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NewsBeat

Northumberland neo-Nazi teen detained for more than 3 years

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Northumberland neo-Nazi teen detained for more than 3 years

The Northumberland teenager, who cannot be identified despite an application by the media to name him, must also serve a year’s extended licence when released.

He was convicted last month of five terror charges following a trial at Leeds Crown Court.

The jury was unable to agree a verdict on a charge that he was planning a terror attack on Newcastle synagogues and the prosecution said it would not apply for a retrial on that count.

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Jurors were told the teenager purported to be a member of a proscribed neo-Nazi organisation, The Base.

He put stickers up promoting The Base, made promotional material and encouraged others to join.

The boy’s trial heard how police found an “arsenal” of weapons, including a crossbow and knives, at his home in Northumberland in February 2025.

The jury was shown images of his bedroom, including a replica of an SS officer’s cap, a flag of Rhodesia and a skeleton in a mask.

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Jurors were also read online exchanges with members of white supremacist groups and violent journal entries.

The court was told that the youth watched a video of the New Zealand mosque terror attack then looked up synagogues in the Newcastle area.

He also made racist and offensive references in his journal, later telling the jury he did not believe them but he wrote them down to bring himself peace.

Mr Justice Wall, sentencing, said he rejected that claim, saying the teenager genuinely held extremist, antisemitic views.

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The judge did accept that the build-up to the offending began when the boy was just 14, with most of them happening when he was 15.

He experienced a difficult childhood, suffered from bullying, was isolated and struggled with friendships.

Since his arrest, he has been diagnosed with autism.

Mr Justice Wall said the teenager must spend another 15 months in detention, having already been in custody since his arrest.

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He will then be supervised and monitored in the community for another 26 months.

The judge told the boy, who attended court via a videolink: “You will have to do what you are told by the people who are supervising you and it will be their job to help you come to terms with what you have done and to stay out of trouble in the future.”

Mr Justice Wall said the boy had an “unhealthy interest in weapons, wars and paramilitary items and this obsession led you to exploring the darker world of extreme right-wing organisations”.

He will be subject to a Criminal Behaviour Order which will restrict his use of computers and the internet.

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During the trial, Frida Hussain KC, defending, said the boy was “desperately lonely”, had been “plagued” with thoughts of killing himself, and created an online persona as a distraction.

Mr Justice Wall turned down a media application to lift an order that prevented the defendant from being identified, partly because it will ease his chance of successful rehabilitation.

He was convicted of purporting to be a member of a proscribed organisation, and four counts relating to possessing or sharing terror documents.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “We welcome the sentence handed down today and hope it acts as a warning to all about the dangers of extreme online content which can have real life consequences.”

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He added: “If you are worried about someone you know expressing extreme views or hatred, then please trust your instincts and act early (a reference to a counter terrorism initiative) to prevent people becoming involved in terrorism. I cannot stress that enough and you will not be wasting our time.”

Chief Superintendent Kevin Waring, area commander for Northumberland, said: “This case highlights the dangers which exist online and the type of material young people can access.

“It is a reminder that we all need to be vigilant and if you do become worried about someone you know, see or hear something concerning then please come forward.”

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Martin O’Neill compares Daizen Maeda to Henrik Larsson after Old Firm derby

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Belfast Live

Daizen Maeda scored a double, including a stunning overhead kick, as Celtic came from behind to defeat Rangers in the Old Firm derby

Martin O’Neill reckons Daizen Maeda’s stunning Old Firm heroics were right up there with Henrik Larsson’s iconic derby chip.

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The Celtic legend crushed Rangers’ title ambitions – and propelled his side to within just ONE point of league leaders Hearts heading into the final week of a thrilling campaign.

Maeda netted twice – with his second an outrageous bicycle kick. The striker spearheaded the fightback as the Hoops recovered from going behind, and the Premiership trophy is now firmly within their grasp following Hearts’ draw at Fir Park on Saturday evening.

O’Neill has witnessed plenty of derby triumphs and countless unforgettable occasions – including Larsson’s exquisite lob in the 6-2 thrashing back in 2000.

And O’Neill said: “Was it up there? Yeah, it is very much so. Henrik will disagree of course, but it was great goal. He was super today. Honestly. Which goal was better? I’m going to take him out tonight.”, reports the Daily Record.

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“He was terrific, really terrific. I don’t know where he gets the energy from. Sensational, really sensational. His second goal was out of this world. Big his whole performance… he starts off with his closing down and the negative part of the game. It galvanises the side because he’s so good about it. Then his own performance, with the ball and scoring the goals, was magnificent.”

O’Neill relished the strike – but even more so the crucial victory that has thrust Celtic right into contention for Five-in-a-Row. He said: “Yeah. It was obviously really important to win the game. It was a great fightback from the players and lovely to win. We played some great stuff, strange enough, so did Rangers. The first half was really hectic. It was one of those, you have it, no you have it. Coming from behind was great for us.”

Celtic are set to travel to Fir Park on Wednesday evening to take on Motherwell, while Hearts welcome Falkirk ahead of Saturday’s crucial clash between the two sides in Glasgow.

O’Neill is aware that back-to-back wins would guarantee success, stating: “If we win the matches it’s true, it’s in our own hands. If you look at the result on Saturday night, it’s what you would have wanted. I said before, even if Hearts had won it was very much in their hands as the goal difference would be too great. But at least, yeah, it’s in our hands.

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“We have to try and do something about it. If Hearts had won, it’s a long way back for you. And it might have been, particularly having conceded the goal. But it gives a bit of a boost as well too. So, ready to go. We have to win. We have no grounds for dropping points. We can’t afford to do it. I expect Hearts to win their game and we have a really difficult match at Motherwell. I can’t even think about the following match until it’s played.”

O’Neill was delighted to secure victory over Rangers during a dramatic afternoon in Glasgow’s East End. Mikey Moore opened the scoring, but Yang Hyun-jun equalised before half-time, and Maeda proved decisive with two goals in a frantic four-minute spell during the second half.

O’Neill said: “The players are delighted with their own performance and the comeback. They could have wilted but they didn’t do that. But in the dressing room there are only thoughts about Wednesday.

“I’ve never been confident, never! People talk to me about momentum, but it can shift quickly. We’re doing fine in the game and it’s about finding a way to win. Its obviously special against Rangers. But in the scheme of things it’s just three points and we can look no further than Wednesday.”

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Eurovision fans fear UK is ‘serious contender for last place’ after performance reveal

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Eurovision fans fear UK is 'serious contender for last place' after performance reveal

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Eurovision fans are more worried than ever about how the UK will fare at this year’s contest after a clip of the artist’s performance was released.

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Look Mum No Computer – real name Sam Battle – is this year’s representative for the UK and is in Vienna, ready to take to the stage to battle (pun not intended) for the top spot against the other nations with the song, Eins, Zwei, Drei.

With the Grand Final taking place in a week, the general public has been provided with a first glimpse of what the live version of the techno-pop song will look like.

And the 37-year-old music artist is fully leaning into the electronic aesthetic with a set design of wirey-button machine and a group of dancers with furry computers for heads, with the ‘experimental’ singer executing a mad scientist look as he pulls various fake levers.

Of course, aside from a rare exception in 2022 when UK entrant Sam Ryder landed second place with Space Man, it has been decades since our little island has done well in the final rankings.

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The UK is all too used to being at the bottom of the lot. In 2025, girl group Remember Monday finished in 19th place out of 26 with 88 points from the professional jury and a brutal zero points from the public vote.

The performance hasn’t inspired hope in fans (Picture: Getty)

However, after seeing Look Mum No Computer’s offerings, viewers are worried this could be the worst year yet.

‘So the zero points streak continues…’ X user ka_morian0121 shared.

‘Great Britain receives NIL POINTS,’ M predicted.

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‘Safe to say, were not winning it this year,’ Joe shared.

‘This is a complete mess. Nil pwahhhhh,’ J declared.

‘Let’s get ready for last place again!’ S lamented. ‘Another year at the bottom of the leaderboard,’ Lily W echoed.

‘A serious contender… for the last place,’ Crashgrana brutally declared.

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Some have come to Look Mum No Computer’s defence, attempting to give it the benefit of the doubt.

‘I love the song. Was not keen on it [at] first but now I love it,’ StuartIbertson added.

‘Shame the “machines” look pretty fake and I did expect more from the UK. Still a unique and catchy song though, but I think it’s bottom five again for us,’ DougnutDoney wrote.

Look Mum No Computer
Others are trying to see the silver lining (Picture: BBC)

‘It does make you wonder why everything new gets so much negativity, whether it be songs, new programmes, anything!’ Debs reflected.

‘The UK actually did something interesting for their Eurovision entry,’ LDN48 posted.

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This is the first song in the contest’s 70-year-run where the UK song will not be sung entirely in English, already making it stand out. And it’s all about the mundanity of the nine-to-five.

Speaking about the song when it was first released in March, he said: ‘That is 123, in German, for people who aren’t aware.

‘It felt right to write a song that included a bunch of different European things – the whole thing is about going on holiday, and feeling I’m gonna have some pizza, maybe in Italy.

‘I’m tired of eating this [jam] roly poly, which I love eating for most of the year, but I just want a little bit of a break from it.’

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As proceedings kick off in Vienna, the contest is also preparing for controversy after several countries announced they were boycotting this year’s competition over Israel’s inclusion – including the Big Five nation, Spain.

Just this week, the Israeli broadcaster KAN was issued a formal warning for violating the competition rules over promotional videos of their entrant.

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Have your say on Stormont reform proposals

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Belfast Live

We want to hear your thoughts on whether Stormont should be reformed so that no single party can collapse the Executive

Earlier this week, the Alliance Party published their 18 point plan for political reform in Northern Ireland.

Among the proposals was a suggestion to reform the Northern Ireland Act so that the next-largest party can nominate a First or deputy First Minister if the first eligible party refuses to do so.

They also propose that the titles of First and deputy First Minister be equalised to reflect the joint nature of the office.

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Defending the party’s proposals to change how First Ministers are nominated and to expand the use of weighted majority voting, the party’s deputy leader, Eóin Tennyson, rejected suggestions that such reforms would undermine the Good Friday Agreement.

“In 1998, people were promised a stable power-sharing government that would deliver for them and improve people’s lives, and instead, what we’ve had over the past nearly three decades is Stormont being suspended for almost half of that time,” he said.

“Then, when it is up and running, it is beset by deadlock, by delay, by veto, and is vulnerable to vested interests and dark money. So this document is actually about renewing and re-energising Stormont to restore public confidence.

“We have been very clear with the UK and Irish governments that to argue for reform is not to undermine the Good Friday Agreement at all. It’s actually to recognise that if we fail to reform, then we are condemning its institutions either to death by 1000 collapses or death by a slow bleed of public confidence in their ability to deliver.”

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Alliance’s 18 proposals for political reform

  • Reform the Northern Ireland Act so the next largest party can nominate a First or deputy First Minister if the first eligible party refuses to do so.
  • Implement a weighted majority system (approximately two-thirds) to determine cross-community support for the election of the Speaker and other key decisions, rather than using parallel consent.
  • Restrict Executive cross-community votes and the Petition of Concern strictly to matters relating to national identity, the legacy of the Troubles, or the constitutional structures established under the Good Friday Agreement.
  • Put the ‘three meeting rule’ on a statutory footing so items cannot be blocked from the Executive agenda, and publish all Executive meeting agendas.
  • Scrap the ‘anti-democratic’ system of Assembly designations.
  • Change the First and deputy First Minister titles to ‘Joint First Ministers’ to reflect their equal status, and include these posts in the D’Hondt calculation along with every other Ministry.
  • Establish a statutory Commission in the long term, sponsored by the Executive and the UK and Irish governments, to design a plan for implementing a voluntary coalition in Stormont.
  • Conduct all cross-community votes on Ministerial sanctions on a weighted majority basis.
  • Empower the Standards Commissioner to recommend the level of sanction that should apply for breaches of the Ministerial Code, which would then be reviewed and verified by an independent lay panel.
  • Introduce an annual cap on donations from single private sources, applying to both individuals and companies, as well as foreign and domestic donors.
  • Lower the reporting threshold for political donations from £11,180 to £500.
  • Publish all donations to local political parties retroactively from 2014.
  • Support more rigorous donor checks as outlined in the UK Government’s Representation of the People Bill.
  • Provide better funding to the Electoral Commission, so it is equipped to investigate and sanction breaches of third-party campaigning rules.
  • Establish a Lobbying Register in the Assembly to ensure greater transparency around who is seeking to influence politics and how much money they are spending.
  • Implement a fairer electoral system for Westminster elections, preferably the multi-member Single Transferable Vote (STV) system already used for Assembly and Council elections in Northern Ireland.
  • Transition to a directly elected House of Lords using a Proportional Representation (PR) system to represent the 12 regions of the UK, and implement maximum term limits to avoid politicisation.
  • Convene a UK-wide constitutional convention to develop a fully codified UK constitution

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One person on board during plane crash in Co Down

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Belfast Live

Emergency services attended the scene on Sunday afternoon

One person was on board during a plane crash in Co Down.

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Police received a report of a light aircraft crash in the Saintfield Road area of Ballynahinch at around 2.50pm on Sunday, May 10.

Ambulance crews and firefighters were also called to the scene.

One person was on board at the time, with police confirming there are “no reports of any serious injuries” at this time.

A PSNI spokesperson added: “Air Accident Investigations Branch has been informed of the incident.”

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Lancashire singer scores chart success with new dance anthem

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Lancashire singer scores chart success with new dance anthem

Tom Wills, 27, who grew up in Chorley and attended Southlands High School, has released ‘Laid’, a dance-pop and melodic house reinterpretation of James’ iconic 1993 track.

The single dropped on May 8 and has already begun climbing the UK iTunes Dance Chart within hours of release.

The track follows the success of Tom’s previous single, ‘Mid-Night Moves’, which reached four on the UK iTunes Dance Chart and 40 across all genres, while racking up more than 5,000 radio plays across the UK and Europe.

Produced by Preston-based Sholz-Y, winner of this year’s Dance Division/Label Radar competition, the new release transforms the original’s indie melancholy into a club-ready anthem, combining driving basslines, synth-led production and soaring vocals.

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For Tom, the song carries personal significance.

He first discovered ‘Laid’ as a child through a free CD included with a Sunday newspaper, playing it repeatedly alongside other James tracks.

Years later, seeing the band live at Lytham Festival reignited his connection to the song, this time with a deeper understanding of its themes.

Tom said: “As a kid, it was just a song I loved.

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“But growing up, especially as a queer artist, the lyrics took on a whole new meaning.

“It was ahead of its time in how it played with identity and gender. I wanted to bring that energy to today’s dancefloors.”

Now based in Manchester and signed to Swedish label The Dance Division, Tom has been building a name for himself at the intersection of commercial dance and pop.

His new track Laid is available to stream (Image: Tom Wills)

His performances have included Pride events and festivals across the UK, playing to audiences of up to 40,000.

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He is set to debut ‘Laid’ live at Pride in Trafford (HomoGrown) this month, marking another milestone in what he describes as a “rebuild” following the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I lost momentum during Covid, like so many artists,” he said.

“But coming back in 2025 and seeing the response to my music has been incredible. ‘Laid’ feels like the next step.”

With early radio support ranging from Manchester stations to international outlets and confirmed coverage from music publications including Plastic Magazine and Earmilk, the track is already gaining traction beyond the North West.

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Rooted in Manchester’s rich musical heritage, from indie to club culture, Tom reimagining of ‘Laid’ reflects both his upbringing and the city’s enduring influence on UK music.

He added: “Manchester shaped how I hear music.

“It’s always been about bringing people together on the dancefloor.”

‘Laid’ is available to stream now.

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Arsenal handed major injury blow amid Man City Premier League title race

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Manchester Evening News

Arsenal are in Premier League action as they take on West Ham United at the London Stadium, with Man City watching closely.

Arsenal defender Ben White sustained a knee injury during the opening period of the Premier League encounter with West Ham. The 28-year-old picked up the problem after a collision with Crysencio Summerville, and was forced to withdraw from the action.

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While being assessed by medical staff on the pitch, White indicated towards his left knee. The England international, who earned a call-up to Thomas Tuchel’s squad for friendlies against Uruguay and Japan in March, appeared to be struggling as he hobbled off at the London Stadium.

The injury could be significant news for Manchester City as they keep a close eye on proceedings. City trail Arsenal by two points at the top of the Premier League table going into the Gunners’ clash at West Ham.

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Pep Guardiola’s side put more pressure on Arsenal thanks to their 3-0 win over Brentford on Saturday afternoon. It means that they could watch the game between West Ham and Arsenal with interest.

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With the scoreline at 0-0 in the first half, White picked up the injury. It forced Mikel Arteta into a reshuffle which saw influential midfielder Declan Rice moved to right-back.

If Arsenal fail to pick up all three points from the match, it puts the title race back in City’s hand with them having a game in hand over their rivals. City play that game on Wednesday night when they host Crystal Palace at the Etihad Stadium.

They finish their season with an away trip to Bournemouth and a home game against Aston Villa. Arsenal, meanwhile, host Burnley at the Emirates Stadium before travelling to take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on the final day.

Guardiola made his feelings clear on who he will be supporting at the London Stadium at the end of his press conference. After talking about the win over Brentford, he crossed his arms above his head and said: “Come on you Irons!”

Speaking about the title race, he said: “We are fighting with a team quite similar to Liverpool in the past, in the final of the Champions League without losing a game and have been top of the league almost all season,” he said.

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“It’s not in our hands now so it depends on them dropping points but all we can do is Wednesday win again, play the final of the FA Cup and go to Bournemouth – I’d say that is not the best one to go to – and Aston Villa. The calendar is demanding but it’s simple. It’s just two weeks and the season will be over.

“I love to be here again. Finish second again minimum so I love it. I didn’t enjoy last season and the moment to fight to qualify for the Champions League was difficult but the Carabao Cup is in our pocket, the FA Cup final at Wembley is the most beautiful day of the season and I love it.

“When you arrive and have the feeling that the job can be done, well done. When you arrive fighting against Arsenal, with many changes, seeing how they help each other in every training sessions, it is a joy.”

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Reform ‘did not do as well as I feared’ in Holyrood election, Sturgeon says

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Reform ‘did not do as well as I feared’ in Holyrood election, Sturgeon says

Ms Sturgeon said: “The problems of the country are real and big, but the idea that they are caused by immigrants is an absolute falsehood, fallacy, and it suits people like Nigel Farage to make people believe that, because actually the problems of the country are caused by people like him, the proponents of Brexit.”

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The email that arrived at 7pm – after months of silence from the council

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Manchester Evening News

‘She’s one of the most vulnerable children in society, all of these children are, and it’s just like nobody cares about them at all. They’re just a number on a piece of paper’

Trafford parents have been left worrying for months over where their kids will be learning in September after the council ran out of school places.

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Constant delays and a ‘stressful’ lack of communication from the town hall to families with children with special needs has compounded the issue, one mum said. Laura Ashton’s daughter Lucy, 6, will be moving from infant school to junior school in September.

Mrs Ashton, a nursery worker, said she expected to be told by the authority in January which setting Lucy had been allocated. The email finally came through at 7pm on Friday, May 1. It followed months of emails and exhaustion for the Sale family.

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Mrs Ashton, 41, said: “I’ve been told by the head of the EHCP (education, health and care plan) department, that there aren’t enough places for these children, and there’s a huge dilemma.

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“They must have had the foresight to know that this was going to happen. The fact that nothing has been done about it in the run-up to this period of time is absolutely atrocious.

“From January, [there has been] very few communications from the coordinator and the head of the EHC team, letting parents know what’s going on. No one heard anything.”

“I chased it up continually,” Mrs Ashton added. “I made it my mission. I would email every single week asking […] ‘where’s this correspondence? What’s going on?

“‘There’s a shortage of spaces. How are we going to school all these children?’ No response to that question.”

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By the end of March, the family still had no answers, with Mrs Ashton claiming there had been ‘no emails, no telephone calls, nothing’ from the council, ‘not even a ‘sorry, there’s been a delay’’. In April, the authority finally told parents it planned to create additional SEND places at two local schools – Moorlands and Broomwood – and these would be allocated in May.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has seen emails from council officers acknowledging the lack of correspondence with parents, saying ‘no communication is not good at all’ and admitting they ‘should have communicated something’. Officers added in an email in mid-April they had not wanted to ‘cause any unnecessary uncertainty or stress to families’ by ‘sending communication to parents when the situation [around the lack of school places was] not yet clear’.

However, Mrs Ashton argued the lack of information from the council does not reduce uncertainty but ‘amplifies it’. She added: “Being left without any update for months has caused far more stress than a transparent acknowledgement that decisions were still in progress ever would have.”

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The delays mean that families like the Ashtons now have just one term to prepare their children – many of whom will find change difficult – for the transitions.

Mrs Ashton said: “I don’t sleep. I’ve been constantly replaying emails and wondering where this correspondence is, why they can’t do their job properly, and worrying for Lucy’s future.

“She’s one of the most vulnerable children in society, all of these children are, and it’s just like nobody cares about them at all. They’re just a number on a piece of paper.”

She added: “It’s impacted Lucy because she’s well aware, so we will talk about the fact that her siblings are moving on to different settings, and she will ask constantly where she will be, what school uniform will she be wearing, will the lovely Karen still be making her school dinners.

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“We can’t even say ‘yes’ or ‘no’, so we can’t prepare her for anything. Impact wise, it’s just been absolutely awful.”

Even now that the family has been told where Lucy will be going in September, the struggle is not over. Lucy currently attends Wellfield Infants School, in Sale. However, the lack of places in the special needs groups means she will not be able to move up to Wellfield Junior with her friends in the school’s mainstream classes.

She has instead been allocated a place at Moorlands. This is despite, Mrs Ashton claims, Wellfield saying it could ‘perfectly’ meet Lucy’s needs. The family intends to appeal, but this again prolongs the uncertainty for Lucy.

Mrs Ashton said: “She has this lovely group of friends who she actually, for once in her life, belongs with, and they accept her for who she is. Now she’s going to be taken away from that, and she’s going to have to start that process all over again.

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“I think it’ll have a huge, huge impact on her socially, which again, will have a knock-on effect on her education and how she views life and school.”

“She’s an absolute dream of a child, she is lovely, she just likes to know what’s going on. She needs to know where she’s going to be. So the whole moving from infants is a massive thing for her anyway.”

A spokeswoman for Trafford council said: “While we are unable to comment on individual cases, we understand that not being allocated a first choice of school place can be disappointing and upsetting for families.

“As a Council we are committed to ensuring we have sufficient school places, and we have clear strategies and approaches for school place planning, including for children with special educational needs.

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“Part of our approach includes the creation and use of small specialist classes (SSCs) for children with SEND needs. This year Trafford took the decision to consult with all families of Year 2 children currently attending SSCs so that everyone would go through a full and fair process together, with the aim of confirming school places by the end of March 2026. This deadline needed to be extended as a result of some delays in the completion of some building works that were supporting the creation of additional SSC places. Once these works were completed, we were able to progress the allocation of school places.

“As part of the national SEND reforms we are continuing to develop our approach to SEND provision within Trafford schools and SSCs are a vital part of that.”

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Retiree sick of cars ruining his lawn invents fence that can puncture tyres

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Daily Mirror

Kevin Pringle became increasingly furious after cars left ‘muddy trenches’ along his grass in the quiet cul-de-sac

An ex-prison officer has created an innocent-looking garden fence designed to stop nightmare parking – with tiny spikes hidden inside to deflate tyres. Kevin Pringle, 64, patented his own simple but effective product to keep cars from mounting and damaging grass verges after a series of terrible driving outside his home.

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He installed the fence, which costs around £40 for half a metre, on his front garden measuring four-foot-wide outside his semi-detached home. Kevin said he had been repeatedly relaying the ground with top soil and grass seed after cars left “muddy trenches” along his grass in the quiet cul-de-sac.

The fence has secret spikes which activate when a car hits and slowly deflate its tyres, acting the same way as a police-used stinger. The retiree said the barrier could be used by councils to stop illegal traveller encampments from setting up on grassland and cricket pitches – or by estates, schools and hotels.

Kevin, who lives in Milton Keynes, said: “The quality of driving and parking has without a doubt gotten worse in recent years. Section 34 of the Road Traffic Act says its an offence to drive anywhere other a designated carriageway but you see illegal parking everywhere.

“Because nothing is done about it, people don’t care and I don’t understand why they don’t realise the effect they’re having. When I searched for solutions, the only suggestion I found was to place big boulders around the edge.

“While this does deter vandals, since they know they’ll risk damaging their vehicle, it creates two new problems – it makes lawn care much harder and the boulders themselves are not very attractive.

“I became determined to find an answer that would both keep the verge tidy and make maintenance easier.”

READ MORE: Ryanair plane diversion leads to ‘no fly’ warningREAD MORE: Mum’s ‘intuition’ told her something was wrong after seeing photo of her daughter

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His picket-style Smart Fence, tried and tested outside Kevin’s own home, has secret spikes that activate when a car hits and slowly deflate its tyres. The former prison officer said he had been plagued by illegal parking tearing up his own lawn which led to his “lightbulb moment”.

He said: “When I first bought the house, the grass verge that goes to the road was in a bit of a mess.

“I cut the grass and trimmed the hedge. Once I’d made it neat and tidy, I found people were using it as an extension to the carriageway.

“I’d seen people parking on it, mounting it and using it as part of the turning space, leaving out the soil and leaving a muddy trench. I had to go out there multiple times with a topsoil and grass seed.”

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Kevin spent three years researching different designs as he wanted to make sure his fence was not susceptible to accidental damage such as “hurting little Johnny on his bicycle”.

While research how to make the spikes “disappear”, he realised they needed protecting. He explained: “The plastic fence covers the spikes and the only way to expose the spikes is with enough weight on top of them to break the plastic fencing.

“The plastic will break along the perforations exposing the fence supports which are hollow tubes with a chamfered top edge.

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“This means if an attempt is made to use a motor vehicle to vandalize a lawn or verge the driver will no longer be able to just drive away leaving the damage for the land owner to repair.

“Because you can lift the spikes and fence out of the ground, you can then cut the grass as only the base plate which is at ground level.”

Kevin believes his patented design would be significant in preventing unauthorised encampments and would love to see local authorities and councils put it into use.

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He pointed out his own council, Milton Keynes, had invested £250,000 over the last five years to protect sites with barriers such as concrete blocks or mounds of earth.

He said: “I read news articles almost daily about where this product could be used. Its use for stopping unauthorised encampments would be phenomenal – and it would be cheaper.”

Kevin had bought a Hyundai Getz on its last legs to test the fence’s ability to puncture tyres and hopes to see his prototype rolled out widely in future.

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He said his Smart Fence would protect homeowners from bad drivers absconding the scene and had sought advice around if the user could be held liable.

Kevin added: “If I try and jimmy your backdoor with a screwdriver and it breaks, you don’t have to pay me for damages.

“Tearing up a garden is criminal damage. If you’re committing criminal damage and you damage your tools such as a car, it is your responsibility.”

A Milton Keynes highways spokesperson said: “Under the law, items can’t be placed on public highway land without the proper authorisation.

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“Items may only be placed on the highway where the appropriate permissions have been granted and suitable safety measures are in place to protect all road users.”

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Roman’s ‘very pretty’ boho-style crochet summer top ‘goes with anything’

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‘Fabulous well-made top, feels and looks quality, true to size, appropriate for all ages’

Summer is just around the corner and fashion enthusiasts will be eagerly anticipating dusting off their warm-weather wardrobes. Of course, the notoriously unpredictable British climate means a versatile top that can be layered over a vest or camisole is an absolute must-have.

At Roman, shoppers are clamouring for a layering piece that fits the bill perfectly. Customers report receiving ‘lots of compliments’ on the Ivory Crochet Tie Front V-Neck Tunic Top, and it’s not difficult to understand why.

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The Ivory Crochet Tie Front V-Neck Tunic Top is priced at £38, however those who enter the discount code SUN can secure a 10% reduction. This brings the cost down to a reasonable £34.20, and it also comes with complimentary express delivery.

Available in sizes 10 to 20, the crochet top is made from a lightweight knitted fabric. It showcases a flattering round neckline and full-length fluted sleeves that carry a 70s-inspired feel while remaining contemporary and firmly on-trend.

The top boasts a tunic silhouette and is complemented by tassels on the tie detail. Thanks to its adaptable design, the Ivory Crochet Tie Front V-Neck Tunic Top can be styled in a multitude of ways, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Roman’s boho-inspired summer top available for £34.20

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The top is perfect for throwing on top of a vest on cooler summer evenings

£38.00

£34.20

Roman

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The Ivory Crochet Tie Front V-Neck Tunic Top costs £38 but those who apply the discount code SUN can pick it up with a 10% saving. This brings the price down to a modest £34.20 and it comes with free express delivery too.

It pairs beautifully with white jeans or linen trousers for an effortlessly polished look, ideal for the office or weekend outings. While on holiday, team the piece with shorts or a floaty skirt for a laid-back coastal aesthetic.

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Meanwhile, Marks and Spencer’s Cotton Blend Crochet Look Collared Cardigan is priced at £30. It’s designed with a regular fit, featuring an attractive tie fastening at the v-shaped neckline and a ruffled trim that provides a polished finish.

Alternatively, Next’s Ecru Cotton Mesh Knit Lace-Up Polo Top is available for £49. A striking addition to your seasonal collection, it showcases a breathable mesh knit construction adorned with delightful faux shells scattered throughout the fabric.

The design is completed with a traditional collar and a nautical-inspired lace-up front featuring gold-tone eyelets, delivering a distinctive, artisanal aesthetic that’s ideal for summer layering. It’s also available in blue and pink.

Back at Roman, the Ivory Crochet Tie Front V-Neck Tunic Top has achieved an impressive overall star-rating of 4.9 out of five from 35 reviews. One delighted customer commented: “Love it. Perfect to cover up over a vest top on cooler evenings.”

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Another remarked: “Bought this crochet top for my holiday and to wear in the summer. Goes great with my white trousers and jeans. I’m a 14 and the size is accurate and fits perfectly. Very pleased with my purchase and for the good service I always get from Roman.

“Goes with anything,” a third noted.

“Fabulous well-made top, feels and looks quality. True to size, appropriate for all ages. I wore a small vest top under mine.”

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While the Ivory Crochet Tie Front V-Neck Tunic Top has received largely positive feedback, one customer deducted a star due to the colour differing from expectations.

The four-star review states: “Nice top but the colour wasn’t like the picture it was darker and didn’t suit me.”

It’s also worth noting that the top is constructed from 100% acrylic. Although this material offers warmth without bulk, it can be susceptible to static electricity and pilling, creating irritating bobbles that compromise the garment’s appearance over time.

Despite this, another customer was delighted with their recent Roman acquisition, commenting: “Got lots of compliments wearing this. Not as see through as you would imagine. Washes well though I did wash this in a delicates bag so it didn’t get caught on zips or buttons.”

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A separate five-star review states: “I absolutely love this top, it’s well made, comfortable and very pretty when on, I put it with silk wide leg pants for an evening, had loads of lovely compliments.”

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