The proposals seek permission to host occasional live music events and karaoke

An empty department store in a Huntingdonshire town could become a sports bar and restaurant under new plans. A listed building consent application submitted to Huntingdonshire District Council by Bailey’s Bar seeks approval to convert a partially Grade II listed building, previously a St Neots department store, into a sports bar and restaurant.

Under the proposals, the High Street site would be converted into a sports bar and restaurant with games and entertainment zones on the first floor. The second floor is proposed to be staff offices and an ancillary back-of-house accommodation.

The historic three-storey element of the building forms the listed portion while later 20th-century extensions to the side and rear are unlisted. The applicant seeks to “preserve the significance of the Grade II listed building and Conservation Area” and “contribute positively to the vitality and viability of the town centre”. A PureGym on the ground floor of the same building is not part of the proposed change of use.

The proposals also seek permission to host occasional live music events and karaoke facilities. Opening hours would be from 9am to 12am Monday to Saturday and 10am to 11pm on Sundays, with extended hours reaching 1am on selected Saturdays. Approximately 12 members of staff would be employed for front or house and between 3-6 in the kitchen.

The works include internal alterations and fit-out of the first floor, sympathetic refurbishment of listed building elements for staff and ancillary uses, and minor external alteration. This would include signage and repainting of the main entrance.

Sir Alex Ferguson was taken to hospital after falling unwell at Old Trafford shortly before Manchester United’s Premier League match with Liverpool on Sunday.

Sources stressed it was a precautionary move for the 84-year-old former Manchester United manager, and not an emergency situation.

Ferguson, who managed United for 27 years during a glittering reign, watches the club’s games from the directors’ box.

No further update has been provided on his condition after his admission to hospital.

Ferguson had a brain haemorrhage in 2018 which left him seriously ill. He spoke about his recovery in detail three years later.

He was pictured with guests at the stadium on Sunday a couple of hours before kick-off.

Ferguson was subsequently taken in an ambulance from Old Trafford to the hospital.

Club officials are optimistic Ferguson will soon be fit enough to return home.

The King declared ‘the force is with us’ while visiting a leading observatory in Bermuda this week.

Charles was treated to a tour of the site, operated by the UK Space Agency (UKSA), before it opens later this year and heard about Project Nova’s ambitious plans to tackle harmful space junk.

The area on the island was identified for its unique position in the world, which will allow the agency and its partners to track old satellites, rocket stages, and other objects.

Before unveiling a plaque at the site to announce its launch, Charles spoke to the Astra Carta team working with UKSA and revealed he had completed a garden with the design based on the revolution of the planets.

‘I’ve just done a garden based on the planetary movements, because if you trace them, it’s amazing how they all form the most beautiful patterns,’ he said.

‘It’s so interconnected, really, in all forms. So as they say, the force is with us.’

Earlier, the King went on an impromptu meet-and-greet with well-wishers when he opened a new Coastguard station at Great Bay on St David’s Island.

Some had waited hours in the sun and told him: ‘Thank you so much for coming’ and ‘It’s such a pleasure to have you.’

The first phase in the £40 million Project Nova is to establish three telescopes on the north west coast of Bermuda, about 620 miles off the US coast, that will be able to spot asteroids or rogue satellites heading towards Earth.

A decade ago, there were just a few hundred satellites in space, but today there are more than 12,000, with that number expected to pass 100,000 by 2030.

The new planned telescopes across British territories, including Bermuda, are powerful enough to see objects smaller than a Rubik’s Cube in low Earth orbit.

During a space debris demonstration, the King, pointing to the sky, asked: ‘So how much damage is going on up there?’

Charles’s Sustainable Markets Initiative has been heavily involved in the project through its Astra Carta, Latin for Charter of the Stars, environmental framework launched by Charles in 2020 to promote sustainability in the global space industry.

When Charles visited the new Great Bay Coast Guard station, he saw the operations room where staff can monitor CCTV images of the coastline and track vessels.

Speaking after the visit, Michael Weeks, Bermuda’s minister of national security, said that the first visit by a monarch since 2009 was ‘a very exciting time’.

He added that there was a ’50/50 split’ in Bermuda between those who think it should remain a British Overseas Territory and those who think it should be an independent nation.

The minister added: ‘But there’s no problem with a child leaving home at some point and standing on their own and taking care of themselves with the opportunity to reach out to the parent country if ever needed.’

Before waving goodbye to Bermuda from the top of the plane’s steps, Charles joined assembled Bermudan police motorbike outriders, security personnel and other officers for a large group photo.

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The woman is yet to be formally identified by police after the shocking discovery on Sunday morning

A woman’s body was found in a quiet woodland in the early hours of Sunday (May 3), triggering a major police response as officers investigate what they are calling an unexplained death.

Emergency crews raced to Killivose, near Camborne, Cornwall at around 7.45am after a report that a body had been discovered among the trees. Police say the woman has not yet been formally identified and efforts are under way to trace her family.

A cordon remains in place as detectives comb the area, with one witness telling Cornwall Live they saw “lots of police cars and three forensic vans” gathered near the woodland.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “At 7.45am on Sunday, May 3, we received a report of a body found in woodlands in Killivose, in Camborne.

“Emergency services attended and a body of a woman was sadly located. A police presence is in the area and enquiries are underway to formally identify the woman and notify her next of kin. The woman’s death is currently being treated as unexplained.”

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The garden also has woodland play areas and sculpture trails for children to enjoy

A garden in Cambridgeshire has been named as one of the best places in the UK for a spring picnic. Bloom & Wild has created a list of the the UK’s “most beautiful botanical gardens and green spaces” to enjoy in the spring and summer.

The list featured the Spring Garden at the popular National Trust site Anglesey Abbey. The garden is described as coming “into its own” throughout the spring months and features daffodils and hyacinths.

You can enjoy taking in the flowers around the garden while soaking up the sun or snap a few springtime photos. The flowers are “complemented by the avenues of Amelanchier lamarckii, more commonly known as June berry” and a horse chestnut tree.

On the garden, Bloom & Wild said: “Anglesey Abbey is covered in thousands of daffodils throughout the spring months, with over 40 varieties of the stunning spring flowers. With woodland play areas, wind in the willows [sic] sculpture trails, it’s a perfect nature spot to take the kids in spring. The garden also welcomes picnics to be enjoyed throughout the garden with the exception of formal areas.

“The aptly named Spring Garden comes into full bloom in spring with daffodils and hyacinths, the Formal Garden blooms with tulips and hyacinths in shades of blues and whites through to April.”

After exploring the Spring Garden, you can also take a look around the rest of the estate. The Formal Garden is also popular for the springtime and is planted with blue and white tulips and hyacinths. There are also a few different walking and cycling trails to follow around Anglesey Abbey and its surrounding countryside.

For children, there is a woodland play area that features a climbing frame, balance beams, and swings for kids to let off steam. There are also areas places for children to get creative and involved in den-building or bug-hunting.

After walking through the gardens, you could take a visit to the Garden Office Café for a quick drink while overlooking the Rose Garden. If you need something to eat, the Redwoods Restaurant that offers light meals, a range of snacks, and homemade cakes and traybakes for a sweet boost.

Entry to the National Trust site costs £19 for adults and £9.50 for children between the ages of five and 17. There are a few family tickets available as well.

Anglesey Abbey is a 21-minute drive away from Cambridge via the B1102. There is a free car park for visitors.

The Met Office says the UK could be in for a taste of winter as temperatures could plummet well below 0C following this week’s 26C highs

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Despite the thermometer climbing to 26C this week, the Met Office warns temperatures could shortly drop well beneath 0C.

The national forecaster’s outlook today indicated overnight readings on Tuesday might sink as low as -5C across northern regions and -1C in southern parts. Wednesday’s overnight minimums of -3C are anticipated throughout the nation, reports the Mirror.

The Met Office predicts daytime highs will reach 18C on Tuesday before sliding to 15C on Wednesday – a stark contrast to the scorching conditions we’ve enjoyed lately.

Temperature variation charts for Tuesday display extensive blue zones spanning Scotland, Northern Ireland, North Wales, northern England and eastern districts. This highlights where readings will fall considerably below seasonal norms for this period.

The GFS weather model indicates the peak temperature nationwide could reach merely 8C on Wednesday morning. This marks a substantial decline from this week’s figures right across the UK.

The Met Office outlook for Tuesday through Thursday suggests conditions will be “turning cooler for all as northerly winds set in across the UK”. We should anticipate “some showers at times”, though “these [will be] lighter and fewer than the weekend”.

The BBC prediction notes: “On Tuesday, much of the UK will be dry with variable cloud, but there will be showers in the south-west and parts of the north.

“Wednesday is expected to be generally cloudy with a few scattered showers in the far north and across the west. Thursday looks to bring further showers to northern and western areas, while the east remain mostly dry with some sunny spells. Windier.”

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Fortunately, the Met Office anticipates temperatures will climb back towards typical levels later in the month. Its outlook for May 7 to May 16 indicates “a changeable theme” is probable, with most locations experiencing “some rain or showers at times, but also some drier, brighter weather”.

The prediction continues: “The emphasis on wetter conditions may be more towards the south and east at first, with low pressure perhaps more likely towards the south or east of the UK, before shifting further north later in the period as low pressure becomes more likely to set up to the north or northeast of the UK.

“After a cold start to the period, especially in the north, temperatures are likely to return to around average later.”

A rugby-loving bride cheered her husband on from the sidelines in her wedding dress, just hours after the newlywed couple tied the knot.

Amy Vinson, 42, insisted Craig Vinson, 40, play for Hornets RFC after discovering his team’s last fixture of the season fell on their wedding day.

So after donning a suit and marrying Amy at Weston Registry Office on Saturday, Craig put on his kit, which included a new pair of white boots engraved with the date, and took to the field against Blake Bears RFC.

The friendly game ended 45-19 to Hornets, after which the wedding party and most of the players celebrated long into the night at the Pear Orchard pub in nearby Clevedon.

Amy, a paralegal and mother-of-two whose sons both play rugby, said: ‘I absolutely loved standing there in my wedding dress watching him play. Some brides might think it was mad, but for us it was perfect.

‘I knew how important that final game of the season was to Craig and I didn’t want him missing out because of the wedding. If anything, it made the day even better because it was so personal to us.’

The couple, who live in Wick St Lawrence, north Somerset, met on a dating site in October 2023 and booked their wedding date before the Hornets fixtures had been announced.

It later transpired that the team’s last fixture of the season coincided with their wedding.

Amy insisted he played despite the clash, and made arrangements around the fixture.

However, disaster struck when the Hornets’ fourth team folded midway through the season.

The couple quickly rallied players together to organise a friendly against Bears, with players ranging in age from teenagers to 78 in what was the first wedding day game ever held at the Weston-super-Mare club.

The friendly game was played in great spirits and turned into a touch game for the last 15 minutes to allow some of the female spectators and children to take part.

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Craig, a fire suppression engineer, said: ‘It honestly could not have been a more perfect wedding day for us. Rugby is such a huge part of our lives, so it felt completely natural to make it part of our marriage celebrations.

‘I had said I probably wouldn’t play because it was our wedding day, but Amy wouldn’t hear of it. She just said, “Of course you’re playing – you can’t miss the last game of the season because of our wedding”.

‘Having everyone there made the day even more special.’

Amy said the match brought together friends, family, teammates and club veterans in a way a traditional wedding reception never could.

She added: ‘Rugby has brought so many people into our lives over the years, so celebrating our marriage this way just felt right.

‘Everyone was together, laughing, cheering and enjoying themselves. It wasn’t just our wedding day — it felt like a big celebration for the whole club as well, and that made it really special.’

After the match, celebrations continued at a nearby reception venue, which even featured a tattoo artist for guests.

One Hornets player decided to mark the occasion permanently by getting the club’s famous Hornet logo tattooed on his bum.

Amy laughed: ‘That definitely stole the show. I don’t think many weddings can say that happened at their reception.

‘It was fun, slightly chaotic and completely unforgettable — exactly the kind of wedding we wanted.’

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The actor revealed some positive changes he has been making

I’m a Celebrity star Adam Thomas opened up on some changes he made at the start of the year as he admitted he “wasn’t sure” it would happen.

Adam Thomas quickly became a fan favourite during his time on this year’s I’m a Celebrity South Africa, particularly as his friendship with Gemma Collins blossomed.

Although he went onto win the series, it wasn’t without its drama. Former boxer David Haye was criticised during his time on the ITV show for comments he said towards Adam.

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Since then, David went onto make various other comments, labelling the actor as “soft” or “weak”. Adam opened up about the feeling of being bullied, but things exploded during the live final.

Away from the chaos, Adam took to his Instagram and revealed some positive changes he’s experienced this year after creating a vision board for himself.

In a video he said: “Me and my family at the beginning of the year, we each did a vision board and this is mine. A few things on here that I’m really proud of. I’ve got no drinking, since January I’ve quit drinking.

“I say quit drinking, has it been perfect? No. Have I made huge changes? Yes. Just feels so much better for it. Everything has just thrived because I’ve cut down alcohol and it just wasn’t serving me a purpose anymore, and that’s one thing that I’m super proud of. No drinking, that’s number one.”

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He went onto add: “Number two was I wanted to be on the front over of a fitness magazine. Never in a million years ever thinking it would happen. But, it’s actually happening people.

“I’m gonna be on the front cover of Men’s Fitness. Me! The funny thing is, it’s not even necessarily really about the picture, it’s about everything that I’ve done in between, lifestyle I’ve created for myself.

“Someone who’s really struggled with their body pretty much all their life to be on the front cover of a men’s fitness magazine with their top of, it’s mad to me that.”

Adam then continued to tease “Oh My Glaze”, a sauce that him and his friends have been working on. He teased: “Only now are we finally getting the credit that we deserve.”

In his caption, Adam also gushed: “There were moments I wasn’t sure any of this would happen. But staying focused, staying positive… it’s starting to pay off. Grateful for this year so far…and we’re just getting started!! Stay happy people, stay positive!”

Adam was flooded with support in the comments, as Alison Hammond wrote: “Well done babes love this” and Gemma Collins added: “You got the world at your feet”.

Arne Slot’s Reds endured a shaky run of form between late March and early April but have hit their stride in recent weeks, dispatching Everton in a dramatic Merseyside derby before easing past Crystal Palace last time out. The camp has been rocked by injuries, though, with Hugo Ekitike, Mohamed Salah, and, reportedly, Alexander Isak all due to miss this match. United, meanwhile, are near enough fully fit and come into this match in fine fettle. They were not terribly convincing in victory over Brentford on Monday, but got the job done to tighten their hold on third place in the league.

The Darlington Food and Drink Festival is a free, open‑air event which has transformed the main commercial streets into a focal point for food-lovers with a taste for everything from the simple to the exotic.

Based mostly around the Market Square there are also stalls and entertainment points spreading along East Row and West Row, making it easy for visitors to “shop, eat, drink” as they wander from pitch to pitch.

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Across the four days of the festival, visitors have a wide range of options, from hot food and sweet treats to speciality drinks and preserves.

Traders taking part include Cassie’s Kitchen, Bites Baking Co, Simply Cheesecake, Malavisco Marshmallows, Evie’s Pupcakes Safari Shack, plus AndBake.Co.

The Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Others featured in the festival are Fresh Olives, Batch Coffee Roasters, The Angels Share Bakery, Wiga Wagaa. Wine On The Tyne, Jems Vegan Bakes, Just A Littlemore Cookie Company, Aerostream Catering, The Geordie Banger Company, Cakepops Et Al, Blueberry Hill Preserves, Coastal Bakes, Lobo, Açaí Spot and Dionysiac Brewing.

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

The pick of the weather so far was on the opening two days, with early Sunday visitors braving showers and more overcast conditions.

Friday featured street food only, between 4 and 8pm, with Saturday and Sunday highlighting retail opportunities, between 10am and 5pm, and street food from 11am to 8pm.

Bank Holiday Monday (May 4) will follow a similar theme, but with retail between 10am and 4pm and street food, from11am to 5pm.

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Among the varying offers are hot food and takeaway‑style dishes for a quick bite, sweet treats and afternoon snacks, including cakes, cookies, and specialty desserts, locally produced drinks, such as craft beer, wine, and specialty coffee.

There is an emphasis on independent producers and small‑batch food entrepreneurs from the wider region, with a background buzz of live music, interspersed over four days of the festival.

Performances are centring on the Market Square, with evening shows at The Vault.

There was a throwback to Britpop on Friday, with K-Pop, classic tracks and blues and soul on Saturday.

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

Darlington Food and Drink Festival (Image: Stuart Boulton – The Northern Echo)

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Sunday’s line-up features Hey Zeus, a live band bringing contemporary rock and pop to the town centre stage, from 2pm.

The Market Square played host to And Then Some, offering a differing sound set, from 6pm

Monday’s music programme features the The Jam Junkies, a lively tribute act providing a fun, upbeat finale to the long weekend, from 2pm.