Around 30 protestors in support of the Access2Transport group stood outside Hillhead Subway for around two hours this afternoon.

Disability activists have staged a protest in Glasgow this afternoon, March 22, to call for more accessible stations on the city’s iconic Subway line. Around 30 protestors in support of Access2Transport stood outside Hillhead Subway for around two hours this afternoon.

Just two out of Glasgow’s 15 Subway stations are accessible – Govan and St Enoch – which are fitted with lifts for wheelchair users to get down to the platforms. Access2Transport, a local group advocating for better public transport options for disabled people and wheelchair users, is demanding change.

The protestors believe every station should be made accessible, branding Glasgow’s Subway a “disgrace” for it’s “unacceptable” lack of accessibility. The group’s protest staged on Sunday is the first of its organised actions to demand more accessibility on the Clockwork Orange, reports Glasgow Live.

In response to the protest, SPT says modernisation works are ongoing but that it is “fully aware of the challenges and restrictions” involved in updating the Victorian underground.

Announcing the protest on Instagram earlier this week, Access2Transport said: “We must show everyone (including and ESPECIALLY SPT) that inaccessibility is unacceptable. Show everyone that we know better.”

The group called on people to spread the word of the protest, adding: “You are not immune! Access aids everyone, let’s start this movement by showing that we are aware of the disgrace that is the Glasgow subway, and that we will NOT stop until everyone can use it. Public transport for all of the public now.”

An SPT spokesperson responded: “Glasgow Subway is the third oldest in the world and still operates and works within a Victorian tunnel system that is almost a 130 years old. It was a built on a very unique 4ft gauge and was, and remains, an engineering feat of the 19th century.

“It is now undergoing only it’s third major modernisation phase in its lifetime and we, more than ever, are fully aware of the challenges and restrictions it places on us as we endeavour to develop it as much as we can into a more modern 21st century transport system.

“The brief for modernisation agreed in 2010 was to overhaul the entire system with new ticketing, new trains, new signalling and communications and to refurbish all 15 stations on the network for a cost of £288million.

“As part of the refurbishment of our stations we looked at the possibility to introduce lift access at all stations on the network but it quickly became clear that where we have single, island platforms this is simply not possible.

“There are a number of requirements we must meet before we can add lifts to platforms. Most importantly, there must be a suitable location on the platform. This is not possible on any of our single ‘island’ platforms which is the case at nine of our fifteen stations.

“For our double or ‘flank’ platform stations, we need to be able to run a lift vertically from the concourse to each platform which must be structurally viable. This was shown to be possible at two stations, Govan and St Enoch, where we could achieve this on both Inner and Outer Circles, so this was included as part of the modernisation programme. The size of the lifts is dictated by the space available.

“SPT has always committed that it would continue to look for ways to introduce more step-free access at our stations as opportunities and alternative solutions became available.

“There is now an opportunity to look at lift access from street level to platform on one circle at both Buchanan Street and at Hillhead. A contractor to look at possible designs for this addition at these stations has already been appointed.

“We are fully aware of the importance of the Subway and that it is the preferred mode to get around the city for many. We also take our responsibilities to help those who require extra assistance to travel with us, for whatever reason, very seriously. We welcome all our disabled passengers on our service, while also recognising and working within its limitations.

“Our first priority is always the safety of everyone travelling with us and at this moment, the only safe way for wheelchair users to access the system without endangering themselves or others is to use Govan or St Enoch stations.

“Everyone should be assured that we have carefully considered all options, however the realities of working within our small Victorian tunnel system does mean we are heavily restricted in some of the things we would like to be able to do. That does not mean we are not continually seeking ways round the challenges presented.

“We are always working to improve access where we can and when new technical developments enable us to relook at decisions as we are at Buchanan Street and Hillhead, we will do so.”

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After an injury-blighted first season as Olympic champion, 2026 is about one thing for Keely Hodgkinson: “domination”.

The 24-year-old captured her first world indoor title in commanding fashion as she claimed 800m gold in a championship record time on a historic night for Great Britain in Poland on Sunday.

That success came one month after she smashed the long-standing women’s indoor 800m world record, set by Slovenia’s Jolanda Ceplak on the day the Briton was born in 2002.

The first of two serious hamstring injuries prevented her from attacking that mark 12 months ago, and she was forced to wait 376 days to race again following her crowning moment at Paris 2024.

But Hodgkinson – branded ‘Keely 2.0’ within her training group following her impressive rebuild in the gym – is already making up for lost time.

“My word this year has been domination,” Hodgkinson told BBC Sport.

“When I’m in the shape of my life, why leave it to chance?

“If you want to beat me, I’ll make you work hard for it.”

Hodgkinson made further history by becoming Britain’s first women’s 800m world champion – indoors or outdoors – crossing the line more than a second clear of her rivals in one minute 55.30 seconds.

That triumph wrapped up 28 minutes of success after golds for her training partner Georgia Hunter Bell and pole vaulter Molly Caudery on a sensational Sunday for the British team.

Following Josh Kerr’s 3,000m triumph on Saturday, it guaranteed the British team’s most successful World Indoor Championships of all time, surpassing the three gold medals achieved in 1999.

Hodgkinson reappeared on the track less than an hour after her gold to join the bid for a women’s 4x400m relay medal at the end of the final day of action in Torun.

Despite her best efforts – and running the quickest leg of any athlete in the event with a 50.10-second split – she was unable to overturn a substantial deficit on her anchor leg.

Everything you need to know if you’re hoping to secure tickets for the “Glastonbury of Christmas” when Lapland Manchester goes on sale on Friday, with tickets set to be available from £60 up to £195 per person

Families are preparing themselves for a ticket-buying frenzy this week as the hugely popular Lapland UK events, dubbed the “Glastonbury of Christmas” go on sale on Friday. Organisers have confirmed that for a second year, Lapland Manchester will also return, alongside the original Ascot location.

As those who were lucky enough to get tickets last year will know, it really is quite the extraordinary event – certainly unlike any Christmas attraction I’ve ever been to during my ten years of parenting two children that’s for sure.

So I totally get why families are gearing themselves up for an online battle this Friday when the tickets officially go live. Bosses from Lapland sent out an update on Sunday night to try and reassure fans that they’ve made improvements behind the scenes “to ensure every part of your experience, from booking to Christmas Day, feels just as it should.”

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They say they’ve made “significant investment in our booking systems to reduce queuing times, so that you reach the front more quickly and can secure your preferred dates with as little waiting time as possible.”

That’s set to be some comfort to those eager to secure tickets on Friday.

For those who haven’t been before, I’ve seen lots of comments on online forums wondering if it’s really worth it when they’ve looked at the ticket prices. Organisers say prices range from £60 – £195 per ticket this year depending on the date and time you book.

And yep, that price is for EACH person. Whether you’re a child or adult you will pay the same price to get in – with only under 12 month old babies going in free.

Oh, and don’t forget to factor in the booking fee of £4.95 each, and a £5.95 postage fee for the special boxed invitations to be sent to the children on your booking.

With a family of four potentially looking at paying anything from £250 to over £700 to head along on peak dates in December, there’s naturally a lot of questions from parents and carers about what they can expect for this kind of experience and if it’s worth it.

Having headed along to the Manchester event last year, I can certainly answer some of the questions of what to expect. So here, I’ve gone through some of the main points ahead of the big on-sale window opening on Friday, March 27, from 10am.

Where exactly is Lapland Manchester?

Yep, this is a good question. It might be called Lapland Manchester, but the event is actually held in Cheshire.

It’s set in the grounds of Capesthorne Hall which is in a countryside setting. The nearest towns are Macclesfield or Alderley Edge, and it’s 20 miles from Manchester city centre.

For those who don’t know the area all that well, this means if you’re planning on staying overnight in Manchester city centre, then you’re looking at around a 40 minute drive to actually get there. And that’s on a good day with no traffic.

The nearest train station would be Alderley Edge (which is on the main line from Manchester Piccadilly to Crewe) – but again you’d be needing a taxi from there to get to Capesthorne Hall which is around four miles away.

What are the dates and times, and when is the best time to go?

LaplandUK in Ascot and Lapland Manchester will both open this year on Saturday November 7 and will then run every day right through until Thursday, December 24.

Superstar Day, for those with additional needs and access requirements, has been confirmed as taking place on Wednesday, November 25.

When you go onto the ticket booking site, you will have the option of booking times in half hour intervals across each date from 8am to 6pm. You need to choose carefully as you must attend on your allocated timeslot on the date you have booked.

As for when is the best time to go – if you want the cheapest tickets, consider going mid-November, and if you’re able, pick either an early morning or later afternoon time slot.

You’re not likely to have a “quieter” session (aside from the Superstar Day) as all slots sold out last year, so be warned, it will be busy whichever slot you go for.

How much are tickets?

LaplandUK has already confirned the “prices from” for every date in 2026, and the cheapest options currently are £60 tickets on Tuesday November 10 and Wednesday November 11.

The most expensive tickets are, predictably, the closer you get to Christmas, and the priciest options currently listed are for £155 per person on Saturday December 5 and Saturday December 19.

But organisers have stated that these are “prices from” and will fluctuate depending on the timeslots when they go on sale. Organisers have told the MEN that prices will range from £65 to £195 for tickets this year.

As mentioned above, don’t forget to factor in the £4.95 booking fee per ticket when you’re looking at the options, and also the £5.95 postage fee for invitations to be sent out per booking.

How long does the experience take?

Organisers say you can expect to be in the Lapland Manchester experience for 4.5 hours.

We found we took around 3.5 hours though when we went, on a Sunday morning in November last year. This might be because we didn’t arrive early enough at the departure desk for our timeslot, so missed out on experiencing the shop and cafe at the front entrance.

If you want to make the most of your time here, you need to be at the entrance gate 45 minutes before the time on your invite – we thought it meant to be at the car park at this time, but it was a good 10 minute walk to the entrance from here.

Just as an idea of what to expect, you are taken through each immersive experience at timed intervals. The only way you can expect to stay inside longer, is if you are opting for the “Golden Experience” VIP tickets in which case you can spend unlimited time in the Elven Village.

Is it cold?

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You’re heading into a magical portal to Lapland, folks, so yes, it’s cold! Expect snowy scenes and a chill in the air.

Not to ruin the magic too much, but Lapland Manchester is all under cover, so you don’t have to worry about it raining (except for the walk from the car park to the entrance which is all outdoors obviously). But warm layers and winter jackets are a must I’d say after our experience.

Once inside though, you cannot fail to be swept away by the festive magic that unfolds.

What’s it like?

From the moment we checked in at the departure lounge, collecting the kids’ “Elven Passports”, it really is like being transported to another world. If you don’t want any spoilers by the way, then look away now.

It feels like a traditional Christmas show at the start of the day as you are introduced into the Lapland world by the colourful cast of Elves, with children (and parents) encouraged to use the “cheery-hi” greeting of fingers waggling on your nose – this will come in handy to greet any of the Elven folk throughout the adventure.

It’s then through to a vast magical woodland that will take your breath away, and then on to the more interactive elements of the day. We all gazed in wonder as we entered the huge Toy Factory – I mean this is really a spectacular space complete with magic wishing jars and festooned with toys.

Here, children get to help the elves make some toys – an adorable polar bear that they then get to take over to a converyor belt to help Father Christmas out, which was a truly enchanting experience. It’s then on to Mother Christmas’ kitchen where kids get to decorate their own gingerbread house, again an activity that my two boys absolutely loved.

What follows is an adventure into the vast Elven Village, where you have 90 minutes to spend between ice skating, writing a letter to Father Christmas, a range of hot food and drinks and browsing the assorted Lapland shops.

The finale of the day is walking through the Reindeer Lodge before the big one – a meeting with Father Christmas. Here at Lapland the bearded one seems to know an awful lot about your kids (if you know you know), checks if they’re on the Good List and is happy to pose for loads of photos.

There’s really no doubting this is the most epic, and extravagant, Christmas attraction I’ve ever been to in terms of scale and attention to detail. And that’s from a mum who has spent ten years trudging around all sorts of festive events, lights, grottos, Christmas farms and Santa adventures with my kids across the north west.

How far do you have to walk?

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This is a HUGE attraction spread out across acres and acres of the Capesthorne Estate. And that means there is a lot of walking involved.

Sparkly, tree-lined tunnels connect all the different areas which we found fun to walk through, but that’s because my two kids are now fully mobile and able to run off without my assistance. I know that if you’re still parenting in the toddler stage it may become more of an issue walking with lots of bags and prams etc over the distances involved.

Don’t worry about mud though – inside the venue is all undercover, and outside the car park itself is all completely boarded and the path to the entrance is all wood-chipped so it’s a really good route.

How many people are in each session?

Having never been before, I didn’t know what to expect on this front, although seeing other Facebook posts did prepare me a bit.

I thought we’d be in fairly small groups, but in our time session of 11.30am at the 2025 event I counted around 200 people. That was split into two groups, so last year you were either Team Husky or Team Little Rudi.

For the start you are all together, but then each group splits so you have around 100 people in each themed interactive area, like the Gingerbread making.

It sounds like a lot of people, but actually it’s so well organised, it’s not like you’re fighting over seats or anything – there are enough for everybody. But what it does mean is that inevitably you will have to queue for a little bit going in and out of each zone.

Is there food and drink?

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There is a cafe at the start of the experience, and then the next spot to eat is in the Elven Village, around half way through your experience. You can take your own food in though, and my advice would be to load up with snacks.

Once in the Elven Village there’s an array of hot and cold food and drink options that you can buy (be warned, it’s not cheap!), and lots of seating here and toilets. Oh, and trust me when I say the hot chocolates are epic.

What do you get for your money?

On the date we went in November 2025, the tickets were £105 each (that’s for adults and children alike). So there’s no getting away from the fact that for a family of four, you’re looking at shelling out a lot of money for this attraction.

For me, I was keen to see what you get for that kind of money and whether it represents value for money. What I would say is that when you break down everything you experience during the day, and how much you would usually spend for things like skating for a family on a day out, you can start to see why the price tag is what it is.

Essentially you get a Christmas show, skating, gingerbread making, meeting Santa, a cuddly toy for the kids and an extra surprise that parents get to take home at the end too (no spoilers) as well as one free souvenir photo in a presentation booklet.

Sadly, parents don’t get to partake of activities like toy-making or getting a toy from santa, but you do get to watch the joy on your child’s face so it depends what kind of price tag you put on that.

For me, when I totted everything up, paying up to £105 for the tickets would seem a fair price (tickets are set to be available from £60 in November). But I’m not sure I could justify paying more than that to be able to go in December (when tickets are priced from £95 – £155), but naturally it’s personal choice and circumstances on the dates you opt for.

Ultimately, it’s an experience you either buy into or you don’t. In for a penny, in for a pound and all that.

What else can you buy?

Apart from food and drinks, there are lots of shops dotted around the Lapland Manchester experience – at the start, in the Elven Village, and one you can’t avoid walking through to get out at the end. They are filled with Lapland themed memorabilia, as well as hats that you can also pre-order with your tickets.

You can buy “Jingles” which are gold coins in a pouch for your kids at the start (or you can also buy these when the tickets go on sale as well). These can then be used to buy treats in the shops, but we didn’t have time to do this and you could get away without doing it.

But basically 1 Jingle equals 1 pound and you can buy everything on cards throughout the day if you don’t have the Jingles.

How to get tickets for 2026

Prepare to join the online queues on Friday, March 27, with tickets going on sale at 10am.

Tickets will be available exclusively from the Lapland UK website here.

Here are all the closures you should be aware of:

Blackwell

A planned road closure will occur on Blackwell starting on March 23. The restrictions are set to remain in place until April 2.

Parkside

Road closure works are scheduled on Parkside for March 27.

The restrictions are set to remain in place on this date as highway repair and maintenance works will take place.

These works include the replacement of damaged pedestrian railings under the Parkside railway bridge.

Pateley Moor Crescent

Utility asset works will result in road closures on Pateley Moor Crescent from March 26 to March 27.

These restrictions are set to remain in place during this period as undertakings will cleanse the sewer without excavation.

The closure will affect the carriageway near addresses 9 to 77.

Additionally, another closure will also take place at Pateley Moor Crescent from March 26 to March 27.

Grainger Street to Clifton Road Cross Back Street

Grainger Street to Clifton Road Cross Back Street will see road closures from March 25 to March 26 due to utility asset works.

The restrictions are set to remain in place while lining works to the sewer proceed without excavation.

This affects the carriageway at the rear of 131 Clifton Road.

Clifton Road and Belvedere Road Back Street

Beginning on March 23 and lasting until March 27, there will be a closure on Clifton Road and Belvedere Road Back Street.

The restrictions are set to remain in place as utility repair and maintenance works will be conducted.

These works involve sewer lining without excavation from the rear of 1 to 27 Belvedere Road.

Park Lane

Park Lane will experience road closures from March 23 to March 24 for highway repair and maintenance works.

The restrictions are set to remain in place while plate testing is carried out at the crane and outrigger points outside Darlington Train Station.

Victoria Road North Back

Road closures on Victoria Road North Back are scheduled from March 23 to April 1.

The restrictions are set to remain in place during the installation of a new service connection by Northern Gas Networks.

The works will lay a new service 2m in the carriageway at the rear of 119 Hotel.

Skinnergate

Skinnergate will be closed from March 5 to March 26 for other works. The restrictions are set to remain in place for the duration of the road closure.

Abbey Road

Ongoing road closures on Abbey Road started on February 23 and will continue until April 17.

These restrictions are set to remain in place due to highway improvement works, including the installation of speed tables and footway improvement.

The area affected spans from Carmel Road North Junction to just past Neville Road Junction.

Thompson Street West

Thompson Street West will experience road closures that started on January 21 and are set to continue until March 26.

The restrictions are set to remain in place while utility asset works are conducted.

Work involves excavation in the footway and carriageway for approximately 750m to install a new underground electric cable.

Balmoral Road

Balmoral Road will undergo closures starting on March 22 and lasting until April 29.

The restrictions are set to remain in place for footpath works.

Adjustments to pedestrian routes should be expected in this area.

Harrowgate Village and Beaumont Hill

Both Harrowgate Village and Beaumont Hill will see road closures until March 27 due to ongoing highway improvement works.

These restrictions are set to remain in place as S278 works for new developments proceed, impacting the footway, carriageway, and verge from Dewberry Lane to Village Hall and from Dewberry Lane to 25 Beaumont Hill.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued an alert over possible mouse contamination

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A food manufacturer has withdrawn nine of its products from shops due to potential “mouse contamination”. Shoppers have been urged not to consume any of these items as they may be “unsafe”.

In an alert on Sunday (March 22), the Food Standards Agency (FSA) revealed that MOMA Foods issued a warning regarding several porridge pots and sachet products. On its website, the FSA stated: “MOMA Foods is recalling various porridge pots and sachet products because of possible mouse contamination at the manufacturing site.”

It continued: “MOMA Foods are recalling the above products. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling these products and on their website. These notices explain to customers why the products are being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the products.”

The complete list of affected products is detailed below. The codes referenced here will be stamped onto the base of porridge pots and the reverse of sachets.

MOMA Almond Butter and Salted Caramel Porridge Pot 55g

Pack size – 1pk 8pk 12pk

Lot number – M5296, M5297, M5303, M5304, M5315, M5339, M5342

MOMA Apple, Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Porridge Pot 65g

Pack size – 1pk 8pk

Lot number – M5261, M5328, M5329, M6026, M6027

MOMA Banana and Peanut Butter Protein Porridge Pot 65g

Pack size – 1pk 8pk

Lot number – M5248, M5251, M5304, M5307

MOMA Blueberry and Vanilla Porridge Pot 65g

Pack size – 1pk 8pk

Lot number – M5283, M5284, M5285, M5335, M5336, M6027, M6028

MOMA Cranberry and Raisin Porridge Pot 70g

Pack size – 1pk 8pk 12pk

Lot number M5293, M5294, M5295, M5321, M5322, M5329, M5330, M5331

MOMA Golden Syrup Porridge Pot 70g

Pack size – 1pk 8pk 12pk

Lot number – M5241, M5244, M5245, M5261, M5293, M5311, M5314, M5346, M5349

MOMA Plain No-Added Sugar Porridge Pot 65g

Pack size – 1pk 12pk

Lot number – M5279, M5280, M5281, M5308, M5309, M5310, M5311, M5345,

MOMA Almond Butter and Salted Caramel Porridge Sachets 7x40g

Pack size – 1pk 5pk

Lot number – M5289, M5290

MOMA Apple, Cinnamon and Brown Sugar Porridge Sachets 6x40g

Pack size – 1pk 5pk

Lot number – M5293, M5294, M5295

As part of a risk statement, the FSA said: “These products may contain mouse contamination making them unsafe to eat.” However, no other MOMA products are affected.

Advice to consumers

In a safety notice, MOM said: “Any consumers who have purchased affected MOMA porridge products are asked not to consume them.

“Instead, they should return the products to the store where they were purchased and a full refund will be issued.”

For more information, you can email getintouch@momafoods.co.uk.

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It started off as a way of getting kids off the streets – now they’re heading for one of the biggest stages in the world

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In a village too often defined by stereotypes, a burst of rhythm is starting to change perceptions. Caerau in Bridgend borough may have made headlines as one of Wales’ most deprived communities but inside the doors of UDC Dance the story is entirely different.

Led by Tracey Newman, the school’s dancers are proving that talent and determination can thrive anywhere – even across the Atlantic. “Caerau is just known for crime, violence – it is such a deprived area,” Tracey told WalesOnline. “But I always say the kids at UDC put Caerau on the map for the right reasons.”

That belief was brought into sharp focus earlier this year when the group took a chance on entering the National Entertainment Awards – after initially dismissing it as a scam. “They’d messaged me a couple of years in a row and I genuinely didn’t believe it,” Tracey laughed. “But then I saw other dance schools we know had been involved and I thought: ‘If this comes up again we’re going for it.’”

What followed exceeded all expectations. UDC won best newcomer, progressed through to perform at the O2 in London after a golden buzzer, and then came the biggest surprise of all.

“They said, ‘Your journey doesn’t stop here…you’re going to New York,’” Tracey recalled. “We were screaming, the kids were crying, parents were crying – it was incredible.

“We have proud moments at every competition, just watching them dance is enough. Then when they win, that’s another level. But to see these kids get the chance to dance on Broadway… there will be nothing like it. I’ve been teaching for around 26 years now and this is the biggest thing we’ve ever experienced.”

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To understand the scale of such an achievement you have to go back to 2009. UDC grew from Tracey’s original school, Noddfa Dance, which she ran alone for ten years. “Towards the end I was going through a difficult period. My father passed away and I couldn’t fully commit to running the school on my own anymore,” she said.

At that point Karl, one of her students, stepped up and opened UDC, allowing the dancers to stay together and continue their training. “I was still involved, and within a few weeks I was back coaching, but it wasn’t all on me anymore. It was shared between me and Karl. Over the years we worked together to build something really special. The kids have always been brilliant.”

After the pandemic Karl stepped back but Tracey continued. “Dance is part of who I am. I’ll never be done,” she said. Now the school is led by Tracey, Shannel Mort, and Finley Quinn, with older dancers beginning to take on coaching roles themselves.

It has since grown into a close-knit community. “We’ve got about 120 dancers on our books at the moment, ranging from two years old up to adults,” Tracey said. “I think the oldest is in their late 50s or 60 now. We’ve got a wide variety of ages and they just love it.”

Although the school is based in Caerau the dancers are reshaping perceptions of the area. “I always say these kids put Caerau on the map for the right reasons,” she said. “They are just incredible.”

The school’s reputation has spread far beyond the village. Dancers travel in from Maesteg, Garth, and further along the valleys into Port Talbot and Cymmer. Some come from even further afield, with one student making the journey from Llanharan.

For Tracey, who grew up in Caerau, creating UDC was always about more than choreography – it was about offering young people an alternative.

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“It was massive,” she said. “When I was a teenager I didn’t start dancing until I was 14. Before that I was just hanging about on the streets – not causing trouble, but doing nothing with my time. Dance got me off the streets and on the right path. I thought if I could get more kids into this it could make a real difference.”

Parents of children going to the classes said they began noticing real changes in their children, from increased confidence to stronger friendships. “Some children came in painfully shy and they wouldn’t even speak to us,” Tracey said. “But as soon as they started dancing, everything changed.

“They came out of themselves, made friends, and discovered a side of themselves they didn’t know was there. They went from avoiding us to running to us and telling us about their day in school. It’s been a lovely thing to see.”

For Tracey those changes are what matter most. “They’re off the streets, they’ve got a hobby, they’re not just sat behind a screen. They’re living a healthy lifestyle, making friends, building confidence, and learning teamwork and structure. It’s so much more than just dance.”

UDC is rooted in street dance, though Tracey explained they occasionally branch out. “When I was younger my mainstream was more disco, so we do a little bit of that now and again. But mainly we’re street. And street is like an umbrella, under it you’ve got whacking, voguing, hip hop, light feet, lock, house… all these different styles.”

The school runs open classes on Mondays for all ages and team classes on Wednesdays. “The dancers do team auditions once a year and that’s their team for the season. Seasons run like school terms, from September through to the following August,” she said.

Extra sessions are added when needed – particularly in the lead-up to competitions. “For the British Championships we were in the studio more or less every day; after work, before work, weekends, we’re just there on the clock. And it’s all voluntary – we do this because we want to do it.”

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All of the people behind the scenes at UDC have full-time jobs. “We all work full-time in other jobs,” Tracey said. “I’m in support care, working with adults with learning difficulties. Finley works in McDonald’s, Shannel in a nursery… It feels like we have two full-time jobs. But dance is a hobby, a passion. We love it so we make it work.”

Parents have also shown the same level of dedication despite financial challenges. “As I’ve said, where we are from is very deprived and some parents can’t afford to take their children to national championships,” Tracey said.

“Some parents have three children in the school. Tickets for the British Championships are £105, kit T-shirts are £20 each, plus travel costs. We fundraise as much as we can to make sure the children can compete for Wales.”

The effort has been extraordinary. “We recently raised £20,000 within four months,” she said. “We’ve done fundraising nights for the children, sponsored walks at Pen y Fan, and events for adults like a Mr and Mrs Valentine’s night. Parents organise their own raffles too, including Christmas hampers – it’s all the little things that add up.”

That same community spirit is now driving the next challenge – getting as many dancers as possible to New York. The school is set to perform on Broadway in June 2028 with 95 dancers currently planning to go.

“For some of the kids and even for myself it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Tracey said. “It’s every dancer’s dream to dance on Broadway. You see it in films and big shows – it’s the place to be. Some of the little ones don’t fully understand, but even they’re saying, ‘New York – I’ve seen that on TV.’ It’s really special.

“I was upfront and said I know it’s expensive and it’s optional – you don’t have to go. But the response has been incredible. A lot of parents are saving up and turning it into a family holiday. They’re thinking, ‘They’re going to Broadway, let’s make the most of it.’

“We’ll be there for four days but many want to stay longer and see everything they can. You never hear of it – coming from such a small area and getting the chance to go to New York, even for one dance performance. It’s just amazing. We can’t wait.”

While Broadway is still over two years away UDC shows no signs of slowing down, maintaining a jam-packed schedule. Their most recent competition, the British Championships, saw them walk away with 16 titles including four first place finishes.

“It was insane,” Tracey added. “I’ve never seen standards like this in my life… every team that came on, I kept thinking, ‘Oh my god, the talent is incredible.’

“But when our names were being called in first place positions? My god, the kids were crying, we were crying, everyone was crying. It was just unbelievable. Hopefully 2026 will continue to be our year.”

The 24-year-old from Atherton in Wigan took gold in one minute 55.30 seconds

Keely Hodgkinson stormed to 800m gold in a championship record time on a stellar evening for Great Britain at the World Indoor Championships in Poland.

The 24-year-old from Atherton in Wigan, who set a new world indoor 800m record last month, took gold in one minute 55.30 seconds and then returned to the track to run the anchor leg in the women’s 4x400m relay final – part of an experimental quartet which also featured surprise addition Dina Asher-Smith.

It capped off an astonishing half-an-hour for Britain in Torun, where Hodgkinson’s training partner Georgia Hunter Bell also secured her own first global gold in the 1500m, moments before Molly Caudery reclaimed the pole vault title she won two years ago in Glasgow.

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“I think my word this year has been domination,” Hodgkinson, who led the 800m final from the start, told the BBC after the fifth-place relay finish. “I think when I’m in the shape of my life, why leave it to chance, you know? If you’re going to beat me, I’ll make you work hard for it.”

Hodgkinson beat Swiss silver medallist Audrey Werro in the 800m final by 1.34secs, while American Addison Wiley rounded out the podium.

It was a full-circle moment for the 24-year-old, who claimed her first senior title at the same venue at the 2021 European Indoors and has bounced back from an injury-plagued 2025 to start off her season with a bang.

Having secured gold at the 2024 Olympic Games, her triumph in Paris propelled her career to new heights following an initial silver medal win as a teenager at Tokyo 2021. She was previously named BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

The 24-year-old graduated from Fred Longworth High School in Tyldesley. Aged 16, she became the European under-18 champion, while at 17 she won her first national senior title at the British Indoor Championships.

She first broke two minutes for the first time to set an under-20 world record, the first by a British woman in 36 years, before becoming European indoor champion. Hodgkinson was the youngest ever winner of the 800m at the event in Poland, which marked her senior international debut.

Manchester City have secured the first silverware of the season after Arsenal failed to deliver at Wembley.

The quadruple dream is over and the Gunners must now pick up the pieces after a sobering setback.

For City, it has breathed life into their campaign after a dismal Champions League exit this week.

Kepa gamble backfires spectacularly

Mikel Arteta decided to keep faith in Kepa Arrizabalaga after starting the Spaniard in each round of the competition leading up to the final at Wembley today.

Pep Guardiola did likewise with James Trafford, but it was Arsenal who paid the price for dropping one of their best players. From the moment the second-half kicked off, Kepa dallied on the ball, inviting the pressure that would inevitably swarm all over the Gunners and trigger their downfall.

Raya has been spectacular this season, the best goalkeeper in the Premier League by some margin and in sublime form. Had he started, Sunday may have been a very different story.

Old Arsenal fears reignited

We have seen Arsenal collapse in the past. Past failures have so often been used as a stick to beat them with but things have felt different this season.

Victory today would have gone some way in erasing the lingering fears over another derailment . But defeat at Wembley could serve as a catalyst for something much bleaker.

Arsenal are still fighting on three fronts, in control of the Premier League title race and well-placed to continue marching on in Europe. But the effects of today could be season-altering. The woeful second-half showing was as bad as anything served up by them this term on the stage where they needed to be their best.

O’Reilly steps up

City needed a hero at Wembley and they found a home-grown one. With Phil Foden only coming on as an injury time substitute, left-back O’Reilly stepped up as City’s savour with two headers to save their season.

City were fantastic in the second period to a man and fed off Arsenal’s apprehension but it was the 21-year-old set the standard when they needed inspiration.  

Tony Mogan, live sports editor

Cometh the hour, cometh the man – with the ‘0161’ phone code inked on his body, O’Reilly came calling on the big stage when City needed a hero to step up.

His first finish was the easiest goal he is likely to score in his career, stooping close to the goalline to head in after Kepa Arrizabalaga fumbled the ball into his path.

The second just four minutes later was a brilliantly-placed header from Matheus Nunes’ cross, effectively sealing victory for a jubilant Guardiola who performed a jig of delight on the touchline.

O’Reilly took the adulation of the City fans after his goals and it will be a double celebration this weekend after turning 21 on Saturday.

The only players younger than O’Reilly to score twice in the final of this competition were 20-year-olds Wayne Rooney for Manchester United in 2006 and Liverpool’s Ronnie Whelan back in 1982.

The Englishman took his goalscoring tally to eight for the season and said: “Bit of disbelief seeing all the fans cheering like that when I scored those goals. Really a good feeling and a great birthday weekend.

“My whole family came down today. They are all in the stand and I know they will be buzzing. I can’t wait to celebrate with them.”

This was O’Reilly’s second match-winning double of the season as well, after scoring twice in the 2-1 Premier League win over Newcastle a month ago.

Former England defender Matt Upson said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Nico O’Reilly is fast becoming one of the key members in this Manchester City side. He gets the goals, he gets the headlines. He is a player in top form.

“Physically, he is a machine. He’s got height, he can run, he has got the strength and physicality.”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — At war with Iran, President Donald Trump is cycling through an increasingly desperate list of options as he searches for a solution to the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. He is jumping from calls to secure the waterway through diplomatic means to lifting sanctions and now escalating to a direct threat against civilian infrastructure in the Islamic Republic.

Trump and his allies insist they were always prepared for Iran to block the strait, yet the Republican president’s erratic strategy has fueled criticism that he is grasping for answers after going to war without a clear exit plan. On Saturday came his latest attempt, via an ultimatum to Iran: Open the strait within 48 hours or the United States will “obliterate” the country’s power plants.

Trump’s aides defended the threat as a hard-edged tactic to press Iran into submission. Opponents framed it as the failings of a president who miscalculated what it would take to get out of a geopolitical mire.

“Trump has no plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, so he is threatening to attack Iran’s civil power plants,” said Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass, adding: “This would be a war crime.”

“He’s lost control of the war and he is panicking,” said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., responding to Trump’s post.

Over the course of roughly a week, Trump has repeatedly shifted his approach on the crucial waterway for global oil and gas transport. There is growing urgency for Trump as soaring oil prices rattle global markets and pinch American consumers months before pivotal midterm elections.

Trump and diplomacy

Trump tried his hand at a diplomatic solution last weekend when he called for a new international coalition to send warships to the strait.

Allies turned him down. Trump then said the U.S. could manage on its own. On Friday he suggested other countries would have to take over as the U.S. eyes an exit. Hours later he indicated the waterway would somehow “open itself.”

“You can’t all of a sudden walk away after you’ve kind of created the event and expect other people to pick it up,” Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C. told ABC’s “This Week.”

Trump’s Treasury Department on Friday made its latest attempt to get a handle on the soaring gas prices, by lifting sanctions on some Iranian oil for the first time in decades. That relieved some of the pressure that Washington traditionally has used as leverage against Tehran.

The goal was to send millions more barrels of oil into the global market. It is not clear, however, how much of a dent that would make in lowering pump prices or how the administration could prevent Iran from cashing in on the renewed sales.

The administration earlier temporarily lifted sanctions on some Russian oil.

An ultimatum to Iran

Trump’s ultimatum, conveyed while he spent the weekend in Florida, carries a threat of remarkable aggression. His previous messaging has mostly focused on U.S. success in hitting Iran’s air force, navy and missile production. This time, the threatened target is the energy infrastructure that powers hospitals, homes and more.

His social media post — 51 words, much of them in capital letters — did not have the appearance of a message that underwent the careful legal scrutiny needed to justify an attack on civilian infrastructure, said Geoffrey Corn, a military law professor at Texas Tech University and a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army who served as a military lawyer.

“It certainly has a feeling of ready, fire, aim,” Corn said of the Trump’s moving strategy.

“He overestimated his ability to control the events once he unleashed this torrent of violence.”

That type of widespread attack would probably be a war crime, Corn said. For military leaders, it could force a choice between obeying an order to carry out a war crime or refusing and facing criminal sanction for willful disobedience, he said.

Laws governing warfare do not explicitly forbid attacks on power plants, but the tactic is allowed only if an analysis finds that the military advantages outweigh the civilian harm, legal scholars say. It is seen as a high bar to clear because the rules of war are, at their core, designed to separate civilian and military targets.

Iran’s U.N. ambassador, in a letter to the Security Council, warned that the deliberate targeting of power plants would be inherently indiscriminate and a war crime, according to the state-run IRNA news agency.

The White House has already faced intense backlash after the U.S. was blamed for a missile strike on an Iranian elementary school that killed more than 165 people.

Trump aides justify latest attempt to rein in the crisis

Trump provided scant detail on which plants might be targeted and how. He gave Iran until Monday to reopen the strait or else the U.S. will strike “various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”

Trump’s team came to his defense Sunday, offering justification for striking Iran’s energy grid..

Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Iran’s Revolutionary Guard controls much of the country’s infrastructure and is using it to power the war effort. He said potential targets include “gas-fired thermal power plants and other types of plants.”

Speaking on Fox News, Waltz said he wanted to get ahead of “hand-wringing” from the global community, calling the Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization. “The president is not messing around,” he said.

NATO’s secretary-general, Mark Rutte, who has allied himself closely to Trump, tried to calm tensions. He said he understood Trump’s anger and stressed that more than 20 countries are “coming together to implement his vision” of making the strait navigable as soon as possible.

Israel’s ambassador to Washington, Yechiel Leiter, cautioned against an all-out attack like the one Trump threatened. “We want to leave everything in the country intact, so that the people who come after this regime are going to be able to rebuild and reconstitute,” he told CNN’s ”State of the Union.”

Trump’s threat could prove counterproductive: If it’s carried out, Iranian leaders said they would completely close the strait and retaliate against U.S. and Israeli infrastructure.

___

Associated Press writer Seung Min Kim in Washington contributed to this report.