The inflatable octopus, which was set to appear as part of a free Family Friendly Saturday event organised by York BID, was set to appear in King’s Staith with performances scheduled for 2pm, 4pm, and 6pm.

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A spokesperson at the event told onlookers: “Sorry, it’s unsafe for our performer. It’s just too windy,” with the BID adding on their Instagram page that they were “so sorry” for the cancellation and any further updates would be shared to their stories.

Due to high winds, the tentacled puppet was moved to Tower Gardens with its 2pm show cancelled at the last minute because of the weather conditions.

The performance was unable to go ahead due to the high winds (Image: Alice Kavanagh)

The 4pm and 6pm are set to go ahead in the Coppergate Centre, according to an update from the York BID team.

The Giant Inflatable Octopus is York BID’s seventh Family Friendly Saturday, following six successful 2025 events that attracted thousands of families into the city centre for free early-evening experiences.

Searches are continuing for missing teenager Declan Berry

Searches are continuing for missing teen Declan Berry after a fatal car crash near Wisbech St Mary. Emergency services have been at North Brink since the evening of March 17, following reports that a car containing five people had entered the water.

The car, which contained four other people, aged between 16 and 18, entered the River Nene at North Brink at about 8.20pm. Specialist dive teams recovered the body of a 16-year-old girl, who was believed to be a rear seat passenger in the car.

It was confirmed that Eden Bunn, from Sutton Bridge, was recovered from the water. The three other people involved – two girls aged 16 and an 18-year-old boy – got out of the vehicle and were taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King’s Lynn, with non-life-threatening injuries.

In a tribute, Eden’s parents, Lisa and Dean, her brother Jay, sister Shelby and nephew Axl said: “Eden was the kindest, most loving girl we could ever wish for. Her horses – Daisy and Dolly – were her world, and she was ours. Words cannot describe the tragedy that will stay with us until we are able to meet her again.”

Declan Berry, 18, from Wisbech, is believed to have been driving the blue VW Polo when it entered the water. The car was recovered on March 22 but specialist teams continue to search for Declan.

In a tribute, Declan’s family and friends said: “We are absolutely devastated beyond words and ask for privacy during this tragic time.”

Detective Inspector Craig Wheeler, from the Road Policing Unit, said: “We are still actively searching for Declan along the River Nene. We continue to support his family, who were present today when the vehicle was recovered. My thoughts remain with the families and friends of Eden Bunn and Declan Berry during this awful time.”

Police continue to appeal for witnesses and dashcam footage. Anyone with information is asked to quote incident 515 of 17 March and report it through the force website those without internet access should call 101.

Manchester United aren’t allowing the international break to impede their pursuits ahead of a hectic summer transfer window

While many across the Premier League may regard the international break as an opportunity for a breather, Manchester United certainly don’t. Updates continue to flow from Old Trafford during what has proved to be a highly productive spell for the club.

Michael Carrick’s credentials for securing the permanent manager’s position continue to strengthen as United reflect on their recent progress. The club icon has suffered defeat just once across his 10 matches in charge, boasting a flawless winning record in five outings at Old Trafford.

His work this campaign is far from complete, though preparations for what could prove another transformative transfer window are already in motion. Last summer witnessed United complete several signings who have played a significant role in the turnaround, and Carrick will be hoping he remains in post to oversee proceedings this year.

The atmosphere surrounding United could scarcely be more positive compared to the despondency that prevailed when Ruben Amorim departed in January. MEN Sport examines the latest developments at the club as United gear up for their return to action against Leeds in a fortnight’s time.

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United receive update on Baleba fee

After being blown away by Brighton’s valuation of the player last summer, United have been handed a significant boost in their pursuit of Carlos Baleba. Following a late enquiry about the midfielder’s availability, United quickly withdrew upon discovering the Seagulls were demanding in excess of £100million for his signature.

In the current market and considering the campaign Baleba had just completed, some clubs may well have matched that asking price. However, Brighton have apparently revised their expectations following the 22-year-old’s reduced impact this season.

The Sun reported Brighton are now considerably more receptive to a deal than they were 12 months previously. Having had the opportunity to process the situation and identify a replacement, the Seagulls would also accept a lower fee for their star.

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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United certainly appear destined to recruit midfield reinforcements. Casemiro has already confirmed he’ll be departing, while speculation linking captain Bruno Fernandes with an exit continues to persist.

Precisely how much Brighton have adjusted their valuation of Baleba, who arrived from Lille for an initial £23.2m in 2023, remains uncertain. A cautious projection would suggest the south coast outfit expects to at least triple that sum should they sell this summer, assuming United maintain the same level of interest.

Dalot says Carrick and Amorim ‘not that different’

Diogo Dalot has surprisingly offered the view that interim United manager Carrick hasn’t altered things dramatically at United compared to when Amorim was at the helm. Nevertheless, the most significant adjustment to United’s system has enabled the side to rediscover their spark going forward.

United have collected 23 points from a possible 30 in the league since Carrick assumed control in January. This contrasts with a haul of just 14 points from the preceding 10 league fixtures under Amorim, several of which appeared more manageable on paper.

Dalot, 27, has been a constant presence under both managers and offered fascinating insight into the distinctions between the two. Yet it was actually the full-back’s observations on how the coaching approaches are comparable that was most surprising.

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Speaking to DAZN Portugal, he said: “If you analyse it closely, things are not that different from what we were doing with Ruben. If you look at the pieces of the game individually, you don’t see that many differences. The biggest difference is the profile of the player. Now we play with one less defender and one more attacking player.

“As I say many times, at the end of the day what really matters is the result. When confidence is high, with the quality of players we have, sometimes you don’t even need to say much and players go on the pitch and perform well.”

Led by The Sensory Place, a charity supporting young people up to the age of 25 with disabilities, the scheme gives them the opportunity to design, decorate, and plant bee and butterfly-friendly planters at the Merryoaks Community Centre in Neville’s Cross.

Amy Henderson, co-founder and trustee at The Sensory Place, said: “Children and young people with disabilities, and their families, often face significant barriers to inclusion in community life, with mainstream environmental and creative activities rarely being adapted to meet their needs.

“This project will provide a safe, inclusive space where our children can take part in hands-on environmental activities and engage in sensory-rich play while also learning about local wildlife and sustainability.

“Decorating the planters also adds a creative, confidence-building element to it and we can’t wait how our young people decide to express themselves.”

The project, named Bees & Butterflies, is funded by a £2,000 grant from the Banks Group’s Banks Community Fund, which will pay for materials, seeds, tools, and staffing.

The Sensory Place was established in 2019 by parents and carers seeking more inclusive opportunities for their children.

While most participants are from Durham and Sunderland, families from Washington, South Tyneside, and Newcastle also take part.

In addition to its youth programmes, the charity hosts events for parents and carers, creating a supportive space for those with shared experiences.

Ms Henderson said that involving the wider community is an important part of the project.

She said: “We hope that involving local residents with the project will help to bring the community together by breaking down the barriers that can sometimes exist between families with disabled children and people who might not have any personal experience of meeting them.

“We try to keep our costs as low as possible, so that activities remain accessible to everyone who might enjoy them, and we’re really grateful to the Banks Group for helping us take this new project forward.”

The charity is inviting residents to help decorate the planters and to take one home once they begin to flower in the spring and summer.

Kate Culverhouse, community relations manager at the Banks Group, said: “The Sensory Place team has a deep personal understanding of the needs of young people with disabilities and their families, and offers an extensive range of inclusive and engaging activities which help to meet them.

“The Bees & Butterflies project will not only give the young people a great chance to enjoy some hands-on learning, but it will also have a wider positive impact on the local community when the planters come into full bloom in residents’ homes.”

For more information about the project, visit www.thesensoryplace.net or email hello@thesensoryplace.net.

Having high cholesterol can raise your risk of heart attacks and strokes

The NHS has highlighted several crucial lifestyle changes that your GP may suggest before turning to medication. These recommendations might be made prior to prescribing statins, which are among the most frequently dispensed medicines across Britain.

Statins are a type of drug that can lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, commonly known as “bad” cholesterol, in the bloodstream. High LDL cholesterol poses significant health risks, as it can lead to arteries narrowing and hardening.

It also represents a major risk factor for heart disease, an umbrella term encompassing various conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels, including heart attacks, strokes, angina, and coronary heart disease. This remains amongst the primary causes of death across the UK.

The NHS website states that a doctor may suggest statin treatment if you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease, or if your individual and family medical history indicates a likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease within the next decade, and lifestyle modifications haven’t reduced this risk.

However, before prescribing statins, your doctor will “usually” suggest specific modifications. The NHS stated: “If you’re at risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the near future, your doctor will usually recommend lifestyle changes to reduce this risk before they suggest that you take statins.” The NHS suggests that these can “reduce your cholesterol level and cardiovascular disease risk”. The recommended changes include:

• Eating a healthy, balanced diet
• Exercising regularly
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Limiting the amount of alcohol you consume
• Quitting smoking

However, the NHS stated: “Statins may be recommended if these measures do not help.”

Diet

The health body said you should try to cut down on fatty food, especially food that contains a type of fat called saturated fat. “You can still have foods that contain a healthier type of fat called unsaturated fat,” it said.

Therefore, you should try to eat more:

• Oily fish, like mackerel and salmon
• Olive oil, rapeseed oil and spreads made from these oils
• Brown rice, wholegrain bread and wholewheat pasta
• Nuts and seeds
• Fruits and vegetables

And you should try to eat less:

• Meat pies, sausages and fatty meat
• Butter, lard and ghee
• Cream and hard cheese, like cheddar
• Cakes and biscuits
• Food that contains coconut oil or palm oil

Exercise

The NHS said you should aim to do at least 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of exercise a week.

Stop smoking

The NHS said: “Smoking can raise your cholesterol and make you more likely to have serious problems like heart attacks, strokes and cancer.” If you want to stop smoking, you can get help and support from your GP or the NHS Stop Smoking Service – your GP can refer you or you can ring the helpline on 0300 123 1044 (England only).

Alcohol

The NHS said you should:

• Avoid drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week
• Have several drink-free days each week
• Avoid drinking lots of alcohol in a short time (binge drinking)

What is considered high cholesterol?

The only way to be sure if your cholesterol levels are too high is to take a cholesterol test. These will confirm your:

• Total cholesterol – the overall amount of cholesterol in your blood
• Good cholesterol (called HDL) – this may make you less likely to have heart problems or a stroke
• Non-HDL cholesterol – the difference between total cholesterol and HDL

The NHS explained: “What is a good target level for you depends on things like your age, whether you have any health conditions and your risk of cardiovascular disease.” But generally, the following levels are considered “healthy”:

• Total cholesterol – below 5mmol/L
• HDL (good cholesterol) – above 1.0mmol/L for men or above 1.2mmol/L for women
• Non-HDL (bad cholesterol) – below 4mmol/L

Even considering Itauma’s generational talent and rapid rise, his target of becoming heavyweight boxing’s youngest world champion has proved wildly optimistic. Indeed, that particular ship has sailed now that Itauma is older than the mark set by Mike Tyson – 20 years, four months and 23 days – in 1986. Comparisons have been drawn between Itauma and Tyson, given their power and success at a young age, though the former moved to distance himself from such discourse this week, saying: “I guess we’re kind of a polar opposite… We both just love knockouts.” 

And while murmurings of potential fights against Filip Hrgovic, Murat Gassiev, Lawrence Okolie and Oleksandr Usyk continue to swirl, Itauma has insisted that his focus is firmly fixed on Franklin. Speaking in his pre-fight press conference, the Chatham fighter said: “I have a serious opponent in Jermaine Franklin. We’ve asked for this fight [for] a year and a half, or something like that, so now we’ve got it. I feel this is the kind of the final piece to the puzzle.”

In his three-year professional career Itauma has contested just 26 rounds, many of which ended prematurely. Testing himself against a fighter of Franklin’s calibre will provide further insight into exactly what the boxing phenom is capable of and how he can develop moving forward. “There’s questions that my team want to know about me, there’s questions that I want to know about myself and I’m sure that there are a lot of questions that the fans want to know about me as well,” Itauma said. “So I feel like Jermanine Franklin is the final piece of the puzzle. So when I get asked about other fighters [I think to myself], that’s not going to happen if I don’t get through Jermaine Franklin. This is a serious fight and I’m looking forward to it.” 

Main-event ring walk expected at 11pm GMT

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The Manchester United legend’s mother Marie Keane passed away peacefully on Friday surrounded by her family in Cork

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Roy Keane has shared a poignant five-word tribute following the passing of his mother, Marie, on Friday.

Marie Keane (née Lynch) died peacefully surrounded by her loved ones in St. Anne’s Ward at Marymount University Hospital and Hospice, Cork.

The mother-of-five had a profound influence on her son Roy, who represented Manchester United and Celtic, and earned nearly 70 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

It’s widely acknowledged that Keane, who seldom discusses his private life, shared a close bond with his parents. His father Maurice (Mossie) died in August 2019.

During an episode of The Overlap podcast last summer, Keane became visibly moved when shown a photograph of his mother and father, Mossie, attending one of his matches during his Manchester United career, reports the Irish Mirror.

“You’re on about family, the ups and downs of football. But when you see your family at Wembley after you’ve won a big game…,” said Keane, who grew emotional and received comfort from friend Wright with a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Posting on social media on Saturday evening, the 54 year old made his sentiments clear when, alongside a photograph of himself with his mother, he wrote: “You’ll always be the boss.”

Marie Keane will be laid to rest on Tuesday following Requiem Mass at the Church of the Resurrection, Farranree.

Countless well-wishers, relatives and members of the public have expressed their condolences to Mrs Keane on social media.

“Our deepest condolences to the Keane family at this sad time. May your mum rest in peace,” said Mayfield AFC in Cork. Another person wrote: “Sincere sympathy to the Keane and Lynch families on your sad loss. Marie was a lovely lady. We had many happy years working in Sunbeam. May her gentle soul, rest in peace.”

A third added: “My condolences to the Keane family. My mum always always spoke so kindly of your mum before they were married and had kids. My own mum just sadly just passed as well so please allow your selves be vulnerable with grief next few weeks. God bless.”

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Minister Torsten Bell has urged people to check online if they are affected by state pension age changes as the retirement age increases from 66 to 67

A DWP minister has urged people to check whether they will be affected by an upcoming change to the state pension. Senior minister Torsten Bell encouraged the public to visit the Government’s website to find out if they are affected.

The minister addressed the Work and Pensions Committee regarding proposed changes to the state pension age. The qualifying age for the benefit is set to rise from this April, increasing from 66 in stages, before reaching 67 by April 2028.

The state pension age is scheduled to rise once more, from 67 to 68, between 2044 and 2046. Mr Bell discussed what support is available for those who face a longer wait before retiring and must remain in employment as a result.

He also outlined how individuals can determine whether they are affected by the rise in state pension age. On this matter, he confirmed that advertisements have been issued “encouraging people to go and check their state pension age”, directing people to an online resource.

The minister said: “There are digital tools that enable people to know their state pension age. All people need to do is put their date of birth into the Work out your State Pension age tool and it tells them straight away.” This tool is available via the Government website, reports the Mirror.

The tool can also be used to check your bus pass age and when you will become eligible for free bus travel. Mr Bell referenced a survey suggesting that 96 per cent of people aged 60 to 64 find it very or fairly straightforward to find out their state pension age.

The minister said: “That is good news. Our wider work is to drive people to those tools. Some of that is around radio campaigns-you will probably hear some of those-where the evidence shows it is most likely to have an effect. They have higher trust in radio advertising than others.”

Letters going out

He noted that the previous Conservative Government had contacted all those affected by the gradual transition from age 66 to 67, in 2016. He added that the DWP under the current Government intends to carry on writing to individuals as they approach retirement age.

Mr Bell said: “Three million letters have already gone to people who will be in the 67 cohort-the ones that are coming after 2028. I am sure we need to keep doing more on that front.”

The minister revealed that the DWP is also working “closely” with employers to ensure they are fully informed of the shifting state pension age. He elaborated: “We work with HMRC, who have bulletins that go directly to employers.

“It is important that it is not just about individuals knowing about the state pension age. Part of this is about employers expecting workers to either need or want to work later, so the communication is also with them.”

Alan Titchmarsh has shared how one garden item can attract rats and offered two simple tips to prevent the problem

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Rats are a frequent issue in gardens, and with the arrival of spring, the problem is set to intensify. As the weather warms up, many households will be keen to spend more time outside.

However, spring is peak breeding season for rats and mice. They’re hungry, seeking shelter, and they recognise that our gardens can offer perfect nesting spots and food sources.

Infestations can turn into a nightmare to eradicate and can be expensive to resolve. It’s crucial to prevent rats from taking over, and gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has some essential advice.

The horticultural guru revealed that one activity beloved by gardeners could actually be luring rats. Feeding birds can draw rats into the garden, as they too are eager to feast on their food.

Alan stated: “Most gardeners, myself included, love encouraging garden birds, so bird feeders are everywhere in this garden. But, they can also be a magnet for rats.”

Fortunately, there’s a way to deter rats from going after the bird food and invading your garden. Alan explained that it all comes down to where you place your bird feeder, reports the Mirror.

He advised: “The key to success with them is to position in the open, in the middle of your lawn. Rats hate running through exposed areas. If you put your bird feeder alongside a hedge or wall, that’s great as they have shelter and they rush out and grab what they want and rush back.”

Alan suggests positioning your feeder right in the centre of your garden, well away from bushes, hedges and walls. Additionally, it will provide you with a clearer view of the birds when they visit to feed.

The gardener stressed: “So, in an open space is by far the best place for a bird feeder. Then, you shouldn’t have the rat problem.”

Alan has another tip that can be used to eliminate rats coming into the garden, alongside the position of the bird feeder. He recommends not leaving any bird food out overnight.

Alan said: “Put it out first thing in the morning.” He acknowledged many gardeners might be worried about his tip, as birds like to eat first thing in the morning.

However, he said it won’t be an issue for the birds as they can simply wait. Alan added: “If you have had a rat problem, they can wait half an hour before you put it out. That way, you’ll enjoy the garden birds and hopefully not a rat in sight.”