Ryedale Swim and Leisure Centre in Pickering has shut today (Monday) due to a leak in the plant room.

Peter Smith, contract manager, said: “We can confirm the centre is temporarily closed due to a leak in the plant room.

“We are working with experts to resolve the issue and are on course to reopen tomorrow morning.

“We will update our customers as soon as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

As Iran continues to fire rockets and missiles at surrounding countries in the Middle East, Israel has used a brand new weapon to defend its airspace.

Israel’s ‘Iron Beam’ system allows the country to shoot down projectiles with laser technology.

Footage released yesterday showed missiles raining down after Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, launched strikes into Israel.

Suddenly, the projectiles exploded mid-air, after a beam of light shot up into the night sky.

It’s the latest technology to be added to the country’s Iron Dome missile defence system, which has proved to be vital in protecting civilians since it was implemented.

The country has 2 operational Iron Beam systems, which are able to intercept rockets, mortars and drones.

Defence officials previously explained how the system is equipped with a beam director and targeting system, allowing it to fire with precision.

The system was first introduced in 2014, but only declared operational in September 2025, when it was delivered to the army.

The Iron Dome works in a similar way to the Iron Beam, but by using missile launchers.

They work by first identifying an incoming rocket within a 2.5 to 43-mile radius. The battery then sends information about the rocket and its path to a command-and-control centre.

Once they receive this information, the control centre calculates the location of the rocket’s impact and whether it is going to strike areas inhabited by people.

When dealing with multiple threats, the Iron Dome uses data to deduce the rockets that pose the greatest threat to populated areas and infrastructure, deprioritising those that are likely to hit the sea or areas not populated.

Few reliable estimates for Iran’s stockpile of ballistic missiles exist, but it is widely considered to be one of the largest and most advanced in the region.

Some of the high-speed missiles can reach Israeli territory in just 15 minutes.  

Israel and Iran are about 1,400 miles apart, so only medium-range ballistic missiles – those capable of travelling over 620 miles – can strike the other.

Unlike cruise missiles, which are jet engine-powered and fly in a relatively flat trajectory, ballistic missiles are rocket-powered and launched high into the atmosphere before descending back down to reach its intended target.

They can carry either nuclear or conventional warheads.

As the detached warhead(s) reenter the Earth’s atmosphere, it can reach a speed greater than 1,988 miles per hour.

MORE: Who is Hezbollah and why are militants involved in the Iran war?

MORE: What’s next in Iran? How the conflict could unfold in the coming days

MORE: Is it safe to travel to Turkey right now? UK Foreign Office advice as tensions continue in Middle East

Despite any talk of top-order frailties, India remain a frightening T20 team.

Yes, they were well beaten by South Africa and given a scare by USA but there is a reason they came into this tournament as overwhelming favourites.

Between the end of the last T20 World Cup in 2024 and the start of this, India won 33 of their 41 matches making them the most consistent team cricket’s most inconsistent format has seen.

With the bat, they started slowly in this tournament but gained momentum by scoring 256-4 against Zimbabwe in the penultimate match of the Super 8s.

They scored 69 runs in the final four overs that day – something that is becoming a clear strength.

India are only the 10th fastest-scoring team in the middle phase of an innings but have hit more boundaries than anyone else at the death. They have hit 57 boundaries in the last four overs compared to England’s 44.

And while India have not lost a T20 at the Wankhede since 2017, it is a ground with bad memories for England.

It is where they lost to West Indies in the group stage, were beaten by a record 150 runs by India last year – Abhishek scored 135 from 54 balls that day – and lost to South Africa in their largest one-day international defeat in terms of runs at the 2023 World Cup.

That day, England wilted in the Mumbai heat and temperatures are forecast to hit 39 degrees during the daylight hours on Thursday.

It will not be much cooler when the match begins at 19:00 local time.

Police have charged a man with attempted murder after an attack on three officers in London.

A suspect allegedly set his Cane Corso on officers attending a flat in Marine Street, Bermondsey on Sunday.

Police said their officers were also attacked by a man armed with axes.

The suspect was Tasered and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The dog was seized and taken to police kennels.

Two of the officers suffered injuries caused by an axe and the dog, and were taken to hospital.

Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing and they have since been discharged from hospital.

A third officer suffered a minor injury which did not require further treatment in the attack.

Stephen Coombes, 43 of Marine Street, Bermondsey, has been charged with attempted murder, being in charge of a dog that caused injury while dangerously out of control, a racially aggravated Public Order Act offence, and harassment to put in fear of violence.

He is expected to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

MORE: Chick-fil-A is opening in London — and the full menu has been revealed

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MORE: Burglar was caught hiding in a loft thanks to AirPods he’d just stolen

Officers are appealing for information about the incident in Fieldside, Scarborough, on Sunday (March 1).

North Yorkshire Police said it received a report at about 7.50pm that an “unknown person has thrown a brick through a living room window”.

The force is urging anyone with information about the incident to report it by emailing mark.burrows@northyorkshire.police.uk or phoning 101.

Information can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via its website.

Quote reference number 12260037658 when passing on information.

A new survey has revealed that almost a third of Brits argue every year over when it is time to finally turn off the heating.

However, after analysing years of Met Office date, heating experts can reveal the date you should stop heating your home this year.

According to the NHS, heating should be used whenever indoor temperatures fall below 15°C, and BestHeating’s research shows that from mid-April, the UK’s average temperatures typically stay above that threshold for the rest of the year.

As a result, they recommend turning off your heating on Monday, April 20.

John Klee, heating technology expert at BestHeating comments: “There is a common misconception that when the clocks go forwards the heating is automatically used less, but that is not the case in Britain where warmer temperatures occur very gradually.

“There isn’t a specific temperature that heating should be turned off, but once the outside temperature reaches more than 15°C it is generally warm enough to do so.

“Research shows that this usually happens at the beginning of spring and with the rise in warmer temperatures this year, we can expect to have our heating turned off earlier than usual.

“If it is below 15°C, and even dropping to 13°C, outside then health issues can arise, especially in vulnerable people.

“With many still worried about their finances after another energy price cap increase, it can be tempting to turn the heating off sooner rather than later but jumping the gun could cause more issues than its worth.”

To help Brits keep bills as low as possible until April, as Brits continue to battle cold conditions, John has provided three essential pieces of advice:

Only heat the room you are in

“One of the simplest mistakes people make during winter is heating an unused space. Make sure to turn radiators off in rooms that are not in use such as bedrooms throughout the day.

“The one caveat to this is not to turn the radiators off in the room where the thermostat is located, or it could cause issues with the temperature of the rest of the home.

“Doing this will improve the boiler’s efficiency, allowing rooms you are in to warm quicker and saving over £100 for heating if used daily.”

Turn the thermostat down by one degree Celsius

“Research shows that by reducing a home’s temperature by a little, good savings can be made on energy bills. 20.8°C is the average thermostat setting in the UK, but 18°C should keep you comfortably warm throughout colder spells.

“This can save up to 10% on a fuel bill or an estimated £80. A clever way to assess if the heating is too warm is to turn the thermostat down by one °C and see how you feel.”

Choose the best times of day to blast the heating

“To keep bills low, be clever with when your heating is turned on. If the temperature is going to be lower than 10°C, set it to come on an hour before your alarm to take away the chill. If you are out all day, then do the same in the evening.

“Anyone with a Smart thermostat will be able to control their heating more easily, as they can make sure there is no wasted energy when out at work or shopping and can also set it so that they return to a warm house that is cost-effective.”

Passengers have been evacuated from Paphos International Airport in Cyprus amid reports of an unidentified drone flying into its airspace. Here are the latest updates from airlines with flights to the island.

Paphos International Airport in Cyprus ordered an ‘immediate and total evacuation’ this morning (March 2) amid reports that an unidentified drone had been flown into its restricted airspace.

Some European airlines including easyJet have already been cancelling their flights to Larnaca International Airport, a major hub for package holidays, after a drone strike hit the RAF base in Akrotiri in Cyprus.

Cyprus is a popular destination for Brits, with over 1.3 million visiting each year, and with the busy Easter period on the way, many holidaymakers may be wondering how this will affect their travel plans. Around 60 flights have been cancelled to the island today, and airlines will be closely monitoring the situation in order to make a decision on resuming flights in the coming days and weeks.

Check out updates from airlines including British Airways and easyJet below. Travellers to the island should also keep up to date with FCDO advice for Cyprus, as the situation is likely to change quickly.

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British Airways (BA)

BA said in its latest statement: “We are closely monitoring the situation and have cancelled a number of flights to the Middle East. We understand it is a difficult time for customers in affected destinations and we are in contact with them to offer reassurance and support. Safety is our top priority and we will only operate a flight if it is safe to do so.”

It added: “We have cancelled flights to Amman, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha and Tel Aviv up to and including the 05 March and today’s Larnaca service [March 2].

“We have actioned a flexible customer booking policy which allows all customers due to travel between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Tel Aviv in the coming days the option to change their flights for free or get a refund. Customers travelling to Larnaca can rebook for free.

“We are advising customers to check their flight status on BA.com for the latest updates before travelling to the airport due to the evolving situation.”

EasyJet

EasyJet has been advising passengers on X (formerly Twitter) to check its Flight Tracker for the latest information on whether their Cyprus flight will be delayed or cancelled.

An easyJet spokesperson told The Express: “Due to the events overnight affecting the RAF base in Akrotiri in Cyprus, as a precaution, three return flights between Paphos and Larnaca and the UK today will not be operating.

“Flights from 3 March are currently operating as planned but we would advise customers due to travel to and from Cyprus over the coming days to check our flight tracker for the latest information.

“We are doing all we can to minimise the impact for our customers and are providing options for rebooking including on other airlines or a refund as well as hotel accommodation and meals for those who require them.”

TUI

TUI haven’t released a specific statement on Cyprus holidays yet, either for passengers on TUI’s airlines or for package holiday customers. Paphos and Larnaca airport shows TUI flights scheduled from Wednesday onwards, with no cancellations or delays showing at the time of writing.

However, TUI has released a statement for customers due to fly out to the UAE or Qatar up to and including March 8, advising: “our pre-travel team will be in contact with you ahead of your departure date.” It also advises: “We are working though bookings in date order and will call you to discuss your options. However, if you would prefer, please call us on 0203 451 2688.” Should the current situation extend to Cyprus, it’s likely the process would be the same.

READ MORE: Emirates, British Airways and Wizz Air’s latest updates on UAE flight cancellationsREAD MORE: What travel insurance will actually cover if you’re affected by UAE travel chaos

Jet2

Jet2 flights scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday (March 3 and 4) are not yet showing as cancelled or delayed on the Paphos Airport website. Customers who have asked for advice via Jet2’s official X account have been advised to contact the Jet2 pre-travel team via Whatsapp to discuss their options.

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Emergency services were called to Junction Road in Deane at just before 10am today, March 2.

But tragically upon arrival, a woman died at the scene.

Her age has not yet been released, but police have confirmed that there are no suspicious circumstances around her death.

Officers unloading a forensic tent (Image: NQ)

A GMP spokesperson said: “Emergency services responded to reports of a concern for welfare on Junction Road in Bolton this morning, Monday, March 2.

“Sadly, a woman died at the scene. The scene will remain in place whilst officers conduct their enquiries.”

A footpath which runs off Junction Road, down the side of the St Mary’s Church, Deane, cemetery, was seen cordoned off.

As of 10.45am, Junction Road itself had also been cordoned off, with at least eight NWAS vehicles on scene, including ambulances, rapid response vehicles and larger paramedic vehicles, as well as two air ambulances.

Forensic tent set up on the path (Image: NQ)

There were also a number of police vehicles on scene.

But by 11am the road cordon was lifted, with the ambulance vehicles and air ambulance leaving. Police remained on scene to guard the cordon on the footpath, which remained in place.

More officers later arrived to set up a tent on the path.

To see this event as it unfolded, follow this link for our live blog: https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/25898612.emergency-services-scene-woman-dies-bolton/

Police and paramedics on scene (Image: NQ)

The path leads to The Middlebrook Valley Trail. The popular walking and cycling route connects Bolton town centre to the Middlebrook Retail Park/Horwich area, passing through Deane Church Clough, Ladybridge, and along the Middle Brook.

The Bolton News spoke to residents on the scene about how events unfolded today.

One said: “I just saw police cars, helicopters and the ambulances. 

“There was a lot of police and ambulances, then a lot of them went.” 

Upon hearing that a woman had died, he said: “Aw bless, it’s not nice.” 

CSI on scene (Image: NQ)

He added that there had previously been other police incidents in the area.

Another described it as “awful”.

One other added: “We didn’t see anything or hear anything at all until we heard the sirens at around 9.50am. 

“We heard a lot of sirens and helicopters, it was busy.” 

The resident added that nothing like this “ever happens around here”, with dog walkers using the path to cut through.

Another resident concurred that the path is regularly used by dog walkers.