Christopher John Eadie, known as Chris, was found dead in the garden of his home on the Sandringham estate near King’s Lynn by his partner Joanne.

A new photograph of King Charles at Sandringham has been issued by Buckingham Palace to mark his (Image: Millie Pilkington/Sandringham Estate/PA Wire)

Norfolk Coroner’s Court heard the 63- year- old self-employed decorator had worked at the estate for more than 30 years and took enormous pride in carrying out projects for the late Queen and later King Charles.

His brother Mark Eadie told this newspaper that highly skilled Mr Eadie’s “perfectionism” meant he was frequently appointed for “the top jobs” within the Royal household, including painting the bedroom of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

But in recent years, work from the estate became less frequent following management changes and the introduction of new contractors, something that deeply affected him.

Mr Eadie, told the hearing Chris was a “talented perfectionist” who lived for his work.

“My brother was absolutely brilliant at his job,” he said. “He had incredible attention to detail and wouldn’t let anything go unless it was perfect.”

He added his brother was immensely proud of working for the Royal Family, carrying out jobs discreetly inside royal residences.

“He was loyal and wouldn’t talk about what he did, but I know he painted William and Kate’s bedroom and even met their children once in the garden. He said they were lovely,” he said.

The Royal Family (Image: Prince and Princess of Wales/Josh Shinner)

But one job in particular left him devastated.

Mr Eadie had been tasked with painting a pagoda over a Buddha at Sandringham in colours requested by the King. Although Chris felt the colours were “a bit garish”, he painted it exactly as instructed.

However, the King was not happy with how it looked and ordered it be repainted.

Mr Eadie said Chris dutifully stripped the structure and prepared it ready for new colours chosen by the King, only for the final painting work to be handed to another contractor.

“After all that detailed preparation, someone else was given the job,” his brother said. “He was devastated.”

The court heard that around the same time Chris had begun losing weight and suffering from a lack of appetite, becoming convinced he might have cancer.

Phone conversations with his brother revealed his mental health was deteriorating as worries over both his health and work at Sandringham mounted.

Christopher John Eadie with one of his sons (Image: Memorial)

His former partner, Joanna described him as a loving father to his two sons who took huge pride in his career and his long service to the royals.

But she said the reduction in work from Sandringham after decades of loyalty deeply upset him with the pagoda incident becoming a particular source of angst.

Six weeks before his death she found him sitting in the dark at home and later feared he had been considering harming himself.

In the days before he died she told the court he became unusually affectionate, something she now believes was part of saying goodbye.

Police officer David Norris told the inquest officers were called to the address after his partner discovered a note inside the house and found Mr Eadie hanging in a small garden space between sheds.

Paramedics attempted to resuscitate him after cutting him down but were unable to save him.

Inside the house officers found the handwritten letter and a bottle of open spirits.

Toxicology tests later showed only a small amount of alcohol in his system, along with raised levels of paracetamol, though not enough to have caused death.

A post-mortem examination concluded he died by hanging.

Medical evidence showed Mr Eadie had visited his GP earlier in the year complaining of weight loss and abdominal discomfort and later began taking antidepressants after reporting anxiety and work-related stress.

His medication for anxiety ran out shortly before his death on October 10, 2025, and a repeat prescription had not been requested.

Edward Parsons, land agent for the Sandringham Estate, said Mr Eadie had never been directly employed by the estate but was one of many contractors used for work, with jobs allocated based on requirements.

He said though Mr Eadie had been awarded a number of jobs in 2025, a decision had then been made not go ahead with work.

In his final note, Mr Eadie apologised to loved ones, writing: “Tell everyone I love them so much. I am sorry.”

Summing up, the coroner Yvonne Blake said worries about his health combined with work concerns had led to a decline in Mr Eadie’s mental health.

However, she concluded there was insufficient evidence to say he intended to end his life and recorded a conclusion reflecting mental health deterioration rather than suicide, saying: “I am not satisfied that he intended to die. He had a decline in mental health and was upset about work. These things prevented sufficient clarity of mind.

“He took his own life but the deterioration in mental health means I am not concluding suicide.”

She expressed condolences to his family, describing him as a man who clearly took immense pride in his work and was deeply loved by those close to him.

“I know he was a man who took great pride in his work. He was self employed but did a lot of work at Sandringham. He felt discarded not having as much work there as he used to and he put this down to different contractors being used.”

But the numbers disappointed the City. Derrick Dunne, CEO of YOU Asset Management, said: “These figures are a real warning shot across the bows of the Government and Bank of England, both of whom are trying to steer the economy with tighter fiscal and monetary policies than are probably now healthy.

“Best fitting jeans I have ever had. I have all three colours. I am hoping you will do white for the summer.”

M&S shoppers are raving about a pair of jeans they say think tick all of the boxes, with countless customers hailing them as the ‘best fitting’ denim they’ve ever tried on. The jeans have built up a loyal following due to their comfy fit and flattering shape, with some shoppers admitting they’ve gone back to buy them in several colours.

The Magic Shaping High Waisted Straight Leg Jeans are currently priced at £46 from M&S. Available in three colour options – light indigo, black, and indigo mix – they come in sizes six to 24 and short/petite, regular, and long lengths.

Designed to smooth and support without feeling restrictive, the jeans have become a go-to piece for daily wear, whether dressed up with boots and a blouse or kept casual with trainers and a jumper. Their popularity remains strong, with more than 100 pairs purchased in the last five days, the retailer’s website says.

The jeans feature M&S’ ‘Magic Shaping’ technology, which works to create a sleek silhouette while maintaining comfort. A straight-leg cut is paired with subtle back darts to enhance the figure, while the high-rise waistband is designed to be gap-proof, remaining firmly in place all day long.

Finished with classic five-pocket detailing and added stretch, they’re crafted for all-day comfort whilst maintaining style. For those looking at other options, the New Look Blue Mid-Rise Elasticated Waist Wide Leg Jeans are available at £34.99 on its website, reports the Express.

These also come in multiple sizes, boast a wide-leg and ‘slouchy’ style, and include both front and back pockets along with a fly-zip and button fastening.

Or Next stocks the Mid Blue Denim Mid Rise Stretch Bootcut Jeans for £28 on its website, offered in a range of colours, sizes, and both regular and petite fits, reports OK!.

The Magic Shaping High Waisted Straight Leg Jeans have gained impressive ratings on the M&S website. One shopper said: “Perfect fit and (the) right length, best fitting jeans I have ever had. I have all three colours. I am hoping you will do white for the summer.”

Another wrote: “A better fitting jean – snug around the waist and slim legged. Well pleased with (the) fit.”

A third noted: “These jeans are a very good, comfortable fit. I would purchase again.”

Some customers did deduct a star, with one saying: “I always buy M&S jeans and these are lovely. They fit really well, have just enough stretch and look good on. The size is ok and the denim is good, too.”

Another mentioned: “Jeans are as described but the material is a little heavy weight – the plus with that is they will wear well over a long period.”

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Following Forest’s 0-0 draw with Wolves on Wednesday, Dyche sounded like a man who knew what was to follow.

After an incredible 35 attempts on goal without scoring – more attempts than any team Dyche has managed in his 351 games in charge – the draw left them just three points clear of the drop zone.

A frustrated Marinakis was pictured frequently during the City Ground draw with him appearing to be growing increasingly frustrated with every missed opportunity.

Post match – and before his dismissal – Dyche said: “The owner has been fair to me, without a shadow of a doubt. If anyone chooses to change in football now, that’s their decision. We’ve all seen it.

“People can demand change, and then it’s always whether they change or not.

“If the owner wants to make a change then that’s up to him, and that’s the way football is now, that’s just the reality of it.

“I understand the noise here has changed significantly since the last few games.”

Dyche undoubtedly arrived at Forest in difficult circumstances, but he appeared to steady the ship after a poor run of results under Postecoglou, winning seven of his first 12 games.

If results were taken from when Dyche took over, Forest would be mid-table, six points above third-from-bottom Tottenham.

He was even nominated for Premier League manager of the month a week ago, with two wins and one loss from their past six matches.

Speaking on Match of the Day, just an hour before Dyche’s dismissal, ex-England striker Alan Shearer backed the former Burnley boss.

He said: “I think with his know-how and his experience in the Premier League, I would without a doubt stick with Sean.”

Former Tottenham midfielder Danny Murphy, added: “I think for this battle at the bottom you wouldn’t want a better manager than him.

“He’s been there, done it, he stays calm. I think they’d be crazy to get rid of him.

“The other thing as well I suppose for Marinakis is if it wasn’t for him they wouldn’t be in the Premier League and they wouldn’t be in Europe.

“So maybe he’s got the right to do what he wants, but I don’t think there’s a manager you could bring in who is as capable as [Dyche] in this fight.”

The manatee was searching for warmer waters when it got stuck in a storm drain at a historic beach – the species remain a protected following thousands of starvation-related deaths

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A more than 400-pound manatee is making a recovery at a theme park in the United States after getting stuck in a storm drain.

Multiple fire rescue units and officials from a conservation commission, a university and a towing service were brought in to rescue the 410-pound manatee from a storm drain in Melbourne Beach in Florida on Tuesday, February 10. The animal got stuck while seeking warmer waters.

Crews from fire rescue units, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the University of Florida and even Jack’s Wrecker Service convened on the scene after a worker with Melbourne Beach spotted the manatee, the city’s Vice Mayor Terry Cronin told WESH-TV in Orlando.

“We’re in the process of improving the storm drain across Melbourne Beach. Our people were doing a survey. And one of the surveyors noticed a manatee in what is called a baffle box,” Cronin said.

The big fella was taken to SeaWorld Orlando where it is being cared for in one of the park’s medical pools, where they work to stabilise and rehabilitate rescued manatees to then be returned to the wild.

SeaWorld Orlando rescued 56 manatees in 2025 and has already taken in seven this year.

“He’s breathing on his own, moving independently and showing interest in food,” spokesperson Stephanie Bechara said.

“Our teams are adjusting water levels to support buoyancy and comfort as part of his care,” Bechara added.

Manatees are a protected species and are still recovering from a mass starvation event.

In 2021, officials recorded more than 1,100 manatee deaths, mostly caused by starvation.

Florida’s fish and wildlife agency said deaths have decreased significantly, with 565 deaths recorded in 2024, and 555 deaths in 2023.

James Smith believes he’s now in a field that’s ‘more future-proof’ than the corporate world

James Smith felt undervalued and anxious about the future as he witnessed artificial intelligence’s growing presence in his workplace. And then he reached breaking point in the corporate sphere and made a dramatic change.

He walked away from his tech role in the city and shifted to straightforward, hands-on labour in his local community. Offering gardening, carpentry and removal services amongst many others, the 34 year old revealed he’s the happiest he’s been in his professional life and bringing in roughly £3,000 monthly without being accountable to a boss. The resident from Stanstead in Suffolk has now explained his transition from shirt and tie to work boots.

He said: “I just didn’t enjoy the office politics and the fact that no matter how hard you worked it was still the same pay and hours in the day. I didn’t feel appreciated either by the boss and as soon as that starts, I find it hard to put in the same effort.

“I was working in SAAS sales for a recruitment company in London in 2022. The company were trying to enforce office-based work for my team in particular while people were working remotely (from other countries) which I couldn’t understand.

“The company in question now uses AI as a tool to help companies find staff without having to sift through CVs so human jobs have been lost. This was a big reason why I started looking at working for myself.”

James had explored various roles beyond the corporate sphere before. Since leaving school, he’d been his mum’s carer and had worked in retail, but chose an office position thinking it would offer a more relaxed environment. He said: “I soon realised there was just as much pressure in an office!”

The breaking point came from an unexpected source – James’ own manager: “I had bought a pick-up truck as I had always wanted one from being a child. I was sat at my desk one day and my manager sitting next to me said: ‘You’ve got a truck sat at home on the drive and you’re here at work every day!’

“That was probably my light bulb moment, and I realised I could be doing something else. I started off with just doing small garden jobs and rubbish collection on Airtasker and I have now completed a course in carpentry, trained as a locksmith and have invested in a van to offer more services through Airtasker.”

Reflecting on his decision today, James insists there’s “absolutely nothing” that could tempt him back to corporate life: “My worst days on Airtasker are better than my best days in an office.

“Before, I would have to travel into the same office every day to do a job that was completely over the phone and computer,. Now I’m out and about helping people.

“It’s the happiest I’ve ever been in my working life. If you have the capacity then I say go for it, there’s no better security than being your own boss. You can work as hard or as little as you need to and you’re answerable to no-one.”

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James reckons there’s greater job security in manual work compared to the corporate sector at present. He said: “Even though there have been huge advances in AI I think we are a few years off being able to do the things that I do, including the kind of tasks I take on through Airtasker.”

He acknowledges that owning a truck provided him with a significant advantage in his current line of work. He said: “I was lucky enough to have a truck to allow me to offer my services straight away, until I had a van though I was limited in the jobs I could offer so I can’t imagine how people who only have a car cope.”

James’s career change isn’t unique, according to AirTasker. The platform’s recent figures revealed the UK ranks among its fastest-expanding markets, with a wider economic transformation placing greater value on practical, hands-on abilities.

The City of Westminster College has also seen a stark increase in the last few years of students being more interested in hands-on courses like construction and built-environment. CEO Stephen Davis noted students are having to think more strategically to find a career that can offer security long-term in the face of AI, according to Reuters.

Carlos Baleba was linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer and January, but his frustrating campaign for Brighton continued in their Premier League defeat to Aston Villa on Wednesday

Manchester United midfield target Carlos Baleba continued his uninspiring season with Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night as he was hooked midway through the first half in the 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

Baleba was the subject of interest from United at the back end of the summer transfer window, but the Seagulls’ strong stance on selling the 22-year-old turned them away. After deciding not to make any advances in January, United are expected to sign at least one top midfielder at the end of the season.

Last term, the Cameroonian midfielder had been one of the Premier League’s best-performing defensive midfielders. It’s been reported that Brighton valued Baleba at more than £100million, similar to the fee they received for Moises Caicedo from Chelsea in 2023.

However, his individual performances have come into question this season off the back of a switch to Old Trafford not materialising, leading United to place more focus on Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.

On Wednesday, Baleba was in the headlines after Fabian Hurzeler took him off after just 22 minutes at Villa Park. The former-Lille ace was booked after just two minutes following a foul on Morgan Rogers, before being replaced by veteran James Milner.

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TV cameras caught Baleba burying his head in his shirt as he watched on from the bench, with Brighton suffering another defeat courtesy of Tyrone Mings’ late header, which deflected in off of Jack Hinshelwood. After the game, Hurzeler defended his player for his early booking.

“I’m not happy with the yellow card he gets so absolutely the wrong decision for me to give him… the first foul wasn’t even a bad foul, not a tactical foul, a yellow card,” he said.

“Then of course we had to take care of him so that was the only reason. But it was a big impact from the referee to give that yellow card, therefore we had to make the substitution.”

Back in September, the Brighton boss admitted that United’s interest in Baleba had affected the player’s individual performance. However, it remains to be seen whether the Premier League club could will lower their asking price this summer, and whether United will totally cool their interest now.

“I think it’s normal for a young player when the media creates the noise around him,” Hurzeler said.

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“It’s not easy for this player to handle it. Therefore, we need to give him the time and support so he comes back to his best performance.

“But he’s a young player and I think that’s something we have to accept, that young players don’t always have the face we want to see.”

Jimmy Nicol, a guide at Raby Castle, Park and Gardens, is one of 10 finalists for VisitEngland’s Tourism Superstar award, which recognises individuals who deliver outstanding visitor experiences.

Mr Nicol reached the national shortlist after being named Durham Tourism Superstar 2025 by Visit County Durham.

He was nominated by a colleague at Raby Castle in recognition of his infectious enthusiasm, dedication and the ambassadorial role he plays not only for Raby, but for County Durham and the North East as a whole.

Duncan Peake, CEO at Raby Estates, said: “Jimmy’s dedication to both Raby Castle and County Durham is evident in everything he does.

“It is the enthusiasm and commitment of people like Jimmy that have helped establish County Durham as the popular visitor destination it is today.

“I would encourage everyone across the county and the wider North East to show their support and vote for Jimmy in the national Tourism Superstar competition.”

The VisitEngland award celebrates individuals who go above and beyond in tourism.

Nominees span destinations across England, including finalists from Norfolk, Leicestershire, and Worcestershire.

Mr Nicol is joined on the shortlist by fellow North East finalist Dan Monk, director of astrophotography at Kielder Observatory, Northumberland.

Mr Nicol has volunteered at Raby Castle since 2018, where he shares the site’s history with guests and helps deliver major events.

His passion and knowledge have made him a familiar and friendly face to thousands of visitors.

Michelle Gorman, managing director of Visit County Durham, said: “Jimmy is a fantastic example of the people who make County Durham such a special place to visit.

“His warmth, knowledge, and genuine passion for Raby Castle and the wider county leave a lasting impression on everyone he meets.

“We are incredibly proud to see him representing County Durham on the national stage and wish him the very best of luck.”

Mr Nicol said he was honoured to be recognised at national level.

He said: “Winning the Durham Tourism Superstar award was a wonderful feeling, and to now be representing Raby Castle and County Durham at a national level is a huge honour.

“Raby is a place that means a great deal to me, and I’m incredibly proud of the county and the region.

“To be nominated alongside such fantastic finalists is a real privilege.”

The winner of the Tourism Superstar award will be decided by public vote.

Voting is open until the end of English Tourism Week, which runs from March 13 to 22.

The winner will be announced later in the year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2026.

The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world

Here are your rugby morning headlines for Thursday, February 12.

English star confirms Test future after Welsh interest

Ollie Hassell-Collins has appeared to end any lingering speculation over a potential switch to Wales by reaffirming his commitment to England.

The Leicester Tigers wing, who qualifies for Wales through his grandmother, had previously admitted he would consider representing Wales if his England opportunities dried up. But after returning to the international fold with England A last week, the 27-year-old made it clear where his focus lies.

“It’s a pleasure to put on the England jersey, no matter what it is – whether it’s the top [national side] or the A’s,” he told BBC Radio Leicester.

Hassell-Collins scored two tries for England A in their emphatic win over an Ireland XV at Thomond Park, staking his claim once again in a fiercely competitive back-three picture under Steve Borthwick.

While the fixture took place 24 hours before England’s senior side thrashed Wales in their Six Nations opener at Twickenham, Hassell-Collins insisted the pride in wearing the Red Rose is the same regardless of the stage.

“It was a great week and nice to be involved in some of that again,” he added.

The comments represent a notable shift in tone from this time last year. In February 2024, Hassell-Collins openly acknowledged that Wales was “still part of who I am” and said he would “never turn it down” if the opportunity arose, with Warren Gatland previously expressing interest in the winger.

Under eligibility rules, he would have been able to switch allegiance in 2026 had he not featured for England or England A again. However, his continued involvement in England’s A set-up has effectively shut that door for the foreseeable future.

Hassell-Collins has won two senior England caps, both during the 2023 Six Nations, and was one of the Premiership’s most prolific finishers last season with 18 tries in all competitions, including 13 in the league.

Despite stiff competition on the wing, with Henry Arundell and Tom Roebuck both impressing against Wales, Hassell-Collins made clear his international ambition remains firmly tied to England.

“Obviously I’d love to play for England again, that will always be my dream, but obviously there’s some very good wingers,” he said.

His recent England A involvement also ensured face time with Borthwick as he continues to push for a senior recall.

“During the week, Steve came in to watch one of the sessions,” Hassell-Collins revealed. “It’s little things like that and getting to speak to him, whereas some people may not be able to.

“But being able to come together as a group from different places and buy into the same thing is a unique thing and it’s a skill in itself.”

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Young star says Wales U20s laid down a marker ahead of France test

Osian Darwin-Lewis believes Wales Under-20s have already shown what they are capable of in this year’s Six Nations — and is backing his side to build on an encouraging display when France arrive at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday night.

Wales fell to a narrow 19-16 defeat against England in their opener, but the performance, particularly in a dominant first half, has given the squad plenty of belief heading into their first home fixture.

“Overall it was a tough one to take,” said Darwin-Lewis.

“But I thought in the first half we were really good. We played in the right areas, had a lot of territory and did good things with that territory.”

Wales controlled large parts of the contest in Northampton and kept England scoreless for the entire first half, an impressive defensive effort away from home that underlined the physicality and work-rate within this young group.

“We knew they’d have a purple patch, and it was about how we would manage that purple patch. That’s something we’ll learn from as we grow as a team,” he added.

“But there’s a lot of positives there. We showed what we can do, especially in that first half. Now it’s about doing it for 80 minutes.”

England wrestled back control after the break with a more effective kicking game and sustained forward pressure, turning territory into points. But Darwin-Lewis believes the issues Wales need to address are minor adjustments rather than major overhauls.

“Our physicality was very good, especially in the first half. Keeping them to zero is something to be proud of. We know we’ve got that physicality and we’ll keep building on it,” he said.

“Their kicking game was a lot better than ours in the second half and they brought their aerial threats into it more. There were a few moments where we probably kicked a bit loosely and let them into our 22 too cheaply.

“Those are small details and they’re things we can fix.”

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Huw Jones vows to reignite Scottish attack against England

By Anthony Brown, Press Association

Huw Jones is determined to help Scotland’s much-vaunted back-line ignite against England after being stifled by Italy in their frustrating Guinness Six Nations opener last weekend.

The Scots were unable to get their free-flowing attacking game going as torrential rainfall turned their showdown in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico into an attritional battle.

Scotland went down to a dismal 18-15 defeat, cranking up the heat on head coach Gregor Townsend and his players ahead of this weekend’s visit from in-form England.

“England are obviously a brilliant team, so it’s a tough prospect,” said British and Irish Lions centre Jones.

“But I think this is probably the perfect game and opposition for us. You don’t need any more motivation, especially after a loss when everyone’s hurting.

“We didn’t really get to play on the weekend, so I think we all have that pent-up frustration and energy from a really frustrating game.

“Even if we’d won that, I think I would have come away from that being like, ‘I didn’t get to do anything’. I’m really angry about that and I think this week that adds to the fuel of just wanting to go out and show what we can do.”

Scotland have won three of the last four Calcutta Cup clashes at Murrayfield, including the last two, but Jones insists that will count for little this weekend.

“They’re a different team, we’re a different team,” said the 32-year-old. “I don’t think it’s ever that helpful to look back and be like, ‘we beat them a couple of years ago’.

“Knowing we beat England, I think that’s always a good thing, but it’s a different week, it’s a different game.

“It’s just about being focused on this game and what we’re doing this week.”

Saturday marked the first time Scotland had lost their opening Six Nations match since 2020 and Jones admitted it was “one of the tougher changing rooms I’ve been in”.

“It’s frustrating, obviously, because you want to start well,” he said. “The Six Nations is all about momentum and building those wins. We didn’t get the first one but you have to just let that go and forget about it.

“You don’t worry about being derailed and where you’re going to be on the table and all that stuff. It’s just game by game, so all that matters now is this game.

“We don’t worry about what’s happening after this game and what’s just happened. Our review process is done. Everything is focused on this.

“The deflation part comes straight after where you’re gutted sitting in the changing rooms. But once you’ve done that review process, that’s gone and you’re fully motivated again.”

Jones dismissed any notion that the Scotland set-up has become stale after almost nine years under Townsend.

“I think the environment’s adapted over the years,” he said. “I think it’s always growing. Right now I’d say no [it’s not stale]. I think it’s been growing and building and changing over the years.

“Obviously it’s largely the same guys, but I’ve seen growth in the team. I’ve seen players improve, I’ve seen coaches improve, and I’ve seen our game adapt and change and also improve. I believe in this group.”

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A Mobile UK boss has urged MPs and local councillors to stop blocking new phone masts, as it emerged that just two areas in north Norfolk were found to have ‘good’ connections

A Mobile UK boss has called upon MPs and members of the public alike to stop blocking phone masts, explaining that this was the biggest issue when it comes to phone coverage.

While attending a North Norfolk District Council meeting, Mobile UK’s director of policy and communications, Gareth Elliott, was quizzed by councillors as to why exactly the signal in certain parts of the region was so poor, with various blackspots. In response, Mr Elliot explained, “We’ve seen MPs who have objected to masts, I’ve seen councillors objecting to masts. That is a blocker in itself.”

Concerns over phone masts date back decades. In a 2000 report, the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) determined that, on the balance of evidence, there is no general risk to the health of those living near base stations, with exposures expected to be small fractions of guideline levels. Three years later, in a 2003 report, the independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation (AGNIR) concluded that exposure levels from living near base stations were extremely low.

Still, despite such reassurances, many people remain anxious about the thought of living near phone masts, and will take action to keep them far away from their own front garden.

READ MORE: Anyone with an Apple Watch given ‘blood pressure’ warning after new research

BBC News reports that, based on data compiled for the county council-run Streetwave project, just two areas in north Norfolk were found to have “good” connections. Mr Elliott declared that Mobile UK represented operators – EE, Virgin Media O2, and VodafoneThree – had made a commitment to providing 5G connections to “90 per cent of all populated areas by 2030”.

While raising problems with MPs and councillors objecting to masts being built within the district, Mr Elliott did also concede that rural areas were not always “economically viable” in terms of network infrastructure investment, as per the Eastern Daily Press. He said: “Planning applications have gone through due diligence to understand how it affects the existing network and radio physics. We don’t just build masts anywhere and everywhere.”

While there have been a number of new mast applications in recent years, not in north Norfolk and elsewhere, there has also been plenty of opposition. This was the case in the village of Erpingham, where many were keen to rectify the poor phone signal, only for former Conservative MP Duncan Baker, councillors and concerned locals to block this move.

Showing support for improving network coverage, Steffan Aquarone, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, asserted: “I was surprised to hear the comments made by Gareth Elliot, that MPs objecting to masts has become a blocker to better rural signal. I have never been in any opposition to any infrastructure that will improve mobile phone coverage in North Norfolk, and in fact, have rallied for the exact opposite.

“Although I’m keen that mobile operators use the latest technology to minimise visual impact, and take into account all aspects of health and safety, I have been actively campaigning to improve mobile signal since I was first elected in 2017 and will continue to fight for it until North Norfolk is better connected.”

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

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