Durham County Council is proposing to extend the existing Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) for working-age residents throughout 2027/28, keeping the maximum level of support at 90 per cent of a claimant’s council tax liability.

The authority currently supports 54,100 residents through the scheme, including 33,500 working-age people and 20,600 pensioners. 

The current arrangements were introduced in April 2026 following a review and public consultation.

But rival politicians warned the tax rise would impact the county’s poorest residents.  

Changes included the introduction of an income-banded model for working-age applicants and a reduction in the maximum level of support from 100 per cent to 90 per cent.

All working-age claimants are now required to contribute at least 10 per cent towards their council tax bill.

Yet it is still too early to fully assess the impact of the changes on both residents and the authority, the council said. 

It added that further monitoring is needed to understand how the revised scheme affects collection rates, administrative efficiency and residents’ ability to pay, as well as any wider impact on deprivation.

Several neighbouring councils have moved in the opposite direction, with five local authorities across the region now offering support of up to 100 per cent and many no longer taking non-dependant deductions into account when calculating entitlement.

Despite those changes elsewhere, Durham County Council said retaining the current scheme would provide continuity while allowing more time to evaluate its effectiveness.

The authority said the scheme would remain under “continuous monitoring and review” to assess its impact on both residents and council finances.

A report recommending the continuation of the current arrangements will be presented to full council later this year for approval.

Inside or outside, the choice is yours with these city centre venues with great beer gardens and terraces as well as cool interiors – temp wise and atmosphere wise!

1. The Botanist

This beautiful beer garden is glamorous and a perfect date night summer setting. With fairy lights scattered around, The Botanist remains true to its name and its roof-top terrace is decorated with lots of lush greenery and it offers a selection of flowery cocktails. Where: 10 Church Street, CF10 1BG

2. Jacob’s Roof Garden

Okay, not quite an ‘all-day’ beer garden, but having a beverage on the top of this building, which has a stunning 360 view over the skyline, is pretty spectacular on a clear day. It’s currently running its ‘rooftop coffee shop & byo’ between 11am and 5pm where you can bring your own bottle of fizz or grab a coffee from the cafe alongside snacks and enjoy the weather. What a way to spend a day!

Jacob’s also hosts open air cinemas – read more on that here.Where: W Canal Wharf, CF10 5DB

3. Bacareto

This Venetian tapas-style bar is a fabulous place to help you unwind after work with a spritz or two. But while it’s open sliding window front is lush and a sun trap that looks out onto the busy Church Street, the upstairs terrace is intimate, cosy (with a limited number of seats) and welcoming. Where: 13 Church Street, CF10 1BG

4. FLight Club

Two floors above the entrance of the dart-throwing madness and fun at Flight Club is a beer garden with a unique design – there’s a gypsy-style caravan, a red telephone box and picnic tables with parasols. To give the feel of a green oasis in the heart of the city centre, it is also decorated with fake grass and plenty of greenery and if you’re tall enough, there’s a cracking view of St John’s Church. Where: 3-4 St Mary Street, CF10 1AT

5. Roos

Serving brunch, lunch and dinner as well as coffees and an outdoor bar, too, Roos – named after the architect Alexander Roos who designed Sophia Gardens and much of the Bute estate in Cardiff and south Wales – will welcome those who fancy a coffee break, cocktail happy hour. Where: Sophia Gardens’ Wardens Hut

6, Brewhouse and Kitchen

Okay, it’s not exactly hidden, but it is an absolute cracker of a beer garden. Situated in Sophia Gardens, you can enjoy a drink under the protection of the ‘Aperol’ umbrellas, foliage and flora of the city centre at the front of the pub whilst in the back, behind a gated area, there are seats surrounding a firepit with fairy lights to bring a little more sparkle to your summer evening al fresco. Where: Sophia Gardens, Pontcanna, CF11 9HW

With around 70 per cent of properties in the town now able to upgrade their broadband service, Openreach is encouraging residents to check what’s available and see if they can benefit from faster, more reliable broadband.

Full Fibre broadband is now available to 15,000 homes and businesses across Coatbridge thanks to a major investment of around £4.5m – but many people could be using slower, less reliable connections.

With around 70 per cent of properties in the town now able to upgrade their broadband service, Openreach is encouraging residents to check what’s available and see if they can benefit from faster, more reliable broadband.

Full Fibre delivers a smoother online experience – faster downloads, more stable connections, and better performance when multiple devices are running at once – and the Openreach network has a wide choice of service providers to choose from.

People living in Coatbridge can check if they can upgrade by visiting Openreach’s Full Fibre checker.

Robert Thorburn, partnership director for Scotland, said: “Most of Coatbridge is now covered by Full Fibre, but many residents and businesses still haven’t made the switch.

“It’s not automatic – you need to place an order with your chosen broadband provider.

“The difference in speed and reliability can be significant, especially for busy households or people working from home.

“We want to make sure everyone knows what’s available and how to get it.

“Openreach is committed to building the best Full Fibre network, and doing it sustainably.

“Through our Let’s Reach Zero strategy, we’re working to reduce carbon emissions, use fewer resources, cut waste, and protect nature wherever we operate.”

Full Fibre brings a faster, more reliable connection that keeps up with modern digital life – whether it’s streaming, gaming, video calling, managing finances, or running a business.

Openreach’s Full Fibre network now reaches 22 million homes and businesses across the UK.

The company plans to extend this to 25 million by the end of 2026, with the potential to reach 30 million by 2030 with the right investment conditions.

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Pocklington Town Council said it has agreed to support a partnership approach with the Pocklington District Heritage Trust (PDHT) and the Pocklington Community Trust (PCT) to develop Burnby Hall in The Balk into a community and heritage hub, with the council taking the lead on a proposed National Lottery Heritage Fund application.

In September 2025, the lease for the former East Riding of Yorkshire administration offices was handed over to Pocklington’s civic officials.

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Pocklington District Heritage Trust works to preserve and showcase the area’s rich archaeological and historical heritage highlighting everything from internationally important Iron Age burials to Anglo‑Saxon and Viking history.

It recently won the race for an Anglo-Saxon panel to return to the town and said it hopes to show it in a very distinct case.

Pocklington Community Trust, through its role at Burnby Hall and the Community Hall, has introduced an affordable community hub for local people, managing spaces used for coffee mornings, fitness and craft classes, heritage events, NHS blood donation sessions and a wide range of social, cultural and support activities.

Sheena McNamee, a trustee of both the PDHT and PCT, addressed the council at its June meeting.

She said: “A partnership National Lottery Heritage Fund bid, led by Pocklington Town Council and supported by PDHT and the Community Trust, is the only credible route to achieving this at the necessary scale.

“It balances ambition with responsibility and partnership with prudence.”

The council’s involvement would provide the governance and financial oversight needed for a lottery application of around £1 million.

The funding would support a more ambitious transformation of Burnby Hall, including the possible restoration of the Edwardian conservatory and wider heritage and community facilities.

Burnby Hall (Image: Supplied)

Pocklington town mayor Roly Cronshaw said: “Pocklington Town Council is delighted to be working in partnership with Pocklington District Heritage Trust and Pocklington Community Trust on this exciting opportunity for Burnby Hall.

“By bringing together the strengths and expertise of all three organisations, we can develop a strong and ambitious proposal that has the potential to secure significant investment for the town.”

“While the project will help preserve and celebrate an important part of Pocklington’s heritage, its benefits will reach far beyond that.

“The vision is to create a vibrant community hub that can be enjoyed by residents of all ages and interests, providing enhanced facilities, opportunities and activities that support the wellbeing, learning and social life of the whole community.”

The PCT is already working to make the whole of Burnby Hall fit and safe for multi-purpose use, while the PDHT aims to open a low-key museum within the building before the end of the year.

Successful lottery applications are not rapid, but it is hoped that the initial steering group can be brought together to get the process underway in the near future.

Great North Run founder Sir Brendan Foster helped put the finishing touches to the colourful mural which brings a fresh burst of colour to the Quayside and is just one of several art installations planned as the city counts down to the 2026 event.

Sir Brendan said: “This Sunday we celebrate a big milestone, the 45th birthday of the Great North Run. In that time, we’ve had over 1.4 million finishers and helped raise hundreds of millions of pounds for charity.

A new mural celebrating the 45th anniversary of the AJ Bell Great North Run has been unveiled on Newcastle Quayside by race founder Sir Brendan Foster (Image: North News & Pictures)

“Over the years we’ve had countless special moments, incredible feats, records & world firsts but we’re focused on the future, and we’ve kept this a secret until now, but we’re gearing up for the biggest ever Great North Run in 2026.

“An additional 3,000 places were allocated for this year’s event meaning there will be are 63,000 runners on Sunday 13th September.

“The popularity of the Great North Run continues to grow with ballot entries to secure a much coveted place increasing year on year, so we’re delighted to be able to offer even more runners the chance to participate this year.”

A new mural celebrating the 45th anniversary of the AJ Bell Great North Run has been unveiled on Newcastle Quayside by race founder Sir Brendan Foster (Image: North News & Pictures)

The mural, designed and painted by Newcastle-based street artist Mul (Alex Mulholland), stretches 90 metres along the Quayside and features his signature Running Heart character, which has become part of this year’s GNR45 branding.

Mul’s artwork will be seen on this year’s finisher t-shirts and medals, and the mural’s location ties it firmly to the event’s celebrations over the Great North Run weekend.

On Friday, September 11, the Quayside will host the Great North Run 5k, followed by the 40th edition of the Great North Junior and Mini events on Saturday, September 12.

A new mural celebrating the 45th anniversary of the AJ Bell Great North Run has been unveiled on Newcastle Quayside by race founder Sir Brendan Foster, pictured with street artist Mul (Image: North News & Pictures)

Sir Brendan said: “We’re gathered on the Quayside to see the starting touches on a giant floor mural which is part of the GNR45 celebrations.

“The Great North Run has always been a real celebration of the North East and this is the first of several exciting city installations which will pop up over the coming weeks.

“The Quayside is the perfect location for this installation as it is home to many of our running celebrations across the Great North Run weekend.

Sir Brendan Foster and street artist Mul, who created the mural (Image: North News & Pictures)

“Mul’s street art is designed to be accessible to everyone and his Running Heart personifies our event and everyone who takes part to raise money for many great causes, in memory of loved ones, or purely for the love of running.”

Mul said it was a career highlight to be involved.

He said: “It’s a true honour to have been invited by The Great Run team to contribute to the legacy of such an iconic North East institution.

A new mural celebrating the 45th anniversary of the AJ Bell Great North Run has been unveiled on Newcastle Quayside by race founder Sir Brendan Foster (Image: North News & Pictures)

“To know my artwork will form part of The Great North Run’s history is a genuine bucket-list moment and something as an artist, I’m very proud of.”

The mural was delivered in partnership with NE1, Newcastle city centre’s Business Improvement District company.

Stephen Patterson, CEO of NE1 Ltd, said: “We are extremely proud to host the world’s favourite and largest half marathon here in Newcastle and we are delighted to play our part in the Great North Run’s 45th anniversary celebrations.

A new mural celebrating the 45th anniversary of the AJ Bell Great North Run has been unveiled on Newcastle Quayside by race founder Sir Brendan Foster (Image: North News & Pictures)

“The Great North Run is part of the fabric of the city.

“It has put Newcastle and the wider North East on the national and international map attracting millions of visitors over the years to enjoy the event, its associated festivities and everything the city and the region have to offer.

“The event delivers a huge economic boost to the city and its businesses and creates an amazing atmosphere that we look forward to each year.”

He said: “This new artwork will be a fitting tribute to the incredible legacy of the Great North Run and the impact it has on Newcastle.”

A new mural celebrating the 45th anniversary of the AJ Bell Great North Run has been unveiled on Newcastle Quayside by race founder Sir Brendan Foster (Image: North News & Pictures)

A new mural celebrating the 45th anniversary of the AJ Bell Great North Run has been unveiled on Newcastle Quayside by race founder Sir Brendan Foster (Image: North News & Pictures)

A new mural celebrating the 45th anniversary of the AJ Bell Great North Run has been unveiled on Newcastle Quayside by race founder Sir Brendan Foster (Image: North News & Pictures)

The body of a a 26-year-old was found at the Nine Ladies Stone Circle in Stanton Lees on Monday

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a body was found at a Bronze Age stone circle during a summer solstice event in the Peak District.

A murder investigation was launched after the body of a 26-year-old was found at the Nine Ladies Stone Circle in Stanton Lees in Derbyshire at around 1.38pm on Monday (June 22). A 41-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the incident and remains in custody, Derbyshire Police said on Wednesday afternoon.

Officers are urging anyone who in the Stanton Lees area between June 19 and 23, and anyone with video footage of the event during the same period, to come forward. The force is also asking anyone with dashcam footage of vehicles arriving and leaving over the weekend to contact officers.

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The man, who was pronounced dead at the scene after emergency services were called, has not been formally identified but his family have been made aware and are being supported, the force said. The circumstances of the man’s death are being investigated

In a statement, the Peak District National Park Authority said: “We have been made aware of the tragic news and the investigation is being handled by our colleagues at the East Midlands Special Operations Unit. Our condolences are with the young man’s family during this difficult time.”

Detective Inspector Tony Owen, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU), who is leading the investigation, said: “I am urgently appealing for anyone who attended the summer solstice event over the weekend to please speak to officers as soon as they can.

“A young man’s life has been taken in the most brutal way so it is vital that myself and the team build up a clear picture of the exact circumstances surrounding his death. This is why we urgently need to speak to everyone who was at the scene over the weekend. You may have only been there briefly and think you can’t help, but you could hold the key piece of information we need to understand what has happened and help us to get justice for this young man’s family.

“So I would ask, please, that if you attended the event, you contact us urgently so we can build up a picture of the event itself and what has led to this man’s death. I also really urge anyone who captured video footage from the event over the weekend to please come forward. You could play a key role in helping us with this murder investigation.”

According to English Heritage, Nine Ladies Stone Circle is a small early Bronze Age stone circle “traditionally believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on Sunday”.

Derby Mountain Rescue Team, which was called out to assist East Midlands Ambulance Service at the scene, said in a statement on Facebook: “Our thoughts are with the man’s friends and family at this difficult time.”

A woman who visited the historic site for the solstice said the news was “very sad and upsetting”, adding she believes there should be more of a presence of medical organisations for such events, such as the St John’s Ambulance first aid charity.

A major incident portal has been set up at mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM25A84-PO1, or information can be given to police on 101 quoting reference 26*364216.

There’s no denying that the 2020s have given us some seriously big movies – and while we’ve got more entertainment than ever at our fingertips thanks to streaming services, the cinema remains as popular as ever.

This year has already seen the biggest film so far – The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – smash past the $1bn mark worldwide, while the likes of Michael, Project Hail Mary and The Devil Wears Prada 2 have also raked in hundreds of millions of dollars.

And the successes of the decade don’t end there, with Spider-Man: No Way Home, Zootopia 2, Inside Out 2, Barbie, Avatar: Fire and Ash and Top Gun: Maverick all making it into the all-time box office top 20.

But for every film that’s made a fortune, there are those which haven’t fared quite so well – and we’re sorry to say that the 2020s has also given us a fair few of those too.

So let’s put down the popcorn for a moment and spare a thought for those films which had such high hopes – but which ultimately shed millions after failing to find an audience…

Strange World (2022)

The first film on this list comes as something of a surprise, because surely a big-budget Disney animation is a licence to print money, right? Not in the case of Strange World, which arrived in cinemas in time for Thanksgiving 2022, trailing a huge budget in its wake – and failed to make its mark.

Strange World follows a legendary family of explorers who have to set aside their differences as they embark on a journey to save a miracle planet, which is their own society’s source of energy.

On paper this should have worked – with the film boasting an impressive voice cast which includes the likes of Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Lucy Liu and Gabrielle Union – while its gay lead character, a first for a Disney animation, was a milestone moment for the studio.

Throw in a 72% Rotten Tomatoes rating and it should all have worked – but sadly audiences stayed away, with the movie making just $73m (£55m) against a reported production budget of $180m (£136.4m).

Overall estimates from Deadline Hollywood suggested it could lose as much as $197m (£149m) – which given this one had everything going for it, is just a little strange.

Amsterdam (2022)

Another one which should have been a no-brainer, Amsterdam ticked all the boxes – from a cast which includes the likes of Christian Bale, Margot Robbie and David Washington through to director David O Russell at the helm. Not that it made any difference to its fate.

Inspired by the true story of the Business Plot – a 1933 political conspiracy in the US which aimed to overthrow President Roosevelt – the film follows three friends who reunite and attempt to expose the plot, following the murder of a US general.

This one opened to negative reviews, landing a troubling 32% on Rotten Tomatoes – with iNews saying it was ‘let down by its own inanity and wayward plotting’, while the Chicago Sun-Times called it ‘jaw-droppingly terrible’.

In the end the film – which had a reported budget of $80m – grossed just $29.4m (£22m) – with a reported loss of around $108m (£81.9m) once marketing costs were taken into account.

A number of factors have been cited for its failure, from the decision to move the filming from Boston to Los Angeles in the wake of the pandemic, causing the budget to spiral, through to the poor critical reception.

The Marvels (2023)

Given how popular Marvel movies have been over the past decade, with everything from the Avengers series to Thor and Captain Marvel tearing up the box office – 2023’s The Marvels should have been a licence to print money.

Spoiler: It wasn’t. The Marvels – the sequel to 2019’s smash hit Captain Marvel, in which Brie Larson’s protagonist teams up with Monica Rambeau and Ms Marvel after their powers become entangled – proved to be one of the MCU’s biggest disappointments to date.

The reviews weren’t terrible, with the movie bagging a middling 63% Rotten Tomatoes rating -but the box office didn’t match them.

The film took $206m (£156.2m) worldwide, which is still an awful lot of money – plus it holds the record for the highest-grossing film ever to be directed by a black woman, Candyman helmer Nia DaCosta.

But despite its achievements, when you consider that the budget came in at around $219m (£166m) it still wasn’t enough to turn a profit.

Ultimately – including marketing costs – the film is estimated to have lost an eye-watering $237m (£179.7m). Why did it fail? That’s anyone’s guess – but the enormous budget, along with the fact the SAG-Aftra strike at that time prevented some of the stars (Larson, Samuel L Jackson) from doing any press, have been cited as possible factors.

Regardless, the outcome was far from marvellous.

Joker: Folie A Deux (2024)

Todd Phillips’ 2019 hit Joker was simply enormous – quite aside from the fact that it soared past the billion-dollar mark at the box office, it picked up 11 Oscar nominations and won two, including a best actor trophy for Joaquin Phoenix as the troubled title character.

Its sequel however? That’s another story. Folie A Deux arrived in 2024, with the high-profile addition of Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, and a story which swapped the crime thriller tropes of 2019’s original for a legal drama. With songs.

Of course this could have worked, but despite premiering at the 2024 Venice Film Festival in a blaze of publicity, it left critics unimpressed – it has a 31% rating on Rotten Tomatoes – and moviegoers staying away.

Ultimately the film made $227m (£172.1m) worldwide – which, given its budget of $371m (£281.5m) plus marketing costs, ended in a loss of $144.3m (£109.4m).

It wasn’t totally ignored when awards season came around though – being nominated for seven Golden Raspberry awards. So there’s that/

Indiana Jones and the Dial Of Destiny (2023)

When Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) picked up his fedora for one final outing in 2023 everybody got excited – understandably, given the character is one of the most beloved in cinema history.

But just because a new Indy movie might be a cause for celebration, doesn’t mean it’s going to translate into box office receipts.

This one brings the action all the way forward to 1969, and sees our hero join forces with his goddaughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) in search of a mysterious dial which could facilitate time travel.

So far, so standard issue Indy – and potentially a recipe for plenty of action blockbuster thrills. The film nabbed itself a decent 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and took $384m (£291m) worldwide – but with its estimated budget of $295m (£223.6m) plus marketing costs, that wasn’t enough.

In fact, that gross was only half of what the previous outing in the series, 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull, made. Ultimately it’s said to have lost around $134m (£101m) in total – a sad way to end such an iconic series.

Lightyear (2022)

Given how popular Toy Story is – the fifth film in the series is currently packing them in at cinemas – a spin-off Buzz Lightyear movie should have had fans of the franchise flocking.

Sadly, it wasn’t to be. Lightyear was a 2022 origin story in which we meet an actual human version of Buzz. Chris Evans voices the character, who’s joined by a bunch of recruits -and an adorable robot cat named Sox – as they take on the evil Emperor Zurg (you might have heard him mentioned in Toy Story a few times).

Sadly there wasn’t a lot of Buzz around for this Lightyear – which in spite of a decent 74% Rotten Tomatoes Rating struggled to make the impact of the Toy Story flicks.

Costing an estimated $200m (£151m) to make, the film ultimately grossed $226m (£171m) worldwide – once again this sounds like a lot of money, and it is. Against that budget however, it represented an estimated loss of over $100m (£75m).

Again, nobody knows what went wrong – but some have suggested drafting in Evans to voice the character instead of Tim Allen, who voices the Toy Story version, might have proven confusing or off-putting.

A premise which revealed that Lightyear was actually a film within a film – it turns out to be the fictional movie that inspires the Toy Story character – proved equally baffling for some.

Meanwhile, competition from the likes of Jurassic World: Dominion and Top Gun: Maverick didn’t help.

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A staff member at the store was assaulted

A store in the Grafton Centre in Cambridge was reportedly robbed on Friday, June 19. The alleged robbery happened at the Decathlon store just after 10.40am.

Items were stolen from the store and a staff member was reportedly assaulted. Cambridgeshire Police have confirmed the staff member was not seriously injured.

The force would like to speak with a man in connection with the robbery. Anyone who recognises the man in the image or has any information, is asked to report it on the force’s website or call 101, quoting reference 35/45919/26.

The Highlight Active Wellbeing Hub in Hartlepool, which opened on Monday, June 22, stands on the former Jacksons Landing site in Hartlepool.

It has opened after two-and-a-half years of construction, backed by Hartlepool Borough Council, the Tees Valley Combined Authority, and Sport England.

And with doors now open, the first visitors have already praised the new centre.

One user said: “Absolutely love the place, the equipment is first class, it’s beautifully clean.

Another said: “The place is fantastic, it’s lovely, really lovely.”

Councillor Graham Harrison, leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “Highlight represents a huge investment in the health and wellbeing of our residents.”

(Image: Active Hartlepool)

Designed by GT3 Architects and built by Wates, the modern facility features panoramic views of Hartlepool Marina and a wide range of amenities set up for residents of all ages.

Its aquatics centre includes a 25-metre, eight-lane pool, a 25-metre four-lane learner pool with a movable floor, and a leisure pool with water play features and a race slide.

Despite some setbacks, including a delay with its shrivelled ‘kebab turf’, the hub finally welcomed in its first visitors, exploring the 100-station gym, two fitness studios, a spinning studio, soft play areas, and a party room.

Families can enjoy a café with seating for 100 and ground and first-floor terraces overlooking the marina.

The new venue replaces the former Mill House Leisure Centre, bringing together leisure services, NHS care, family-friendly activities, and social spaces.

Membership options start from £18.50 including unlimited swimming, and access to the gym and classes at both Highlight and the Headland and Brierton sports centres.

The centre aims to become a focal point for health, fitness, and integrated care in the borough and a place for people of all ages to stay active and connected.

A 26-year-old man died less than a week after being diagnosed with an ‘incredibly rare condition’

A mum said she believes that if her son was diagnosed with his a rare condition, “even a day earlier” he might not have died. Brendon West, 26, died on July 25, 2025, less than a week after being diagnosed with a rare condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).

A pre-inquest review hearing was held on Tuesday, June 23. The pre-inquest heard that Brendon was treated for a condition called immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) before a later diagnosis of TTP.

During the hearing, Belinda West, Brendon’s mum, said that TTP was ruled out at one point. She asked: “How can you rule out a condition if you don’t test for it?”

In a tribute, Belinda described her son as a “very kind, considerate and loving man” who was an “avid” Formula One fan and also “loved” gaming. She added: “He was a massive part of my life. He was a trusting person. He trusted the medical professionals, he never questioned anything.”

Belinda explained that Brendon “actually saved my life” following a medical emergency by helping to treat her before emergency services arrived. Brendon has one brother, who misses him dearly, Belinda explained. She said Brendon “didn’t get the opportunity for marriage, and to have children”.

Brendon’s aunt Susan Selkirk explained that while Brendon was being treated in hospital, he put his faith in the experts. She said: “Mistakes happen. It is not a blaming game but things do need to change.”

Belinda continued: “Just because it is rare, doesn’t mean it will not happen again. It is a curable condition, people live with this. It is manageable. Even a day earlier and he would still be here with us.”

Senior Coroner David Heming, who held the pre-inquest review hearing, said that the case is a “complex area” and described Brendon’s diagnosis as an “incredibly rare condition”.

It was agreed by the coroner and all interested persons that a jury was not necessary. Brendon’s family, the North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust, and Cambridge University Hospital Trust were identified as interested persons.

This hearing was a pre-inquest review, and is yet to be concluded. A future pre-inquest hearing date is due to be set. Following that hearing, a final inquest date will be decided.

A tribute by Brendon’s family on a fundraising page reads: “After many family losses, he became the glue to our family. He was everyone’s rock, one of the most selfless people you could ever meet.

“On the 23rd of July he was diagnosed with TTP (thrombocytopenic purpura) which sadly took him from us within one short week. This devastation has purely broken everyone’s hearts and has left everyone with a heavy heart.”

North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust was approached for a comment.