used black paint to write obscene words and abusive messages on the walls

A man targeted a home, a church, and a charity shop in a series of burglaries across Cambridge. John Brady, 57, broke into the home of his former partner in Mortlock Avenue on April 11 last year.

During the break‑in, he used black paint to write obscene words and abusive messages on the walls. Brady, who also lives in Mortlock Avenue, went on to target Wesley Methodist Church on December 23, stealing a purse containing £30 and Christmas food.

He continued his crime spree in February, committing three further burglaries at St Andrew’s College, Each charity shop on Milton Road, and Cutting Edge Podiatry on Barnwell Road. During the offences, he stole items including an iPad, £75 from a purse, and a cashbox.

Brady was identified following enquiries and from CCTV images. He was sentenced to two years and three months in prison at Peterborough Crown Court on Monday (April 13) after pleading guilty to five counts of burglary.

Detective Constable Henry Marshall, who investigated, said: “Brady carried out a series of opportunist burglaries which caused distress to individuals and harm to community organisations. I hope this sentence provides reassurance to residents and businesses that we will pursue offenders and bring them before the courts.”

ITV crews were spotted outside of Le Mans Crescent, Bolton, to film scenes for Coronation Street inside the old court Building.

Le Mans Crescent (Image: Dan Dougherty)

This is the second day in a row the film crew have been spotted filming Coronation Street in Le Mans Crescent, often used as a shooting location for court scenes.

In July 2021 and 2022, the trial following the murder of Seb Franklin was shot in the old Bolton Magistrates Court on Le Mans Crescent.

And earlier this month, crews were in town to film scenes for upcoming ITV courtroom Drama Saviour, which stars Anjli Mohindra (The Suspect, Bodyguard), Shaun Parkes (Human Traffic, The Suspect), and Aiden Gillen, who played Littlefinger in Game of Thrones.

Le Mans Crescent (Image: Dan Dougherty)

Fans were alerted to the presence of the Coronation Street crew yesterday when they saw a Newton and Ridley truck drive into the area, this being the name of the show’s fictional brewery.

Although it is currently unknown which scenes were being filmed, there are several possibilities based on recent storylines.

It may have something to do with the upcoming wedding between Carla Connor (Alison King) and Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers), as a flash-forward episode in February revealed there will be a murder on the big day.

Emile Cairess has been ruled out of this year’s London Marathon – where he was expected to challenge Sir Mo Farah’s British record – with a calf injury.

The 28-year-old finished third in 2024 but, after placing fourth at the marathon in the Paris Olympics, was also forced to miss last year’s race in London because of an ankle tendon issue.

Cairess was troubled by the calf problem earlier this year and it has continued to hamper his training.

“I am gutted to be withdrawing from the 2026 London Marathon,” he said.

“After missing the 2025 race, I was so excited at the prospect of returning this year, but out of respect to both the race and the distance, I only want to be on the start line if I’m in the best possible condition.

“Unfortunately, the calf issue I sustained earlier in my training block means I am not currently where I need to be.

“I’ve done my best to be on the start line but, unfortunately, I have to make the tough decision to withdraw. I wish everyone taking part the very best of luck and hope to be back at the London Marathon next year.”

Speaking in January, Cairess, who has a marathon best of two hours six minutes and 46 seconds, said he has felt in shape to beat Farah’s mark of 2:05:11 for the past two years.

On Tuesday, world champion Peres Jepchirchir withdrew from the women’s race after her build-up was affected by a stress fracture.

This year’s London Marathon takes place on Sunday, 26 April.

Renewable energy company Statkraft has released further details of its proposed Mylen Leah Solar Farm, a scheme expected to generate around 500MW of electricity – enough to power the equivalent of 180,000 homes.

If approved, the development would be located between the villages of Seaton Ross, Melbourne, Laytham, Ellerton, East Cottingwith and Foggathorpe, on land on and around the former airfield at Melbourne.

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The solar farm would be connected to the national grid at Thornton Substation via an underground cable.

Developers say the scheme would play a key role in strengthening the UK’s energy security by reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels, particularly at a time of global instability and rising energy costs.

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Matt Simpson, senior solar project manager at Statkraft, said the company was keen to engage with the community as plans progress.

He added: “We’re pleased to have the opportunity to share further details about Mylen Leah Solar Farm and look forward to speaking to local people as we finalise our proposals.

“In addition to delivering greater energy security and helping stabilise electricity bills, Mylen Leah Solar Farm would also offer tangible benefits, including opportunities for businesses in the area to register as local suppliers.

“Statkraft is also committed to delivering a community benefit fund for investment in local projects and initiatives, which would be open for applications once the project becomes operational.”

A statutory public consultation on the plans will run from Thursday (April 16) to Thursday (May 28), during which local residents, businesses and community groups will be able to view the proposals and provide feedback.

A series of in-person and online events is planned, including the following:

• Holme-on-Spalding Village Hall – Thursday (April 30) from 1pm till 8pm;
• Melbourne Village Hall – Wednesday (May 6) from 1pm till 8pm;
• Bubwith Sports and Leisure Centre – Thursday (May 7) from 12pm till 6.30pm.

Statkraft said: “All comments received during the statutory consultation will be carefully reviewed and analysed to identify key themes and issues, and to inform the further development of the proposals.

“An application for a Development Consent Order will then be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in late 2026.”

More information about the project can be found here.