Schools in the south of the city are predicted to be those most affected
A report set to go before Peterborough City Council has outlined how school admissions are likely to become oversubscribed in the city’s growing southern townships in the near future.
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On Monday (March 16), the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee will hear a forecast of how pressures on school admissions will affect both primary and secondary schools across the city over the coming years.
The report, which has been authored by Libby Walker, head of the council’s Admissions, Attendance & Transport Services, has outlined the Hamptons as an area where these pressures are most likely to be highest.
The data used to create the report forecasts primary school admission figures across the city’s north, central, west, Hamptons, Ortons, rural east, rural west, and Stanground/Fletton/Woodston areas.
Tables in the report show primary schools in the Hamptons will have by far the largest projected pressure over the next four years, with around 111 Reception pupils above capacity, indicating a significant shortfall in places by 2028/29.
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Secondary school admission figures are set within the north, south and central planning areas of the city.
Once again, figures illustrate the south (Hamptons and Great Haddon) as showing significant and increasing pressure over the same period, rising sharply to 201 Year 7 pupils above capacity by 2028/29.
The figures are a reflection of the recent population growth across the south of the city, with significant expansion of residential developments seen across the Hamptons and Great Haddon – areas that are still continuing to grow.
Earlier this year, the council confirmed that Great Haddon Secondary School (GHSS) will be opening in 2029. Similarly, the ground has already been broken on the 420-place Great Haddon Primary School, which is set to open in January 2027.
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The forecasts featured within the report were created by using each city school’s Published Admissions Number (PAN), essentially the number of places a school has available to allocate. This number is based on the school’s net capacity, which is determined via assessment by the Department for Education.
Adhering to each school’s PAN, priority in Peterborough admissions is given first to children with an Education, Health and Care Plan naming the school, followed by looked-after or previously looked-after children, then children in the school’s catchment area (especially those with siblings already attending), children of staff, and finally other applicants outside the catchment area.
When there are more applications than places, schools use oversubscription criteria to decide priority. If a child is not offered a place, they are placed on a waiting list ranked according to the same criteria.
Using data sourced from Primary & Secondary National Offer days, the report shows that the number of applications to primary schools (reception class) across Peterborough as a whole has actually decreased steadily over the past five years, dropping from 3315 in 2020 to 2498 in 2025.
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Over the same period however, the number of applications to the city’s secondary schools (Year 7) has risen, from 2763 to 2926.
Ms Walker explains this in the report: “Nationally, the birth rate has fallen within the UK and this has created place issues for primary schools due to falling rolls.
“However, migration into the city has meant that as yet, we have not seen the same issues within secondary schools and have had to create additional places year-on-year into secondary schools to be able to meet demand.”
Real Madrid have a big decision to make about Kylian Mbappe ahead of the Champions League second leg against Manchester City
Kylian Mbappe could be drawn into a club-versus-country row as Real Madrid weigh up fielding him against Manchester City.
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The French star missed Real’s Champions Leaguefirst leg victory over City with a knee injury, which has kept him out since the end of February. Mbappe is back in training with a view to returning to action in the second leg at the Etihad or in next weekend’s Madrid derby against Atletico.
Real are reportedly reluctant to release him for France’s upcoming double-header of friendlies against Brazil and Colombia in the United States. However, as the French Football Federation’s biggest commercial asset, he is still expected to be called up.
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As a Nike-backed player, Mbappe is lined up to participate in various marketing initiatives ahead of the Brazil game. Nike are the kit supplier to both Brazil and France, making the match a prime commercial opportunity for all parties with the World Cup on the horizon.
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Real cannot bar Mbappe from joining up with the France squad unless he is injured. Therefore, if he appears against City and Atletico, they wouldn’t be able to play that card.
If he doesn’t play in those games, Real could conceivably submit a medical report certifying his injury, which would give him 10 days’ recovery time and rule him out of the national team games.
The international break is due to begin on March 23, with France playing Brazil in Boston on March 26 and Colombia in Washington DC on March 29.
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Real head coach Alvaro Arbeloa gave an update on Mbappe’s fitness ahead of Saturday league game against Elche. He said: “[Mbappe] is getting better every day.
“His development is progressing as it should. We made a plan. It depends on his progress, but I think he’s doing very well. He won’t be available tomorrow, but I expect he’ll travel to Manchester.”
Given Real will take a 3-0 lead into the second leg, Los Blancos may not feel the need to take any risks, especially with a crucial Madrid derby coming up.
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As City were toiling to a draw at West Ham, Real, without Mbappe, were beating Elche 4-1 to close to within a point of La Liga leaders Barcelona, who host Sevilla on Sunday.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
The 87-year-old driver was taken to hospital following yesterday morning’s crash but sadly passed away.
A pensioner has tragically died and four other people, including two children, have been rushed to hospital following a horror crash on the A92.
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The alarm was raised around 10.40am on Saturday, March 14 when emergency services were alerted to a two car collision on the A92, north of Rathillet in Fife.
Mercy crews, including Police Scotland and Scottish Ambulance Service, rushed to the scene of the incident involving a red Dacia Sandero and a blue Vauxhall Astra.
An 87-year-old man, who was driving the Dacia, was rushed to Ninewells Hospital, where he later died. The 88 year-old woman who was a passenger in the Dacia, the 32-year-old male driver of the Vauxhall and his two child passengers, aged seven and 13, were taken to Ninewells Hospital.
The extent of their injuries and current conditions are not yet known. The road was closed in both directions from Kilmany to Rathillet for around five hours for investigation work to take place and reopened around 3pm.
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Drivers were urged to steer clear of the area and find an alternative route. Images showed blue-lit emergency vehicles tending to two cars, one stationary in the middle of the road with all its doors flung open and another lying abandoned after seeming to have crash landed into the grass and dirt on the side of the road.
Locals reported traffic backed up from St Michael’s all the way past Piketillum in what they described as “chaotic” scenes. More images showed heavy congestion on the road, with a line of traffic winding as far as the eye could see.
Police Scotland say they are still trying to get to the bottom of what happened. A probe is underway and anyone who saw the crash or may have dashcam footage from the area at the time are urged to come forward.
Sergeant Grant Hastie said: “Our enquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding this crash.“We are keen to speak to any witnesses to the crash or anyone who may have dashcam from the area around the time.”Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101 quoting incident 1055 of Saturday, 14 March, 2026.
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RSPCA animal welfare expert Lauren Bennett has issued the warning ahead of Mothering Sunday (15 March) to help pet owners avoid an unexpected trip to the vets this weekend.
Lauren says: “Flowers are a lovely gift for Mother’s Day, and I, like many people, love receiving flowers whatever the occasion.
“But sadly some flowers and plants can be toxic to our pets so it’s important to avoid these.
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“Lilies can be a particular problem because they are so popular at this time of year but people are not always aware of just how dangerous they are to cats.
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“Cats can actually die from ingesting even small amounts of petals from lilies, and the leaves, pollen, and water from the vase can be deadly to them too.
“It is very important that we get the message across that lilies can be lethal to cats and that even a small amount could kill them.
“Even cutting the stamens out once they have opened is not enough.
“A small smudge of pollen can be transferred to a cat’s fur, and once a cat starts cleaning themselves, they can quickly fall ill.”
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But the public can do their bit to help keep pets safe this Mother’s Day by choosing a different bouquet instead.
Lauren added: “Cats can really suffer after lily poisoning and it is so distressing to see and heartbreaking for pet owners.
“Thankfully, it’s really easy for the public to do their bit and help.
“We, of course, want to treat all the mums out there this Mother’s Day but if they are cat mums too please do not buy them lilies.”
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She adds: “Other flowers such as daffodils, tulips, holly and hyacinths can also be toxic to cats and dogs.
“However, even non-toxic plants may cause some stomach upsets if ingested so it’s always important to remember to place flowers out of reach of pets.”
The RSPCA also reports that chocolate poisoning is the most commonly reported type of animal poisoning – so the charity is reminding people to keep Mother’s Day treats out of reach of cats and dogs.
Lauren says: “If you suspect that your pet has eaten chocolate, don’t delay in calling your vet first for advice on bringing them into the practice.
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“Your vet will want to know how much chocolate your pet has eaten and what type. If possible, keep any labels and have your pet’s weight to hand.”
Signs that your pet could have been poisoned
depression
lack of appetite
vomiting and diarrhoea
breathing difficulties and bad breath
twitching
seizures.
“Ahead of the Mother’s Day celebrations, and as we all strive to create a better world for every animal, we urge pet owners to ensure the occasion is as pet-friendly as possible and share this advice with others to help us spread the word,” Lauren adds.
Nothing is more of a turn-off than worrying you’re going to be overheard when you’re having some ‘alone time’.
With the laughably horrific London rental market and the likelihood of buying a property in the city ever-dwindling, the chances of having a neighbour, flatmate, or — heaven forbid — family member catching wind of the fact you’re getting down to business have never been higher.
Ever creative, Gen Z (who are living at home for longer) has turned to having sex in bathrooms, cars, and hotel rooms to avoid that awkward possibility entirely. But if you’re lucky enough to be having any sex at all in this economy and don’t fancy doing it al fresco, there are other options. Don’t let the housing crisis get in your pants! Whether you’re playing solo or with a partner, there are ways to do it without rattling the walls.
Quiet sex toys are a great way of getting off worry-free, resident sexologist at sexual wellness brand SheSpot, Emily King, explains. “Quiet sex toys are a great option for anyone with more limited privacy; students, those living with parents, parents living with children, even those living in flats who are mindful of walls on the thin side”.
While you have nature’s tools at your disposal, using them can come with limitations. We can all recognise the sound of a clapping cheek or a squeaking bed frame in an instant. And, let’s be honest, for most people with vulvas, penetrative sex is not always enough to get over the finish line.
But adding in a sex toy is almost pointless if it makes a noise so deafening that it distracts you from the task at hand. “The promise of a quiet toy helps people to experience more relaxed pleasure as they aren’t overly focused on loud noises,” King adds. “They can offer relief and help people stay in their bodies rather than their minds during sex. Louder toys can cause anxiety around being overheard and therefore can disrupt arousal.”
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We all have enough on our minds, so investing in a quiet (or best case, silent) toy could dissolve stress in more ways than one.
“Quiet toys often come with a lower buzz, even on higher/stronger settings,” King explains. “Silent sex toys offer even less noise, often described as ‘whisper quiet’ if they’re vibration or suction based toys. There are lots of non-vibrating toys which are completely silent.”
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For an added layer of reassurance, you can also experiment with switching up how and where you use your sex toy, King suggests. “Create an environment and space that supports your comfort and sense of ease as this will contribute to less anxiety around being heard,” she says. “Music can help to buffer any sound, and making sure your space is secured can contribute to increased relaxation.
Other rooms such as the bathroom can offer more privacy due to locked doors and sound buffers such as running water. Lots of toys are waterproof and can be used in the bath or shower. Look for toys that offer ‘whisper quiet’ or ‘discreet’ in their descriptions.”
As well as assessing for the obvious pleasure factor, I tested each toy for noise levels by using them in a variety of locations, including under duvets and blankets, and in the shower — both with a partner and alone.
To double check no one could overhear, I turned the toys on and left them over the covers on my bed before standing outside my room to see if I could hear them. Each toy has been given a ‘noise rating’, with one being inescapably cacophonous and 10 being undetectable to the naked ear.
The airline has confirmed it will be operating a limited flight schedule to and from Doha
Qatar Airways has issued an update for passengers after temporarily suspending scheduled flights due to the ongoing closure of Qatari airspace amid conflict across the Middle East.
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The airline said it is working to help affected travellers continue their journeys before normal operations are expected to resume.
In a statement, the Qatar Airways said: “We want you to know that we are doing our utmost to support you with your journey, and to reunite you with your family and loved ones.
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“We recognise this situation may be unsettling and are working to keep you moving while we prepare for the safe return of our usual operations. Your patience and understanding mean a great deal to us, and we are truly grateful for your continued support at this challenging time.
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“Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe full reopening of Qatari airspace by the relevant authorities.”
The airline said ‘temporary authorisation’ from the aviation authority has meant limited operating corridors have been confirmed. It plans to operate a number of flights over the coming days.
These flights are intended to help passengers directly impacted by the disruption and will remain subject to regulatory approval and changing airspace conditions.
Flights are currently planned to depart from Hamad International Airport in Doha from Sunday (March 15) to several major international destinations including:
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London Heathrow Airport
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport
Frankfurt Airport
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol
New York JFK Airport
Melbourne Airport
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport
Routes will operate in both directions. The airline also confirmed that additional flights arriving into Doha from major cities around the world are planned through to Wednesday (March 18) to help stranded travellers.
In addition to the limited schedule, Qatar Airways has organised a number of direct ‘point-to-point flights’ to help some passengers complete their journeys.
Passengers eligible for these flights will be contacted directly by the airline. However, the airline stressed that these services ‘do not constitute a confirmation of the resumption of scheduled commercial operations’.
Travellers have been warned not to go to the airport unless they have a confirmed ticket, as schedules could change or flights could still be cancelled depending on operational or safety conditions.
Passengers with confirmed bookings between February 28 and March 28, 2026 are eligible for flexible options, including a complimentary date change to travel on Qatar Airways flights up to April 30, 2026 or a refund for the unused ticket value.
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Passengers can check the latest flight information on the Qatar Airways website or mobile app, or through their travel agent. The airline said the next operational update is expected tomorrow as the situation continues to evolve.
The France defence coach signed off his interview in the perfect way after his side won the Six Nations
Shaun Edwards left pundits laughing after delivering a cheeky reminder of his remarkable Six Nations record following France’s astonishing title-winning victory over England.
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France edged a breathtaking contest 48-46 to seal the championship, capping another triumph for the legendary former Wales defence coach.
The win marked Edwards’ seventh Six Nations title — four with Wales and now three with France — but the statistic initially went unmentioned during his post-match interview with Topsy Ojo.
Instead, Edwards found himself fielding questions about France’s defence after a chaotic finale to the tournament in which Les Bleus conceded 96 points across their final two games, including 50 against Scotland and 46 against England.
Despite that, Edwards took the discussion in good spirits.
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“Another crazy, great game for the fans — those at home and at the stadium,” he said.
“Rugby at the moment, particularly the Six Nations, is just phenomenal.”
The veteran coach also defended the broader trend of high-scoring matches in the modern game.
“If it was just your team defending and conceding so many points, you’d be worried,” he said.
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“England have an excellent defence coach and defensive system and they’ve conceded more than us!
“Obviously it’s a bit frustrating at times, but that’s the way the game is going.
“Scores all around the world — Super Rugby, New Zealand taking 39 points off Australia last summer — it’s a regular occurrence nowadays.”
Edwards also highlighted the development of a young French squad he believes still has plenty of improvement to come.
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“It’s a group we are building. We feel they can improve in the future,” he said.
“We had a couple of young players — like Oscar Jegou — who has been phenomenal in this tournament. He’s a guy 100 per cent for the future.”
But it was Edwards’ final comment that stole the show.
As the interview wrapped up and he prepared to step away, the former Wales coach turned back with a grin and delivered one final line.
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“Thank you — that’s my seventh one, that, by the way!”
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The cameras then quickly panned back to the pitchside pundits, who had erupted in laughter.
Dan Biggar said to Mark Pougatch: “What did I say to you off-air? I said that was his seventh!”
Edwards is rightly revered as one of the greatest defensive minds in the game and his seven Six Nations titles is testament to that.
Former 90s TV star John Alford, known for his roles in Grange Hill and London’s Burning, has died at the age of 54 after being convicted in January of sexually abusing two underage girls
08:30, 15 Mar 2026Updated 08:33, 15 Mar 2026
What started as a seemingly harmless sleepover descended into horror for two teenage girls following their encounter with John Alford. The former TV pin-up, aged 54, has died in jail just weeks after being handed an eight-and-a-half-year jail term for child sex offences after abusing two adolescent girls at his mate’s property.
The ex-actor, recognised for his parts in Grange Hill and London’s Burning, gave the youngsters, aged 14 and 15, alcohol, the court was told, following a 4.30am trip to a petrol station where he splashed out £250 on cigarettes, snacks and booze – including rum, beer and flavoured vodka.
Alford, convicted under his birth name John Shannon, showed no remorse during sentencing after being found guilty of four counts of sexual activity with a child, plus two further counts of sexual assault and assault by penetration involving a second victim at St Albans Crown Court on September 5. The assaults occurred at his friend’s residence in April 2022, following an evening at the pub.
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The teenagers had been having an unplanned sleepover during their Easter school holidays at the home of a third girl, whose father was friends with Alford – of Hartham Road, Islington. Apart from Alford, all other adults in the house eventually retired to bed.
The court heard that due to the nature of conversations the disgraced actor had with the teenagers during the night, he was aware of their ages. After a trip to the shop, he provided the underage girls with Ciroc flavoured vodka, whilst he himself drank a bottle of beer.
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The father-of-four proceeded to have sexual intercourse with the 14 year old girl in the garden of the property and later in a downstairs toilet. He also inappropriately touched the 15 year old girl as she lay semi-conscious on the living room sofa.
In heart-wrenching testimony, the 14 year old victim disclosed that she was a virgin and had pleaded with Alford to stop “three or four times”.
She further testified that “I told him to stop because I didn’t want to have sex with an old man”. The court also heard Alford ask her “do you want this babe?” to which she replied “no”.
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The other victim testified that “We were all just like dozing off. That was when John started to touch me.”
The teenager also told the court that she felt “absolutely sick” after the assault, and once she had reached the safety of the other victim’s home she showered, and the two teenagers “spoke about everything that happened” in a bathroom together.
In deeply distressing victim impact statements, the teenage survivors laid bare the horrific injuries inflicted by Alford and the devastating long-term consequences of the attack. For the 15 year old victim, this included attempting suicide and self-harming.
“This man destroyed my mental wellbeing. When I was 16 I tried to take my own life with sleeping tablets,” she described. “I was in so much physical and emotional pain I cut myself deeply. I used my mum’s lighter to burn the inside of my thighs as well.
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“I felt so suicidal and depressed, words cannot describe how I felt.”
She went on to detail the daily struggles she now endures following the assault, including travelling on public transport, going to the toilet alone at night, and confessed: “I struggle with men. I don’t want to think of every man as evil, but I do. I will never forget his face, his scent, his voice or him.”
The 14 year old victim revealed in her statement that even embracing her own father had become difficult after the attack. “I’m the victim of penetrative sexual assault. Being sexually assaulted has affected my family in every way,” she wrote.
The court was told that the sexualhealth examination she underwent following the assault proved traumatic and had to be halted due to the severe pain it caused. She was required to take emergency contraception and received injections to prevent HIV and other infections, which left visible bruising.
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“I was scared people were going to notice and wonder why I had them,” she said. The 14 year old victim also shared, “It has affected me severely with school. I didn’t care about my GCSEs as this was the only thing that mattered. I wasn’t bothered about my personal hygiene or appearance. I was just existing.”
She went on to say, “I was getting flashbacks. I’ve been getting dreams. I’m convinced he’s going to come through my door. I also find it hard being intimate with my boyfriend because of this.
“The assault by John has completely changed my perspective on life. It has made me look very differently at the world and I now have worries for my life and my future children. I will not let this assault define me, but it has been constantly in my mind.”
Tina Chummun, a member of the Counselling Directory, told the Mirror that the type of traumatic injury these teenage survivors have endured fundamentally changes how a “survivor experiences the world” and psychologically, there is no “normal” to return to.
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Tina, who specialises in trauma therapy for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse and has worked for The Women’s Trust, explained: “Recovery after sexual assault is not about ‘going back to normal’, because trauma changes how a survivor experiences the world. The survivor will experience their world through their trauma lens for some time that their body and mind needs for recovery – however long that takes, and it is dependent on the survivor.”
Alford’s appalling attack need not “define” his young victims, “but it will shape [their lives] in profound ways,” the trauma specialist explains. This occurs “because [the] nervous system is still living in survival mode. When someone experiences an intimate violation, their brain’s threat system becomes hyper-alert and struggles to tell the difference between what is safe and what is dangerous.
“Everyday stress, memories, smells, touch or even moments of closeness can trigger the same fight, flight, freeze or fawn responses as the original trauma. This is why survivors often live with flashbacks, fear, shame, self-blame, frequent triggers from daily experiences and difficulties with trust and intimacy long after the event.”
Ms Chummun said simply allowing time to pass is insufficient for recovery. “Healing involves more than time passing. It requires trauma-informed support in a safe, empathic, supportive, boundaried and non-judgemental space where the experience can be processed rather than pushed away. It’s the awareness, acceptance and then the acknowledgement to want to work towards changing thoughts and behaviours related to the trauma that will mean the survivor has processed it. The awareness and acceptance part of the recovery process are the most challenging. Without this, the body continues to carry the trauma as if it is still happening.
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“Psychological pain is experienced in the same brain regions as physical pain, so survivors are not being dramatic when they say it hurts. It truly does. Recovery looks like slowly rebuilding a sense of safety in their body, restoring confidence, reclaiming their power and choices, having a personal safety plan in place, can be worked on together with a therapist, and learning that life can be lived again without ‘fear’ being in their driving seat.”
Fletcher’s Family Farm stars Kelvin and Liz Fletcher shared their hopes that their children would one day take over the farm as they discussed their future plans
Abbie Bray Deputy Editor for Screen Time
08:30, 15 Mar 2026
Kelvin and Liz Fletcher expressed the hope that their children would eventually inherit the farm from them as they pondered the future. During the latest instalment of Fletcher’s Family Farm, which airs on Sunday, Kelvin and Liz discussed the Fletcher’s products they sell, which help “keep the farm thriving”.
The pair, who were recently left without a home due to a fire, devised a plan to generate income from the wool their sheep produce. Liz explained that it cost the couple to have the sheep sheared and that by transforming them into blankets, they could recoup some of the cost.
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She highlighted the harsh reality that farmers face, having to diversify their businesses to earn more money because “farmers are struggling”.
Expressing her dream for the future and how vital it is to her to have their children participating in the farm, Liz shared, “Having the kids involved and helping just makes me special, because they’ll one day, hopefully, take over me, and Kelvin can be in the Bahamas,” reports the Mirror. “So I’m hoping that the kids are doing all this, and we’re just sitting back, and they’re sending us money,” she laughed.
Kelvin chimed in, “You know what I would actually love, let’s say in, I don’t know, 20 years from now, that I’m just kind of the farm handyman, the farm labourer, and that the kids are running a big farming enterprise. “.
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“Yeah, do you think you’ll let go, though?” Liz asked. “Do you think you’ll let go of that control? Because, knowing you, I can’t imagine it.” Reflecting on it, Kelvin observed, “I think that’s probably the hardest thing for most farming families to let go.”
Liz light-heartedly joked, “I won’t. I’ll be on a cruise. I’m doing my shift, and then I’m enjoying the rest of it.” She added, “Maybe we should do a series. We’ll come back when we’re 80, we’ll still be here in the same room, boxing blankets. Kids will be doing something completely different.”
Elsewhere in the episode, the Fletchers prepare for their biggest event of the year in the form of a six-day-long Christmas celebration gala that welcomes families to the farm for festive fun.
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The family’s much-loved pet Ginger also gives birth to her puppies, and the flock gets lost in the fog.
Fletcher’s Family Farm airs on Sunday at 11.25am on ITV.
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ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkey’s powerful foreign minister said Saturday that there is no serious initiative to resume negotiations between the United States and Iran but that he believes Iran is open to back-channel talks.
The comments by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to The Associated Press in an exclusive interview came as Ankara is striving to stay out of the widening war in the Middle East.
Ankara, which has good relations with both Washington and Tehran, had attempted to mediate a solution between them before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran two weeks ago, triggering the war.
“The conditions are not very much conducive” to diplomacy now, Fidan said. The Iranians “feel betrayed” because for a second time they were attacked while in active negotiations with the U.S. over their nuclear program, he said, but added, “I think they are open to any sensible back-channel diplomacy.”
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Fidan, 57, served as Turkey’s intelligence chief for more than a decade before being appointed foreign minister in 2023.
Key role in formulating Turkey’s Middle East policy
In that role, he played a key part in shaping Turkey’s policy in the Middle East, particularly toward Syria, Iraq and Iran. He is considered to be one of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ’s most trusted advisers and one of the potential candidates to succeed him.
Turkey has maintained a neutral position in the war, criticizing both the U.S and Israeli strikes against Iran and Tehran’s retaliatory actions against Gulf states that host U.S. bases. Fidan said he has been attempting to persuade the Iranians to halt those attacks.
Fidan said Turkey’s top priority is to remain outside of the conflict, even after three missiles believed to come from Iran were intercepted over Turkey by NATO defenses. Turkey is a NATO member and an air base in southern Turkey is used by NATO forces, including U.S. troops.
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Iranian officials have insisted that they did not fire at Turkey, although the available data shows that the missiles came from Iran, the Turkish foreign minister said.
He ruled out a military response at this stage, saying that NATO’s defenses were effective and that Ankara’s “primary objective” is to stay out of the conflict.
“I know that we are being provoked and we will be provoked, but this is our objective,” he said. “We want to stay out of this war.”
Fidan, who has regular contact with Iranian officials, said he does not know the severity of the wounds suffered by Iran’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in a strike earlier in the war, but that “what we know is that he is alive and functioning.”
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Khamenei was appointed to replace his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed Feb. 28 during the war’s opening salvo.
Fidan said “the process of electing a new leader and the medical conditions of the new leader, it created a gap” in Iran’s power structure and “I think that gap has been filled by the high command of the Revolutionary Guards,” referring to the paramilitary force reporting to the Supreme Leader.
A failed peace initiative
Before the conflict, Turkey tried to avert a war by offering to host talks in Istanbul that would have brought U.S., Iran and other regional countries together. Iran later opted for talks mediated by Oman, without the participation of regional actors and focusing solely on its nuclear program — talks that ultimately failed.
Fidan said that Iran had refused to discuss its missile program and the proxy armed groups it backs in the region, including the Lebanese Hezbollah and a group of Iraqi militias — both of which have now waded into the regional war.
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Turkey had proposed that “the Americans and the Iranians can discuss fully the nuclear issue and we as regional countries can come together to discuss the other two with Iran” as part of an initiative to build trust within the region.
Tensions with Israel
Turkey and Israel have tense relations, with Erdogan becoming one of the most vocal critics of Israel’s actions in Gaza. Turkey has cut trade ties with Israel and frequently accuses Israel of committing genocide. Israel in turn accuses Turkey of supporting Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that launched the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack in southern Israel.
Since Israel launched its strikes on Iran, some have gone as far as to suggest that Turkey could be the next target. Fidan dismissed that possibility, while acknowledging that the war in Iran gave Turkey an increased incentive to step up its own production of weapons and air defenses.
“As long as Netanyahu is there, (Israel) will always identify somebody as an enemy,” he said. “Because they need it to advance their own agenda. If not Turkey, they would name some other country in the region.”
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He criticized Israel’s role elsewhere in the region, including in Syria, where both countries have strategic interests.
Turkey has been a strong backer of the current government in Damascus led by interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, the former leader of an Islamist rebel group.
Israel regards al-Sharaa’s government with suspicion and, since it took power in December 2024, Israeli forces have seized control of a swathe of land in southern Syria and launched airstrikes on Syrian military facilities, wiping out much of the country’s arsenal. Israel has said its presence in Syria is meant to secure its border from another Oct. 7-style attack.
“They are after not security, they are after more land,” Fidan said. “So as long as they don’t give up this idea, there will always be a war in the Middle East.”
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An ongoing role in Gaza
Turkey has also sought to play an active role in postwar Gaza. It has joined U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace — boycotted by many other countries that see it as an attempt to supplant the United Nations and criticize the lack of a role for Palestinians — and has offered to supply troops for an international stabilization force in the battered enclave.
Fidan said it was important for Turkey to join the Board of Peace, as an “opportunity” to stop the war, although “we are not under the illusion that the Board of Peace will address all the existing issues.”
Fidan said Turkey has not received a request to contribute troops to the stabilization force, which he attributed to the Israeli opposition, but added, “I think the Americans are quietly trying to settle the issue with the Israelis to allow Turkey to participate.”
Fidan said however, that Turkey’s priority was the establishment of an administration committee for Gaza, which is to be made up of 15 politically independent Palestinian administrators.
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“We expect them to go into Gaza and start their work,” he said. “This has not started yet, so we need to start from somewhere.”
The stand-off between Ten Hag and Sancho lasted four months, before Sancho joined Dortmund on loan for the remainder of the season and helped them reach the Champions League final.
But they could not afford to keep him and, although United sporting director Dan Ashworth was credited with brokering the truce that allowed Sancho to join up with United in the pre-season of 2024, it was a temporary situation, which Chelsea seemed to solve by agreeing a loan that committed them to a permanent transfer at the end of the season.
Yet, after five goals in 41 appearances, Chelsea preferred to pay a £5m penalty to send Sancho back to Old Trafford.
This time, there was no olive branch. Sancho was placed in Ruben Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’ and had to train away from the first team until he joined Villa on 1 September.
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United have an option to trigger an additional year on Sancho’s contract, which otherwise expires in the summer. In public, they are reserving their position on that. No-one expects it to happen.
At 25, Sancho still has a lot to offer. There have been glimpses of quality during his time at Villa, but it is by no means certain he will stay there beyond the end of the season.
“Seeing Jadon close up, technically, he’s got an awful lot of ability,” said current United interim head coach Michael Carrick, who worked with Sancho as part of Solskjaer’s backroom team and managed him for three games during his short stint in charge after the Norwegian’s dismissal.
“In and around the box; his ball carrying; his little plays; the connections; his creativity; the way he handles the ball – he’s got natural ability.
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“He’s always had it all the way coming through. That’s one part of football.
“But – and I’m not talking about Jadon individually on this – it is just how it is and how it should be.
“You can’t just assume it’s all going to be smooth. It’s proven that it’s not always like that.
“You’ve got to find a way through it. If you are playing in a good team with good players and a good squad and depth, that’s part of the challenge to stay at the top.”
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