The former government minister is taking over as interim leader

Welsh Labour has appointed an interim leader, less than 24 hours after Eluned Morgan quit when she lost her seat in the Senedd Election 2026.

Ken Skates, the Senedd member for Fflint Wrecsam has taken on the role. The party slumped to an historic defeat in the election, ending up with just nine of the 96 seats. A number of candidates lost their seats, the most high profile of which was Eluned Morgan, the first ever sitting First Minister to fail in a re-election bid.

Welsh Labour has confirmed that following meetings of the Welsh Labour’s Executive Committee and the Welsh Labour group, Mr Skates will be interim leader.

First elected in 2011, he has held several Welsh Government roles including the transport brief and the economy portfolio.

He received unanimous support from the new Welsh Labour group, the statement said.

Mr Skates said: “Today is just the beginning of a process that will help us to understand what we got wrong. Because we did get it wrong.

“There is no reading of this result that endorses every action we have taken as a party, and our task now is to take the time needed and to work out what has happened. It is a task that will require every single one of us to take part in – every member, every councillor, every MS, MP, Lord and all roles in between but it is not a task that is beyond us.

“I believe today, as I always have, that Welsh Labour is at its best when we are the champions of the people of Wales, our role is to serve, to fight for the issues that matter most.

“We are the party that first sent Keir Hardie to Parliament, that created the NHS. We are the Party of devolution, the Party of free prescriptions, universal free school meals, social partnership and the future generations act.

“We are a party with an incredible history of serving Wales and her people, and we have so much more to give.”

Paying tribute to Eluned Morgan, he said: “I would like to thank Eluned for everything she has done over the past two years as our First Minister, and in her 30 years of service to Wales and the Labour Party.

2Her grit and determination in the face of true challenge is something we as a Party will always be proud of. She broke the glass ceiling, and her role in history as the first woman to lead our Party and country is an achievement second to none.”

He will serve as leader until a timetable is set for a full leadership election in line with Welsh Labour rules.

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‘You can see the estate at the moment, to say it’s been left to rot is perhaps even an understatement’

Residents on a council estate set to be demolished say they’re living in fear as it has been vandalised by youths “marauding around with golf clubs”. Cambridge City Council voted to knock down the majority of homes on Ekin Road in June 2024 and most now lie empty.

But two years on, residents still living there say bins have been left full and properties unsecured which has made it the target of vandals. Maurice Chiodo ran the Save Ekin Road Campaign which saved 14 of the 122 existing houses from demolition.

He said: “You can see the estate at the moment, to say it’s been left to rot is perhaps even an understatement.”

The 42-year-old pointed to a bin left abandoned against a fence, with plants growing up and into it.

He said: “These have been abandoned here for many, many, months now – I mean how long does it take for that vine to grow into a bin? We’ve asked the council for over two years to remove excess bins on the street.”

‘Living like Lord of the Flies’

In the last two and a half months, he said the bins have been put to use by young people who use them as steps to enter back gardens and first-floor balconies.

Dr Chiodo said: “These are tools that people are using to vandalise the estate, and they’re still here. It’s not just the damage that’s scary – it’s the fact there are children marauding around with golf clubs and swinging them.”

He said the “gang-sized presence” of youths coming out to target the estate, usually just after school hours, has been more than 20 on some evenings.

He said: “This is not two kids having a bit of a laugh – it’s like living in Lord of the Flies basically. There’s a worry that if they break into these abandoned flats and then something happens to them, they’re stuck in there – no one’s going to know if you hit your head and pass out and no one’s coming for you.

“It’s not just for our safety, but for the safety of those coming on the estate and treating it like a theme park, we want them to be safe as well.”

He’s asking for the council to provide security patrols during the peak times for vandals between 3pm and 9pm.

‘Terrifying’

Meg Gadja also lives on the estate, and has been left as the sole resident in a block of flats as she waits for a new home to become available nearby. The 63-year-old said it’s become “horrible” living there and she fears for her safety when walking from her car in the evenings.

She’s been living there for 14 years and said it was “sometimes bad with antisocial behaviour” but “never as bad as it is now”.

She said: “There’s rubbish everywhere and it’s so dangerous – we have a group on WhatsApp and people say they’re not feeling safe. It’s terrifying.”

Chris Workman said he’ll soon be moving from his flat of eight years where he’s the last remaining resident – but fears for those left on the estate.

The 38-year-old said: “I recognise there are challenges for the council in dealing with this because there’s more that could be done. It’s become weekly rather than daily but it’s still an ongoing issue – the last two weeks residents had to call the police, which is taking police resources from emergencies too.”

‘Nothing was not an option’

Cambridge City Council said doing nothing “was not an option” due to “serious issues in the buildings” and residents who had to move out sooner rather than later were supported.

A spokesperson said: “The downside of this is for those who will remain living on Ekin Road, and who are facing the problems often seen on sites with multiple vacant homes. We recognise this is a frustrating and sometimes frightening experience and we are committed to reviewing our security measures as required during this phase.”

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They said they have increased security patrols in the area to five times per day at times when incidents have been reported by residents, added more alarms and hoarding and a “re-deployable CCTV camera on site”.

They said: “The council has a dedicated public safety team who are reaching out to residents and working alongside the police. Residents are encouraged to keep reporting any incidents to the council’s antisocial behaviour team, or any criminal activity to the police. We will continue to review and adapt security measures on the site as needed.”

Bolton Labour Group has elected Councillor Akhtar Zaman as Leader of the Labour Group, with Councillor Martin Donaghy elected as Deputy Leader, following Thursday’s (May 7) local elections.

In a statement, the group said: “Bolton Labour Group has elected Councillor Akhtar Zaman as Leader of the Labour Group, with Councillor Martin Donaghy elected as Deputy Leader.

“We would like to thank Councillor Nick Peel for his leadership, dedication and service to Bolton Labour and to communities across the borough.

“We also pay tribute to all Labour councillors who were not re-elected.

“They have served their communities with commitment and care, and we thank them sincerely for everything they have done for Bolton.

“Thank you as well to every Labour candidate, volunteer and supporter who worked so hard across the borough during a difficult election.

“Following yesterday’s results, the Labour Group understands the need to listen, reflect and rebuild trust with residents across Bolton.

“Akhtar and Martin will lead a Labour team focused on standing up for local people, supporting our communities, and working every day to deliver a fairer, safer and better Bolton.”

Nick Peel (Image: PHIL TAYLOR)

The leadership change follows a result in Tonge with the Haulgh, where Labour’s Nick Peel lost his seat to Reform UK’s Bolton chair Trevor Jones.

Across the borough, 20 of the council’s 60 seats were contested.

Reform UK won the most seats on the night with nine, while the Green Party and Conservatives each secured three seats.

Labour and Horwich and Blackrod First Independents both won two seats, with the Liberal Democrats taking one.

Despite the losses, Labour remains the largest party on the council with 20 seats, but is 11 short of the 31 required for an overall majority.

The count underway (Image: Phil Taylor)

The Conservatives hold 11 seats, with Reform UK on 10 and the Liberal Democrats on five.

The remaining seats are made up of four Green councillors, four Horwich and Blackrod First Independents, three Farnworth and Kearsley First councillors and three independents.

Cllr Zaman said: “It is an honour to have been elected Leader of the Labour Group.

“I want to thank my colleagues for their support, and I also want to pay tribute to Councillor Nick Peel for his leadership, dedication and service to Bolton Labour and to communities across the borough.

“We also thank all Labour councillors who were not re-elected, as well as every Labour candidate, volunteer and supporter who worked so hard during a difficult election.

“The results were clearly disappointing for Labour.

“We have heard the message from voters, and we know we need to listen carefully, reflect honestly and rebuild trust with residents across Bolton.

“People want councillors who are focused on the issues that affect their everyday lives — cleaner streets, safer communities, decent housing, strong local services and value for money.

“That is what our Labour team will be focused on. We will stand up for local people, support our communities and work every day to deliver a fairer, safer and better Bolton.”

Cllr Donaghy said: “Bolton Labour has a serious job to do.

“We need to listen to residents, focus on the issues that matter in people’s daily lives, and show through our actions that we are working hard for every part of the borough.

“Our priority now is to bring the group together, support our communities and focus on delivery.”

The Labour Group said its immediate priority would be to work together as a united team, listen to residents across the borough and focus on the issues affecting local people.

Bean & Bake, based in a shop unit on the corner of Northallerton Town Hall, is run by Steve Hewitt, who previously ran the Joiners Coffee Shop and Kitchen at Ingleby Cross, near Northallerton.

Mr Hewitt said it serves “high-quality” coffee and teas, homemade scones, freshly baked pastries, artisan bread, cakes, and traybakes.

Steve Hewitt in his new business Bean & Bake in Northallerton (Image: Supplied)

Locally-produced bacon and sausage in fresh buns, and bagels with seasonal fillings, are on the menu.

He is working with a number of businesses in the area, including Rounton Coffee Roasters, Acorn Organic Dairy, Thompsons Butchers, Sorcha’s Artisan Bakehouse, and Yorvale Ice Cream.

Bean & Bake also stocks a range of retail items, all sourced from small independent producers in Yorkshire.

There is limited seating both inside and outside, where customers can enjoy the bustle of the High Street and the Town Hall Square, with lots more public seating.

Mr Hewitt said: “We have had great feedback from customers since opening.

“People are enjoying something different and appreciate the provenance of what we are offering.”

Mr Hewitt said he was renting the unit from Northallerton Town Council.

Council staff and councillors had been very supportive, as they have been with his partner Julie Brass’ business, the Yorkshire Scent Co, which is based in a unit on the opposite side of the Town Hall.

This pub offers reasonably priced food and drink across its menu

A bit of pub grub is always a fan favourite for people – and I’m one of them. While on a visit to Cottenham, I decided to see what food establishments they had on offer. There were a few cafes, but as that’s what I usually go for when eating out for lunch, I decided to change things up.

I came across the Waggon and Horses pub and decided to grab some lunch. I got a little bit lost on my way to the pub, as it is nested within lots of small streets. As I expected on a weekday lunchtime, I was the only customer, so I took a seat and began looking at the menu.

I was pleasantly suprised by the reasonable prices on the menu. The most expensive meals on the lunchtime menu were £6.50, and there were a few options available for this price. These options included scampi and chips, burgers, wraps and more. Some other meals priced at £5 included jacket potatoes and loaded nachos.

I decided to go for a basket meal for £6.50, which included chicken tenders and chips. The other option was chicken poppers and chips. I also chose to have melted cheese over my chips. For a drink, I chose an iced latte for £3.80, and paid an extra 50p to get vanilla syrup in it.

The pub itself offered a cosy vibe, with its fairy lights and fireplace. The pub is fairly small, but there is still plenty of space for several chairs and table. Only a few minutes later my iced latte came, and ‘oh my’ was my first thought. I expected a regular sized coffee, similar to a coffee shop.

But boy was I wrong! My latte came in a pint glass – I can’t say I’ve ever had a pint of coffee. Considering I paid the same price, or slightly cheaper than a coffee from somewhere like Costa or Starbucks, this was definitely a bargain latte. It was good too – I could really taste the vanilla and it satisfied my sweet tooth.

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I was also impressed by the portion size of my £6.50 meal. I tucked into the chicken tenders which had a crunchy crisp to them. Just as their name suggests, the chicken was succulent and tender. I then tried some of the chips which were generously coated in cheese.

The cheese was very thick, but made the chips even better. The chips themselves were also very crispy, just how I like them. I must admit I struggled to finish my meal and enormous drink, and I was ultimately defeated. It was however a very satisfying meal, and safe to say it kept me going for the rest of the day.

Ultimately, the Waggon and Horses is an out-of-sight pub that offers great value food and drink. For coffee lovers, the pub is the perfect place to go with its pints of coffee.

All of our food reviews are paid for by the writer. The establishments do not know we will be reviewing their food, allowing us to make fair judgements on each place.

Stockton Council hosted the Foster Carer and Supported Lodgings Awards on Thursday, April 30, to honour the dedication and resilience of foster carers and hosts across the borough who support vulnerable children and young people.

Councillor Clare Besford, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people, presented the Long Service and Special Milestone Awards.

Cllr Clare Besford presenting a special milestone award to foster carers Colin Taylor and Pat Bond for 15 years of service (Image: Dave Charnley)

Cllr Besford said: “I’m immensely proud to celebrate our wonderful foster carers and supported lodgings hosts in our borough with these awards.

“It was an honour to celebrate their long and devoted service and hear about the outstanding achievements which they have made in the lives of children and young people in their care.

“Congratulations to all the winners and nominees.”

Foster Carer of the Year – Wendy Fowler (Image: Dave Charnley)

Carers and hosts were recognised across several categories, including long service, special milestones, and peer-to-peer support.

Special Milestone Awards were presented to those who reached one, five, 10, 15, and 20 years of service.

Long Service Awards went to those who had dedicated more than 30 years, including Margaret Wren (49 years), Malcolm and Shelley Atherton (33 years), and Patricia and Kenny Leishman (32 years).

Majella McCarthy, Director of Children’s Services with Foster Carer of the Year Wendy Fowler (Image: Dave Charnley)

The Young People’s Choice Award, with nominations submitted by children living with a foster family, was given to Sue and Stuart Reid in recognition of the support they provide to the young person living with them.

Julie and Paul Snowball received the Peer‑to‑Peer Recognition Award, which honours carers who support fellow foster families.

The couple play a key role in the Mockingbird fostering service, an extended family model designed to improve stability and outcomes for children by building a supportive community of carers.

Cllr Clare Besford presenting the 20 years of service award to Supported Lodgings Hosts Christine and Stephen Morgan (Image: Dave Charnley)

Julie Snowball said: “As I said on the night to the people who nominated me, it means the world to me but you are only as good as the people that you are surrounded by, and I’m surrounded by wonderful people, so it’s an honour for me to support them and I thoroughly enjoy doing it.”

Hazel and Wayne Micallef received the Supported Lodgings Host of the Year Award after being nominated three times.

The couple currently care for two teenagers, helping them build the confidence and skills needed for independence.

Foster Carer Julie Snowball, winner of the Peer-to-Peer Award with Louise Hollick, Assistant Director of Early Help, Safeguarding and Children (Image: Dave Charnley)

Supported lodgings hosts offer a home environment and practical guidance to young people as they transition into adulthood.

The Kinship Carer of the Year Award went to Pauline and Colin Poppleton.

Nominated by their grandchildren’s social worker, they were recognised for the emotional warmth, security, and sense of identity they provide, helping the children in their care make positive progress.

Wendy Fowler, who has spent more than 21 years as a foster carer, was named Foster Carer of the Year.

Ms Fowler said: “I was very surprised and quite emotional.

“From a personal level, it’s a great achievement for me, fostering is the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

She recently decided to retire due to health reasons.

Ms Fowler said: “I was very upset when I decided that I needed to retire, it took me a long time to think about it, but I thought the time was right because I hadn’t been very well last year.

“Now is the time to retire and spend a lot of time with my grandchildren and my children.”

Many of the children she has cared for over the years have remained in contact with her.

Ms Fowler said: “I’ve got other foster children as well because they stay in touch after all these years, they are still around and remain an important part of my life.

“I’ve loved every minute of fostering, and I would recommend anyone to do it because it gives more positives than negatives, it really does.”

For information on becoming a foster carer, visit the Foster with North East website.

Israel’s Eurovision broadcaster has received a formal warning, just days before the contest kicks off in Vienna, Austria.

Participating broadcaster KAN was found to have violated the competition’s voting rules on Friday evening, as several promotional videos appeared on social media sites such as X.

In the clips, Israeli representative Noam Bettan encouraged viewers to use all 10 of their votes on Israel when he performs in the first semi-final on May 12.

The 28-year-old singer, whose song is titled Michelle, recorded the promo message in the languages of Azerbaijani, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Maltese, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, and Ukrainian.

Now, Eurovision Song Contest Executive Director Martin Green has confirmed that KAN has been reprimanded.

In a statement shared with Metro, he said: ‘We were made aware that videos instructing viewers to vote 10 times for Israel had been published and distributed by the artist representing KAN.

‘Within 20 minutes, we had contacted the Israeli delegation and asked them to immediately stop all distribution of the videos and remove them from all platforms where they had been published. They did so.’

He added: ‘We will continue to closely monitor any promotional activity and take appropriate steps as necessary.’

In response, KAN reported that the campaign isn’t financed by any particular group, claiming that Eurovision fans are the ones choosing to support their entrant.

They insisted that they would always abide by the rules of the EBU (European Broadcasting Union).

Last November, the EBU implemented changes to the voting rules to ‘strengthen trust and transparency’.

In a major overhaul of the voting framework, the new measures followed extensive consultations after the 2025 contest in Basel, Switzerland.

In-depth reviews were carried out in collaboration with participating broadcasters and other event organisers, who offered feedback to help prevent rule breaks and strengthen the voting system.

Green said at the time: ‘We’ve listened and we’ve acted.

‘The neutrality and integrity of the Eurovision Song Contest is of paramount importance to the EBU, its members, and all our audiences. It is essential that the fairness of the Contest is always protected.  

‘We are taking clear and decisive steps to ensure the contest remains a celebration of music and unity. The Contest should remain a neutral space and must not be instrumentalised.’

Green added that, alongside the changes announced, there was a new commitment to ‘strengthening the enforcement of existing rules’ to ‘prevent any misuse of the Contest’, for example, through ‘song lyrics or staging’.

‘We will work closely with members to ensure they fully understand and are also accountable for upholding the rules and values that define the Song Contest.’

In total, there were four changes made. The first was ‘clearer rules of promotion’, forbidding participating broadcasters, such as KAN, and artists, such as Bettan, from ‘actively engaging in, facilitating, or contributing to promotional campaigns by third parties that could influence the voting outcome’.

The EBU stated that ‘any attempts to unduly influence the results will lead to sanctions’.

Secondly, Eurovision bosses reduced the maximum number of votes. For 2026, fans will only be able to vote through phone calls, SMS, or online 10 times, reduced from 20.

‘Fans will be actively encouraged to share their support across multiple entries,’ the changes stated.

Thirdly, the return of professional juries of music experts for the semi-finals was confirmed for the first time since 2022. This creates ‘a roughly 50/50 split between jury and audience votes’ in the final.

The EBU explained that this change ‘is intended to encourage the optimum musical balance and diversity in songs that qualify for the grand final, ensuring that high-quality entries with broad artistic merit are recognised alongside those with popular appeal’.

In turn, the number of jurors has been increased from five to seven, and the pool has been expanded to include journalists, critics, teachers, choreographers, and stage directors.

Each jury must now also include at least two jurors aged 18 to 25.

‘All jurors will have to sign up to a formal declaration to confirm they will vote independently and impartially, will not coordinate with other jurors before the contest, and will be mindful of their social media use,’ organisers stated, which means not voicing voting preferences online before the end of the contest.

Finally, technical safeguards have been ‘enhanced’, meaning the EBU will ‘work closely’ with its voting partner to prevent fraudulent or coordinated voting activity and to closely monitor suspicious patterns.

Green further stated that the new measures are ‘designed to keep the focus where it belongs – on music, creativity, and connection’.

Israel’s involvement in Eurovision has been a point of contention for several years now, which has led many devout fans to boycott the event entirely. It has also resulted in fellow countries, including Spain, one of the Big Five, withdrawing in protest.

Chair of RTVE José Pablo López said in a statement: ‘As joint organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest, we share a collective responsibility. While Israel has regularly participated in the competition, the current events and the genocide currently taking place make it impossible for us to look the other way.

‘It is not accurate to claim that Eurovision is merely an apolitical music festival. We are all aware that the contest carries significant political implications. The Israeli government is equally aware of this fact and leverages the event on the international stage.’

For the past three years, despite outside pressure following the Gaza conflict, the EBU has allowed them to remain in the contest.

This sparked particular fury given how, despite proudly declaring to be ‘apolitical’, the contest banned Russia from taking part in 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine. This was decided after other participating nations threatened boycotts.

There has been much speculation about why the EBU has refused to ban Israel, including the fact that one of Eurovision’s most prominent sponsors is the Israeli beauty brand Moroccanoil.

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Police were called to a shop on High Newham Court in Stockton at around 3pm on Friday (May 8), following reports of a ‘disturbance’.

The men are reported to have made threats to staff and then fled the scene.

Police arrived on the scene and arrested three men, two aged 32 and a 40-year-old and a woman, aged 62, was arrested and taken to police custody.

One of the 32-year-olds was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and drink driving.

Cleveland Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Detective Chief Inspector John Bonner said: “At approximately 3pm on Friday, May 8, police were called to a shop on High Newham Court in Stockton following reports of men armed with a machete and a bat.

“The men are reported to have made threats to staff.

“Officers, including armed response, attended to the scene.

“Enquiries led officers to stop a vehicle where four people were detained.

“Three men, two aged 32 and a 40-year-old and a woman aged 62 were arrested and taken to police custody.

“One of the 32-year-olds was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and drink driving.

“If anyone saw the incident take place and has information or footage, please call 101 or visit our website quoting reference number 087218.”

Kath Cross sold all of her possessions and now drives across the world with Stuart Hall

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A couple sold all their possessions to buy a campervan and travel the world – for just £30 a day. Kath Cross, 49, and Stuart Hall, 48, have travelled over 25,000 miles on epic adventures through the Sahara desert, Europe and Scotland in their make-shift home.

The pair have been living in their 7.5m Mercedes Sprinter ever since Kath sold all her possessions and stopped paying rent four years ago. To date they have toured over 15 countries – and will have exceeded 20 by the time they get back from their current trip to Montenegro.

The couple work on the road full-time under the name Vanavigation – where they create, write and share travel content. Though their spending plan varies slightly depending on which country they are residing in, the pair say on average they spend around £900 to £1,200 a month – cheaper than Kath’s old house rental in Cardiff.

This means they budget around £30 to £40 a day for their lifestyle – with half spent on fuel. Kath, from Cardiff, said: “It was a choice we made between one life and another – and we don’t regret a second of it.

“When I sold my possessions, it made me realise that you are supposed to own things – not them own you. When you have a mortgage, a car payment, you are owned by society, fixed because you have to stay where you are and pay your bills.

“The more of my stuff I sold the more free I felt – the more I am realising those possessions owned me and pinned me in one place. Life owns you and you are supposed to own it.”

Kath and Stuart bonded over their shared love of nature and the outdoors after meeting in a South Wales walking group back in 2021. They hiked over 105 peaks in the UK during their first year of dating and Kath decided that Stuart was the person she wanted to travel the world with.

She soon after decided to pack up her four-bed rental house and sell all of her possessions back in 2022 when her daughters left home. Stuart and Kath have since travelled over 25,000 miles – including their first trip all the way to the Sahara desert, which Kath described as her “lifelong dream”.

Kath said: “I had an idea that when my kids left home I wanted to drive to the Sahara – it was a dream I’d had for years. Stu already owned the van, and we had been together a few months when we visited Scotland for a month in the campervan. We didn’t kill each other and got on very well.

“So that winter I decided that I was going to downsize my life, my kids had left home, the four-bed rental was too much for me and I just didn’t want it anymore. It was taking every penny that I earned just to keep the rental going – but we knew we could live cheaper on the road.

“A lot of people are scared of the big adventure, but Stu was up for the idea and so we drove to the edge of the Sahara desert and haven’t looked back.”

The mother-of-two is able to ensure a steady monthly income for the pair after she set up her own business online back in 2012. As a single parent, Kath wanted to ensure she could earn a living while being at home with her children – and her copywriting and freelance work saw her amass 1.6million followers on Facebook in 2014.

Stuart, who works for an agency as a truck driver, works when they visit the UK after trips to help top up their money before their next adventure. Her and Stuart are both work together to produce content for Vanavigation – releasing weekly Youtube episodes, travel guides and insightful blogs across social media on how to travel the world.

Kath said: “Life really is a lot cheaper in the van – you don’t need two wages. We were away for 101 days and our average spend was £1000 a month – this is less than my rent used to be in Cardiff and we lived like kings and queens.”

Despite more than half their budget being on fuel, the pair say they don’t live like they are on holiday – and mostly cook in the van and only pay for a few activities a month. Kath said: “As fuel prices have gone up we have just slowed down!

“We just drive a bit slower and make a few less stops – which means we extend the trip really. When you’re in North Macedonia and paying 130 a litre for diesel, there is no point rushing back to pay whatever horrifying price it is in the UK at the moment.”

The pair are able to live in their fully-equipped campervan which boasts a full working set up including: a shower, toilet, king-size bed, sink, and a fully working kitchen with an oven, gas burner. Stuart, who converted the inside of the van shortly after purchasing it, said: “We can even do a roast dinner.”

So far, the pair have driven 3,000 miles to Denmark and back, 7,000 miles around Spain and Portugal, 2,000 miles to Scotland and 8,000 miles to the Sahara. They are currently in Montenegro, and are just shy of 5,000 miles on their trip which has seen them drive through France, Italy, Albania, Greece, North Macedonia and Kosovo.

Their next stops are Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia and France. Kath and Stu said their Sahara trip has been one of their many highlights – which also include their visit to the Atlas mountains, Kosovo and Denmark.

Stuart, from Southampton, said: “We drove to the edge of the sand dunes and were drinking coffee out of own mugs from home. Then we opened up the curtains and there were 40 camels outside – it was totally surreal. I had only ever been on package holidays before.”

Kath said they also loved their visit to the Atlas mountains because of the scenery and people they met during their trip and volunteering. She said: “There are communities there that have nothing, and they just want to help you.

“We helped a guy stuck in the snow and he wanted to take us to his village, which had 66 houses and a mosque. His family made us food and drinks and the kids in the village came to meet us and it was only a few months after the earthquake. It was so special connecting with the local communities.”

The pair are strong advocates for following your dreams and travelling the world in a mindful and sustainable way. Stuart said: “We choose to step lighter on this earth.

“My big diesel van has much less of a carbon footprint than a three-bed house where people leave the lights on. We don’t buy new stuff, we wear clothes until we can’t wear them anymore and we live light on plastics. We love this life and we learn so much about people.”

Kath said: “You can’t dream yourself into this life, you have to make intentional decisions to get here. You have to let go of other things to get here. We left the rat race – and we’re really glad about it.”

You can follow their adventures here: “https://www.facebook.com/vanavigationuk/