Pep Guardiola showed support for West Ham, who will attempt to slow down Arsenal’s title charge following Manchester City’s 3-0 win over Brentford on Saturday.
Southampton came away from the Riverside Stadium with a 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough following the pre-match ‘spygate’ in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs semi-final.
Liverpool drew 1-1 with Chelsea in a tough season for both teams, but Arne Slot said his side will be different come next season.
Pep: Come on you Irons!
Goals from Jeremy Doku, Erling Haaland and Omar Marmoush helped Manchester City put the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
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City sit just two points Arsenal and Guardiola wrapped up his post-match press conference by making a crossed-arms gesture and saying “Come on you Irons” ahead of Arsenal’s trip to the London Stadium.
City had looked nervy against a Brentford side chasing their own European dreams, but after the in-form Doku curled in a peach of an opener on the hour mark, City turned up the heat as Haaland bundled in a second and then teed up Marmoush for a late third.
Although his side are no longer in control of their destiny after Monday’s 3-3 draw at Everton, Guardiola is loving the thrill of another title race.
“I love to be here again,” he said. “We finish second again this season minimum so I love it. I didn’t enjoy last season and that moment when we were fighting to qualify for the Champions League was so difficult.
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“But the Carabao Cup is in our pocket and the FA Cup Final at Wembley is the most beautiful day of the season and I love it.”
Saints Boro all-square after first leg
Southampton parked ‘spygate’ and survived an early onslaught against aggrieved Middlesbrough as a pulsating first leg of this Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final somehow ended 0-0.
The noise around an already eagerly-anticipated clash increased immeasurably when Boro accused Saints of snooping on training this week, leading to the south coast club being charged with a breach of EFL regulations.
Southampton boss Tonda Eckert walked out of a tetchy post-match press conference having repeatedly sidestepped questions about ‘spygate’ following the Championship play-off semi-final clash at Middlesbrough.
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Asked if he was tempted to change his original plans, he said: “We tried to focus on the game as much as ever possible, to try to win it in the way we believe, in the way that is preparing a game.
“It’s sad that your first 10 questions are about that when you witness that first off from a team in the Championship, but I understand.”
Slot: Liverpool different next season
Head coach Arne Slot is “100 per cent convinced” Liverpool will be a different team next season after a 1-1 draw at home to Chelsea was greeted with boos.
Liverpool’s wait to secure Champions League football goes on, while Chelsea avoided a club record-equalling seventh straight defeat after goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Enzo Fernandez.
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The result left Slot facing more criticism from supporters but he retains the backing of the Anfield hierarchy and pledged to win back fans next season.
“Yeah, I do. Not this season, by the way,” said the Dutchman when asked whether he could turn the crowd around.
“This season they will have their opinion and it will not change but if we can have the summer that we are planning to have I am 100 per cent convinced we will be a different team next season than we are now.”
Hearts four points clear
Hearts dropped points but ensured they go into their penultimate match of the season with at least a one-point lead at the top of the William Hill Premiership following a 1-1 draw with Motherwell.
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The Jambos fell behind for the fifth straight game when Stephen Kingsley bundled the ball into his own net, but Lawrence Shankland’s 19th goal of the season ensured Hearts took a point from Fir Park.
Hearts are four points clear of Celtic, who will have the chance to reduce the deficit to one point if they defeat Rangers on Sunday.
Hearts boss Derek McInness thought referee Steven McLean had a poor night.
He said: “I thought the referee had a poor night. We’re all guilty of having poor nights but I didn’t think he’d settled the whole game.”
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What’s on today
Arsenal will continue their pursuit of a first title since 2004 when they come up against West Ham, who will be looking to climb out of the relegation places themselves at the London Stadium.
Celtic meet Rangers in a huge clash at the top of the William Hill Premiership. A win will take Celtic to within a point of league leaders Hearts.
The Championship and League One play-offs first leg games have finished but the League Two first leg games will get underway on Sunday.
Daniel Dubois stopped Fabio Wardley in a heavyweight classic in Manchester (Picture: Getty Images)
We may be seeing Daniel Dubois vs Fabio Wardley again after their incredible heavyweight bout in Manchester on Saturday night.
Dubois stopped Wardley in the 11th round to claim the WBO heavyweight title and become world champion for a second time, but only after huge scares early on.
Just seconds into the fight Dubois was down and he hit the canvas again in the third but battled back and poured on the punishment as the bout progressed.
Wardley was a bloody mess by the time the fight was stopped in the 11th and there is certainly an argument that the referee or his corner should have stepped in earlier.
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It was a thrilling contest, but as Wardley bravely survived late on, it became an uncomfortable one, with his eye swollen shut and at times staggering about the ring.
Dubois now has the WBO belt and options in front of him, but promoter Frank Warren has suggested that it could be the same opponent next for both men, with a rematch clause in the fight contract.
After the stunning scrap in Manchester, few fans would complain about seeing it again.
‘These two guys showed such heart and chins,’ said Warren. ‘It was an amazing fight that had everything.
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‘There’s a rematch clause in the contract. Let’s let the dust settle in the heavyweight division. Then we’ll see. He’s back and Fabio is not going away either. He’s a true gutsy man.’
Other potential moves for Dubois include a third fight with heavyweight ruler Oleksandr Usyk, although the Ukrainian has already beaten the Brit twice.
Dubois has now won world honours twice (Picture: Getty Images)
Moses Itauma is the mandatory WBO challenger, so will be calling for a bout against Dubois, while the winner of the expected Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight could come calling.
Dubois will need time to recover before thinking about what comes next, but was delighted to show off not just his power but his courage.
‘I know I’ve got bundles of heart,’ the 28-year-old said. ‘I’m a warrior in there. It was a flash knockdown. I had to bounce it off and come back harder.
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‘It feels great. I thank Fabio for a great fight. We move on now. I had to pull it out of the bag and use all my skills. What a great fight, what a great battle. I’m No1 again.
‘He’s a durable guy. A great warrior. It was an honour to be in the ring with him. I want to grow from this fight and go on a reign as champion again.’
Warren has seen it all in boxing and promoted Tyson Fury over the Gypsy King’s incredible career, but reckons Saturday night was the best heavyweight fight he’s ever put on.
Fabio Wardley made a brilliant start to the bout (Picture: Getty Images)
‘You witnessed something special tonight, ultra special,’ said the promoter of both men.
‘Two men bearing their hearts and souls in the ring. They didn’t leave one bit out. It’s the best heavyweight fight I’ve ever done.
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‘The determination, the will to win, neither of them taking a backwards step. Amazing.’
Simon Wade has sold the Tap and the Tutt in Bridge Street, Boroughbridge, to Punch Pubs & Co, a sale which was announced on Friday.
The company has around 1,300 leased pubs and is based in the traditional brewing town of Burton-on-Trent.
Simon acquired the former Grade II-listed Three Horseshoes in the summer of 2023 from former owner Alison Craddock, who retired, and after a lavish refurbishment, renamed it the Tap on the Tutt.
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It was the third of the Boroughbridge publican’s growing empire, adding to the Grantham Arms, which he acquired in 2018 and then the Fox and Hounds at nearby Langthorpe, gaining its freehold in 2020.
Simon then acquired and refurbished the Blue Bell in nearby Arkendale in October 2024 and only last Friday, re-opened the Punch Bowl at Marton Cum Grafton after another refurbishment.
The Tap on the Tutt (Image: Pic supplied)
The 52-year-old called the sale ‘good news’ adding he was very fortunate to sell the Tap on the Tutt in the current climate, when there are so many pubs on the market, including the nearby Aldwark Arms in Aldwark and The Victoria at Cattal.
Asked why he sold the pub, which has received glowing reviews on websites like Tripadvisor, along with a Cask Marque award for its beer, Simon says it was because he was contacted by Punch.
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He told the Press: “They approached me. They said they liked my pub. They said they wanted my pub. They made an offer and I accepted it.”
Simon continued: “In this climate, it’s unusual to have a buyer come to you that doesn’t need finance.
“Because of the challenges to businesses due to the Labour government, it also allows me to continue trading and investing in the rest of my pubs, keeping them afloat and employing people.”
Simon’s other pubs are also highly regarded, again with rave reviews online, with the publican well-known for turning around pubs in the Boroughbridge area and making a success of them.
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The Punch Bowl Inn, which re-opened last Friday to much acclaim (Image: Pic supplied)
He says the staff will stay on at the Tap and Tutt, it will remain business as usual, though the pub’s Facebook page says there will eventually be some changes in the drinks range, plus pop up food events.
“I still remain friends with the team and will continue to give guidance and advice.”
The sale follows the acquisition and re-opening of the Punch Bowl, which had been on the market for £695,000 freehold,
Simon continued: “The plan is to develop the Punch Bowl.”
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There is a cottage and gardens, with the cottage used as an office by former owner Provenance Inns. The plan is to convert that into a two-bed holiday cottage and find a more productive use for the garden.
Simon said he is delighted with the Punch Bowl’s first week of trading, and enjoyed meeting the villagers, who appreciate how he has transformed the building. And once any issues have been ironed out, he will begin marketing the pub and “shout from the rooftops.”
But already rave reviews are coming in on Tripadvisor and Google.
Among the many plaudits, one said on Tripadvisor: “What a transformation, the Punch Bowl is back with a bang, with a new owner and management and boy does it show. The pub has retained its quirky charm, and now offers great food and truly exceptional service.
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“This was long overdue, as it has been in a dire state for many years. I can only suggest you go soon and support the new owner and his team. We will be returning ourselves very soon.”
Offaly v Kilkenny Live stream and TV information, throw-in time, betting odds and all you need to know ahead of today’s Leinster Hurling Championship clash
Offaly face Kilkenny in Round 3 of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship at Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore on Sunday afternoon. Here’s everything you need to know about the game including kick-off time and TV details
Offaly take on Kilkenny this afternoon in Round 3 of the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.
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The Faithful County opened their campaign with a thrilling draw against Dublin, demonstrating they can compete at this level. However, they fell short of their best in defeat to Galway last time out, and must rediscover their opening-day form if they’re to have any hope of toppling the Cats today.
Here’s everything you need to know about the fixture:
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday restored broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a lower-court ruling that had threatened to upend one of the main ways abortions are provided across the nation.
The order signed by Justice Samuel Alito temporarily allows women seeking abortions to obtain the pill at pharmacies or through the mail, without an in-person visit to a doctor.
The latest order will remain in effect for another week while both sides respond and the high court considers the issue more fully.
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Most abortions use pills rather than procedures
The majority of abortions in the U.S. are obtained through medications. Some Democratic-led states have laws that seek to give legal protection to those who prescribe the drugs via telehealth to patients in states with bans.
Those prescriptions have blunted the impact of abortion bans that most Republican-led states have sought to enforce since the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. One recent report suggested that in the 13 states where abortion is banned at all stages of pregnancy, more women obtained abortions with pills prescribed by telehealth last year than by traveling to other states.
Louisiana sued to roll back the Food and Drug Administration’s rules on how mifepristone can be prescribed, asserting that the policy undermines the ban there. The case also questioned the safety of the drug, which was approved 25 years ago and has repeatedly been deemed safe and effective by FDA scientists.
Mifepristone is usually taken with a second drug, misoprostol, for abortions. According to the FDA label on mifepristone, the combination completes medical abortion 97.4% of the time.
Misoprostol can also be used alone for terminating pregnancies, with some studies putting its effectiveness at around 80% or higher.
In countries where mifepristone is banned or unavailable, misoprostol is frequently used alone.
Unlike mifepristone, misoprostol has never been formally approved by the FDA for abortion. The drug is most commonly used to treat stomach ulcers, but it has been adapted by doctors for use in medication abortions. Because the FDA never cleared the drug for ending pregnancies, it has faced far less scrutiny from anti-abortion groups.
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Several groups that prescribe abortion pills by telehealth made the switch over the weekend to misoprostol only, a regimen that can cause longer-lasting side effects.
Dr. Angel Foster, founder of The Massachusetts Abortion Access Project, said her organization was prepared to send misoprostol only on Monday afternoon but was able to switch back to the two-drug combination.
“Regardless of what happens with this regulatory issue, we and other groups will continue to provide high-quality abortion care to patients in all 50 states,” she said.
Rapid rulings have created confusion
Foster said her organization spent the weekend guiding different groups of patients: those who were sent mifepristone but had not received it yet; those who had been approved for the drugs but had not paid or been sent them; and those who reached out with initial requests.
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For now, she said, they are asking patients to approve being sent pills with or without mifepristone — in case of another change.
Monday’s ruling offers more time to figure out a course of action in case mifepristone prescriptions are curtailed again.
“We have a little bit more time to navigate this new landscape with the stay,” said Julie Burkhart, the founder of Wellspring Health Access, a Wyoming abortion clinic that provides roughly 100 abortions a year through pills prescribed by telehealth.
Elizabeth Ling, associate director of legal services at If/When/How, which provides legal guidance for people considering abortion, said that wherever the legal battle goes next, there’s one thing women need to understand: “The outcome is not going to make it a crime for people to access care.”
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None of the state laws currently include any punishment for women who obtain abortions.
The court fight continues
Anti-abortion groups vowed to continue the legal battle.
Monday’s ruling “is a temporary procedural step that leaves unresolved the very real concerns about the safety of these drugs and the decision under the Biden administration’s FDA to recklessly remove longstanding safeguards,” Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, said in a statement.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who filed the lawsuit against the FDA along with a woman who says her boyfriend coerced her into taking abortion pills to end a pregnancy, criticized drug companies for their role in the case.
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“Big abortion pharma claims they need an emergency stay because they will lose massive amounts of money if they can’t kill more babies quickly and efficiently by mail without medical oversight,” Murrill said in a statement. “The administrative stay is temporary, and I am confident life and the law will win in the end.”
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Mulvihill reported from Haddonfield, New Jersey. Associated Press Writer Matthew Perrone contributed to this article.
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A previous version of this story had a typo in a quote from Dr. Angel Foster.
The single pearl earring, nose ring and knitted cream polo scream millennial barista more than member of the world’s oldest secret society. Beneath the vaulted art deco ceilings of the Metropolitan Grand Lodge, however, London’s Freemasons are welcoming an image update. Along with maintaining the traditions formalised in the capital in 1717, its Gen Z and millennial brethren are popping up on the Freemasons’ TikTok account, trading grand dinners for nights out at Nando’s, and featuring in homespun grime videos.
That includes Luke Nutkins, the well-dressed 36-year-old who works in streaming at the BBC. Does its current push to attract younger members mean Freemasonry has finally become cool? “Cool is generous,” he mulls. “I don’t think it’s trendy. [But] it has a coolness about it.”
The exact origins of Freemasonry are unclear, but the theory goes that it was modelled on the customs of medieval stonemasons, who built Britain’s castles and cathedrals and would employ unique words and gestures (like handshakes) to recognise one another when working far from home.
A society of kings and trailblazers
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There are 170,000 members of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) belonging to 7,000 lodges spanning the country; notable brethren have included Sir Winston Churchill and Rudyard Kipling, Ernest Shackleton, Buzz Aldrin, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and royals from King George VI to Prince Philip. The vast majority of lodges are male-only, but two admit women.
Today, symbolism still abounds. Brethren are to embark on a journey through three ranks that will see them transform from rough ashlar, a coarse stone, to a perfect ashlar; they wear lambskin aprons in a nod to their stonemason forebears, black suits to demonstrate that every brother is equal, and white gloves to represent “purity” (I see one tourist purchase a pair in the upstairs gift shop; the aproned rubber duckies go untouched). While Freemasonry was once a byword for the white middle classes and replete with “toffs”, per Nutkins, now, some centre around more modern pursuits, with groups dedicated to Formula One or rugby, rum and cigars.
Electronic music being laid over videos of dancing brethren on TikTok (where they have more than 43,000 followers) and producing their own grime music (lyrics: “faith, hope, charity; man walk the walk”) have also helped to give Freemasonry a refresh. Yet the long-held accusations — that they are a shadowy network secretly pulling the strings behind major institutions — persist. Is it a secret society? “I don’t think so,” says Nutkins. “Do I think it’s a society of secrets? Yes.” When I put the question to Yves Davis, a 22-year-old digital marketing student, he answers with an identical turn of phrase.
Davis became a brother when he was 18, making him the third generation of his family to join the UGLE (he is wearing his late grandfather’s Masonic ring when we meet). Others have come to Freemasonry through more eclectic means, like the 27-year-old from Turkey whose interest was piqued by Dan Brown books; and a 25-year-old for whom the idea got legs at a house party.
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“I feel like I’m part of something”
Joe Southwood, 26
Mayfair restaurant manager Joe Southwood, 26, was pottering by the UGLE’s Holborn HQ a couple of years ago when he “happened to pop in, not really knowing what it was, and ended up on a tour accidentally.” That was enough to get him to apply via the unsponsored route (most would-be brothers are vouched for by an existing member), and “I just fell in love with it.”
For Southwood, dressed in a natty spotted shirt and surprisingly chipper at spending his day off — one of the hottest in April for 80 years — in a signal-less side room in Holborn, the community the brotherhood provides has been a lifeline. “I don’t have a girlfriend; I don’t have any friends outside of work — I live quite a solitary existence,” he says. “Through this I’ve been introduced to, and met, so many fantastic people… I feel like I’m part of something.”
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The Connaught Club, next door, has been hosting Freemason meetings for under-35s since 2007 — a hub for young men who, like Southwood, find themselves seeking connection. Over the past decade, the number of under-35s reporting that they have either one or no close friends has risen from seven to 22 per cent; the UK also has the highest rates of lonely young adults in Europe. Where men his age might once have gathered at church, lodges are “like a little parish,” Southwood thinks, “where instead of a vicar you have a Worshipful Master”.
Coming out as a Freemason
What actually goes on in these meetings, which typically happen four or five times a year per lodge (brethren can be members of multiple lodges) is more opaque. One ceremony is said to involve being blindfolded and put into a coffin-like box; Nutkins describes them as “like a play; there’s words to learn, there’s a hierarchy you have to respect; there’s funny handshakes and symbols and stuff” (his girlfriend describes its trappings as “a bit silly”). When I ask Davis what his initiation entailed, he says that divulging the details would be “a bit like spoilers… [keeping quiet] is more to surprise people for this really amazing story.”
Inevitably, this hush-hush approach continues to fuel what the men describe as “myths” surrounding Freemasonry — though none will identify the specific claims they find egregious. I can hazard a guess at some of the accusations on which they are none too keen: that it is a cult, or offshoot of mythical secret sect the Illuminati; that members seek one another out via secret handshakes and offer members favourable treatment in the corridors of power. In December, the Metropolitan Police ordered that staff declare if they are Freemasons due to it being a “hierarchical” group that “requires members to support and protect each other”, with more than 300 admitting to an affiliation.
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The young men I meet at the Goose and Gridiron, named after the alehouse where the idea for Freemasonry was first discussed (now a café selling uninspiring sandwiches) include a Gen Z brother who doesn’t want to disclose his last name; another exits when I ask to record our chat. “I have found that not everyone likes to be outed, which was a difficult conversation I’ve had with Masons in the past,” says Nutkins, who has been a member for 15 years. “I don’t think it’s a shameful secret.”
For Lee Townsend, a brother of 14 years’ standing, his star turn in the recent grime TikTok was “like my coming out video”. Now 49, he had told few people outside of his family about his affiliation with the group — despite being a highly active member of multiple lodges. “There’s a lot of stigma and taboo around it,” he thinks. But “for an organisation that’s added so much value to me as a person and the way I operate and move, why should I hide it under a bushel? So here it is.”
Townsend is yet to be called up for a sequel to his music video — but he can scratch the itch at lodge meetings, where he seeks to “perform the socks off” centuries-old scripture. “It just really is a motivating and encouraging thing to know that kings, presidents and prime ministers have learned those same words,” says Townsend, who works for a social enterprise.
The spectre of members past looms large at UGLE HQ, where a cavernous marble lobby is framed by stained glass windows up the stairways reading “Audi, Vide, Tace” (part of a longer phrase meaning to “hear, see and hold your tongue”). The first floor houses a library and museum including an enormous gilded blue throne made for King George IV in 1791; there too are oil paintings and portraits.
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While flirting with modernity appears to be the goal, not all brethren are sold
I am unable to see the shiny gold Grand Temple for myself as there is a shoot going on (it is a popular filming destination, having appeared on the likes of Spooks, Poirot and The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy), though the 56-year-old PR officer-cum-TikTok-manager asks, “Is that Eddie Sheeran?” as a lookalike passes us on his way to set.
While flirting with modernity appears to be the goal — at least, on social media — not all brethren are sold. “We don’t need to do the TikTok thing; we don’t need to be on Instagram,” Nutkins thinks. “If we were to suddenly turn around and have everyone dressed in cool clothes, big baggy trousers and hoodies and doing TikToks, it would just feel a bit disingenuous.”
Instead, he wants to trumpet the organisation’s charity work; and the value of young and old mixing in ways they otherwise never would. The coolest brother in his lodge, he says, is a “gnarled” 97-year-old organist who drinks triple whiskies, “looks a bit like Yoda” and has previously carried Nutkins home after a night out.
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It is these connections, and the financial and emotional support provided by the UGLE, that have got him through the darkest of times, he adds — including the death of his sister, his cousin’s suicide and a work discrimination case. “It wouldn’t be hyperbole to say I would not be on this Earth right now were it not for them,” according to Nutkins. “It’s really saved me.”
The immersive scare maze event attracted people from all across the country
A popular horror attraction that was cancelled earlier this year is set to return at a new Cambridgeshire location. ‘Horror Mania’, previously Horror at Hinchingbrooke House is set to send chills down spines on the grounds of Skylark Garden Centre, in Wimblington.
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The immersive scare maze event grew to become one of the UK’s most recognised Halloween events. It attracted people from all across the country.
The event was set inside the grounds and building of Hinchingbrooke House, which is part of Hinchingbrooke School. However, it was announced that the spook-tastic event would not be returning this year after “after careful consideration” by the school, due to “lasting damage” it caused on the school grounds.
Robert Gough, director of the event, said that there was always a worry that the event would not come back following the cancellation and it “would take the right venue” for them to continue – which he believes they have found at Skylark. Robert added: “Skylark reached out to us among other places but we found that the space and the area that they had met the needs that we need for the scare attraction.”
The director said that himself, alongside the team, are especially excited because it has “revitalised the creativity and created a new challenge”. Robert explained that there’s “more potential” at the new venue due to Hinchingbrooke School’s restriction to half term only. Whereas now, Horror Mania could potentially run longer in the future and allow the event to become “bigger and better”.
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The venue offers woodland, large spaces and parking. Although the event no longer has Hinchingbrooke House as a backdrop, the team will be replacing it with more outdoor scare areas for even more spooky scenes.
Robert has said that the reaction has been “overwhelmingly positive” and the ticket sales are going fast. The new location will offer thrill-seekers an hour of terror and jumps with their favourite frights expected to make a return. Known for chainsaw freaks, creepy clowns and demonic monsters, the new event will feature more than 100 actors.
Fermanagh take on Longford in the opening round of the Tailteann Cup at Brewster Park, Enniskillen, with throw-in at 3pm
Fermanagh and Longford go head-to-head today in the opening round of the Tailteann Cup.
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Last year, Longford failed to progress beyond the group stage, while Fermanagh reached the semi-finals before being knocked out by Kildare, who ultimately lifted the trophy.
Their most recent encounter came in last year’s group stage, with Fermanagh running out convincing winners over Longford by 2-19 to 0-7.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of today’s clash:
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The British military said a ship caught fire Sunday after being hit by an unknown projectile off the coast of Qatar.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre said the attack caused a small fire on the bulk carrier, which was extinguished.
The attack happened 23 nautical miles (43 kilometers) northeast of Qatar’s capital, Doha, the UKMTO said.
There were no reported casualties, it said.
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It was the latest attack on vessels in the Persian Gulf since a shaky ceasefire stopped fighting between the United States and Iran.
The newly completed Bishop Auckland Bus Station. 8.5.2026. Photograph: Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The newly completed Bishop Auckland Bus Station. 8.5.2026. Photograph: Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The newly completed Bishop Auckland Bus Station. 8.5.2026. Photograph: Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The newly completed Bishop Auckland Bus Station. 8.5.2026. Photograph: Stuart Boulton/The Northern Echo. (Image: Stuart Boulton)
The bus station will feature new and improved passenger information with live updates; CCTV; toilet facilities, including accessible toilets, a changing places unit and a parent and child facility; and a retail kiosk
Alongside the bus station, there will also be a new 124-space car park, with accessible spaces for wheelchairs and Blue Badge holders and parking for motorcycles.
The area surrounding the bus station has also been landscaped, with paved areas, drainage systems, and street lighting installed. There will also be electric vehicle charging points and bicycle parking.
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The new facility is located on the site of the former bus station, which was demolished to make way for the redevelopment in 2023. Work started on the site in February 2024 and was developed using £11.8 million from the Government’s Future High Streets Fund.
Once the bus station has opened, work will start to remove the temporary bus stops on Newgate Street, Tenters Street and Saddler Street.
Tim McGuinness, cabinet member for rural, farming and transport, said: “This has been an ambitious project to ensure the people of Bishop Auckland have a safe, modern, and efficient transport hub to help them access opportunities within County Durham and the wider region.”
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The bus station was constructed by Esh Construction and designed by Jacobs on behalf of Durham County Council.
Steven Garrigan, divisional director at Esh Construction, said: “Esh is proud to have delivered a modern, fully accessible transport hub that will play an important role in supporting Bishop Auckland’s regeneration and strengthening local connectivity.
“Working closely with Durham County Council, this project reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality infrastructure that serves communities across the region, while also creating meaningful social value and opportunities locally.”
Neil Haigh’s Comedy Masterclass Ruined by Stewart Wright arrives at The Old Paint Shop at York Theatre Royal on June 17, looking to provide an immersive and unpredictable night of laughter.
The 90-minute show begins as a structured comedy workshop led by Neil Haigh, before being hilariously hijacked by Stewart Wright in what quickly unravels into fully improvised mayhem.
Mr Wright said: “This show is about embracing the unexpected; every night is completely different, and that’s what makes it so exciting.
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“We’re inviting the audience into the chaos and creativity with us, and there’s something really special about discovering where it goes together.”
Described as a blend of character comedy, improvisation, and spontaneous storytelling, each performance is entirely shaped by audience interaction.
Created by long-time collaborators Haigh and Wright, the show has already drawn praise for its originality and energy, with some likening its fast-paced style to Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Haigh is known for his work with the acclaimed improvised theatre company Cartoon De Salvo, while Wright has built a 30-year career as a comic actor.
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The show is recommended for audiences aged 15 and over.
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