Mia Tindall followed in her mother’s equestrian footsteps at the weekend – and was the spitting image of Zara competing around the same age.
The 12-year-old took the reins for the team show jumping competition at the Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials in Oxfordshire on Sunday.
Wearing traditional uniform as she rode her pony Bunny Two Twirls, Mia looked very much like Zara did when she took part in an Animal Fun Day charity event at Ascot Racecourse in 1992 aged 11.
Her motherbeamed as she watched her daughter, having competed at Blenheim herself earlier this weekend on her horse Classicals Euro Star, affectionately known as Casper.
Advertisement
The mother and daughter daughter were pictured chatting and smiling in jodhpurs this morning, both looking in their element as they prepared to saddle up.
Later on in the day, Zara was spotted helping Mia prepare to compete, watching her do a practice round of the jumps and feeding Mia’s pony.
The young royal looked confident as she cleared the jumps, competing in the showjumping section of the trials as part of her team Minchinhampton Pony Club, which is based near Stroud, Gloucestershire.
Mia looked grown up and smart in her traditional riding uniform, donning black polished riding boots, a fitted competition jacket, and her hair swept back into a low bun beneath a black helmet.
Advertisement
Experienced equestrian Zara cheered her daughter Mia (pictured on her horse, Bunny Two Twirls) on at Blenheim Palace this weekend
The royal watched from the sidelines as her daughter cleared the jumps on a grey gelding pony
Zara had competed herself two days earlier at the same event on her horse Classicals Euro Star
Advertisement
Mia had been spotted grooming her mother’s horse at Blenheim on Saturday before competing herself the next day.
Zara, who is married to former England rugby player Mike Tindall and is the King’s niece, was dressed casually in white skinny jeans on Saturday and a navy blue jacket, as she cheered Mia on.
The royal completed her equestrian look with her hair tied back in a low bun and a pair of stylish sunglasses.
Zara, who won a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics and was once voted BBC Sports Personality Of The Year, proudly supported her eldest daughter at the junior event.
Advertisement
It is perhaps no surprise that the young royal has inherited her family’s love of horses. Her grandparents, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, both competed at the Olympics in horsing events.
Zara and her daughter looked right at home in matching jodhpurs as they attended the event together this weekend
Queen Elizabeth II, meanwhile, rode as a small child up until a few weeks before her death aged 96 in 2022.
In a 2019 interview, Zara revealed that both her daughters, Mia and Lena, had taken to riding at a young age, adding: ‘They both ride. Lena is in a little basket on the saddle, purely a passenger. But we just bought Mia a new pony called Magic.’
Advertisement
The Blenheim Palace Horse Trials, which take place at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, ran from Friday to Sunday, with the Dressage phase running from Thursday to Friday, while the Cross-country phase began on Saturday.
Zara has competed at the prestigious equestrian event several times – and in 2005 won individual and team gold on Toytown during the European Championships.
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.
Advertisement
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.”
Advertisement
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.
Hundreds of dangerous sex offenders are due to be freed from jail under Labour‘s prison reform plans despite a series of U-turns by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The Conservatives warned that 700 sex criminals will be ‘let loose on the streets’ as Labour abolishes so-called imprisonment for public protection (IPP) sentences.
After a public outcry Mr Burnham was forced to exclude offenders convicted of rape, serious child sexual and grooming offences, and later expanded exclusions to those convicted of manslaughter and other ‘unlawful killing’ offences.
Advertisement
Earlier this month Justice Secretary Alex Norris outlined separate proposals to release 2,271 inmates still serving the controversial IPP sentences in order to free up space in the overcrowded jails.
Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures obtained by Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy show 700 inmates serving IPPs are sex offenders.
Of those 379 have never been released and the remaining 321 have been recalled to jail, for breaching parole terms or committing fresh crimes.
A further 791 offenders on IPPs were convicted of ‘violence against the person’, such as GBH or other assaults.
Advertisement
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy has urged Labour to build more jail space rather than free so-called IPP prisoners
In addition 522 were convicted of robbery, 77 of criminal damage or arson and 65 of possession of weapons.
Mr Timothy said: ‘Labour wants to abolish IPP sentences, but this would mean up to 700 dangerous sex offenders being let loose on the streets.
Advertisement
‘Two in three IPP prisoners are there for violent or sexual crimes, and they have not been released because the Parole Board says it is not safe to do so.
‘Labour must rule out releasing these dangerous sex offenders, and instead focus on building more prisons, expanding capacity, and maximising the space that we have.’
IPPs were introduced by Sir Tony Blair’s government in 2005 and allow offenders to be jailed indefinitely if they are ruled to pose a risk to the public.
They were abolished for new crimes in 2012 but many criminals previously handed the sentence have remained inside because the Parole Board has ruled they are still not safe to be released.
Advertisement
Justice Secretary Alex Norris told MPs earlier this month that he would ‘act on a long-standing injustice’ and abolish all remaining IPP sentences.
‘They were rightly abolished a decade ago, but offenders are still locked up for far longer than envisaged, often for crimes that, if committed today, would see them spend much less time in jail,’ he said.
‘Of those who have never been released, 99 per cent are beyond the tariff imposed by the court, and 80 per cent have served 10 years or more beyond it.
‘The number of IPP offenders has been reducing, but the Prime Minister and I want to go further.
Advertisement
‘We will soon bring forward legislation to end the sentence, once and for all, by the end of this Parliament.’
Mr Norris recognised that ‘some of these offenders have committed serious crimes’, adding: ‘Public safety will always be my top priority, but we must balance that with fairness on sentences.’
He vowed that IPP releases would be ‘safe and sustainable’.
One solution proposed by the Commons’ justice select committee in 2022 is to resentence all offenders on remaining IPP sentences.
Advertisement
But Labour has indicated this would carry an ‘unacceptable risk’ because the criminals would have to be freed without any probation supervision.
An official MoJ report found that 97 prisoners who were freed from IPP sentences between 2014-15 and 2023-24 committed serious further offences including murder, manslaughter, rape and serious sexual assaults.
The separate prison early release scheme was drawn up by now Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood when she was in charge of the MoJ.
Over the summer, new PM Mr Burnham moved to exclude rapists and other serious sex offenders from the programme.
Advertisement
He then had to announce further exclusions after forceful protests by the family of Pc Andrew Harper, after it emerged two of the officer’s killers had been due to benefit from early release.
An MoJ spokesman said: ‘While we must end the unfairness of these sentences for those who have more than served their time, we know some IPP prisoners will still pose a risk to communities.
‘That’s why we will work cross-party and with experts in this field to make sure we get this right.
‘It will take time, and public safety will be at the centre of our approach.’
Britain should ensure aid money is earmarked specifically for overseas food assistance to protect its security interests, the report, which was commissioned by the organisation United Against Hunger and Malnutrition, argues.
The UK’s overseas development budget (ODA) has been drastically reduced in the last six years, falling from 0.7 per cent to 0.3 per cent of GDP.
Defence spending is up but largely earmarked for the military – and is not designed to address the root causes of global instability.
Advertisement
The drop in aid – which equates to roughly £6.5 billion in real terms – has hit food assistance programmes particularly hard.
The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), the largest provider of food relief globally, received £448 million of British aid money in 2024, a figure cut to £322 million last year.
The organisation has had to drastically scale down operations, including giving emergency food packages to pregnant women and young children, in places like Somalia, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Haiti.
“[Britain] needs to protect and prioritise spending on proven nutrition interventions, including supplementary and emergency therapeutic foods such as [….], breastfeeding support and ready-to-use therapeutic food.
Advertisement
“There isn’t really a choice between spending money and saving money. It’s between spending modestly before a crisis and paying far more for it afterwards,” Prof Gordon said.
The Middle Inn, on Front Street, was included in Rover’s regional top five after an assessment by the pet care company’s Tavern Testers.
The testers judged pubs on access, atmosphere, dog facilities, safety and the experience for dogs and their owners.
A picture of three dogs enjoying the Middle Inn in Bamburgh. (Image: The Middle Inn on Facebook)
This recognition is the latest accolade for the village pub, which is a known stop for visitors and local people exploring the Northumberland coast.
Located in the centre of Bamburgh, The Middle Inn is a traditional English pub renowned for its welcoming atmosphere, hearty food and large beer garden.
Advertisement
The venue describes itself as offering Northumbrian hospitality alongside a menu featuring traditional pub favourites made with fresh, local produce.
Diners can choose from light lunches, sandwiches and classic dishes, while visitors can also enjoy a selection of local cask ales and spirits.
With Bamburgh Castle and the village’s sweeping beach attracting thousands of visitors each year, the pub has established itself as a popular place to eat and drink after a day exploring the coast.
Advertisement
Its central location and spacious outdoor seating area make it particularly attractive to walkers, families and holidaymakers visiting the area.
Several independent dog-friendly guides have praised the pub’s welcome for dogs.
The listings say dogs are welcome throughout, with treats at the bar, dog ice cream and plenty of beer-garden space.
According to Rover, the awards were designed to identify pubs that go above and beyond for canine guests..
Advertisement
For The Middle Inn, the result adds to its reputation among dog owners visiting the Northumberland coast.
Mr Cowell, 66, broke his back in an electric bike accident in 2020 and has since undergone several operations, including a recent “routine” procedure last month.
While he rests, a guest judge will join Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon, and KSI for the Blackpool auditions.
Simon Cowell “gutted” to be missing filming for Britain’s Got Talent
A source told The Sun on Sunday: “Simon is of course gutted to be missing the auditions, but it’s important that he rests up now so he can make a full recovery.
“It was a routine op that went well and he knows the team will find a fun guest judge to spice up filming and keep the audience on their toes.
Advertisement
“The current thinking is that producers will choose a male comedian to stand in for now, but decisions are being made currently.
“It’s quite last-minute, so a lot of talent is already booked up for that period.”
Production company Fremantle is expected to postpone around half of the six-day filming schedule until January to allow Mr Cowell to return as head judge.
The media mogul has spoken openly about how the accident changed his perspective on life and health.
Advertisement
He told The Sun newspaper: “I was so close to living the rest of my life in a wheelchair, it gives you a completely different outlook on life.”
Despite the pain, Mr Cowell described the accident as a turning point.
He said: “If I had to go through this all over again I actually would do it, because I think breaking my back was one of the best things that ever happened to me.
“I didn’t know really how unfit I was until I had to start doing all the exercises.
Advertisement
Recommended reading
“But I feel better today than I did three years ago when it happened.”
Since the accident, Mr Cowell has lost three stone through changes to his diet, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption.
Who would you like to see stand in for Simon Cowell on Britain’s Got Talent? Let us know in the comments.
The village is only home to around 700 people – but it’s right next to one of Cambridgeshire’s most dangerous roads
05:25, 20 Sep 2026Updated 09:48, 20 Sep 2026
Locals who live in a small village next to a notoriously dangerous road say the area is used as a “cut through”. Guyhirn is a small village in Cambridgeshire that’s only home to around 700 people.
While the River Nene divides the village from this road, Guyhirn is situated very close to the A47. Some residents in Guyhirn have said they are “wary” of the road, which is the only main route that connects the village to other places such as Wisbech.
Rebecca Parsons, who’s lived in Guyhirn for 20 years, said the A47 is a “nightmare” especially when there is a crash on the road. She added: “If they ever close it, all of the A47 comes through Guyhirn. They’ve [cars] churned up all the grass down [this road]. And it can be noisy, especially if they’re doing the roadworks all of the time.”
Advertisement
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said the village is used as a “cut through” for the A47. He said: “The A47 makes Guyhirn a very noisy place. Depsite there being a hill and river in between us and the road, you still manage to hear everything. I use the road a lot, but that’s because it’s the only main road out of here.”
The resident said he understands why the road has such a “bad reputation”, adding: “There are a lot of accidents that happen on it. They need to majorly improve it because, I think it’s one of the worst roads in Cambridgeshire.”
Richie King also uses the A47 frequently and said he sees “silly people” using it. He added: “Living here [in Guyhirn], you get a bit of disturbance from the A47. If it’s not the constant noise of people speeding through here, then it’s emergency services on the A47 itself.
“The traffic can pile up through here sometimes as well. The village itself doesn’t have a lot of trouble, but the road is our main problem.”
Advertisement
Ms Withers, who wished to not include her first name, said that despite there being “no alternative” road out of Guyhirn, she is “very wary” of using the A47. She added: “There are too many idiot drivers that use it.
“It impacts our village if anything happens on it. A lot of traffic comes through it and then it causes more disruption. Drivers also come speeding through here, so it’s unsafe at times.”
Speaking about the A47, a National Highways spokesperson said: “Our ambition remains that no-one should be harmed while travelling or working on our roads and we continue to invest in safety improvements across the region. Road safety is a shared responsibility, and we work closely with partners, organisations and road users to help us collectively achieve this ambition.
An aerial image of the location of where the boathouse was and an image of ex-banker Simon Bowden who recently gained planning permission to build a five-bedroom property on the site (Picture: LinkedIn/BNPS)
A millionaire ex-banker who has branded other proposed developments in Sandbanks ‘Barratt boxes on steroids’ has gained permission to build his dream home.
Simon Bowden, 66, fought for almost 30 years to build a new five-bedroom property on his £820,000 plot which he bought in 1998.
It sits within the highly desirable part of Poole, Dorset, that is home to numerous well-known figures including former Portsmouth and Spurs manager Harry Redknapp.
Bowden planned to turn a 90ft-long 1920s wooden boathouse, which had been converted into a residential home, into his dream home.
Advertisement
But he fell foul of planning regulations and local rules when builders knocked down about 90% of the structure rather than refurbishing it.
This meant the work broke rules, introduced in the 1990s, which prevented new properties being built within 82ft of the waterfront.
The boathouse was turned into a residential property and was exempt from rules introduced in the 1990s (Picture: BNPS)
Since the 1920s boathouse was converted before these rules applied, it had an exemption.
There was also a successful planning application in 1977 to extend the property.
Advertisement
However, the exemption no longer applied as the building was largely demolished, prompting the council to halt the work.
A 28-year planning dispute followed, during which time more than 20 applications were submitted, some of which were approved.
The latest successful application grants permission to build a three-storey, five-bedroom house further back from the seafront on the site.
The L-shaped property will have an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area, an outdoor swimming pool and a sea-facing balcony overlooking Brownsea Island, where Lord Baden-Powell staged the first Scout camp, according to the Daily Mail.
Advertisement
The 90ft-long boathouse, seen in this only picture of it in existence, was built close to the shore. But a planning law introduced in the 1990s stated that all new properties must be built 82ft from the shore (Picture: BNPS)
Its garden will run down to Poole Harbour and include a jetty offering direct access to the water, the publication said.
The flat-roofed home has been designed to fit among more than 50 trees on the site which are protected under a preservation order.
Planning documents stated: ‘The design approach adopted and careful siting amongst the mature landscape will ensure that the dwelling is viewed as a positive addition which sits comfortably within its context.’
Bowden’s agent said only glimpses of the house will be visible from the road and it will sit entirely outside the part of the plot identified as being at high risk of flooding.
Bowden described it as an ‘architecturally distinctive house which will add to the visual interest’ of the conservation area.
Advertisement
While the planning saga rolled on, Bowden criticised other proposed developments in the area, which has been dubbed Britain’s Palm Beach.
In one comment, he accused wealthy newcomers of replacing historic properties with ‘ugly houses’ and described one project as ‘visual barbarism’.
He recently objected to plans to demolish a 115-year-old Arts and Crafts home called Cama in Sandbanks and replace it with a sleek, modern home.
Bowden said: ‘Replacing such a historic house is a great shame, especially as the replacement dwelling is a very poor pastiche of Arts and Crafts, but sadly typical of the new style of Sandbanks Barratt boxes on steroids.
Advertisement
‘It has absolutely zero architectural merit.’
Referring to letters supporting that application, he added: ‘I see there were many letters of support, all from people who are recent migrants to Sandbanks and who also live in ugly houses.
‘When it’s gone few will remember the quality architecture on Sandbanks.
‘No doubt this will get approved, but the effect on Sandbanks of these fake houses is highly negative.’
Advertisement
Mr Bowden declined to comment about his own development when contacted by the Daily Mail.
Chad Gilbert, the lead guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band New Found Glory, has died at 45.
Gilbert’s former bandmates announced in an Instagram post on Sunday that he had died earlier that morning.
‘On the morning of September 20th, Chad Everett Gilbert passed away peacefully in his sleep,’ they wrote. ‘He left this world surrounded by friends and family and took his final breaths with his wife and mother by his side, just as he wished.’
‘We are devastated and shocked by how quickly he left us, yet so grateful for how peacefully and smoothly he went,’ the post continued. ‘The amount of visitors that crowded the hospital lobby at a moment’s notice is a testament to how beloved and cherished Chad was, and always will be.
Advertisement
‘He was a legendary musician, but his favorite accomplishment was being a husband and father. His biggest dreams came true.’
Chad Gilbert, the lead guitarist and founding member of the punk rock band New Found Glory, has died at 45; seen with New Found Glory in 2021 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Advertisement
Gilbert’s wife Lisa Cimorelli and his New Found Glory bandmates announced on Instagram that he had died earlier on Sunday after battling cancer for years
The post noted that Gilbert is ‘survived by his wife Lisa, his daughter, Lily, his mother, Jackie, and his brother, Brian.’
Gilbert’s band members and wife credited his ‘guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive’ for shaping ‘New Found Glory for nearly three decades.’
‘Through more than a dozen albums, endless tours around the world, and more accolades than we ever could have imagined, Chad challenged all of us to grow as musicians, performers, and human beings,’ they wrote.
Advertisement
‘While we are devastated to lose him, we are so grateful for the incredible life he lived, the memories we shared, and the brotherhood we had,’ they continued. ‘His influence will always be part of New Found Glory and his spirit will be felt on every stage we stand on, with every note we play.’
They concluded by adding: ‘Rest in peace, Chad. We love you forever ❤️.’
Back in June of this year, Gilbert was left fighting back tears as he returned to the stage in a wheelchair for his first show in Nashville amid his battle with a rare adrenal cancer.
The rocker shared he was left ‘struggling to control’ the movements of his left hand during a gig in Nashville on February 20.
Advertisement
He was then rushed to hospital by medics three days later when he began stumbling and falling.
Gilbert’s band members and wife credited his ‘guitar playing, songwriting, humor, and relentless drive’ for shaping ‘New Found Glory for nearly three decades’; Original New Found Glory members (L–R) Steve Klein, Gilbert, Cyrus Bolooki, Jordan Pundik and Ian Grushka
Gilbert revealed four years ago that he had been diagnosed with a rare adrenal gland cancer called pheochromocytoma.
During his return show in June, the star became emotional as he gave a special shout-out to the medical professionals who had treated him since he was diagnosed.
Advertisement
‘I want to thank all of the nurses and doctors who have kept me alive for the past four years,’ he said.
In an ornate room tucked away in the Houses of Parliament, experts called for a safer sleep national campaign to combat the ‘dangers’ of unsafe advice online and in nurseries.
At the front of the room, a family who knew all too well of the importance of safe sleep practices watched on. For Katie Wheeler and John Meehan, their traumatic loss of their daughter Genevieve at the hands of her nursery worker served as a reminder for why safe sleep practice was more important than ever.
Click here to get the biggest stories straight to your inbox in our Daily Newsletter
Advertisement
Roughley was jailed for 14 years in May 2024 for causing her unlawful death. A pre-inquest review into Genevieve’s death has been set for October 8 this year.
Her parents, John Meehan and Katie Wheeler have since launched the Campaign for Gigi to improve safety standards in nursery settings.
In it, they are calling for compulsory CCTV in nursery settings; unannounced Ofsted inspections to be routine in early years settings; review of CCTV footage in Ofsted inspections; clear, statutory safe sleep guidance for early years settings; mandatory safe sleep training for all nursery staff and Ofsted inspectors; and clear statutory guidance as to the use of sleep products in early years settings.
The campaign, which can be found here, is urging people to get in touch with their local MP to ask them for their support.
Advertisement
On Monday afternoon, September 14, a host of experts across the field discussed the current state of safer sleep awareness and what was needed to moving forward to protect children and families.
Chairing the roundtable, Tom Morrison, MP for Cheadle said: “Safe sleep is one of the most important topics in public health messaging. It was, for me, as the father of a 19-month old, one of the conversations drilled into us as we were going through the antenatal classes. Sadly, as we have heard far too many times, that guidance has not been followed. It is from these conversations we can talk about how we make sure that guidance is enforced.”
Advertisement
Addressing the room, John began by speaking about one of his favourite days with his daughter. “It was a wonderful day and one of my favourite memories, we went to Lyme Park. We used to describe them as ‘daddy days’, when it was my responsibility for the clothes, the snacks, and everything in between.
“It would usually mean the clothes didn’t match, dishevelled hair and Genevieve being mischievous. It was a beautiful day and I think about it a lot. For Gigi it was a day full of wonder looking at the animals and the surroundings. I didn’t know at the time it would be one of the last days I got to take Gigi somewhere.
“Like most parents, Katie and I assumed the regulated environments would follow the safe sleep guidance – we were fanatical about it at home. We assumed it would be the same in a practical environment.
“After Gigi’s death, we couldn’t help but ask ‘how?’ How did this happen? How is it that safe sleep guidance is not being following in a nursery? How is it that children can go to nursery safely and not come home?”
Advertisement
Katie spoke of the changes they have already made to the sector, which include; the implementation of safer sleep regulations; the increase in funding for Ofsted to allow for 3000 more no-notice inspections; an update to the Ofsted framework which coincides with the Early Years Foundation Stage changes; and the increase of the Ofsted inspections from six years to four years.
Referring to the handmade lavender bunches left for each attendee, she explained that due to Genevieve’s name, they associated her with being French. “We used to give her a French accent and every year we visit a different lavender field for her. Hopefully you take them away and think of the beautiful little girl who deserves to be here.”
Jenny Ward, CEO of the Lullaby Trust which is actively supporting the family, said: “The achievements they have made are absolutely huge – but there is still more to do. We are very fortunate to have had contact with the former Mayor of Greater Manchester, who has now changed jobs. We want to make sure everyone knows about safe sleep and that families are supported.”
Advertisement
Connor Rand, MP for Altrincham and Sale, spoke of the case of Madison Bruce-Smith, who was just four-months-old when she died after being put to sleep by a ‘maternity nurse’ despite having no qualifications. “Nobody had been held legally accountable for her death,” he said.
“Anyone can call themselves a nursery nurse and put a child’s life at risk. As Madison’s parents said, without regulation there has been more tragedy. There have been huge steps forward – hopefully we build on that and save more babies lives going forward.”
Professor Peter Fleming, who specialises in Infant Health and Developmental Physiology at the University of Bristol, and also contributes findings to the National Child Mortality Database, also attended at the roundtable.
He told the room that in the mid-1980s, it was recognised that the number of babies dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) had increased. Dr Fleming was just starting the Avon Cot Death Study when he read a Dutch report which suggested that putting babies to sleep on their fronts led to a high risk of SIDS. Fleming analysed the Avon data and found that 93 per cent of the babies who had died had been put to sleep lying on their fronts.
Advertisement
It wasn’t until a follow-up study in 1991 that Fleming felt confident to approach the Government’s health advisers with his findings. Following a high profile campaign by TV presenter Anne Diamond – who lost her own child through SIDS – the Government gave its official support to the study and launched the highly successful ‘Back to Sleep’ campaign.
Two decades ago, SIDS claimed the lives of 2,000 babies in the UK every year, however since the campaign that number has been reduced, and is currently around 200, Dr Fleming said,
“There was a huge effect, the message was getting through,” he said. “Now we have the issue of older people saying that they used to put their children down to sleep on their front and ‘our children were fine’. That’s true, but if everybody does it, then the risk is much greater.
Advertisement
“If everybody put their baby on their front, recent data suggests it will go from 200 babies per year to 5,000. Our position is that we want professionals to be aware.” He also said that the use of round the clock video surveillance is one of the inexpensive ways to make sure that the practice is followed.
Dr Anna Pease, who has worked for the last 16 years in Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy prevention said: “Parents are getting more of their information from many other sources now, including social media. Parents really want honesty, they want somebody to be straight forward with them.
“There is a problem of mixed messages, there’s a lot of images and nonsense online. People see a product has become available and it’s supposed to help your baby sleep, but it doesn’t mean it’s safe and actually tested for babies.”
Following a recent BBC investigation on dangerous advice given to parents, paediatrician Dr Lillie Parker and midwife Olivia Hinge said more had to be done to ‘call out’ those who use their platform to advice unsafe practises.
Advertisement
“Anybody who calls themselves a ‘sleep expert’ needs to be regulated, and they need to know what can happen when you give that advice,” said Dr Parker.
In response, Katie said: “Regulation is important for accountability. We were lucky that somebody went to prison, which does give you some sense of peace. That didn’t happen in Madison’s case, and it’s horrific for some families to not have that.”
Jamie Barnes, founder of Everything Early Years and an early years consultant added: “There are all different pieces of information online. People ask me for links all the time, and we all want to be doing the right thing. The public need to be given the right information.”
The roundtable discussed the idea of a 10-year strategy with improved and regulated training to avoid ‘sticking a plaster over the problem’, as part of a ‘renewal’ of the safer sleep campaign.
Advertisement
Concluding, Mr Morrison said: “All of this room are moving forward for the renewal of the safe sleep campaign, and using the growth of social media. I really want this to be the beginning of a discussion that goes forward.”
After the meeting, he added: “Today’s roundtable brought together an extraordinary wealth of knowledge and experience, from world-leading clinicians to the health visitors and paediatricians who see the impact of poor advice every day. But at the centre of it all were Katie and John, whose courage in turning their unimaginable grief into action has already changed national policy.
“We now need a new national safer sleep campaign, proper regulation of so-called sleep experts, and a guarantee that every single person who looks after children professionally has the guidance they need. No family should go through what Katie and John have.”
Emergency services arrived at the scene between Newgate Street and South Church Street on Sunday, September 20, following a crash between a car and a motorbike.
Two ambulances were called to the scene, plus an air ambulance.
Advertisement
A member of the public told the Northern Echo that they spotted the air ambulance land in Morrisons car park.
A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service said: “We received a call at 4.45pm on Sunday 20 September to reports of a road traffic incident on South Church Road in Bishop Auckland.
“We dispatched two ambulance crews to the scene and requested support from our colleagues at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).
“One patient was transported to James Cook University Hospital by air for further treatment.”
Advertisement
Newgate Street was closed for “quite some time” at the junction with Princess Street, with drivers asked to avoid the area.
At around 7pm, a spokesperson for Durham Police said: “Newgate Street is currently closed at the junction with Princes Street following a collision between a car and a motorbike.
“The road is likely to remain closed for some time while emergency services work at the scene.
“We’d ask that motorists avoid the area and find an alternative route.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login