By SAM MERRIMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

Published: 00:46 BST, 14 September 2026 | Updated: 00:49 BST, 14 September 2026

The body of a man in his 60s was pulled from Ripon Canal on Sunday morning (September 13).

North Yorkshire Police said its officers were called to the scene in Boroughbridge Road, Ripon, shortly after 8.40am on Sunday.

A force spokesperson said the body was discovered by a member of the public.

They said there is “nothing to suggest any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, and a file will now be prepared for the coroner”.

“Urgent enquiries are currently ongoing to identify and locate the man’s next of kin, who we believe may not be in North Yorkshire,” the police spokesperson said.

Boroughbridge Road was closed for most of the morning while emergency services and investigators carried out their work, but it has since reopened.

Vicki Busby, Carl Blake and Rachel McLaine, the team behind The Birdcage, confirmed the sale in a social media post on Thursday (September 10).

The owners thanked customers for their support and described running the restaurant as a time filled with “incredible memories”.

Former owners, L-R: Vicki Busby, Rachel McLaine, and Carl (Image: The Birdcage)

They said: “The Birdcage has brought us so much happiness and so many incredible memories.

“We truly hope it brings its new owners just as much happiness as it has brought us, and we wish them every success with their exciting new chapter.

“Your support has meant more to us than we could ever put into words, and The Birdcage wouldn’t have been the same without you.”

Customers have called the restaurant the “best bottomless brunch” venue in the North East.

The Birdcage, Middlesbrough. (Image: TRIPADVISOR)

The trio said they are stepping away from The Birdcage, but staying in Teesside’s hospitality scene.

“It’s certainly not goodbye,” they said.

“The three musketeers are together again in Stockton at The Olive Branch and The Songbird, ready for our next adventure.”

The Olive Branch and The Songbird, both in Stockton, operated as “sister restaurants” to The Birdcage under Vicki, Carl and Rachel before the trio sold The Birdcage to focus on the other two venues.

The Birdcage’s new owners, Lisa and Paul Sargeant, introduced themselves on social media on Friday morning (September 11).

The couple said: “We’re looking forward to meeting you, hearing your stories, and hopefully giving you plenty more memories to add to them.

“The Birdcage is still The Birdcage – but now it’s our turn to put our stamp on it.

“There are already lots of plans, ideas and a few slightly bonkers things in the pipeline. We’ll be sharing them with you very soon.”

The Birdcage will honour all existing bookings and deposits transferred during the handover.

Customers with questions about upcoming bookings should contact the restaurant directly.

The businesses have featured on a shortlist from across the UK

Six Cambridge kebab businesses have been named as among the best in the UK. The 15th annual British Kebab awards are taking place on February 23, 2027.

The awards celebrate the best kebab businesses across the UK. On September 8, a shortlist of 500 semi-finalists were announced, including six in Cambridge.

The Cambridge businesses that made the shortlist are:

• Little Petra – 60 Hills Road, Cambridge
• Burwell Kebab Van – 21 The Causeway, Burwell
• Diamond Kebab – Nicholson Way, Cambridge
• Hungry Kebab – Davy Road, Cambridge
• Gourmet Kebab – 105 Cambridge Road, Caxton, Papworth Everard
• River Grill – 228 High Street, Cherry Hinton

Ibrahim Doğuş, founder of the British Kebab Awards, said: “Reaching our semi-finals is a genuine achievement, and in our milestone 15th year it is a proud moment for Cambridge and the hard-working families behind these businesses, who are part of the fabric of their communities.”

A gala night will be held on February 23 where the winners will be announced.

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“This is a constituency that punches above its weight, and it deserves a representative who is part of a team working together to make Northern Ireland stronger and more successful.”

The Ulster Unionist Party has selected Kyle Savage as its candidate for next year’s Assembly elections in the constituency represented by former party leader Doug Beattie.

Upper Bann MLA Mr Beattie resigned from the party in May, citing a “toxic atmosphere” under its current leadership, and now sits as an independent unionist.

Party leader Jon Burrows said Mr Savage “will have the full backing of the party” when he runs in the constituency.

Mr Savage is a twice deputy lord mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon.

Mr Burrows said: “He was selected by our members in Upper Bann because they know him, trust him and want him to be their voice at Stormont.

“This is a constituency that punches above its weight, and it deserves a representative who is part of a team working together to make Northern Ireland stronger and more successful.

“Kyle will be that representative, and he will have the full backing of the party behind him.”

Mr Savage said: “Upper Bann needs a bit of common sense.

“Not more slogans – someone who is out on the ground, honest about what has not worked, and determined to win this seat for people here.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Hayden Panettiere’s ex-boyfriend Brian Hickerson was handcuffed by police after a brawl at a Greenville, South Carolina bar Saturday night.

Hickerson, 37, started yelling at cops for leaking details about Panettiere’s death as he sat cuffed on the curb, according to footage obtained by TMZ.

The one-time actor had been ‘drinking for hours’ with his brother Zach at a back table at the Wild Wing Cafe when he got up and went to the bar, according to the outlet.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Brian and Zach Hickerson’s attorney for comment but has not yet received a response. 

Hickerson, who was wearing a green hoodie and light-colored jeans, had been talking to some people when things got heated and he picked up a bar stool and flung it backwards.

The video showed Hickerson being lifted up and carried out of the saloon by a heavy-set male in a red baseball cap as a bartender shouted, ‘Let him go!’

Brian Hickerson had been seen seated on a curb speaking with officers outside of a Greenville, South Carolina bar on Saturday 

He and his brother were brawling with some other people outside the restaurant when police arrived on the scene. 

A source told TMZ that Hickerson was handcuffed by police and started shouting at them: ‘GPD leaked it when my girlfriend died,’ an obvious reference to Panettiere’s death.

Hickerson managed to avoid arrest and was released. However, Zach was reportedly heavily intoxicated and ‘yelling profanities,’ leading to his arrest for disorderly conduct.

Hickerson and Zach were both present at the Greenville, South Carolina condo where Panettiere was pronounced dead at age 36.

According to the Greenville Police Department’s incident report, Zach told police that Hickerson was sleeping in a separate room of the Airbnb when he arrived and found the actress unresponsive in a chair.

Zach stated that Hickerson administered Narcan – a medication that reverses opioid overdoses – and that they performed CPR while communicating with 911 dispatchers.

Hickerson has since met with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) amid their investigation into the actress’ suspected overdose death, TMZ previously reported.

Local and federal investigators reportedly believe the actress was sold drugs that may have caused her death, and authorities are now focused on identifying the suspected dealer.

Hickerson started yelling at cops for leaking details about Panettiere’s death as he sat cuffed on the curb, sources said

The one-time actor had been ‘drinking for hours’ with his brother Zach at the Wild Wing Cafe when he got into a heated argument with some other people and flung a bar stool behind him

Panettiere wrote about her volatile and often abusive relationship with Hickerson in her memoir that was published on May 19, just three months before she died of a suspected drug overdose

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Hickerson was arrested and charged for domestic violence involving Panettiere multiple times. Above, Hickerson in a 2020 mug shot

Panettiere’s toxicology reports and official cause of death have not yet been released. 

The Nashville star had a volatile and tumultuous on-and-off relationship with Hickerson beginning in 2018.

Hickerson was arrested and charged for domestic violence involving Panettiere multiple times.

In 2021, he pleaded no contest to two felony counts of injuring a spouse or girlfriend, resulting in jail time, probation, domestic violence classes, $500 in restitution, and a five-year protective order, per People.

Hickerson, 37, started yelling at cops for leaking details about Panettiere’s death as he sat cuffed on the curb, according to footage obtained by TMZ. Above, Panettiere in 2022 at LA premiere of Blonde

Zach previously told TMZ: ‘There are a lot of assumptions, speculations and accusations currently swirling.

‘The truth will come out as the authorities complete and release additional details from the investigation. And that is important because the people who loved and adored Hayden deserve the truth.’

Zach described Panettiere as ‘one of the most precious individuals on this earth.’

He also argued that the star’s friends and family should be allowed to mourn her passing without any ‘additional noise.’

He added: ‘At this time, I want to clarify my involvement in effort to keep the focus on the fact that we lost one of the most precious individuals on this earth and to allow those that cared about her to mourn without additional noise, chaos, and misinformation being created and propagated by the media as well as the public.’

Manchester City’s controversial derby winner against Manchester United on Sunday should not have stood, refereeing body Pro Ref has confirmed.

Erling Haaland’s goal on the hour-mark earned the 10-man visitors a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford after Phil Foden was sent off early in the first half of the Premier League clash.

Haaland was initially ruled to be offside when he tucked in Josko Gvardiol’s deflected cross from the left wing to put City ahead, before VAR intervened after a lengthy check to allow the goal to stand, deeming Haaland in line with Patrick Dorgu’s foot.

The angle of the initial TV replays appeared to show that Haaland was in an offside position at the back post, but the Premier League’s semi-automated offside technology proved that Haaland was in fact behind Dorgu.

Enzo Fernandez, however, was in an offside position and appeared to interfere with play by making an lunge to latch onto the ball. The Premier League Match Centre said the fact Fernandez did not get a touch on the ball meant the goal was allowed to stand, something which challenging defender Lisandro Martinez branded as an “injustice”.

Mere hours after the conclusion of the game, though, Pro Ref has admitted an “error of judgement” in awarding the goal.

A Pro Ref spokesperson said: “Following the incident in the 60th minute of Sunday’s Premier League fixture between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford, we can provide clarification regarding Erling Haaland’s awarded goal.

“The on-field decision was offside against Erling Haaland – that was checked by VAR and he was found to be in an onside position.

“In the same attack, it was established that Enzo Fernandez did not play the ball and therefore that makes any offside offence subjective, however, on this occasion, the VAR did not recognise the likely impact of his position and should have recommended an on-field review.

“Contact has been made with Manchester United this evening to acknowledge what we deem is an error of judgement. A review of the incident will take place.”

VAR failed to recognise Enzo Fernandez could have been interfering

The rules of the game state that a player standing in an offside position will be penalised if they are:

There was a strong argument that Fernandez put off Martinez, who was between Fernandez and Haaland at the back post. If Fernandez was not in the box, Martinez would have been expected to mark Haaland and clear the cross, or goalkeeper Senne Lammens could have come to collect it.

This is something that Martinez complained about after the match, telling Sky Sports: “He was offside. I went to [Fernandez] because he was there in front of me, and that’s why Haaland was free [to score]. I want to be calm, I want to control myself but it’s so hard. Every season they come to our club, they explain the rules for an hour and a half, and they look so confident.

“And then you have five or six people making this mistake. It’s unacceptable because this is the best league in the world. And now we have to go home with this injustice.”

Manager Michael Carrick was similarly left fuming at what he described as a “staggering” decision to give the goal.

He said: “I’m confused. We put things in place in the game now. We have people in offices with all the screens for this decision. It’s more worrying about if that’s the interpretation of football now. If that’s the interpretation of not interfering in the game now, that’s really worrying for me. It’s a staggering explanation.

“The decision isn’t going to change the season, but it’s had a major impact on the game. That decision wasn’t on us today. It’s up to us to create and score after that. We had moments. Of course it’s up to us to do that, but big moments in games like that have a big impact.”

City were down to 10 men in the Manchester derby following Foden’s first-half red card for kicking out at United captain Fernandes. Haaland’s ninth league goal against United means the striker is now top scorer in the Manchester derbies in the Premier League.

The Prime Minister has said Britain needs a ‘culture shift’ to unlock the economy’s ‘full potential’

Andy Burnham is set to call for a “culture shift” as he brings together business leaders at Downing Street on Monday to pledge support for entrepreneurs.

The Prime Minister is expected to host a series of events at No 10 aimed at positioning his Government as a “partner for growth” that can provide a stable foundation for investment in the UK.

Ahead of the gathering, Mr Burnham said Britain has “everything it needs to succeed” but requires “a culture shift” in how it conducts business if it is to “unlock its full potential”.

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He added: “That means putting Government firmly on the side of the people who take risks, start companies, create jobs and bring new ideas to life.

“It means ensuring ambition is rewarded, making it easier to start and grow a business, and giving people the confidence that if they have a great idea, they’ll get all the support they need to bring it to life.”

Monday will see Mr Burnham chair a roundtable with entrepreneurs including the founders of Octopus Energy, Revolut and Starling Bank, before welcoming chief executives from some of Britain’s biggest companies to a reception at No 10 alongside regional mayors.

Those expected to attend include the bosses of HSBC, Rolls-Royce, Morrisons, BAE and Shell.

Monday’s round of meetings comes as Mr Burnham and Chancellor John Healey weigh up options ahead of their first Budget on October 28.

The Prime Minister has pledged to deliver growth throughout the country, devolving power and resources away from Westminster in order to achieve this.

Yet Mr Healey faces a challenging backdrop, delivering his Budget against a climate of rising borrowing costs, stubbornly low growth and the economic fallout from the Iran war on the global economy.

Despite receiving some welcome news last week when official figures revealed an unexpected upturn in economic growth in July, economists have cautioned that rising energy costs could have dampened momentum in August and September.

Suren Thiru, chief economist for the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales, warned that Mr Healey could be left with a “Budget headache” if economic growth begins to falter, “as more muted growth and surging borrowing costs erode his fiscal headroom, raising the prospect of further tax rises”.

Both Mr Burnham and Mr Healey have underlined their commitment to the fiscal rules established by former chancellor Rachel Reeves, which stipulate that day-to-day spending must be covered by taxation and overall government debt must fall as a proportion of the economy by 2029/30.

They also remain bound by Labour’s manifesto pledge not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT.

The 56-year-old, who was educated at Ripon Grammar School and Harrogate College of Art and Technology, confirmed he is in a relationship with therapist Kiki Glen, who is a governor at Headington Rye School in Oxford.

The couple were first linked earlier this year and have since been photographed together, including during a trip to Waitrose.

Speaking to The Times, the former Top Gear and The Grand Tour presenter described his new relationship as “the best thing” currently happening in his life and said it had encouraged him to embrace several new hobbies.

Richard Hammond with his new girlfriend, 53-year-old Kiki Glen. (Image: Submitted)

He said: “It’s the best thing that’s going on for me. I played golf three times this week. I’ve taken up more serious running, and I’m going to have a go at a small triathlon next year. Which means I’ve had to take up wild swimming.

“My partner took one look at the lake, clapped her hands and said, ‘Oh, darling, doesn’t it just make you want to get in?’ No, I spent 40 years avoiding it.”

The romance comes around eight months after Hammond and his wife, Mindy, announced they were ending their marriage.

According to reports, Mr Hammond initially moved out of the family’s home near Ross-on-Wye after the split and spent time living in rented accommodation before beginning a new chapter of his life in Wales.

Ms Glen is a divorcee and mother of two daughters, aged 26 and 24. Hammond’s daughters, Izzy and Willow, are aged 26 and 23 respectively.

The television presenter has previously spoken about the challenges he faced in recent years, including the death of his father in 2024 and the breakdown of his marriage.

Despite their separation, Hammond and Mindy appeared together at daughter Willow’s graduation from Hartpury University in Gloucestershire.

When announcing their divorce in January 2025, the pair stressed they would remain a family.

Mr Hammond said at the time: “A little update from us; this Christmas we were together as a family, and this year we will still be a family but just structured a bit differently.

“Our marriage is coming to an end, but we’ve had an amazing 28 years together and two incredible daughters.

“We will always be in each other’s lives and are proud of the family we created. With Love, Richard and Mindy.”

Mr Hammond’s marriage difficulties were reported to have been compounded by the aftermath of two serious motoring accidents, including a high-speed crash while filming Top Gear in 2006 and another crash during the filming of The Grand Tour in Switzerland in 2017, from which he later recovered.

He lived in an ordinary-looking housing estate

Richard Osman is possibly one of the UK’s most recognisable personalities. The popular TV presenter is best known for hosting Pointless as well as Richard Osman’s House of Games.

He’s an immensely talented TV host and author – and he has close ties to Cambridge that locals might not know about. He was born in Billericay in Essex, growing up in a cul-de-sac housing estate in the residential area.

Mr Osman spent some of his younger years in Essex before moving away to Sussex. But he then came to Cambridge where he studied sociology and politics.

He recently appeared on an episode of JaackMaate’s Happy Hour podcast – hosted by comedian Jack Dean and Stevie White – where he was asked about his background. The hosts asked him ‘what would we do’ if they visited their guest’s birthplace.

He replied: “I left when I was quite young. Every five years or so – because I love darts and snooker – I always pitch something to Barry Hearn. I’m always asking if he’s thought about something. He’s always very nice and invites me up. So I went up to Brentwood to see him and nothing came of it, as absolutely always.

“On my way back I went back to Billericay and went to the road I grew up in and was born. I’d forgotten that it is called The Chase. That’s obviously the big rival to Pointless.”

Comedian Jack Dean jokingly said: “So you petrol bombed it?”

Osman comically responded that “I think it had already been petrol bombed” before saying he doesn’t know Billericay “very well” but it “looked like they had some nice pubs”.

The Chase is a small cul-de-sac to the east of the town centre where homes sell for around £400,000 according to Rightmove. They are mostly semi-detached homes with a small terrace of three houses.

Later in the podcast episode Mr Osman, who is a co-host of The Rest is Entertainment podcast, briefly discussed his connection to Cambridge and first steps into the TV industry.

He said: “I’ve always loved TV and would always look at the credits to see what jobs there were. But weirdly it never occurred to me that that should be my job. When I left university I saw a thing in a paper saying researchers were wanted for a computer games TV programme. I thought that I’d played games, so I would go for it.

“I went to a comprehensive school and I’m proud I went to Cambridge. The woman interviewing me said ‘how can a person who went to Cambridge make a TV programme for someone in a housing estate in Basildon’. I said I’d grown up in a housing estate a few miles away in Billericay so thought I’d be alright.”

Mr Osman has also featured on Have I Got News For You and in 2017 began hosting his own show Richard Osman’s House of Games. He’s an accomplished author with his Thursday Murder Club series.