People were horrified to see so many dead sharks on a popular beach in Carmarthenshire. Now there might be an answer as to how they got there

Around 200 dead sharks that washed up on a Welsh beach may have been caught by accident by a fisherman who didn’t know what to do with such a large catch, experts believe.

Last Sunday (May 24) people reported seeing a mountain of dead sharks tangled in netting on the sand at Pembrey Beach in Carmarthenshire. People described the sight on the beach, which is also known as Cefn Sidan, as “sad and shocking”. Stay informed on Carms news by signing up to our newsletter here.

It was unknown how the sharks ended up on the beach, with some suggesting that a net on a trawling boat might have broken and been lost at sea, while others thought it might be an abandoned catch that was washed up.

Marine Environmental Monitoring, a conservation organisation, has now provided an update. Members of the organisation have attended the beach in the past week and carried out an investigation. They confirmed that the net contained around 200 sharks.

“The net was a gill type fishing net that would have been set at sea,” a spokesperson for the group said.

“The net was full of around 200 adult female and male Tope and Smooth-hound sharks. There was also a small handful of small cat sharks within the net. All the sharks had recently died, unfortunately most likely within the net.

“We collected several of each species and sex for further investigation. Pembrey country park then arranged disposal of the rest of the animals and net.”

It remains unclear who is responsible for the dead sharks, but the conservation group believe it could have been a fisherman who caught more than they could handle.

The spokesperson added: “It currently isn’t possible to work out who the net belonged to but it is possible that it was a hobby ‘fisherman’ who didn’t know how to deal with it, or was maybe hand hauling from a small boat and couldn’t get it aboard due to the weight and cut it loose.

“We will be working with the Welsh government, NRW and the local authority to better understand what happened and find ways to prevent it in future.”

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A mixed, all-abilities, running group was set up in August 2024, with the aim of raising funds for Holly’s Hearts UK and this is the second group to take on the ‘Couch to Half Marathon’ challenge.

Today (Sunday) 35 of the group’s runners will be on the start line for the half marathon as part of the AJ Bell Great Manchester Run, with several doing the 10K run too.

Holly’s Hearts was set up in memory of Holly Prince, the daughter of Mark and Westhoughton High School teacher Jenny Prince, who died from childhood cancer, Bloom Syndrome, when she was just 5 years old.

The charity provides gifts and experiences to children with cancer and their families.

Both Mark and Jenny were part of the 2025 cohort and ran last year’s event.

Mark, co-founder of Holly’s Hearts said: “I can’t tell you how special it is to see so many people running for Holly.”

His wife and co-founder Jenny said: “If you knew Holly, she was the little girl who ran everywhere and was always 100 miles an hour in what she did.”

Last year they raised over £22,500 as a group after starting out as strangers, developing as friends and supporting each other throughout.

Some of the group were new to running and most struggled to run for one minute when they started in August.

Since then they have completed group milestones of a 5K parkrun, 10K Run Through event at Tatton Park and the “Holly Prince 10 miler”, where Mark and Jenny were on hand with the medals at the finish line.

The coaches are all volunteers and the support they provide to all runners is invaluable.

Tracey, who founded Holly’s Heart’s Runners, said: “It’s been a true honour to watch each runner grow and develop from complete novices into strong and confident athletes.”

You can make a donation via Just Giving at justgiving.com/campaign/hollysheartsrunners

Former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has spoken to the BBC in her first interview since her estranged husband Peter Murrell pled guilty to embezzling £400,000 from the SNP.

Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg, Sturgeon said: “I am not responsible for the crimes that my former husband committed and I’m not going to apologise for somebody else’s crimes”.

She felt she was “serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit”.

On Monday, Murrell, the SNP’s former chief executive, admitted using party funds to purchase items including luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome. Sturgeon has consistently denied any knowledge of Murrell’s crimes.

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — When Senegalese farmer Abou Sow first watched U.S. missiles strike Iran on social media, he had a sinking feeling it would soon affect agriculture in the West African nation. Since the war began on Feb. 28, fertilizer prices have risen by 40%.

Sow was better prepared than most. Eight years ago, he gave up chemical fertilizers for organic compost and other natural sources. He now rallies farmers in Senegal to buy manure from local herders and gives advice on how to make a rich compost, picking out wriggling worms – a healthy sign.

“We can’t afford to wait for a ceasefire,” Sow said. “It’s risky to depend on chemical fertilizers.” Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz has affected the supply of natural gas, essential for making chemical fertilizer, as well as global shipping.

The Gulf region produces 30% of globally traded chemical fertilizer, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute, and global prices have increased by 50%, according to the World Bank’s fertilizer price index.

“The clock is ticking very hard,” said Maximo Torero, chief economist at the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization, as concerns grow about food security.

Experts say a shift away from chemical fertilizer could have wider benefits, as its production and usage create significant greenhouse gas emissions, the main driver of climate change.

Natural fertilizers, by contrast, can sequester carbon in the soil and create fewer problems like runoff that can pollute waterways.

“It’s good for the planet because you’re weaning food production off fossil fuels,” said Susan Chomba, member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems, a think tank.

In Senegal, some are grateful for sheep manure

Senegal annually imports 125,000 tons of fertilizer. The minister of agriculture, Mabouba Diagne, has said the state sourced enough chemical fertilizer for the current season, but farmers said it is increasingly difficult to find.

Farmer Aliou Fall blamed U.S. President Donald Trump for the soaring fertilizer costs. “He brings war to the world and he doesn’t even think about it. Now farmers are suffering,” Fall said.

Annually, Sow applies six tons of compost instead. He said he is fortunate to be near a town where manure is plentiful because residents rear sheep for religious holidays.

In rural areas and remote fields, however, it is challenging to source and transport large quantities of manure, and Sow fears that some people will abandon their fields in this difficult time.

One alternative is the industry in biofertilizers, products containing bacteria and other microorganisms to help plants absorb nitrogen, a crucial nutrient for growth, from the air and soil. A growing number of companies in Africa make industrial quantities of compost with municipal waste, decomposing food waste into fertilizer.

Senegal’s government announced in April it would subsidize and distribute 30,000 tons of organic fertilizer products to help farmers. Sow said that’s not enough.

Governments around the world spend $700 billion annually on agricultural subsidies according to the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development, with a large share spent on providing chemical fertilizer. Chomba said that makes alternatives more expensive and less competitive.

“You’re incentivizing the wrong sort of products,” she said.

In Brazil, the biofertilizers sector is growing

Brazil is a leading exporter of soybeans, coffee, sugarcane, beef and poultry. But the nation imports over 80% of its fertilizer, said Joana Colussi, assistant professor of agricultural economics at Purdue University.

The price of fertilizer has increased by 50% since the Iran war began, according to Luis Barbieri, founder of the Folio Institute, a Brazilian organization that connects farmers, scientists and researchers.

“Whenever we have a war, farmers’ use of biofertilizers is turbocharged,” Barbieri said.

Despite the widespread adoption of chemical fertilizers in Brazil in the 1970s, they are less effective in the tropical climate because high rainfall and high temperatures cause runoff.

The biofertilizer sector grew 15% in Brazil from 2023 to 2024, according to the state-run Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa. And patent laws mean that farmers can make their own biofertilizers at much lower cost.

In Mexico, however, very little progress has been made due to government subsidies promoting chemical fertilizer use and a lack of funding for alternatives, said Gerardo Noriega, a research professor at the Autonomous University of Chapingo and one of the country’s leading advocates for organic fertilizers.

But he suggested the current crisis “may force (farmers) to adopt organic fertilizers more quickly than they had imagined.”

In India, the prime minister encourages natural farming

In India’s southern Indian state of Telangana, Manohara Chari has been making jivamrita, a potent mix of cow dung, urine, flour, soil and sugar to replace the chemical fertilizer he used to apply.

“We do not depend on companies,” said Chari, one of 1.7 million farmers in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states who have shifted to natural farming, which embraces natural fertilizers, integrates livestock waste and plants a diversity of crops to improve soil health.

Farmers and experts say the Iran war and chemical fertilizer shortage make the approach more attractive. On May 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a “national mission” to adopt natural farming and cut fertilizer use by 50%.

India imports 60% of its fertilizer from the Gulf. The government has rushed to source supplies and subsidized it to keep prices low, at significant expense to the state.

“There’s certainly been more interest this year in natural farming, especially after the Middle East conflict began,” said G.V. Ramanjaneyulu, agricultural scientist at the Center for Sustainable Agriculture. Some farmers have dedicated part of their land to assess the approach.

The switch requires additional labor, and farmers face a transition period. Chari said the government could help instead of subsidizing chemical fertilizers: “If even a fraction of that support is given to natural farmers, more people will shift towards it.”

___

Arasu reported from Bengaluru, India, and Sanchez from Mexico. Mauricio Savarese in São Paulo, Brazil contributed.

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For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Japan has been steadily increasing its defence budget, setting spending records for 12 consecutive years. Its latest budget, approved in December by its cabinet, is for more than 9 trillion yen ($57bn, £42bn) – moving the country closer to its target of spending 2% of its GDP on the military.

Here are the latest rugby headlines on Sunday, May 31.

Edwards in England as RFU urged to make move

Shaun Edwards’ impending exit from France has put a number of major rugby nations on red alert, with the former Wales defence coach back in England amid reports he is about to be let go by the French Rugby Federation two years before the end of his contract.

Edwards was guest of honour at rugby league’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley where his former side Wigan Warriors claimed the trophy, presenting players with their medals as news broke in France of his uncertain future.

Reports in France claim Edwards has lost the full support of head coach Fabien Galthié and is about to be replaced by Gérald Bastide, who previously held the role between 2015 and 2017. Galthié and his assistant coaches recently met in Narbonne to discuss selection ahead of the upcoming friendly against England A and the Nations Cup fixtures against New Zealand, Australia and Japan in July but Edwards was absent.

The RFU will come under huge pressure to make a move for Edwards, who is widely seen as the best English coach England have never had, despite holding tentative talks on more than one occasion. Edwards’ availability comes weeks after head coach Steve Borthwick, who currently has Richard Wigglesworth as his defence coach, survived an internal review after a disastrous Six Nations.

Former England international Andy Goode is among those urging English rugby bosses to make a move immediately.

He said: “If the news of Shaun Edwards parting ways with France rugby are true you’d hope Bill Sweeney (RFU CEO) has the cojones to pick up the phone and offer him a 5 year deal to run through the next 2 World Cups. We can’t miss out on him again!”

As for Wales, they have been without a defence coach since Steve Tandy took over but have now appointed former Scotland international Peter Murchie from this summer.

Edwards has previously spoken of his ambition to coach international rugby in the southern hemisphere and also believes he has the capability to be a head coach at the highest level.

Adams makes Cardiff vow for next season

Josh Adams is adamant Cardiff’s season has been a success and is quietly confident they can kick on next season.

Cardiff reached the United Rugby Championship play-offs for the first time but slipped to a 44-21 quarter-final defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town.

But given all the off field distractions Adams insists finishing in sixth in the league should be viewed as a success for his side.

“We are disappointed with that result but throughout the season we have been excellent,” Adams told S4C.

“We deserved to be in a game like this. We fought very well right until the end. There’s a lot to be said for this young team. There’s a lot of growth for us to do as well.

“We are looking ahead to next season and hopefully we can improve as well. It has been very successful.

“We knew at the start of the season we wanted to finish in the top eight. That was our target and we finished sixth. We’ve been in the top eight throughout the whole season.”

Adams is quietly confident Cardiff will improve next season.

“I think as a group some boys are moving on and there are some new boys coming in over the summer,” he told S4C.

“We just want to build. There’s a lot of growing for this team to do.

“We want to be back here next season as well.”

Munster knocked out of URC play-offs

Bulls ran in six tries as they progressed to the semi-finals of the United Rugby Championship with a comprehensive 45-14 victory over Munster in Pretoria.

The South African side flew out of the traps and scored two tries in the first eight minutes when Embrose Papier crossed under the posts following a neat attack off a scrum penalty advantage before Kurt-Lee Arendse went over to help them into a 14-0 lead.

Handre Pollard slotted a penalty to further extend the Bulls’ lead but Munster responded with a couple of tries of their own through Jack O’Donoghue and Alex Nankivell to narrow the deficit to three points.

Munster’s hard work was undone at the end of the half as the Bulls restored their 17-point lead with two tries before the interval, Johan Grobbelaar striking from close range before Cameron Hanekom scored on the stroke of half-time.

Bulls were threatening to run away it and got their first try of the second half in the 54th minute when Papier claimed his second of the afternoon and the hosts’ fifth.

Stravino Jacobs went over in the corner to round off the scoring with the Bulls’ sixth try of the afternoon to ensure they go through to face Glasgow in the last-four clash.

Jan O’Brien, known online as The Flower Mummy, will unveil her deeply personal garden, Threads of Life, at the NEC in Birmingham next June, using flowers, textiles and symbolic storytelling to honour a close friend living with Motor Neurone Disease.

The project, which follows the success of her award-winning 2025 BBC Gardeners’ World Live garden, aims to raise awareness and funds for the Manchester and District branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

Jan in her award-winning 2025 BBC Gardeners’ World Live garden (Image: Jan)

But for Jan, the garden is about far more than medals or design.

“When somebody you love is losing pieces of themselves to this disease, you realise how important it is to create something meaningful while you still can,” she said.

“It’s become bigger than just a garden.”

The design reflects Jan’s life across five decades, with each section representing different “chapters” through planting, pathways, mirrors and sewing-inspired installations.

Threads of Life garden design (Image: Jan)

Inspired by a lifelong love of textiles inherited from her mum and nana, the garden features giant sewing needles, woven elements and repeated planting themes to symbolise memory, healing and connection.

Jan said: “The garden celebrates my 50th year through five decades of lived experience, where planting, path and sculpture form chapters that are still being written.

“It speaks about fragility, mending and resilience.

“The whole idea is that all our lives are stitched together through the people we love.”

(Image: Jan)

The Horwich gardener explained that spending time outdoors became a source of comfort following her own cancer diagnosis and during periods of grief.

“I found comfort being in the garden,” she said.

“I feel closer to my mum there. Nature brings me a lot of solace and support.

“When life becomes overwhelming, the garden is where I go to breathe again.”

At the heart of Threads of Life is Jan’s close friend, David, who was diagnosed with MND last year and has rapidly lost mobility.

Jan said: “It’s absolutely tragic and I wanted to do this to raise awareness for MND and show support for him and his family.

“This garden is for all those living with, caring for, or affected by MND.

“I wanted them to know they’re seen, they matter and their story matters too.”

Jan admitted there were moments she considered stepping away from the demanding project, but said the emotional importance of the garden kept her going.

“There were times this year when I thought I couldn’t do it,” she said.

“But it’s giving them hope and something to look forward to.

“That’s what gardens can do, they can comfort people when words sometimes can’t.”

Jan first caught the attention of BBC Gardeners’ World Live judges in 2025, winning Silver Merit and Best Interpretation of the Theme for a garden supporting the Willow Foundation, a charity helping seriously ill young adults.

(Image: Jan)

Despite insisting she was “not a garden designer”, judges encouraged her to return the following year.

She laughed: “I told them, ‘No, this is my one and only.’

“But apparently they knew better than I did.”

Alongside the garden itself, Jan is also creating a lasting “legacy” project inspired by books that shaped her own life.

Books linked to themes such as theatre, gardening, grief, hope and creativity will be donated to schools, libraries, hospices, care homes and community groups after the show, each carrying a special Threads of Life and MNDA bookplate.

She said: “Stories helped shape me through some of the hardest moments in my life.

“If this garden can help even one person feel comforted or understood, then it will have done what it was meant to do.”

Fundraising is now underway to help cover the practical costs of bringing the garden to life, including transport, materials and accessible accommodation for volunteers and guests connected to the project.

A minimum of 40 per cent of all pre-show donations will go directly to the Motor Neurone Disease Association, while all post-show plant sales and donations made during the event will also support the charity.

People can follow the project and support fundraising efforts via Jan’s Instagram page, @theflowermummysgarden or donate to the crowd funder https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/threads-of-life-bbc-gardeners-world-2026

Jan added: “Every contribution becomes a small stitch in the Threads of Life garden.

“None of us can create something so meaningful entirely alone.”

A picturesque seaside town in Essex is embroiled in controversy after plans were submitted to convert a shopfront into a Greggs outlet — with a petition now launched to block it

A picturesque seaside town hailed as one of Essex’s finest places to live could soon see the arrival of Greggs — but the prospect has divided opinion.

Leigh-on-Sea occupies one of Essex’s most stunning locations and is renowned for its independent shops and businesses.

The beautiful coastal town, known simply as ‘Leigh’ amongst residents, comprises the old town where dining and drinking venues abound, and the Broadway, home to boutique retailers and restaurants.

The delightful town, which features spectacular waterfront vistas, cobbled streets and vibrant beach huts, is celebrated for its independent character. Yet proposals to transform a Broadway shop into a Greggs branch have sparked debate.

Papers lodged with Southend-on-Sea City Council outlined plans for a shopfront displaying Greggs signage on the Factory Shop — with a verdict expected by July 10.

Nevertheless, a petition has been started urging the council to reject the Greggs proposals, attracting more than 1,700 signatures so far.

Behind the campaign is resident Enzo Harrison. He explained to this reporter: “It’s important to keep the Broadway independent. When people spend money in locally-owned businesses, the money stays in the area, it enriches us all.

“We risk losing not only our wealth but the unique feel of the area.”

Elaborating on why he started the petition, he explained on the website: “For as long as I remember, Leigh has had a host of high quality, independently owned bakeries and restaurants. Grout’s, The Homemade Bakery, The Flour and Spoon etc.

“The money we spent stayed in our community, the food we ate was wholesome and used proper ingredients, the faces behind the counter were familiar and friendly. This may soon come to an end.”

He continued: “To put it simply — Leigh’s too good for a Greggs. And we all know it.”

Responding below, one resident remarked: “I live on the Broadway and this would have a huge impact in my daily life, as their operations unit would sit right on my backyard. Keep Leigh independent, we love our artisan bakeries and coffee shops.”

Another chimed in: “Leigh doesn’t need any more chains or food outlets . To keep Leigh special we need independent shops selling things we actually need.”

Greggs was established in 1939 and has become one of Britain’s best-loved bakeries with thousands of branches. It also runs its own charity, The Greggs Foundation, which provides eight million free breakfasts for primary school children each year.

Leigh-on-Sea, meanwhile, is home to over 20,000 residents who enjoy scenic walks and delicious fish and chips.

Situated on the Thames Estuary, London is accessible by train in roughly 45 minutes, making the town attractive to commuters who prefer to avoid living in the heart of the capital. Edward White, the owner of fashion boutique Local Merchants, told express.co.uk last year: “We’re lucky to be surrounded by locals and visitors who actually care about supporting independent shops. They want something you can’t get everywhere.”

Councillor Carole Mulroney also weighed in on the flourishing high street, saying: “We’re lucky, we don’t often see empty shops in Leigh. There’s a healthy turnover, but people are invested. Shop owners, residents, they want this place to do well.”

She went on to note that cafes were “always full” whether by the old town waterfront or along the lively hilltop high street.

The town once had a Costa Coffee, which has since shut its doors, and a Subway had to be redesigned to blend in with its surroundings. Leigh continues to resist the cookie-cutter uniformity that plagues so many British high streets, with its embrace of independent businesses proving to be its greatest strength.

The seaside town sits just a 15-minute drive from Southend-on-Sea, and according to Rightmove, the average property price in Leigh-on-Sea stands at £448,840.

Local resident Russell Campbell, who previously lived in Basildon, shared his thoughts on Leigh with this publication.

He said: “I like the people here. I like the art here, the music, and I like that it’s by the sea. I just like the whole feel about it. It’s quite arty. The people here are creative.”

A visitor also chimed in: “Leigh has a cultural life which other towns like Southend don’t. It’s a wonderful place. Some talented people have emerged from here.”

This includes Oscar-winner Dame Helen Mirren, who grew up there, and Jamie Oliver, who once posted on social media: ” Aaaaahhhh back in my home town of Leigh on Sea ESSEX down at the cockle sheds just a quick visit but 15 mins for a pint of Adams and a little Cockles white pepper and vinegar and a roll before my next job then back to London Town happy days and memories.”

One local resident, Simon Green, also championed Leigh-on-Sea last year when Which? placed Southend-on-Sea as the fourth-worst seaside resort in the country in its yearly survey of top coastal destinations.

He outlined three reasons why this assessment was “total nonsense”, arguing that Leigh-on-Sea had been unfairly dismissed as one of Southend’s finest assets.

Simon described it as “undoubtedly one of the most desirable areas in the city”, highlighting how residents descended there every weekend to soak up the atmosphere at the Broadway cafes.

He also praised the independent retailers and a Michelin restaurant named Food.

And painting a picture of what Broadway – which may soon welcome a Greggs – is truly like, he wrote: “Situated right on the seafront, the former fishing village has a beautiful cobbled street running through it lined with clapboard houses from the 18th Century. Shacks are always open selling countless varieties of fresh fish — including prawns, oysters and mussels caught that day.

“And the meal can be washed down with a pint at the ever-popular Peterboat or the Boatyard, which overlook the fishing trawlers bobbing in the estuary. Ye Olde Smack is always a popular pub for locals too.”

Greggs and Leigh Town Council have been approached for comment.

Welcome back to What’s Cooking, Metro’s food series, taking a peek inside the nation’s kitchens.

This week, we’re at home with Michelin-trained chef Poppy O’Toole, who you might recognise from social media as ‘the potato queen’.

Poppy has a whopping 1.4 million followers on Instagram, where she regularly shares potato recipes, and her food is so beloved that she’s recently teamed up with Bill’s restaurants to serve it nationwide, with a limited-edition menu to celebrate the chain’s 25th anniversary.

But if you’ve ever wondered what the 32-year-old really likes to eat when she’s not roasting, mashing, and frying potatoes, we’ve got the answer.

First, tell us a secret. What’s your most unhinged snack obsession?

I absolutely adore frozen peas; I eat bags of them. Sometimes I’ll put them on top of cream cheese or cottage cheese, but I also just scoop them into my mouth straight out of the freezer. My husband thinks it’s mental, but I love that it’s like ice, but it’s also food.

Which dish always transports you back to your childhood?

My mum’s lasagne. She used to make individual ones so everyone could always get the crusty bit around the edge, which is the best bit. That, with some garlic bread and a side salad, takes me straight back.

Now, we’ve got to ask… What’s next for potatoes?

Goodness me, that’s a big question and one I ask myself regularly. 

I think barbecuing potatoes is going to be a big trend this summer – it’s on the verge of having a moment.

I’ve actually started making potato skewers on the barbecue. You take baby potatoes, very lightly parboil them with loads of aromats, so you’ve got some stock in there, some bay leaves, and peppercorns for flavour, skewer them on metal skewers, and add veg in between each one, just as you would a kebab. 

The key is to make a really beautiful glaze for them. I’m using clarified butter, and you can add whatever herbs you want, but I’m going for a bit of paprika, cumin, coriander, chilli, and lemon juice. 

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Mix that up and then cook them low and slow on the barbecue, and you glaze the potatoes every 10 minutes or so, for about 40 to 50 minutes, turning and glazing as you go, until you get these charred, beautiful, potato kebabs that are perfect on top of a yoghurt dressing.

Name one thing that’s always in your fridge…

I’m a savoury girl, and I love pickles, but they have to be cold, sweet, and sour. 

Currently, I’ve got Sainsbury’s own-brand gherkins, and they’re so good – they’ve got some mustard seeds, caraway seeds, onion and a bit of pepper in, and I’m eating that as well. I’ll also drink some of the pickle juice.

What about in your store cupboard?

Potatoes are the obvious answer. That’s a given.

But I also always like to have some Worcestershire Sauce in the cupboard, and it has to be Lea & Perrins. I’ve tried other brands, but that’s the one I always end up going back to.

And in the freezer?

Bags of frozen chopped garlic and ginger. They’re so easy, and really convenient because I always forget to buy garlic, so having that in the freezer is such a useful backup.

Is there anything you can’t resist splurging on at the supermarket?

I love sourdough bread, and I’m realising it’s getting more and more expensive. My go-to is Jason’s number 11.

I’ll also splurge on a really good block of butter, whichever looks posh and has salt crystals in.

A fiver for butter is just ridiculous, but I love proper butter.

What do you prefer to get the cheap own-brand version of from the supermarket?

Ice creams. We had Magnums the other week, which are very nice, but they’re so much smaller than I remember them being, and it’s so expensive for three of them.

So now for anything ice cream or ice lolly related, I just buy own-brand ones.

Is there anything you won’t eat?

I have an unhinged fear of jelly. I can’t eat it, I can’t even look at it, it makes me feel physically sick. I take it off my pork pies, and if I have a terrine or anything like that, it has to be removed.

I can’t have anything set in gelatin, but it’s so sad because I’m desperate to eat trifle – it looks like the most beautiful thing in the world.

How does it feel having your dishes on the menu at Bill’s?

It’s been incredible, as this is the first thing I’ve ever done where a lot of people can try my food.

There are three items – my ultimate smash burger, loaded tater tots, and a crispy smashed potato salad. 

The burger is amazing, it’s got a hash brown on top, red onions, as well as caramelised onions, and it’s a big boy. I’ve also got a hyper fixation on tater tots at the moment, and these have hot maple feta and bacon, which is a winning combo. It’s potato perfection.

I’ve been there literally like three times in the last month; it’s ridiculous how many times I’ve been to eat the burger.

Finally, what’s been cooking lately?

A few weeks ago, we didn’t have a lot in, just some mince and some chips in the freezer, so I fried off the mince with a bit of onion and garlic, and loaded it up on top of chips. It wasn’t saucy, just slightly dry, which I know doesn’t sound very good, but trust me, it was delicious.

It’s now become one of our weekly go-tos for dinner. 

Want to take part in What’s Cooking and let Metro raid your kitchen at home? Email courtney.pochin@metro.co.uk  

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

If you’re heading into town by car, be warned. It’s gong to be even more difficult that usual.

The start line for both races is located on Portland Street and both finish on Deansgate. The routes do vary though, and you can take a look at our full guide here.

Road closures

The following roads will be closed to vehicular traffic during the dates and times shown.

Saturday 30 May to Sunday 31 May

6am, 30 May to 9pm, 31 May

• Liverpool Road – Deansgate to Barton Street

6am, 30 May to 11pm, 31 May

• Tonman Street – Deansgate to Barton Street

Sunday 31 May

2am to 7pm

• Deansgate – Whitworth Street West to Quay Street

4am to 4pm

• Peter Street – Mount Street to St Peters Square
• Portland Street – Princess Street to Oxford Street
• Chepstow Street – Oxford Street to Great Bridgewater Street
• Dickinson Street – Portland Street to the eastern end of the street

4am to 6pm

• Deansgate – Quay Street to John Dalton Street
• St John Street – Deansgate to Byrom Street
• Jacksons Row – Deansgate to Southmill Street
• Lloyd Street – Deansgate to Southmill Street
• Peter Street – Deansgate to Mount Street
• Quay Street – Deansgate to Byrom Street
• Southmill Street – Peter Street to Albert Square

5:30am to 1pm

• Mancunian Way East – Fairfield Street to Regent Road
• Mancunian Way West – Fairfield Street to Regent Road
• Pin Mill Brow – Fairfield Street to Mancunian Way

6:30am to 1pm

• Chorlton Road – Jackson Crescent to the Mancunian Way roundabout
• Fairfield Street – Ashton Old Road to Mancunian Way
• Manor Street – Paddock Street to Mancunian Way

6:30am to 2:45pm

• Albion Street – Whitworth Street West to Great Bridgewater Street

6:30am to 4pm

• Abingdon Street – Portland Street to Silver Street
• Bloom Street – Chorlton Street to Princess Street
• Cross Street – Cross Street to John Dalton Street
• Great Bridgewater Street – Oxford Street to Deansgate
• Major Street – Sackville Street to Princess Street
• Minshull Street – Portland Street to Aytoun Street
• Oxford Street – Peter Street to Whitworth Street West
• Portland Street – New York Street to Princess Street
• Princess Street – Albert Square to Portland Street
• Sackville Street – Portland Street to Major Street

6:30am to 6pm

• Hardman Street – Byrom Street to the Royal Bank of Scotland car park exit
• Atkinson Street – Byrom Street to Deansgate
• Bootle Street – Deansgate to Southmill Street
• Byrom Street – Quay Street to Hardman Street
• Central Street – Southmill Street to Lloyd Street
• Bridgewater Viaduct – Chester Road to Whitworth Street West
• Chester Road – Bridgewater Way to Bridgewater Viaduct
• Ellesmere Street – Hulme Hall Road to Chester Road
• Hulme Hall Road – Ellesmere Street to Chester Road
• Whitworth Street West – Albion Street to Deansgate

7am to 11:30am

• Alan Turing Way – Ashton New Road to Ashton Old Road

7am to 1pm

• Ashton Old Road – Alan Turing Way to Pin Mill Brow

7am to 2:45pm

• Albion Street – Whitworth Street West to Medlock Street
• Medlock Street – Albion Street to Princess Road
• Whitworth Street West – Albion Street to Gloucester Street
• City Road East – Albion Street to Great Jackson Street
• Great Jackson Street – City Road East to Chester Road
• River Street – Medlock Street to Garwood Street
• Garwood Street – Great Jackson Street and City Road East to River Street

8am to 11am

• Ashton New Road – Ashton New Roa/Darley Street to Alan Turing Way