Walker Smith, 54, was fired after confronting a shoplifter stealing luxury Easter eggs, despite working there for 17 years.

A Waitrose employee has been dismissed after attempting to prevent a shoplifter from making off with a haul of premium Easter eggs. Walker Smith worked for Waitrose for 17 years before losing his job.

The 54-year-old said he was “crying inside” when management escorted him out, as the supermarket had become like family to him. Bosses hinted there could be additional details to the incident, though stated they were unable to “discuss an individual case”, reports the Mirror.

Mr Smith worked as a shop assistant at a Waitrose store in Clapham Junction, south London. He was going about his normal duties when a customer alerted him that somebody had loaded a bag with eggs.

Standard procedure dictates staff should avoid confronting shoplifters, and instead escalate the matter to senior colleagues. However, having witnessed countless thefts over the years, Mr Smith decided to intervene, he explained.

He challenged the thief and grabbed their bag. There was apparently a short scuffle, before the bag tore and multiple Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs tumbled onto the ground.

The shoplifter bolted towards the exit, but Mr Smith picked up a fragment of broken Easter egg and “threw it out of frustration” towards some trolleys – and not at the thief – he claimed. He received a telling-off from his manager at the time, but several weeks later, he was summoned to a meeting with store managers.

Mr Smith said he made a final appeal for leniency, but was eventually informed he was being dismissed. He told the Guardian: “I tried to stay strong and I didn’t say a word but inside I was crying.

“They led me out the back door by the bins. I just felt demoralised.

“Waitrose is like my family. My friends are there. I was there for 17 years, I must have been doing something right.

“I’m not a bad or violent or aggressive person. I just got frustrated seeing this day in and day out and not seeing Waitrose do much about it.”

Mr Smith subsequently thanked those who had shown him support on his personal Facebook page. He said his immediate focus is now securing fresh employment.

He wrote: “Thank you everyone for getting in touch with kind messages and support, I really appreciate it. I didn’t think it would blow up like this but now it has my priority is getting a job.

“I’m based in Clapham Junction so if you or anyone you know is looking for a reliable, conscientious employee please reach out. I was at Waitrose for 17 years so warehousing, customer service – except dealing with shoplifters(!), or similar would be amazing.”

Waitrose, meanwhile, stated that staff safety remains paramount, which is precisely why it maintains specific procedures for handling shoplifters. Workers had previously sustained injuries when challenging thieves, and the company would never wish to place employees in danger.

A Waitrose spokesperson said: “The safety and security of our Partners and customers couldn’t be more important to us, and we have policies in place to protect both. We’ve had incidents where our Partners have been hospitalised when challenging shoplifters.

“Luckily, they have always recovered, but that might not always be the case. There is a serious danger to life in tackling shoplifters.

“We refuse to put anyone’s life at risk and that’s why we have policies in place that are very clearly understood and must be strictly followed. As a responsible employer, we never want to be in a position where we are notifying families of a tragedy because someone tried to stop a theft.

“Nothing we sell is worth risking lives for. The reporting on this does not cover the full facts of the situation. While we would never be able to discuss an individual case, we can assure you the correct process is being followed, which includes a standard appeals procedure.

“We have campaigned for some time for more to be done to protect shop workers from offenders, including retail crime being made into a specific stand alone offence.”

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“Founders I admire – such as Pip Murray of Pip & Nut, Amelia Christie-Miller of Bold Bean and Imme Ermgassen of Botivo have done the same, building loyal audiences who feel invested in their journey. Naturally, your brand will evolve as you scale, but if you build that community foundation early, it only strengthens as the business grows.”

BBC One viewers were left stunned by the wildlife documentary as Sir David approaches his 100th birthday.

BBC One audiences welcomed back Sir David Attenborough this evening, as the broadcaster premiered Secret Garden.

The five-part series explores the drama unfolding within the concealed wild realm of remarkable gardens.

Tonight’s opening episode focused on an Oxfordshire garden, attached to a thousand-year-old mill house.

Proprietors Henry and Sara have been compelled to allow much of the land surrounding their distinctive home to flourish naturally, as it borders a tributary of the River Thames.

Due to their methodology, the garden supports a diverse range of wildlife, including otters, kingfishers, and mallards, reports the Mirror.

Yet, their garden also confronts the threat of flooding, leaving a kingfisher fighting to survive and protect his family, nesting mere metres above the river’s edge.

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Meanwhile, a timid bank vole is captured on camera avoiding the hazards of robotic lawnmowers and garden snakes, while Doris the duck attempts to keep her nine ducklings alive.

The BBC revealed: “Through the eyes of Henry and Sara, beautiful cinematography and immersive storytelling, this episode reveals the astonishing resilience of Britain’s garden wildlife in the face of unpredictable change. It is a celebration of how leaving nature to its own devices can turn an ordinary patch of land into a hugely rich and highly rewarding wildlife refuge. “

Viewers were left stunned by the first episode and praised Sir David’s return.

“Absolutely fabulous filming on # BBC1 Sir David Attenborough’s Secret Garden. Amazing Spring river scenes with Doris the Mallard and her river neighbours. Spellbinding!” one person wrote.

“Perfect Sunday viewing,” another said, as a third commented: “What a wonderful programme for a Spring Easter Sunday evening.”

Another echoed: “Such amazing photography as well as #DavidAttenborough narration – food for the soul for a Sunday evening.”

Someone else said: “#SecretGarden on @BBC1 is incredible.”

Another person wrote: “Watching the new David Attenborough documentary #secretgarden, hard to believe he’s 100 next month.”

“The camera quality on this is AMAZING,” another hailed.

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Several others praised the location, with one writing: “Wish I could live somewhere so beautiful and surrounded by nature.”

Someone else said, “I’m so envious, a dream property for sure,” as another wrote, “What a fantastic house and garden on #SecretGarden.”

Ahead of the series airing, producer Bill Markham spoke about how much it meant to have Sir David, who is approaching his 100th birthday, narrate Secret Garden.

He said: “As Sir David Attenborough approaches his 100th birthday, having him narrate the series feels both momentous and deeply fitting.

“The first question anyone asks when you’re making a wildlife programme is whether he’s involved – and for good reason.

“Over the past seventy years, he has come to define the genre. For many of us, his films were the spark that set us on this path, so working on Secret Garden at this moment feels particularly special. His involvement has had a profound effect on the production.

“As a team, we’ve undoubtedly raised our standards, mindful that every frame and every line of script would be subject to his careful attention. That knowledge alone has sharpened our focus and ambition.”

Secret Garden continues next Sunday at 6pm on BBC One and iPlayer.

Daniel Farke says Leeds are ‘for sure’ the ‘underdogs’ in their FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea, but his side will be ‘greedy’ for victory when they take to the field at Wembley later this month.

Leeds secured their spot in the last four of the cup for the first time in 39 years thanks to a dramatic penalty shootout win over West Ham at the London Stadium.

It was a pulsating contest in the capital, with Farke’s men seemingly cruising after Calvert-Lewin had doubled the visitors’ lead from the spot following Ao Tanaka’s opener.

But there was an almighty momentum shift as Mateus Fernandes reduced the deficit in the third minute of stoppage time after scores of Hammers supporters had already left the stadium in frustration.

Axel Disasi equalised just moments later to put West Ham firmly in the ascendancy heading into extra-time, only for Leeds to prevail on penalties after the two teams could not be separated.

Lucas Perri was the hero for Leeds, making two big saves in a nerve-shredding shootout, to help send his team just two wins away from the famous trophy.

A day earlier, Chelsea ensured they advanced through with an emphatic 7-0 thrashing of League One outfit Port Vale at Stamford Bridge.

In this year’s other semi-final, Manchester City will lock horns with Southampton, who stunned Premier League leaders Arsenal to seal their spot at Wembley.

‘We will be the underdog, that’s for sure,’ Farke told BBC Sport when asked for his reaction to the draw shortly after Leeds’ dramatic victory over West Ham.

‘It’s a big name and a side full of top players. For that we are the underdog but we have written history.

‘Nobody expected us to go though to the semi-final. And of course we are greedy to go to the next step.

‘My focus now is on the Premier League. We are on such a good path and want to make sure we can celebrate there.’

Speaking to TNT Sports, Calvert-Lewin said he and the rest of Leeds’ squad would be ready and prepared for a ‘difficult’ test against Chelsea under the Wembley arch.

‘It’s always going to be a difficult match against Chelsea,’ the Leeds and England striker said.

‘They’re a good side, but it’s the FA Cup, we’re going to Wembley. Excited.

‘I’ve never had the opportunity to play at Wembley for at club level before, so for me it was a big chance today.

‘When it went to 2-2, I thought maybe it’s not meant to be, but thankfully, we stuck in there and got the win.’

When will the FA Cup semi-finals and final be played?

The two semi-final ties will take place on Saturday, April 25 and Sunday, April 26 at Wembley.

The two winning teams will return to the stadium for this year’s final on May 16.

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Asked what Leeds manager had Farke told the squad before extra-time, Calvert-Lewin explained: ‘I think they started overloading out wide and it was the basics of football, defending crosses and stopping crosses, which we didn’t do very well.

‘And you’ve got to be prepared for them to come forward and get themselves back in the game, and I think we just let ourselves down with that.

‘They had momentum and we managed to hold out and win on penalties.

‘I had a good feeling, particularly before I came on, that there was going to be chances to make an impact. And when you’re on the pitch and they’ve got the ball and I’m up front in position, all I’m thinking about is I hope they don’t score.

‘I wasn’t really thinking about the neutral. I was focused on scoring and stopping them from scoring.’

On his spot-kick to make it 2-0 against the Irons, Calvert-Lewin said: ‘Just basics, I did what I always do.

‘It’s no secret that I missed my last one against [Crystal] Palace away, so it was a big moment for me to make sure I put it away properly. And I’ve been practicing in training just drilling it.

‘When you miss one you want to go through your processes again and I have a process and I knew where I was going this time and put it away.’

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The family of a man who died from meningitis last month are speaking out to raise awareness of the importance of ‘listening to your body’.

The man in his 50s, from Co Antrim, passed away at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital just over four days after collapsing in his home after complaining of an upset stomach.

After seeing the increased media coverage surrounding meningitis after the outbreak in England, his family, who wish to remain anonymous, reached out to Belfast Live to bravely share their story.

READ MORE: Suspected meningitis case being investigated at Belfast schoolREAD MORE: Public Health Agency highlight meningitis symptoms to look out for after outbreak in England

They wish to make the public aware that deaths have occurred in Northern Ireland as a result of illness and to keep a vigilant eye on those reporting to be sick – even if they aren’t showing all of the symptoms being shared in the news.

His sister said: “I had got a phone call from my sister-in-law to say that my brother had collapsed and she didn’t know what was wrong with him – paramedics were there, Air Ambulance was on its way and when I got there, what I had witnessed was just absolutely awful.

“My brother was just lying on the floor and he was unresponsive. He had no power down one side of his body and he was rushed to the Royal Hospital.

“My sister-in-law said the only thing that she knew he had felt unwell with was the day before, he said he had a bit of an upset stomach and was tired.”

He was rushed to A&E, where it was believed at first that he was suffering from a stroke due to the weakness on one side of his body.

“They put him into the stroke ward but he detoriated and they told us at that time that there was a chance he would have to go into the ICU. He had got another CT scan and discovered early the next day that it was Meningitis,” his sister explained.

His niece added that doctors were aware that he had inflammation on the brain after the two CT scans came back inconclusive for a stroke.

She said: “They were able to tell us he had a serious infection and suspected it might be Encephalitis or Sepsis so they were going to run more blood cultures and submit him for another scan.

“The following day, he had another MRI scan and they were able to tell us at that point it was meningitis and his brain was severely damaged by that point with inflammation.”

Doctors informed the family that he had both bacterial and viral meningitis and was put on a ventilator, where they were told he was in “an extremely serious condition”.

Getting emotional, his sister said: “Nothing prepares you for being told that about your brother and to be told he very likely would not be making it and had to make the decision two days later to let him go.”

His niece said that the family decided they wanted to speak out to help others, as her uncle did not have the major symptoms being shared in the news in the wake of the meningitis outbreak.

They want other families to hopefully avoid the heartbreak and devastation they have faced since his death in February by listening to their bodies and getting themselves checked when something just doesn’t feel right.

“As a family, we are finding it even more distressing because meningitis has been in the news so much recently and we know what we have been through. It is not always obvious symptoms,” his sister added.

It was over 24-hours after he was admitted to the Royal before he was formally diagnosed with meningitis.

“It was so distressing watching him and not knowing what was wrong.”

His niece continued: “He was still conscious until a point because we knew he could hear us because he would squeeze my hand when I would ask him something and when we first went in, I had grabbed his hand and said ‘it’s ok we are here’ and a wee tear fell down the side of his cheek.

“It was just so awful to see him like that and him being aware we were there and there was just nothing we could do.

“To the most stoic of persons who would go ‘oh I’m just a bit run down’, if its the most usual of symptoms that seem to appear that goes beyond the usual cold or flu feeling, go get it checked out.”

The family are encouraging the public to get behind the campaign to get the meningitis vaccine as it reduces the chances of anyone having to go through what they have and having to say goodbye to a loved one so suddenly.

They hope that in sharing the circumstances of his death, people will be more aware that it is not just an illness that affects children and young people.

“For him to get this so out of the blue was really quite hard for us all to wrap our heads around,” his sister added.

The family have also highlighted the struggle to find information and figures on others who have died in Northern Ireland from meningitis and that data on recent deaths, such as their brother, or recent cases detected are not readily published.

His sister stressed: “This is happening in Northern Ireland and not just across the water so please be aware.”

Despite the heartbreak his family have been experiencing since his death last month, they also wanted to take time to thank the staff at the Royal Victoria Hospital, the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance and the paramedics.

They said: “The RICU were utterly amazing, they were so so good to him. Even the aftercare they’ve provided – they’ve been in touch with my brother’s wife.

“In spite of what we’ve been through, we feel passionately geared to raise meningitis awareness and do anything to make the vaccine more readily available to the public.”

Information on meningitis can be found at www.pha.site/meningitis-nidirect

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here

A long-serving Waitrose employee has spoken of feeling “demoralised” and “frustrated” after being dismissed for confronting a shoplifter attempting to steal Easter eggs.

Walker Smith, 54, a 17-year employee at the Clapham Junction branch, described Waitrose as “like my family”. He claims his dismissal followed an attempt to stop a shoplifter with a bag full of Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs.

Mr Smith grabbed the bag, leading to a brief struggle before it snapped and its contents fell. The shoplifter fled, and Mr Smith, “out of frustration”, threw a piece of a broken chocolate bunny towards some shopping trollies.

“When I got home, I was punching myself and thinking: ‘Why did I do that?’” Mr Smith told The Guardian, having been dismissed two days later in a meeting with store managers. Waitrose stated current reports do not present the “full facts of the situation”, emphasising that “nothing we sell is worth risking lives for”.

Recalling his dismissal, Mr Smith said: “I tried to stay strong and I didn’t say a word, but inside I was crying. They led me out the back door by the bins. I just felt demoralised.”

He added: “Waitrose is like my family. My friends are there. I was there for 17 years, I must have been doing something right. I’m not a bad or violent or aggressive person. I just got frustrated seeing this day in and day out and not seeing Waitrose do much about it.”

Mr Smith, diagnosed with anxiety, claims managers were aware. Despite regretting his actions, he told The Guardian he was driven to intervene after witnessing thefts “every hour of every day for the last five years” without permission.

The incident comes amid a rise in shoplifting offences across England and Wales.

ONS figures show 519,381 offences to September 2025, a 5% increase from the previous year, slightly below the record 530,439 offences recorded to March 2025.

The Conservatives recently reiterated their commitment to “Good Samaritan” protections for retail staff. Shadow Justice Minister Kieran Mullan said “punishing people who step in to stop crime is wrong” and that people doing the “right thing” were being penalised.

Waitrose told the Press Association that the “safety and security” of its workers and customers underpins policies against staff intervening in thefts, explaining: “We’ve had incidents where our Partners have been hospitalised when challenging shoplifters. Luckily, they have always recovered, but that might not always be the case. There is a serious danger to life in tackling shoplifters. We refuse to put anyone’s life at risk and that’s why we have policies in place that are very clearly understood and must be strictly followed. As a responsible employer, we never want to be in a position where we are notifying families of a tragedy because someone tried to stop a theft. Nothing we sell is worth risking lives for. The reporting on this does not cover the full facts of the situation.”

While not discussing Mr Smith’s case, Waitrose confirmed the “correct process” was followed, including an appeals procedure.

Police were called to Middridge Road at 8.20pm on Saturday (April 4) after a two-car crash between a Skoda Octavia and Peugeot 3008.

Five people were taken to hospital in total, including a 54-year-old woman who remains at Darlington Memorial Hospital in a life-threatening condition.

The driver of the Skoda, a 31-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving while under the influence of drugs, and possession of a controlled drug.

He remains in police custody. Three passengers who were travelling in the Skoda were uninjured.

Durham Police say the cars are believed to have been travelling in opposite directions when they were involved in the head-on collision.

The force are now appealing to drivers and other witnesses of the crash to come forward.

A spokesperson said: “Officers would like to speak to anyone who witnessed the incident, or who may have dashcam footage that could assist their enquiries.

“Anyone who can help is asked to call Durham Constabulary on 101, quoting incident number 453 of April 4.

“Information can also be submitted by email to sciu@durham.police.uk.”

A spokesperson for North East Ambulance Service added: “We were called to a road traffic incident on Middridge Road, Newton Aycliffe, shortly before 8.30pm on April 4.

“We dispatched five double-crewed ambulances and a clinical team leader. Five patients were taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital.”

The Falcon Inn in Arncliffe doubled as The Woolpack in the ITV series in the 1970s when it was known as Emmerdale Farm and featured in the show’s title sequence for many years.

The village green it overlooks continues to be used as a filming location for Channel Five’s All Creatures Great and Small.

Now, the leasehold of the pub has been brought to the market by leisure property specialists Fleurets.

The grade two listed, family-owned Dales pub has changed little since the 1870s.

Described by Fleurets as “one of the most individual and storied inns in the Yorkshire Dales” it is being marketed at a guide rent of £25,000 per year.

The ivy-clad property looks out over a “quintessential Dales village scene”, says Fleurets, complete with free-roaming chickens and ducks and rolling hills beyond.

Inside, the inn is a step back in time with fireplaces, mullion windows, simple tap room furnishings, and beer served by the jug from barrels behind the bar.

The property also includes six letting bedrooms, a two-bedroom private cottage, and four miles of fly-fishing rights on the River Skirfare.

Simon Hall, Director and Head of Agency North at Fleurets, said: “The Falcon Inn is a truly unique Dales pub, with period features, coal fireplaces, and one of the country’s best-known village greens. It is a step back in time to the way pubs used to be, with character in every corner.

“These authentic features are what visitors love and remember, making the Falcon Inn both distinctive and a successful business. It represents a rare opportunity to run a traditional Yorkshire pub steeped in history.”

Emmerdale was first filmed in Arncliffe in 1972 before moving to Esholt in 1976, where it was filmed until 1997.

Arncliffe village green (Image: Fleurets)

It is now filmed at a specially built set in the grounds of Harewood Estate, where fans of the soap can visit on open days.

In January this year, a Bradford Council owned building in Main Street, Esholt, which was used as the post office in Emmerdale, was put up for auction, but failed to reach its £200,000 guide price.

Viewings of The Falcon Inn are strictly by appointment only through Fleurets North Office. For further information or to arrange a viewing, contact Fleurets at 0113 234 0304 or email northwest@fleurets.com.

Bahama Breeze, the Caribbean-themed dining chain, is shutting down after almost three decades in business.

Darden Restaurants — which operates restaurants including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Ruth’s Chris — is shuttering 14 of its tropical-themed Bahama Breeze locations and converting another 14 to different brands.

The company made the announcement in February, with many of the remaining Bahama Breeze locations closing for good Sunday, April 5. The closures and rebranding will mark the end of the chain.

Last May, Darden closed approximately a third of its Bahama Breeze locations and in June said it was searching for new opportunities for the brand.

The stores that will be rebranded include 10 locations in Florida and one each in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. The stores that are closing are located in Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, as well as five Florida locations, Restaurant Dive reports.

“The conversion locations are great sites that will benefit several of the brands in its portfolio,” Darden said in a statement.

The company said it hopes to place as many of the affected workers as possible in other roles across its restaurants.

“Going forward, the primary focus will continue to be on supporting team members, including placing as many as possible in roles within the Darden portfolio,” the company said.

Darden said that it doesn’t expect the end of the Bahama Breeze chain to have “a material impact on its financial results.”

The company did not reveal what the rebranded Bahama Breeze locations will become.

It’s a tough time for casual dining locations like Bahama Breeze, as inflation and the affordability crisis have made eating out more of a luxury than in past years. The rise in popularity of fast-casual restaurants has also eaten into the primary customer base for chains like those in Darden’s portfolio.

The company has seen growth thanks to its Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse brands, with both posting strong same-store sales growth last quarter.

But other chains are struggling.

Last year, Bravo Brio, an Italian chain, went bankrupt for the second time and closed some of its locations. Outback Steakhouse closed several locations ahead of a planned 2026 brand overhaul. Other chains — including Hooters, Bar Louie, and Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe — shut down stores and filed for bankruptcy in 2025.

Bahama Breeze, the Caribbean-themed dining chain, is shutting down after almost three decades in business.

Darden Restaurants — which operates restaurants including Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, and Ruth’s Chris — is shuttering 14 of its tropical-themed Bahama Breeze locations and converting another 14 to different brands.

The company made the announcement in February, with many of the remaining Bahama Breeze locations closing for good Sunday, April 5. The closures and rebranding will mark the end of the chain.

Last May, Darden closed approximately a third of its Bahama Breeze locations and in June said it was searching for new opportunities for the brand.

The stores that will be rebranded include 10 locations in Florida and one each in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia. The stores that are closing are located in Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, as well as five Florida locations, Restaurant Dive reports.

“The conversion locations are great sites that will benefit several of the brands in its portfolio,” Darden said in a statement.

The company said it hopes to place as many of the affected workers as possible in other roles across its restaurants.

“Going forward, the primary focus will continue to be on supporting team members, including placing as many as possible in roles within the Darden portfolio,” the company said.

Darden said that it doesn’t expect the end of the Bahama Breeze chain to have “a material impact on its financial results.”

The company did not reveal what the rebranded Bahama Breeze locations will become.

It’s a tough time for casual dining locations like Bahama Breeze, as inflation and the affordability crisis have made eating out more of a luxury than in past years. The rise in popularity of fast-casual restaurants has also eaten into the primary customer base for chains like those in Darden’s portfolio.

The company has seen growth thanks to its Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse brands, with both posting strong same-store sales growth last quarter.

But other chains are struggling.

Last year, Bravo Brio, an Italian chain, went bankrupt for the second time and closed some of its locations. Outback Steakhouse closed several locations ahead of a planned 2026 brand overhaul. Other chains — including Hooters, Bar Louie, and Razzoo’s Cajun Cafe — shut down stores and filed for bankruptcy in 2025.