The town is only 30 minutes from from Cambridge on the train
Spring is nearly here and there is one town that’s an easy train ride from Cambridge with beautiful lavender fields to explore. With the warmer weather getting closer, you may be looking for some pretty places to walk to admire what spring has to offer.
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The Hertfordshire town of Hitchin – only a 30-minute train ride from Cambridge – has large fields of lavender that make it unique. Hitchin’s Lavender is set on the rolling slopes of Wilbury Hills.
It has become known for its stunning views and picturesque walks in the warmer weather. For people who love the camera, the fields are also the perfect place for a photo opportunity.
As well as walking through the fields, there is a tearoom and dining area to enjoy a snack and drink. Hitchin has a lot of other things on offer as well as its landmark lavender fields.
It is a quaint market town with lots of history at its doorstep, as the town dates back to around the seventh century. It also has strong royal links, as the late Queen Mother was born in nearby St Paul’s Walden.
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One of the town’s best features is its market. Hitchin market is one of the largest outdoor markets in the region, and features over 150 stalls. It is held on several days of the week.
Buildings throughout the town are made up of stunning architecture that is fine to admire. The old market square is made up of Italianate-style buildings.
The town’s church, St Mary’s Church, is majorly formed of materials from the 14th and 15th century. Hitchin also offers a great shopping experience, with a wide range of independent shops and boutiques in the town.
There are also a number of popular high street brands to shop at. After a long day of shopping, there is also every cuisine you can think of on offer in Hitchin to enjoy a bite to eat and drink at.
The museum, tucked away at 15 Castle Hill in the shadow of Lancaster Castle, transports visitors back to 1739 and the home of Richard and Ann Thompson.
Far from a traditional museum experience, it invites guests to sit in period chairs, peer inside wooden coffers, try their hand at a spinning whorl and even practise cursive handwriting, making it a hands-on journey into 18th century domestic life.
The museum opens on Saturdays only, between 1pm and 4pm, from April 4 through to September. Admission is cash only, with adults paying just £2 and under-18s getting in free when accompanied by an adult.
One reviewer called it “a true hidden gem” (Image: Lancaster City Council)
Carers accompanying a disabled visitor also get in free. For those who want to make a day of it, a multipass ticket gives unlimited entry to all three Lancaster City Council museums, the Cottage Museum, the Maritime Museum and the City Museum, for £8 a week or £10 for a full year.
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And if the TripAdvisor reviews are anything to go by, it is well worth the visit.
One reviewer called it “a true hidden gem,” adding: “A wonderful and unique museum.
“It was a very interesting and immersive experience, much more interactive than many much larger and more expensive museums.”
Another said: “Fantastic little museum, everything feels authentic and you really do feel transported back to the 18th century.
“The staff are so friendly and knowledgeable, definitely worth visiting if you are in Lancaster.”
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A third reviewer was equally enthusiastic: “Brilliant little place.
“Low ceilings, steep stairs and tiny rooms, but that’s exactly the point.
You get a genuine sense of how people lived, unmissable if you love history.”
The museum is located steps away from Lancaster Castle and the Judges’ Lodgings, making it an easy addition to a day exploring the city’s rich history.
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Visitors are advised to watch their heads on the beams and note that no dogs are permitted, with the exception of assistance animals.
Victoria Stroughair, 39, of Copperfield Close, Malton, pleaded guilty to assaulting three men, assaulting two police officers, and using threatening words or behaviour, all committed in Coney Street in December 2025.
She was given a 12-month community order with six months’ alcohol treatment, banned from all off-licensed premises in York for 12 months and 25 days’ rehabilitative activities. She must pay £100 compensation to each of the people she assaulted.
A man is in a critical condition following a two-vehicle collision on Sunday.
Police say the crash on the Lisburn Road in south Belfast involved a silver Volvo V40 and a motorcycle. It happened near the junction with Elmwood Avenue shortly before 7:30pm last night.
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The motorcyclist, aged in his 30s, was taken to hospital where he remains in a critical condition. The Lisburn Road was closed overnight following the incident but has since reopened.
A police spokesman said officers are appealing to witnesses or anyone who has footage.
They added: “Officers would ask anyone who witnessed the collision, or who has dash-cam or mobile phone footage which could assist with their enquiries, to contact them at Lisburn Road on 101, quoting reference number 1331 22/03/26.”
The Taskmaster presenter and actor, known for his roles in The Cleaner, Man Down and The Inbetweeners, will lead the ceremony at Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall in London on 10 May.
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BAFTA stated that Greg’s “ability to bring genuine surprise and laughter to any occasion” made him an ideal choice to present the event, which is sponsored by P&O Cruises.
He succeeds actor Alan Cumming, who presented the 2025 television awards ceremony and also recently hosted the 2026 Bafta film awards.
Tomorrow (Tuesday) will see the announcement of this year’s television awards nominees. The 57 year old said: “I am thrilled to be presenting the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards.
“I see the whole event as an opportunity to wave a flag for this beloved medium and, with the exception of one commissioner, two execs and a co-star that I have personal beef with, I will do everything I can to ensure it’s a night of warm celebration for all.”
Last year’s ceremony attracted an average viewership of 2.5 million across BBC One and iPlayer.
The major accolades went to ITV’s Mr Bates vs the Post Office and Netflix’s Baby Reindeer, whilst actor Danny Dyer secured his first BAFTA, reports the Mirror.
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Emma Baehr, executive director of Awards and Content at BAFTA, said: “We’re excited to have Greg Davies hosting.
His sharp humour, warmth and energy will set the stage for an unforgettable night honouring the very best in British television.
The ambition, craft, and sheer range of talent on-screen and behind it continue to raise the bar. We can’t wait to shine a spotlight on the creatives who defined 2025’s standout programmes.”
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February’s Bafta Film Awards were marred by controversy when an audience member with Tourette’s syndrome involuntarily shouted a racial slur whilst two black actors were presenting on stage.
The BBC later issued an apology for failing to remove the incident during broadcast.
Congestion is reported stretching back to Junction 8 on the M61, with delays of around 40 minutes, and spilling onto the M6 northbound between Junctions 27 and 29.
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A diversion route has been provided for affected motorists:
Exit M61 at J9 and take the left lane onto the M65
Continue on M65 and exit at Junction 1
Follow signs for Lancaster/Blackpool/M55 via the right lane on the slip road
At the roundabout, take the right lane onto M6 North / A6
Stay in the left lane on M6 North toward Lancaster M6 / Blackpool (M55)
Take the 2nd exit at the roundabout to rejoin M6 North toward Lancaster M6 / Blackpool (M55)
National Highways urges drivers to allow extra journey time, consider alternative routes, or delay travel.
Real-time updates are available via the Traffic England website, travel apps, regional X feed, or the 24/7 contact centre at 0300 123 5000.
Lulu has made claims about her ex-husband Maurice Gibb’s supposed ‘secret child’ (Picture: Rex)
Lulu has revealed she recently learned her late ex-husband Maurice Gibb may have fathered a child with another woman while they were still married – something that son has now contradicted.
The singer made the claim during an appearance on Louis Theroux’s podcast, where she reflected on her relationship with the Bee Gees star and the unexpected revelations that have emerged years after his death about possible secrets he was keeping.
Lulu, who was married to Gibb for six years before their split in 1973, said she had only recently been shown evidence suggesting he had a son following a one-night encounter.
‘I think he’s got a son. It might have happened when we were married. I just found out,’ she said, adding that DNA testing appeared to confirm the claim.
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However, Nick Endacott-Gibb, 57, insists he was conceived around two years before Lulu and Maurice first got together.
Lulu opened up about the ‘secret child’ rumours on Louis Theroux’s podcast (Picture: @louistheroux)
He told the Mirror: ‘I was born in April 1968, conceived in August 1967. Lulu and Maurice weren’t married until 1969, after what has been described for decades as a “whirlwind” romance.
‘Were you together with him, Lulu? Two years does not a whirlwind make. I’m as curious as she is about whether Maurice was with her at the time I was conceived. It was the summer of love, after all!’
Nick was adopted by a couple, Peggy who was a secretary and David who was a chartered quantity surveyor, at 18 months old from a children’s home.
Lulu explained on the podcast that she had not focused on when the child may have been conceived, suggesting it was not something she felt compelled to investigate further.
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She said that she chose ‘not to focus’ on when the child was conceived (Picture: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Gibb, who died in 2003, is known to have had two children with his second wife Yvonne Spenceley, but questions around a possible third child have circulated for years.
In 2019, musician Endacott-Gibb publicly claimed he was Gibb’s biological son after a DNA test showed a match with Gibb’s son, Adam.
Despite this, he said at the time that some family members continued to dispute the findings.
Nick spent years searching for his biological parents before discovering a connection to band studio manager Patti Nolder, who had worked closely with the Bee Gees. Further testing, including DNA results from a genealogy website, appeared to confirm the link.
Reflecting on the situation, Lulu spoke about how her outlook on life has changed, admitting she once viewed things too rigidly.
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The singer talked about her romantic history (Picture: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images for Disney)
‘I think I used to take myself way too seriously,’ she said, adding that experience had taught her that life is rarely straightforward and often filled with grey areas.
The conversation also turned to her life after her marriage ended. Following their divorce, Lulu began a relationship with celebrity hairstylist John Frieda, which was later complicated by a brief romance with David Bowie.
‘I had a brief relationship with him, we had a fling,’ she said, acknowledging the situation created tension at the time.
The pair were married in 1969 (Picture: Getty Images)
Despite their separation, Lulu and Gibb later shared a reunion on stage in 2002, when she invited him to perform on her television special.
She said it was a meaningful moment that offered both of them a sense of closure and a chance to reconnect publicly.
‘It seemed to close the circle,’ she said, adding that it allowed Gibb to be recognised in his own right.
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The full interview is available now on The Louis Theroux Podcast.
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TOKYO (AP) — Global shares dipped Monday across the board, as oil prices continued to climb after U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest comments dashed hopes for an early end to the war in Iran.
France’s CAC 40 lost 1.5% in early trading to 7,548.83, while Germany’s DAX dove 2.0% to 21,944.26. Britain’s FTSE 100 fell 1.7% to 9,754.80. U.S. shares were set to drift lower with Dow futures down 0.5% at 45,659.00. S&P 500 futures fell 0.7% to 6,515.25.
In Asia, Japan’s benchmark Nikkei 225 dropped 3.5% to finish at 51,515.49. In Taiwan, the Taiex shed 2.5% to 32,722.50. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.7% to 8,365.90. South Korea’s Kospi dove 6.5% to 5,405.75. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng slipped 3.5% to 24,382.47, while the Shanghai Composite declined 3.6% to 3,813.28.
Trump over the weekend warned the U.S. will “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if it doesn’t fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, prompting Tehran to say it would respond to any such strike with attacks on U.S. and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets in the region.
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“Trump’s ultimatum and Iran’s retaliatory warnings point to a widening conflict that keeps energy disruption and market volatility elevated with no clear off-ramp in sight,” said Ng Jing Wen, analyst at Mizuho Bank in Singapore.
Higher oil prices, which also shook stock markets on Friday, dashed hopes for a possible upcoming cut to interest rates by the Federal Reserve, analysts said. Before the war, traders were betting that the Fed would cut rates at least twice this year. Central banks in Europe, Japan and the United Kingdom also recently held their interest rates steady.
But analysts observed that the markets were starting to react less to each of Trump’s remarks, perhaps deciding the narrative for markets was being set elsewhere, not Washington, such as what Iran might do but how global economic growth could be affected by soaring energy prices. Some Asian nations, like Japan, are vulnerable to higher energy prices.
In energy trading, benchmark U.S. crude added $1.62 to $99.85 a barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, gained $1.42 to $113.61 a barrel. The price of Brent crude has zigzagged lately from about $70 per barrel before the war began to as high as $119.50.
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In currency trading, the U.S. dollar rose to 159.53 Japanese yen from 159.22 yen. The euro cost $1.1526, down from $1.1571.
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AP Business Writers Chan Ho-him in Hong Kong, and Stan Choe in New York contributed to this report.
Manchester City beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final and will now hope to chase down Mikel Arteta’s side in the Premier League
Rodri believes Manchester City’s Carabao Cup final win over Arsenal can have an impact on the Premier League title race after the Blues secured a 2-0 Wembley win.
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Nico O’Reilly scored twice in the second half as City earned the first domestic trophy of the campaign. The Blues will hope to follow it up with two more given they are still in the FA Cup and are Arsenal’s only rivals for the Premier League title.
The Gunners have a healthy nine-point advantage at the top of the table but still have to travel to the Etihad while the Blues have a game in hand. And Rodri feels the cup final victory can now play a part in the run-in.
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“It’s a game not only for this title but to show that we can beat them,” said Rodri, speaking to the Spanish media at Wembley. “There is still a lot to do and it’s clear we didn’t want to go out of the Champions League.
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“But we went out and now we have to take the positives, we have more time to prepare for the games. So that’s something to take into account – but we also have to celebrate this.”
City were second best in the first half but dominated after the break to run out ultimately comfortable winners.
Asked about the half-time message, Rodri said: “I think it was a calming talk – we were doing things well and we didn’t have any problems – we were doing well in terms of pressure – it was more a matter of personality wanting to go for the game, not letting them take control.
“I felt like they dropped a bit physically, we detected it and we wanted to go for them. You can tell when you have players who are good in the area and Nico O’Reilly has again shown his potential.”
“We knew it was a very important game,” he added. “Not only because of the title but also because we had to face the best team in the league.
“Now we need to rest go back to the next round of internationals and come back with the optimism that we still have two more competitions to fight for.”
A van burst into flames in the centre of a Cambridgeshire town. Firefighters were called to the fire this morning (March 23) around 5am.
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Crews arrived to find a van on fire on High Street in March. The crew extinguished the blaze and returned to their station by 6am.
A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “At 4.58am on Monday (23) a crew from March was called to a fire on High Street in March.
“Firefighters arrived to find a van on fire. Wearing breathing apparatus they extinguished the fire using hose reels and returned to their station by 6am.”
The spokesperson confirmed that the caused of the fire was accidental.
The controller, who appeared to be working ground and directing aircraft, then instructed an incoming flight to go around the runway.
The nose of the jet was mangled (Picture: Reuters)
There was no immediate confirmation of deaths or injuries (Picture: Reuters)
He tells the Air Canada flight to ‘hold position’, adding: ‘I know you can’t move. The vehicles are responding to you now.’
Another voice says ‘man, that wasn’t good to watch’, before the controller replies: ‘I know, I was here. I tried to reach out to ’em…
‘We were dealing with an emergency earlier and I messed up.’
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The other worker replied: ‘No man, you did the best you could.’
Around 72 passengers and four crew members were on board Flight 8646, which was travelling from Montreal to LaGuardia.
It was going down the runway at 131mph, according to flight-tracker website, FlightRadar24.
UPDATE: Analysis of tower audio and map of the airport indicates the aircraft was showing a speed of 114kts or 131mph.JAZZ646 (yellow line) was cleared to land on Runway 4. Truck 1 & Company (green line) requested to cross RW 4 and was authorized to cross by the tower at… https://t.co/ZObElHh2s6pic.twitter.com/TQ053wyJzv
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