Color Wow’s rare 25% off sale includes the Dream Coat spray used by celebrity hairstylist Amy Short to tame frizz and create Claudia Winkleman’s glossy hair

Adored by beauty aficionados and professionals alike, when it comes to hair care, few brands command as much respect as Color Wow. Now, the brand – favoured by Claudia Winkleman and Kim Kardashian’s stylists – has introduced a discount code offering customers 25% off some of its bestselling products.

Currently, Color Wow is providing 25% off nearly everything throughout its collection in a rare promotion – and perfectly timed for payday, too. This presents an excellent opportunity to replenish editor-endorsed essentials or finally purchase the formulas you’ve had your eye on.

To access the offer, shoppers can apply the code WOW25 at checkout. However, they’ll need to move quickly, as the promotion only lasts until Thursday, April 2 at 23.59.

Established by Gail Federici, celebrated for developing the iconic Frizz Ease for John Frieda, Color Wow is recognised for targeted remedies to common hair concerns – from frizz and lacklustre volume to dull colour, helping achieve smoother, glossier, more manageable locks. Among their hero products featured in the sale is the Dream Coat Supernatural Spray, typically priced at £27 but reduced to £20.25.

Arguably the brand’s most celebrated product, Dream Coat Supernatural Spray is essential for anyone combating frizz. The feather-light spray forms a humidity-resistant barrier around the hair, delivering that coveted glass-like sheen without adding weight to strands.

Get 25% off Color Wow’s Dream Coat Supernatural Spray

£27

£20.25 with code,WOW25

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When entering the code WOW25 at checkout, shoppers can get 25% off almost everything on the Color Wow website, including the viral Dream Coat Supernatural Spray.

The product essentially ‘waterproofs’ the hair, maintaining sleek and frizz-free styles for up to four washes. It also provides built-in heat protection, making it a staple in many professional kits. Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton has lauded its “mirror-like finish”, while Amy Short utilises it to achieve Claudia Winkleman’s signature glossy lengths, reports the Mirror.

With over 18,000 five-star reviews, it’s widely regarded as a must-have. One reviewer said: “This spray is magic, leaves my hair feeling beautifully soft, as if I’ve just come out of the hairdresser’s each time. I use it before using the hairdryer, then a couple of squirts of pop and lock to smooth my hair.”

Another added: “This is the best and most effective product I’ve ever tried to smooth my hair. Works like magic. Helpful to brush straight/taunt when blow drying.

“I first learned about Wow through the Dream Coat, the very first Wow purchase I ever made,” a third wrote. “I felt like I’d found a miracle, I had never seen anything like it, and I still haven’t. Things have only gone up since then, I enjoy most all of the Wow products.”

However, some have mentioned that you do need to apply a substantial amount to achieve the desired results. They said: “The Dream Coat spray definitely helps tame my frizzy hair. You do need to use quite a lot of the product to achieve best results but the results are far better than other frizz ease products I’ve used.”

A fifth customer commented: “I have VERY curly hair that tends to get frizzy very easily. I tried this product and I am blown away. My hair doesn’t frizz and I can wear my silk sleep cap and just do a touch up with dream coat in the morning and it still looks great. I am recommending it to everyone.”

Meanwhile, the Maria Nila Gloss Coat 200ml is available for £24.50 at Sephora. The heat-activated smoothing treatment is said to deliver shine, banish frizz, and safeguard against heat damage.

Additionally, the Matrix Total Results Mega Sleek Iron Smoother Heat Protection and Frizz Control Hair Spray 250ml costs £18.50 at LookFantastic. The leave-in spray shields against heat damage with thermal protection up to 230°C while combating frizz for all-day smoothness.

However, Dream Coat isn’t the only remarkable Color Wow formula available – though it’s arguably the most celebrated. The Style on Steroids (usually £28) is a colour-safe texturising spray which, unlike conventional hairsprays, provides hold without rigidity, leaving hair flexible, touchable and easy to restyle. This comes to £21 with the code WOW25.

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For those seeking soft, bouncy volume, the Xtra Large Bombshell Volumizer is well worth incorporating into your routine. The lightweight foam enhances lift at the roots while keeping lengths natural and moveable – perfect for fine or flat hair requiring a little extra oomph. This is £18 at the checkout instead of £24.

Two products I’ll be placing in my basket as a beauty writer are the Color Security Shampoo (usually £21.50) and Money Mist (usually £29.50). As someone with colour-treated copper hair, the Color Security Shampoo is my essential choice for keeping locks glossy without compromising the vibrancy.

Entirely residue-free, it cleanses deeply without depositing anything that might diminish your colour or create heaviness. The sulfate-free formulation is crafted so everything washes away completely, helping hair feel fresher for longer – something I’ve certainly experienced between washes. It’s appropriate for all hair types and even safe for extensions, making it a flexible addition to any bathroom.

After every wash day, I consistently turn to Money Mist, which is an exceptionally light leave-in treatment that hydrates, detangles and smooths without any weight. Ideal for finer hair types, it creates that silky, swishy result you’d typically expect from a professional blow-dry – all from home.

If you appreciate this type of lightweight, milky leave-in, alternatives such as Super Milk Conditioning Hair Primer from Lush and the Brazilian Joia Milky Leave-In Conditioner from Sol de Janeiro are also worth exploring.

Regarding Color Wow, price reductions on the retailer’s website are relatively uncommon, and 25% off across virtually the complete range represents one of the strongest offers I’ve witnessed from the brand. Not every product will be suitable for all hair types, so it’s advisable to select based on your requirements, but it’s certainly an excellent opportunity to sample that product from your wishlist or replenish your go-to items before the Bank Holiday.

Theatregoers in Darlington are being promised everything from comic crime capers to family favourites and a technicolour musical classic as the Hippodrome unveils its April programme.

Running from Wednesday, April 1 to Saturday, April 4, Murder at Midnight opens the month with an old-school whodunnit set to keep audiences guessing right up to the final twist.

The thriller, which leans into classic drawing-room suspense, is expected to appeal to fans of Agatha Christie-style storytelling.

Mythos: Ragnarok (Image: Supplied)

There is a change of pace on Tuesday, April 7, when Mythos: Ragnarok brings Norse legends crashing onto the Darlington stage.

Blending physical theatre with larger-than-life characters, the one-night-only show reimagines the gods and monsters of old for a modern crowd.

Comedy fans will be able to see stand-up star Omid Djalili when his latest tour, Namaste, calls in at the Hippodrome on Wednesday, April 8.

Known for his energetic delivery and sharp observations, the comic’s new show is already attracting strong interest from audiences across the region.

West End Magic (Image: Supplied)

Music and magic take over the following nights.

On Thursday, April 9, The Shoop Shoop Show – The Cher Collection celebrates one of pop’s most recognisable voices with a run-through of hits and trademark costumes, while West End Magic arrives on Friday, April 10, promising an evening of illusions and family-friendly tricks.

Improvised comedy Murder, She Didn’t Write lands on Saturday, April 11, inviting the audience to help shape the clues as a cast of sleuths and suspects makes up a new mystery on the spot.

Murder She Didn’t Write (Image: Supplied)

The format has built a following on the touring circuit for its mix of quick-fire humour and unpredictable storytelling.

Families with younger children are being catered for on Sunday, April 12, when Fun For Little Ones – Live Tribute to “Ms Rachel” brings songs and interactive fun inspired by the online pre-school favourite.

The show is aimed at introducing some of the smallest theatregoers to the Hippodrome stage.

Later in the month, from Thursday, April 16 to Saturday, April 18, The Enormous Crocodile snaps its way into Darlington.

Based on the Roald Dahl tale, the production uses colourful staging and plenty of audience participation to retell the story of the hungry reptile with its “secret plans and clever tricks”.

The month closes with one of musical theatre’s best-known titles.

From Wednesday, April 22, the Hippodrome hosts Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which begins its Darlington run in April and continues into early May.

The show, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, follows Joseph and his coat of many colours in a production packed with familiar songs and large ensemble numbers.

Tickets for all April performances are available from the Darlington Hippodrome box office and via the theatre’s website, with some shows offering concessions and family tickets.

Audiences are being advised to book early for one-night dates and the Joseph run, where demand is expected to be high.

Waka has become a fan favourite so I decided to put its new location to the test

Waka has become famous for its drive-thru Chinese on Boucher Road, which still has persistent queues of cars to this day.

It was originally a bit of a novelty, but people really seem to have stuck by it, and it has now just opened the doors to a new location in Victoria Square, so I headed in to finally give it a go and report back.

What we ordered:

• Honey chilli chicken
• Chicken curry spring rolls
• Chicken gyozas
• Egg fried rice
• Chips
• Curry sauce
• Gravy

What I liked:

My first impression was that Waka has a very approachable menu and has something for all taste levels. There are a few traditional Chinese dishes mixed in with westernised Chinese food. The staff were very friendly when I first went in, and they were more than happy to help with everything.

There is the option to sit in, and the restaurant is very spacious, which is perfect for the City Centre. I opted for takeaway on this occasion because, in my opinion, every great Chinese should be enjoyed that way.

The portion sizes here were good too, which is always something I look for and Waka definitely didn’t let me down. The food was genuinely tasty, and the standout for me was the chicken curry spring rolls, which came with a dipping sauce. I couldn’t get enough of them!

What I would change:

The only thing I would change here was the veg to meat ratio in the honey chilli chicken, which was a little off and could have had a bit more chicken in it.

The chips in Waka are skinny ‘fries’ and this wouldn’t be my favourite style of chip. I do know some people love them, but I prefer a chunkier chip.

How much it cost:

Everything we got came to £32.70, and it did feed two people with some leftovers. I will say it’s slightly more expensive than I thought it might be, but not by much. It is also definitely not the most expensive Chinese I’ve ever had by some distance.

Waka brought something fun and exciting to the Asian food scene in Belfast, and their brand new store in Victoria Square is no different. I will still likely go to my usual spot for my weekly Chinese but I will definitely head back to Waka if I’m after something a little different.

In the interest of fairness and transparency, we pay for all the meals and drinks we review. This ensures that we are giving accurate and honest representations of the food and service that we receive. So, unless we state otherwise that we were invited down, we have paid for the meal ourselves and visited without the knowledge of the eatery, so you can trust our opinions aren’t skewed by a freebie.

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

Less than a year ago, Carrie Wallace described herself as deeply unhappy and lacking confidence.

When Carrie Wallace from Livingston looks back at the past year, it’s not just her weight loss that stands out – it’s how completely her life has changed.

Less than a year ago, she described herself as deeply unhappy and lacking confidence. She avoided mirrors, felt uncomfortable in her own skin, and dreaded shopping for clothes, often hiding behind oversized, baggy outfits. Even simple daily tasks were a struggle.

The moment that changed everything came when she looked at a photograph of herself.

Although she was smiling in the picture, it didn’t reflect how she truly felt.

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“I was really unfit,” she said. “Even walking upstairs at home would leave me out of breath.”

“I wasn’t happy when I looked at it. That’s when I knew something had to change.”

Encouraged by a friend and inspired by her mum’s success, Carrie made the decision to join Slimming World – a step she admits she initially found daunting.

That sense of belonging quickly became a cornerstone of her journey. What first felt overwhelming soon became reassuring, as everything was clearly explained and she realised she wasn’t alone.

“I was really nervous walking into group because I didn’t know anyone,” she said. “But within five minutes, I felt so welcome.

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“I love the group I go to. Everyone is so supportive even outside of group.”

Before joining, her eating habits were inconsistent. She often skipped breakfast and sometimes lunch, only to eat a large evening meal followed by snacking late at night.

Crisps, she admits, were her “downfall.” With guidance from her consultant and encouragement from fellow members, Carrie began to build new habits.

In her first week she was delighted with a weight loss but naturally she hoped for more – but she now sees her weight loss as healthy and sustainable for life.

Now, her relationship with food has completely transformed. She plans her meals, shops with intention, and enjoys experimenting in the kitchen.

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She said: “I love Slimming World’s healthy eating plan and continue to enjoy family favourites like pasta, rice dishes and spaghetti Bolognese.

“It feels balanced now. I don’t feel like I’m missing out.”

Over nine months, Carrie continues to lose weight, and the biggest transformation has been in how she feels about herself.

Along the way, she has received support to build activity into her daily life and is reaping the rewards. Her fitness has improved dramatically too. She now has far more energy and has taken on challenges she once never imagined possible.

She’s recently completed the Couch to 5K programme and has found a love of running, alongside walking on the days in between.

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She has even climbed a couple of Munros, something that would have felt completely out of reach before.

There have still been difficult weeks, she admits. But having the support of her group and her Slimming World consultant has helped her stay on track.

She added: “On the weeks it has been tough my Slimming World group has supported me with identifying the psychological barriers that have been deep routed, they have encouraged me to get to know myself as a slimmer and boosted my confidence in myself and my abilities.”

Now, Carrie is ready to give that same support back to others. She is embarking on an exciting new role as a Slimming World consultant and will be relaunching the Broxburn Wednesday evening group which is held in Buchan Park Bowling Club on Greendykes Road on Wednesday, April 15, with sessions at 5.30pm and 7pm.

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Drawing on her own experience, she hopes to create a warm, welcoming space where others – no matter how nervous they feel at first – can begin their own journey.

For Carrie, this next chapter is about more than weight loss. It’s about helping others build confidence, find support, and realise that lasting change is possible.

Because, as she now knows for certain – they really can do it.

If you want to find out more about joining Carrie and beginning your own weight loss journey give her a call or text on 07359 725428.

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Four people have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a young woman found unconscious in the street died in hospital.

Detectives have appealed for help in identifying the victim, thought to be a teenager, who was initially found on Kennerleigh Avenue, in the Austhorpe area of Leeds, at 5.55am on Saturday.

She had suffered what police described as ‘serious injuries’ and was rushed to hospital, where she died shortly afterwards.

 The four suspects – two women aged 18, a man aged 20 and a boy aged 17 – were all arrested from a nearby address on suspicion of murder.

All four remain in police custody and a crime scene is in place while officers carry out further inquiries.

The victim remains unidentified and inquiries are ongoing to identify her, police said.

Detectives are also releasing details of her identity in the hope that someone will recognise her.

She is of slim build and has tanned skin. She is described as 5ft 2ins tall and believed to be in her mid to late teens, with green eyes and brown hair with darker roots and blonder ends.

She also has fixed metal braces to her upper and lower teeth.

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Superintendent Marc Bowes said: ‘This is an extremely complex investigation where a young woman has sadly lost her life.

‘We are treating her death as murder and have arrested four people in connection with it.

‘Despite carrying out extensive inquiries throughout the course of today we have not yet been able to confirm her identity.

‘We hope by releasing these details that someone will recognise who she is and come forward.

‘I am also keen to speak to anyone who was in the Kennerleigh Avenue area in the early hours of this morning, or anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity in the vicinity.’

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

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Taylor Wimpey North East is set to deliver 93 new properties in the second phase of its Seaham Garden Village project, located by Durham’s Heritage Coast.

The latest phase includes a mix of three, four and five-bedroom houses, as well as two-bedroom apartments, all part of a well-connected neighbourhood.

Sarah Whittingham, sales and marketing director at Taylor Wimpey North East, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the launch of our second phase at Seaham Garden Village.

“Located by Durham’s Heritage Coast, this next phase will provide a further range of high-quality homes, as we continue to support the growth of the community.

“The development prioritises biodiversity and green spaces, to create healthier environments for both residents and wildlife, making it a great addition to the local area.”

The launch weekend will take place on March 28 and 29 at the Phase 1 sales office in Seaham.

Visitors can speak with a Sales Executive about the first release of the homes and receive free advice from an Independent Financial Advisor.

Taylor Wimpey is already delivering 192 homes as part of Phase 1, with a range of homes still available to reserve.

Plans for the development focus on fostering a well-connected neighbourhood, with green spaces, coastal views and pedestrian routes.

Guests at the launch event will be offered complimentary refreshments.

The Aviation Funding Solvency Act. The Keep America Flying Act. The Keep Air Travel Safe Act. The Aviation Funding Stability Act.

Again and again, members of Congress have dusted off the same idea: ensuring the federal employees who control air traffic and screen passengers and bags at U.S. airports get paid during government shutdowns.

Bills to make it happen keep getting introduced in one form or another, sometimes with Democrats and Republicans as co-sponsors. Yet session after session, the result has been the same — agencies receive their annual appropriations, public outrage over long security lines and flight delays fades, legislation languishes and workers have no guarantees their paychecks won’t stop coming again.

“Once the crisis is over, people assume that the good times are back,” said Eric Chaffee, a Case Western Reserve law professor whose research includes risk management in the aviation industry. “It’s easy to pass the next big bill when you’re still in the throes of the financial crisis, but once the shutdown is done, people have a relatively short memory of the problems that it created.”

Since 2019, after a partial shutdown that spanned the holiday travel season, lawmakers have drafted, revised and reintroduced multiple proposals to pay aviation workers who would have to keep reporting for duty in the event of another budget impasse.

The Aviation Funding Stability Act of 2019 — and 2021 and 2025 — and the bipartisan Aviation Funding Solvency Act introduced after a government shutdown last fall would protect the pay of air traffic controllers. The Keep Air Travel Safe Act, filed in October, extended the protection to Transportation Security Administration agents. The Keep America Flying Act, also from October, would cover both TSA personnel and certain Federal Aviation Administration employees.

Broader proposals, like the Shutdown Fairness Act introduced in January, would maintain the pay of essential federal workers across the U.S. government. Those bills have stalled as well.

“Congress cares about headlines, and as a result of that, it means they don’t always make changes that would be really beneficial,” Chaffee said.

Political gridlock

Shutdowns that disrupt air travel have continued along with the push for aviation-specific pay protections. The 35-day shutdown that arose over funding for a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border during President Donald Trump’s first term resulted in delays at East Coast airports and prolonged wait times at some airports as air traffic controllers and TSA agents went unpaid.

Last fall’s 43-day shutdown broke the record for the longest funding lapse and revived concerns over the consequences of requiring air traffic controllers to work without pay. The FAA, citing risks to aviation safety, took the extraordinary step of ordering U.S. airlines to cut flights at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports as unscheduled absences deepened existing staffing shortages at air traffic control facilities.

TSA officers who worked through that shutdown also found themselves working through a short one that started on Jan. 31 and yet another when funding for only the Department of Homeland Security lapsed on Feb. 14. Thousands began missing shifts each day as the stalemate entered its second month.

Carlos Rodriguez, a TSA agent and local union leader in New York, said many workers had not recovered financially from last year’s shutdown when this one hit.

“Part of the American dream that I was sold was that working for the government was honorable and stable,” Rodriguez, a second generation Dominican American, said. “But this is not honorable or stable.”

On Friday, the 42nd day of the DHS shutdown, Trump signed an emergency order instructing Homeland Security to pay TSA agents immediately. The action came after House Republicans defeated a Senate deal that would have funded the TSA, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency but not Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol. The House later in the night passed its own bill to fund the entire Homeland Security department through May 22, but senators had already left town.

Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the TSA division of the American Federation of Government Employees, said union members resent having their livelihoods used as tools and talking points in a game of political brinkmanship.

To them, the machinations of Congress feel like “let’s checkmate the queen with the TSA pawn here, and then we’ll smash them over whenever we feel like it,” Jones said. “We’re on the chess board.”

Public pressure builds

Labor unions, airline leaders and airport executives have issued open letters, taken out newspaper ads and made direct appeals to urge lawmakers to act on at least one of the existing bipartisan proposals for paying government workers who are essential to the aviation and travel industries.

“Congress has the power to end this dysfunction once and for all, and must use any legislative vehicle to accomplish this goal,” the Modern Skies Coalition said in a joint statement this week. The broad coalition of more than 60 organizations pointed to the Aviation Funding Solvency Act, Aviation Funding Stability Act and Keep America Flying Act as potential options.

The president and CEO of Airlines for America, a trade group representing major U.S. airlines, made a similar case in a Washington Times op-ed this week, writing that Congress “must get to the table immediately” and pass legislation that would prevent more scenes of frustrated passengers, overflowing airport terminals and donation drives for public servants.

“Right now, lawmakers are sitting on their hands doing nothing with three viable, bipartisan bills that could prevent this mess,” wrote Chris Sununu, a former New Hampshire governor hired to lead the trade group last year.

The American Federation of Government Employees joined more than 30 unions this week in urging Congress to pass the Shutdown Fairness Act, warning that funding lapses undermined employee morale, recruitment and retention.

Breaking the cycle

Some TSA workers have reported sleeping in their cars or thinking about selling them to make rent. Union leaders have described workers not being able to fill their refrigerators or gas tanks.

Caleb Harmon-Marshall, a former TSA officer who runs a travel newsletter called Gate Access, said the officers he’s spoken with are eager to receive all of their back pay quickly because they are struggling to pay their bills and accumulating debt. But without greater certainty, more officers may miss shifts or decide to quit, he said.

If the president’s emergency order only funds a single pay period, “that’s not enough to bring them back,” Harmon-Marshall said. “It has to be an extended pay for them to come back or want to stay there.”

Previous legislation with bipartisan backing struggled to make it across the finish line. The Aviation Funding Act of 2019 that was introduced by Sen. Jerry Moran, a Kansas Republican, had 13 co-sponsors, eight of them Democrats. It never made it out of committee. A House version introduced by Oregon Democrat Peter DeFazio eventually had 303 co-sponsors and cleared the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee but never received a floor vote.

The current political environment in the U.S. may consign the legislation in Congress now to the same fate, Chaffee said.

“We live in a society currently where things are very polarized,” he said. “Whether or not any of these bills get passed, it will need to have political momentum behind it, meaning it will need to be something that the public really wants to see happen.”

A humpback whale has once again become stranded in the Baltic Sea, just days after rescuers in Germany helped set it free.

The whale became stuck again in the waters off Wismar Bay, in north Germany, on Saturday, local media reports.

Rescuers launched a complicated rescue operation to free the 12-15m (39-49ft) whale earlier this week, after it became stranded on a sandbank at Timmendorfer Strand beach.

After crews used an excavator to dig an escape tunnel on Thursday, the mammal managed to swim free early on Friday.

It was later spotted further east, near the coastal town of Wismar, in the German state of Mecklenburg-Pomerania.

On Saturday, Greenpeace confirmed to German news agency dpa that the whale had become stuck again, dashing hopes that it had made its way to safety in the Atlantic Ocean.

A spokesperson for Mecklenburg-Pomerania’s environment ministry said: “After managing to free itself from its plight, the whale was spotted again at noon today in Wismar Bay.”

It has not been confirmed if a second rescue mission would be launched.

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Whale freed by rescuers

The initial rescue operation hit the headlines both in Germany and around the world, with local media sending news alerts of updates on its progress and streaming live video from the scene.

Authorities also attempted to coax the whale back towards deeper water by using coastguard and fire department boats to create large waves.

The rescue team tried to encourage the whale to swim along a trench dug for it by generating lots of noise, and the animal reportedly responded with a humming sound.

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The whale likely made its way to the Baltic Sea from the Atlantic Ocean, but it will not be able to survive there for long.

The salt concentration of the water isn’t high enough for humpbacks, and it will not be able to find the right kind of nutrition.

The whale has already developed a skin condition, according to local media.

Some experts suggested that the animal may have lost its way when it swam after a shoal of herring.

Others speculated that the whale is likely a male, as males tend to migrate.

If it is to survive, it will need to return to the Atlantic Ocean, which is a journey of several hundred kilometres through German and Danish waters.

Given you can buy a SIM-only monthly mobile tariff, with plenty of data and minutes, for less than the cost of a pint in your local, it’s hard to argue with the value on offer from Lebara. Little wonder then, that Telegraph readers voted it the joint best value award winner with Tesco Mobile.

The sweet spot tariff is the £9 a month 30GB deal, which you can get for £10 a month if you only want a month-to-month contract. Only the most TikTok-hungry teenager would burn through more than 30GB of data, and the fact that you can get that for less than a tenner is remarkable. For comparison, parent network Vodafone charges £15 per month for only 1GB of data.

To sweeten the deal further, Lebara throws in some international calling minutes with every tariff, which is great for reaching family abroad.

It’s worth noting here that Lebara doesn’t offer any tariffs that include a smartphone. While it does sell phones, it sells them on a SIM-free basis. Given its prices, it’s often cheaper than the phone/airtime bundle deals offered by other networks, and you can still spread the cost of buying phones on finance if you wish.

Speed

Score: 4.5/5

Lebara customers are happy with the speeds they’re receiving, with an 85 per cent satisfaction rating from the customers we surveyed. Only Tesco Mobile and Giffgaff posted (slightly) higher scores.

All Lebara plans now include 5G, although parent network Vodafone has some catching up to do with its 5G coverage, according to regulator Ofcom. Its outdoor 5G coverage reaches between 51 per cent and 64 per cent of UK premises according to Ofcom’s latest figures. This is a long way behind EE, which has 86 per cent coverage. Vodafone recently merged with Three, which could improve things.

Reliability

Score: 5/5

Reliability on Lebara is right up there with the best of them, according to Telegraph readers. A score of 94 per cent for network reliability means you can expect few dropouts or downtime, although it’s worth noting the 5G coverage numbers above if you need the fastest possible data wherever you might travel in the UK.

Customer service

Score: 4/5

One way in which Lebara keeps costs down is by providing support from its website, although you can get through on the phone if there’s an issue you can’t resolve with the online chat. Lebara is second only to Tesco Mobile in terms of the quality of its customer support, with the supermarket chain having the benefit of staff available in stores to help boost its customer service scores.

Roaming

Score: 5/5

Roaming is included with all of Lebara’s plans. This means that when you’re travelling to an EU country or India, you can use the data allowance, minutes and texts that are included in your plan, as if you were still in the UK. For other countries, you can buy roaming add-ons. In the US, for example, you can get an eight-day roaming add-on providing 3GB of data for £5. Of those we surveyed, 92 per cent were happy with the roaming value on offer, which is the best score of any network.

The city’s most recognisable building, part of the Durham Castle and Cathedral World Heritage Site, welcomed 393,090 visitors in 2024.

And recent reviews suggest its mix of history, architecture and setting remains a major attraction for those visiting the city.

Durham Cathedral (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

What is Durham Cathedral famous for?

The cathedral currently holds a 4.7 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor, from more than 7,200 reviews.

Visitors have praised everything from its vast interior to its links with the Harry Potter films.

One person who visited this month said they spent “a pleasant few hours walking around this stunning Cathedral”, adding that a volunteer made the experience “even more special”.

Another described it as a “must do” in Durham, while a separate review called it a “beautiful, old and big Cathedral” with “lots to see inside”.

Others highlighted its architecture, with one visitor saying the “massive stone pillars, soaring arches and atmospheric lighting” make it feel “both grand and peaceful”.

The cathedral, which dates back to 1093, is one of the finest examples of Norman architecture in Europe and houses the tombs of St Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede.

Durham Cathedral (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

As well as being a place of worship, it is one of the North East’s leading tourist attractions, with free entry and optional paid extras including tower climbs and guided tours.

Several visitors said these added to their experience.

One reviewer said a guided tour was “well worth doing” and helped them “learn so much more about its history”, while another said climbing the tower offered “panoramic views across Durham”.

The cathedral’s location, perched above the River Wear next to Durham Castle, continues to be a major part of its appeal, with many visitors describing it as one of the most striking sights in the North East.

Nearly 1,000 years after construction began, Durham Cathedral remains at the heart of the city, continuing to attract visitors, generate discussion and cement its reputation as one of the region’s standout landmarks.