The not-so-coveted title is given to beaches rated “poor” by the Environment Agency due to high levels of bacteria, including e-coli, which may come from sewage, animal waste, and surface water runoff.

Sampling takes place between May 15 and September 30 each year.

The other North East beach to receive a Brown Flag for 2026 is Tynemouth Cullercoats in Tyne and Wear – both beaches also ‘won’ the award last year.

It is the second time Littlehaven has entered the so-called ‘top of the plops’ rankings.

The award is part of the Brown Flag Awards, created by Holiday Park Guru using Environment Agency data, and highlights the beaches with the lowest water quality ratings.

A Holiday Park Guru spokesperson said: “Swimming in the sea is a high priority for us on holiday – but I want to be the only thing floating.

“And so, in an effort to highlight England’s beaches that you might want to avoid… we are proud to present the third ever Holiday Park Guru Brown Flag Awards.

“It’s the Oscars of the sewage world.

“We’ve spent hours analysing official Environment Agency water quality data to select the ‘winners.’

We have even offered to send tasteful brown flags to the worst beaches, so they can warn swimmers.”

What is being done about it?

South Tyneside Council confirmed efforts were ongoing to improve water quality at the affected locations.

The Environment Agency bases its ratings on around 7,000 water samples from more than 400 designated bathing sites across England, collected over a four-year period.

The system uses a four-tier scale: three stars (excellent), two stars (good), one star (sufficient), and zero stars (poor).

Currently, 67 per cent of England’s bathing waters hold a three-star rating, while just five per cent score zero.

Tests measure levels of faecal bacteria, including intestinal enterococci and e-coli, which can indicate contamination from sewage, agricultural runoff, wildlife, and road drainage.

The Brown Flag Awards aim to warn the public about beaches where water quality falls below acceptable standards.

A clarification issued to forces by the Home Office in April 2025 said that where someone has entered a retail premises, steals, then either uses or threatens violence against staff or other people, the offence should be recorded as robbery of business property, not shoplifting.

This is the first picture of the suspected Golders Green knifeman named as Somali-born former school security guard Essa Suleiman.

The 45-year-old British national was arrested after Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76, were attacked in north London.

He was born in Somalia, but arrived in the UK as a child in the early 1990s.

He arrived legally before becoming an official British citizen.

Police have confirmed the suspect pinned to the floor by two officers had a history of ‘serious violence and mental health issues’, and was previously referred to Prevent.

He was referred to the government’s anti-extremism programme in 2020, but the case was closed.

It is understood Suleiman once worked as a school security guard and a Somali interpreter.

It came after mother of victim Shloime Rand today described how the ‘gentle soul’ was still in hospital recovering from a wound to the chest.

He described how Jewish friends had alerted her with a phone call ‘no parent ever wants to receive’.

She told Metro she had been at her son’s bedside and that he had been attacked while in Golders Green to attend a religious studies class.

She said: ‘Some Jewish friends rang me, not the police.

‘My son was in the area for religious studies. He was attacked for no reason. He was stabbed in the chest and is still in hospital.’

She added: ‘The Jewish community needs more protection for the danger we face.’

In London, counter-terrorism officers investigating the attack said they were also searching an address in the south east of the city after it was reported the suspect had been involved in a prior ‘altercation’ with another person

This is a breaking news story… More to follow…

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The best bread I’ve made in a long time. I first baked it during lockdown, when I needed something extra to turn chicken and salad into Saturday night dinner. The butter – please make it – is from my friend Nik Sharma. There’s a more complex version in his book Season.

Hot from the oven, this is very crumbly to slice, but it keeps well – if you want to eat it warm, toast slices of it when it’s a couple of days old.

Requires cooling time

Hannah McInally, 24, died in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in November 2021 after an undiagnosed ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

The family of “kind and clever” young teacher who died after suffering pregnancy complications have demanded answers from health chiefs as a probe gets underway.

Hannah McInally, 24, died in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on 23 November 2021 after an undiagnosed ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

A fatal accident inquiry was ordered by the Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain KC, where the full circumstances will be investigated.

Ahead of a preliminary hearing on Thursday, Hannah’s family and her partner Scott Strachan said they hope the probe will address their unanswered questions.

They said in a statement via law firm Digby Brown: “Hannah was a kind, clever, beautiful and contagiously happy young woman and her untimely loss continues to be felt by everyone who knew her.

“We have always believed there were failings at NHS Grampian that directly contributed to her death and, to us, the mere existence of an FAI confirms there to be truth in this and it’s now simply an exercise in publicly disclosing what went wrong and why.

“It is therefore with much anticipation we now await the health board’s evidence because, to date, we feel like it has failed to fully answer all our questions that we believe would help us understand, grieve and move forwards.

“Our thanks go to those who have supported us since Hannah’s passing but for the duration of the FAI we request our privacy is respected so we can give it our full attention and process things in our own time.”

Ectopic pregnancy affects one in 90 pregnancies in the UK, occurring when a foetus develops outside the womb.

It can be fatal if untreated.

The FAI is expected to look at the adequacy of healthcare provided by NHS Grampian and NHS 24.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) said last month that Hannah’s death raises serious public concern and warrants an inquiry in the public interest.

Following Hannah’s death, hundreds of tributes were posted to her online and fundraising events raised more than £35,000 in her memory.

She was described as an “intelligent, honest, beautiful and kind young woman” by her partner, who raised more than £12,000 for the Ectopic Pregnancy Trust by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa in 2024.

Scott’s fundraiser said his life was “forever changed” when he lost Hannah, who had “so much to look forward to”.

He said: “She had just embarked on her career as a teacher and was already making a positive impact at her school. Hannah was the star in many people’s lives, but especially in mine.

“In honour of Hannah’s memory, I am aiming to continue to raise awareness of ectopic pregnancy and to raise funds in support of The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust.”

Hannah’s devastated dad Mark had also paid tribute to his “wonderful wee girl”, saying she “warmed the hearts of all who knew her”.

He said: “She was a strong, intelligent, inspiring and dynamic individual who had embarked on her career as a high school teacher where reaching the top was only a matter of time.

“I will always love you.”

Family and friends later organised a charity dinner dance in her hometown of Dundee in aid of The Ectopic Pregnancy Trust.

Announcing the FAI last month, Andy Shanks of the COPFS said: “The Lord Advocate considers that the death of Hannah McInally occurred in circumstances giving rise to serious public concern and as such a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held.”

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Jacqueline, 80, was last seen on Chorley Old Road in Bolton at around 2.08am on April 30.

She is described as white, around 4ft 11in tall, with a very small build, grey hair (likely in a bob), and glasses.

It has been reported that she could be possibly wearing coat similar to image blue coat with flowers.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said: “Officers are becoming increasingly concerned about Jacqueline and want to make sure she is safe and well.

“Jacqueline suffers with dementia and may appear confused.”

Anyone with any information about Jacqueline’s whereabouts is urged to contact the police on 101 quoting  Log 837-300426.

Always call 999 in an emergency.

If he pops up on Would I Lie To You? , Last One Laughing, or wanders into shot on Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing , you know you are about to get a story that starts small and ends in tears of laughter.

His tales have become the sort of thing people fire into WhatsApp chats with a simple: “You’ve got to watch this.”

The way he tells them

Plenty of comics tell daft stories. What makes Mortimer different is how real his nonsense feels.

Think about that hilarious self‑dentistry story on Would I Lie To You? . He talks about his teeth going wrong after a chocolate bar and calmly drifts into describing how he sorted it out himself, like he is chatting about putting up a shelf.

@uanddave Would you let Bob Mortimer in your mouth? #bobmortimer #wouldilietoyou #comedy #dentist Watch Would I Lie To You? on @UKTV Play ♬ original sound – U&Dave

You can see the panel wobbling between disbelief and total acceptance, because he throws in just enough everyday detail to make the madness sound possible.

It is the same with the Chris Rea bath tale, or the gaming‑chair saga, or the time he explains a run‑in with the police that should not make sense but somehow does.

He never rushes. He circles back, adds a tiny extra detail, and suddenly you realise you have leaned forward without noticing.

It feels less like a TV bit and more like listening to the best storyteller in the pub who has finally warmed up and started on the good stuff.

Fans talk about his episodes of WILTY as the ones they always click on first. You hear people say they have “lost an hour” rewatching his clips, because once you start on one story you end up jumping straight into another.

Why Gone Fishing hits differently

Then there is Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing , which feels like a completely different show until Bob opens his mouth and you realise it is the same brain at work, just with more sky and fewer studio lights.

On paper, it is two blokes by a river.

null (Image: BBC/Robert Pereira Hind)

In reality, it is long, daft conversations about nothing in particular that suddenly open up into something very honest about getting older and being scared.

You get the wobbly walks along the bank, the dafter moments when he ends up on his backside or arguing with a camping chair, but you also get those pauses where he and Paul Whitehouse talk very plainly about heart surgery and what comes after.

The switches between clowning and vulnerability feel natural rather than forced.

It is exactly how a day out with an old mate often goes: serious for five minutes, then completely stupid again.

That is why people lean on Bob when life feels heavy.

A Teesside voice in a national spotlight

Through all of this, Mortimer has never sounded like he has drifted away from where he started.

The way he describes streets, neighbours and jobs feels very recognisable if you grew up anywhere in the North East.

null (Image: John Bailey)

There is a particular rhythm to how he talks about stupid decisions, daft plans and old cars that belongs to this part of the world.

That is why younger viewers who find him through clipped‑up WILTY stories or short Gone Fishing moments often end up digging back through older work like Shooting Stars .

They are not just stumbling across a random panel‑show regular. They are discovering someone whose voice carries a whole region with it, even when he is talking about something as daft as improvised dentistry or a spa day gone wrong.

Why the clips never die

In an internet full of things you only watch once, Mortimer’s stories are oddly rewatchable.

The punchline is never the only point.

null (Image: Ian West/PA)

You come back for the way he sets it up, the way his face goes serious just as the story goes ridiculous, and the way everyone around him slowly falls apart.

Even when you know where his dentistry tale is heading, you still want to hear how he gets there. The same is true of Gone Fishing .

In the end, that is why the love for Bob Mortimer keeps bouncing back every time a clip resurfaces.

He brings proper oddness into the most ordinary settings, but never sneers at the people or places in his stories.

He sounds like a Teesside neighbour, behaves like the funniest person in your friendship group, and somehow turns dental cement, motorway lay‑bys and quiet riverbanks into part of the country’s shared in‑jokes.

For a lot of readers here, he will always be that lad from Middlesbrough who made it big and never stopped sounding like one of us.

Donald Trump said the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, should spend more time ‘fixing his broken country’ and less time ‘interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran nuclear threat’

Donald Trump has mocked Germany as a “broken country” after its chancellor said Iran had “humiliated” the US.

The president said the Chancellor of Germany, Friedrich Merz, should spend more time “fixing his broken country” and less time “interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran nuclear threat,” in a scathing Truth Social post.

He also slammed the chancellor for being “totally ineffective” in ending Russia’s war on Urkaine.

“The Chancellor of Germany should spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine (Where he has been totally ineffective!), and fixing his broken Country, especially Immigration and Energy, and less time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat, thereby making the World, including Germany, a safer place! President DJT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social today.

Trump’s comments come after Merz previously said the US was being “humiliated” by “very skilled” Iranians.

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The stylish crime drama follows a group of young Surrealist artists in the 1930s and is now free to watch.

A “must-watch” murder mystery that is ideal for Agatha Christie enthusiasts is now available to stream at no cost.

This Is Not A Murder Mystery centres on a circle of young Surrealist artists during the 1930s.

The Belgian English-language crime drama has arrived on Channel 4, having originally broadcast last year.

Set amongst the grandeur of an English country estate, the series finds a gathering of celebrated artists ensnared alongside a serial killer.

The production stars Pierre Gervais as Rene Magritte, Inaki Mur as Salvador Dali, Florence Hall as Lee Miller, Frank Rourke as Man Ray and Mike Hoffman as Max Ernst, reports the Mirror.

The official synopsis for This Is Not A Murder Mystery, drawn from Magritte’s The Treachery of Images painting, states: “Crime drama set in the flamboyant 1930s, following a group of young Surrealist artists, including Dali and Magritte, who are trapped in a lavish mansion with a serial killer on the loose.”

Viewers were left gripped by the unique period drama, with one person writing: “This series is a delightful and stylish twist on the classic whodunit. Set in the opulent 1930s with a gathering of legendary surrealist artists, it plays masterfully with suspense and visual flair.” They added: “For anyone looking for an intelligent drama wrapped in atmosphere and intrigue, this series is a must-watch.”

Another person branded it “worth watching” while someone else called it “charming”. When the trailer dropped, fans rushed to share their excitement, with one writing: “This looks *rilly* good, as another said: “This looks fun!”

Someone else said: “I’m so glad Agatha Christie-ish stories has taken ahold of media for now. It’s such a fun genre.”

Another added: “I’ve been itching for another story like this ever since Knives Out came out years ago! And I’m also really excited to see a cast where I don’t recognize anyone I’m sick of Hollywood only casting the same “trendy” actors in roles they’re ill-suited for so this is a nice chance to see other talent shine!”

Producer Kristoffel Mertens and Elly Vervloet previously spoke to Variety about turning their surrealist idea into this drama, with Mertens saying: “It started as the typical cliché idea that goes around in production companies.

“Everyone is very enthusiastic about it, but at the same time we would never be able to make it. Yet for this one, it remained with us and we kept going back to it, so in the end, we thought we could try to at least get it into development. And it turns out that “This is Not a Murder Mystery’ became one of the biggest shows ever made in Flanders.”

It’s definitely the biggest series we have ever done”, Vervloet added.

“We usually commission Flemish series for our local audience, creating a mix of domestic series and high-end TV shows as well.

“But at that level, it becomes a matter of dreaming big, being bold, and daring to make this choice as a public broadcaster to bring this English-spoken series to our audience and beyond.”

This Is Not A Murder Mystery is available to watch on Channel 4

The driver of the car has been named as 73-year-old Tony Warner

A Newmarket man has been arrested after the driver of a car died in a crash on a busy A-road. Suffolk Police were called to the A14 westbound carriageway at Nacton, near Ipswich, at just after 9am on Monday, April 27, following reports of a crash involving two vehicles.

The vehicles involved in the collision were a lorry and a silver Ford S-Max. The East of England Ambulance Service and Suffolk Fire and Rescue crews attended the scene.

The driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. Two passengers in the car were taken to hospital for treatment but they did not sustain any serious injuries.

The driver has been named as Tony Warner, aged 73, of Ilketshall St Lawrence. A 50-year-old man from Newmarket has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving. He was taken to the Martlesham Police Investigation Centre. He was released on bail until Monday, July 13, pending further enquiries.

The A14 in the westbound direction between Junction 58 at Seven Hills and Junction 56 at Wherstead was closed until 2am the following morning. The eastbound carriageway was closed until 7pm that evening.

Officers are now appealing for anyone with information to come forward. If you witnessed the crash or have dashcam footage that could be helpful, you should contact the Joint Norfolk & Suffolk Serious Collision Investigation Unit, quoting reference 37/23817/26.

You can call 101 if you do not have access to the internet.

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