Our analysis of rainfall data shows that parts of East Anglia and the south-east of England have been very dry.

Across the county of Essex, around a fifth of the rain we’d usually expect by this time in spring has actually fallen.

In the month of March, rainfall was broadly below average in eastern and south-east England, April has started even drier.

According to Met Office data, between 1 – 14 April there has only been 4.5mm of rain compared to the average of around 20mm for the time of the year

In contrast, Western Scotland has had around double of its normal April rainfall so far.

During March things were broadly average across Scotland but a succession of weather systems in April has brought a lot of rainfall.

Looking just at April, an average of 70mm fell across the whole of Scotland compared to the 40mm you’d usually expect at this stage of the month.

While a lot can change in the second half of spring, the mostly dry weather is likely to continue into next week.

Droughts and hosepipe bans featured widely in 2025 after the driest spring in 50 years and the hottest summer on record.

But in late March 2026 – after one of the wettest winters since 1836 – the Environment Agency confirmed that eastern England the last region still in ‘recovery’ to ‘normal’ conditions.

The Mayor’s Community Fund, supporting projects across the region with grants from £500 to £30,000, closes to applications on Thursday, April 23.

Jo Coles, deputy mayor for policing, fire and crime, said: “The Mayor’s Community Fund provides valuable support for groups and organisations across the region, supporting 47 projects over the last two years.

“Last year, David Skaith, the Mayor, doubled the size of this pot, delivering more early intervention and prevention and creating more safe community spaces.

“If you have a project that will help to keep our communities safe and requires support, we would love to hear from you.”

The fund, focused on community safety, supports prevention and early intervention projects.

Recent recipients include the Pathfinders U17 driving course, which delivered a week of practical training at Rufforth Airfield for 36 young people and their parents.

Ian Goring, Yorkshire coordinator at Pathfinders U17, said: “We have been delighted by how many young people have signed up to attend our events.”

Further funding rounds will open later in the year.

To find out more information or apply, visit yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk. 

WHAT could be nicer in spring than lunch in a peaceful green space with trees bursting into blossom and spring bulbs in full bloom?

With this thought in mind, I headed to Explore’s Reading Café at Rowntree Park to taste test their new lunch menu.

When Explore took over the café at Rowntree Park back in 2012 the vision was to create a new type of library experience, bringing together great books and great food in a beautiful and tranquil setting.

Rowntree Park Reading Café has been a huge success from the beginning, with customers valuing the mix of café and library services.

The café was busy, but I found a comfortable corner seat and enjoyed watching the customers – a lively mix of local residents, young families and teens (it was still the middle of the Easter holidays). I ordered a quiche with a Greek salad, and on the special recommendation of café manager Gosia, a refreshing mango matcha latte with coconut milk.

Quiche and salad at the Rowntree Park Reading Room cafe. Photo from Explore York

When my lunch arrived it was delicious – pillowy, tomato-flecked quiche with tender thin pastry and a crisp salad featuring a tasty mixture of leaves, peppers, onions and crumbled feta cheese. The latte was a real taste of spring, the matcha flavour a delightful contrast to the sweetness of the mango pulp, as well as being a visual work of art.

Susan Brook from Explore has oversight of all the Explore cafes and works with her team to make sure that menus keep up with changing tastes. She was excited to show me some of the new gluten free range she is introducing this spring, after being inspired at a recent food and drink show.

Recommended reading:

“We are introducing a full gluten free menu at Rowntree Park in the coming weeks, with really good quality breads”, she said “And we’ll have a new gluten-free range at all our other cafes too. I am sure our customers are going to love it, and I’m really happy that we can offer a wider range of choices for everyone, whatever their dietary needs, in all our cafes”

Serious coffee aficionados are in her sights as well, “We’ve got brand new coffee machines at York, Hungate and Tang Hall, and our new coffee supplier – Dancing Goat – will be providing a variety of speciality coffees throughout the year alongside our regular brews.”

A cosy corner at Rowntree Park Reading cafe

You can also grab an ice cream to enjoy as you wander through Rowntree Park with a wide selection from Yorvale. Flavours such as vanilla, chocolate, cookie dough, strawberry, mint choc chip, bubble gum and salted caramel are always available, with some specials over summer including red cherry, rum & raisin and coconut.

And if all those delights are not enough to tempt you, Susan is also planning a Family Fun Day at Rowntree Park on Saturday, May 23 with a specially designed treasure hunt, foodie prizes, sunflower planting, and of course, a chance to sample treats from the café.

Explore’s reading cafes are all designed to be welcoming, affordable spaces offering high-quality, locally-sourced products. All are family-friendly, offering children’s books and play areas, and dogs are welcome in the outdoor spaces. Four cafés are in libraries, with two standalone reading cafes at Rowntree Park and Hungate. All cafés provide free wifi and seasonal menus that include fresh, local ingredients. New menu items are introduced each month and options for vegetarians, vegans, and other dietary needs are always available. Right now, you can enjoy springtime specials including delicious quiches, salads, and wraps.

Gluten Free treats at the Reading Cafe. Photo by Explore York

Plus, with a prepaid café card, you can save 30per cent on hot drinks, or with a YorkCard you can save 10 per cent. Takeaway is available too.

Discover Explore’s Reading Cafés:

Retreat from the crowds, enjoy a quality coffee, and maybe even pick up your next great read. Even better while you’re enjoying a flat white at one of these cafés, you’re supporting York’s libraries and archives directly, as all profits go to them.

Rowntree Park Reading Café:

Surrounded by nature in Rowntree Park with lovely views, this vibrant café is perfect for all ages. It serves breakfast and seasonal dishes daily, and also offers a full library service with books to borrow. It’s open on bank holidays and you can even host special events here in this community-friendly space.

Hungate Reading Café:

Located within the Hungate residential area and just a short walk from the Shambles, this stylish urban café is a hidden gem. It offers hot and cold drinks, handmade sandwiches, wraps, and cakes, with a good selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes.

Enjoy a Yorvale ice cream at the Rowntree Park Reading Cafe. Photo by Explore York

Acomb Explore Reading Café:

This welcoming café on Front Street has a children’s area and an enclosed garden. It serves hot and cold drinks, handmade sandwiches, baked potatoes, and freshly baked cakes.

Tang Hall Explore Reading Café:

A modern, inviting café in the Centre@Burnholme with a strong community feel. It serves hot and cold drinks, handmade sandwiches, and cakes. The covered outdoor terrace is popular with cyclists, walkers, and dog walkers.

York Explore Reading Café:

This popular spot, inside York Explore Library, is ideal for informal meetings. It features an exhibition space with rotating art displays and offers a wide selection of drinks, wraps, sandwiches, and cakes.

Clifton Explore Reading Café:

A bright, airy café at Clifton Explore Centre with an outdoor terrace and a community-designed garden with play areas for children.

Opening hours for all cafes can be found on Explore’s website exploreyork.org.uk/cafes

Gillian Holmes is the Communications Officer at Explore York

Geeta Sharma, who used to run SGF in Ferryhill which later became a Go Local, tragically died on Saturday, April 11, at the age of 67.

Geeta, who was married to husband Satish, known as Simon, was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) shortly after retiring in September 2023.

Alongside being at the helm of the Ferryhill shop, Geeta was also a devoted mum to six children, Nickyta, Poonam, Sheena, Misha, Karishma and Shivam.

Her daughter Sheena, 39, has paid tribute to her mum.

Sheena said her mum was ‘loving’ and ‘selfless’ (Image: SHEENA SHARMA)

She said: “She was more like a friend than a mum. She was really approachable with any problems we had; you were never ashamed to go to her for any advice or guidance.

“She was really loving and selfless. She always put us first and sacrificed so much in her life for all of us. She was always pushing us to do our best; she always used to say if we were one step ahead of her, she knew she succeeded in life.

“My little brother, Shivam, was the last one to graduate and she was so proud she had managed to get all the children through education.

“Shop life isn’t easy; it’s hard work and a lot of hours. We didn’t come from a very fortunate background, so we did struggle. But although my mum and dad struggled, they always put us first.”

Sheena’s parents owned the shop for more than 30 years and when they retired they moved to the Midlands – but not before the Ferryhill community threw a street party.

Geeta with her husband and six children (Image: SHEENA SHARMA)

Sheena said: “My mum and dad hadn’t just seen families grow up, but even saw their children have children. They were very much integrated within the community.

“The shop was like a central hub for a lot of people; it wasn’t just a place where people bought things. If anyone had any problems or concerns, it was a bit of a drop-in place.”

Sheena, who lives in Darlington, described her mum is being selfless.

She said: “My mum didn’t see her own mum for 16 years and when they could finally afford to go back to India, my mum sent me and my two older sisters. She was completely selfless.”

Geeta, who was originally from India, moved to the UK with her husband Satish, who was born in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1979. And Geeta was known for hosting an incredible Christmas.

Geeta was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in September 2023 (Image: SHEENA SHARMA)

Geeta and Satish got married in India in 1979 (Image: SHEENA SHARMA)

“We all used to love Christmas, my mum would make it really special,” she said.

“Although we are Indian and Hindu, my parents wanted to integrate with where we lived. Christmas was always a big thing around ours. Other people used to feel confused that we would still celebrate Christmas in the same way.

“Our parents didn’t want us to feel isolated, but she would always make it really special. She was a really good cook.”

Geeta’s food was so good that people would always know when she was cooking. She would also cook curries for her customers too.

Geeta and Satish moved to the Midlands in September 2023, but Sheena said the North East was always home for her mum.

Geeta and Satish owned a shop in Ferryhill for more than 30 years (Image: SHEENA SHARMA)

“She would always ask me to connect with some of the customers, she used to love TikTok and Facebook. She’d send the customers messages and always wanted to hear how they were doing,” she said.

“She always used to say the North East felt like home. I think a large part of her heart was left in the North East.

“She missed everyone. The people in Ferryhill are so nice, they have a big heart. We didn’t realise how fortunate we were until we moved away to be surrounded by people like that.”

Following her MND diagnosis, Sheena said the entire family were devastated.

She said: “We were not fully aware of what MND was until mum was diagnosed, it is a really cruel condition. It takes everything away from a patient apart from the cognitive functions in the eyes.

A family wedding (Image: SHEENA SHARMA)

“She never had the time to enjoy life after working. She was really sad when we moved to the Midlands that she was not ever able to go back to Ferryhill to see the locals and the customers because of her mobility.”

And Sheena said the family were “astonished” at how many people had commented on her mum’s passing.

“It has been really nice that so many people, who we have been away from for a couple of years, still have a lot of love and respect for my mum.

“It shows how much she meant to the community and how many customers valued going into the shop to see her.

“We call her the queen of our family, but she literally was a little queen. She melted everyone’s heart.”

Following the news of her death, Ferryhill residents paid tribute to the much-loved former shop owner.

One said: “Such a big part of Dean Bank. Sending love to you all at this sad time, absolutely lovely lady. RIP Geeta.”

Another added: “So sorry to hear this. Geeta was lovely always had a smile for you, condolences to Simon & family.”

One resident said she would be missed by “so many”, adding: “I am thinking of you all at this difficult time. It is an honour to have had you in my life and I know we will cross paths again upon our reincarnation Geeta.”

Michael Harvey, general manager, said he hopes to turn the site into a “destination” venue despite saying the current state of the central market hall is “absolutely dire”. 

Although all shop units around the market are now full and the street food hall is operating at 83 per cent full, other stalls in the market are facing uncertain futures. 

In an update on the market’s performance to Darlington Borough Council, Mr Harvey said the majority of the market’s income comes from its two bars – The Vault and Market Tap – which are helping keep the facility afloat. 

Michael Harvey, general manager of Darlington Market. (Image: Darlington Market Asset Management)

He told the council’s economy scrutiny committee: “Retailers are very cautious about committing to take on units in the market – and those who have are struggling to make it work. This is due to a combination of things: rising costs of energy, stock, and staffing. 

“We are still competing against the convenience and value of supermarkets, retail parks and online shopping. Shoppers are increasingly looking for experiences – places to eat, drink, and socialise.” 

In a bid to turn the tide, bosses are drawing up a programme of specialist events to attract new audiences. A specific focus has been placed on creating a family-friendly venue that will show men’s World Cup football matches throughout June and July. 

“Our response is shifting focus from retail for the sake of retail to carefully curating the businesses that people actually use,” Mr Harvey added. 

He told councillors: “Over the past year, we have phased out some of the low-quality offerings and raised the standards. We are closely monitoring the performance of all businesses within the street food hall and are working with and supporting them.”

Darlington Market (Image: The Northern Echo)

Market Asset Management (MAM) was tasked with improving the building in 2017 when the then Labour-led council relinquished responsibility.

It has overseen a significant redevelopment of the market, which has included creating a new street food area and an enhanced focus on hosting events to attract a younger and broader demographic of visitors.

However, the Labour and Liberal Democrat-controlled council has faced pressure to regain control of the site. 

An advisory board has now been formed in partnership with Darlington Borough Council to monitor its performance and suggest improvements. 

It will consist of officers from MAM, a councillor and council officer, and independent advisors from local businesses and market experts. 

Despite recent closures, Mr Harvey said the market helped launch several new businesses in the town. 

He added: “We have had three startups open in the market, and despite them struggling to make it work, we have nurtured them and they have moved on into the town. It proves Darlington Market’s ability as a launchpad for startup businesses. 

“Darlington Market is evolving from a traditional retail space into a vibrant, experience-led destination, supporting local businesses, creating community moments, and building a more resilient financial model for the future.”

And council leaders remain committed to working with the market.

Chris McEwan, deputy council leader, said he is confident the market will improve over time. 

He added: “The market has faced challenges. What we do as an authority is not run the market but work with it. I’m a great believer that if the market fails, we fail.”

What do you think is the solution for the future of Darlington Market? Have your say in the comments.

Magdalene Robertson believes Emma Caldwell killer Iain Packer had more victims and even struck while on holiday abroad

A woman raped by Iain Packer at the age of 15 believes his reign of terror extended to holiday hotspots abroad including the USA and Spain.

Magdalene Robertson has even contacted the FBI in America with her concerns.

Packer is serving life for the murder of Emma Caldwell and the rape and sexual assault of 22 other women, including Magdalene.

She says he visited Florida several times over the years including trips with his family on Boxing Day.

Magdalene gave the FBI a statement after contacting them in 2024 about Packer’s vacations in the Sunshine State.

Advertisement

She said:”You don’t be a serial rapist and sexual offender and say, I’m on holiday from that. Your habits go with you.

“For anything, you feel a bit more relaxed about your vices, don’t you?

“There is the fact of going to Florida and being around all these children and young people. that’s so scary in itself.

“There’s also the adult places that he would go to. We also know from the court case he used to join the sex clubs and he used to take it too far with the people who were already open-minded.

“We know that he’s committed so many rapes he’s been convicted of.

“There’s all the other potential victims that we haven’t heard about, it’s reasonable cause to believe that he would have attacked people in the States in Florida.”

Magdalene was indecently assaulted by Packer at 14 and raped by him when 15 in 1990 at a property in the Garrowhill area of Glasgow.

She gave up her right to anonymity two years ago when giving evidence to a Scottish Parliament Justice Committee about her experience of making a complaint against the police.

It has previously been reported that Packer visited Florida during the winter months including trips to theme parks like Walt Disney World.

Magdalene added:” The person I spoke to in the FBI was really polite and I told them the situation. We went over it from the beginning right to the end.

“He took down details of the police. He took the details of the court case.

“The court case was going on at the time and he took information down.”

Magdalene also claims she was told by police that they had carried out inquiries in Spain.

She said:”I don’t know why and I don’t know who it was, but they had a reason to go to Spain to question people.”

Magdalene says Police Scotland should be sharing what they know about Packer with the US authorities.

She added:”There an alliance between the UK and America?

“Do Scotland not owe a duty of care to the States?”

Magdalene also plans to hire a private investigator to probe Packer’s trips to Florida when she learns more about the places he visited.

She added: “That’s really what I want to do. I just need to find out that little bit of information.

“So if anybody’s got information to tell me exactly where he used to go in Florida.”

Advertisement

Magdalene believes that Packer, who was a sign erector, would be identified quite easily by other victims.

She added:” He didn’t wash, he wasn’t very clean.

“He stunk of cigarettes.

” He was small, he looked like a Neanderthal. And he’s very, very stocky.

“So he’s got an extremely wide neck and he’s very strong. I think he’s very distinctive, plus his accent would have stood out as well.

“We have lots of photos that could be shared and I don’t know why the police have just not handed that over to the states. “

Magdalene, now a successful renewable energy consultant, believes there are other victims closer to home.

She added: “He’s travelling everywhere, he’s going to different places, he’s in a white van.

“He’s working in a community. He has contracts.

“He had access. He worked in schools with children with disabilities and adults with learning difficulties.

“He had absolute access to different people.”

Magdalene, who is now in her early 50’s, believes she wasn’t Packer’s first victim and that there were others even younger than her.

She also believes that Packer’s victims could number in the hundreds.

Magdalene added:” He is psychopathic. You have to understand that. There’s no human side to him.

“I don’t believe that I was the first one. Not at all.

“Because the first time when he went to try and attack me he knew what he was doing.

“I swear to it, he’d been offending well before he even attacked me.

“There’s all the other people in my network that he approached when we were younger. There was a lot of them.

“There was basically every female, any young female. that wasn’t fully protected or didn’t have their parents with them or didn’t have somebody with them. I wasn’t the first.

“There’s many people that didn’t come forward

“How many hundreds would it be?”

Packer’s victim Emma Caldwell was one of seven women involved in prostitution who were murdered between 1991 and 2005 while working in Glasgow.

Her body was found in Limefield Woods near Biggar in Lanarkshire in May 2005 after she had been reported missing

Magdalene was speaking out in the latest episode of the Clyde1 podcast Beware Book, about the seven murders.

The title refers to a diary at a drop­ in centre where women like Emma logged dangerous clients’ names.

Packer was overlooked as a prime suspect in the original 2005 investigation even though he admitted taking Emma and other women to Limefield Woods for sex.

Instead senior officers focussed their attention on four Turks who were charged with Emma’s murder in 2007 but had the charges dropped the following year.

Packer then went on to carry out attacks on other women.

He was named as the “the forgotten suspect” in our sister paper, the Sunday Mail, in 2015 and a fresh probe began, leading to his 2022 arrest.

A public inquiry into the original investigation by Strathclyde Police has begun and is due to hear evidence later this year.

One of the cops involved in the original Emma Caldwell investigation in 2005 and who helped identify Iain Packer as a prime suspect also believes there are more victims, at home and abroad.

Former Detective Constable Stuart Hall said:”When people go on holiday, they go on holiday to relax, to let their hair down

“So I don’t see him going to stop any pattern of behaviour. That’s who he is.

“His campaign of violence towards women, goes way beyond my involvement.

“Prior to that, when he was a younger man, he was violent towards women. So that just seems to be who he is, how he deals with life and women.

“So, absolutely. There’ll be more in this country and I think wherever he’s holidayed. “

Stuart was one of a number of detectives who investigated Packer but were told by their bosses that he was not a suspect and would never be an accused in the case.

Instead they learned that the focus of the murder investigation was on the four Turkish suspects who were later cleared of any involvement in Emma’s death.

Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: “Emma Caldwell’s family have shown incredible courage and determination following her murder in 2005 and we are absolutely committed to supporting the Inquiry and getting her loved ones the answers they deserve.”

* The latest episode of Beware Book is available on the Rayo app, Apple, Amazon Music and Spotify.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — Yuji, a 6-week-old patas monkey in Mexico, wakes up every day clinging to a stuffed dog. More than a toy, this plush companion acts as a surrogate mom after the tiny primate was rejected by his own mother, Kamaria, a first-time parent unable to form a maternal bond.

Weighing a mere 673 grams (1.4 pounds), Yuji represents the most recent case of assisted rearing at the Guadalajara Zoo in western Mexico.

The story of Yuji has captured the attention of the Mexican public, drawing parallels to Punch, the Japanese macaque that went viral on social media after growing up clinging to a stuffed orangutan following his mother’s rejection.

Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

The DWP is also offering grants up to £3,000

Universal Credit claimants may be entitled to some extra support and payments. The DWP has released an update regarding a grants scheme designed to assist claimants, as part of a wider package of reforms.

The Government issued the update in response to a written question from an MP. Liberal Democrat representative Dr Al Pinkerton asked ministers what assistance is available to help young people into employment.

DWP minister Andrew Western provided the Government’s response. He set out what support is on the way to help young people into work. The minister said: “Building on the Youth Guarantee and Growth and Skills Levy announcement at Budget, the Government committed a further £1billion for young people on 16th March 2026, taking total additional investment into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy to £2.5billion over the next three years.

“This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn.” He shared some details of a grant scheme designed to assist employers in taking on and upskilling younger workers.

New grants available

The minister said: “The Government is taking action to support employers to recruit and train young people, helping to unlock up to 200,000 more employment opportunities. This includes a new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant for employers who hire 18 to 24-year-olds who have been on Universal Credit for over six months, a new £2,000 apprenticeship incentive for small and medium sized employers hiring 16 to 24-year-old, and the Jobs Guarantee scheme, providing long-term unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds with a fully funded six month job.”

A previous Government report indicated these grants could benefit around 60,000 young people over a three-year period. The DWP has also announced that from autumn 2026, the Jobs Guarantee will be extended to all eligible 18 to 24-year-olds who are claiming Universal Credit and have been seeking employment for 18 months.

Government guidance states: “They will benefit from 25 hours/week of fully subsidised six-month paid work. Young people on the scheme will be paid at the relevant minimum wage and also receive fully funded wrap around support.”

The minimum wage for those aged 18 to 20 currently stands at £10.85 per hour, or £12.71 for anyone aged 21 and above. At these rates, an 18 to 20 year old working 25 hours a week would take home £271.25 weekly, or £7,052.50 across six months. Someone aged 21 or over would earn £317.75 a week, or £8,261.50 over the same period.

Expanded support

Mr Western spoke about what other support is being brought in as part of the same package of reforms. He said: “The Government is delivering 8 Youth Guarantee Trailblazers in England, expanding Youth Hubs to more than 360 areas across Great Britain and introducing a new Youth Guarantee Gateway in Jobcentres.

“The Gateway will provide 16 to 24-year-olds on Universal Credit a dedicated session and follow-up support to help them move into work, training or education.” Further plans are also in place to bolster support in schools.

This includes widening access to work experience opportunities, as well as plans to work with local authorities to automatically enrol students into further education.