His body was found a week after authorities called off the search, when he had been missing for an entire month – but he was only supposed to be gone for three days

Grant Gardner was an experienced hiker and he was looking forward to his three-day solo adventure, walking and climbing through the Bighorn National Forest.

But what started out as a stunning hike for the married father-of-two ended in a living nightmare for his family when he vanished without trace.

Grant had set off on his three-day hike on July 20, 2025, in Wyoming with the hopes of reaching the peak in Bighorn National Forest. He aimed to take on the hike in the northern part of the state, where he would reach an elevation of over 13,000 feet.

The day he set off was the last time anyone spoke to the 38-year-old and when he didn’t return three-days later it would be more than a month until anyone knew what had happened.

The authorities had to stop their search as his “most optimistic survival odds have run out”, and it wasn’t until a month after his disappearance his body was uncovered.

The last anyone had ever heard from Gardner was when he texted his loving wife around 7pm on July 29. His text told her that he had reached the summit and that the climb had been ‘more taxing than he had expected’ and that he was feeling ‘fatigued’.

Three days later, after not hearing from him since, the sheriff’s office was notified Gardner had not yet returned home, and it was then that the search operation began.

It was no small feat, as the search pulled resources from six counties, including both the Wyoming Army National Guard and the U.S. Forest Service, as well as dog trackers, drones and even private pilots, all searching the area in the hopes of finding Mr Gardner.

Sheriff Ken Blackburn of Big Horn County released a statement on August 5 that explained why the summit Gardner had taken on was “concerning”. This was “due to the lack of visible trails through cliffs, timberline, boulder fields, and other hazards that had to be navigated after dark before reaching clear trails and safe terrain.”

20 days later, and their search was still unsuccessful, forcing the authorities to make the “heartbreaking and difficult decision” to call off the search. The choice was not made lightly, and done so in consultation with his family members, who were still holding onto hope.

The sheriff said on August 20: “In consultation with family members, I have made the heartbreaking and difficult decision to suspend active search and rescue operations for Mr Gardner. Our teams have exhausted all resources and personnel over the last 20 days.

“With weather conditions and other factors updated in our search models, we have to face the reality that the most optimistic survival odds have run out.”

Six days later, members of the professional climbing team from North Carolina descended upon the mountain and saw a backpack hidden beneath a ledge.

The following day, on August 27, Gardner’s body was recovered and transferred to the Big Horn County Coroner’s Office, where his death was investigated.

It was believed that the experienced hiker had “succumbed to a tragic accident” on his solo journey to the summit. While finding his body didn’t serve the outcome they had all hoped for, it certainly provided some peace and closure for his family and his wife, who was left with his parting words.

The artwork, by County Durham artist John Cutting, will be displayed during Bishop Middleham’s first Flower and Craft Festival, taking place at the Grade I listed St Michael’s Church, which dates back to the 12th century.

The festival will run from June 12 to 14 and will also feature three additional works by Mr Cutting.

Rev Rachel Wilson, curate at St Michael’s, said: “This festival brings together nearly a thousand years of history with contemporary creativity.

Acclaimed local artist John Cutting joins Chelsea Gold Medal winning florist Val Guest, pictured, to transform historic 12th-century St Michael’s Church in Bishop Middleham (Image: Supplied)

“From John Cutting’s newly commissioned sculpture to the floral displays and community exhibits, it is a celebration of the remarkable talent we have in Bishop Middleham and beyond.

“We hope visitors will discover something unexpected and inspiring.”

Mr Cutting is known for transforming salvaged metal, wood, and stone into contemporary sculptures.

Acclaimed local artist John Cutting joins Chelsea Gold Medal winning florist Val Guest, pictured, to transform historic 12th-century St Michael’s Church in Bishop Middleham (Image: Supplied)

His work has been exhibited across the UK and is held in both public and private collections.

More than 20 floral displays will be featured at the festival, coordinated by Chelsea Flower Show gold medal winner Val Guest, whose recent work includes installations at Westminster Abbey.

The event will also showcase photography, painting, sewing, handicrafts, and poetry created by villagers, schools, and community groups.

Refreshments will be available throughout the weekend.

The festival will open on Friday, June 12 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, with admission priced at £5, including cheese and nibbles.

It will continue on Saturday, June 13 from 10.30am to 3.30pm with £1 entry, and conclude on Sunday, June 14 from 2pm to 4pm, also for £1.

A service of Songs of Praise will take place at 4pm on the final day.

Some people believe the loyalty card encouraged more people into their business, while others feel it didn’t make a difference

Shop and restaurant staff have shared mixed reviews over a loyalty card, introduced by a council to encourage more people to shop local. Throughout April and May, Huntingdonshire District Council launched the ‘Shop, Drink and Dine’ card, with the aim to boost footfall in St Ives.

The town-wide scheme involved independent shops, restaurants and places to drink. Shop owners and staff have shared mixed reviews over the loyalty card, with some saying it was a positive thing, while others feel it didn’t make a difference.

Victoria Giles, owner of Adorn, said it was a “really good idea”. “It’s all helping each other out,” said Victoria.

She added: “It was only £5. It was enticing to customers and to get people into shops.” Victoria saw more customers come into her shop.

She said: “I had a few customers come in and stamped a few cards. It was only ever going to be a good thing at the end of the day. I think anything active to get people into a shop and shop local is good.”

Cyril Bray, manager at The Tellers Table also thought the loyalty card was a positive thing for the town. He said: “It’s supporting local businesses.

“It encourages people as well to come and see us. There are lots of local people that come in and are happy we are here, the card was just an extra encouragement for them. We had a few people come in. I think it was word of mouth after that. Anything to encourage people to use local businesses is always a plus.”

Other businesses found the card didn’t do as well as they thought. A worker at Townrow, who wished to remain anonymous, said it “didn’t make off as good as we thought”.

She added: “We only had a few customers. I thought it was going to be good, as you only needed to spend £5. But we only stamped a few people.”

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Luke Carton, bar manager at The Taproom, had “mixed” feelings towards the card. He said: “We did one before [set up by the Oliver Cromwell pub] and that did really well. This one was more broad which made it more difficult. Our regulars kept using it so that worked well, but it was too broad.”

Sharon, who wished for her surname to not be included, works at Cadge. She said the men’s clothes shop got a “few people in”, but believes the card was better catered for local places to eat. Sharon added: “I think the problem was getting it out there. We didn’t have too many, but I hope it did well for others. I think it did better for eating places as there is a lot in St Ives.”

Finally Amy Seymour-Shove, who works at The Whisky Cafe, found it positive to encourage more people to shop and eat locally. She said: “It felt like it got people to think of more shops. It encouraged a few people in, but not as many as we thought. I feel it could have been done better, but I don’t think a lot of people really knew about it.”

Executive Councillor for Economy, Regeneration and Housing, Councillor Brett Mickelburgh said: “The St Ives Shop and Dine Local loyalty card pilot was launched with UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) funding to increase footfall and support businesses in the town centre.

“The scheme was developed following a two-month engagement period with local businesses and was open to businesses that reside in the town centre. More than 400 loyalty cards were used during the campaign, with 75 completed entries submitted, representing a minimum of £3,750 spent with participating businesses. The scheme was promoted extensively through a dedicated webpage, social media, stakeholder networks, digital advertising and in-store marketing materials provided to participating businesses.”

The pair, who got engaged in March 2021, married in a “secret” ceremony at their local registry office before holding a larger white wedding just two days later.

Bailey, known for her role as Caz Hammond in Coronation Street, shared the news on Instagram on June 2.

The actress posted photos of the newlywed couple outside the registry office, reflecting on their understated first ceremony.

Coronation Street star marries pop star

She said: “It was more special than I ever imagined it could be.

“It felt so intimate, as we were so focused on each other and no one else.

“We got the giggles, we both shed a tear and we were brimming with emotions.”

Only Bailey’s sister and her spouse were present as witnesses.

Following the ceremony, the couple went to a “beautiful restaurant” to talk about their main wedding plans.

Bailey said: “And how incredibly lucky we are to feel so much love for each other after so many years together.

“We also laughed about the fact that we could actually have a conversation without being interrupted every 7 seconds by our kids! It felt all the more special because we don’t get any date nights together at the moment!”

Bailey and Everest, a member of the vocal group The Overtones, share two children, Ilaria and Noemie.

She explained that while their main wedding venue was fully licensed, they chose to do the legal part separately.

Bailey said: “I didn’t want an ‘Officiant’ that we didn’t know conducting our wedding and tapping his watch every three seconds and not being patient with our two year old!”

“2 year olds are a law unto themselves and I really wanted to create a relaxed and chill environment, to cater for any ‘surprises’ she might throw our way – Which worked perfectly. And did come in handy!”

The couple asked a long-time friend and celebrant of 27 years to conduct their main ceremony, making the day feel more personal.

Bailey said she had worried that marrying at the registry office first might “take something away” from their bigger celebration.

She said: “What it did do, was give us an extra reason to celebrate.

“An opportunity to make more of this incredible occasion that can often be over too quickly.

“And it also meant we had a bit of a practice.

“We weren’t prepared for how special this intimate setting would feel.”

She also shared that she wore the same shoes for both ceremonies.

A separate post showed images from their “big white wedding,” where Bailey revealed she had tried on 37 dresses before finding the right one.

She said: “Literally one of the best days of our lives! But there’s been so much going on… out there and in here.

“Been so busy x

“Still playing ‘newlyweds’ over here.

“We’re so happy to finally be married!”

Festival season is upon us and fans are still frantically trying to get tickets for the likes of Isle of Wight, BST Hyde Park and more.

However, there’s one festival that boasts a legendary lineup that nobody seems to be talking about.

HeritageLive Festival at Sandringham just revealed that Christina Aguilera will be performing for a one-off UK gig this summer.

She’s joining a truly insane headliner run of Eric Clapton, Ricky Martin, Lionel Richie and the one and only, Janet Jackson.

The global icons will descend on the Sandrimham Estate in Norfolk this August, for five nights of unforgettable music.

Giles Cooper of HeritageLive Festival shared: ‘We’re delighted to have Christina Aguilera completing our 2026 line-up’

Praising the Fighter singer, he continued: ‘There aren’t many artists who have had the kind of career Christina has. For more than 25 years she’s continued to reinvent herself while remaining one of the most recognisable and respected voices in music.

‘Her catalogue speaks for itself, and her live performances continue to showcase the extraordinary talent and stage presence that have defined her career.’

‘To welcome an artist of her stature to Sandringham is a real moment for us, and we can’t wait to see her take to the stage this summer alongside some incredible special guests.’

Of course, it’s not just the headliners performing, with Craig David and Blue performing with Christina on August 21.

Elsewhere across the month, Sugababes, Olly Alexander, Ronnie Wood, and Soul II Soul are also performing.

Giles added: ‘With five incredible nights of live music ahead, 2026 is shaping up to be our biggest year yet!’

He’s not wrong about this being the Estate’s biggest year yet, having gone a little under the radar until now.

Last year saw Mariah Carey, Stereophonics, Michael Buble and the Pet Shop Boys headlining, while 2024 had Suede, Madness, and Elbow.

There are further gigs at other Estates, such as Audley End in Essex and the Englefield Estate in Reading, too, which also have some great names performing.

You can register for pre-sale access now, with tickets up for grabs on Monday, June 8 and Tuesday June 9.

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If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

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In 2018, when he was just 3 years old, Ederson Galicia Alva was taken from his mother’s arms at the U.S.-Mexico border under the first Trump administration’s family separation policy and kept apart from her in a government facility for months. They were finally reunited after lawyers intervened. Then, in June of last year, he and his mother were separated a second time and ultimately sent back to Guatemala, despite legal protections meant to keep them and families like theirs together.

After nearly a year in the indigenous highlands of Guatemala, Ederson’s family was finally allowed to return to Florida last week, following a federal judge’s order that the government had acted illegally.

Now, eight years since President Donald Trump’s forcible border separations triggered global outrage and came to an official halt, an Associated Press investigation has found that the government has re-separated dozens of children from their families, despite a landmark legal settlement meant to keep them together. Some of their parents have been locked in immigration detention facilities for months, and others deported back to their home countries after being taken from their families once again. In some cases, immigration officials conducting interior sweeps deported people despite discovering they were legally off limits for removal, according to emails obtained by AP.

Here are highlights from the AP’s reporting:

Separations under Trump’s second term

Trump’s second administration has vowed to deport more than 1 million people per year. Federal agents have been plucking people from their communities so swiftly that, according to the Brookings Institution, now the parents of tens of thousands of children have been detained.

Family separations often look different from Trump’s first term. In 2018, Ederson and other children at the border were forcibly taken from their parents, who were jailed separately and charged criminally with illegal entry. Then, the government was unable to reunite them for months because adults and children’s information was kept in different computer systems. A judge barred the government from separating families at the border at the border and ordered the government to bring the families back together after the ACLU filed a class action lawsuit. Later, a court settlement banned most family separations to deter immigration until December 2031.

Today, if parents are arrested or deported under the president’s push for mass deportations, they are being made to choose whether to leave their children behind in the United States.

What does the government say?

“DHS complies with all court orders, even as radical NGOs shop for the most favorable forum and activist judges seek to thwart our operations,” acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson, said in response to AP requests for comment about the government’s policies toward separated families.

Government attorneys have argued in recent court filings that there are no legal restrictions on “the government’s statutory authority to execute orders of removal.” Bis said enforcing immigration law was “not optional,” and that “every removal of an illegal alien helps restore order and reinforce the rule of law.”

Ederson’s family recently was allowed to return, but their status is still on shaky ground.

In late 2017, immigration officials began forcibly separating parents and children at the U.S.-Mexico border, under a policy championed by Stephen Miller, Trump’s then-senior policy advisor and now White House deputy chief of staff. ACLU filed a class action lawsuit in February 2018 to halt the practice called Ms. L v. U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement, on behalf of a Congolese mother the Trump administration separated from her 7-year-old daughter. It wasn’t until thousands of families were torn apart that a judge ordered the government to end separations, saying it caused “lasting, excruciating harm.” According to ACLU’s most recent accounting, the number of separated parents and children, and their impacted family members covered by the settlement is far greater than previously reported— over 11,800 — and because the government deported so many people before the practice was banned, the full scope may never be known. The ACLU also provided AP with new data surrounding Ms. L class members who have been detained and deported during the second Trump administration.

Under a 2023 settlement agreement, Ms. L class members — including separated parents, children and other close relatives — got special legal protections, pathways toward asylum and access to attorneys, work permits and support services. And for eight years, advocates and attorneys tried to help the families reunite and recover, and offered them everything from job placement to psychological counseling, benefits meant “to prevent any ongoing harm caused by the initial separation,” according to the settlement.

As deportations have risen in the last year and a half, attorneys say many separated families have become more fearful about filling out government paperwork and don’t know they can apply for asylum, a key settlement benefit that expires in December. The administration also hasn’t said if it will extend a current, trimmed-back legal services contract for families that ends in August. Another deadline is looming as well: thousands of separated families need to request for any pending removal orders to be cancelled by December, or lose their ability to stay in the U.S. legally.

Each morning since Alva López was deported back to Guatemala last June, she has checked her phone for word of when her family could return. Money started drying up. The children began forgetting their English slang. Briseidy, now 14, worried she would drift away from her American friends. Finally, two weeks ago, there was news: the government would bring her family back to Florida on an American Airlines flight, under a judge’s order.

At the end of May, passports and travel documents in hand, the family flew to Miami. Ederson said it felt like a miracle. But soon after landing, immigration officials began questioning Alva López, taking her photo and fingerprints once again and picking apart her documents. Their stay in the U.S. may be short. An immigration official granted her just two weeks’ humanitarian parole.

The government declined to comment specifically on Alva López’s case.

“I still haven’t told the children” about the two weeks’ parole, Alva López said on her first day back in her old West Palm Beach neighborhood. “They’re going to worry that the same thing will happen again.”

—-

Burke reported from San Francisco. Pérez reported from San Martín Cuchumatán, Guatemala. AP photographer Rebecca Blackwell in Miami contributed reporting.

—-

Contact AP’s global investigative team at [email protected] or https://www.ap.org/tips/

The Halliwell chippy, which is approaching its 100th year in business, reopened in April following the death of long-serving owner David Sumner and quickly attracted huge crowds of customers eager to see the beloved shop return.

Now the new owners say winning the award would be a fitting tribute to the man many knew as Bolton’s “Master of Fish and Chips”.

Best chippy

David Sumner, who died in June 2025 aged 76, ran the chippy for decades and helped establish it as one of Bolton’s best-known fish and chip shops.

Alongside his wife Linda, he built a loyal customer base spanning generations.

(Image: Martini Archive)

When the business reopened under Andrew Crawford, Ebony Day and Minesh Patel on April 20, hundreds of people queued down the street after two days of free food were announced to mark the occasion.

At peak times, customers reported waiting more than two hours as word spread across Halliwell and on social media that the popular chippy was back.

(Image: NQ)

Co-owner Minesh Patel said the Best Chippy Award nomination was recognition of both the team’s hard work and the legacy left behind by David and Linda.

He said: “The chip shop is running well.

“This award for Best Chippy would give our team such appreciation for the hard work and all the innovative techniques used to create amazing food.

“If we won, it would give us a token of appreciation from the customers as feedback for the amazing food which has been subsidised for children and the elderly who have come back repeatedly giving us praise for the high-quality fresh ingredients used daily, the amazing gravy, price and portion sizes.

“Most of all, it would honour the Master of Fish n Chips in Bolton, the late Mr Dave Sumner and his wife Linda who provided us with all the ingredients and the innovative techniques to produce magical food for a huge customer base.

“Hopefully we as a community can win this award for the world-renowned Bennetts Lane Chippy.”

The new owners have worked to preserve the character of the business, choosing not to replace the original signage and retaining the shop’s traditional appearance.

Fresh fish is delivered daily, while the team says maintaining quality and affordability remains a key priority.

Fresh fish and chips (Image: NQ)

Fish and chips with a side are available all day for £7, while a pensioners’ deal offering fish, chips and a side costs £5.50.

A family deal feeding three people is priced at £17.50, and award-winning Yorkshire pies are set to be added to the menu in the near future.

As Bennetts Lane Chippy closes in on a century of serving the community, the owners hope local residents will help write the next chapter in its history by backing the shop in this year’s Best Chippy Award.

Readers can cast their vote by picking up a copy of today’s Bolton News.

Musa Musa, Toni Lamont and Paula McPhail have overcome extraordinary challenges to build brighter futures and help others.

They have overcome challenges that would stop many people in their tracks.

From fleeing conflict and starting over in a new country, to turning personal struggles into a force for good, Musa Musa, 23, Toni Lamont, 25, and Paula McPhail, 26, have all shown extraordinary courage, resilience and determination.

Despite the obstacles they have faced in their young lives, all three are now building bright futures, pursuing careers they are passionate about and making a real difference in communities across Scotland.

Their inspiring journeys have earned them a place as finalists in The King’s Trust Young Achiever category at this year’s Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards with P&O Cruises.

All three have been supported by youth charity The King’s Trust, which has helped more than one million young people across the UK into work, training and education since it was founded in 1976.

Now their achievements are being recognised on one of Scotland’s biggest stages, with the category winner set to be revealed at the star-studded Pride of Scotland at Glasgow’s Hilton on Monday night.

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Ahead of the ceremony, which will be hosted by Elaine C Smith and Sanjeev Kohli and attended by a myriad of stars, we take a closer look at the incredible stories behind three remarkable young people – and how they have transformed adversity into success.

Paula McPhail, 26, Ayr

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Paula has never let Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) define her.

Adopted at a young age, Paula faced daily challenges growing up. But with the support of her mum, she turned those struggles into a powerful mission to help others.

Seeing a huge gap in support for people affected by FASD and other brain-based conditions, Paula’s mum founded Oshay’s Brain Domain – a charity and contact centre offering vital advice, guidance and support.

Paula was determined to be part of it, but a lack of confidence and difficulty communicating one-to-one left her feeling held back.

Everything changed when she joined the Team programme.

At first Paula stayed quiet and kept herself to herself. But before long, she was stepping up to support others on the course and quickly became someone everyone turned to. Her confidence grew every day as she pushed herself beyond her comfort zone.

Soon Paula became the voice of the group – encouraging others, boosting morale and helping classmates believe in themselves.

When the programme ended, Paula was invited to volunteer as an Assistant Team Leader and has now completed her first term in the role.

Alongside college, Paula also speaks at FASD conferences, offers one-to-one support across Ayr and runs support groups for people with brain-based conditions.

Toni Lamont, 25, Dumfries and Galloway

For Toni, a love of nature has grown into a thriving business helping young people connect with the outdoors.

The 25-year-old spotted a gap in her local community – there simply wasn’t an inclusive space where children and young people could learn about nature and explore Scotland’s wildlife.

So, she created one.

Toni launched her own Forest School, giving young people the chance to get outdoors, build confidence and discover the natural world around them.

“Forest School is not only about getting outdoors,” said Toni. “It’s about environmental education, conservation, mental health and wellbeing. It’s about building a sense of stewardship in our young people for our natural world.”

Growing up in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Toni says she missed out on those opportunities herself.

Raised in a working-class family, Toni worried starting a business might be financially out of reach. But with support from The King’s Trust and help from her Youth Development Lead, she developed a business plan and secured funding through a Test My Business Idea grant.

That allowed Toni to run outdoor workshops during the summer holidays and the response was incredible.

Children loved learning new skills, building resilience and connecting with their local forests, while Toni gathered valuable feedback that helped her secure a Start-Up grant.

After years working as a countryside ranger and earning a degree in Wildlife and Conservation Management, Toni finally turned her passion into a career.

Now she’s helping the next generation fall in love with Scotland’s wild spaces – one adventure at a time.

Musa Musa, 23, Glasgow

After fleeing Sudan as a teenager and arriving in the UK seeking safety, Musa faced an uncertain future.

When he reached Glasgow in 2024 after being granted Humanitarian Protection, he found himself alone in a new city with no job, limited English and temporary accommodation. The future felt overwhelming.

“When I first came to The King’s Trust Centre, I wasn’t excited because there was fear and depression inside of me,” Musa said. “I did not have a goal, but The King’s Trust helped me.”

Determined to build a new life, Musa threw himself into every opportunity available and joined The King’s Trust Explore programme.

Over 12 weeks, he improved his English and communication skills, grew in confidence and began settling into life in Glasgow. His positivity quickly made an impact.

Each time Musa came to the centre, he brought energy and encouragement to the group. He became a familiar face for other young people with English as a second language, helping with translation, offering advice and making others feel welcome.

With support from The King’s Trust and a volunteer who helped with CV writing, interview preparation and job applications, Musa began applying for work.

Last year, with additional support from the Scottish Refugee Council, he secured a full-time role with a construction and landscaping company.

Now working across Scotland, learning new specialist skills and building a future for himself, Musa says The King’s Trust changed everything.

“It helped me believe in myself again,” he said. “I got back the smile that was missing in my life.”

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New UUP Mayor wants to prioritise “enterprise, entrepreneurship and ambition”

Ards and North Down Borough Council has elected two of its youngest representatives into the posts of first and deputy first citizens.

At the annual meeting of the council on Wednesday (June 3), the chamber at Bangor Castle agreed UUP Councillor Craig Blaney and DUP Councillor James Cochrane respectively to the roles of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the incoming term of office.

The 40 member chamber also approved new Chairs for all the council’s committees. The first monthly meeting of the council under the direction of the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor will take place on June 24.

READ MORE: Five key moments from Ards and North Down Borough Council in May

READ MORE: Council ‘acknowledges’ threat to community in Holywood from the film industry

At the AGM, the new Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Blaney outlined his priorities for his mayoral term, stating he wanted to champion “enterprise, entrepreneurship and ambition across Ards and North Down, while supporting local businesses, encouraging young people and promoting the borough as a place of opportunity and potential.”

He told the chamber: “From Bangor to Newtownards, from Holywood to Portaferry, from Donaghadee to Comber, from the Ards Peninsula to our towns, villages, townlands and coastal communities, this borough is rich in character, heritage, talent and opportunity. It is a place of remarkable natural beauty, but more importantly, it is a place of remarkable people.

“As Mayor, I want to be a champion for those people. I want to celebrate the volunteers who give their time quietly and selflessly. The community groups who keep local life moving. The churches, charities, schools, sports clubs, youth organisations, emergency services, carers, health workers and local leaders who make this borough stronger every single day.”

He added: “But I also want this year to have a clear theme. Local business is something I am genuinely passionate about. I know what it feels like to take a risk, to back yourself, to worry about sales, bills, customers, staff, marketing, social media and all the pressures that come with trying to build something.

“Our local businesses are not just shopfronts or names above doors. They are families, employers, creators, risk-takers and people who put everything into making their ideas work. They are the backbone of our local economy – and I want to use my year as Mayor to champion them.”

He said: “I want young people in Ards and North Down to know that they do not have to leave this place to find opportunity. I want them to see that ideas can start here, businesses can grow here, careers can be built here, and success can happen here.

“Not every young person will want to start a business, I understand that. But every young person should have the chance to be creative, to pitch ideas, to build confidence and to see that opportunity can be created right here in Ards and North Down.”

DUP Councillor James Cochrane said before the meeting: “Ards and North Down is incredibly blessed with outstanding natural beauty, including the longest stretch of coastline in Northern Ireland. Our borough is home to vibrant towns, villages and communities, each with its own unique character and strengths.

“I am committed to working alongside the Mayor to showcase all that our borough has to offer, while helping to improve the daily lives of those who call this place home. This role carries with it a significant responsibility to represent all residents across Ards and North Down, and I will approach it with dedication, humility and a determination to serve to the very best of my ability.”

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The application by developer Banks was backed by Durham County Council’s planning committee – but residents questioned whether the extra housing is needed. 

Located on land to the north of York Hill Road in Tudhoe, the hybrid proposal sought planning permission for two phases: 45 homes in the first phase and a potential further 305 homes. 

Yet, locals had warned about the increased traffic the housing would create, the impact on GP and school capacity, and the overdevelopment of the wider Spennymoor area. 

(Image: BANKS)

Liz Maddison, committee member and county councillor for Spennymoor, said: “What benefits does this development offer to [the area]?. 

“Spennymoor and Tudhoe are being targeted to meet County Durham’s housing needs, not for the benefit of residents.”

More than £1.6 million of funding will be delivered to support schools, healthcare and sports – but Cllr Maddison warned that it did not mitigate for the loss of land. 

“We don’t want or need anymore new homes,” she told the committee. “We already have brownfield sites prepared and waiting for a developer; why couldn’t this be there rather than in the open countryside? We have no housing shortage in Spennymoor and Tudhoe divisions.”

Liberal Democrat member Mark Wilkes also voted against the proposal due to road safety concerns. He said: “A blind man on a galloping horse would see that it’s not safe. It seems nonsensical that someone would bring such a design and we would allow it.”

Despite the concerns, Durham County Council’s planning department had recommended the plans be approved to address the region’s “outstanding housing need”. 

The developer added: “The York Hill Road proposals represent a high-quality, sustainable development that complies with local and national policy and will assist Durham County Council’s housing land supply position, with the delivery of market and affordable housing in the short term.”

Backing the plans, Reform’s James Stephenson said: “This is a good proposal. The county needs 350 houses.”