Naga Munchetty has reportedly been given ‘special treatment’ at her new BBC 5 Live role by being able to work from London on the Salford-based programme.

The BBC Breakfast host, 51, has held the role for 17 years at their London studio, but will be making a move north when she starts her new job.

However, according to sources Naga has been told that she can work two days a week from the capital, a privilege that has been offered to several big names. 

The ‘two-tier system’ is apparently starting to become an issue at the broadcaster and colleagues who have to work full time up north are making it a ‘talking point’.

The show relocated to Salford 15 years ago as part of the BBC’s initiative to spread investment in programming across the country and not just in London. 

However, BBC bosses have been accused of giving Naga, who was paid about £360,000 last year, special treatment as she’ll reportedly be allowed to host the show from London for two days a week.

A job advertising the role as Naga’s co-host also says they would be required to present from Salford five days a week. 

A BBC source told The Times: ‘The non-Salford shows are becoming a talking point as more presenters are given special treatment to do it.

‘I’m not sure it’s what [culture secretary] Lisa Nandy and Andy Burnham envisioned [for the BBC’s] Salford base.’

Another insider told the publication: ‘Salford still hasn’t really worked as envisaged. It’s just more evidence of a two-tier system.’

Other presenters who present from both Salford and London include Nicky Campbell and Matt Chorley.

The Daily Mail contacted the BBC and Naga’s representative for comment.

A spokesperson for the BBC has insisted that they remain focused on their commitment to broadcasting from Salford. 

They said: ‘BBC Radio 5 Live is proudly based in Salford which remains the main production base for the station and 5 Live Breakfast.

‘As a national live news and sport service, it is important that 5 Live also broadcasts from locations across the country so it can reflect and serve all audiences across the UK.’

The BBC Breakfast host, 51, has held the role for 17 years at their London studio, but will be making a move north when she she starts her new job

It emerged last week that the investigation into Naga’s behaviour was ‘quietly dropped’, with the star announcing this week she would be leaving BBC Breakfast.

The Daily Mail revealed on Wednesday that Naga was ‘made to look like a monster’ on BBC Breakfast, and her departure means a win for its ‘boys club’ culture. You can read Katie Hind’s full story here.  

Her decision to leave was announced on Tuesday and an insider said the move is no doubt ‘two fingers’ to the TV bosses who had spent more than a year investigating allegations of bullying and misconduct against her.

Naga was reportedly placed under review last summer amid complaints about alleged bullying and off-colour jokes over a three-year period – but always remained defiant and on air.

She was alleged to have been unkind when fellow presenter Sally Nugent unveiled a glam new look and was also said to have remarked that weather presenter Carol Kirkwood had ‘aged a bit’.

There was also said to be a frosty relationship with co-host Charlie Stayt, despite them being all smiles on screen. 

The claims emerged after BBC Breakfast editor Richard Frediani took an extended period of leave following separate allegations of bullying and misconduct. At the time, Munchetty was reported to be among those who raised concerns. Frediani has since been cleared of wrongdoing and returned to work.

Naga pictured for the first time since she announced she would be leaving BBC Breakfast 

Some BBC insiders see her appointment to the 5 Live Breakfast role as a sign she retains the corporation’s backing. Just weeks ago it was revealed she had received another pay rise, meaning her annual salary is now between £360,000 and £364,999 per year.

A BBC 5 Live insider told the Daily Mail: ‘It’s brilliant for Naga and she’s giving Frediani two fingers. It’s a big promotion for her and a massive coup for us.’

Naga was reportedly questioned by bosses over an alleged sex joke, claims she was unkind to co-presenters and allegations she upset Geri Halliwell-Horner.

There were complaints that she made sexual comments during an ad break and was even alleged to have asked a female colleague whether she had ever carried out a certain sex act.

She was accused of telling off an intern over the quality of her Marmite on toast.

When Sally Nugent unveiled a new look, Naga allegedly said: ‘We’re meant to be serious journalists, not trying to look like we’re presenting This Morning.’

There were also allegations that she described Carol Kirkwood as ‘really stern’ and said she had ‘aged a bit’.

Before Kirkwood retired from BBC Breakfast, viewers complained when Munchetty said on air: ‘I’m just waiting for the countdown for you to go.’

There was also said to be a frosty relationship with co-host Charlie Stayt, despite them being all smiles on screen

Another on-air row came when Geri Halliwell-Horner appeared as a guest and later vowed never to return.

Naga asked her: ‘Do you not like being interviewed?’ reportedly prompting an apology from BBC bosses.

Naga will front the show alongside a co-host, who is yet to be recruited, from Monday to Friday, broadcasting live from Salford for three days a week and London for the remaining two.

On the move to 5 Live, Munchetty said: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining 5 Live Breakfast in January. Live news, great conversations and connecting with audiences are what I love most about broadcasting, and 5 Live does all of that brilliantly.

‘It has been a privilege to be part of the BBC Breakfast TV team for the past 17 years, working alongside an incredibly talented and hard-working group of journalists who are not only outstanding colleagues but also great friends.

‘Presenting a flagship programme on 5 Live is an opportunity that was simply too good to pass up. It will take a huge amount of work and require 100% of my focus and energy, and I’m really looking forward to throwing myself into the role.

‘Over the last five years, I’ve been privileged to build a relationship with 5 Live listeners on the mid-morning programme and help shine a light on the issues that matter most to them. I’m excited to build on that in the Breakfast slot and to start each day with our listeners every morning.

‘Between now and January, I’ll continue presenting the two programmes I love. I’m sure there will be plenty of news to cover, and it will very much be business as usual.’

From August 17, changes to the 16-17 Saver railcard will allow holders to continue receiving half-price train fares until the card expires, regardless of when they turn 18.

Previously, the railcard expired on a passenger’s 18th birthday.

DfT said the change will particularly help students, noting that more than 70,000 students each year lose out on an average of £175 due to the existing policy.

The new policy brings the 16-17 Saver, which costs £35 per year and gives a 50% discount on most train fares, into line with other railcards.

What railcards are available for passengers across the UK?

National Rail has shared the railcards that you can buy to reduce your rail fares and how much they cost for a year and for three years, where applicable.

• 16-17 years old – £35 for one year
• 16-25 – £35 for one year or £80 for three years
• 26-30 – £35 for one year
• Disabled Persons Railcard – £20 per year or £54 for three years
• Family & Friends Railcard – £35 for one year or £80 for three years
• Network Railcard – £35 for one year
• Senior Railcard – £35 for one year or £80 for three years
• Two Together Railcard – £35 for one year
• Veterans Railcard – £35 for one year or £80 for three years

Rail minister Lord Hendy claimed this “common sense change” is “exactly what passengers should expect from the railway”.

9 of the most scenic rail routes in the UK

He continued: “I’m proud that this change will support young people and their families to lower the cost of travel at a critical time for teenagers, whether they’re pursuing further education, vocational pathways or getting their footing in the jobs market.

“Making travel fairer and more affordable is central to the vision for Great British Railways.

“By delivering simpler fares and putting passengers first, we’re creating a railway that’s easier to use, better value for money and focused on meeting the everyday needs of the people who rely on it.”

Jacqueline Starr, chief executive of industry body the Rail Delivery Group, said extending the railcard’s validity demonstrates the sector’s commitment to “offering better value fares and delivering a more joined-up railway”.

Recommended reading:

Kaynat Ahmad, vice president for further education at the National Union of Students, described the railcard as “essential for young people reliant on trains to get to college, work or training”.

The announcement comes after the Government said the cap on most single bus fares in England will be cut from £3 to £2 next year.

Do you use a railcard? Tell us in the comments below.

Northern services between Driffield and Scarborough are currently not running.

Emergency services, including the air ambulance are at the scene.

Affected stations include Scarborough, Seamer, Filey, Hunmanby, Bempton, Bridlington, Driffield, Beverley, Cottingham, Hull, Brough, Goole, Doncaster, Meadowhall, Sheffield, Thorne North and Selby.

Residents have hit out at plans to triple the size of an immigration removal centre to make it one of the largest in Europe. 

Haslar Immigration Detention Centre in Gosport, Hampshire closed a decade ago but  is set to be reopened and enlarged to house 600 foreign criminals and illegal migrants over three storeys. 

People living near the site say they have seen the price of their homes drop by as much as £25,000 after the plans were revealed and fear they will be left ‘trapped’ inside them due to a lack of willing buyers.

The Home Office also wants to expand Campsfield House immigration removal centre in Oxfordshire from 160 beds to 400.

Both sites will be used to hold foreign criminals and immigration offenders awaiting deportation. Plans to expand them were proposed by the Conservatives but are being carried out by Labour at an estimated cost of around £399million. 

The developments have been designated as having ‘national importance’, meaning the planning process is dealt with by ministers rather than the local councils under the recently introduced Crown Development scheme. 

Residents in Gosport say their lives have been made ‘hell’ by two years of ‘constant’ building work starting in the early hours of the morning.

The facility will have 600 beds provided for the detained men, who will be unable to leave the centre or access the local area. The biggest immigration removal centre in Europe is Harmondsworth near Heathrow, which has a capacity of 676.  

Work to expand the centre is largely completed but is subject to a public consultation that closes on August 6

It is being refurbished after shutting down in 2015 following a parliamentary review, which highlighted immigration detention as ‘expensive and damaging to detainees’.

Dave Wakefield, 69, who lives directly opposite the seafront site with his wife Katie, was worried about the scale of the plans. 

‘We know it is going to be different – how can you go from 150 to 600 people?’ he said. 

‘Now we have seen everything that has gone on, and it is getting bigger and bigger. The people who are going there are criminals, so I have no time of day for them.

‘But they have got 600 people and 450 staff; where’s the planning and how’s it going to be governed?

‘Normally issues like this are sorted out by the boroughs, but it has gone straight to the government.’

A woman who lives only 50 yards away from the centre – and who asked not to be identified – said the plans had already hit the property market. 

‘At the moment we are prisoners in our own homes. We can’t sell our properties,’ she said. 

‘We are trapped. We feel like prisoners. We can’t go on social media and voice our concerns because if you do, you get trolled.

‘It is nothing to do with the political side of things, it is about a way of life. It is about mental health.’

The woman said she had gone through ‘hell on Earth’ due to builders creating large amounts of noise at 6am and blocking her car in.

She said that the amount of dust generated during the building work has made her worry for her health, and she feels like she can’t leave any of her windows open, even in the sweltering heat.

Another resident, Sandra Card, whose house backs onto the development, said that she felt she had been lied to about the plans as she believed it was only going to be two storeys when it is actually three. 

Dave Wakefield, 69, who lives directly opposite the seafront site with his wife Katie, was worried about the scale of the plans

An aerial view of the facility next to the town of Gosport in Hampshire 

The 67-year-old said: ‘The main issue is the fact that they have lied over it. They have said there was going to be 600 people, but they said it was going to be a two-storey building and now it is going to be three.

‘I think it is going to have a big impact on our privacy. They say it isn’t.’

One woman, who did not want to be named, said that she had her house valued recently and it was now worth £25,000 less.

Gosport MP Dame Caroline Dinenage said she is pressing ministers for answers about the detention centre, having raised the issue in Parliament and written to the Home Secretary after a promised meeting with a minister was cancelled.

Redevelopment work at Haslar has taken a phased approach, with Phase 1 consisting of the refurbishment of existing buildings, and Phase 2 involving the building of new-build accommodation.

Phase 1 will provide 130 beds and is expected to be ready by autumn, while the first inmates are anticipated to move into the site in Spring 2027.

Dame Caroline has called for the application to be considered by Gosport Borough Council as the local planning authority – currently it is due to be decided by an inspector appointed by the Secretary of State after the local planning authority makes representations.

In a letter to the Home Office, she said: ‘It takes decision-making away from local people and into the hands of civil servants and Labour politicians in Whitehall.

‘I have serious concerns that the Government are trying to push this application through with minimal scrutiny, which isn’t acceptable.’ 

A local community impact assessment – funded by the Home Office – claims the site will create 341 additional jobs during construction.

‘This employment boost has the potential to provide opportunity to local people who are currently unemployed or with poor labour market contributions, as well as through apprenticeship opportunities providing wider social value in the borough,’ it states.

The document estimates that the project will be worth £19.7million a year to the local economy ‘reflecting the net direct and indirect employment in the local authority’. 

The Home Office also wants to expand Campsfield House immigration removal centre in Oxfordshire from 160 beds to 400. Pictured: A protest at the site in November  

Campsfield Immigration detention facility (pictured) was closed in May 2019 after a review highlighted serious welfare concerns 

Advertisement

Plans to expand Campsfield House immigration removal centre in Oxfordshire have also been controversial, with the site picketed by protesters holding ‘refugees welcome’ banners. 

The Government says that expanding both centres will increase detention capacity by 40 per cent, which could facilitate the removal of 45,000 people over the next decade. 

It comes as Andy Burnham continues to grapple with the small boats crisis after more than 2,000 illegal migrants crossed the Channel into Britain during his first fortnight in power. 

During a visit to Dover yesterday, the new Prime Minister promised to ‘deal with it head on’ as he attempts to regain Labour’s credibility on illegal migration.

Speaking from the coast, Mr Burnham promised: ‘We have to deal with the issue rather than play politics with the issue. Just deal with it head on, grip it, and then make the changes that will bring that reassurance to the public.

‘The public don’t like the idea that the border looks like it’s not controlled.

‘We need to bring back that control, but also we need to offer support for people who genuinely need it.

‘It’s about changing the whole approach, and slowly but surely we are putting in place those building blocks of a very different approach to this issue. It’s working, but there’s more to be done.’

Hitting back, the Tories accused Mr Burnham of being ‘too weak’ to stop the ongoing migrant crossings, and called on him to follow their plan to quit the European Convention on Human Rights.

A Home Office spokesman said: “All Crown Development planning applications require extensive engagement, and we encourage residents and stakeholders to share their views through the formal process.

“We make no apology for significantly expanding our detention capacity which will see more than 45,000 additional foreign criminals and illegal migrants removed over the coming decade.”

The Tuesday letters page thinks the Nintendo Direct plan is a mistake, as one reader defends Valve’s record in terms of making console games.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Casual disregard
I’m not sure what anyone can say about Xbox now, after this latest price hike. It almost seems like a joke, except it’s not even a little bit funny. I don’t know how anyone would ever think to buy one after just the last year or so of bad news, but now with a £150+ price rise? You would have to be an ultra casual gamer, who has heard absolutely nothing of what’s going on, to even consider it. But I don’t feel that sort of person would go for Xbox at the best of times.

I’m genuinely curious though, to hear if anyone reading this is, or knows anyone who is, planning to get an Xbox this year. I’m not saying this to have a go at Microsoft (although I’m not sure they don’t deserve it) but I just cannot see any way that any of their ‘reset’ is going to work. Gears Of War: E-Day is never going to make its money back, nobody wants to buy an Xbox anymore, and definitely no one wants Project Helix if it costs £1,000.

It’s time for Microsoft to pack up the shop and admit that Xbox didn’t work out. More importantly, it’s time for someone else to step up and provide an alternative to PlayStation. They’ve only had free reign for a few months and you already see what they’ve been like. Imagine what they’ll be like in a year or two with no competition.
Xane

Video game bubble
I’d be curious to know if this one-Direct-per-game approach is working for Nintendo, because it definitely isn’t for me. When they had more general topic Directs I used to watch them all, from beginning to end, but there’s no way I’m watching one for Fire Emblem, just like I didn’t for Splatoon Raider or Tomodachi Life, and how I won’t for the new Wii Sports game either.

Life is short and I’m only going to watch the ones for games I’m interested in, but isn’t that bad for Nintendo or any company following the same plan? If Fire Emblem was in a general Direct I would’ve watched its bit, but now I’ll never have any idea what it’s about (the same old, I imagine). Surely encouraging people to get interested in things outside their comfort zone is very much in Nintendo’s interest?
Porko

Endless hiking
As if the recent announcements about Sony going digital-only was not bad enough, and Microsoft increasing the price of the Xbox, now both Nvidia and AMD have announced GPU price increases for PCs.

I guess my old Radeon RX 6650 XT GPU is going to have to last longer.

Hopefully the rest of my PC will be as reliable as the wireless Xbox 360 controller I still use to this day for it.
Commodore Fan
Currently playing: Indiana Jones And The Great Circle via Amazon Luna. So far so good…

GC: Nothing will be spared from the effects of the component crisis, as we heard from Samsung on Monday.

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

A funny kind of love
RE: Valve and consoles. Valve, along with various partners, have shown a fair bit of love to consoles over the years. Half-Life was on PlayStation 2 and Half-Life 2 on Xbox, this was the way I first played both those games.

The Orange Box was excellent and released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Portal was also released standalone on Xbox Live Arcade. Portal 2 was released on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and as recently as 2022 as part of Portal Companion Collection on Switch, which also included Portal 1.

There was even a Dreamcast port that was cancelled weeks before release. I think due to Sega having officially discontinued the console.

Portal 2 and The Orange Box are backwards compatible on Xbox Series S/X and receive some visual improvements, though still locked at 30fps.

But it would be nice to see some native releases for all the games on PlayStation 4 and 5, Switch 1 and 2, and Xbox Series X/S.
Simundo

GC: If that’s showing love, we think Valve needs to upgrade their romantic aspirations. Apart from the anomaly of the Switch port the most recent of those releases was 14 years ago.

Priced out
So I read your article about the £150 price rise and concerns for next gen prices… I just don’t see how it’s going to work. They make a console so expensive that very few can afford it and then the cost of making a game for the new console, which won’t sell well as few have the console, is never got back.

On top of that my son, who is now 30… they were all console gamers in their teens but now all of them have migrated to PC gaming as games are much cheaper. Feels like the end of console gaming and I for one will be greatly saddened by that and my gaming days shall end.
TWO MACKS

Some are more equal than others
Per last week’s letter on reviews, I’d say that while reviews are just opinions, not all opinions carry the same weight. I’m much more likely to trust an independent reviewer whose job it is to play and write about a wide variety of games.

The writing is a key part of a review too. While I don’t always agree with GC’s reviews, I know them well enough to figure out from the text whether I might enjoy a game that they haven’t, or vice versa. It’s not necessarily about a reviewer matching your opinion, though that can be helpful too.

Inexpert views can still be useful though. A detailed verdict from a gaming friend whose tastes you know well is worth quite a lot. A score with no words from someone you’ve never met – not so much.

Just to clarify my letter on Monday, I was just suggesting that instead of digital related boycotts, comments, or articles, of which there have been many, it might be more productive to focus on the terms and conditions.

Shaking our metaphorical fist at digital gaming feels a bit like tilting at windmills rather than addressing the actual issue. Would people be as anti-digital if the terms were like Steam’s? If not, do Sony know that? (I’ve not seen it raised anywhere). It is hard to affect Sony, but I feel we have more chance of success by pointing to the actual issue and proposing a practical solution.
Matt (he_who_runs_away – PSN ID)

Lost the receipt
I can’t believe nobody else noticed how dodgy that Zelda: Ocarina Of Time rating is on Metacritic. Not that it doesn’t deserve the score, but I’ve seen indie games with more scores than that and they left out so many obvious ones they easily could have included, such as Edge – which you mentioned.

I’m not saying they need to go back to every old retro game and give them a score but if you’re going to include something that old, and say it’s the best game ever, you’ve got to have the receipts.
Tacle

Don’t miss Gaming news! Add us as a Preferred Source

As a loyal GameCentral reader, we want to make sure you never miss our articles when searching for gaming stories. We have all the latest video games news, reviews, previews, and interviews, with a vibrant community of highly engaged readers.

Advertisement

Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

Add us as a Preferred Source

Legal trouble
I have just sat and read the morning Inbox and again I have seen letters about Sony and their system for digital purchases, and it has got me thinking.

I no longer own a PlayStation 5 and when I did, I tended to buy physical. This isn’t because of anything more sinister than this was my second console bought purely to play Sony games. I had no intention of keeping the games, it was as simple as buy them, play them, sell them. With this attitude I never got involved with the digital market.

I do, however, own an Xbox and PC and I do buy all of my games digitally. What I have found over the years is that there is always a cheaper offer somewhere online. Loaded do some good deals, even on day one releases, and if you can resist FOMO [fear of missing out] these deals get better as the weeks pass.

I have just looked at Loaded to see what they’re offering is for PlayStation games and to be fair it’s not great when compared to Xbox. It seems the games on offer there are much older. That suggests to me that Sony are keeping things back to force you into using their store for the latest releases.

This raises a question for me.

Will the EU be looking into this situation? If there is one thing the EU hates, it’s a monopoly. To my very limited knowledge this seems very much like a monopoly. The EU took a dim view on the Apple store and are certainly not afraid of taking on Sony. If the EU succeed it would certainly affect us in Blighty.

In my view this is where the fight needs to happen. A petition? Utterly pointless. I believe less than 1% of PlayStation owners signed up. A boycott? Equally as pointless. There are just too many users across the world for it to be effective. Most users couldn’t care less that they have to buy digitally through the PlayStation store.

The route to change is through the lawmakers.

Physical discs for gaming is a dead donkey. It has been for years. There will always be people out there that want to have things in their hand, but that ship has sailed. Get over it. What we should be fighting for is the protections that a disc gives us on digital transactions. As much as some people won’t want to hear this but the EU is our only hope.

Thanks GC have a good day.
Dirtystopout

GC: We’ve wondered this ourselves, as the ‘walled garden’ of consoles is little different, in theory, from the stores operated by Apple and Google. The EU seems to have washed their hands of it though, saying, in regards to PlayStation, ‘Companies are free to offer games and services in the manner they see fit.’

Inbox also-rans
Great interview with Chris Smith on The Spectrum White Edition, his work at Retro Games and everything around it. I really enjoyed it!
Bodhi

GC: Thanks.

I can exclusively reveal the character that’s caused the Wolverine game to be rated 18 for nudity is Seymour Butts. I forget what his superpowers are.
Bendai

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

You can also leave your comments below and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

MORE: Games Inbox: When will Spider-Man 3 be released on PS5?

MORE: Games Inbox: Will you play the Zelda: Ocarina Of Time remake or GTA 6 first?

MORE: Games Inbox: Are user reviews for video games reliable?

The first 50 customers in the queue will receive exclusive Popeyes merchandise and the first 100 customers will bag a free Chicken Sandwich

Popeyes has confirmed the opening date of its third location in Belfast.

Located at 5 Donegall Arcade in the heart of Belfast City Centre, the new restaurant will open at 11am on Friday, August 11, bringing the brand’s famous New Orleans hospitality to the former GAME unit.

On opening day, the first three customers will win the ultimate prize of free Chicken Sandwiches for an entire year.

The first 50 customers in the queue will receive exclusive Popeyes merchandise and the first 100 customers will bag a free Chicken Sandwich.

A spokesperson said: “Popeyes® has become known for its round the block queues on opening day across the UK, with fans regularly arriving from the early hours to be among the first through the doors.

“To be part of the action in Belfast, hungry customers are encouraged to arrive early to avoid missing out on the opening day giveaways.

“With dine in and speedy takeaway options available, fried chicken fans will soon be able to enjoy Popeyes® favourites like the iconic Chicken Sandwich, Signature Wraps and the Saucin’ Boneless & Hot Wings range.”

All Popeyes chicken is marinated for 12 hours in its signature blend of bold Louisiana seasoning, then hand breaded and battered to deliver that world famous “Shatter Crunch”.

The new Belfast store will create 50 new jobs for the local area.

Tom Crowley, Popeyes® UK&I CEO, said: “We’re excited to continue growing our presence in Belfast with the opening of our third restaurant but first in the city centre.

“Located right in the heart of Belfast, we can’t wait to welcome locals and visitors alike to experience our famous Louisiana hospitality, bold flavours and unmistakable crunch.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What’s On newsletter here

Breast cancer is a leading cause of death in women under 50 in the UK.

About one in seven women develop breast cancer in their lifetime, yet only 5-10% of cases are linked to inherited genes.

Most cases – 96% – are in women over 40, while 25% are in women over 75.

Men can get breast cancer too, with about 420 new cases every year in the UK.

In England, guidance from Nice recommends GPs ask about family history if a woman is worried that she might have a higher risk of breast cancer, and sometimes if they are over 35 and using an oral contraceptive pill or considering taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Hormones have been linked to a slightly increased risk of breast cancer, although larger risk factors include alcohol intake and obesity.

The study, by a team from Cambridge University and the Institute of Cancer Research, looks at how to predict breast cancer risk in younger women.

They used a risk calculator called Boadicea that combines factors such as family history, lifestyle, reproductive history and genetic information to give a risk score.

If all women under 50 were to have this done, they estimate about a quarter (26.5%) would be categorised as at above-average risk and referred for further assessment.

This would include a third of women under 50 (34.8%) who develop breast cancer within 10 years.

By comparison, the current Nice criteria would result in 1.4% of women under 50 being referred for further assessment, which would include just 4.4% of those women who develop breast cancer.

A main reason for the disparity, the researchers say, is because three-quarters of women (73%) under 50 who develop breast cancer within a decade have no family history of breast cancer – the key criterion in the Nice guidelines.

The Garden Kitchen at the Pioneering Care Centre (PCC) in Newton Aycliffe welcomed back customers on Monday (August 3).

It will offer a changing menu of homemade food and coffee, and is promising affordable prices.

The café also hopes to support people with disabilities and health conditions to get hands-on experience in catering, customer service and hospitality.

Jenny, the Marketing and Communications Manager at the centre, said: “It’s been really busy in the café, I’ve recognised some faces, but I’ve also seen some new faces which is nice.

“All the prices, they’ve been designed to be quite affordable, so we’re hoping it’ll bring people in.

“The response has been really positive.

“We’ve had a lot of comments about how good the prices are and you can’t go wrong with a home-cooked meal.”

Carol Gaskarth, chief executive of the Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP) , said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Hiyed CIC to relaunch the Garden Kitchen.

“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to building stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

“The Garden Kitchen will provide a high-quality, welcoming service for customers while creating valuable supported employment, work experience and skills development opportunities for people with disabilities and health conditions.

(Image: PIONEERING CARE PARTNERSHIP)

“By offering real-world experience in a supportive environment, we can help individuals build confidence, develop skills for work and progress towards sustainable employment.”

Hiyed CIC is a social enterprise dedicated to supporting people who are neurodivergent, have learning disabilities or face other barriers to employment.

It offers supported internships, volunteering placements and work-based learning to help individuals gain practical experience.

Tracy Fee, director and founder of Hiyed CIC, said: “The partnership with PCP is so important because both organisations share the same values of improving people’s lives, promoting wellbeing and supporting the local community.

(Image: PIONEERING CARE PARTNERSHIP)

“By working together, we can provide real work experience, supported internships, volunteering opportunities and clear pathways into paid employment within the hospitality sector.

“Every purchase made at the Garden Kitchen will help support training and employment opportunities for local people, creating a positive impact on the wider community.”

The Garden Kitchen is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 1.30pm at the Pioneering Care Centre, Carer’s Way, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, DL5 4SF.

Menus can be found at pcp.uk.net/garden-kitchen.

From August 17, the railcard will be valid for a full year from the date of purchase, even if the holder turns 18 during that time, allowing more young people to continue benefiting from 50 per cent off train fares.

Previously, the railcard expired on a passenger’s 18th birthday, leaving more than 70,000 young people each year without access to the maximum 50 per cent discount on rail fares.

The government says the change will help more students afford travel during a key stage of their education or training.

Lord Peter Hendy, rail minister, said: “This kind of common-sense change is exactly what passengers should expect from the railway.

“I’m proud that this change will support young people and their families to lower the cost of travel at a critical time for teenagers, whether they’re pursuing further education, vocational pathways or getting their footing in the jobs market.

“Making travel fairer and more affordable is central to the vision for Great British Railways.

“By delivering simpler fares and putting passengers first, we’re creating a railway that’s easier to use, better value for money and focused on meeting the everyday needs of the people who rely on it.”

The announcement comes ahead of broader reform plans tied to the launch of Great British Railways.

Other changes include the expansion of contactless payment options and digital ticketing trials in regions beyond London, such as Manchester, Yorkshire, the East Midlands, and the West Midlands.

Jacqueline Starr, executive chair and CEO at Rail Delivery Group, said: “The extension of the 16–17 Saver’s validity demonstrates the rail industry’s commitment to offering better value fares and delivering a more joined-up railway for customers.

“By enabling customers who turn 18 during their academic year to receive a full year of savings from the date of purchase, we’re ensuring that young people can continue to benefit from 50% off rail travel throughout this important stage of their education.

“Whether it’s getting to school or college, seeing friends or exploring new places, this change provides greater flexibility and more opportunities to make the most of their journeys.”

Priced at £35, the 16-17 Saver offers a full year of half-price travel for the eligible age group.

The National Union of Students (NUS) welcomed the change.

Kaynat Ahmad, NUS vice president for further education, said: “The 16-17 Saver is essential for young people reliant on trains to get to college, work or training.

“Allowing young people to access the savings past their 18th birthday will ease the financial pressures that commuting brings.”

Cambridgeshire Live readers have been sharing their views on the proposed 20mph speed limit across Cambridge city

Advertisement

Cambridgeshire Live readers have been discussing a proposed citywide 20mph limit, sharing passionate opinions on safety, cost, enforcement, and how roads should accommodate all users. The responses reveal a significant divide.

Some support more radical measures, such as banning vehicles from the centre. Others believe the emphasis should fall on cyclist behaviour or on reopening some roads. A handful argue that one straightforward limit across the city might help drivers.

A cycling charity has urged that proposals for 20mph zones should be expanded to encompass all routes within Cambridge’s city boundary. Cambridgeshire County Council is presently consulting on schemes to introduce new 20mph restrictions on roads around the city – but CamCycle wants the plans to be more ambitious.

A new Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) would establish 20mph limits on nearly 20 additional streets, including Queen’s Road, Northampton Street, Chesterton Road until Mitcham’s Corner, Victoria Avenue, East Road and Lensfield Road. Further streets and sections include the Mitcham’s Corner gyratory, Corona Road, Brooklands Avenue, and the northern section of Coldhams Lane.

A county council spokesperson said of the proposals: “Over 100 people have been seriously injured across these routes since 2017. This proposal follows on from widespread engagement to put in 20mph limits on roads across Cambridge in 2024. Since then, there has been a positive response from communities to more focussed proposals for new 20mph limits in residential areas including Orchard Park.”

One commenter, Skipper, feels: “One of the problems is that councillors who force these unwanted anti-car measures on the majority in spite of consultations showing most are against (e.g., Cottenham, Ely 2000 signature petition against) are members of Camcycle. Vested interest or what?

“‘Over 100 people have been seriously injured across these routes since 2017.’ So, over 22 streets, that’s 10 per year, one per street occurring in half of the streets, the others being accident-free. This kind of record does not justify the imposition of blanket 20 mph limits. No accident records are given for individual streets.”

Aljan says: “Perhaps they should teach children road safety and not expect every vehicle driver to be subject to a permanent 20 mph limit. If children are not of an age of responsibility, then they should be supervised.

Over on our Facebook page, SD Lawrie writes: “I live in Wales. You do not want 20mph.”

Jane A suggests: “Why not open up all the closed roads and Mill Road Bridge?”

Kieth B mentions: “Only if cyclists are made to use cycle paths & cycle lanes. And stop at crossings & traffic lights. Everyone needs to adhere to rules & laws before altering anything. The most dangerous thing where cyclists are concerned is cyclists.”

Adam B comments: “To be honest, I drive all day in Cambridge for my job. A complete 20mph zone throughout the city would make it easier.”

So what are your thoughts on 20’s plenty? Comment below or HERE to have your say.