Andrew Robinson, of Weir Street, Darlington, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on August 11.

The court heard the 51-year-old was driving a Mini on June 23. Robinson gave a breathalyser reading of 75 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

On July 16, Robinson pleaded guilty to driving while over the prescribed alcohol limit.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 in prosecution costs and a £48 surcharge. He must pay in monthly instalments of £20, starting September 8, 2026.

Robinson’s disqualification may be reduced by 17 weeks if he completes an approved drink-drive rehabilitation course by June 18, 2027.

An interim disqualification took immediate effect on July 16.

The city council leader insisted “this is not just a one-off spring clean”

A large amount of needles were reportedly discovered during a city centre clean-up operation in Peterborough. City council staff and councillors were out in high-vis jackets on Wednesday as part of Operation Horizon, which aims to get tough on issues in the city centre.

Councillor Chris Wiggin, cabinet member for environment, was among those who carried out a litter pick during the morning and said he was shocked by what they had found.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I’d been out with officers from the environmental side, along with volunteers from the Litter Wombles and IRC, looking at areas around The Embankment and nearby. We were finding all sorts of things in there. One of our teams found over 71 drugs needles which have now been cleaned up.

“We also found evidence of homeless people living in the woods and we were looking at the river front to see what we can do to make it a nicer place for people to enjoy.”

Cllr Wiggin added: “We did a walk along Potters Way and found some fly-tipping which included evidence of the name and address of the person who left it, so that’s been passed onto our enforcement team to be dealt with.”

Some of the action taken during the operation has included: jet-washed streets, street drinkers being handed fines and offered support, litter picking in hot spot areas, and businesses being visited to check they were meeting licensing requirements and Food Safety Standards.

Other issues being tackled included: begging, rough sleeping, taxi and private hire compliance, parking contraventions, and boat-related anti-social behaviour/encroachment onto the embankment.

Peterborough City Council leader Shabina Qayyum noted that Operation Horizon was a continuous effort that would see the team of staff, councillors and other volunteers meet every few months to keep on top of the issues that harmed the city centre.

“This is not just a one-off spring clean,” she said.

Cllr Qayyum insisted that there would be a “renewed focus” on the city centre and residents would be able to see a change in the look and feel of the city centre over the coming weeks and months.

The council is carrying out the operation alongside partners including Peterborough Positive and Cambridgeshire Police.

Mehmet Gundez, 24 of Bridlington, entered a plea of ‘not guilty’ during a plea and trial preparation hearing at Hull Crown Court today (August 14).

The 24-year-old was charged with murder after the death of Ibrahim Yesildeniz, 25, in Bridlington on Monday (August 10).

RECOMMENDED READING:

Humberside Police said Mr Yesildeniz was pronounced dead in hospital after reports of an incident in First Avenue at about 5.20am on Monday.

“Ibrahim’s family are being supported by specially trained officers and have asked for privacy,” a police spokesperson said.

A further appearance is scheduled for September 28 and the case is set to go to trial on November 23 at Hull Crown court.

Firefighters battled for an hour and a half to get the fire under control at Errington Woods in New Marske, on Thursday (August 13).

They were called around 7.20pm to reports of smoke coming from a field near the woodland.

Four fire engines from Coulby Newham, Grangetown, Redcar and Saltburn attended and used water bowsers to put out the blaze. They left the scene at about 8.40pm.

Cleveland Fire Brigade believes the blaze covering an area of about 40,000 square meters, was started deliberately.

A spokesperson said: “We were called to an incident at Errington Woods, New Marske at 7.21pm on August 13.

“Four fire engines from Coulby, Grangetown, Redcar and Saltburn were in attendance.

“Approx 200m x 200m field well alight. Ground beaters and a water bowser were used. A stop message was received at 8.40pm. The cause is believed to be deliberate.”

A royal expert has claimed to have noticed a significant shift in the dynamic between Prince Harry and Meghan during their recent trips to Australia and the UK, suggesting Harry appeared to be leading the charge

Advertisement

A royal commentator has suggested they observed an unexpected shift in the dynamic between Prince Harry and Meghan during their recent visits to Australia and the UK. The remark came while discussing the couple’s evolving public persona on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive podcast.

Harry and Meghan undertook a four-day visit to Australia in April which bore many of the hallmarks of a conventional royal tour, despite the couple travelling in a private capacity.

Their itinerary included events celebrating Indigenous culture, Australian sport, charitable initiatives and a visit to the national war memorial. Royal correspondent Bronte Coy told the podcast that she had been struck by the difference after seeing Harry and Meghan in Australia, having previously felt their life in the US had largely been shaped by Meghan.

She said: “I made this point when I came back from Australia when I was there earlier this year, I found this really intriguing because I agree that everything I’d seen of them prior to that was the Meghan show.”

She suggested Meghan had previously appeared to be the driving force behind their lives since stepping down as working royals, reports the Express.

“I think in the US, certainly, when this Megxit happened, she’s very much been sort of the architect of what their life was going to be,” she added.

However, Bronte said she noticed something different when the couple appeared together in Australia, as well as during their more recent UK visit. Harry recently travelled back to the UK for a series of engagements linked to charities and organisations including the Invictus Games, which he founded.

Meghan and their children later joined him, with the family understood to have visited Highgrove with King Charles in June.

Bronte added: “I was fascinated by the fact that when they arrived in Australia, and in this UK trip as well recently, it more felt like he was the one that was leading the charge, which surprised me.”

She suggested the shift might indicate Harry has grown more at ease with his life outside the Royal Family.

“So again, this may be a tonal shift over the years, you know, with him sort of figuring out what the rest of it was.”

TalkTV presenter Samara Gill suggested Harry’s behaviour could be connected to his experience of royal tours, arguing that this was a setting in which he seemed particularly confident.

She said: “It was more of a royal tour as well, and that’s what he’s kind of been trained to do, like a sort of well-trained racehorse or something. He knows exactly how to do it. That’s where he’s in his element.”

She noted that Meghan had never seemed as comfortable in that environment.

She said: “She’s absolutely not comfortable there and never was really, if you look at it.”

The couple’s previous Australian tour in 2018 took place while they were still working members of the Royal Family and drew substantial crowds, with tens of thousands attending during their nine-day tour.

The reception this time around was notably more muted, with the BBC reporting that many Australians were either unaware of or uninterested in the couple’s visit.

Their public appearances also drew criticism amid concerns that Australian taxpayers could be contributing to the cost of their security.

The couple’s UK visit also marked a significant family reunion for King Charles and his grandchildren, as Archie and Lilibet had not seen their grandfather in person since the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.

City could conceivably spend £300m on central midfielders this summer, an outlay that has plenty quoting a slightly lower figure in a mixture of anger, disbelief and ignorance at how the Blues can splash such cash. Until a decision is finally reached on the outstanding 115 charges, that mud will continue to be splattered in City’s direction. But if those furious at a club spending so much on new talent wanted to look, there are more subtle explanations than crying financial foul play.

For one, few can match the revenues City are able to rake in, with the Blues earning £694.1m in the financial year ending June 30, 2025, albeit with a marginal loss of £9.9m, and more than £700m in the two years prior to that.

Read more here>>>

The Strictly Come Dancing class of 2026 came together for the first time on Thursday as they headed to their first dance rehearsals. 

Despite fans branding the lineup the ‘worst ever’ in the show’s 22-year run, the contestants still looked in great spirits as they arrived at the studio in London. 

Ready to give Strictly another go after an injury forced her out of last year’s lineup was Dani Dyer, who flashed a smile as she walked in.

Dani – who was paired with Nikita Kuzmin last year but fractured her ankle before the first show – looked effortlessly stylish in a black top and leopard print skirt. 

Also looking chic was Delta Goodrem, who paired a white top with a brown leather skirt and towering heels. 

Meanwhile, Jaime Winstone embraced the UK heatwave in a pair of denim hotpants and brown cowboy boots. 

Despite fans branding the lineup the ‘worst ever’ in the show’s 22-year run, the contestants still looked in great spirits as they arrived at the studio in London (pictured: Delta Goodrem, left, and Jaime Winstone) 

Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters, who was announced as the final star to join the line up this week, couldn’t stop beaming as she met up with her fellow contestants.

Also in this year’s lineup is EastEnders’ Lacey Turner, celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton, Love Island star Cach Mercer, Big Brother host Will Best and Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey. 

They are joined by House Of The Dragon’s Bethany Antonia, footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips, presenter Graeme ‘The Dogfather’ Hall, Emmerdale’s Lawrence Robb, YouTuber John Nellis and Olympian Tabby Stoecker.

Strictly is one of the BBC‘s most popular shows, with millions tuning in every weekend and the professional dancers quickly becoming household names. 

This year, however, there’s been one big problem – that the dancers are better known than the ‘stars’ they’re set to partner up with. 

YouTuber John, for example, doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page. 

But that doesn’t seem to matter to producers, who are said to have specifically selected stars who have large social media followings.

Stars such as Kim Kardashian’s hair stylist Chris might not be a household name, but he does boast a huge social media following with 4 million fans on Instagram. 

John has an even bigger fanbase, with 15.7 million YouTube subscribers.

Ready to give Strictly another go after an injury forced her out of last year’s lineup was Dani, who flashed a smile as she walked in

Dani – who was paired with Nikita Kuzmin last year but fractured her ankle before the first show – looked effortlessly stylish in a black top and leopard print skirt

Advertisement

Dani also shared a selfie on her way to the studios 

Also looking chic was Delta, who paired a white top with a brown leather skirt and towering heels. She accessorised with a small snake print handbag

Jaime Winstone embraced the UK heatwave in a pair of denim hotpants and cowboy boots

Gavin & Stacey actress Melanie Walters, who was announced as the final star to join the line up this week, couldn’t stop beaming as she met up with her fellow contestants

Advertisement

EastEnders star Lacey Turner looked summery in a pastel striped midi dress 

Love Island’s Cache Mercer sported a grey vest and baggy jeans 

Celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton opted for double denim in a shirt and jeans 

Chris was spotted giving fellow Strictly star Lawrence Robb a hug 

Advertisement

Lawrence was casually clad in a navy vest paired with white trousers and sandals 

Former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips opted for a black T-shirt and white trousers

Graeme ‘The Dogfather’ Hill kept things casual in a paisley shirt and shorts 

Olympian Tabby Stoecker paired a white vest with linen trousers and flip flops 

Advertisement

Tabby also shared a throwback from when she met last year’s Strictly contestant Montell Douglas who taught her how to waltz

However, loyal fans have been left scratching their heads over the lineup, with many of the comments on the Strictly social posts asking who the celebrity is, rather than expressing any excitement. 

Indeed, while bosses may be keen to attract Gen Z – the majority of Strictly viewers are in fact Gen X and Baby Boomers.  

Audience demographic data indicates that around 60 per cent of the audience is aged 55 or older, putting the average viewer age firmly in the mid-50s and above. 

Yet this year, it’s time for an overhaul, with suggestions Strictly is following a similar, hugely successful social media strategy employed by its US counterpart Dancing With The Stars. 

Dancing With The Stars has used their celebrity contestants’ followings to their advantage, introducing a TikTok Night last year – an episode which saw the contestants perform viral dance routines, sparking an uptick in interaction from younger viewers.

The Dancing With The Stars TikTok account now has more than 5 million followers, in comparison to Strictly’s 670,000.

‘Although your traditional Strictly audience might not know who some of the signings are, that’s not as important as bringing in new viewers who are more than familiar with them,’ a source told The Sun.

‘Their followers are vast in numbers, enthusiastic and, by sharing content on Strictly, raise the profile of the show massively.

‘And, in time, the viewers who don’t know these people get to know them. If anything they end up going on much more of a “Strictly Journey” than the stars you’d describe as “household names.”‘

The following day the celebrities were back to meet the professional dancers for the first time and for their first rehearsal 

Delta looked great in a plunging black top paired with flared leggings and blue trainers 

Advertisement

Dani opted for a skintight co-ord and trainers for the rehearsals 

Chris donned a plaid shirt and jeans while Cache opted for a vest and shorts

Jaime rocked a pair of oversized shades as she headed into the studio 

Gra

Advertisement

s

s

Advertisement

This year has seen a number of changes to the show – which was previously known for its formulaic regime in its 22 years on air. 

Perhaps most pertinent is the change in presenters, after longtime hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman quit the show. 

There are now a trio of new hosts – all of whom have a strong online presence. 

Comedian Josh Widdicombe has more than half a million Instagram followers on his personal account whilst the Insta page for his hugely popular podcast Parenting Hell has 250,000.

Emma Willis has two million Instagram followers and fan-favourite dancer Johannes Radebe, who will act as a co-presenter this year, has 458,000 followers. 

The celeb lineup was also announced on social media this year rather than on radio and TV. 

And before the celeb reveals, there was a big reshuffle with the professional dancers.  

In recent months popular dancers Nadiya Bychkova, Karen Hauer, Michelle Tsiakkas, Luba Mushtuk and Gorka Marquez have all been given the boot.

It’s understood pros with bigger online followings have been chosen over dancers who are not so TikTok friendly as the series tries desperately to attract a younger audience.

One example appears to be axed Nadiya, who has 214,000 Insta followers, while Dianne Buswell, with 1.2 million Instagram followers and 973,000 on TikTok, has kept her place in the line-up.

Meanwhile five new young pros have been recruited with ballroom champ Maddie Ingoldsby boasting 364,000 TikTok followers. 

Former Strictly judge and renowned choreographer Arlene Phillips recently criticised the pro hirings, telling Good Morning Britain last month: ‘The new pros, as long as they can dance. I mean, most of them are sort of influencers and they talk an awful lot. As long as those pros can dance.’

The trio of new hosts also have a strong online presence. Comedian Josh Widdicombe has over half a million Instagram followers (pictured with Johannes Radebe and Emma Willis)

Five new young pros have been recruited. From left, Maddie Ingoldsby, Aleksandra Isaeva, Cristian Priori, Lethabo Monametsi and Mark Karmalita

Yet while there is clearly a pull for stars with a large online presence, an insider claimed that part of the problem with booking celebrity shows now is that the landscape has changed.

The source continued: ‘Crucially the pipeline that used to feed these big shows has changed.

‘Boyband and girlband stars aren’t as prevalent any more and, once upon a time, getting someone from a soap or a big drama was a massive deal, but now even that has diminished somewhat.

‘Now, though, social media is continuing to boom and big stars from the world of TikTok, YouTube and Instagram are known to a vast section of society.’

Strictly is set to return for its 24th season next month, when loyal viewers will finally be able to give their say on all the changes. 

An investigation is underway

Detectives have launched an investigation after a man was seen exposing himself in woods near a major Cheshire road. Police are looking into reports of a man exposing himself in Kennel Woods, off Kennel Lane in Sandiway, close to the A556 near Northwich.

Cheshire Police says the victim reported seeing a man expose himself at some point between 4.30pm and 5pm last Friday (August 7). He was reportedly wearing a dark t-shirt and dark shorts at the time.

Enquiries in relation to the incident are ongoing. Officers are appealing for any further witnesses, or anyone with relevant video footage that could help with the investigation, to come forward.

Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter

That could include drivers on the A556, which runs between Greater Manchester and Chester. Detective Constable Caitlin Clark, of Northwich CID said: “Incidents of this nature are extremely concerning, and I would like to reassure residents that we’re committed to doing everything we can to identify the person responsible.

“Kennel Woods is a popular spot for dog walkers, and as part of our enquiries, we’re keen to hear from anyone who was in the area and believes they may have witnessed the incident. The same goes for anyone who was driving on Kennel Lane, or the A556 Chester Road, and may have any dashcam footage which could aid our investigation.

“I would also urge people visiting the area to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.” Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cheshire Police on 101 or online, quoting IML-2391087.

By AIDAN RADNEDGE, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER

Published: 10:41 BST, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 10:48 BST, 14 August 2026

A killer husband who murdered his estranged wife and concealed her body will stay in prison after London’s High Court reversed a Parole Board decision to free him.

Glyn Razzell was jailed for life with a minimum of almost 16 years in 2003 for murdering his estranged wife, Linda Razzell, whose body has never been found.

The mother-of-four disappeared on her way to work at Swindon College, Wiltshire, in March 2002, amid divorce proceedings.

The Parole Board ruled three times from 2019 that Razzell should remain behind bars, but in April decided he could be released on licence.

Advertisement

The Ministry of Justice referred the decision to the High Court, telling a two-day hearing it should be reversed because the Parole Board failed to consider Razzell’s risk properly.

Razzell, who attended both days of the hearing while sitting in the dock of the courtroom, opposed the bid to challenge his release.

At the end of the hearing on Tuesday, Razzell was photographed leaving the Royal Courts of Justice in central London.

He had last been publicly photographed during his trial in 2003 at Bristol Crown Court.

Advertisement

Murderer Glyn Razzell has been photographed in public for the first time in more than 20 years amid a legal battle over whether he can be released from prison (Pictured: August 11, 2026)

Razzell was jailed for life with a minimum of almost 16 years for murdering his estranged wife, Linda Razzell, whose body has never been found (Pictured: October 15 2003)

Linda Razzell disappeared on her way to work at Swindon College, Wiltshire, in March 2002, amid divorce proceedings

Advertisement

Mrs Razzell’s relatives and loved ones urged the court to block the release, with her cousin Julie Westmore saying the family ‘will not feel safe’.

She also voiced fears that ‘all hope of ever finding Linda’s remains will be lost’ if the killer was freed.

In a ruling on Friday, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb quashed the Parole Board’s decision.

She said she was ‘not satisfied that it is no longer necessary for the protection of the public that Glyn Razzell be confined’.

Advertisement

The judge added: ‘I am not persuaded that the risk has diminished to such a level that offender management is capable of keeping the public safe if the defendant is released.’

This is a breaking news story. More to follow…