George Russell threw down the gauntlet in final practice before qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix, going six tenths quicker than anyone else. But a spectacular crash involving his team-mate Kimi Antonelli made it a bittersweet session for Mercedes.

Antonelli looks set to miss qualifying entirely after he lost control at turn two with just over 10 minutes of FP3 remaining, spinning backwards into the barriers and sending debris and wheels flying. Fortunately, the Italian teenager emerged from the shunt unhurt but it was not the start to the weekend he would have wanted after a topsy-turvy rookie season.

When the session resumed, with four minutes remaining, Russell immediately went eight tenths quicker than the next quickest car, drawing gasps from the fans at Albert Park. “That’s a mighty lap from George Russell,” agreed Martin Brundle on Sky Sports F1. “They [Mercedes] have been sandbagging!”

Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton also went for a flying lap at the end, and while he managed to go second quickest, he was a full six tenths slower than Russell despite being on a brand new soft tyres. Russell’s effort came on the same tyres he had been using when Antonelli crashed.

Hamilton’s team-mate Charles Leclerc was third quickest, ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen. World champion Lando Norris was eighth, a full 1.390sec slower than Russell.

Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll did not make it out of the pits due to yet another Honda power unit related issue.

Earlier, in a bizarre chain of events, the FIA announced that it was axing the “straight line mode” activation zone between Turns 8 and 9 at Albert Park following concerns raised in the drivers’ briefing on Friday evening, only to reinstate it hours later following significant push-back from teams.

However my sister and I recently struck it lucky at Robin Hood’s Bay, and although windy, the temperature felt almost springlike. At one point, it was just about warm enough to sunbathe in only two layers of clothing. Remarkable.

Having planned to walk to Whitby along the glorious Cleveland Way on the Sunday for fish and chips, we were in need of somewhere for tea on the Saturday evening, and a friend in the know recommended Brambles Bistro in the heart of the village.

The independent, family-run steakhouse and bistro sits in one of the village’s many quirky historic buildings dating back to its days as a thriving fishing port and haven for smugglers.

Brambles Bistro in the heart of Robin Hood’s Bay

Information in the menu, and displayed on the walls of the cosy interior, explain the premises date back to about 1676 and for many years served as a community bakery, as well as a family home. Village children passing on the way to school would apparently watch as the baker used a ten foot long spade-like tool to place baking tins in the ovens. At weekends, for a few coins, he would help with meals for the villagers, as many did not have their own cookers.

Inside the historic Brambles Bistro – formerly the village bakery

This warm-hearted heritage was matched by the friendly welcome as we were shown to a corner table in one of the small, low-ceilinged dining areas.

Even though the menu reflects its billing as a steakhouse, there are quite a few seafood options, and it would have been wrong to go fully in on the meat, given just how close we were to the coast.

So for a starter, Claire and I shared a portion of calamari (£10.50). It was served with chipotle aioli – delicately flavoured, it added a little heat without overpowering the tender calamari. The batter was excellent – light and crispy, giving way to a firm, but not chewy interior. A great opener.

The calamari starter came with chipotle aioli

The main menu is a combination of “classics,” burgers and steaks. Classics include fish and chips (£17.95), scampi (£18.95), roasted rump of lamb (£26.95), falafel salad bowl (£16.95) and goats cheese quiche (£16.95), while for the burgers, there is a choice of six ranging in price from £16.95 for the house burger to £21.95 for the “signature” steak burger, described as “an all-out tribute to beef”.

Having seen a beautiful steak come out to a neighbouring table, I decided to sample one for myself, and went for the 10oz flat iron (£24.95), served with rosemary fries, chargrilled tomato and the Brambles’ “famous” onion loaf.

The flat iron steak, coated in melting garlic butter

I was intrigued by the loaf, but I wouldn’t say what arrived was particularly loaf-like. It was more an onion squiggle – a loose-ish bundle of finely sliced, crispy, battered onion. Much more interesting than a boring old onion ring and a great companion to the main event – the steak. Cooked a perfect medium, it cut beautifully and genuinely melted in the mouth. The rosemary fries were nicely seasoned (a chunkier chip would have been too filling) and the side salad added a lovely touch of freshness.

Claire opted for the Yorkshire lamb kofta – an open flatbread served with a baby leaf salad, coriander hummus and a mountain of fries. It came sprinkled with vibrant pomegranate seeds and was as tasty as it was well presented. The lamb pretty much fell off the skewers, and was perfectly complimented by the sharp, earthy hummus. The overall effect was a kind-of lightness that matched the mild temperatures outside.

The lamb kofta at Brambles Bistro – hidden underneath is a mountain of fries

Desserts were tempting – a lemon and Prosecco sorbet (£9) caught the eye – but would have been unwise. We were just nicely full so instead had another drink while soaking in more of the mellow atmosphere.

The service throughout was faultless – even though we knew there was a time limit on our table as we were an early booking, we never at any stage felt like we were being rushed through. The team were just the right combination of attentive, efficient, and friendly.

Brambles Bistro in Robin Hood’s Bay is a stone’s throw from the sea

The bill, with a glass of wine each, came to £68.40, good value we felt given the homely surroundings, quality of service and how much we enjoyed our meal.

We paid up and wandered the few yards down to the sea to stretch our legs, as the lights of the bistro twinkled behind us. Having thoroughly appreciated the evening menu, the next time we’re in the area, we’ll be sure to pay a visit for breakfast or lunch to this gem of a venue.

Brambles Bistro,

The Dock, Robin Hoods Bay, North Yorkshire, YO22 4SH.

01947 880094

www.bramblesbistro.co.uk

Open Wednesdays 11am to late, Thursdays to Sundays 9.30am to late. Closed Monday-Tuesday.

Booking recommended for evening tables.

Ratings (out of ten): Surroundings 9 Food quality 9 Value for money 9 Service 10

Tottenham have no immediate plans to sack interim manager Igor Tudor, despite Thursday night’s catastrophic defeat against Crystal Palace.

Spurs sacked Thomas Frank last month and installed Tudor as their interim boss amid fears they were getting sucked into a relegation scrap.

Those concerns have been vindicated with the north London club now just a solitary point outside the drop zone following the 3-1 loss against Palace.

With Nottingham Forest and WestHam gaining ground in midweek the situation has developed into a full-blown crisis, especially given the new manager bounce Spurs were hoping to gain from Tudor’s arrival has failed to materialise.

Despite the desperate plight and calls for an immediate change in the dugout, Tudor appears likely to remain in his position for now ahead of next week’s daunting trip to Anfield, according to talkSPORT.

The former Juventus and Lazio manager will need to see an immediate improvement if he is to remain in a job, let alone save Spurs from the drop.

Asked if he expected the Spurs hierarchy to let him carry on following Thursday’s latest disaster, Tudor responded: ‘I don’t think in that direction. I have my job to do and that’s all.

‘Of course I understand the fans. It’s a normal thing that happens in football. They are disappointed. They wanted more. We are aware of that.

‘We also wanted to give more. Unfortunately this is the moment that we pay everything. One red card change everything

‘I will tell you now maybe it will sound strange, but I believe more after this game than I believed before. I saw something.

‘I need to choose the right guys because the boat is going in the direction that I want to go and needs to go and who is in the boat can stay. Otherwise they can bow down, or how do you say that, leave the boat.

‘So, when the other players will come back and choosing the right (players), I’m sure we will have a good team and the victories will come back. It’s not easy to accept the moment where we are now but it is how it is.’

Despite his confidence, the Telegraph reports that Spurs are considering a second change of management in the space of a matter of weeks.

The likes of Harry Redknapp and Tim Sherwood, who both enjoyed spells at the helm a decade ago, have been mooted and the decision will ultimately fall with under-fire chief executive Vinai Venkatesham.

Asked if he would return to Tottenham if they approached him, Redknapp said: ‘Of course I would have to, wouldn’t I? But it’s not going to happen.

‘No, I can’t see that happening. I think I’ll be at Cheltenham on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

‘Wednesday I’ve got a runner, Taurus Bay, he runs in the first race on Wednesday. He’s got a chance, a 20/1 shot, it’s an open race but he’s got a shot.’

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The Cambridge Half Marathon is set to return to the city’s streets, with more than 13,000 participants

Cambridge city centre roads will be closed for the half marathon on Sunday (March 8). The TTP Cambridge Half Marathon will start and finish on Victoria Avenue, with an event village on Midsummer Common.

The event is expected to see more than 13,000 participants taking to Cambridge’s streets. Organisers have said that people should “allow additional time” for any journeys planned on Sunday.

All car parks will remain open throughout the day of the event. All bus services will continue to run on the day of the event, but stops on Trumpington Street and Downing Street will be suspended, with an alternative stop on Emmanuel Street.

Parking will be suspended along the race route on the day of the event. Some parking will also be suspended on Saturday, March 7.

A spokesperson said: “As organisers we appreciate that the road closures may cause inconvenience, for which we apologise. We thank you for your support of this event, which will be enjoyed by many Cambridgeshire residents and will raise much needed funds for multiple charities.”

Cambridge

• Barton Road West 06:00 to 13:00
• Bene’t Street Both 04:00 to 17:00
• Bridge Street Both 04:00 to 17:00
• Chesterton Road (between Mitcham’s Corner & Elizabeth Way) Both 08:00 to 11:30
• Chesterton Road (between Mitcham’s Corner & Northampton Street) West 08:00 to 11:30
• Church Lane (Trumpington) Both 08:00 to 13:00
• Coton Road Both 08:00 to 13:00
• Elizabeth Way (Bridge) North 08:00 to 11:30
• Elizabeth Way (Section from Chesterton Rd Roundabout – Milton Rd) North 08:00 to 11:30
• Elizabeth Way Bus Lane North 04:00 to 13:00
• Garret Hostel Lane (Bridge) Both 08:00 to 11:30
• Grantchester Road, High Street & Mill Way (Grantchester) Both 08:00 to 13:00
• Guildhall Street Both 04:00 to 17:00
• Jesus Lane (Manor Street – Four Lamps roundabout) Both 08:00 to 14:00
• King’s Parade Both 04:00 to 17:00
• Lower Park Street (short section by Jesus Grn / College entrance) Both 06:00 to 14:00
• Maids Causeway / Newmarket Road (to the E.Way roundabout) Both 08:00 to 11:30
• Milton Road (Between Highworth Ave (A1134) rdbt & Gilbert Road junction inc cycleway) Both 08:00 to 11:30
• Milton Road (Gilbert Road junction to Mitcham’s Corner) West 08:00 to 11:30
• Newnham Road South 06:00 to 13:00
• Northampton Street West 08:00 to 11:30
• Park Parade Both 06:00 to 14:00
• Petty Cury Both 04:00 to 17:00
• Queen’s Road South 06:00 to 12:30
• Richmond Terrace Both 06:00 to 14:00
• Senate House Hill Both 04:00 to 17:00
• Sidney Street Both 04:00 to 17:00
• Silver Street Both 06:00 to 14:00
• The Fen Causeway Both 06:00 to 14:00
• Thompson Lane Both 08:00 to 14:00
• Trinity Lane Both 04:00 to 11:30
• Trinity Street Both 04:00 to 17:00
• Trumpington Road South 08:00 to 14:00
• Trumpington Street Both 06:00 to 14:00
• Victoria Avenue Both 04:00 to 19:00
• Wheeler Street Both 04:00 to 17:00

Ireland secured a crucial 27-17 bonus-point victory over Wales in Dublin to keep their Six Nations title hopes alive, with head coach Andy Farrell praising Wales’ performance despite their 15th consecutive championship defeat

Andy Farrell lavished praise on “tremendous” Wales following Ireland’s hard-fought 27-17 bonus-point victory in Dublin, which kept their faint Guinness Six Nations title hopes alive.

After ruthlessly dismantling England in the third round, Farrell’s men were denied another commanding performance by resilient opponents seeking their first championship triumph since 2023.

Ireland held a slender 12-10 advantage at the interval following Wales prop Rhys Carre’s excellent individual try, which came after Jacob Stockdale and Jack Crowley had crossed for the hosts.

Jack Conan and Jamie Osborne touched down after the break, sandwiching a score from Welsh flanker James Botham, as Ireland edged through to secure a Triple Crown clash with Scotland next weekend.

Ireland boss Farrell said: “I actually thought Wales did fantastically well to stay in the game.

“They played tough, they hung on in there and kept it close on the scoreboard. I thought they were tremendous tonight.

“It was a proper Test match and for us to come away with a bonus-point win, we’d certainly take that with how the game unfolded because it was a different game to the game we played last time around.

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“We weren’t playing rugby on the front foot because of how well they defended.

“I thought they were excellent in contact and at set-piece and they can be really proud of their performance.”

While Ireland remain in the hunt for championship honours, table-topping France can secure the title with a match to spare by defeating Scotland with a bonus point at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Wales, meanwhile, will attempt to avoid finishing bottom for the third consecutive Six Nations when they welcome Italy on the final weekend, having slumped to a 15th straight championship loss despite a commendable showing at the Aviva Stadium.

“I thought we came up against a rock-solid defence who kept knocking us back and we should have been just a little bit more patient at times and I thought we’d get our reward from that,” said Farrell.

“But most of the credit of how that Test match unfolded has to go to Wales because I thought they were outstanding in the way they went about the fight.

“It was a dogged Test match and that’s how these type of Test matches should be.”

Wales head coach Steve Tandy believed his side merited ending their prolonged Six Nations winless run following arguably the finest display of his reign.

The visitors opened the tournament with comprehensive defeats to England and France before enduring a heartbreaking 26-23 reverse to Scotland last time out.

“(I’ve) massive pride in the boys and the shift they put in,” said Tandy. “The physicality they left out on the field was outstanding.

“Disappointed we didn’t get something from the game for the group because I felt we deserved something by the fight they showed, a lot of great skill out there as well.

“This group, they’re unbelievable to work with, they’re always learning, they’re growing.

“I know it’s tough for people, everyone want us to win, but I think the way the group are developing and then when you think about the start we had in England and where we’ve come to, this performance tells you so much about the group.”

Daryl Hannah has broken her silence on her portrayal in Ryan Murphy’s new series.

Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette follows the whirlwind romance and high-profile relationship between the attorney and his publicist wife before their tragic deaths in 1999.

Actor and activist Hannah, who was in an on-and-off relationship with Kennedy for about five years until 1994, has remained famously discreet about the relationship in the decades following his death.

However, in a scathing guest essay for The New York Times, Hannah slammed Murphy’s characterization of her in Love Story, saying it “is not even a remotely accurate representation of my life, my conduct or my relationship with John.

“Storytelling requires tension. It often requires an obstacle. But a real, living person is not a narrative device,” she wrote, suggesting that tearing down one woman to uplift another was “textbook misogyny” and branding the show “tragedy-exploiting”.

“The actions and behaviors attributed to me are untrue,” Hannah asserted. “I have never used cocaine in my life or hosted cocaine-fueled parties. I have never pressured anyone into marriage. I have never desecrated any family heirloom or intruded upon anyone’s private memorial. I have never planted any story in the press. I never compared Jacqueline Onassis’ death to a dog’s.

open image in gallery

“It’s appalling to me that I even have to defend myself against a television show. These are not creative embellishments of personality. They are assertions about conduct — and they are false.”

Hannah went on to describe the consequences of the series, including the “hostile” and “threatening” messages she’s received from viewers who have believed the portrayal.

“Real names are not fictional tools. They belong to real lives,” she wrote.

The Independent has contacted Murphy for comment.

Love Story features Paul Anthony Kelly as JFK Jr, Sarah Pidgeon as Carolyn Bessette, Grace Gummer as Caroline Kennedy, and Naomi Watts as former first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis.

open image in gallery

Hannah — married to singer Neil Young since 2018 — is far from the only person to have spoken out about Love Story. The limited series is the latest controversial project from Murphy, who has faced accusations in the past of glamorizing serial killers and profiting off tragedy.

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JFK Jr.’s nephew, Jack Schlossberg, has also released a statement criticisting the anthology series, saying: “Lately, my news feed has been filled with pictures of my uncle, John F. Kennedy Jr., a great man. For those wondering whether his family was ever consulted, or has anything to do with the new show being made about him, the answer is no, and there’s really not much we can do.”

Schlossberg then added his concern that Murphy was “profiting off of it in a grotesque way.”

Murphy responded to Schlossberg’s comment at the time by saying, “I thought it was an odd choice to be mad about your relative that you really don’t remember.”

People’s Postcode Lottery players in Greater Manchester have helped raise more than £7 million in the last decade for international school feeding charity Mary’s Meals. 

Funding more than 39 million meals in 16 countries to date.

Mary’s Meals, founded in the Scottish Highlands, serves daily meals to children in some of the world’s poorest communities, encouraging school attendance and supporting education as a route out of poverty.

Laura Chow, head of charities at People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “It’s fantastic to know that for a decade our players have supported the essential work of Mary’s Meals – and have now raised an incredible £7 million to help children across the globe access nutritious meals.

“This funding helps children in some of the most underserved communities go to school well-fed, ready to learn and full of hope for a brighter future.”

The partnership has supported 478,968 children with daily school meals, with funding initially focused on specific countries such as Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Zambia, Madagascar, Ethiopia and South Sudan.

It also strengthened Mary’s Meals through key organisational development projects.

In recent years, funding has been provided on an unrestricted basis, allowing Mary’s Meals to allocate resources where they are most needed.

Gemma Love, philanthropy and institutional partnerships manager at Mary’s Meals, said: “We are incredibly grateful to People’s Postcode Lottery players in Greater Manchester, whose ongoing support is helping us reach more children than ever before with a daily school meal that encourages learning, brings hope and changes lives.

“Seeing the difference this support makes for children and communities inspires us to keep going and to reach even more children in the years ahead.”

The school feeding programme addresses a range of challenges, including barriers to education and gender inequality.

Girls make up half of the children supported by Mary’s Meals, yet 119 million girls worldwide remain out of school.

For many children, the promise of a meal at school is life-changing.

Twelve-year-old Efigénia, who attends Tindzawene Primary School in Mozambique, said: “With school meals, I feel good because even with a lack of food at home, here at school I have a meal and I can study.”

Mary’s Meals marked a major milestone at the end of last year, now serving meals to more than three million children every school day.

For more information, visit: marysmeals.org.uk. 

Two fire crews were called to the scene in Stublowe Place, off Hull Road, at 11.40pm on Friday (March 6).

They found the property “heavily smoke logged” after a fire on a hob inside, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said.

A service spokesperson added: “Crews ventilated the property using a positive pressure ventilation fan and gave advice to the occupant.”

Make sure you get out and about to make the most of that sunshine

The sun is back just in time for the weekend and since we haven’t seen much of it lately, make sure you get out and about this weekend to make the most of it.

According to the Met Office, the weekend will be a mix of patchy cloud and some sunshine, with high temperatures of 12°C forecast on Saturday. Cloud will drift in from the west through the day but eastern areas will see plenty of sunny spells.

The weather outlook for Sunday sees some bright spells in places in the morning before turning cloudier later on with the chance of some light rain in places.

READ MORE: Northern Ireland in for hot spell this week as Met Office says temperatures to hit 18CREAD MORE: Rat activity shows significant increase after hot summer and recent rain

Here’s what to expect for the coming days in Northern Ireland:

Saturday:

It will remain dry on Saturday. Feeling a touch milder again with some bright spells or hazy sunshine. Quite windy in the north and west. Maximum temperature 12°C.

Outlook for Sunday to Tuesday:

Variable cloud and bright spells on Sunday and Monday with occasional spells of rain. Cloudy and windy with rain on Tuesday.

UK long range weather forecast: Wednesday 11 March – Friday 20 March

The first part of this period will continue to see the UK located at the interface between high pressure across Europe and low pressure over the North Atlantic. As such, western areas will likely see spells of rain at times, along with stronger winds, whereas eastern parts should see more in the way of drier interludes, though even here, some rain is possible from time to time.

Towards the middle of March, there is a signal for unsettled conditions to perhaps become more widespread, with all parts seeing a higher chance of rain and stronger winds. Throughout, temperatures should overall be a little above average for most areas.

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The nursey works closely with parents to keep them updated on their child’s development.

A nursery in Cambridgeshire has been rated strong in all of the categories assessed by OFSTED. The Day Nursery in Peterborough has been praised for the “very good progress” children make during their time there.

The Day Nursery was inspected by the regulator on Wednesday, January 14, with the positive report published on Monday, March 2. The report said: “Teaching is highly effective across all rooms of the nursery. Staff know the children extremely well. They take the time to help them settle and build loving, trusting relationships from the start. Staff working with babies are highly skilled and trained.”

It continued: “They understand baby development, including the importance of developing and strengthening children’s large and small muscles. They give them space to crawl, climb safely and provide equipment to help them pull themselves up to standing. Staff maintain eye-contact when talking to babies and repeat words to begin building their vocabulary.”

Jade Smith, the Early Years Manager, said: “I would just like to say how incredibly proud I am of our team, we have previously been rated outstanding three times and have remained committed to delivering the highest standards achievable.

“A special mention also needs to go to our nursery owner Lynne Blyth who dedicates her time fighting for the best outcomes for all local nurseries by being involved in local and national Early Years groups and forums.”

As well as developing a good relationship with the children, the report said staff also help them to “develop a secure knowledge of mathematical concepts” by using real life examples and activities. The report added that children are able to follow instructions “very well” and show ‘impressive’ levels of concentration and focus.

Mealtimes are also used to further children’s development with children from the age of two years old serving their own food, according to regulators. The children “highly benefit” from routines at the nursery, including time outdoors and yoga, music, and movement sessions.

On the leadership and governance of the nursery, the report detailed: “Leaders appreciate and value their staff. They monitor practice to help nurture and guide staff’s personal development. Regular supervision sessions consider staff’s wellbeing and identify professional training opportunities.

“Leaders are passionate about continuing professional development opportunities for all staff using tailor-made, customised and bespoke training. This means staff can continually deliver high-quality teaching experiences and constantly build their skills.”

The staff at the Day Nursery also build partnerships with the children’s parents and “gather the essential information about their child to help them settle”, the report said. Many parents have “extremely positively” commented on the information they receive about their children’s daily activities.