All participants will get their hands on this medal

With just under 10 weeks to go until the Phoenix Energy Belfast City Marathon and Team Relay, the Belfast City Marathon has revealed this year’s medal to build excitement ahead of the big day on May 3.

The event gets underway at Stormont Estate and travels through each corner of the city across the 26.2-mile route. Team Relay participants taking on Legs A, B, C or D can collect their medal at the end of their legs at Montgomery Road, Boucher Road, Falls Road and Duncairn Gardens. Marathon runners and Leg E relay participants will receive their medals at the finish line at Ormeau Park.

If you would like to make your medal even more memorable, you can add an iTAB. This small metal insert fits neatly onto the back of your medal and can be personalised with your name or team relay name, along with your finish time. Participants can pre-order an iTAB by visiting eventmaster.ie, logging into their account and heading to the ‘Manage My Booking’ section to add it to their order.

If you missed out on securing an entry this year, there are still opportunities to take part through our Charity Places. Visit www.belfastcitymarathon.com/charity-places to find out more.

The Phoenix Energy Belfast City Marathon is sponsored by Phoenix Energy, Translink, Kukri Sports, Belfast Live, Daily Mirror, Q Radio, Better, Runna, Marathon Photos Live, iTAB, Deep RiverRock, Charles Hurst, Mac in a Sac, Steigen, Applied Nutrition, Linwoods Health Foods and Belfast City Council. The Official Charity Platform is Give2You.

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The opponent, date and venue for Taylor’s final fight have not been confirmed.

August would be a more likely date for a Croke Park bout as the iconic Dublin stadium is hosting the latter stages of the All-Ireland Hurling and Football Championships throughout July.

In September, Taylor was named ‘Champion in Recess’ by the World Boxing Council (WBC) after informing the sanctioning body of her plans to take some time away from the sport.

Last week, Briton Sandy Ryan claimed the vacant belt with victory over Mexico’s Karla Ramos Zamora in Nottingham.

Taylor has a 25-1 professional record with her only defeat coming against Britain’s Chantelle Cameron in Dublin in 2023.

After avenging that loss to become a two-weight undisputed champion later that year, Taylor recorded wins over Serrano in November 2024 and July 2025 having already overcome the Puerto Rican in April 2022.

“I’m not sure who the opponent is or what the date will be,” added Taylor, who won an Olympic lightweight gold medal in 2012 before turning pro in 2016.

“I just know I’ll fight this year during the summer time and all the other details will be laid out in the coming weeks and months.

“Either way I’m in the gym for whenever and whoever it will be. I’m staying sharp and ready.”

Previously located next to M&S on the retail park, Boots has now moved to the other side of the complex, near Vue Cinema.

The relocation was to allow Marks and Spencer to expand and become a flagship store.

The Boots team celebrated the opening of the new store with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and staff gathering at 9am this morning, February 25.

After a busy few months of preparing, the team were praised for their hard work and dedication.

Boots Bolton Middlebrook Retail Park team members (Image: NQ)

Store manager Georgia Edwards, 31, told The Bolton News: “We’ve been lucky enough to have the store move over to this side.

“This is a brand new store. It’s got healthcare, pharmacy, opticians, hearing care and premium beauty.

“There’s so much on offer to customers and we’re really proud to have it open.”

Georgia explained that Boots is investing heavily in its stores to enhance what is available to customers and patients.

Opticians and Hearing Care team (Image: NQ)

“It’s a good spot over here, right in the thick of it, so we’re really excited.”

Georgia has been store manager at the retail park branch for 10 months and has worked for Boots for the past five years.

“I love working for Boots,” she said.

“It’s such an amazing company and there’s so many different opportunities.

“Many colleagues have been over here helping us set up over the last two weeks, offering non-stop support.

“We couldn’t have done it without them.”

Lisa Sheridan (Clarins business manger) Emily Sullivan (MAC business manager) Charlie Watkinson (Boots beauty specialist) (Image: NQ)

The new store boasts premium beauty counters at the entrance, with a large opticians and hearing care team based upstairs.

Assistant manager Ellie Vickers, 21, spoke of her excitement about working on such a major project to prepare the store.

“It’s been amazing to see it come to life,” said Ellie.

“I’ve been with Boots since I was 16, it was my first job, and I’ve worked my way up.

“It’s great to be part of something like this, especially while I’m still so young.”

She has been at the store for six months and said store manager Georgia is “absolutely amazing and so supportive.”

Store manager Georgia Edwards (centre), assistant manager Ellie Vickers (right) (Image: NQ)

Ellie said it had been a busy process getting everything ready, making it an emotional moment this morning as they saw their vision brought to life.

Now in its new location, the store was already welcoming intrigued customers through its doors.

Mary Berry has shared a variety of dishes over the years, including this ‘wonderfully comforting’ chicken pasta bake which has more than 170 four-star ratings on BBC Food.

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Mary Berry has revealed numerous recipes throughout the years, including speedy weeknight meals, which are ideal for the entire household. This includes her chicken pasta bake, which boasts over 170 four-star reviews on BBC Food.

It can be made in advance, and even stored in the freezer for as long as three months. The recipe description stated: “A wonderfully comforting chicken pasta bake, this will go down well with the family.”

It feeds six to eight individuals, and whilst Mary opts for penne pasta, she notes that any pasta variety will be suitable.

Ingredients:

• Butter, for greasing
• 250g penne
• One onion, roughly chopped
• Three skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
• One tablespoon of paprika
• Two tablespoons of olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the sauce:

• 50g butter
• 50g plain flour
• 750ml hot milk
• One teaspoon of Dijon mustard
• 100g Parmesan cheese, coarsely grated
• Two large tomatoes, deseeded and cut into small cubes

Method:

Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C Fan, then butter a shallow 1.75 litre ovenproof dish.

Cook the penne with the onion in boiling, salted water, then drain and refresh in cold water. Leave to drain again in the colander.

Put the chicken strips in a resealable freezer bag with the paprika and a little salt and pepper, seal the bag and shake to coat. Warm one tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan and swiftly sear the chicken over a high heat for two minutes until just cooked through.

Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a plate and leave to one side.

To prepare the sauce, melt the butter in a large saucepan, then incorporate the flour and whisk until smooth to create a roux. Cook for one minute, then gradually pour in the hot milk, whisking over a high heat until the sauce is smooth and thickened, allowing it to boil for four minutes.

Fold in the mustard and half the cheese, seasoning with salt and pepper.

Add the pasta and onion to the pan with the sauce, stirring well to combine. Spoon half of this mixture into the dish, lay the chicken strips on top, then spoon the remaining pasta and sauce over the chicken.

Scatter the tomatoes across the top, then finish with the remaining cheese. Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes until piping hot and golden brown on top.

Jump to advice on hair removal:

Before using any IPL or epilator, carry out a patch test on a small clean, dry and hair-free section of skin. “Although home hair removal devices are less aggressive than in-clinic tools, it is important to perform a patch test and wait 24 hours to check for any redness, burns or irritation before proceeding with a full session,” says dermatology expert Selma van Asselt.

It is equally important to examine the device’s hair and skin compatibility chart before use. “Extremely light hair, as well as red and grey hair are not suitable for this kind of treatment because they cannot accumulate enough heat to destroy the hair’s growth centre,” says Selma. “Darker skin types will also accumulate too much heat, which could cause skin burns or hyperpigmentation.”

Selma also says people with eczema, open cuts, sunburn or those using active skincare ingredients should avoid IPL devices and epilators. She advises those who are pregnant, nursing, undergoing any medical procedures or aesthetic treatments to refrain from the treatment.

Aftercare is also key. Selma urges those to “avoid saunas, sun beds or swimming pools” 24 hours after a treatment. “While it may seem like a mild treatment, exposing the body to more heat after a session may cause irritation.”

Those with fair hair whether it’s grey, blonde or red, may find certain hair removal devices are not as effective as others. Fair hair makes it harder for tools like lasers and IPL devices to detect a contrast between the hair and skin. The solution? Epilators.

Marina Mevzos, marketer at beauty-tech brand Sensica, explains: “Fair, very light blonde and grey hair contain little melanin, which makes IPL and laser treatments generally less effective. Epilation can be a useful choice for temporary smoothness in these cases. However, devices like IPL may provide some benefit if there is enough contrast between hair and skin.”

Try our Best Buy epilator: Panasonic ES-EY90-A511 Wet and Dry

Bayer Leverkusen star Robert Andrich is adamant he would rather avoid Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League, even if it would put his side on collision course with Arsenal.

Kasper Hjulmand’s booked their place in the first knockout round following a goalless draw against Olympiacos last night which saw them protect their two-goal advantage from the first leg.

Leverkusen know they will face a daunting task however Friday’s draw pans out but Andrich insists it’s far too early to be contemplating an all-German tie.

He said: ‘We knew from the start that we would face a top club anyway. I stand by my opinion:

‘I would prefer not to face a German team, so that perhaps enough German teams can still stay in the competition.’

Those sentiments were echoed by Jonah Hoffman, who added: ‘I think it’s a bit too early for a German-German tie.

‘It doesn’t have this Champions League character somehow. So if I could have my wish, then Arsenal.

Who can the Premier League teams play?

Arsenal

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Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta

Chelsea

Newcastle, Monaco or PSG

Liverpool

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Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray or Juventus

Man City

Bodo/Glimt, Real Madrid or Benfica

Tottenham

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Atletico Madrid, Galatasaray or Juventus

Newcastle

Chelsea or Barcelona

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‘It would be a bit cooler to travel to London and for them to come here.’

Arsenal last faced Leverkusen in Europe’s most prestigious club competition back in 2002 during the second group stage.

The Gunners thrashed the eventual finalists that year 4-1 at Highbury and earned a creditable draw away from home, but it was their German opponents that ultimately qualified for the latter stages along with Deportivo Lacoruna.

Arsenal were among the favourites for the competition that year and are among the favourites again after they swept all before them in the league stage.

With eight wins from eight games, including a convincing 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich, Arsenal would be firmly expected to progress were they to meet Leverkusen next but sporting director Simon Rolfes is up for the challenge.

He said: ‘Arsenal would be nice. I said the same thing when we could’ve faced Dortmund in the previous round.

‘Especially that we would be able to meet two of our former players in Kai Havertz and Piero Hincapie.

‘Nobody wants these ties between teams from the same country.’

MORE: Troy Deeney rates Arsenal’s Champions League hopes while giving Premier League rivals ‘0% chance’

MORE: Ray Parlour wants Arsenal to sign ‘fantastic’ £87m star but fears Gunners ace will leave

MORE: Chelsea handed injury boost as £18m star returns to training ahead of Arsenal clash

When it comes to dystopian sci-fi thrillers, there’s not many streaming platforms that deliver the goods like Netflix.

Home to some of the best sci-fi series of all time, from Black Mirror to Dark and Love, Death + Robot, Netflix knows exactly how to terrify its viewers with a bleak reimagining of the world as we know it.

And, much to the delight of its subscribers, Amazon Prime Video’s The Man in the High Castle is now being added to the platform’s catalogue of programmes.

Created by Frank Spotnitz, the four-season thriller is adapted from the Philip K. Dick novel of the same name.

Starring Rufus Sewell, the show imagines an alternative history where the Axis powers won World War II.

Delving into the dangers of fascism, it provides us with a terrifying look into how people can accept oppressive regimes.

Raving about the series on Rotten Tomatoes, countless viewers have praised the show, which boasts an 84% rating.

Writing on the website, Daniel P said: ‘We are talking about a show that has a decency of 4, yes four, complete seasons of 10 full hour episodes, that’s a luxury nowhere to be seen.

‘The actors are top notch, you cannot ask for more than that… this is heaven and such a refresh.’

Katie also wrote: ‘SO GOOD. Love the historical fiction, the forbidden love, the magical realism. Tickled all my pickles,’ as Sergei called it a ‘terrific miniseries’, adding: ”It’s a haunting alternative history vision implemented in a extremely authentic fashion.’

Meanwhile, David argued: ‘Just imagine, I dare you, how the world would be now if history was different. Fantastic series to capture this thought.’

The series has been so well received that even the Metro’s review described its season four finale as a ‘masterclass’ in saying goodbye.

But Amazon Prime’s The Man in the High Castle is not the only sci-fi series that has recently been added to Netflix.

Earlier this week, every episode of a sci-fi series that was labelled ‘better than Star Trek’ is now streaming on Netflix.

Stargate SG-1 has long been renowned as being one of the best sci-fi series ever made.

Featuring parasitic aliens, robots and exciting space battles the show could be your perfect binge watch after you’ve finished The Man in the High Castle.

Rolling Stone even branded it ‘the unlikeliest success stories in sci-fi TV history’, as SG-1 ran ten seasons from 1997 to 2007.

The Man in the High Castle is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

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MORE: ‘The best pirate movie in years’ just dropped on Amazon Prime Video

MORE: James Bond announcement imminent as Amazon Prime Video ‘starts firing gun on naming 007’

MORE: Netflix adds ‘pitch-perfect’ Irish drama starring Wuthering Heights actress

That’s because anyone spending time at the popular theme park in Alton has to pay for parking on top of the admission ticket price if they drive there.

On Facebook, the Theme Park Insanity page said the car parking prices are “outrageous” at Alton Towers, sparking a debate with fellow theme park goers.

Theme Park Insanity said: “Are Alton Towers having a giraffe? This is outrageous!!

“As if a day at a theme park isn’t costly enough, the prices for parking have jumped significantly from last season with standard & blue badge parking now costing £13.00, pass holder express costing £20 & non pass holder express now costing a staggering £30!!!

“I’m honestly disgusted! There was a time when parking was free as standard, but monopolising on people’s need to park like this (given it’s in the middle of nowhere & features very limited public transport links, if at all) is greed in it’s purest form!

“Maybe it’s just the Yorkshire man in me, but this is beyond unreasonable #OwMuch”.

Alton Towers car parking fees considered ‘rip off’ by visitors

Along with the post, they shared a screenshot of the Alton Towers website showing the parking options and prices.

This includes standard parking and blue badge parking at £13 each, express parking for annual passholders costing £20 and express parking at £30.

One person shared their thoughts: “It’s called vote with my wallet…

“It’s just another reason to not visit Alton Towers.

“I will go to parks that genuinely care about their customers and invest in exciting new rides and attractions.”

Another commented: “You should not have to pay for parking where there is no viable alternative.

“I queried this once with them and was told that it was for “environmental reasons” and to encourage people to take alternative modes of transport.

“I asked when the rail link was going to be added. Didn’t get a reply to that.”

Someone else considers a visit to the theme park to be “a rip off”: “I always feel like they grab me by the ankles as soon as I arrive, turn me upside down and don’t stop shaking until all my money has fallen out.

“It’s such a rip off now.”

This person commented: “It’s always annoyed me that Alton Towers is in the middle of the countryside with no real way to get there otherwise and they still charge for parking.

“I could understand it if there was a shuttle bus every 30 minutes or a train station, without cars coming they’d have no business.”

This person had a different reaction: “People don’t generally consider parking prices when deciding whether or not to visit, they just moan about them”.

Someone else said: “Have to make there money somewhere”.

Despite this online discussion, Alton Towers Resort says it is “committed to delivering a great value day out” for visitors.

A spokesperson for Alton Towers Resort told Newsquest: “At Alton Towers Resort, we are committed to delivering a great value day out for our guests. 

“As with many businesses across the UK leisure and hospitality sector, we regularly review our pricing in line with increases in operational and maintenance costs.

“This includes the significant investment required to manage, staff and maintain our car parking facilities throughout the season.

“We remain focused on providing choice and value for our guests, and continue to offer a range of ticket and pass options, including Annual Passes which include parking benefits.”

Alton Towers unveils huge artwork made from cans of beans to honour new ride

The news comes as the theme park has unveiled a giant portrait of Bluey made from over 11,000 cans of beans to announce the opening date of the world’s first Bluey rollercoaster.

Recommended reading:

The artwork measures 20 by 15 metres and took 18 hours to complete.

Featuring Bluey in her beloved granny disguise, complete with a headscarf, the installation includes 11,494 tins.

Visitors can look out for it on the park’s lawn near CBeebies Land ahead of Bluey the Ride: Here Come the Grannies! officially opening on Saturday, March 28.

What’s your favourite ride at Alton Towers Resort? Let us know in the comments below.

“We’re pleased with the outcome, which recognises the cultural and social value of the Brockwell Live series, alongside the significant economic contribution it makes to Lambeth and Greater London, particularly at a time when night-time and creative economies across the country face increasing pressure.