Lindsay Blake, a watch manager with County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, began her career in 2009, driven by a passion for helping others.
After 15 years as a firefighter, she transitioned into a role with the brigade’s Business Fire Safety Team.
County Durham firefighter Lindsay Blake has shared how her career in the fire service led to a life-changing neurodiversity diagnosis after joining in 2009. (Image: CDDFRS)
However, she soon found the work—which involves concentrating on legal documents for long periods of time—particularly challenging.
Ms Blake said: “Business Fire Safety is built around legislation, so attention to detail is key.
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“The qualifications that you need to carry out the role were challenging and it was after I completed these that I realised I may be neurodiverse.
“That’s why I decided to go and get tested for ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and dyslexia.”
The diagnosis has since helped her better understand herself and the support available to help her manage her workload.
Ms Blake said: “Understanding my ADHD it has given me the skillset I needed to be able to manage at work and organise myself better.
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“Just because I am neurodiverse doesn’t mean I can’t do different roles in the Service, it just means I need to find different ways to manage myself.”
She hopes that sharing her story during Neurodiversity Celebration Week (March 16 to 20) will encourage others to seek support at work if they need it.
Ms Blake said: “Everyone is different and has different skillsets.
“Just because someone doesn’t think and act like you, it doesn’t mean they can’t do the job.
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“I would encourage everyone to be understanding and embrace our differences.
“I’d also urge anyone who is neurodivergent, or think they might be, to be open about the things that you struggle with at work so your line manager support you and look at other ways tailored to you to achieve the same objectives.”
Liverpool begin the weekend in fifth place, which will be enough for a Champions League spot next season despite a disastrous week for teams at Europe’s top table, but with Aston Villa two points ahead, and more importantly, Chelsea one point behind – the pressure to pick up points is paramount for all involved.
The village is a great place to live for commuters since it has a railway station with direct trains into Cambridge and the capital
Nestled halfway between Royston and Cambridge, there is a beautiful village with a unique attraction perfect for animal lovers. The village of Shepreth, has a name meaning ‘the brook of the sheep’, referring to the river where sheep used to rest along the route to Cambridge.
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If you have have a love for animals, and are looking for a new place to call home, then this village may be the one for you – especially since house prices have fallen over the last few years.
According to Rightmove, the historical sold prices in Shepreth over the last year were 10% down on the previous year and 44% down on the 2023 peak of £984,250. Over the last year, house prices in this rural village have an average price of £549,208.
You may be wondering what else Shepreth has to offer that would convince you to make the move. Well, good transport links, beloved pubs, and a family-friendly day out are three reasons why Shepreth is an attractive place to live.
The village is home to a wildlife park that has been open since 1984 as a refuge for injured and orphaned animals. Since then, it has become a much-loved destination, making for the perfect family day out. There are over 100 species of animals to meet, with keeper talks and demonstrations throughout the day, so that everyone can learn something new. The wildlife park also has a Hedgehog Hospital that rescues and takes care of hedgehogs.
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Shepreth also has a railway station right on its doorstep that makes commuting to cities like Cambridge and the capital that much easier. This is especially ideal for those who want to bring up a family in the countryside, but still be able to access big cities for work.
It is also ideal for those who do not drive and rely on public transport to get around. Shepreth railway station has direct trains into Cambridge taking around 15 minutes and direct trains to London Kings Cross taking just over an hour.
The picturesque village is home to two pubs beloved by locals and visitors alike. The Green Man is a food‑led village pub featuring a garden with a children’s play area to keep the little ones entertained.
The Plough often has live performances by musicians from Cambridgeshire and beyond, along with hosting a number of local food trucks. One happy diner at The Plough wrote on Tripadvisor: “A great local pub with excellent customer service, locally sourced food, a chef with a passion to create great dishes and front of house staff that make the customer experience seamless.”
Officers say it’s been there for months, they’ve known about it for months and they are not responsible for moving it.
“We’re always grateful for your vigilance, and the information you provide us,” a spokesman said. “However, in this particular instance, there’s no need to call us or tell us about it!”
The car in the river off Sharow Lane, Sharow, Ripon, was first spotted by a member of the public on Christmas Eve.
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Specialist water rescue units from Selby and Skipton and fire crews from Ripon and Harrogate carried out extensive searches in the river and on the bankside without finding anyone.
Town End Farm Shop, in Airton, near Malham, has built up a loyal following among locals and tourists alike, earning a 4.6-star rating from more than 1,000 Google reviews, and 4.3 stars on TripAdvisor.
Located close to open countryside, the business combines a farm shop, tearoom, post office and online store, offering everything from breakfast and lunch to Yorkshire hampers, farmhouse cheeses and award-winning charcuterie.
The Town End Farm Shop sign (Image: TRIPADVISOR)
It has also attracted wider recognition beyond the Dales.
Town End Farm Shop featured on the BBC programme Top of the Shop with Tom Kerridge, which was filmed there over eight weeks, and was named best in the region for Yorkshire and the North East at the Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards.
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Judges at those awards praised the business as a “small yet super dynamic farm shop”, highlighting its range of strengths and standout eco-credentials.
Visitors have been equally enthusiastic.
One reviewer said: “Amazing little Farm Shop and Tea Room, super friendly and helpful staff, dogs welcome in both the shop and tea room.
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“Food in the Tea Room was of amazing quality and reasonably priced. Well worth a visit.”
Another described having a “wonderful experience”, praising the “warm and friendly” welcome and the owner’s passion for the business.
A third said the farm shop was “just fantastic”, while others have singled out the “excellent food and atmosphere”, “great location” and “plenty of parking”.
The tearoom appears to be a particular draw for customers, serving breakfast until 11.45am, lunch from 11.45am to 3pm, and tea and cake later in the afternoon.
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Town End Farm Shop in North Yorkshire (Image: TRIPADVISOR)
It is also dog-friendly, adding to its appeal for walkers and day-trippers exploring nearby beauty spots such as Malham Cove and Malham Tarn.
Reviews frequently mention the quality of the food on offer.
One customer praised the “high quality ingredients” in what they called “one of the best full English breakfasts around”, while another said the carrot cake was “by far the best” they had ever tasted.
Others have highlighted the deli counter, handmade pies, local produce and selection of gifts, as well as the surrounding views across the Dales.
Town End Farm Shop has carved out a niche for championing Yorkshire produce, with hampers, cheese and charcuterie boxes available to buy online as well as in store.
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Its butchery and charcuterie courses have also become a popular offering, marketed as ideal gifts for food lovers.
Among the products promoted by the business are Longhorn bresaola, Yorkshire chorizo, Yorkshire gin coppa and a range of farmhouse cheeses, helping reinforce its reputation as a destination for regional food and drink.
The farm shop has also picked up recognition through other awards, including success at the Deliciouslyorkshire Taste Awards and the British Charcuterie Awards.
Located in Airton, Town End Farm Shop is open Tuesday to Saturday from 9.30am to 5pm and on Sundays from 10am to 5pm, with the post office also operating on selected days.
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It is closed on Mondays, apart from bank holidays.
Ekitike suffered what appeared to be a dead leg following a late challenge from the Brighton veteran, and Liverpool great, James Milner, inside the opening few minutes of the Premier League clash on the south coast.
Ekitike was left banging the turf in pain but was able to hobble to the sidelines. After despite a brief attempt to play on, Ekitike went down again and was replaced by Curtis Jones before heading straight down the tunnel.
The France international has been called up for the friendlies against Brazil and Colombia next week, but could be a doubt depending on the severity of the injury. Salah and Alisson have withdrawn from Egypt and Brazil’s squads, respectively, after both missing the trip to Brighton.
The ITV variety competition has returned with a new series, as Stacey Solomon (temporarily stepping in for Simon Cowell), Amanda Holden, KSI and Alesha Dixon hunt for the nation’s next winner.
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Every year, the judges and hosts Ant and Dec are able to award one auditionee a golden buzzer, which catapults the performer straight to the live semi-final shows.
And after watching a preview for an upcoming audition, fans have been making the same demand. 12-year-old James from Rye, East Sussex, was met with a roaring crowd after his rendition of Wicked’s Defying Gravity.
He admitted feeling a “bit nervous” before his performance, but clearly had no need to be, as he was met with a standing ovation, and the judges left gobsmacked, all on their feet as they applauded the young singer.
The emotional rendition had Ant and Dec screaming from the sidelines, as Alesha told him: “That was how you do it! Everybody loves that big moment at the end, I can’t tell you how many times my children have tried to attempt that last moment in the song, it is the magic moment, and you smashed it!”
KSI added: “James, I felt like I was watching a Disney kids show. You blew everyone away.”
“I cannot believe that a little sausage like you has the pipes for something so huge, congratulations,” Amanda praised.
Stacey shared: “You think your kids are talented and then you’re like, no maybe mine aren’t so talented, when you see people like you, James. Your parents must be buzzing.”
She added: “That was absolutely phenomenal,” before Alesha branded James “a star in the making”.
One fan wrote: “That’s out of this world for a 12 year-old boy. I felt I was watching one of those Disney movies. So beautiful. He is a star even without the Golden Buzzer.”
Another said: “Definitely deserved the golden buzzer,” while a third added: “Rarely does a kid have this level of vocal maturity. It moved me to tears. Should have gotten the golden!”
Someone else wrote: “Jeeeesuuuuus! Normally with kids, even trained kids, you can usually hear some bits that show underdeveloped voice and techniques, but my God, this boys control and technique was mind blowing!”
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Yet another echoed: “How did he not get The Golden Buzzer?!! Unbelievable,” as someone else said: “When you have crowd reaction like that and all four judges standing, I felt that this was a golden buzzer performance. He nailed that song!!!”
Another viewer wrote: “Tears are flowing down my face listening to that young man. Hit every note.”
Someone else wrote: “THE PIPES ON THIS KID WHAT THE HECK, HOW DARE HE NOT GET GOLDEN.”
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Britain’s Got Talent airs Saturday 6:45pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
Ronnie O’Sullivan won a tense deciding frame against China’s Wu Yize at the World Open in Yushan to reach a first ranking final in more than two years.
The seven-time world champion was never behind against Wu but struggled to break clear of the world number 11 before finally completing a 6-5 victory.
Wu had the first chance in the decider, opening a decent lead with a break of 43, but 50-year-old O’Sullivan punished a poor safety shot by sinking a long red then held his nerve with a clearance of 89.
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The Englishman is into his 66th final in a ranking event – but his first since beating Judd Trump to win the World Grand Prix in January 2024.
On Wednesday, March 19, Simon Lycett, a leading UK floral designer known for his work at royal events and for clients such as Elton John, spent the day with floristry students at East Durham College’s Houghall Campus in Durham.
The visit followed the announcement that the college will represent the North East at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May.
Scott Bullock, principal and chief executive of East Durham College, said: “We were incredibly proud to have welcomed Simon Lycett to East Durham College.
“His visit has provided our students with an invaluable opportunity to learn from one of the very best in the industry.
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“Experiences like this not only inspire creativity but also build confidence as our learners prepare to showcase their talents on a national stage at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
“We are grateful to our staff and sponsors for supporting these opportunities and helping our students achieve their full potential.”
Mr Lycett spent the day reviewing student designs, offering professional feedback, and sharing experience from his high-profile career.
His input comes as students prepare to take part in one of the world’s most prestigious horticultural events.
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The day also brought together staff, sponsors, and supporters, including MKM Durham, Durham Parish Council, Jewson’s, the National Trust, and Bon Bloeman, who were given a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and the collaborative efforts between students and the college’s floristry team.
Mr Lycett said: “After being made an RHS Ambassador for floristry and floral art back in 2022 and the team asked me if I wanted to become a judge and I said no I don’t want to become a judge, I want to become a mentor because I’m getting old and we need more florists – and how fabulous to be up here amongst so may florists of every age.
Read more:
“I’ve never seen such a brilliant gathering of creatives.
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“The designs they are working on are so exciting as they exactly fit the brief, what they are creating is so unique and each of them has come to it with their own ideas and thoughts.
“It’s become a fascinating and very collaborative project between the students and the floristry team, and it’s using lots of different techniques – it’s going to be a phenomenal showcase of the fabulous world of being a florist.”
Want a sci-fi show? That also has thrills? You’ve come to the right place (Picture: Bettina Strauss/BBCA)
Looking to queue up another sci-fithriller rather than stepping outside this weekend to face the tundra? We’ve got you covered.
Or rather, the Metro readers have. We asked for your favourite little-known sci-fi gems, and you certainly came through.
The list includes time-travelling shenanigans, the far-off corners of outer space and even a misfit detective with some otherworldly cases to crack.
Some stick to the hard-and-fast conventions, while others play around within your expectations of the genre — and they’re all well worth your time.
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Heck, you even mentioned Farscape! That’s a deep pull!
So here’s the list of sci-fi thrillers that might not have crossed your screens yet…
Farscape
Alas, Farscape was prematurely cancelled (Picture: Channel/Kobal/Shutterstock)
You’re in for a treat, because this one was the most recommended choice among readers.
Farscape debuted back in 1999 and soon became one of TV’s leading sci-fi cult classics. The show stars Ben Browder as astronaut John Crichton, who ends up caught in the swirl of a wormhole.
It chucks him out in a distant corner of the universe, where he bands together with a bunch of alien refugees on the ship Moya. But life is never peaceful far out in the cosmos, and they’re being chased by Peacekeepers – think the Hunger Games militaristic version, and you’re not far off who they are here.
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The plan for Farscape was to make a five-season arc, but the show was abruptly cancelled before the final instalment, going out with 88 (!) episodes in the bank. The worst thing about the cancellation was it ended on a loose end. Until 2004, when the show returned with the three-hour miniseries Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars to tie everything up.
Guardians of the Galaxy meets The Muppets was how reader Lee Miles, who owned the box set back in the day, billed the show.
Ali Luck put it bluntly enough: ‘I don’t want to have to say Farscape because people should all know about it. But just in case… Farscape.’
Continuum
One for Black Mirror fans (Picture: Channel/Everett/Shutterstock)
Read the synopsis of Continuum, and it has a clear tinge of the mind-bending Black Mirror – this wouldn’t be a list of sci-fi thrillers if we didn’t bring up Charlie Brooker’s opus somewhere.
Having run from 2012 to 2015, this sci-fi thriller meets cop drama stars 2077 cybernetically enhanced cop Kiera Cameron (Rachel Nichols), who is trapped in present-day Vancouver.
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Except it might be better there, because 2077 is run by huge corporations. (Are we far off that though…?)
Like 1984 before it, the world has become hi-tech and hugely reliant on surveillance to keep everyone in check. Not that everyone does, because Kiera is tasked with chasing the dissenting terrorist organisation Liber-8 through time.
Continuum was a show that got smarter the further it went along. Plus, Adam Whatford said it had a ‘valid political commentary’ when it first aired in the 2010s, adding: ‘Unfortunately, the commentary is still very much valid today.’
12 Monkeys
It’s James vs the monkeys in question (Picture: Channel/Everett/Shutterstock)
You might be thinking, ‘Isn’t that a Brad Pitt film?’ Well, yes, it is, but it was also a TV show with a few of the same characters. Plus, it feels like a good sign if there are multiple versions of something, right? Why else would they both?
Here, the time-travelling plot focuses on James (X-Men’s Aaron Stanford), a scavenger in 2043 – okay, this was a bit further away when the show aired in 2015 than it is now.
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That is indeed the year he returns to in order to prevent the contagion of a gruesome plague, called the Kalavirus, which led to a small little thing called the decimation of humanity. James’ mission is to eliminate those 12 monkeys that first caused the virus.
We jump back and forth between the present day 2010s and the future of the 2040s as we go, so it’s a lot of fun for anyone who enjoys Loop-style cause-and-effect hokey cokey.
Ben Dieter Holt had particularly high praise for the show, writing: ‘One of the best things I’ve ever watched and probably surpasses the original film.’
Word on the street is the first season is a bit lacklustre, but persevere because it’s upwards from there on out.
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Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
Yes, that’s Elijah Wood as a bellhop! (Picture: AMC/Katie Yu)
With an 85% on Rotten Tomatoes, you can’t go wrong with this, and it’s easily available to watch over on Netflix.
Based on Douglas Adams’ detective novel series, this sci-fi entry first aired back in 2016 and follows bellhop Todd Brotzman, played by one of the legends of another hugely popular genre, Elijah Wood.
It’s just another day at work for Todd, until he comes under suspicion for having murdered a millionaire in the hotel penthouse – not good! Rescue comes in the form of titular smooth-talking detective Dirk Gently (extra points for the fun name) Dirk Gently (Samuel Barnett).
Instead of suspecting Todd, he convinces the bellhop to work with him on cracking the case. But this is when the sci-fi elements comes into play, because it turns out that his work tends to involve the paranormal.
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You might not have heard of the show before, but Justin Bodle has and described it as the ‘best program on Netflix’ before its unfortunate cancellation with two seasons in the bank.
Space – Above and Beyond
The rag-tag group cobbled together from Earth’s military (Picture: Hard Eight/Kobal/Shutterstock)
Nathan Hobbs recommended Space – Above and Beyond, calling it ‘one of the best and most overlooked sci-fi series ever made’, adding that it was 30 years ahead of its time.
Set in 2063, the show follows members of the US Marine Corps 58th Squadron of the Space Aviator Cavalry known as the Wildcards.
This rag-tag group has been cobbled together from Earth’s military following an attack on our solar system by a mysterious alien race known as The Chigs and represents humanity’s last hope of defeating the extraterrestrial menace.
While the series only ran for one season, it’s fondly remembered by sci-fi fans and regularly appears on lists of underappreciated TV series.
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Indeed, Starburst Magazine said in a 2018 review that ‘it’s stunning how well the series has aged since its original run’ while Jesse Alexander of i09 claimed you could see the influence the series had on beloved shows like Lost, 24, and Alias.
Sliders
This weird show followed a group of interdimensional explorers (Picture: Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock)
Chris Jrj, meanwhile, proved he’s a man of exquisite taste when he recommended the woefully underrated Sliders.
They wrote: ‘Real heroes will mention Sliders. Legendary heroes remember watching Sliders long enough for it to get a bit rubbish.’
This weird show followed a group of interdimensional explorers who invented a miraculous piece of technology that allowed them to ‘slide’ from dimension to dimension.
Unfortunately, on their first adventure, they lost the coordinates to their home reality, forcing them to leap from one alternate universe to another, hoping each time that their next leap would be the leap home (wait, that sounds familiar…).
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While the concept might have been a bit derivative of other shows, it was a fun idea that allowed the writers to tell a variety of stories. There were episodes where Nazis controlled America, tales where dinosaurs still walked the Earth, and, of course, there’s a zombie episode.
It was daft and delightful, but as Chris Jrj said, as time went on, it did fall off a bit. If you slide on over to Reddit, you’ll find several people saying seasons one and two are brilliant, but the rest is a bit disappointing.
This article was originally published on November 22, 2025.
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If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
Reports suggest that Roy’s Rolls cafe, owned by character Roy Cropper, will be burned down in an arson attack in the coming weeks.
The blaze is expected to spread and destroy the cafe, all while Roy is inside the property.
Further claims suggest that Roy will be left fighting for his life, with the cafe owner being rushed to the hospital.
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Coronation Street to destroy Roy’s Roll cafe
The scenes of the cafes burning down are expected to air in April.
According to The Sun, questions will arise over who would want to target Roy and burn the cafe down.
A source said, “Roy’s Rolls is targeted by a mystery fire starter who breaks in and douses the cafe with petrol whilst Roy sleeps upstairs in his flat.
“When residents spot smoke coming out of the windows, emergency services are called. As the fire rages and people realise Roy is trapped inside, the race is on to get him out alive.
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“Will Roy be rescued in time, and what about his precious collection of railway memorabilia and memories of Hayley? Is this the end of Roy’s Rolls as we know it, and who wanted to burn down the iconic cafe?”
Coronation Street stars sign new contracts on cobbles
Tony Maudsley and Jodie Prenger, who play George and Glenda Shuttleworth, have signed new contracts to continue acting on the iconic ITV soap.
Both stars will remain for at least another year.
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Maudsley, who joined the soap in 2020 as the local undertaker, confirmed that his time on the show had been extended in a post on social media.
It could be seen alongside a picture of the former Benidorm star with a glass of fizz.
He wrote in a caption on Sunday (1 March): “New contract? Cheers Corrie, don’t mind if I do.
“(I bit their hand off!) Can’t wait to see what’s around the corner for George (aside from more corpses).”
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