The challenge will see them tackling the highest peaks in Scotland, England, and Wales – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon – covering a distance of about 23 miles, with 3,000 metres of elevation. 

Participants aim to complete the challenge in 24 hours. 

A 20-strong team, including officers from Durham Roads and Armed Policing Unit (DRAP), Durham Special Constabulary, and the force’s Media Team, will begin the challenge on the evening of Thursday, June 18, in Scotland, with the aim of finishing the following evening in Wales.

Police officers and staff preparing to take on the Three Peaks Challenge for charity, next month (Image: Durham Constabulary)

 The team is raising money for the baby loss charity, 4Louis, which works to support anyone affected by a miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a baby or child. 

The challenge will also raise awareness of the Fatal Four, the four main factors that contribute to deaths on the UK’s roads, which are speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not wearing a seatbelt, and use of a mobile phone.

DRAP Sergeant Steve Adey, who is organising the challenge, said: “Many of the officers taking part in this challenge are specialist roads policing officers, who are dedicated to keeping the roads safe for everyone. 

“All too often, they have to deal with collisions which involve one or more of the fatal four and must deliver the horrendous news to a family that their loved one has been seriously hurt, or worse, killed. 

“Sadly, a number of these involve children, who are one of the most vulnerable road users.

“Six children are killed or seriously hurt on the UK’s roads every day, which is the equivalent of a whole class of children every week.

“These figures are utterly heartbreaking and completely unacceptable. 

“Through this challenge, we hope to raise awareness of the fatal four and the devastation they can cause, while also raising funds for 4Louis, to provide much-needed support to anyone affected by child loss.” 

The charity is particularly close to Sgt Adey’s heart after his daughter, Primrose, died tragically only a week before her second birthday, in 2019. 

All money raised from the challenge will go towards 4Louis’ vital work within the North East, supporting bereaved parents and those who have been affected by child loss. 

The charity provides memory boxes, cold cots that allow families precious time with their baby, bereavement training for healthcare professionals, and support resources during and after loss.

Paula Parnaby, of 4Louis, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the support from Durham Constabulary as they take on this tough and meaningful challenge.

“Having met the team, I’ve seen their determination first-hand, and I have every confidence they’ll rise to the challenge.

“Police officers often face one of the most heartbreaking duties imaginable, telling a family they’ve lost a loved one, sometimes a child.

“This is where we can work closely with the police, to ensure bereaved families are not left to face their grief alone.

“Every pound raised through this challenge will help us continue providing vital support to families coping with the devastating loss of a baby or child.

“Together, we can make sure they receive the care and compassion they need when it matters most.”

The team are being supported by Workwear Express, who have provided clothing and rucksacks for the challenge, as well as the Police Federation and Durham Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Joy Allen.

PCC Allen said: “This is an adventure with purpose, and I am full of admiration for the officers and staff who will be testing their endurance to the limits with this charity climb.

Read next … more police and emergency services stories from The Northern Echo, by clicking here

“With over 3,000 metres of climbing involved it isn’t going to be easy but with every step they take, these brave officers and staff will know their efforts are making a vital difference for two amazing causes.

“I wish DRAP every success with their challenge.”

Donations can be made to the team’s fundraising, by visiting www.justgiving.com/page/durham-police-4

Bruno Fernandes spoke about his future at Manchester United as the club prepare for a busy summer transfer window

Manchester United are bracing themselves for another major summer of change at Old Trafford. The club have endured a tumultuous campaign due to a poor spell under previous head coach Ruben Amorim.

Their form has improved, though, since the interim appointment of Michael Carrick. A decision regarding the club’s next permanent manager will sit at the top of the agenda ahead of the summer, while the transfer window will provide the chance to inject additional quality into the squad.

United are expected to be in the hunt for at least two midfielders, with the left-back and left-wing positions also understood to be under consideration. As the club scours the market for reinforcements, they have been handed the positive news that Barcelona will not be pursuing a deal for one of their reported targets.

Meanwhile, club captain and talisman Bruno Fernandes has spoken openly about his own future at Old Trafford amid reports he could seek new challenges next season.

Here, the Manchester Evening News examines the latest United headlines.

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Fernandes opens up on future

Bruno Fernandes has delivered his clearest signal yet that his future lies at Old Trafford. Last summer, the 31-year-old was linked with a move to Al-Hilal, with the Saudi Pro League outfit reported to have been willing to pay an eye-watering £200 million to land his signature.

Yet, the United captain rejected the approach and has since delivered what is widely seen as his best season since arriving at the club in 2020. Fernandes has now reaffirmed his commitment to the club, insisting no other team on the planet shares the same special connection he has with United.

“It’s not a question of loyalty,” Fernandes told Gary Neville on Sky Sports. “I could have gone two years ago, I could have gone three years ago, I could have gone last season, but I really like to be here.

“I think that being successful at this club is something that I can never get at another club. The joy and everything I get, the day I get what I want from this club, I don’t think I will get that from any other club in the world.

“I know how much the fans want this, I know how passionate they are. I know how much they are waiting for the club to come back again. I’m on the same ship as them. I want this ship; instead of being steady, I want it to go forward and to navigate as much as we can.

“Yeah, I won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup [but] what this club wants, what these fans want and what I want, myself and the team, we haven’t got that yet. Until my contract expires, I’m going to try.”

Barcelona drop out of transfer race

Reports emerging from Spain have indicated Barcelona have withdrawn from their pursuit of young Ajax winger Mika Godts. The 20-year-old Belgian has enjoyed an outstanding campaign for the Dutch side this season, chalking up 17 goals and 11 assists so far, sparking interest from leading clubs throughout Europe.

United are amongst those to have been linked with acquiring his services, alongside the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City. But Spanish publication Marca has now claimed the La Liga giants will not be moving forward with a deal for the youngster, with the club reportedly eager to secure someone ‘with much more experience’.

The Catalan club have had United forward Marcus Rashford on loan this season, with the England international himself recording a notable 13 goals and 14 assists and often filling in on the left wing.

Barcelona have an arrangement in place that would enable them to convert his loan spell into a permanent transfer for a fee of £26 million, though there remain doubts over whether they will trigger that clause before the summer window.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

However, following his success, Merton Council later sought a review of the decision, arguing that Rev Ratcliff had been aware of the restriction for nearly a year. Rev Ratcliff told the LDRS of his frustration with the council’s attempt to review, saying: “You are not meant to guess where signs are hidden behind trees or remember where they are…You are meant to see them, that is what they are for.”

A 69-year-old British man was evacuated to Johannesburg

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A suspected hantavirus outbreak linked to rodent droppings has claimed the lives of three people on a cruise ship travelling between Argentina and Cape Verde.

One case has been confirmed and five others are being investigated, with a British national currently in intensive care. The World Health Organisation said the infections were detected aboard the MV Hondius.

Hantavirus is typically associated with environmental exposure to infected rodents, though limited human‑to‑human transmission h as been documented and can result in serious respiratory illness. A spokesperson for South Africa’s health ministry confirmed at least two people had died onboard the vessel, which the Dutch tour company Oceanwide Expeditions operates.

The ship departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on March 20, according to the company’s published itinerary, due to arrive in Cape Verde on Monday (May 4).

A 69-year-old British man was evacuated to Johannesburg during the trip as passengers showed signs of the virus, and is currently receiving treatment in intensive care.

South African authorities confirmed the first person to show symptoms was a 70-year-old passenger who died on board. His body has since been transferred to the island of Saint Helena.

The man’s 69-year-old wife also became ill during the journey and was evacuated to South Africa, where she later died in a Johannesburg hospital.

The ship measures 107.6m (353ft) in length and can carry up to 170 passengers across 80 cabins, according to Oceanwide Expeditions

The WHO said it is assisting with coordination between member states and the ship’s operator, including the medical evacuation of two symptomatic passengers, a full public health risk assessment, and support for those still on board.

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French authorities said in a statement: “All state services were mobilised to respond to this incident, with the involvement of the national gendarmerie, border police, aerial resources — including drones — the departmental fire and rescue service, as well as volunteers from Civil Protection, and resources co-ordinated by CROSS Gris-Nez under the authority of the Maritime Prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea.

A man aged in his 30s has died following a single vehicle tractor crash on Sunday afternoon

A young man has died following a single vehicle tractor crash in Co Cavan this afternoon.

Gardai and emergency services were called to the scene on a local road in Ardkill Beg in Carrickaboy shortly before 12.40pm.

The driver, a man aged in his 30s, was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

His body has been removed to Cavan Monaghan General Hospital where a post mortem will take place.

The area was sealed off for a time for a forensic collision examination and has since reopened.

Gardai are now appealing for witnesses, as well as anyone who may have dashcam footage from the area between 9am and 12.40pm, to come forward.

A Garda spokesperson said: “Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision that occurred on a local road in Ardkill Beg, Carrickaboy, Co. Cavan on Sunday 3rd May 2026.

“Shortly before 12:40pm, Gardaí and emergency services responded to a single vehicle collision involving a tractor on a local road in Ardkill Beg, Carrickaboy, Co. Cavan.

“A male driver (aged in his 30s) was pronounced deceased at the scene. His body has since been removed to Cavan Monaghan General Hospital and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course.

“Garda Forensic Collision investigators attended the scene and an examination took place.

“Gardaí are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward. Road users who may have camera footage, including dash-cam footage and were travelling in the area between 9:00am and 12:40pm are asked to make this available to investigating Gardaí.

“Anyone with any information is asked to contact Cavan Garda Station on (049) 436 8800, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

“Investigations are ongoing.”

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A number of people have been impacted by Megan Walsh’s (Beth Nixon) abuse in Coronation Street, and one of them is Daniel Osbourne (Rob Mallard).

Daniel began a relationship with Megan shortly after she arrived in Weatherfield. The beloved character doesn’t have a lot of luck when it comes to the world of romance, but eventually came to wonder if that was about to change after spending more time with Megan.

Unfortunately, the relationship was a cover up for the sports teacher. Megan was only with Daniel to prevent people from discovering that she was sexually abusing teenager Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale).

When the truth was exposed, Daniel was horrified that he had not only developed feelings for someone who takes advantage of children, but also that he failed to realise what Megan was doing.

Producer of the show Kate Brooks has revealed this is going to impact Daniel for quite some time. As he spirals, Daniel starts to wonder just who he can really trust.

‘He met somebody who’s on the same page as a teacher, apparently respectable, and he’s been completely duped by it, and it completely makes him unravel’, Kate said.

‘Rob who plays Daniel is such a phenomenal actor and we’ll see him slowly start to lose it, because of wondering who to trust. He’s been bitten so badly by this relationship, and by the fact that he was the one who defended her as well, he feels like he’s let Will down. He feels like he’s let Bertie down.

‘We’re really going to chart the impact she’s had on him and his life and his attitude to relationships going forward.’

The Corrie boss also revealed a surprise friendship will form between Daniel and Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances-Brown) of all people soon.

She explained: ‘Her story will dovetail off into Daniel’s story as well. An unlikely little friendship will be formed, which I don’t think many people see coming, but it’s a really different insight into what makes them both tick. For the first time, Daniel’s able to be truthful about how he feels.

‘And similarly, Jodie’s able to be quite truthful with Daniel, because he’s in a quite a dark place. There’s some interesting dynamics between them.’

Daniel’s new story kicks off next week, as he ends up clashing with teenager Hope Stape (Isabella Flanagan).

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At school, when Daniel tells Hope that he suspects that she cheated on her poem and used AI, Hope retaliates with a snide remark about Megan.

Still struggling with the fact that he was in a relationship with an abuser, Daniel tries to take control and orders Hope to write another poem. He’s further wound up though, as Hope makes one up about Daniel and Megan.

As Daniel tries to grab the paper out of her hand, Hope accuses him of assault, just as Mrs Crawshaw arrives and demands to know what’s going on.

It would appear the future of his career is hanging in the balance later in the week, as Daniel tells Ken Barlow (William Roache) about the disciplinary action Crawshaw took against him.

He later rants to Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) about the situation but he ends up scaring young Bertie. Daniel tells Ken and Adam that he’s heading to the Lakes to clear his head, and they agree to look after Bertie.

However, when he’s alone, Daniel blocks his thoughts out with a bottle of whisky beside him…

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