From free prescriptions, swimming and community meals to £2 cinema trips and a little-known free passport, MoneyMagpie’s Vicky Parry reveals the valuable over-60s perks that are remarkably easy to miss

Reaching 60 does not automatically bring the bus pass, slippers and peaceful retirement we were once promised.

Plenty of people are still working, caring for relatives and wondering how on earth the supermarket shop became so expensive. However, turning 60 can unlock some genuinely useful freebies, discounts and concessions.

A few are well known. Others are hidden in the small print of NHS schemes, local council websites and loyalty programmes.

One little-known scheme can cover NHS wigs, medical supports and journeys to hospital. Some councils offer free swimming, while Britain’s oldest residents may even qualify for a completely free passport.

The important thing to understand is that “over 60”, “pensioner” and “state pension age” do not all mean the same thing. Some perks begin on your 60th birthday, while others depend on your income, postcode or the part of the UK in which you live.

Here are 13 worth checking:

1. Free NHS prescriptions from 60

In England, NHS prescriptions become free when you turn 60. You do not need to wait until you reach state pension age.

You should tick the correct age-exemption box on your prescription form and may be asked for proof of age.

Prescriptions are already free for everyone in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, regardless of age.

This can represent a substantial saving for someone who needs several regular medicines. If you are approaching 60 but have not reached it yet, check whether an NHS prescription prepayment certificate would cost less than paying for each item separately.

You can check your entitlement using the NHS eligibility service.

2. Free NHS sight tests

People aged 60 and over are entitled to free NHS sight tests in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. NHS eye examinations are free for everyone in Scotland.

In England, eligible adults are normally offered a free test every two years, although an optometrist can recommend more frequent examinations where clinically necessary.

Tell the optician you are over 60 when making the appointment. Do not simply assume the exemption will be applied when you arrive.

The eye test is free, but glasses are not automatically included. Help with glasses and contact lenses depends on your income, benefits and personal circumstances.

3. Free dental care, NHS wigs and hospital travel

This is one of the most valuable and least-known parts of the system.

People receiving the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit may qualify for:

• Free NHS dental treatment
• Help towards glasses or contact lenses
• Necessary travel costs for NHS treatment
• NHS wigs
• Certain fabric supports, including surgical bras and abdominal or spinal supports supplied through a hospital

People who do not receive Pension Credit may still qualify through the NHS Low Income Scheme.

An HC2 certificate provides full help with eligible NHS costs, while an HC3 certificate provides partial help. You do not necessarily have to receive another benefit to apply for the Low Income Scheme.

If you want to claim hospital travel expenses, keep your appointment letter, tickets and receipts. Check the conditions before booking an expensive taxi, as not every journey or form of transport will be reimbursed.

4. Free bus travel – but the age depends on where you live

People in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can generally apply for an older person’s bus pass from the age of 60.

In England, the national older person’s bus pass is normally available when you reach the female state pension age, regardless of whether you are a man or woman.

London residents can apply for a 60+ London Oyster photocard from 60, although this has different terms from the Older Person’s Freedom Pass.

There is also a separate disabled person’s bus pass, which you may be able to claim at a younger age. From April 2027, eligible disabled bus passes are due to become valid around the clock across England. MoneyMagpie explains who can claim free bus travel and how the rules are changing.

Apply through your local council and avoid websites that charge an unnecessary application fee.

5. Free swimming in selected council areas

This is the sort of perk I wish councils would shout about rather more loudly.

A number of councils provide free swimming sessions for older residents, but there is no national scheme and the qualifying age varies.

Manchester residents aged 60 and over can currently use eligible public swimming sessions for free at participating pools. Free or subsidised schemes also operate in areas including Southwark, Three Rivers, Hinckley and Bosworth, Pembrokeshire and Merton.

Some schemes are restricted to residents, particular pools or quieter times of day. You may also need to register and provide proof of age and address.

Search your council website for “free swimming over 60” or ask your local leisure centre. Even where swimming is not completely free, there may be a heavily reduced senior rate.

6. Cinema tickets from £2 with tea and biscuits

It may not be entirely free, but a film, cup of tea and biscuits from £2 is certainly more cheerful than paying the full evening ticket price.

ODEON Silvers screenings are designed for guests aged 60 and over. Tickets start from £2 at participating cinemas and include tea, coffee and biscuits before the film.

Showcase, The Light and many independent cinemas also hold senior screenings under names such as Silver Screen, Senior Cinema or Classic Matinee.

Prices and age requirements vary by cinema. Some community venues and councils also organise occasional free screenings, so check local libraries, theatres and older people’s programmes.

7. Free community meals

You do not always need to receive benefits or prove that you are struggling to get a free hot meal.

FoodCycle runs community meals using surplus food at locations around the UK. Meals are generally open to everyone, with no means test or referral required.

Sikh gurdwaras also traditionally provide a free vegetarian communal meal known as langar. Visitors from all faiths and backgrounds are normally welcome, although guests should follow the individual gurdwara’s guidance, which may include covering their head and removing their shoes.

Churches, warm spaces, charities and community centres may offer free or donation-based lunches too. These meals can provide something just as important as food: the chance to sit down and talk to somebody.

MoneyMagpie has a regularly checked guide to free food and cheap meals for pensioners and people over 60.

8. Free museums, galleries and local events

Many of Britain’s major museums and permanent gallery collections are free to visit, regardless of age.

They include the British Museum, National Gallery, Tate Britain, Tate Modern, National Museum Cardiff, National Museum of Scotland and the Ulster Museum.

Special exhibitions may carry a charge, but the permanent collections can provide hours of entertainment without costing a penny.

Libraries, universities and local museums also host free talks, exhibitions, book clubs, craft sessions and local-history events. These are not always aimed specifically at older people, but being able to visit during quieter weekday hours can be a welcome advantage.

Check your council’s events calendar and library noticeboard rather than assuming everything interesting requires a ticket.

9. A free hot drink through loyalty schemes

A free cup of tea or coffee can make an inexpensive day out feel considerably more civilised.

MyWaitrose members can currently claim a complimentary hot drink from participating stores, subject to the scheme’s conditions. Membership is free, and customers should bring a reusable cup to avoid buying one.

This is not an over-60s offer, but there is no reason to leave it unclaimed simply because it is available to younger shoppers too.

Other cafés and garden centres run loyalty cards that provide a free drink after a certain number of purchases. If you visit regularly, ask whether there is a card rather than allowing another stamp to escape.

10. Save 10% at Iceland every Tuesday

Iceland offers shoppers aged 60 and over 10% off their in-store shopping every Tuesday.

There is no minimum spend, although you need an Iceland Bonus Card and may be asked to show proof of age. The discount does not normally apply to online shopping.

A £40 shop would therefore cost £36. That may not sound revolutionary, but using the discount every week could save more than £200 over a year.

Offers can change, so check the current conditions with Iceland before relying on it for a particularly large shop.

11. A free TV licence for some over-75s

A TV licence does not become free automatically when you turn 75. To qualify, you must be aged 75 or over and either you or your partner living at the same address must receive Pension Credit.

The free licence covers the household, meaning a younger partner or relative living with you can also watch television under it. You can check the rules and apply through TV Licensing.

Be wary of calls, emails or text messages asking for bank details. TV licence scams frequently target older people, so use the official website or telephone number.

12. A completely free passport

This is perhaps the most surprising freebie on the list, although it is restricted to Britain’s oldest residents. British nationals born on or before 2 September 1929 can receive a standard passport without paying the normal application fee.

The exemption applies to a first passport or a renewal, although applicants must still meet the usual nationality and identity requirements. There may also be separate costs for photographs or optional services.

A friend or relative can help with the paperwork. Contact HM Passport Office for the correct application form and current guidance.

It applies to a relatively small group, but it is worth knowing if your family is planning a special trip with an elderly parent or grandparent.

13. Attendance Allowance worth up to £114.60 a week

Attendance Allowance is not technically a freebie, but it is far too valuable to ignore.

It is available to people who have reached state pension age and need help or supervision because of an illness or disability.

You do not need to have a paid carer. In fact, you do not need to be receiving the help you require before making a claim.

Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, so your income and savings will not stop you from qualifying.

For the 2026/27 tax year, it is worth either £76.70 or £114.60 a week. The rate depends on whether you need support during the day, at night or during both.

The payment is tax-free and could also increase your entitlement to Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction.

When completing the form, explain the help you need with washing, dressing, eating, medication, using the toilet, moving around safely and coping during the night. Describe difficult days honestly rather than completing it based solely on your best day.

The one claim that can unlock several more freebies

Pension Credit is not only for people with no savings or private pension.

It is designed for people over state pension age on a lower income, but disability, caring responsibilities and certain housing costs can affect the calculation.

Receiving Pension Credit may unlock:

• Free NHS dental treatment
• Help with glasses and hospital travel
• A free TV licence if you are 75 or over
• Cold Weather Payments when the conditions are met
• Council Tax Reduction
• Help with housing costs
• Access to some cheaper broadband tariffs
• Other local grants and concessions

Claims can normally be backdated by up to three months if you were eligible during that period. Use the Government’s Pension Credit calculator or call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234.

Please do not assume you will be rejected

The sentence I hear repeatedly is: “Somebody else needs it more than I do.”

Claiming something to which you are entitled does not take it away from another person. These schemes exist because retirement, poor health, heating a home and getting around can be expensive.

Start with a free benefits calculator from Turn2us, Entitledto or Policy in Practice. Citizens Advice and Age UK can also help you check your entitlement and complete forms.

A free eye test may save £25. A weekly swim could improve your health as well as your finances. Regular use of a bus pass might save hundreds of pounds, while Attendance Allowance could be worth almost £6,000 a year at the higher rate.

The best first step costs nothing: check.

Benefit rates, concessions and commercial offers can change. This article was checked in September 2026. Confirm the latest eligibility rules with the relevant government department, NHS body, council or provider before applying.

The show, which returned to ITV on September 13 with a new twist, placed Millie, Pauline, and Rochelle up for eviction in the opening public vote of the season.

Hosts AJ Odudu and Will Best announced the result on Friday, September 19, revealing Millie had received the most votes and would be leaving the house after just five days.

She said: “I am actually quite shocked, I’m not going to lie.

“But do you know what, I had the best time and I love absolutely everyone in there.”

Greeted by cheers from the live audience, Millie reflected on her experience and suggested that not everyone wanted to stay.

She said: “I could hear the reaction from out here, and Rochelle doesn’t want to be in there.

“It’s a mix of everything, but I’ve made friends for life in there.

“So I’m happy.”

Earlier in the episode, housemate Tays was revealed as the secret mole and also left the house, wrapping up the show’s House of Chaos-themed launch week.

Big Brother confirms major new twist

Hosts AJ and Will confirmed that this year’s series will have a celebrity twist with Jedward joining the Big Brother house.

The pop duo appeared on the show in 2011, coming in third, before returning for an all-stars edition in 2017, when they were runners-up.

Jedward will now be entering Big Brother for a few nights as part of a special new twist to the ITV show.

It has also been hinted that the duo are not the only big names who will be entering the house, with other names including Gemma Collins, Kerry Katona, and JoJo Siwa suggested.

How long will Big Brother be on TV for?

Earlier this year, it was revealed that the upcoming series has been extended by an additional seven days, giving the show a full seven-week run.

Celebrity Big Brother, meanwhile, will not be back on our screens until the spring of next year.

The delay follows budget discussions between ITV and Endemol, the production company behind the show.

Kevin Lygo, ITV boss, said: “We’re thinking not on the main channel, that’s the answer.

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“It’s so difficult now to book big celebrities, famous people, which is what we need on the main channel.”

The most recent Celebrity Big Brother series was won by Coronation Street actor Jack P. Shepherd in 2025 and was streamed more than 150 million times.

Have you been watching Big Brother? Let us know in the comments.

By SHANNON MCGUIGAN, NEWS REPORTER

Published: 07:28 BST, 19 September 2026 | Updated: 07:37 BST, 19 September 2026

A major fire has broken out at a major hotel in Folkestone which was previously used to house migrants. 

Guests were evacuated from the Grand Burstin Hotel as firefighters fought the blaze, which began at around 2am today.

It is believed the fire began in the basement of the Britannia Hotels-owned landmark located on the seafront. The cause is not yet known. 

The inferno sparked a major response, with 26 fire engines and a height vehicle rushing to the scene. 

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Fifteen fire engines are still at the scene with crews wearing breathing apparatus as they battle to subdue the fire. 

A welfare centre has been organised at Three Hills Sports Park for those who have been evacuated from the hotel 

The Grand Burstin Hotel was previously used to house around 130 asylum seekers in 2014 to ease overcrowding at a south London hotel. 

The former Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe, Damian Collins, criticised the decision and wanted to be reassured that the move was temporary.

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Meanwhile, the Home Office said the migrants would be in Folkestone for no more than two weeks. 

At the time, the then council leader David Monk said: ‘We are reassured that the original timescale of the Home Office has been met.’ 

Guests were evacuated from the Grand Burstin Hotel as firefighters fought the blaze, which began at around 2am today

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It is believed the fire began in the basement of the Britannia Hotels-owned landmark located on the seafront. The cause is not yet known (Pictured: The Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone)

A Kent & Fire Service spokesperson said it is ‘responding to reports of a fire at the Grand Burstin Hotel in The Harbour, Folkestone.’

At the height of the incident, control operators sent 26 fire engines and a height vehicle to the scene, where crews wearing breathing apparatus are working to extinguish the fire.

Fifteen fire engines and a height vehicle remain in attendance and firefighters are continuing to make good progress.

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It’s believed the fire started in the basement of the property, but the cause is not yet known.

The building has been evacuated, and a welfare centre has been arranged with Folkestone and Hythe District Council.

Officers from Kent Police are in attendance to assist with traffic control, and KFRS’ Volunteer Response Team is providing support and advice.

This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow. 

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On October 23, 2024, the Royal Geographical Society organised a gala evening to celebrate the life of Sir Ranulph Fiennes, ‘the world’s greatest living explorer’.

The RGS in South Kensington is filled with memorabilia from his derring-do exploits that could have come straight from the pages of a Boy’s Own annual.

The sledge he dragged through the Antarctic on his record-breaking unsupported crossing of the vast continent, which began in 1992 and ended 93 gruelling days later in 1993, is hanging in the hallway. 

Also on display is the replica of the ‘radio hut’ used in his epic pole-to-pole surface circumnavigation of the globe – seven years in the planning and nearly three to complete – something no one else has ever done.

He climbed the north face of the Eiger (aged 62), stood at the summit of Everest (aged 65) and, along the way, discovered the lost city of Ubar (the so-called ‘Atlantis of the Sands’) in Oman.

So everyone at the dinner that night was eagerly waiting to hear from the great man, now in his 80s, whose name in the roll-call of great British adventurers ranks alongside Scott and Shackleton.

He never arrived.

Instead, the ‘guest of honour’ appeared in a brief, pre-recorded video from his sofa. 

Sir Ranulph pictured with his second wife Lady Louise Millington-Cotes 

‘Hello, everybody, Ran here,’ he said, glasses perched on his nose and reading from a script which was just out of shot. 

‘I’m sorry I’m not well enough to be with you there this evening. Thank you for being my number one team. I do hope we will be together for many more adventures to come.’ 

Then the screen went blank and he was gone. 

Who in the audience could have possibly imagined that it would be the last time Sir Ranulph was seen in public? 

Letters wishing him well have been returned to senders unopened. The usual Christmas cards from him have never arrived. 

His absence and silence – in the aftermath of that now haunting clip – have become the main topic of conversation among those who know and love him in email chains and WhatsApp groups.

Finally, nearly two years on, they have gone public.

‘Where in the world is Ranulph Fiennes?’ is the sensational headline of a new blog posted by his close friend Michael Kobold.

Sir Ranulph in a snow hut in Antarctica in 1979 as part of the Transglobe Expedition 

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‘It’s time to unveil a secret: My friend of almost 30 years has gone missing and nobody besides a tiny handful of individuals seems to want to do anything to change this disgraceful status quo,’ he writes.

The filmmaker and author collaborated on one of Sir Ranulph’s books and has shared many adventures with him down the years, including hunting Nazi war criminals and taking part in climbing expeditions in the Alps and on Everest.

He reveals an extraordinary story – the hyperbole is justified in this case – behind the ‘disappearance’ of Sir Ranulph in his long and detailed missive.

It involves the intervention of his close friend King Charles, actor Joseph Fiennes – star of Shakespeare in Love, who is said to have joined the search for his cousin – and an ‘undercover operation’ at a London care home where Sir Ranulph was suspected to be living at one point. All of which makes astonishing reading.

‘That a national hero like Ran Fiennes could end up in such a predicament is shocking,’ added Mr Kobold. 

The chain of events that has culminated in the ongoing mystery surrounding Sir Ranulph’s whereabouts began more than two decades ago with the death in 2004 of his beloved first wife Virginia ‘Ginny’ Fiennes, his childhood sweetheart, from cancer.

Sir Ranulph considered ending his own life after he lost the woman he had been married to for 34 years. But a little over a year later – against all expectations – he met someone who became his new wife.

At 38, Louise Millington-Cotes, a horse trainer from Cheshire, was 23 years younger than Sir Ranulph and had a young son, Alexander.

Sir Ranulph pictured with his first wife, childhood sweetheart Virginia ‘Ginny’ Fiennes, who died in 2004 from cancer

Sir Ranulph became a father for the first time at the age of 62 shortly after they were married when their daughter Elizabeth was born. 

The couple, who met at a Royal Geographical Society event, divided their time between their two farms – one in the wilds of Exmoor, where Sir Ranulph trained for his expeditions by going on long runs, the other in the West Midlands.

Almost from the beginning, there were reports that all was not well. A string of key staff at Exmoor, including Sir Ranulph’s long-serving personal assistant and a couple who managed the estate, left after the arrival of the new Mrs Fiennes.

At the same time, his friends – many of whom were not invited to the wedding – spoke of being cut out since the marriage.

This sounds eerily familiar to Christopher Bowler, the former partner of Louise Fiennes and the father of Alexander. They split up soon after their son was born in 1995.

Mr Bowler, 65, who runs a hospitality business, exclusively told the Daily Mail this week: ‘I met Ranulph once or twice dropping Alexander off at the end of a weekend at a petrol station in Cheshire.

‘I felt like saying to him – one bloke to another – “Don’t do it, don’t marry her”. I could just see that he was going to have so much trouble and strife. In the end I didn’t say anything because I was nervous that he might have told her, and I probably wouldn’t have seen Alex ever again.

‘She cut me off from all my family and friends in subtle and not so subtle ways. They gave up calling because she would never tell me that they had rung. I ended up feeling very isolated.’

Ranulph (left) pictured with wife Louise Fiennes (centre) and his third cousin, actor Ralph Fiennes (right) in London in 2012

Indeed, not long after Ran and Louise were married, Mr Bowler told The Mail on Sunday of his troubling experiences with his ex, recalling that she had refused to name him as Alexander’s father. Consequently, he’d taken her to court and needed a DNA test in order to obtain reasonable access to the boy.

Mr Bowler said then: ‘She is like a chameleon – you never know where you are with her…

‘She liked to be in charge. Once we got together she started to try to alienate me from my friends. She seemed particularly worried if it was a woman on the telephone asking for me.

‘It was as if she was jealous of me having a wide circle of friends while she did not have many.

‘And she appeared to be frightened of getting too close to people. She even broke off any relationship with her mother and an aunt simply because I got on well with them.’

Of course there may be two sides to the story. While at the time Lady Fiennes did not respond to the allegations made by her former partner, she later did an interview in which she suggested that she was being unfairly portrayed by people.

Discussing why former staff had left, she said ‘when I saw that [the animals] were being allowed to deteriorate, the big bad wolf in me kicked up a fuss. So, of course, I am an evil, evil person’.

It’s hard to believe a man who famously sawed the tips off his frostbitten fingers at home because they were causing him so much pain could drop out of sight so completely.

Two years on from his disappearance, Sir Ranulph’s family and friends have gone public in a bid to find him 

But the person Christopher Bowler used to meet at the petrol station to drop off his son, who was once a member of the SAS, is much older and more vulnerable now.

Sir Ranulph has spoken openly about his diagnosis of Parkinson’s and was forced to give up driving following a car accident in September 2024, not long before his tribute evening at the RGS.

Michael Kobold has now formed an unlikely trio with Arabella McIntyre-Brown, younger sister of Sir Ranulph’s late wife, and Ran’s stepson Alexander.

Now 31, the boy whose father had to go to court to be acknowledged has become estranged from his mother and joined forces to try to find the great explorer. As Mr Kobold writes: ‘Alexander Millington [Louise Fiennes’ estranged son] has now joined Arabella’s and my campaign. There are now three of us…’

Other friends have also been working tirelessly to find him.

According to Mr Kobold, Joseph Fiennes, who didn’t know his cousin as a child but who had become close to the Old Etonian in recent years, visited and phoned care homes in the hope they had admitted someone matching his description.

In the summer of 2025, news reached his friends that Sir Ranulph was indeed in a care home in Fulham under an alias. According to Mr Kobold, staff had been given instructions not to allow any visitors.

There could be a perfectly legitimate reason for this but Mr Kobold was undeterred in his quest.

So he came up with a plan that, to quote Arabella – a writer who lives in Romania – was like ‘stumbling into a John le Carre novel’.

He would pay for her to check into the home in the hope of making contact with her brother-in-law. ‘Arabella was the perfect spy for this mission,’ Michael disclosed in his blog.

‘She resides in Romania, has been very close with Ran since childhood, and thanks to several medical ailments and her advanced age, her week-long stay would not cause any concern for the care home’s staff.

‘As expected, Arabella made her mark on the first morning of her stay. When she messaged me, she was at breakfast in the same communal room as Ran, I was elated. This was the first time in almost a year that anyone had seen him.

‘Arabella reported that Ran seemed in good condition for his age but was frail, nevertheless. After breakfast, she approached Ran and introduced herself. It took him a few moments to recognise Arabella, but once he made the connection Ran was warm and chatty.’

Their joy did not last long.

‘Shortly after the meeting, Ran was removed from the communal area by the staff in an effort to forestall any further interaction between him and Arabella… whom Ran considers his little sister,’ his old friend explained in his explosive blog.

‘For the rest of her week-long stay, Arabella never saw or heard from Ran again. She checked his room on several occasions and found it to be empty. After her stay had concluded and she returned home to Romania, Arabella was contacted by a resident whom she had befriended.

‘She told Arabella that Ran had been there the entire week and that he was isolated in a separate room. Now that Arabella had departed, Ran was back in his usual room and perusing the facility’s communal spaces.’

According to Mr Kobold, following this episode, Sir Ranulph was visited by a handful of his friends. There was another dramatic twist, however.

They had to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) promising not to reveal his location, his ‘physical and mental wellbeing’ or details of his healthcare. Again, there could be an innocent explanation. Sir Ranulph Fiennes was a private man, after all, and he might not have wanted such personal details to become public.

Even so, the issuing of NDAs was, by any standard, draconian. In any event, the visits did not last long and by the autumn of 2025 they had ended. Friends think Sir Ranulph has since been moved to different accommodation, but they have no idea where.

Michael says he took two further steps to find out the truth. He wrote to the Office of the Public Guardian, which exists to protect the elderly and the vulnerable from being exploited by those granted power of attorney.

Safeguarding teams in Sir Ranulph’s home town and in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham where the care home is located were also alerted.

Mr Kobold says they visited Sir Ranulph and reported back that he had given his wife power of attorney and had confirmed to officers that he was happy with that arrangement. As such, no further action would be taken.

After his efforts failed, he next wrote to King Charles.

Charles was a patron of Sir Ranulph’s most famous expedition when he and his team circumnavigated the world by land, sea and ice in 1983, which His Majesty called ‘the most ambitious undertaking of its kind ever attempted’.

They had been friends ever since. ‘I wrote a letter to his Majesty King Charles apprising him of Ran’s situation,’ Michael recounted. ‘A relative of the King whom I befriended decades ago personally conveyed the message to His Majesty. As a result, King Charles entrusted his personal equerry to look into this matter.’

The intervention came to nothing. And now, Michael Kobold has made his friend’s plight known to a wider audience.

Louise Fiennes was approached for comment in a letter delivered to her last known address but there has been no response. Meanwhile, Ran’s circle of devoted friends remain determined to see their beloved adventurer again.

At 82 and in fragile health, there may not be many years left to enjoy his singular character.

A 50ft-high rollercoaster has divided residents of a newbuild estate living near the attraction, with some calling it an ‘eyesore’ and others preferring it to a block of flats.

The site is a testing area for theme park rides that get built and sent to buyers, but locals in Sandford Lane, Hucknall, Nottingham, say the unfinished structure has been looming over their homes for the past 18 months.

Some locals say they love living a stone’s throw away from the giant ride while others have branded it unsightly. 

Residents on the newbuild estate say they regularly see carts whizzing around the track and claim it’s a magnet for urban explorers.

Jack Welsh, 45, said his family can see the massive structure from his living room and his eight-year-old daughter was a big fan.

He said: ‘We’re actually not bothered by it, it’s been a pleasure to watch it grow over the months.

‘There was a ride there beforehand but it wasn’t on the scale of this one, this one is massive. They get built and get sent to wherever buys them, this is like a testing facility.

‘To us we’d sooner this here than a block of flats with antisocial behaviour and drug addicts hanging about.

Some locals say they love living a stone’s throw away from the giant ride while others have branded it unsightly

Neighbours on the 12-house road say the rollercoaster ‘ruins the views’ from their homes

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‘It’s tall, it’s a monster at probably 50ft, but luckily our little girl loves rides, because she loves Alton Towers. She loves to watch it, especially when there’s people up there.’

His wife Kirsty, 43, added: ‘It’s interesting to watch out your window, you can see them whizzing around on occasion and it’s fun. It can be more fun to watch than the TV.’

The couple think the mega-ride – believed to be the first of its kind – is destined for Dubai.

Jack added: ‘They have put a cart on and whizzed them around before and it’s great to see. I can understand why some people have a problem with it, of course.

‘It’s big and it can see into your gardens, but we love it.

‘The only thing that is a menace is when they leave the straps out overnight. The wind catches them and the straps make a crashing sound, which can be annoying.

‘There was also an issue over the six weeks with the urban explorers and they were going on it.’

But some neighbours on the 12-house road say the rollercoaster ‘ruins the views’ from their homes.

One man, who wished to remain anonymous, said: ‘I don’t think it’s suitable to keep it there full-time. It’s been there for ages and it just makes you feel like you’re living next to a funfair.

‘When the workmen are repairing it they can see right into your gardens and bedrooms which is a bit intrusive.

‘We shouldn’t feel like we’re being watched in our homes.’

The rollercoaster was built next to a newbuild housing estate in Hucknall, Nottingham

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Residents on the new-build estate say they regularly see carts whizzing around the track and claim it’s a magnet for urban explorers

Another said: ‘It’s huge, it’s there when we wake up and go to bed. We were told it wouldn’t be here as long as it has been.

‘It’s an eyesore and it ruins our views from almost every window from our property.’

James Mellors, director at the family-owned firm, admitted the rollercoaster has been up longer than usual but insisted it was temporary.

He said: ‘It’s been there a lot longer than we anticipated. It’s temporary, and usually, a ride would not be in position for quite as long as that has been.

‘It’s the first one in the world, and it’s just not quite been going together as well as it should.

‘It’s frustrating for myself how long that coaster has been there. The rides don’t make any money when they’re in storage.

‘Our aim is to be a good neighbour, we’re not there to try and cause a nuisance. It’s not a fairground, it’s a work depot.

‘We want people to appreciate what we do and we appreciate their concerns.’

Record View says women deserve full transparency over what goes into their bodies.

For decades contraceptive jag Depo-Provera was marketed as safe and convenient.

But for a growing number of women across Scotland, that convenience has come at a devastating costs. Recent medical studies have confirmed what affected patients have suspected for years: prolonged use of the drug can increase the risk of developing brain tumours.

The tumours are non-cancerous but they can cause serious health problems. Women have been robbed of their sight, suffered debilitating seizures and forced to endure invasive neurosurgery.

Yet thousands of them were kept on this jag for 10, 20, or even 30 years without a single warning. Now doctors have been told to warn women about the risks after dozens left with life-altering injuries spoke out in the Daily Record. This development is welcome, but long overdue.

It has come too late for Tammy Croston, a 47-year-old from Fife who suffered serious consequences from an operation to remove such a tumour. In today’s Daily Record she tells readers this new guidance should have happened years ago – and no sensible person could disagree.

Contraceptive care relies entirely on informed consent. A woman cannot weigh the risks and benefits of her family planning choices if the most severe risks are hidden from her. It is incredible that patients were left to discover these links through social media or post-operative research rather than from their own doctors.

Warning women about Depo-Provera isn’t about panicking the public or ­stripping away contraceptive options. It’s about restoring the dignity of choice. Women deserve full transparency over what goes into their bodies.

Be drink aware

It is freshers’ week at universities around Scotland and thousands of young people will be taking their first steps into independent adult life.

For the vast majority it will be good fun, with many teenagers taking to pubs and clubs to enjoy their new-found freedom. But new figures showing drink spiking incidents on the rise will be a concern for parents and young people.

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid has admitted she is ‘savouring every moment in television’ as she revealed her worries that Artificial Intelligence (AI) may replace her role.

In a glamorous cover shoot for the centenary issue of lifestyle magazine woman&home, Susanna, 55, confessed her concerns over the ‘advent of AI’ and how it will impact the authenticity of breakfast television, which is tailored to entertain and inform millions each morning.

The presenter said: ‘We disappear into our own algorithms – people just want their own interests and it worries me.

‘If we have an AI version of super-highly tailored news, you would lose that sense of ‘I didn’t realise I wanted to know about that’ or ‘That didn’t occur to me.’

But ever the optimist, Susanna is a key believer in leaning into the challenge of change and making it work whatever the initial setbacks may be.

‘My generation’s time of life is a constant period of flux and change. We have ageing parents and growing children. We’re not stuck. We have to adapt all the time and be flexible.’

In a glamorous cover shoot for the centenary issue of lifestyle magazine woman&home, Susanna confessed her concerns over the ‘advent of AI’

Turning to the future, Susanna is holding on tight to her current role, which she landed in 2014, and doesn’t like to think beyond presenting GMB – other than the prospect of her own podcast one day.

‘I won’t until the moment someone says, “Thanks very much. You can have a lie-in tomorrow!” It’s very important to accept that you’re not going to work forever at a particular job.

‘For whatever reason, things change. There will always be other things.’

For the shoot, celebrating 100 years of woman&home, Susanna stunned in an array of pink outfits, including a feather dress and a satin gown.

And five years on from her 50th birthday, Susanna has ‘completely reframed’ her body image mindset and said: ‘One of the biggest things I’ve stopped worrying about is my weight.’

Following her time on Strictly Come Dancing in 2013, when training eight hours daily resulted in her feeling ‘fantastic’ at her ‘slimmest and fittest,’ Susanna is no longer hung up on the scales.

Post menopause, Susanna’s mindset now consists of acknowledging that: ‘As long as I am healthy, exercising, walking regularly, and eating fresh fruit and vegetables, I think, “I am what I am.”‘

In the ITN offices, the TV star can be found snacking on apple slices and sunflower seed butter as an alternative to peanut butter, and she often fuels her morning show with scrambled eggs, avocados, natural yogurt or fruit.

For the shoot, celebrating 100 years of woman&home, Susanna stunned in an array of pink outfits, including a feather dress and a satin gown

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And five years on from her 50th birthday, Susanna has ‘completely reframed’ her body image mindset and said: ‘One of the biggest things I’ve stopped worrying about is my weight’

Over the last year, a key lifestyle switch Susanna has made is incorporating ten minutes of exercise into her everyday routine.

Susanna keeps weights in her bedroom and follows a YouTube routine in her pyjamas either after her afternoon nap or in the morning when she isn’t working.

Not only has the change benefitted her mood, and she has adopted a new motto: ‘An object in motion stays in motion. An object at rest stays at rest.’ but it has also stopped her procrastinating.

‘Once I exercise, I want to do my chores or take something back to the post office that I’ve been delaying for a week.’

Read the fun interview in woman&home

Reflecting on these changes, Susanna added: ‘I listen to my body a lot more than I used to.’

The presenter can ‘totally relate’ to entrepreneur Steven Bartlett’s controversial claim that one drink can set you back three days.

After she stopped drinking regularly back in 2018, Susanna occasionally indulges in ‘the odd Paloma’.

Recently, after her beloved football team Crystal Palace won the UEFA Conference League final, she celebrated with ‘one small drink’ and regretted it when she ‘felt like poison for a few days’.

‘Ninety-nine per cent of the time I’m not drinking, and I think my body has become conditioned.’

Staying true to her love of a party, Susanna will be celebrating her cover shoot release with a cup of tea and a slice of cake.

I always enjoy getting the main climbing out of the way early, so exit the car park via a gate at its north end and head on a wide track to the steep flanks of Buckden Pike, initially skirting the steepest ground.

After passing through some pleasant woodland the track turns north east and, after a further 200 metres, divides at a small gate. A signpost points uphill to Buckden Pike. From here the path climbs steadily just north of east for one mile until it meets a wall near some steeper ground. Follow the wall (on your left) south east up some rock steps to the summit of Buckden Pike.

Looking up Buckden Beck (Image: Jonathan Smith)

The summit is distinctive; a trig point and a large cairn with a neighbouring, even taller post next to it. The views are superb in all directions, particularly to the west where all of the better known Yorkshire Three Peaks are displayed, and to the north towards the Howgills and the mountains above the valley of Mallerstang.

Buckden Pike walk map (Image: Jonathan Smith)

Buckden Pike is one of the ‘Dales 30’ mountains; a challenge describing every mountain in the Yorkshire Dales over 2,000 feet. It is a satisfying and achievable challenge and to complete all 30 will bring you to wonderful, rarely visited areas such as this.

Head south along the wide summit ridge for nearly a mile, next to a wall and with a pleasant surprise at its conclusion. Just where the ridge starts to drop away look over the wall for the Polish War Memorial. The cross is dedicated to the six Polish air crew who crashed on Buckden Pike in 1942 on a training exercise in bad winter weather. There was only one survivor, Jo, who was able to crawl to the pub at Cray and later helped commission the memorial. Look closely at the base of the cross – parts of the aircraft are embedded in it.

Buckden Pike cross (Image: Jonathan Smith)

It is possible to carry on south and join a bridleway which winds its way gradually down towards Starbotton, but I prefer returning towards the summit and taking a faint permissive path heading west at the stone wall, just to the south of the summit trig. This leads south west down some steep slopes before arriving at the top of Buckden Gill and the remains of a 19th Century lead mine. 

Do not be tempted to head down the gill but cross the little wooden bridge and take the footpath above the stone wall heading just west of south for three quarters of a mile.

Follow the wall to the point it turns steeply downhill. A short cut directly down to the village is possible but it is more sensible to carry on south for a further one third of a mile to a further wall junction and a more obvious path. The path then drops and reverses itself as it heads north back towards the car park at Buckden.

Walk facts

Distance: Roughly six miles.

Height to climb: 500m (1,640 feet).

Start: SD 942774. There is a large car park at the north end of Buckden. The toilets were open with suitable hygiene last week.

Difficulty: Medium/hard. A steep climb in places is followed by a descent on intermittent paths. Some of the going is quite rough.

Refreshments: The Buck Inn in Buckden is the most popular place for a drink or snack.

Be prepared: The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL30) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass. You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.

Please observe the Countryside Code and park sensibly. 

• Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales. He has written four books on walking in the Dales, The Yorkshire 3 Peaks, Walks without Stiles, The Dales 30 mountains a guide to The Bracken Way. Visit Where2walk where you can buy the books. Jonathan runs navigation training courses for all levels. The next beginner/refresher course is at Long Preston on September 26. You can buy Dales 30 guide books, t-shirts and caps from the new Dales 30 website. Start the challenge today. Where2walk.co.uk features hundreds of walks with descriptions across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs. Visit the website for details of all these walks, guiding days and navigation course.

The officer is due to face the misconduct hearing in September

A Cambridgeshire Police Constable is due to face a misconduct hearing over allegations that he misled investigators. ‘PC A’ is accused of breaching the standards of professional behaviour to the level of gross misconduct.

The officer allegedly claimed to have had no contact with an ex-partner since 2019 during a professional standards conduct interview in July 2023. Several months later, PC A then stated that they had had no contact with an ex-partner since 2019, except for contact initiated by the ex-partner in connection with criminal proceedings against them.

Messages dated February and June 2022 are alleged to demonstrate that contact was initiated by PC A with an ex-partner, resulting in the ex-partner asking PC A to stop contact and subsequently blocking PC A.

PC A also reportedly told the Chief Constable of the police force that they had never associated with the ex-partner’s brother. It is alleged that this was inconsistent with an account PC A had previously provided to investigators from Northamptonshire Police during a criminal interview.

The officer has been accused of committing gross misconduct in honesty and integrity. PC A is due to face a misconduct hearing on Monday (September 21) at 9am.