The trains involved in the crash have been recovered

Railway lines will reopen after a fatal train crash near Bedford. Network Rail said recovery and repair work at the site of the Bedford train have now been completed, and passenger services on the Midland Main Line will resume on Monday (June 29).

The crash between two East Midlands Railway trains happened near Bedford on Friday (June 19). Recovery involved removing the overhead line equipment, constructing a temporary access road and concrete foundation, and then using two cranes to lift the trains and carriages from the site.

Engineers subsequently carried out a full inspection and repair of the track, signalling, and overhead line equipment before completing safety checks. Passengers travelling on Saturday or Sunday (June 27 and 28) should check the EMR and Thameslink websites for the latest information ahead of Monday’s service timetable, Network Rail said.

Thameslink services will resume on Monday and there will be extra staff at stations along the route to help customers. Passenger services on the Midland Main Line will also resume on Monday.

Services will not run this weekend due to planned engineering works, which were scheduled before the crash. Rail replacement buses will continue to operate over the weekend between:

• Bedford and Luton;
• Luton and West Hampstead Thameslink;
• Hitchin and Luton Airport Parkway via Luton;
• Harpenden and Potters Bar via St Albans.

East Midlands Railway will be operating a full timetable on their Intercity route from Monday. Some journeys may still be subject to short-notice changes or cancellations, and customers are advised to check their journey before getting to the station.

Louis Rambaud, chief customer officer for GTR, which operates Thameslink, said: “The completion of the recovery work at Bedford is the result of a truly remarkable effort by Network Rail engineers and colleagues from across the industry, who have worked tirelessly and at extraordinary pace in very difficult circumstances.

“Our thoughts continue to be with Shaun Burton’s family, friends and colleagues, and with all those still recovering from the incident. The disruption of the past week will have had a real impact on our customers and I want to thank them sincerely for the patience and understanding they have shown.”

Mark Budden, East Midlands route director for Network Rail, said: “This has been a complex and challenging recovery operation, and I’d like to thank our engineers and colleagues across the railway for the professionalism, skill, and dedication they’ve shown in safely completing the work as quickly as possible to get passengers moving again.

“Our thoughts remain with everyone affected by the incident, including driver Shaun Burton’s loved ones, and those still recovering.

“With repairs now complete, we will be able to reopen the Midland Main Line on Monday. We understand the disruption that this closure has caused, and we’re grateful to passengers for their patience while we carried out this essential work.”

A reader is so upset by GTA 6 not having a disc version that he vows not to buy the game, as he accuses Rockstar of trying to manipulate fans in an attempt to make even more profit.

I can only imagine how rich Rockstar Games must be now, since they started taking pre-orders for GTA 6. Its success was always guaranteed and now it’s taken an important new step on its way to being the biggest thing ever – no exaggeration, this is going to be bigger than any movie or game by a long shot. We still don’t know much about it, but despite the nitpicking over the graphics, I’ve no real doubt it’ll be a great game and exactly what we’ve all been hoping for. But I’m not getting it.

I know there’s already lots of people talking about boycotts and petitions and everything, but we all know very few people are going to be able to resist the temptation of getting the game, and I don’t criticise them at all. Maybe I’ll cave in too, but at the moment I’m committed to not getting it. Because not only do I believe in physical media but I don’t like being manipulated into doing what a giant, billion dollar company wants me to, just so they can make an extra buck.

If this rumour about a proper disc version in December turns out to be true then fine, I’ll get it then. But it’s not going to change my newfound distrust of Rockstar and how they want to fleece us for money but won’t just be upfront about it.

Before this week, everyone was prepared for GTA 6 to cost £100, because that’d been the rumour for a while and it really is true that they could charge anything for it and people would’ve paid. I would’ve, if there’d been a disc version, as there’s no way I didn’t get £100 worth of entertainment out of GTA 5 and I’m sure the new game will be no different.

However, what seems to have happened is that Rockstar decided that while they could’ve charged more for the game they didn’t, and I think for a fairly obvious reason. They want to get people online and spending money on microtransactions and people aren’t going to flock quite as much to it if the price is so high.

Put it’s not just that, they’re also trying to tempt people into buying the more expensive Ultimate Edition by putting in exclusive content, including quests, so that anyone that wants to see and do it all has to buy it. They could’ve just done cosmetics and cars and weapons, which would have been fair enough (up to a point) but they went further and put story content behind a paywall.

And that’s not to mention that the whole reason they don’t want to put out a disc version is that they make more money from digital. Why share a cut of sales with shops when you can take it all for yourself? Never mind that it’s anti-consumer and might put a small fringe (including me) off, when the vast majority will go along with it, even while complaining.

As consumers we’re manipulated like this all the time by every kind of company. They want the maximum amount of money from us as they can get but they know they’ve got to be clever about it and make us think we’re getting a bargain, even though they know they’ll actually make far more money another way.

The only reason GTA 6 didn’t come out before now is that they make so much money from GTA Online they didn’t need to bother. There was only five years between GTA 4 and 5 and that’s not just because games were quicker to make in those days, it’s because GTA 4 didn’t have an online live service mode. So once sales started to slack off, they needed a new game to keep the money rolling in.

Any good business knows you sell low to get people onboard and then hit them with the upsell afterwards, in this case microtransactions. Well, if I do end up buying the game I can guarantee I won’t be buying any of those. And to be honest, after typing all this out, I feel even less upset at missing out on the game anyway. I don’t want to be a pawn in some accountant’s spreadsheet, I just want to buy and own a game, and play it on my own terms.

By reader Taylor Moon

MORE: PS5 pre-orders for GTA 6 are outselling Xbox by a huge margin

MORE: GTA 6 to use social media in a big way as store listings reveal new features

MORE: Games Inbox: Is GTA 6 worth the price tag?

Nara Colceriu, five, from Edinburgh will never be able to have a conversation and may suffer seizures.

The mum of a toddler will never be able to speak noticed a key detail that led to her being diagnosed with a rare disorder.

Nara Colceriu, five, from Edinburgh was diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome when she was three years old after her parents started noticing a delay in her development.

Anamaria Colceriu, 38, fought for a diagnosis for years after noticing “something wasn’t right” immediately after giving birth.

After many failed GP appointments, Anamaria decided to take her daughter to her home country, Romania, for tests. It was then Nara was diagnosed with the rare, neurological disorder.

Anamaria told Edinburgh Live: “My heart dropped when we were told she had Angelman Syndrome.

“I didn’t believe it. I was in denial. She never inherited the condition from any of us. It just happened.

“She’ll be non-verbal for her whole life and may suffer a lot of seizures.

“She probably won’t be able to read or write and her balance is impacted as well.

“She’s still in nappies, too. I don’t know if that will continue for the rest of her life.

“I knew something wasn’t right when she was born but the doctors were looking at me like I had two heads.”

Angelman Syndrome is a genetic condition impacting the nervous system and causes severe physical and learning disabilities. It occurs in one in 15,000 live births or 500,000 people worldwide.

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Nara’s parents started noticing she wasn’t meeting certain milestones when she was around four months old. She was smiling and making eye contact but she wasn’t crawling, and only started walking when she was 17 months.

Her balance was off, too, but doctors kept pushing back, Anamaria said. She took Nara to Romania when she was three where the doctor started ticking off loads of symptoms of Angelman Syndrome, and the penny dropped.

Nara can say certain words including ‘mama’ and ‘dada’ but will never be able to have a conversation.

The mum-of-two went on: “You can’t make Nara talk but she’ll show you exactly what she wants.

“And she understands everything. I speak Romanian to her as well as English.

“I am trying to learn sign language as well. She’s happy in herself. She goes to mainstream nursery and loves it.

“She loves water, bubbles, and dancing. I now know what I need to do and what works best for her.”

Anamaria believes more awareness is needed around the condition as there was scarce support for her family.

She said: “It doesn’t matter what you have, whether it’s autism or ADHD, you should be given more help.”

Nara’s uncle, Ross, is preparing to take on a 10-mile inflatable obstacle course to raise funds for AngelmanUK.

You can donate here.

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The town was also once famous for being a ‘small spa’

Cambridgeshire towns all have their own unique history. Some were once home to Romans, while others have been the sights of heroic battles of time before.

One town with a varied history behind it is Somersham in Huntingdonshire. Like many towns, Somersham once had its own railway station and train line. However over time, also like many other towns, these railway lines disappeared. Somersham’s former railway line is now occupied by a nature reserve.

The Somersham Local Nature Reserve was once part of a railway line between Cambridge and March. Built in 1848, this railway line was used to transport coal and agricultural produce before it eventually closed in 1967.

At the Station Approach entrance of the nature reserve, there are white gates that are a reminder of the former level crossing. The old station buildings that used to stand in the area were moved brick by brick to the William McAlpine estate in Oxfordshire.

Today, the nature reserve is set out over 12 acres and is home to a wide variety of wildlife. This includes areas of woodland, grassland and wildflower meadows.

There is also a lake and wet woodland. The former railway line is marked as a County Wildlife site to recognise the importance of it. There is also a path that runs around the nature reserve lake and a section of this features a part of the former Somersham to Chatteris railway line. As well as its former railway line, the town was once known as a “small spa”.

While it didn’t have the notoriety of Bath spa, Somersham was once known in the county for its spa. The town boasted a local known mineral water and this allowed the town to become a small spa.

According to ‘In search of holy wells and healing springs’, there was a local myth that suggested Romans exploited the water and Medieval bishops used it to brew beer. The mineral water was prescribed to patients by doctors at the time.

As well as it’s interesting history, Somersham has much more on offer in the modern day. Around 3,800 people call the village home. For anyone wanting to live there, the average property prices start at £221,667 for a two-bedroom home. For bigger homes, the price creeps up to around £679,000 for a five-bedroom home.

The village features the Somersham Convenience Store and Post Office for daily essentials. There are also some independent shops including The Vintage Peacock, offering gifts and upcycled furniture. Visitors and locals can grab a coffee at the Olives Coffee Shop, or if they fancy an alcoholic beverage, they can head to the Wine in the Willows Bar.

For anyone who wants to enjoy nature in a place steeped in history, Somersham is a good place to visit.

Here are the nine roads set to be closed in and around the town this weekend (June 27-28):

Grange Road

Grange Road will be closed from June 22 to July 3 for highway improvement works.

Restrictions are expected to remain in place throughout this period.

Neasham Road East Back

Neasham Road East Back will see a road closure from June 23 to June 27 for other works.

The restrictions are set to remain in place during this time.

Bull Wynd

Bull Wynd will be closed from April 27 to July 3 for other works.

The restrictions are expected to remain in place until the completion of the project.

Four Riggs

Four Riggs will have a road closure on June 28 for remedial works.

Restrictions are scheduled to remain in place for the day.

Wales Street and Westmoreland Street Back Street

Wales Street and Westmoreland Street Back Street will be closed from June 24 to June 30 for urgent utility repairs.

Restrictions are set to remain in place during this period.

Harrowgate Village

Harrowgate Village will be closed until July 31 for highway improvement works.

The restrictions are expected to remain in place throughout this time.

Beaumont Hill

Beaumont Hill will also be closed until July 31 for ongoing highway improvement works.

Restrictions are set to remain in place during this period.

Elstob Lane

Elstob Lane will be closed from June 15 to June 28 for other works.

The restrictions are expected to remain in place throughout this time.

Faverdale

Faverdale is currently closed until September 7 for highway improvement works.

Restrictions are set to remain in place during this period.

Gary and Sarah Andrews’s daughter Wynter died 23 minutes after she was delivered by Caesarean section at the Queen’s Medical Centre on 15 September 2019 after repeated warning signs of her being in distress had been missed.

Wynter died from a loss of oxygen flow to the brain – which an inquest found could have been prevented had staff delivered her earlier.

Sarah, 41, had been admitted to hospital on 14 September, six days after initially experiencing contractions.

The inquest heard the maternity unit was “busy” when she arrived, with information on the patient’s history not properly handed over to other staff at shift changes.

The inquest found Wynter may have survived if “multiple missed opportunities” had been spotted.

In what would become a recurring theme about warning signs being missed, the coroner cited a 2018 letter from midwives to bosses at the trust, outlining concerns over staffing levels as “the cause of a potential disaster”.

“The grim predictions… were indeed realised some 10 months later when Wynter died as a result of the unsafe practices warned about,” coroner Laurinda Bower said.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) prosecuted NUH over her death in January 2023, with the trust pleading guilty to care failures.

The criminal prosecution resulted in NUH being fined £800,000.

Individuals, schools, community groups and businesses were invited to take part in the annual event, which included a parade and Raising the Flag ceremony on Friday, June 26, ahead of Armed Forces Day on June 27.

Organised by Darlington Borough Council and 50 (N) Signal Squadron, the celebrations were led by the Mayor of Darlington, Councillor Helen Crumbie, Deputy Lieutenant Commander Ian Berry and Brigadier Paul Baker.

A parade of representatives from the Armed Forces, military associations, veterans and civic guests left the Town Hall at 10.20am to make its way to the Market Square.

One image shows veterans and standard bearers leading the parade along the street, with serving personnel in camouflage uniforms marching in formation behind them, the Town Hall and mature trees framing the scene.

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Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Armed Forces Day in Darlington. (Image: Stuart Boulton)

Another captures a veteran in beret and blazer among a line of ex-service personnel, his expression solemn as standards and uniforms form a backdrop.

Once in position, an inspection of the parade was carried out by the Deputy Lieutenant, the Mayor and military officers.

The ceremony included the traditional flag-raising, speeches, the national anthem and a tribute to the fallen, with wreaths laid on the Bradford Stone in the Market Square.

The Commemorative Victoria Cross (VC) Stone for Lt Commander George Bradford was set in the Market Square.

Visitors were able to learn more about Lt Commander Bradford, ‘the Bradford Brothers’ and the Durham Light Infantry in Darlington Libraries Centre for Local Studies during the week of Armed Forces Day.

A commemorative ‘Darlington Armed Forces Day’ coin had also been minted and was presented to all veterans in attendance.

Several of the photographs show rows of veterans standing to attention inside the covered market, their jackets heavy with medals, alongside a distinctive figure in a bright red ceremonial coat.

Other shots capture handshakes and quiet conversations between decorated officers and veterans as the commemorative coins were handed out.

Mayor of Darlington Cllr Helen Crumbie said: “This event is a chance for us all to say thank you and show our support to those who make up our Armed Forces, as well as service families, veterans and cadets. ”

Local schoolchildren had been invited to take part in the celebrations, with primary schools entering a competition to design a poster for the event.