Northumbrian Water said this follows one of the driest years on record and comes thanks to its “careful management” in 2025.

Despite prolonged dry weather, the region avoided the water restrictions and drought measures that affected other parts of the UK.

Kieran Ingram, water director at Northumbrian Water, said: “Given the challenges we faced last year, and how hard our operational teams have worked to recover, we’re in a strong position now we’re in spring.

“We’re fortunate to have fantastic teams made up of industry experts, doing everything they can throughout the year to carefully manage our supplies.

“And while we do everything that we can, we need our customers to help us by doing the same.”

Reservoir recovery has been aided by winter rainfall, which naturally replenishes stocks through run-off and river abstraction.

However, the volume of water that can be drawn from rivers is limited to protect wildlife and maintain environmental quality.

Northumbrian Water continues to urge customers to use water wisely, highlighting that demand significantly influences reservoir levels.

The highest demand day in March saw 716 million litres used across the North East.

Mr Ingram said: “From finding and fixing leaks quickly to prioritising essential work on our networks, we’re doing everything to maximise how much we can refill the reservoirs.

“But we all have a part to play.

“Small changes, like turning off the tap while brushing your teeth, can make a real difference to the levels of demand on our water network and keeps water in the environment where it belongs.”

The company has already repaired 2,711 leaks in the first three months of 2025 and is investing £50 million in network improvements between 2025 and 2030.

Northumbrian Water also reminds the public that domestic leaks can have a significant impact – one leaky toilet can waste 78,500 litres per year, equivalent to 52,300 kettle boils.

Other advice includes spending one minute less in the shower, which can save up to 40 glasses of water each time.

To keep customers informed, the company has launched a monthly infographic on its website showing rainfall, reservoir levels, leakage rates and demand figures.

Additional water-saving tips and details about current reservoir storage are also available online.

Now looking ahead to 2026, the teams are preparing for a similar test of their skills and are not going to rest.

The company also encourages customers to report visible leaks to help reduce water wastage further.

The burnt Basque cheesecake has become a global phenomenon, but this homemade cheesecake is surprisingly easy to make with a simple recipe that takes less than 15 minutes to prep

Whenever my family and I are on our travels, amongst the initial spots we seek out is a quality neighbourhood bakery or patisserie. It’s an excellent method to familiarise ourselves with the locale, and my husband invariably chooses a San Sebastian or Burnt Basque cheesecake.

This velvety, decadent cheesecake has swiftly established itself as a fixture in cake establishments throughout the UK, and indeed globally, despite its modest beginnings in a small bar in Spain. The delectable dessert originated in the 1980s in San Sebastian, a coastal city in the Basque region of Spain, and from that point, its fame has expanded, particularly with the emergence of social media during the 2010s.

Today, you can anticipate finding this luxurious sweet on restaurant menus everywhere, yet it wasn’t until recently that I prepared it at home and discovered just how straightforward it was to produce a spectacular creation that would wow the entire household.

I initially prepared this dessert for Easter as it’s frequently accompanied by chocolate sauce, and it proved immensely popular, with numerous people returning for additional helpings, notwithstanding its richness.

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However, I prepared it once more not long ago, to earn favour with my husband. All that’s required is combining all the components in a bowl and blending, then after it’s placed in a cake tin with baking parchment, it’s prepared for cooking, reports the Mirror.

The most challenging aspect is determining the right moment to remove it from the oven and subsequently allowing it to firm up for no less than six hours, ideally through the night. Yet it’s absolutely worth the patience.

To achieve as much authenticity as possible, I followed the straightforward recipe on Spanish Sabores, a website dedicated to making numerous Spanish classics simple and accessible to recreate at home.

How to make a perfect Burnt Basque Cheesecake

Ingredients:

• 1kg of soft cheese
• Seven eggs
• 400g of sugar
• One tbsp of flour
• 200ml of double cream

Method:

Preheat your oven to 210°C or Gas Mark 7.

After measuring out your ingredients, combine them in a bowl and mix until smooth.

Line a cake tin with baking paper, then pour in the mixture and place on the middle shelf of the oven.

Baking time can reach up to 45 minutes, but begin checking after 30 minutes have elapsed, then every five minutes thereafter. The key is to “burn” the top of the cheesecake while maintaining a slight “wobble” in the centre.

Once you’ve browned the top to your liking, remove it from the oven and allow to cool before refrigerating to set for a minimum of six hours, though overnight is preferable.

When set, slice and serve. This style of cheesecake is often accompanied by a chocolate sauce, though you can equally savour the rich, creamy flavours on their own.

​Europa Oil & Gas’ proposal to install a 125ft (38m) rig in the village of Burniston, close to the North York Moors National Park, has been recommended for approval by North Yorkshire Council despite more than 1,600 local objections.

​Residents will organise a lobby ahead of the planning meeting outside Scarborough Town Hall at midday on Friday, more than a year after full plans were submitted and months after a previously scheduled meeting was postponed.

​The proposed wellsite, which is located 350 metres to the east of the village of Burniston, 700 metres southwest of the coastline, and 800 metres south of the North York Moors National Park boundary, were first announced in 2024.

​Europa’s plans would employ a proppant squeeze method to extract the gas – a technique which has been likened to “small scale fracking” and which is allowed under current legislation.

​The planning application has attracted more than 1,600 objections from local residents, local MP Alison Hume, parish councils including Burniston, Cloughton, Newby & Scalby and Scarborough Town Councils, and Friends of the Earth, among others.

​Professor Chris Garforth, of Frack Free Coastal Communities, said: “Councillors have a clear choice: reject this reckless scheme – or ignore the voices of the more than 1,600 objectors who refuse to let our community become a testing ground for the serious risks to health, homes, environment and climate that fracking brings.”

​He added: “We’ve had to formally complain about systemic failures in how the council has handled this application. Their response has been inadequate, so we’re now escalating to stage two of the council’s complaints procedure. A ‘yes’ vote based on a fundamentally flawed process would be unsafe and indefensible. This only strengthens our call for councillors to reject this application.”

​A spokesperson for Europa said: “The proposed development in terms of planning is very straightforward. The development is temporary in nature and is for a single appraisal well to test a gas accumulation, something which has been delivered safely and in an environmentally sound manner many times historically in the UK.

​“The planning application has been put forward for approval by the council’s officers following a thorough analysis of the application by specialist officers to ensure that it fully complies with the strict regulations that govern these activities in the UK.”

​Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the spokesperson also claimed that Frack Free Coastal Communities continues to “mislead councillors when raising concerns with respect to elements of the operational procedures associated with the project, such as the proposed proppant squeeze, which is highly regulated but falls outside of the planning process and will be dealt with under national regulations and authorities”.

​Earlier this month, Friends of the Earth published new research from leading geologist Professor Stuart Haszeldine of the University of Edinburgh, which warned that the evidence from analysis of the seismic activity triggered by Cuadrilla’s fracking at Preston New Road in Lancashire in 2019 and from Preese Hall in 2011, “shows that earthquakes from high-volume fracking and low-volume fracking are ‘equally large and equally unpredictable’”.

​Friends of the Earth campaigner, Tony Bosworth said: “The government has rightly committed to banning fracking for good. It blights our countryside, won’t lower UK energy bills, and is deeply unpopular.

​“With significant parts of England already covered by oil and gas licences, the UK government must reassure communities by banning all forms of hydraulic fracturing for fossil fuels.”

Europa has previously said the scheme would be positive for the local economy and “no-one is going to notice” its presence.

​

Hope Day is in Year 8 at The Mount School in Dalton Terrace, which counts Oscar winning actress Dame Judi Dench among its former pupils.

And she is helping the charity Made By Dyslexia launch a new campaign that aims to transform what millions of children and parents find when they search “What is dyslexia?” online.

At the heart of the campaign is a new star-studded animation called What is Dyslexia? designed to bring a more balanced, strengths-based understanding of dyslexia to the top of search results. 

Recommended reading:

 13-year-old Hope, who recently she took on the role of Annie in York Light Opera’s rendition of the musical voices the main character, Lola, in the film which also features the voices of Jeremy Irons, Liv Tyler and Jaalen Best.

Hope Day took on the title role  in York Light Opera’s rendition of Annie Image: Matthew Kitchen

Hope discovered she is dyslexic when she was seven years old – following this she discovered Made By Dyslexia and learnt that her dyslexia means she is really creative, this then fuelled her passion for acting.

She said she wanted to be part of this film to help other children see that being dyslexic gives you brilliant strengths.

 “There is so much online that makes dyslexic children and young people feel like there is something wrong with them. When I was younger, I discovered Made By Dyslexia and it helped me find what I am really good at,” said Hope.

“I realised my creativity and passion for singing and dancing is thanks to my Dyslexic Thinking. I wanted to be part of this film to help other children see that being dyslexic gives you brilliant strengths.”

Hope during the recording (Image: Supplied)

Hollywood actor Jeremy Irons, the voice of the wise inventor said:  “Coming from a family of creative dyslexics, I know just how important it is that we ensure all dyslexic children understand their extraordinary strengths. Throughout history, dyslexics have played a role in many of the world’s most significant innovations, from the light bulb to the motor car.  

“I am so proud to be involved in this wonderful project and hope that everyone will support us in watching, sharing and reviewing the film, so that each year, millions of children and parents will find it at the top of their searches.” 

Jeremy Irons (Image: Mike Fordham)

Kate Griggs, executive producer of the film and founder of Made By Dyslexia, said: “Every year millions of children search online to understand what dyslexia means for their future, but what they find is often framed around difficulty. When that is the first story a young person hears about their mind, it can damage confidence before they understand their strengths. 

 “This campaign is about changing that first impression. As a dyslexic, parent of dyslexic children, and the founder of Made By Dyslexia, I know how vital this is. By bringing a more balanced and empowering understanding of dyslexia to the top of search, we can help young people see confidence, capability and their bright futures.” 

Hope with charity founder, Kate Griggs (Image: Supplied)

The film and campaign launches today (Friday, April24) followed by a premiere at the UK’s biggest cinema screen the BFI IMAX in London on Saturday, April 25.

You can now watch the film at www.whatisdyslexia.org. Every comment, share and review helps towards ensuring the film reaches the top of search right across the world.  

Hope is a pupil at The Mount School in York (Image: Supplied)

Ryan King targeted the children between October and November last year.

A Scots paedophile has been jailed after attacking four boys.

Ryan King, 31, carried out sexual offences against the children in Glasgow and Renfrewshire between October and November, 2025

King pled guilty and was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison at Paisley Sheriff Court today, Thursday, April 23, for carrying out sexual offences against children in Renfrewshire and Glasgow.

Detective Inspector David Hardie blasted the ‘depraved’ pervert.

He said: “King gave no thought to his victims, just using them for his sexual gratification. “Our thoughts remain with his victims and I hope this sentencing brings them some comfort as he faces the consequences of his depraved actions. “Police Scotland will fully investigate all reports of sexual crimes and abuse. I’d encourage anyone with concerns about this type of criminality to contact officers so we can carry out an investigation.”

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The Baton Rouge Louisiana mall incident erupted after two groups argued at a food court, police said. At least one suspect is still being sought

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One person has been killed and at least five others wounded following a horrific shooting at a Louisiana shopping centre on Thursday. The incident is thought to have started after two groups became involved in an argument at a food court, according to police.

Police Chief TJ Morse said five people were in custody and there was no ongoing threat to the public.

The incident occurred at approximately 1.22pm local time, city police said. Earlier reports indicated at least 10 people were left injured, with two thought to be in a critical condition. Baton Rouge Police Chief Thomas Morse Jr said surveillance footage suggested “two groups of people got into an argument inside the food court and started shooting at each other”.

“Unfortunately, there were some innocent people that were in the area that might have also caught some rounds”, he added.

The shooting does not appear to be a random act of violence, “but a very targeted kind of disagreement between two groups of people,” Morse said.

The gunfire sent terrified shoppers fleeing and diving for cover in shops and changing rooms at Louisiana’s largest mall as people warned others to “take cover” and “get down,” witnesses say.

The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives attended the scene alongside police officers. Photographs circulated online revealed a significant police presence at the shopping centre. One man stated that he and his wife were thankful for the swift response from the emergency services.

“I am aware of the active shooter scene at the Mall of Louisiana,” said Gov. Jeff Landry. “I am in coordination with law enforcement and we will update as we know more. Please avoid the area.”

Officers confirmed that some of the victims are undergoing surgery, according to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Sid Edwards, Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish, said: “I’m on scene at the mall. We have set up a command post. There has been a shooting with multiple victims. All civilians have been safely escorted out of the mall. Please keep the victims and their families in your prayers.”

Five individuals were arrested in connection with the shooting, police confirmed in the hours following the incident.

Ministers have been urged to do more to protect the public after data from 500,000 people who volunteered their health information to the UK Biobank was breached and offered for sale online in China.

Information of all half a million members had been listed for sale on the website Alibaba, said science minister Ian Murray, as he called the incident an “unacceptable abuse” of data.

Mr Muarry told the Commons on Thursday that the charity had informed the government about the data breach on Monday, and said the information did not include names, addresses or contact details.

But Dame Chi Onwurah, the Labour chair of the science, innovation and technology committee, said it was “another blow to public confidence”, adding that it showed “little progress had been made” in protecting public data after she said she was given assurance by Mr Murray in February that standards of public sector information security and data hygiene would improve.

She said: “[The] statement, however, demonstrates just how little progress has been made. It raises serious questions about whether lessons have been learned from repeated data breaches and leaks, and whether robust data management practices are being enforced at publicly funded bodies.

“Public trust in the handling of sensitive data is handled is key to the government’s digital transformation ambitions. This is another blow to public confidence.”

The Biobank is the world’s most comprehensive dataset of biological, health and lifestyle information. It has been used to achieve improvements in the detection and treatment of dementia, cancers and Parkinson’s.

Mr Murray told MPs: “Biobank told us that three listings that appear to sell … Biobank participation data had been identified. At least one of these three datasets appeared to contain data from all 500,000 UK Biobank volunteers.

“Additional listings offer support for applying for legitimate access to UK Biobank or analytical support for researchers who already have access to the data.”

“The government has spoken to the vendor today, and they did not believe that there were any purchases from the three listings before they were taken down,” Mr Murray added.

The UK Biobank was established to advance medical research and scientists from across the world can use its data – with the personal information removed – for studies that are deemed in the public interest.

All of the participants were aged between 40 and 69 years old when they joined the study between 2006 and 2010. Their data is used to track their long-term health and help researchers to understand, prevent and treat serious illnesses.

UK Biobank has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office following the breach, said Mr Murray, who said the data involved in the breach could include gender, age, month and year of birth, socioeconomic status, lifestyle habits, and measures from biological samples.

He said he could not give a complete guarantee that nobody could be identified, but said it would likely only be done so through a “very advanced way”.

In a statement, he told the Commons: “Once the government was made aware of the situation, we took immediate action to protect participants’ data. Firstly, we worked with Biobank, the Chinese government and the vendor, to ensure that those three listings – that UK Biobank informed us (of), including participant data – had been removed.

“I want to thank the Chinese government for the seriousness with which they work with us to help remove these listings.

“Secondly, we ensured that the Biobank charity revoked access to three research institutions identified as the source of that information.

“And thirdly, we have asked that the Biobank charity pause further access to its data until they put in place a technical solution to prevent data from its current platform from being downloaded in this way again. I can confirm to the House that this pause is now in place.”

In a statement published on Thursday, Professor Sir Rory Collins, chief executive and principal investigator of UK Biobank, told those in the study: “We would like to inform you about an incident involving UK Biobank data.

“We apologise to our participants for the concern this will cause, and we hope to provide reassurance by outlining the serious actions we are taking in response.

“Your personally identifying information in UK Biobank is safe and secure.

“Listings offering access to UK Biobank data (which did not contain any personally identifying information) were found on a Chinese consumer website. These listings were swiftly removed before any purchases were made.

“We are putting in place additional security measures to prevent this happening again. We will conduct a comprehensive investigation into this incident.

“Since UK Biobank started to make your de-identified data available for research in 2012, it has led to thousands of discoveries that are already leading to improvements in the prevention and treatment of many different diseases.”

Professor Elena Simperl, Department of Informatics at King’s College London, said: “The recent UK Biobank data exposure is not a moment to point fingers, but to take seriously what it tells us about national data infrastructure. Initiatives like UK Biobank are absolutely essential to driving innovation across the health and life sciences ecosystem.

“With longitudinal data on half a million volunteers and more than 18,000 peer-reviewed papers to its name, the UK is world-leading in this space, and rightly proud of it.

“What happened here was an infrastructure problem, not the result of a complex cyber attack. Too often, the costs of maintaining infrastructure for flagship data stewardship projects like this are treated as an afterthought. The UK has built something remarkable, but we need to keep investing in keeping it safe.”

Passengers travelling to and from Sunderland are advised to prepare for changes to rail services on Sunday, May 3, and bank holiday Monday, May 4, due to engineering work by Network Rail.

Work will take place at three locations in the region as part of efforts to improve service reliability and reduce delays.

This includes drainage improvements at Sunderland station to help prevent flooding, upgrades to the level crossing at Tile Shed in East Boldon, and the installation of new switches and crossings at Pelaw in Gateshead.

Gunnar Lindahl, joint operations director for Network Rail and LNER, said: “By upgrading track equipment, level crossings and drainage, we’re helping to reduce future delays and keep services running safely.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this essential work is completed and encourage them to check their journeys before travelling.”

The planned works will result in significant service changes. Northern train services between Newcastle and Horden will be replaced by buses, and there will be no Grand Central trains to or from Sunderland.

Metro services will also be affected, with no trains running between Pelaw and South Hylton.

A replacement bus service, 901, will run between South Hylton and Heworth, serving all stations.

A spokesman for train operators said: “Because of this planned engineering work, some services to and from Sunderland will be altered on May 3 and the bank holiday of 4 May, with replacement buses operating on parts of the route.

“Customers are encouraged to plan ahead and check journey details in advance.”

Meghan Markle, who is the Duchess of Sussex, has been married to Prince for nearly eight years, tying the knot in 2018, some time after her divorce to Trevor Engelson

Meghan Markle gave a bride-to-be some candid advice about marriage during her tour of Australia.

The Duchess of Sussex, 44, was snapped talking to Ellie, wishing the woman “a lifetime of love” as she prepared to tie the knot. Meghan, who has been married to Prince for nearly eight years, said: “I just wanted to say congratulations on your wedding. Enjoy the wedding, but it’s more about the marriage… Sending you love all over the world. Your dad is awesome.”

Meghan met Harry ten years ago and, in May 2018, more than 27 million watched on TV as Meghan walked down the aisle of St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. She and Harry have since had two children; Prince Archie, six, and four-year-old Princess Lilibet.

Meghan, a former actress, dished out the tips last week during her visit to Bondi Beach, Sydney, during her and Harry’s four-day trip to Australia. She has been praised on social media for the sweet moment.

READ MORE: Prince Harry’s telling gesture in Ukraine shows key departure from Royal lifeREAD MORE: Meghan Markle’s latest strategy to impress Netflix bosses is branded ‘annoying’

Writing on social media, one fan said: “This is a nice thing to say… She made some random lady’s day, made her dad feel special.” Another person shared: “That was the cutest greeting.”

The Duchess met Harry through a mutual friend, when she was in London for the Wimbledon tournament. They began dating in 2016, two years after Meghan’s divorce to film producer Trevor Engelson. The pair, who met in the film industry, were married for three years.

Despite the ill-fated first marriage, Meghan’s union with Harry has grown in strength since 2018 and, in 2020, they made the big decision to move to the US together, thereby ending their royal duties.

READ MORE: Meghan Markle mocked after her three-word plea during Australia tour

In her Netflix lifestyle series With Love, Meghan, Meghan Markle revealed that she and Prince Harry first said “I love you” on their third date—a milestone moment that came during a camping trip to Botswana.

Their journey since then has been far from straightforward, marked by their decision to step back from royal duties and build a new life together in Montecito. Now together for nearly a decade, the couple will celebrate six years of marriage on May 19. Along the way, they have signed major media deals and taken part in high-profile interviews, drawing widespread attention as well as controversy.

The Duchess and Duke of Sussex had visited Bondi Beach on the final day of their 2026 Australia tour to meet the first responders and survivors of the December 2025 Bondi Beach terror attack, along with representatives of the Sydney Jewish Museum

NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump said Thursday that he was weighing a taxpayer-funded takeover of Spirit Airlines with the intent of reselling the struggling budget carrier after oil prices drop.

The president confirmed his continued interest in offering Spirit a financial lifeline after a lawyer told a U.S. Bankruptcy Court that the airline was in advanced talks with the U.S. government on a financing deal that would allow Spirit to emerge from Chapter 11 protection.

“They have some good aircraft and good assets, and when the prices of oil goes down, we’ll sell it for a profit,” Trump said, speaking at an unrelated Oval Office event. “I’d love to be able to save those jobs. I’d love to be able to save an airline.”

Trump stoked speculation of a deal to save Spirit on Tuesday when he encouraged a buyer to rescue the airline and suggested the federal government could help keep it afloat.

The White House has attempted to blame Spirit’s predicament on the Biden administration, which in 2023 sued to stop JetBlue Airways from buying Spirit for $3.8 billion. A little more than a year before Trump replaced Joe Biden as president, a federal judge in Dallas blocked a proposed Spirit-JetBlue merger, saying it would drive up airfares for passengers.

Trump said he had “a smart person” in mind who could potentially run Spirit and that he believed the airline could get back on solid financial footing.

“And they have some very good slots too, which are pretty valuable,” the president added, referring to scheduled times allocated for airlines to take off or land at airports when demand exceeds available capacity.

Spirit has struggled with losses for years. The airline filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2024 and again in August 2025. With the Iran war driving up jet fuel costs for all airlines, creditors earlier this month expressed doubts about Spirit’s ongoing viability, raising the possibility the airline recognized for its bright yellow planes would be forced to sell its assets and cease operating.

Before Trump’s comments about the government buying the airline outright, Marshall Huebner, a lawyer with Davis Polk who is representing Spirit, said during a U.S. Bankruptcy Court hearing in New York that government financing would make a reorganization possible and help Spirit be more competitive.

Details of a potential deal were shared with all three of the company’s primary creditor groups, Huebner said.

It was not immediately clear how a federal acquisition would differ from the terms that were under discussion. The size and terms of the financing aid were not shared publicly. The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources, both reported an amount of $500 million that would give the government an option to acquire a sizable stake in the airline, which has its headquarters in Florida.

Earlier this week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy voiced skepticism about the government stepping in to keep Spirit alive. In a CBS interview that aired Tuesday night, Duffy questioned whether a deal would set a broader precedent.

“Then who else comes to my door?” he said, referring to other airlines potentially requesting government aid. “The question will be, can we do anything to save Spirit and make it viable, or would we be putting good money into a company that inevitably is going to be liquidated?”

Several lawmakers, both Republican and Democrats, also balked at the idea of a bailout. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas wrote on X on Wednesday that a deal for Spirit would be a “terrible idea.”

“If Spirit’s creditors or other potential investors don’t think they can run it profitably coming out of its second bankruptcy in under two years, I doubt the US Government can either,” Tom Cotton, a senator from Arkansas, posted on X. “Not the best use of taxpayer dollars.”

The union that represents the airline’s pilots, on the other hand, voiced “strong support” for a rescue deal.

“Spirit is the reason so many Americans can afford to visit family, travel for work, or take a vacation,” said Capt. Ryan P. Muller, chair of the Spirit Airlines ALPA Master Executive Council. “When Spirit enters a market, fares go down.”

Spirit’s relatively young fleet has made it an attractive acquisition target. But previous buyout attempts from budget rivals like JetBlue and Frontier were unsuccessful both before and during Spirit’s first bankruptcy.

__

Madhani reported from Washington. AP writers Josh Boak in Washington and Rio Yamat in Las Vegas contributed to this report.