Passengers are facing disruption on Salford’s Metrolink line due to a ‘failed tram’.

TfGM says there is no service between Pomona and Eccles.

It is due to a ‘failed tram’ on the line at Anchorage, near Salford Quays.

The issue is affecting services which run through MediaCity UK and Salford Quays.

Metrolink tickets are being accepted on several Bee Network buses as an alternative.

Updates will be posted in this blog.

My morning ritual is …

A double espresso – straight to the veins – then a run or to the gym, before a little NTS radio. Then it’s about making some eggs and journaling. All in that specific order.

I feel optimistic about …

The future of music. There is so much amazing music coming out right now. People are really holding on to art and creativity during these complicated times.

What makes me angry …

Being stuck in standstill traffic is the truest source of my rage. That is when I need to put on a podcast to chill myself out because it drives me nuts. It happens a lot, especially where I live in Los Angeles. 

If I wasn’t a singer-songwriter, I’d have liked to become …

A teacher. My dad’s a teacher, and I’ve always loved the idea of spending time with kids. My English teacher was such an inspirational, formative part of growing up. 

The habit that has served me best in life is …

Is being in the mindset of controlling the controllables. I’ve been able to navigate the ebbs and flows of everything by knowing that there are some things that are outside of my control. Now I try to focus on the things that I can change. 

The habit I’ve successfully kicked is …

I used to be an apple juice fend. I genuinely think I used to have litres of apple juice everyday. It was a fixation. I’ve slowly managed to wean myself off that over time.

My sources of joy are …

Cooking, especially for big groups of good friends. Sunsets and nature. Being in the studio until late at night, sparking off, coming up with new ideas. 

When things get tough I …

Spend time around the people I love the most. Being around my best friends and my partner and my family just really grounds me. I got to the point previously where I’d pushed myself too hard.[In 2022, Parks took a mental health break after experiencing burnout and exhaustion following long periods of touring.] I felt really lucky to be in the position I was in, and that led to me overextending myself quite a lot. When I came home after that, I wanted to boil it down to the simple things, like cooking meals, being with people I love, taking trips out to nature, journaling, coming back to myself and becoming a person again. 

Doing good and being a positive force in the world is what motivates me the most

The book I wish everyone would read is …

Bluets by Maggie Nelson. She’s one of my favourite authors. This book is a mix of poetry and prose. It’s about her fascination with the colour blue, and an exploration of a love affair falling apart. It’s a meditation on suffering, happiness, desire, and it’s such a beautiful book. I love it so much. 

What keeps me awake at night …

Ideas. I’m a ruminator. I feel like I’ve suffered from insomnia for so much of my life because thoughts are always whizzing round and round. 

The thing that motivates me most of all …

Doing good and being a positive force in the world. For me, it’s about making a difference on the scale that I can, either through the music and art that I make, or on a smaller level with the people around me. Just doing my best to be a good friend, a good partner, somebody that people can depend on, being open, and trying to do good.

My parents taught me …

To show up for people consistently and do small acts of kindness as much as possible.

I have this theory that …

Dogs always understand what you want them to do and they actively choose not to. I just dog-sat my friends’ dog, and anytime I would tell her to sit she knew exactly what I wanted her to do but she looked at me and refused.

I’d like to tell my younger self…

To keep going and to keep being me. Even in the moments where I felt lost to know that I was on the right track and that everything I was going through was all just part of the process.

Arlo Parks will be touring the UK to support her new album Ambiguous Desire, which is out now on Transgressive Records.

Main image: Sully 

Channel 4’s chief executive has given a statement after BBC Panorama revealed allegations that two women were raped, and a third was the victim of a non-consensual sex act, during the filming of Married at First Sight (MAFS) UK.

Priya Dogra expressed “huge sympathy” for the women, but said she could not comment on the specific allegations, which she noted that the men deny.

She said she believes Channel 4 has not failed in its duty of care to some of its contributors, and “based on what we knew at the time, we acted appropriately, quickly and with sensitivity”.

Asked if she would like to apologise to the women involved, Dogra said, “I’ve said everything I can in the statement,” and walked away from the interview.

Read more on the BBC Panorama investigation into MAFS UK here.

Pensioners, Universal Credit recipients, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Child Benefit, and other regular payments could all see earlier payments.

Government departments are reminding claimants to check their payment dates so they’re not caught off guard by early deposits over long weekends.

The two May Bank Holiday payments

For many households, this will be the second time payments have arrived early this month.

Payments due on Monday May 4 2026 (including pensions, Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Child Benefit, and other DWP support) arrived on Friday May 1 2026.

Now, payments due on Monday May 25 are scheduled to arrive on Friday May 22.

HMRC and DWP explain that bank holidays mean banks are closed, so payments are brought forward to ensure claimants still have access to funds.

Why do we have the Spring Bank Holiday?

The Spring Bank Holiday, also known as the Late May Bank Holiday, was originally tied to Whit Sunday (Pentecost), a Christian festival marking the descent of the Holy Spirit and traditionally celebrated seven weeks after Easter.

The holiday was once known as Whitsun Bank Holiday and moved each year with Easter.

In 1971, it was fixed to the last Monday in May, removing its direct religious link but keeping its timing as a key early summer long weekend.

Summer and autumn changes

Later in 2026, further adjustments apply depending on location:

• 3 August → 4 August (Scotland only)
• 4 August → 5 August (Scotland only)
• 31 August → 28 August (all UK)
• 28 December → 24 December
• 29 December → 30 December (Northern Ireland only)

Regional public holidays in Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee) and Northern Ireland can also affect payment timing.

Which pensioners are paid on Mondays?

The day your pension is paid depends on your National Insurance number. Your payment day is based on the last two digits of your National Insurance number.

State Pension payment days by National Insurance number:

• 00 to 19 — Monday
• 20 to 39 — Tuesday
• 40 to 59 — Wednesday
• 60 to 79 — Thursday
• 80 to 99 — Friday

How to check your payment

• Look at your bank statement – payments normally appear with references like “DWP Pension” or “HMRC Child Benefit”
• For those on Universal Credit, check the online account for exact payment dates
• If a payment seems late, check with your bank first, then contact the DWP or HMRC if necessary

“Knowing when payments will arrive helps households manage their budgets, especially around busy bank holiday weekends,” a DWP spokesperson said.

Andreescu was plagued with injuries – issues with her abdomen and ankle kept her away from the court, and her 2025 season was delayed by appendectomy surgery.

Her form suffered and she has failed to go beyond the fourth round at a Grand Slam since her US Open triumph, with her ranking tumbling from a high of world number four in 2019 to 228 earlier this year.

At the start of 2026 she decided to return to an environment where she hadn’t played since 2018, swapping life on the WTA Tour for that on the ITF.

The tournament rankings work from W15 – the lowest level – up to W100. Andreescu was competing in W35 and W75 editions, with the total prize pot for a W35 tournament about £26,000.

The make-up of the ITF tour tends to be youngsters who are trying to make their mark on the sport, women who were unable to break on to the WTA Tour or players who are using it to regain previous form.

The crowds might be tiny and line judges rare, but competition on the court is fierce.

“The hunger the women had that I was playing against, every match was so difficult, and I feel like maybe on the WTA Tour, the athletes are maybe a bit more comfortable with certain things,” Andreescu says.

“Certain things are getting paid for [on the WTA Tour]. But on that [ITF] level, nothing’s getting paid for, and you’re barely breaking even. I was there too at one point, so I know how it is.

“I don’t want people to get the idea that the ITF tour is Mickey Mouse compared to the WTA Tour, because that’s not the case.

“I feel a lot of admiration and respect for the women that continue to grind on the tour, because it’s not easy, even on the WTA Tour, it’s just not easy.”

Vemic, who joined Andreescu’s team in September 2025, echoed those thoughts.

“Every player there needs to prove themselves and everyone is hungry and they’re not bored of playing many years on tour,” he says.

“They’re all driven by their dreams and passion because a lot of them are younger athletes.

“So sometimes it’s a transitional part or stage of coming from juniors into professional waters and some of them carry a lot of confidence.”

People are being urged to avoid an area near Bury town centre as emergency services respond to an incident.

Police and firefighters are in attendance at the A58 Rochdale Road, in Bury, near Derby Way.

Derby Way is closed in both directions close to the Rock shopping centre.

Details on the nature of the incident are yet to be confirmed.

Greater Manchester Police and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service have been approached for further details.