Pharmacists say the national shortage which could last until the end of June

Pharmacies in the UK are experiencing a shortage of some strengths of a popular painkiller which could last until the end of June. Officials have said the shortage is ‘deeply distressing’ for people living with severe pain.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) has warned members have reported problems with sourcing 30mg and 500mg tablets of co-codamol. Pharmacists say this is having a knock-on effect on the availability of other strengths.

According to the NPA, which represents around 6,000 independent community pharmacies, some suppliers have told pharmacists that issues could last until at least the end of June.

Olivier Picard, chair of the NPA, said: “Pharmacies are telling us they have struggled to order in supplies of some strengths of co-codamol, with a number reporting that supply disruption will last at least until June.

“This is deeply distressing for patients living with severe pain, and pharmacists are working tirelessly to find safe alternatives or manage very limited stock.”

Co-codamol is a commonly prescribed painkiller which comprises a mix of paracetamol and codeine. It is used to treat a wide range of pain, such as toothache, period pain and muscle pain.

According to NHS figures, some 1.25 million items a month of co-codamol were prescribed to patients in 2025.

Mr Picard added: “Where pharmacies have supplies, they will be doing all they can to manage them to ensure patients get the medication they need.

“We face ever growing issues with medicine supplies which are compounded by the NHS not funding the full cost pharmacies have to pay to get the medicines patients need.

“The Government must urgently act to address a growing list of medicine shortages impacting patients and pharmacists alike, who end up at the sharp end of an increasingly difficult medicine supply system.”

The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment by the Press Association.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says we will “have a better society” by embracing other cultures but the world has “a lot of work to do”.

His comments come as a response to an interview from Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in which he said the UK had been “colonised by immigrants” – a remark he later apologised for.

READ MORE: Better society if we ’embrace other cultures’ – Guardiola

Kian Bateman, 18, has pleaded guilty to causing the death of Shelley Davies, 38, by dangerous driving.

A teenager accused of murdering a woman after a car collided with pedestrians outside a club in Cardiff has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He continues to deny counts of murder and manslaughter.

Shelley Davies, 38, was admitted to the University Hospital of Wales on Saturday, September 27 and died due to her injuries weeks later, an inquest heard. Her cause of death was multiple organ failure, multiple chest wounds and blood infections, poly trauma including bowel ischaemia, thoracic injuries and leg injuries.

Police were called to Heol Trelai following a report that the driver of a car had collided with several pedestrians. For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here.

A substantial cordon was established, stretching from Caerau Lane to Church Road for much of the day, while crime scene investigators conducted their work, accompanied by a significant police presence.

Images showed investigators capturing images of the scene in the road near a grass verge in the middle of the carriageway outside the 4th Glamorgan Homeguard Club

Kian Bateman, 18, was arrested and subsequently charged with Ms Davies’s murder.

Appearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday, Bateman entered pleas of not guilty to counts of murder and manslaughter, but pleaded guilty to causing Ms Davies’ death by dangerous driving.

The defendant also denied offences of attempted murder and unlawful wounding, in respect of a man named David Bratcher, but pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and causing grievous bodily harm.

Judge Mrs Justice Stacey remanded Bateman in custody to appear for trial on April 13.

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The water supply problems have included hot and cold surges and discolouration – with the usage of a local hydrant by nearby contractors identified as a key cause.

Fed-up residents of the Mollands estate in Callander are calling for a solution to water supply issues linked to a new school development.

The streets across from the Callander Community Campus project have been facing long-running challenges with their water – including hot and cold water surges and dirty tap water.

The issues have led to discussions between Scottish Water and contractors employed for the work but residents say problems are still continuing.

Resident Gillian Ranaldi told the Observer: “It feels as if nobody is listening to us and there hasn’t been enough communication between Scottish Water and the building company; there have been so many calls and so many reference numbers but it’s still an issue.

“The water is going off three or four times a week and the washing machines will end up stopping halfway through, there have also been issues with hot and cold water surges which can be dangerous due to people getting burned.

“Scottish Water are aware of the problems and one of their employees has been out to speak to the builders about making sure they take the right water supply but this has continued over the last few years.”

The Callander Community Campus project carries a £23million price tag, with the development set to accommodate Callander Primary School in an estate alongside Callander Nursery, McLaren High and McLaren Leisure Centre.

Stirling Council appointed lead construction partners Kier Construction and Hub East Central Scotland.

Trossachs and Teith councillor Martin Earl said: “This really is not good enough.

“The contractors were given clear instructions as far back as June last year detailing how to obtain water without disrupting the supply to residents.

“This has apparently been repeatedly ignored by their sub-contractors. Hopefully the matter has now finally been resolved.

“I know the contractors have apologised but if there has been any damage caused by the pressure changes then I would hope and expect they take responsibility and engage with residents to address that.”

A Scottish Water spokeswoman said: “We are aware of localised water supply issues affecting customers in Callander and are working closely with Stirling Council and other parties to prevent any further disruption.”

A Stirling Council spokesman added: “We are aware of localised water supply issues that have occurred near the construction site of the new Callander Primary School and have liaised with our contractor who have acted swiftly on the matter.

“We have been assured sub-contractors are reminded to utilise more suitable water hydrants that have been identified by Scottish Water, and that robust monitoring measures are in place to prevent this from reoccurring.

“We would like to reiterate our commitment to minimise disruption to the local community in Callander for the duration of the construction of this important new facility.”

A Kier spokeswoman said: “Kier began works on the new Callander Primary School in February 2025 and has been working closely with Stirling Council to deliver this important new school for the community.

“As part of this work, our team had been using a local hydrant under a valid license, in agreement with Scottish Water.

“As soon as we were advised that hydrant use was affecting the local network, we took immediate action.

“We are fully committed to working responsibly, supporting the community and maintaining open communication throughout these works.”

A spokesman for hub East Central Scotland said: “The main contractor responsible for site operations has taken action to ensure that all sub contractors fully comply with previous instructions not to use local water supplies.”

Reviewed by Catherine Hufton

The Curo Skin Filtered Shower Head is designed to benefit those with skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, acne and sensitivity, or those whose skin and hair health is affected by living in a hard water area.

It’s approved by dermatologists and trichologists thanks to its filtration, which removes over 99 per cent of chlorine and heavy metals from shower water. This is believed to help reduce skin irritation and improve skin and scalp hydration levels. My hair often feels weighed down when washed using our usual shower head, as I live in a hard-water area in London. I definitely felt a difference after using this Curo Skin Filtered model, and my skin felt softer and more voluminous.

The shower head has a flow rate of 13 litres per minute and boasts great water pressure even when used on a handheld attachment. I found the head easy to install, but it does require a filter replacement after every 90 days in order to purify the water as advertised.

The only real challenge with this is remembering to do it, but Curo offers subscriptions to make this easier. A quarterly subscription is £56 and means you’ll receive a new filter every 90 days, or you can opt for an annual subscription costing £130 where you will receive four filters per year.

Key specifications

• Connection type: Handheld shower
• Finish: Stainless steel / ABS body
• Number of spray patterns: One
• Flow rate: Up to 13 litres per minute
• My flow rate test results: N/A

8. Best Water-Saving Shower Head: Arezzo Multi-Function Water Saving Handset

Wrexham director Shaun Harvey has revealed how much work will be required if the club gains promotion

Wrexham director Shaun Harvey has revealed huge changes would be required if the club makes it to the Premier League, while insisting promotion can never come too soon.

The Red Dragons have enjoyed a meteoric rise in recent seasons, climbing from the National League to the Championship via three consecutive promotions. Phil Parkinson’s side now find themselves in the thick of the play-off race in the second tier as they look to continue their remarkable climb.

That surge has inevitably sparked talk of what would be required if Wrexham were to complete the job and reach the Premier League, with the scale of the challenge extending far beyond the pitch. The Racecourse Ground is currently operating at a reduced capacity of around 10,500, making it the smallest stadium in the division this season.

Work is under way on a new 7,750 capacity Kop Stand, but it is not expected to be completed until next year. As a result, significant upgrades would be needed to ensure the historic ground meets top-flight requirements, while further investment in the playing squad would also be essential to compete with the elite.

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Discussing the prospect of Premier League promotion on the Fearless in Devotion podcast, Harvey said: “You can never get promoted too early. We’ve proved over the last three seasons that we’ve managed to go from one league to another and prosper.

“Now, there would be a mammoth amount of work to do inside the stadium. There would also be a mammoth amount of work potentially to do with the playing squad, but I don’t think you’ll find anybody at the Racecourse Ground who isn’t actually looking forward to having that opportunity should it come our way.”

When Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac completed their takeover five years ago this week, Wrexham were a non-league club dreaming of a return to the Football League. Harvey says the scale of what has followed has inevitably reshaped the owners’ outlook.

He said: “They were very nervous when they first came in. You think, ‘How can two people who spend the majority of their time in front of a camera actually be nervous?’ But they were. The bottom line is they are now fans at heart.

“They wanted to love it when they started and fell in love very quickly. The only thing that’s really changed is their view on what the magnitude of failure is. They’ve bought into Wrexham, its story and its success.

“The price of failure is such now that I think their biggest concern is just letting anybody down. The hardest part for all of us has been managing the success and the speed of it.”

Harvey added: “We’ve had numerous plans that have been ripped up, not because the plan was flawed, but because we’d gone beyond the scope of that plan.

“That’s on the field and off the field. We’re still catching up and we’ll probably always be catching up in in reality.”

Igor Tudor has agreed a deal to become Tottenham interim head coach until the end of the season.

Thomas Frank was sacked earlier this week, with Spurs five points above the relegation places.

Sources told BBC Sport that Spurs wanted an interim manager in place for the players’ return to training on Monday.

Tudor has been out of work since being sacked by Juventus in October 2025 following an eight-match winless run, leaving the club eighth in Serie A.

The 47-year-old has had a varied managerial career, having had stints at Lazio, Marseille, Galatasaray and Udinese among others.

During a nine-year stint as a player with Juventus he won Serie A twice and finished runner-up in the 2003 Champions League final.

Tudor was part of the Croatia squad that was knocked out of the 1998 World Cup at the semi-final stage, eventually finishing third.

The Fitzwilliam Place homes to be built by Taylor Wimpey, Redcar, will be remotely launched from the developer’s Marske Sands site on Saturday, February 21.

The scheme includes a mix of two, three, and four-bedroom homes.

Nicki Hope, sales and marketing director at Taylor Wimpey North Yorkshire, said: “Fitzwilliam Place is set to be a great addition to the local area.

“We’re certain it will be a popular choice for a variety of buyers.

“The development is in a great location for those seeking village life whilst still being close to the beach, which is only 1.2 miles away, and the towns of Redcar and Saltburn are both under 4 miles away.”

The homes feature energy-efficient insulation and heating systems, helping to reduce energy bills and environmental impact.

The plans also include wildlife-friendly features such as hedgehog highways, swift boxes installed on 50 per cent of homes, and bat boxes on 10 per cent of properties.

Ms Hope said: “The location also benefits from excellent local amenities, a number of primary schools and strong transport links via road, bus, and rail.

“All of this, plus access to green open spaces and leisure facilities, makes it a desirable choice for all buyers.

“By launching from Marske Sands, we can give prospective buyers the opportunity to secure their home early, whilst work continues on site.

“We look forward to speaking with potential customers over our launch weekend.”

The Fitzwilliam Place development is on Silverdale Gardens in Redcar, at postcode TS10 2UF.

Once complete, it will deliver a “thriving new community”, with landscaped public open space, new footpaths and cycleways.

The launch will give buyers the chance to view development plans, speak with the Taylor Wimpey sales team, and secure their dream home.

Further information about the Fitzwilliam Place development, including available plots, pricing, and launch event details, can be found at the Taylor Wimpey website.  

One of the greatest tennis players of all time has landed a job at budget supermarket chain Lidl

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Tennis legend Steffi Graf, who won an incredible 22 Grand Slam titles, has made an unexpected return to the spotlight by accepting a new role with discount supermarket Lidl.

The 56-year-old German icon, who hung up her racquet in 1999 and has maintained a largely low-profile lifestyle since, has been appointed as a brand ambassador for Lidl’s budget-friendly sportswear line Crivit.

In this new capacity, Graf will spearhead a significant international advertising campaign showcasing the brand’s newest clothing and activewear collection.

The campaign, which launched in mid-February 2026, features the inspirational tagline “Find your move” and is being deployed across more than 30 nations.

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Graf, frequently celebrated as one of the finest female tennis players of all time, holds numerous unmatched records.

She remains the sole player in the Open Era to complete the Calendar-Year Golden Slam – capturing all four major championships (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) alongside Olympic gold within a single year.

She achieved this remarkable milestone in 1988, a season widely considered as one of the best in tennis history. Graf also maintained the world No. 1 position for a record-breaking 377 weeks on the WTA Tour.

With 22 major singles championships, she stands as the third-most accomplished women’s singles player in history, trailing only Margaret Court (24) and Serena Williams (23).

From 1988 to 1996, Graf secured 20 of the 36 Grand Slam tournaments held. Beyond her historic four-title clean sweep in 1988, she captured three of the four majors in 1989, 1993, 1995 and 1996 – a period of dominance rivalling the peak years of Novak Djokovic in the 2010s and Roger Federer in the 2000s.

After retiring from professional tennis, Graf has predominantly stayed out of the public eye, concentrating on family life with her husband, fellow tennis icon Andre Agassi (himself an eight-time Grand Slam winner). The couple began their relationship in 1999 and married in 2001, shortly before Steffi gave birth to their son. Their daughter arrived two years later.

Whilst Agassi has maintained a higher profile in recent years through coaching, commentary and events such as the Laver Cup, he couldn’t contain his admiration for his wife’s latest endeavour. He posted on social media: “Beyond proud to see you as the new brand partner of @crivit” whilst commending her work in the promotional content.

Graf becomes part of an expanding roster of prominent celebrities collaborating with Lidl, which already features Arnold Schwarzenegger and Heidi Klum. The retailer’s Crivit brand, which delivers substantial turnover whilst establishing itself as a competitor in the budget-friendly sports and outdoor sector, views the partnership as an ideal match.

The broadcaster is making major cuts across the corporation amounting to approximately 10% of its costs

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The BBC is implementing significant cuts, totalling roughly 10% of its costs, as it grapples with “substantial financial pressures”. The broadcaster acknowledged that savings must be achieved over the coming three years.

Whilst a spokesperson did not specify the precise sum required, it is anticipated to run into hundreds of millions of pounds. The corporation’s total public service expenditure last year exceeded £4 billion.

No additional information has been provided regarding which programmes or services may be impacted, reports the Express. These fresh cuts are in addition to the £150 million that still needs to be identified by March 2028 as part of an existing savings scheme.

The announcement follows US President Donald Trump securing a court date for his $10million (£7.5million) lawsuit against the BBC. The hearing has been scheduled for February 15, 2027, according to court filings.

READ MORE: ‘Deeply disturbing’ true crime documentary leaves BBC viewers with ‘tears in their eyes’READ MORE: BBC Morning Live’s Helen Skelton reveals she ‘tried to leave’ Strictly over ‘massive wall’

The Republican leader is pursuing the British broadcaster for defamation after they combined two sections of his January 6 speech during a 2025 episode of Panorama. Despite the corporation having apologised to the 79-year-old politician for the edit, the President is demanding damages for the edited speech, which his legal team has argued was “false and defamatory”.

Departing director general Tim Davie, who is set to leave the corporation in April, informed staff about the savings on Thursday (February 12).

A BBC spokesperson further stated: “Over the last three years, we have delivered more than half a billion pounds worth of savings, much of which we’ve been able to reinvest into our output across the BBC.

“In a rapidly changing media market, we continue to face substantial financial pressures. As a result, we expect to make further savings over the next three years of around 10% of our costs.

“This is about the BBC becoming more productive and prioritising our offer to audiences to ensure we’re providing the best value for money, both now and in the future.”

The revelation emerges as the BBC holds discussions with Government about its future direction, alongside that of the licence fee following the recent price increase, ahead of the renewal of its Royal charter at the end of 2027.

Ministers recently launched a consultation seeking public views about the broadcaster’s future and its funding model.

Currently, the corporation derives most of its revenue from the licence fee, though the number of TV licences purchased has been falling in recent years. The BBC has acknowledged that the licence requires reform, but insists any modifications must “safeguard the BBC as a universal public broadcaster”.

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