Launched in a classroom in the town’s St Columbkille’s Primary, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund has given millions of people around the world a hand up out of poverty since 1965.

A charity founded in Rutherglen more than 60 years ago is looking for locals to help make its dream of creating a mural in the town a reality.

Launched in a classroom in St Columbkille’s Primary, SCIAF, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, has given millions of people around the world a hand up out of poverty since 1965.

And now that Rutherglen is celebrating its 900th anniversary, SCIAF wants to create a lasting legacy in the Burgh.

Ben Wilson, the charity’s director of public engagement has made Rutherglen his home.

He said: “There are so many great things to come out of Rutherglen and SCIAF is just one of them.

“The world has been through a lot over the past 60 years; climate change, conflict, chaos in our politics.

“But where there has been injustice, where there has been pain and suffering, SCIAF has been there, standing side-by-side and supporting the most vulnerable communities.

READ MORE: Drama Kirk bringing Easter story to life in Hamilton as part of town centre’s gala celebrations

“Now we want to mark all that hard work, and the dedication of our partners overseas and our supporters here in Scotland by creating a lasting legacy – in the form of a large mural right here in Rutherglen.

“Glasgow city centre has so many but not here in Rutherglen.”

SCIAF has attempted to move forward with their plans but have hit some stumbling blocks along the way.

Firstly, SCIAF wanted to approach the residents of the tenement block beside Kwik Fit but that would have meant a cherry-picker being on their land for a few days and they weren’t able to support.

The next option was a gable end in Castle Street, but the charity was turned down by Rutherglen and Cambuslang Housing Association, which owns the building.

READ MORE: New manager of Rutherglen Care Home stages special Dolly Parton event to get to know residents

Ben said: “It’s been quite frustrating as we do think the mural would be great for Rutherglen, especially given it’s Rutherglen’s 900th anniversary year.

“But so far we’ve not been successful in securing a good spot.

“We have excellent mural artists lined up, but just no location to put it.

“We now hope that local people can help us by passing on their suggestions.”

The space needs to be close to the centre of Rutherglen as possible – to be near St Columbkille’s Church; have access to allow the artists to create the mural on a cherry-picker; be visible to passing people and/or vehicles; and be structurally sound and even.

The mural also has the support of local politician Clare Haughey, the town’s MP Michael Shanks and Rutherglen Community Council.

Ms Haughey said: “We should be so proud that a charity which has done incredible work across the globe has its roots right here in Rutherglen.

READ MORE: Equi’s Ice Cream launching four flavours in 67 Scots Tesco stores

“At a time when we are celebrating Rutherglen’s past through the 900th anniversary celebrations, I think a mural is a wonderful idea and would ensure SCIAF’s contribution to our town’s rich and varied history can be recognised and remembered.

“SCIAF has my full support and I hope the mural can become a reality.”

If you have an idea for SCIAF, get in touch by emailing ccook@sciaf.org.uk

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

The council has launched an online feedback form as part of a post-implementation review (PIR) of the change which means free school transport is only provided to a child’s nearest school.

The council has stressed that the PIR is not a consultation, and the form should not be used to raise general concerns about home-to-school travel or discuss individual cases.

The council says all submissions will be anonymised and potentially reviewed using AI.

Peter Vetch, vice chair of Buckden Parish Council, has been critical of the policy and the impact it is having on his community.

He said: “Those of us who feared that this review would amount to little more than a whitewash had those concerns confirmed when we learned that public responses are just going to be processed by AI tools to ‘identify themes’.

“If the officers have so little interest in the impact of its policy on children, families, and communities that it cannot even commit to reading the submissions itself, that speaks volumes.

“North Yorkshire’s children deserve a process — and a council — willing to listen properly and understand the damage they are doing.”

One Swaledale parent, who asked not to be named, said they were one of many who warned about the impact of the policy when it was first proposed in 2024.

She said: “More than 2,000 people responded to the original consultation, yet those concerns weren’t reflected in the final policy.

“Now we’re being offered a one-way form, no responses, and no real dialogue.

“It just feels like a watered-down version of the feedback process that was disregarded the first time around. They ignored us then and have ever since — why should we believe they’ll listen now?”

The School Transport Action Group (STAG), which represents more than 1,000 families, said many residents remained deeply frustrated but should still take the opportunity to respond.

“We understand how furious people feel about this policy and about the way it’s being implemented. We also know that many have lost faith in the council as a result.

“It’s tempting to ask what’s the point, but we encourage everyone who feels strongly about the damage this policy is doing now — and will do in the future — to write in and let the council know.

“We can’t guarantee they will listen, and it’s true they have been tone deaf up to now, but we have to speak out and make sure they can’t pretend they were never told about they have caused.”

Residents can submit comments via the council’s feedback form at https://online1.snapsurveys.com/v2rusa

In response to the criticism, the council’s assistant chief executive for local engagement, Rachel Joyce, who is leading the PIR, said: “The post-implementation review has been scheduled and discussed since the policy was adopted at full council in July 2024.

“It will look in detail at how the revised policy has been introduced, whether it has met its objectives and if there is anything we can learn from the first full year of its operation.

“Feedback on this has been collated from a range of emails, meetings and other submissions.

“The purpose of the form is to ensure any points or information not previously shared can be submitted.

“This is not a consultation; it’s a review and will look at the full year of data from the point of implementation.

“It will be robust and transparent, with the full review published later this year.”

Zoe McGroarty was told she might have ‘flu’ or a strain from holding her new baby

A new mum claims doctors ‘fobbed off’ her agony as ‘strain’ from holding her baby – only to discover it was actually deadly blood clots. Zoe McGroarty gave birth to little Daisy McGroarty on April 13, 2023, who weighed in at 7 lbs 11oz. Two days after haemorrhaging in the delivery room, the mum-of-two said she began to feel an ‘icy blast’ radiating through her body.

The 32-year-old claims a doctor initially said she had flu before she was hospitalised with sepsis. Two days after being discharged from hospital, when Zoe started suffering with shoulder pain, she called her GP practice and claims a doctor over the phone told her it was a ‘strain’ from holding her newborn.

An in-person GP appointment saw the full-time mum diagnosed with sepsis-induced blood clots and rushed to hospital where six DVTs were found in her right arm. Now Zoe, who says she will have to take blood thinners for life, says she won’t have any more children as the post-birth experience ‘terrorised’ her.

Zoe, who lives near Bath, said: “Having any more children is out of the question, not because I don’t want any more children, but after what I went through, it’s terrorised me. The first symptom I developed was an icy cold blast and it just radiated through my body. My gut instinct was something was wrong and I thought it could be an infection.

“I rang the doctor and told them I had just given birth and didn’t feel very good. I spoke to the GP on the phone and she didn’t hear me. She said I probably just had the flu and told me the midwife was coming today and they would deal with it. I was shocked that she dismissed it without hearing me out.

“Throughout the week my midwife rang me to check in on how I was feeling. I was so breathless and I couldn’t walk as I had to keep sitting down. I felt so lightheaded and at that point I was starting to feel a bit disorientated and detached from reality.

“The [shoulder] pain started a couple of days after being discharged from hospital after having sepsis. It was the worst pain I had ever felt, I could barely move my shoulder. I phoned the GP and they told me it was a strain from holding the baby. They said I’d not long had sepsis and sometimes sepsis can cause you to have pain. I thought nothing of it and then the pain got worse.”

It was only after an in-person GP appointment that the true culprit was revealed – six DVTs in her right arm. Zoe said: “I rang the doctors again [after the call] and they gave me a face-to-face appointment. By this point my collarbone had disappeared from the swelling and I was in tears because it hurt that much. The GP then phoned the hospital as she thought I had a blood clot.”

Following her experience, Zoe is urging women to trust their gut if they think something is wrong as she claims her sepsis, and subsequent DVTs, could have been diagnosed sooner. Zoe said: “It has left me very anxious and with health anxiety as I worry about more blood clots. It traumatised me and I wouldn’t do it [have another child] again. The GP definitely could have caught it [sepsis] sooner. They completely fobbed me off [and said it was the flu].

“I’ve lost quite a lot of trust in doctors, I would tell people to trust their gut. Sepsis can mimic the flu but it makes you feel a million times worse and if they hadn’t had caught it, it could have been a very different story. It’s frightening to think it could have ended up so differently, I’m grateful to be alive. After giving birth, from my first symptom, I knew something wasn’t right. I knew it was something more severe than the flu.”

A Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on the details of individual patient experiences, but we expect all practices across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire to provide safe and high-quality care. When concerns are raised directly with a practice or through the appropriate NHS processes, they are reviewed in line with established procedures.

“As this relates to personal medical information, we are unable to provide further comment.”

Councillors unanimously voted to strip the former Duchess of York and ex-wife of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of the honour following revelations about her ties to the late convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Cllr Claire Douglas, City of York Council’s Labour Leader, said the behaviour of Sarah Ferguson fell well short of the standards expected of those who hold the honour.

Labour’s Cllr Claire Douglas, leader of York Council. Picture is from York Council, available for all LDRS partners to use.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Darryl Smalley said the move showed the council stood with the victims of sexual abuse and not the best friends of paedophiles.

It comes after the proposals to strip the 66-year-old of the honour she received in 1987 were first mooted in October.

They came after an email from 2011 where Ms Ferguson called Epstein her steadfast, generous and supreme friend was published in the Mail on Sunday.

A spokesperson working for the former duchess said the email was sent following legal threats from Epstein over comments she had made distancing herself from him in an interview.

It was sent after the financier was convicted of soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008 and after Ms Ferguson said her involvement with him was an error of judgement.

Cllr Douglas said it was deplorable that anyone bearing honours linked to the city continued to associate with the financier after his crimes became known.

Cllr Darryl Smalley

Speaking at the council’s full meeting on Thursday, March 26, the leader said: “The Freedom of the City if bestowed on people of distinction who uphold the city’s values.

“Associating with Jeffrey Epstein falls well short of those values.”

Liberal Democrat Cllr Smalley, who backed the removal of the former Prince Andrew’s Freedom of the City in 2022 said: “At the time I was asked if we would remove the honour from Sarah Ferguson and I said we shouldn’t judge someone based on the actions of their ex-husband.

“We now know more and we don’t want the holder of York’s highest honour to be best friends with a convicted paedophile, we stand with victims, for the rule of law and the principle that actions have consequences.”

The release of documents by the US Department of Justice in recent months has seen both the former Prince Andrew and leading Labour figure Peter Mandelson arrested.

Both have since been released after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct of in public office and neither have been charges as police investigations continue.

The former Duke of York’s arrest in February came after he was stripped of his royal titles in October in the wake of new details about his relationship with Epstein emerging.

Mr Mountbatten-Windsor as he is now known was stripped of his Freedom of the City honour in 2022.

Councillors said at the time it was inappropriate for the then Duke of York to hold titles linked to the city given the council’s commitment to tackling the violence and abuse of women and girls.

The former prince reached an out of court settlement on a civil sex assault case brought by Virginia Giuffre earlier in 2022.

Ms Ferguson still holds the Freedom of the City honour her and her ex-husband were given as a wedding present during a visit to York in 1987.

The hospital has to be redeveloped as it was built with RAAC brick

A building has been demolished as part of work on a Cambridgeshire hospital. Hinchingbrooke Hospital, overseen by the North West Anglia NHS Trust, is undergoing a major redevelopment after “structural issues” were highlighted with the current building.

The hospital, built in 1983, was constructed with Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC). As part of the plans, a replacement hospital building will be built, as well as a new hospital-related ancillary office, research, admin and education facilities.

In the latest progress made at the site, a former nursery building has been demolished to make way for new staff accommodation. Demolition work began in December and is now complete. The new staff accommodation, designed and installed by Zed Pods Ltd, is expected to be completed by spring 2027.

Deborah Lee, senior responsible officer for the Hinchingbrooke redevelopment, said: “This is a major milestone in our redevelopment journey and marks an important step for the New Hospital Programme. We are very excited to be working with local supplier, Zed Pods Ltd to create sustainable and homely environments for our staff to stay in.

“In turn, this will enable the demolition of our existing staff accommodation blocks at the back of our hospital site and create the space we need for our new hospital.”

The former nursery building was located between two car parks at the front the hospital, and it was used for storage. The new staff accommodation will provide a home for medical, nursing and students on placement at the hospital. It will provide 85 bed spaces, as well as wi-fi and a courtyard space.

Tom Northway, Chairman of Zed Pods Ltd, said: “We are proud to work again with the Trust to deliver much needed, sustainable staff accommodation. This scheme demonstrates how modular construction can rapidly provide comfortable, low-carbon homes that support NHS staff wellbeing while helping unlock complex underutilised sites for development.”

Why is Turkey so popular for hair transplants?

Turkey has become a world-class destination for hair transplant procedures, attracting hundreds of thousands of medical visitors each year. The growth is driven by several factors. First, the country has a large number of clinicians specialising in hair restoration, creating a deep pool of experience. Second, clinics are designed for international patients and offer structured systems that reduce the organisational burden of treatment abroad.

Another reason is the availability of Turkish clinics that use modern hair transplant techniques such as FUE and DHI, as well as refinements like the microsapphire blade. These approaches prioritise natural results and strong long-term results, especially when the donor area is carefully evaluated. 

As Dr Acar explains: “ We calculate mathematically how much is needed for real density. If a patient needs 4,000, it’s better to do it in one session than make him come back three times.”

How much does a hair transplant cost in Turkey compared to the UK?

Compared cost of a hair transplant in Turkey vs in the UK (Image: Cosmedica Clinic)

The Turkey hair transplant cost is one of the biggest drivers of medical travel. In the UK, the average hair transplant price can range widely, often between £4,000 and £10,000, depending on the technique and the number of grafts. Many patients find that the transplant cost in Turkey offers a structured alternative with clearly defined packages and no unexpected add-ons.

At Cosmedica, package pricing usually includes hotel accommodation, airport transfers, consultation, procedure-day services, and post-operative checks. The cost of hair transplant differs from many UK clinics, where travel, accommodation, and optional follow-up services may fall outside the quoted fee. Let’s take a look at their packages:

FUE Sapphire Package

The FUE Sapphire package, priced at £2,058, includes FUE techniques, including graft extraction with micro punches and implantation using forceps. Sapphire blades are used to create precise channels in the scalp. Patients who need more coverage can choose the megasession upgrade for +£756, which increases the total graft capacity.

Micro Sapphire DHI Package

The Micro Sapphire DHI package, priced at £2,680, combines sapphire blade incisions with hair implantation DHI, using a implanter pen. This pen protects each graft during placement, reducing the need for handling. A megasession upgrade is available for +£672, making it suitable for those who need more grafts.

VIP Micro Sapphire DHI Package

The VIP Micro Sapphire DHI package, priced at around £6,720, offers additional benefits, including needle-free anaesthesia and the Regenera Activa treatment. Dr Acar performs the incision stage personally, adding an extra level of involvement. The megasession upgrade is priced at +£1,680 and is designed for patients who require the maximum graft number in a premium setting.

Is getting a hair transplant in Turkey safe?

@qiasomar24 10 month hair transplant update!! How’s it looking?? Happy I trusted @cosmedicaclinic make sure to check them out if you’re interested 🙏🏻 #hairtransformation #hairtransplant #hair ♬ original sound – Qias Omar

Safety depends on choosing the right hair transplant surgeon and clinic. Turkey’s industry includes both boutique clinics and high-volume centres, so patients should review qualifications, clinic registrations, and procedural transparency. Many reputable clinics follow high health and safety standards and clearly outline their safety protocols.

Clinics aligned with the International Society of Hair Restoration typically follow globally recognised safety guidelines.

What differentiates Cosmedica Clinic from other transplant clinics in Turkey?

Cosmedica is one of the leading hair transplant clinics in Turkey. Dr Levent Acar is the founder of Cosmedica. He is a renowned surgeon with over 16 years of experience in this field.

His clinic has conducted over 20,000 successful operations. He has since pioneered a method called the DHI Sapphire method or DHI hair transplant. His revolutionary technique has an outstanding 98% hair growth rate.

What does a stress-free medical tourism trip look like for UK patients?

For many, travelling to Turkey for a hair transplant feels more straightforward than expected. That is due to clear scheduling and support. Most visitors follow a simple 3-day timeline.

Day 1: Arrival

Patients land in Istanbul, meet their driver, and check into their hotel. The clinic provides any pre-procedure instructions and confirms the schedule.

Day 2: Procedure Day

After consultation and hairline design, the hair transplant procedures begin. It starts with FUE extraction using micro punches. Incisions are created with sapphire blades, and grafts are implanted using forceps or DHI pens, depending on the technique. According to Dr Acar, “The surgery is pain-free. Recovery is just a bit uncomfortable.”

Day 3: First Wash and Review

Patients return for washing, postoperative guidance, and a review of graft placement. Swelling management and sleeping positions are discussed in detail. Dr Acar adds, “The best moment is after about 13 days, when the scabs wash away and you see the clean hairline.”

For long-haul travellers returning to the UK, advice includes staying hydrated, avoiding tight hats, and gently managing forehead swelling during the flight.

How important is aftercare once UK patients return home?

Aftercare is essential for achieving strong long-term outcomes. Once back in the UK, patients need to 

• follow the washing schedule, 
• avoid strenuous activity, and 
• protect the extracted hair. 

Cosmedica provides structured 12-month follow-up support, including digital check-ins and progress reviews. This aftercare guidance helps patients understand the stages of growth. Over the first few months, shedding and regrowth occur naturally as part of the hair cycle. “The real results come after eight to 12 months,” Dr Acar explains. “Patience is important.” Because ongoing support continues long after the procedure, patients do not feel isolated after returning home.

How can UK patients evaluate whether the cost of a hair transplant in Turkey is worth it?

Before and after results of a Micro Sapphire DHI hair transplant in Turkey at Cosmedica Clinic (Image: Cosmedica Clinic)

Evaluating the cost of a hair transplant in Turkey involves looking beyond headline prices. UK patients benefit from comparing:

• Price per graft
• The surgeon’s involvement in design
• Safety standards and clinic registration
• The full package structure
• Photographic evidence in the hair transplant before and after gallery
• Aftercare quality
• Travel requirements

High-quality clinics detail every step of the procedure and offer transparent expectations. Cosmedica, for example, displays hair transplant before and after results and provides direct consultations to support decision-making.

Final thoughts: What should UK patients keep in mind?

The Turkey hair transplant cost remains a major motivator for UK patients, but the appeal goes beyond savings. Clinics like Cosmedica combine experienced leadership, structured travel support, and modern techniques. With clear timelines and a streamlined international pathway, many travellers find the process more manageable than expected.

As Dr Acar summarises: “When people look at a face, the density and hairline are immediately connected with youthfulness and health.”

For UK patients exploring their options abroad, Turkey offers a transparent entry point into that journey.

Emmerdale’s Isabel Hodgins has continued to keep fans up to date with her motherhood journey on Instagram.

While her alter ego, Victoria Sugden, recently bowed out of the ITV soap under incredibly dark circumstances, fleeing the village after killing her utterly psychotic half brother, John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth), the real reason for her departure was much more wholesome: Isabel was expecting her first baby.

Isabel gave birth to her beautiful baby, a daughter named Georgie Grace, on February 11, posting a reel of her in labour, alongside a super sweet black and white snap of her cradling her new born weeks later.

On her first mothers day, Isabel’s partner, Adam Whitehead, shared a gorgeous tribute to her, posting a carousel of images of mother and baby, alongside an adorable caption.

‘Your first Mother’s Day,’ he began.

‘As if I didn’t already think you were amazing…but watching you become Georgie’s mum has opened my eyes even more. The love, patience and strength you show every day is incredible. We’re so lucky you’re ours.’

Yesterday, Isabel shared a reel detailing a morning with Georgie to her Instagram feed, captioned: ‘Mornings with my little miss’.

Beginning with baby Georgie wriggling on Isabel’s bed, before having a wardrobe change, a couple of nappy changes and Isabel feeding Georgie, the video serves as a glimpse into a morning with a new born.

Advertisement

The comments section was flooded with love, including messages from some of Isabel’s co-stars.

Danny Miller, who plays brother in law, Aaron Dingle, said: ‘Oh hello!!’, to which Isabel replied with a slew of laughing face emojis. Lawrence Robb, who plays Mackenzie Boyd, added: ‘Song choice’, with clapping emojis, while Laura Norton, who plays Kerry Wyatt added simply: ‘Unreal’,

@sandrahicks89 wrote: ‘Nothing beats a wonderful bonding, with mummy and baby, Isabel, seeing you with your beautiful daughter is one of the most amazing things in the world, such a lovely memory to have,’ while @barbarawhite2015 added: ‘Aww how beautiful! She’s absolute beautiful hun just like her beautiful mam’

@rebeccamason8085 said: ‘Such an adorable little Miss! She’s certainly growing you’re certainly doing something right’, while @julie560595 posted: ‘Motherhood definitely suits you Isabel! Beautiful Mummy & enjoying every minute of your beautiful daughter’

Advertisement

Victoria’s departure from Emmerdale

Don’t miss a Soaps scoop! Add us as a Preferred Source

As a loyal Metro Soaps reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for stories. We have all the latest soaps news, spoilers, videos, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.

Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

Add us as a Preferred Source

Advertisement

Victoria’s exit from the village came as Joe Tate (Ned Porteous) upped his ‘scumbag of the year’ campaign efforts.

With video footage of Victoria sticking the fatal syringe into John, Joe used this to manipulate Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) into planting incriminating evidence at Moira Dingle’s (Natalie J Robb) farm and ensuring that she be arrested for the murders of Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) and Anya Berisha (Alia Al-Shabibi), while also being framed for the human trafficking racket ran by the former.

Forced to sell her share of the farm land Joe so desperately craved and battling with the guilt of ending a life, alongside the guilt of Moira languishing in prison as a direct result of her actions, Victoria felt she had to escape the village that held so many painful memories.

With Joe seemingly unbeatable and his control over the village spreading, Victoria decided to head to Portugal for a new life with step-mum, Diane Sugden (Elizabeth Estensen).

We know, though, that Isabel, and Victoria, will be back. As the war between the Tates and the Dingles heating up, will the village even look the same upon her return? And with a queue forming to take revenge on slimy Joe, will she play a part in his inevitable downfall?

Advertisement

MORE: Tamzin Outhwaite delivers response to ‘judgemental’ transphobes

MORE: Coronation Street comeback for Natalie Anderson confirmed as Theo’s end looms

MORE: Jacqueline Jossa and Dan Osborne split ‘permanently’ as she’s ‘finally had enough’

Comments


Add as preferred source

The Soaps Newsletter – Weekly

Sign up for exclusive spoilers and interviews, handpicked by our Soaps Editor.

Advertisement

Two police constables lied to their bosses and claimed they were sick with flu in order to go on a course about a cruise ship career.

PC Ben Matthews and PC Alex Tribe were caught in the act after pictures of them attending the programme appeared on social media.

They had already resigned from Kent Police at the time of misconduct proceedings earlier this month but bosses said if they had still been employed, they would have been sacked.

Both were based at Coldharbour Station in Aylesford, in Kent, where they worked in the same team.

PC Matthews had worked in the force for 13 years and had a ‘highly sought after’ role in a proactive targeting team within the tactical operations group.

At the time of his fabricated illness, he was supposed to be working on a murder investigation.

PC Tribe had eight years of experience and was working in the same team.

Neither attended the proceedings at the Kent Police Force Headquarters in Maidstone, which were overseen by Assistant Chief Officer Andrew Pritchard.

In his report, he said: ‘The case as alleged is simple. That both officers claimed they were sick, but during the period of alleged sickness, they attended a training course provided by an external training provider, I understand, with the purpose of readying them for a potential career on cruise ships.

‘The facts of the matter are accepted. Both officers accept that they were dishonest in claiming they were sick in January 2025, when in fact they were on a training course with an external provider.’

PC Tribe booked her place on the course on December 17, 2024, and on January 20, 2025, called in sick to work with influenza for the first few days, with the last days of the course falling on her rest days.

PC Matthews booked the initial day of the course off for childcare reasons, then also called in sick with the flu for the rest of the course.

The report states that the event from January 20 to January 24 was not the only one available that year, and was ‘not a one-off activity’.

Both officers had enough annual leave for the course, but neither put in a request in with their supervisors.

In their defence, PC Tribe and Matthews both said they were, in fact, sick – but with stress, not influenza.

They accepted misconduct but denied gross misconduct.

PC Tribe also said her mental health had been suffering at the time of the incident, and that she felt she was being bullied at work.

The report said: ‘The former officer puts forward several examples of how she felt oppressed and unable to make representations about her supervisor, and that her concerns were not being taken seriously.

‘There is indeed evidence that she did raise these issues in October 2024, two months before booking this course.

‘The former officer also has provided several messages between herself and some colleagues as evidence of how she, amongst others, felt that the supervisor was very hard to work with.’

But performance reviews showed positive interactions with her supervisor, and there were records of her being congratulated for her achievements.

The report continued: ‘She has sought to persuade that she was under such strain that booking the course and taking time off work (lying in the process) was her only option, and that this should mitigate the seriousness of her actions.

‘She also asserts that she felt she could not request leave as it would be rejected, and that this was not a discussion she could have with her supervisor.

‘There is no evidence that she did try to request leave and no evidence that she considered changing the course to a later date when leave would be more likely to be granted.’

PC Matthews also said he was a victim of bullying in the workplace, and was receiving unfair treatment compared to others and working long hours.

He said he was in receipt of unjustified criticism from his supervisor, but this was the same supervisor PC Tribe said she would turn to for support in the force.

Assistant Chief Officer Pritchard said: ‘I find that former PC Matthews has booked the training course with the likely intention of reporting sick from the outset.

‘He could have requested leave. Indeed, he did so for the first day, stating he needed childcare, and this was granted.’

It was decided that both officers’ actions were serious enough that they amounted to gross misconduct and that, had they still been serving, they would have been sacked.

The report added: ‘I believe the public would be appalled to think that officers in Kent Police could act with such obvious disdain for the rules and procedures that they are expected to follow in order to serve their own purposes, and would lie to achieve this, in addition to failing to turn up to duty when fit to do so.

‘Further, the officers are shown to be on the course in published social media articles.

‘The harm, therefore, is not just potential harm, but actual harm to the reputation of Kent Police and the profession of policing.

‘There are clear aggravating factors here of premeditation and planning (between the booking of the course, the conspiracy between the two officers and then later reporting sick).’

MORE: ‘Social media addiction trial is historic – phones for kids should now be banned’

MORE: ‘I’m a teenager – I think we should ban social media for under-16s’

MORE: A landmark social media addiction trial just took place – could it happen in the UK?

Wales’ World Cup hopes ended in the cruellest of fashions as they lost to Bosnia on penalties on Thursday night

Wales’ hopes of making it to this summer’s World Cup crumbled to dust on Thursday night as they lost their qualification play-off semi-final to Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties.

Dan James’ sensational long-distance strike had given Craig Bellamy’s side the lead early in the second half, but Edin Dzeko’s 86th-minute header drew Bosnia level and took the game to extra-time. But when the two teams still couldn’t be separated after a further half an hour, it came down to the dreaded spot kicks.

Karl Darlow’s fine stop from Ermedin Demirovic’s attempt handed the hosts in Cardiff an immediate advantage in the shoot-out, but Brennan Johnson skied his effort before Neco Williams’ kick was saved as Wales’ World Cup dreams were extinguished in the cruellest of fashions.

At the full-time whistle, Wales captain Ethan Ampadu said his side were “lost for words” about the result, with Darlow adding that they were “devastated”.

A gutted Bellamy, meanwhile, said his “heart hurt” over the result but vowed that his team will only continue to improve, adding that “there will be a solution” and “the sun will rise tomorrow”.

However, the Wales manager has been criticised by fans in the wake of the heartbreaking defeat, with many pointing the finger at his choice of second-half substitutions.

As the hosts pushed for a crucial second goal, Bellamy brought on Liam Cullen for Jordan James and Mark Harris for David Brooks, but the decision has been blasted as “criminal” and “a disaster waiting to happen” by disappointed supporters.

With both players struggling to make any impact after their second-half introduction, fans pointed to Josh Sheehan and the in-form Nathan Broadhead who were left on the bench, while Cardiff City star Rubin Colwill was left out of the matchday squad altogether.

Speaking after the game, Bellamy dismissed suggestions that his substitutions were to blame for the full-time result, saying: “I don’t think that’s fair. No, we make changes all the time and we have to.”

However, fans disagree, with one taking to X to write: “Bellamy has done a lot of good things since being manager, and is undoubtedly a very good coach but can’t help but think tonight is on him.

“Subs KILLED us, Mark Harris and Liam Cullen coming on… have a day off. Been here before with Wales.. and hurts all the same.”

Another added: “Got a lot of time for Bellamy, but Harris and Cullen over Broadhead is criminal,” while a third wrote: “No way we should be losing that. Shocking.

“Wales threw it away after getting complacent. Bellamy had to be questioned here for his game management and subs.”

One fan said the defeat was “100 per cent on Bellamy” for his “very, very, very bad subs”, while another commented: Craig Bellamy has absolutely murdered us with those subs tonight! Embarrassing decisions from him.”

“Crying out for Broadhead,” said another. “[But] he puts on Cullen and Harris. Unbelievable by Bellamy.”