The star, who broke down on stage during his show on Saturday night as he opened up about the ordeal, has been “impacted deeply” by the fall-out.

Ed Sheeran is said to be devastated over the Palestine row surrounding his tour and confided in his friends about feeling “so alone”.

The star, who broke down on stage during his show on Saturday night as he opened up about the ordeal, has been “impacted deeply” by the fall-out. His close pals have been left worried for the star as his career teetered on the brink.

One told the Mirror: “As Macklemore and then all the support acts left him, and with no public displays of support from any of his musical peers, it’s been a really, really lonely place at times. He has been so broken, and everyone has been trying to rally around, but it’s been hard. There have been genuine concerns that he could walk away from it all.”

Sheeran, 35, was performing for the first time since rapper Macklemore was removed from the line-up following comments about the conflict in Gaza. Towards the end of the set, the star sat cross-legged on stage as he grew visibly emotional, and remarked how he felt “abandoned” by friends and family.

He told the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia: “In these situations you really find out who your friends are. It’s been a weird week. It happened very quickly. At the same time, I had so many people telling me to cancel this tour and so many people I’ve known for years and years and years….they’re kind of backing away. In the back of my mind, I saw the ticket sales for this gig and I didn’t see cancellations, I saw people buying tickets for this gig. Everyone’s telling me to cancel and I’m feeling all of my friends and family and people I know abandon me.”

Earlier in the show Sheeran questioned whether he “wanted to be an artist at all”.

Appearing to read from an auto-cue, the singer said: “I really didn’t know whether this tour would be carrying on. I really didn’t know whether I’d be even getting on stage again, whether I even wanted to be an artist at all.

He added: “Honouring my commitment to my fans is also completely central to who I am, and that is why I’m here tonight on my own and continuing my current tour.”

He admitted he had made “mistakes” and condemned the conflict in Gaza as “catastrophic” and “unjustifiable”. Sheeran also spoke of his security concerns, and admitted removing a different stage in the middle of the audience as he “didn’t know what this audience would be like tonight”.

He said: “I didn’t know if I would have things thrown at me, I didn’t know if people would be angry with me. So today I apologise that today is not the usual Loop show, I took the b-stage out because I was afraid of what might happen if I stood in the middle, and I will admit that.”

The English singer said he had tried in the past not to be a “political commentator” because he wanted his shows to be about “unity“.

“I cannot hide how I feel about it anymore,” he said. “What happened in Israel and at the Nova music festival on October 7 was horrific and compounded centuries of Jewish pain. What is happening in Gaza is catastrophic and unjustifiable and disproportionate. My heart has been broken by the scale of devastation and loss of civilians’ lives, children’s lives. And the systemic injustice we are seeing unfold in the West Bank cannot be overlooked.”

He also said that he is “deeply worried” about the idea that venues should “pre-approve” content, adding: “This happens in so many places that I perform around the world, but it should never happen in the free world.”

During the concert, Sheeran said: “I am already speaking to people across the spectrum to work out how to make a contribution that helps victims of these terrible times, and listening and learning because I do not know enough.” Sheeran concluded the show by saying: “The world is a scary place right now. America is a scary place right now. This gives hope.”

He performed part of the gig with a new band, who he claimed had just three days to learn the songs, after Irish band Beoga, who normally back him for a large part of the show, pulled out.

PR expert Mark Borkowski said that Ed’s speech was effective but didn’t completely absolve the star. He said: “Ed Sheeran’s Philly performance was crisis containment, not resolution. He swapped corporate defensiveness for apology, empathy and a message of unity acknowledging October 7, condemning Gaza’s destruction and reconnecting with his fans. In effect, he was cauterising the [reputational] wound.”

Green MP Hannah Spencer also hit out at the star for not calling what was happening in Gaza as a “genocide.”

She said: “Ed has finally learned this week that you can’t take both sides in a genocide. And if you can’t even say the word genocide, you can’t claim to care about Palestinian people. The reaction reflects the anger so many around the world have to Israel’s appalling atrocities towards Palestinians and how so many governments including our own have been complicit in it. Brave artists have been speaking out for decades. It’s not too late for Ed Sheeran to do the right thing, and join them.”

However ahead of the show, attendees said they were sticking by the musician. James Webber, from Scranton, Pennsylvania said: “I stand with Ed. I think there’s a time for politics and a music concert is not one of those places.”

Kassandra Rivera, from Philadelphia, said: “Everyone has their own opinion and it’s fine. I came here to have a good time and watch Ed Sheeran. I’ve been waiting a whole year to come and see him, so I’m excited to see the show.” Dwayne Smith, from Canada, said: “We’re just here for Ed Sheeran. All politics aside, we just like the music. We are here to support him. It’s not about Palestine or Israel tonight, it’s just about the music for us.”

A small but vocal pro-Palestine protest was held outside the subway station that serves the stadium, several hundred metres from the venue. Philadelphia resident Hillary Steinberg said she received a refund for her tickets and decided to attend the protest instead.

She said: “I think all art is political, and all music is political, and so this choice – even though he was saying that he wasn’t complicit – is a political choice.” Meanwhile grassroots organiser Adi Chattopadhyay, a West Philadelphia resident, said the purpose of the protest was meant to direct the attention back to the war in Gaza.

“Palestinians are very still under occupation,” Chattopadhyay said. “I’m here today to spread that message and tell people why Macklemore was saying ‘Free Palestine’.”

Meanwhile protester Jodi Rhoden criticised stadium boss Robert Kraft’s role in Macklemore’s firing. “Even Ed Sheeran isn’t free of it,” she said. “He had to kick his buddy off his tour because Robert Kraft told him to, because of Israel.”

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An 82-year-old man has died after getting into a fight with a man in his 70s over a sunlounger on a beach in Greece, local media is reporting.

Witnesses say a disagreement over the use of the loungers at Vouliagmeni beach, near Athens, escalated into a violent fight, which then further spiralled to involve other people.

One eyewitness told the Kathimerini newspaper that the scene was so chaotic, the screaming could be heard from the other end of the beach.

The younger man, who was 76, has reportedly been arrested. A 21-year-old woman who was with him was also detained but later released. Witnesses told Ta Nea daily newspaper that she had a bloodied and swollen face.

During the fight, the 82-year-old collapsed. According to various reports, he received CPR and a defibrillator was used on him before an ambulance arrived. The man was taken to hospital where he later died.

Another witness said that the victim seemed to be waiting for other people and had reserved a sunlounger, which appeared to be the cause of the initial disagreement.

Authorities are investigating what led to the physical altercation and what caused the man’s death.

Founded in the late 1960s, the show has become a fixture in the dog-showing calendar, attracting competitors across a wide range of pedigree breeds.

Competitors can also win Challenge Certificates, or CCs, which could help a dog in becoming a Kennel Club champion.

The Darlington Dog Show also features stakes classes and Young Kennel Club qualifying competitions for exhibitors hoping to secure places at Crufts dog show.

This weekend (September 18 to September 20), Ripon Racecourse welcomed dogs of all shapes and sizes – ranging from toy breeds and terriers to gundogs, working dogs and utility breeds.

For many owners, stepping into the ring follows months or even years of preparation, grooming and training.

While competition in the ring can be fierce, the show is just as much about bringing together dog lovers from across the UK and beyond, with exhibitors, owners and visitors united by a shared passion for dogs.

Away from the judging, visitors browsed trade stands, met breeders and owners, and saw dozens of breeds gathered in one place.

For families and casual dog lovers, the show offers a rare chance to see unusual breeds and talented dogs up close.

Our gallery captures some of the best moments from this year’s event, showcasing the dogs, handlers and memorable scenes that made the 2026 Darlington Championship Dog Show another highlight of the canine calendar.

See if you can spot any familiar faces in the pictures – four-legged or otherwise:

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Dogs and handlers compete at the Darlington Championship Dog Show at Ripon Racecourse. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Earl Spencer has hinted that his nephews, Prince William and Harry, already knew his shocking revelations about King Charles.

He claimed that days after Diana’s 1997 death, the then Prince Charles had gone ‘ballistic’ in a phone call and told him: ‘Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough’.

It was thought that William and Harry had not been aware about the explosive contents of Earl Spencer’s forthcoming memoir to his sister.

But in an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, he said: ‘I don’t like to talk about what I’ve been speaking about to William and Harry, but this will not be a surprise to them.’

He clarified: ‘I will tell you that these words will not be a surprise to them.’

Earl Spencer said that then Prince Charles went ‘ballistic’ after he told him that Diana wouldn’t want her young sons making the public walk behind her coffin.

He told Laura Kuenssberg: [Prince Charles] said, “I gather you don’t think William and Harry should walk behind Diana’s coffin.

‘And I said, “Of course not, sir. She wouldn’t want it. And then he said, “Well, I walked behind Lord Mountbatten’s coffin, and I said, “Yes, but you were 30, and he wasn’t your mother.”

‘And then to me, he went ballistic would be the right term, and started really going for my family as a whole about their sense of duty not being adequate enough, and ranted for a while.

‘I have no idea how long, but it was a significant period, and I just listened. And then he stopped, and I thought, oh, now, now he’s going to pull himself together and say something more appropriate, and then he said, “We’ll forget her soon enough.”

He added Charles even allegedly sounded ‘giddy’ on the phone with him.

‘I’d had a lot of calls that day from people who cared, who were stunned… and I just felt there was a lightness in his tone about Diana’s death that really jarred with me.’

Earl Spencer has given his rebuttal to Buckingham Palace’s blistering statement that ‘the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory’ insisting ‘I’m telling the truth’.

Kuenssberg asked him: ‘So the king is giving an impression to the country that’s not true, misleading people, even lying?’

Spencer replied: ‘All I can tell you is what was said and what I heard and what shocked me. What else would have made me hang up on the king that day, it was something as outrageous as that slur against Diana.’

In the emotional interview, Earl Spencer spoke about growing up with Diana and insisted that he would never pick sides between Prince William and his brother Harry.

‘I’m on my deceased sister’s sons’ side, both of them. And if either of them wanted anything then I’d be equally there for them,’ he said.

‘And I never get involved in one camp or the other, except as a benign figure I hope.’

He hinted at a ‘lot of reasons on both sides’ why the rift between the siblings had ‘got to this stage’.

‘I hope one day it’s resolved, but I don’t know all – I certainly don’t know what’s been done in the finer detail and so I would feel intrusive if I got more involved than to say of course a mother would want her two sons to be happy together and love each other’.

He even recounted the night he got the call from his sister Lady Jane Fellowes, who said Princess Diana had been in a crash but ‘it’s not too serious’.

But as he looked for updates he got more distressing news from his sister.

‘And then my sister Jane said, “I’m afraid she’s died.” It started… as a little prang, and then it became a broken leg, perhaps a head injury, and then death.’

He explained Diana rang up her brother to tell him the reason she was getting divorced, telling him: ‘My husband is in love with his valet’.

‘I told her, “I do worry that the public will really be, in a way, angry with you for killing the fairy tale that they’ve all subscribed to”, and those are the words she said to me.’

Spencer even hinted there could be more Royal family secrets which have been ‘left unsaid.’

BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg asked him: ‘Maybe some family secrets are better left unsaid.’

He replied: ‘They certainly are, and they have been left unsaid.’

But will it be Earl Spencer who will spill the beans? He claims: ‘Nope, that’s it.

‘That’s me done.’

MORE: Royal Family LIVE: Diana claimed she was getting divorced because Charles ‘was in love with his valet’

MORE: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor living ‘in exile’ awaiting police investigation outcome

MORE: Diana still ‘deeply resented’ in Buckingham Palace, says David Dimbleby

Labour promised in its 2024 manifesto to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.

“For too long, victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt let down by our justice system,” Burnham said.

“Prosecution rates for rape remain shamefully low, with many victims waiting years for justice. This is not good enough.”

The changes were “long overdue” and would make a “significant difference” but focusing on prosecution alone would not be enough, he added.

“So as well as ensuring victims get justice, we will step up action to prevent these horrific crimes from happening in the first place,” the prime minister said.

Nichols spoke publicly for the first time about being raped when she accused the then Justice Secretary, David Lammy, of using crime victims as a “cudgel” to push through his reforms of the legal system.

She was criticising the Courts and Tribunals Bill’s plans to limit jury trials to cases with a likely prison sentence of three years or more.

She said she had waited 1,088 days to go to court, with every day being “agony” and the “trauma” made worse by her role in public life.

Her attacker, she said, was acquitted at crown court but subsequently ordered to pay compensation after she won a civil case against him.

“It is because I have been raped that I am as passionate as I am about what it means for a justice system to be truly victim-focused,” she said.

“It is because I have endured every indignity that our broken criminal justice system could mete out that I care what kind of reform will actually deliver justice for survivors and victims of crime more widely.”

Responding to news of the specialist courts being rolled out, the Conservatives said tackling delays to criminal rape trials was “long overdue” and they pushed Labour to commit to scrapping plans to restrict jury trials.

“The fact that victims have been withdrawing their cases because they have taken too long has been a disgrace,” said shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy.

“Labour need to get courts sitting throughout the year, end the delays and clear the backlog – not undermine our right to a trial by jury.”

Last year another charity, the Salford Survivor Project, said victims of rape and sexual assault were being “failed by the system” as court backlogs reached a record high.

The long delays for cases to go to trial were having a serious impact on victims’ mental health, it said.

Also last year, a woman who says she was sexually assaulted by a taxi driver on her 21st birthday told BBC News she had dropped the case because of court delays.

She reported the alleged incident in early 2022 and gave evidence in court in December 2023 but the case was adjourned until September 2024 when the judge fell ill.

“I made the decision, even though I hate the statement, to drop the case,” she said. “I couldn’t let this hurt me further.”

The Crown Prosecution Service said that, without her testimony, the case had been dropped because of insufficient evidence.

By WILL HALLOWELL, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 18:29 BST, 20 September 2026 | Updated: 23:00 BST, 20 September 2026

Dozens have been affected by the loss of power, although for some it has now returned.

Other properties may not have it restored until 2am.

It is due to an incident on the high voltage cable that provides electricity to your home or business

Electricity North West sent text alerts to affected customers shortly after 8pm, warning of a “potential loss of power” and acknowledging it was not the first outage to affect the area.

The message said: “We know it’s not the first time and understand this can be very frustrating.”

According to the update, the outage was caused by “suspected damage to the cables”.

The company said it had begun work to restore power remotely and warned residents that their electricity supply could go on and off while engineers attempted to fix the fault.

The latest incident follows a series of recent power cuts affecting Ainsworth and nearby areas, leaving some residents questioning the causes behind the repeated disruptions.

One resident said: “Quite honestly, it’s another day, another power cut.

“ENW said a lot of them are caused by bird strikes, but I’m finding that hard to believe right now.”

In a further update sent to customers, Electricity North West said it had escalated its response to the latest outage.

The company said: “We now have a team on their way to site to assess the damage and understand what repairs are needed.

“We will send you a further text message with more information once this has been looked into.”

The company’s website currently lists an apology to customers and says they hope to have the power back on later this evening.

It says: “We are sorry you are experiencing a power cut.

“We are currently investigating the issue.

“We estimate to have your power restored by 20/09/26, 22.15.”

The fresh outage is likely to add to growing frustration among residents, with many once again left waiting for their electricity supply to be restored.

By VICTORIA CHURCHILL, US POLITICAL REPORTER

Published: 21:41 BST, 20 September 2026 | Updated: 22:59 BST, 20 September 2026

Donald Trump has publicly told supporters to act like he is on the ballot, and claimed that he can be the difference-maker for Republicans in tough midterm contests. 

But the president has reportedly privately signaled to advisers close to him that his own actions during the first two years of his term may have cost his party dearly in the November elections. 

Trump ‘definitely feels like some of his decisions have led to the dynamics where he’s unpopular and things aren’t looking great for the midterms,’ one individual close to Trump admitted to the Washington Post.

Trump’s sobering realization has made him more intent on mitigating Republicans’ expected election losses, according to the Post, citing four people with knowledge of Trump’s recent comments. 

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The president’s fears may be grounded in reality, as new polling from NBC released Sunday showed that over half of Americans, 55 percent, believe that Trump’s policies have hurt the economy.

Per NBC, Trump’s overall approval rating is 41 percent, the lowest of his second term.

Trump has deployed his cash in key midterm states. No Going Back PAC Inc., which is connected to Trump’s MAGA Inc., has reserved more than $68 million for advertising. 

One bright spot for Republicans in NBC’s poll is that Democrats only edge Republicans by five points in the battle for control of Congress, 50 percent to 45 percent, significantly smaller than the 12-point lead they had in the midterm 2018 election cycle.

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President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally last week in Gastonia, North Carolina

Voters cast their ballots inside the Arlington County Courthouse as early voting begins in Virginia ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, in Arlington, Virginia, on September 18, 2026. Early voting for the November 3rd midterm elections got underway Friday in several states, beginning a process that will spread across most of the country in the coming weeks

NBC also noted that ‘Trump himself is a powerful motivating factor,’ as ‘more voters — including nearly half of independents — say they consider their vote a signal of opposition to the president than at any other time in three decades of NBC News polling before midterm elections.’

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Most prognosticators expect Democrats to win back the US House of Representatives, as Republicans are struggling to bolster enthusiasm for congressional candidates and laboring to overcome voters’ concerns about the economy and the war in Iran.

The Senate will be tougher with battleground races in Maine, Ohio, Michigan and Alaska set to determine control of the chamber.

Numbers released this week for statewide races in Alaska and Texas in seats that Republicans currently hold showed the Democratic candidates pacing ahead. 

An AARP poll in the Alaska Senate race released Thursday had Democrat Mary Peltola leading among all likely voters, polling at 46 percent to Republican Senator Dan Sullivan’s 41 percent. 

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In North Carolina, former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is up by a staggering double digit margin over former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley.

A Carolina Journal poll released Thursday placed Cooper with a 15 point lead.

North Carolina’s last Democratic US Senator was Kay Hagan, who served from 2009 to 2015. But Cooper served for two terms as governor from 2017 to 2025, lending him strong familiarity in the state.

As messaging wars rage on in key states across the country, ballots are already being cast. Mail-in ballots have already been sent to voters in several states, and in-person early voting started in Virginia on Friday.

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Fox News’ lone liberal host clapped back at President Donald Trump’s frequent criticism of her, asking, “Why is this man not busier?”

The 80-year-old Fox fanatic has often shared his opinions of the network online, especially of its outspoken left-leaning host Jessica Tarlov, who he called “one of the worst ‘personalities’ on television” in April — as well as “a real loser” in July.

Trump has also called Tarlov “one of the Least Attractive and Talented People on all of Television.”

Tarlov, 42, addressed his frequent criticism on the podcast Pod Save America, saying, “Why is this man not busier? There are better things to do.”

“If I had a son I would definitely teach him that when you grow up you should write about how a woman looks on television and sounds, and then call her ‘a big dummy,’” Tarlov retorted.

Tarlov was on the podcast promoting her book, I Disagree: Winning Arguments Without Losing Friends, which hit bookstores on Tuesday. The book, which is a mesh between memoir and advice, details how she handles that type of criticism.

“By the president coming after me and looking at the content of the criticism, I actually got to a place where I genuinely feel like when people pick on you because of style, that you’ve just done really well on substance,” she said.

“That feels good, the inner monologue feels good. It’s still sad and crazy,” she added.

Tarlov, who joined Fox News as a commentator in 2017, is known as the primary liberal voice on the network’s “The Five.” She recently signed a three-year contract with the network — despite Trump’s suggestion that the show would be better off without her.

“I’m trying to show that a Democratic voice like mine can exist there, without an apology,” she told the Los Angeles Times about her Fox position. “And that a person with strong liberal beliefs can bring that same perspective to a host of outlets and places.”

When asked about Trump trying to get her fired, she recently told The Guardian, “I think that [Fox CEO} Suzanne Scott and the entire leadership team know exactly who I am, and that they want me to keep doing what I’m doing.”

She continued: “And if it aggravates him – he would just get annoyed at somebody else, anyone. If he’s in a bad mood, he’s in a bad mood. And I think he understands that as well.”

“I’ve never had a conversation with him, but the idea of posting ‘Dear Fox executives, fire Jessica Tarlov’ or calling into The Five and saying the show would be better without her, I don’t think he thinks that means that I’m going to get fired from my job. … But yes, in general, we don’t respond to it, and there’s no reason to, and honestly it just makes it worse.”

According to National Rail, emergency services were called to an incident close to the tracks, resulting in all lines being blocked through the area.

In an earlier update posted on social media, National Rail said: “The emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway at Moses Gate means all lines are blocked.”

The disruption affected services between Bolton and Salford Crescent, with trains cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised.

National Rail has since confirmed that all lines between Bolton and Salford Crescent have now reopened.

However, disruption is expected to continue while services recover.

In a further update, National Rail said: “All lines have now reopened between Bolton and Salford Crescent.”

The rail operator later added: “Disruption is now expected until 21:00.”

Passengers are being advised to check before travelling and allow extra time for their journeys as the timetable returns to normal.

No further details about the nature of the incident have been released and Greater Manchester police have been contacted for details. 

In an updated post on social media just after 21.30, National Rail confirmed that trains can now run as normal between Bolton and Salford Crescent.