HM Inspectorate of Probation’s latest inspection of the region’s probation service found that long-standing issues with staffing “continued to undermine capacity and confidence”.

The Ministry of Justice said it inherited a “criminal justice system in crisis” which it is addressing by increasing funding for the probation service and recruiting more probation officers.

Martin Jones, chief inspector of probation, said the inspectors were “encouraged to find signs of increasing stability” across Yorkshire and the Humber’s probation service after 90 of its cases were inspected.

However, Mr Jones said the probation service, which is the second largest after London, continued to face “longstanding issues with vacancies, sickness and attrition”.

He said these issues, “combined with high levels of practitioner and middle manager inexperience, continued to undermine capacity and confidence”.

Mr Jones urged leaders to “strengthen practitioners’ skills and confidence and ensure there is meaningful management oversight and consistent delivery of interventions”.

Inspectors found that workforce pressures remained a “significant challenge” for the Yorkshire and the Humber probation service in some probation delivery units, but said “encouragingly, there were signs of increasing stability”.

“Despite this, longstanding issues with vacancies, sickness and attrition, combined with high levels of practitioner and middle manager inexperience, continued to undermine capacity and confidence,” inspectors said in their report.

They found that staff retention levels were being affected by “long vetting delays, concerns about pay, and excessive workloads”.

Inspectors also found that “leaders felt national recruitment campaigns had not properly reflected the public protection responsibilities of the role, leaving new staff unprepared”.

“Inspectors noted constant organisational change, driven by national policies, and crisis-driven working, which meant that staff were encouraged to focus on transactional tasks rather than reflective, analytical decision-making,” they added.

Probation service faced delays in accessing information from police, inspectors find

Inspectors said access to critical risk information from the probation service’s partners – such as the police and children’s services – had improved, but practitioners “still faced delays and received incomplete information”. They said leaders “stressed that national action was required to fully resolve this”.

The report recommended that the probation service develops practitioners’ confidence and skills in the use of “professional curiosity and challenging conversations”.

They also said the probation service should ensure senior probation officers have “sufficient capacity and resources to undertake effective management oversight of casework”.

Recommended reading:

Inspectors recommended that the government develops a national strategy to improve information service from the probation service to the police and children’s services.

They also urged the government to “reduce vetting delays and address workforce instability by implementing streamlined and more regionally responsive recruitment processes”.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “The government inherited a criminal justice system in crisis, placing significant strain on the probation service.

“We are addressing this by boosting probation funding by up to £700 million extra by 2028, recruiting another 1,300 probation officers on top of the 2,300 we already committed to and delivering the biggest expansions of tagging in British history to ensure robust supervision of offenders and protect the public.”

Manchester United round-up following a major update on the managerial situation

After clinching a return to the Champions League, Manchester United are close to confirming their next permanent manager, with Michael Carrick in pole position. The 44-year-old has surpassed the expectations of many since taking over for the remainder of the campaign in January following an acrimonious end to Ruben Amorim’s rocky reign.

United have explored other options but Carrick has long been considered the front-runner for a job that he has been publicly backed for by a number of players. The former Middlesbrough boss has overseen a marked improvement in mood and results, with Champions League qualification secured with three matches to spare.

Ahead of the final two matches of the season – at home to Nottingham Forest on Sunday and away to Brighton – United are also on the brink of securing a comfortable third spot ahead of Liverpool and Aston Villa.

It’s sure to be a fascinating summer at Old Trafford, with arrivals and departures expected as Carrick, assuming he lands the job, puts his stamp on the side. Here’s a round-up of the latest United news…

FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page

Carrick’s demand

Carrick has made no secret of the fact he wants the job full-time, saying after a recent game that it feels like a “natural” fit. However, he expects to be backed during what could be a hectic summer.

READ MORE: Man Utd reach agreement over Michael Carrick appointment as first demand madeREAD MORE: Darren Fletcher shows up Ruben Amorim with ‘powerful’ Michael Carrick comments

In key talks with top bosses next week, Carrick will want assurances the club will do whatever it can to land their leading transfer targets. His expected appointment as permanent boss will have the knock-on effect of sewing up Bruno Fernandes’s long-term future.

The Portuguese playmaker was close to leaving the club last summer before being persuaded to stay by Amorim. His countryman’s dismissal raised more questions about his future amid suggestions he had grown tired of the club’s constant cycle of upheaval. However, with Carrick at the helm, Fernandes is ready to commit his long-term future to the club.

Casemiro’s advice

Outgoing midfielder Casemiro has been dishing out advice to Kobbie Mainoo, calling him the “present and the future of the club.” The fortunes of both players have been transformed under Carrick.

Mainoo has come in from the cold after struggling to force his way into Amorim’s plans, while Casemiro has been a key player over the second half of the season, with calls for him to reverse his decision to leave this summer.

The Brazilian has been key off the pitch too, offering guidance to younger players like Mainoo. Speaking on Rio Ferdinand’s podcast, he discussed the challenge of getting through to younger players in the age of social media.

When Ferdinand put to him that you can’t be as strong with young players [these days], he said: “I try, I try, but the phone, the social media is very difficult because everyone sees on the phone, ‘Nah, you play good.’ You think, ah, you play good. Yeah, it’s top, it’s top.’

“And I try every day about this with Kobbie. He’s an unbelievable player. But he needs to train, train, train. He needs fear – I play, I don’t play. I need to push the training because this guy is the present and the future of the club.”

Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

The 7-year-old died after being knocked down in April 2021

A witness to an accident that claimed the life of a seven-year-old girl in West Belfast five years ago told an inquest that a noise he heard at the time still “haunts” him to this day.

Deirdre Crawford left home at 5.50pm on April 3, 2021, to bring a present to a work colleague’s house for their 30th birthday. As she drove up Springhill Avenue, Mrs Crawford’s blue Renault Captur car hit Kaitlin McCoubrey-Fullerton, who sadly died at the scene. No prosecution was taken against her by the PSNI after the incident.

An inquest into the young girl’s death took place this week at Belfast Laganside Court, with the evidence focused on the circumstances before Kaitlin entered the road, what happened as she did so, and the layout and condition of Springhill Avenue.

READ MORE: ‘Our blue-eyed girl’: Belfast parent’s tribute to schoolgirl who died after being struck by carREAD MORE: ‘I was numb’ – Driver who hit child in fatal West Belfast crash gives evidence at inquest

Additionally, the inquest has examined the presence of parked vehicles and a speed ramp, as well as the driver’s control.

When the hearing resumed on Wednesday, witness Martin McGahan recalled calling to the home of his friend Gerard McGivern and his wife, Carmel for a barbecue at Springhill Avenue that evening. He said it was a “beautiful, dry and sunny” Easter Saturday, adding, “It felt like summer had arrived.”

“There were a lot of people in the street, mostly sitting in their gardens and plenty of kids in the street. The play park on Springhill Avenue was packed with children. I could smell barbecues as I walked up the street. The atmosphere was amazing, it felt really lively,” he said.

“There were cars parked on either side of the street, partly on the road and pavement, which made it very narrow for traffic. Because of all the cars and children, it meant that anyone driving on the street had to go very slow.”

Mr McGahan said he was sitting in the front garden and had just drunk his first couple of mouthfuls of beer when, shortly after 6pm, he saw a sky blue car pass in front of the house.

He added: “The car didn’t appear to be doing any speed as it passed. Around the same time, I remember hearing the sound of a car suddenly stopping or braking, although it wasn’t a skidding sound.

“It also sounded like something being sucked under a car. There was a gasp from the street and then silence. From the noise I heard, I knew something had been hit by a car. I thought it was possibly a child.”

Mr McGahan added that as soon as he heard the noise and saw the car pass, he jumped up and rushed out of the garden.

“We were all worried it was one of Gerard’s children that had been hit. I ran around a car and saw a young girl with red hair lying on the road. She was completely still. I thought she had no chance, that she was dead.

“There were two young women near the car. One of them said there’d been in an accident and that they’d just seen a flash of her hair.”

Mr McGahan then rang 999 and paramedics arrived soon after: “They didn’t seem to do much. I asked one of them if there was anything I could do to help, but they indicated she was beyond help.

“Then the parents of the child arrived. The girl’s father, who was really distressed, lifted her shoe, which had been lying on the road and threw it up the street in the direction of the Springfield Road. Both of them were shouting at the girl to wake up.”

He added: “The family of the driver were in a complete panic. They were asking me if the girl was OK. When I told them she had died, they were distraught.”

Under cross examination by David Reid, counsel for the coroner, Mr McGahan said he also recalled hearing a scraping noise when the car hit a speed ramp.

“That noise still haunts me to this day,” he added.

In her evidence, Carmel McGivern recalled being in her garden with Mr McGahan and others when she heard what “sounded like a wheelie bin or someone’s wing mirror being struck by a car”.

“I knew a vehicle had hit something. It was loud enough to make my stomach turn. When I heard voices, I knew from their tone that something serious had happened. Someone had been knocked down,” she added.

When Mrs McGivern got up and ran straight out through the garden gate onto the street, she observed a stationary car and a young girl lying in the middle of the road.

She recalled: “There was no sign of life at all. My immediate thought was that she was gone. I knelt down beside her and said, ‘I’ve got you, sweetie, I’m here for you’ – ‘you’ve been in an accident, there’s help coming’.

“I lightly stroked her back and pulled her hair back from her face to behind her ear. I held her hand and just kept whispering soothing things to her, calling her by her name and telling her she was loved”.

When questioned about the conditions on the road in terms of how busy it is for traffic, Mrs McGivern replied: “Springhill Avenue is a very busy street, and very active with kids and cars constantly going up and down the street. Some of them respect the speed and some don’t. A lot of people are on their mobile phones. It’s still like that today.”

She added: “I think if the drivers were made aware that maybe there was a camera watching, they might slow down and not use their phones as much. I do see a lot of people on their phones.”

Sean Dodds, who was driving behind the blue Renault Captur, after collecting his own daughter, when it hit Kaitlin recalled: “There were cars parked on either side of the road, meaning it was very tight for traffic getting through. It was Easter weekend, so there were loads of people in the area. I remarked to my partner that it was crazy how busy it was.

“The road is a long straight with a couple of speed bumps along it. My partner’s car had new alloy wheels, which I did not wish to damage, so I took it very slowly over the speed bumps.

“I volunteered to take my daughter home before returning to pick up my partner. I left at about 6:10pm with my daughter in a child seat in the rear of the car. I didn’t have the radio on and the windows were closed.”

Mr Dodds said the car in front driving at a constant speed and not fast: “All of a sudden there was a sharp movement towards the road. I distinctly remember a young girl with red hair running out straight across the road. I’m not sure where she was looking when she ran out.

“The car in front of me had either reached the speed bump or was just before it when the girl ran out immediately in front of the car.

“I don’t recall seeing the car in front brake or swerve prior to impact. It all happened very quickly. The car seemed to hit her as soon as she came out. She was struck by the front of the car in the front of the passenger side.”

He added: “I didn’t hear any noise prior to impact and don’t recall hearing the impact itself. She went straight under the car. I had a clear view of her under the car and that’s the image I can remember to this day. She was like a wee doll, not like a person.

“I could hear shouting and screaming outside. I was in shock and didn’t want my daughter to be exposed to what had happened. I reversed into a cul-de-sac and drove back up to where I’d come from. I told the people in the house what had happened and a while later, police came and took my details as a witness.”

A forensic scientist who attended the scene afterwards also gave evidence on Wednesday, saying an examination of the Renault car revealed no pre-collision defects and that the road surface was in good condition with no irregularities.

When questioned on driver perception-response time, he told the inquest: “I’m not aware of what the driver could have done differently, unfortunately.”

The inquest has now concluded its evidence and the coroner will deliver her findings in due course.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

A British tourist has been detained by authorities and quarantined after being caught in a Milan bar.

The Brit, in his 60s, had been on the same flight as hantavirus-stricken cruise ship passenger Mirjam Schilperoord, 69, when they travelled from Saint Helena to Johannesburg.

She was the wife of patient zero Leo Schilperoord, 70, who boarded the MV Hondius and made the trip to the rubbish tip on a remote Argentinan island.

She was taken off her next flight when she fell ill and died in a South African hospital.

The unnamed British holidaymaker and his travelling companion, who was not on the flight, were apprehended in Milan before being taken to Sacco Hospital.

The pair, who were not showing symptoms, were told they must remain in quarantine until June 6, after being forced into a 42-day isolation period.

It came after a French hantavirus patient was fighting for her life in hospital after being placed on an artificial lung.

Doctors described the device keeping her alive as ‘the final stage of supportive care.’

They added the passenger is suffering a severe form of the virus, ‘triggering life-threatening lung and heart failure’.

There are now 11 reported cases tied to the outbreak, nine of which have been confirmed. Three people who were aboard the cruise ship sailing the Atlantic Ocean have died of the rare but fatal disease.

One of the world’s leading health experts has warned that we can expect more hantavirus cases in the near future.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organisation, maintains there are ‘no signs’ a pandemic is on the cards after cases of the rodent-borne disease were identified on the MV Hondius cruise ship last month.

But he told a press conference in Madrid: ‘Of course, the situation could change.

‘And given the long incubation period of the virus, it’s possible we might see more cases in the coming weeks.’

What is hantavirus?

Hantavirus, sometimes called the ‘rat virus’, is a rare family of pathogens carried by rodents – there is no vaccine or cure.

The virus spreads through contact with the faeces, urine and saliva of infected rodents.

Early symptoms can be easily mistaken for the flu, such as fever, chills or body aches, but can escalate to heart or lung failure.

At the centre of the cruise outbreak is the Andes strain, which is endemic to South America, including Argentina, where the ship departed on April 1.

Advertisement

Dr Stathis Giotis, a lecturer in life sciences at the University of Essex, told Metro that the Andes hantavirus is the only known strain that can be spread from human to human, though cases of this are few and far between.

‘It is clearly a serious situation for those directly affected and it deserves careful public health follow-up, but there is no evidence at present that this represents a broader epidemic threat,’ he said.

People who may get in contact with rat droppings, like agricultural workers or people simply cleaning their sheds, are at high risk.

Advertisement

Hantavirus is still a mystery

Despite years of research, many questions have yet to be answered about the hantavirus, including exactly how it spreads, how long it can survive outside a host and why it can be mild for some people and severe for others.

There is no specific treatment or cure, but early medical attention can increase the chance of survival. The Andes virus implicated in the cruise ship outbreak can have an incubation period of up to eight weeks and a mortality rate of up to 50%, according to the World Health Organization.

The virus usually spreads from rodent droppings and is not easily transmitted between people, though the Andes virus may be able to spread between people in rare cases.

The genome of the hantavirus has been completely sequenced, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said Wednesday.

Advertisement

‘There is no data to suggest that this virus is behaving differently in terms of transmissibility or severity from any of the known virus circulating in certain regions of the world,’ said Andreas Hoefer, who oversees the operational coordination of the European Union’s reference laboratories for public health.

‘Based on that data, I would say that currently we have no reason to suspect that this is a new virus’.

MORE: Cruise ship passenger dead and nearly 2,000 in quarantine after ‘norovirus outbreak’

MORE: Ten people from remote islands to land in UK to self isolate after hantavirus outbreak

Advertisement

MORE: Passengers reveal life of breakdowns, ‘Covid rules’, and the joy of fruit on virus cruise ship

Comments


Add as preferred source

News Updates

Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.

Advertisement

The UK State Pension is worth up to £241.30 per week but must be claimed when you reach State Pension age — or you could face a payment delay

Advertisement

The State Pension age began a gradual increase from 66 to 67 in April, with the transition scheduled to be finalised for all men and women throughout the UK by 2028. The proposed adjustment to the official retirement age has been in law since 2014, with a subsequent rise from 67 to 68 planned for implementation by the mid-2040s.

The most recent figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveal the State Pension currently delivers regular financial assistance to 13.2 million elderly people nationwide, including more than one million pensioners residing in Scotland. This benefit is accessible to those who have attained the UK Government’s qualifying retirement age and have contributed at least 10 years’ worth of National Insurance Contributions.

Individuals nearing the official retirement age this year may be unaware that the State Pension is classified as a contributory benefit and is not disbursed automatically by the DWP. The benefit must be applied for, otherwise pensioners risk experiencing a delay in receiving their initial payment of up to £241.30 per week, or £965.20 for each four-week payment cycle.

The funds are not distributed automatically when someone reaches State Pension age, as certain individuals opt to postpone submitting a claim in order to continue working and accumulate more towards their pension fund, particularly if they have not contributed the complete requirement of 35 years’ worth of National Insurance Contributions, or were ‘contracted out’.

DWP guidance explains: “You do not get your State Pension automatically – you have to claim it. You should get a letter no later than two months before you reach State Pension age, telling you what to do.”

It then clarifies you can either claim your State Pension or delay (defer) claiming it. It states: “If you want to defer, you do not have to do anything. Your pension will automatically be deferred until you claim it.”

This means that unless you respond to the letter confirming your wish to begin receiving your State Pension, no payments will be made, as the DWP will treat any lack of response as an intention to defer, reports the Daily Record.

Postponing your State Pension could boost your weekly payments once you do decide to claim, provided you defer for a minimum of nine weeks. Your State Pension grows by the equivalent of 1% for every nine weeks you defer, amounting to just under 5.8 per cent for every 52 weeks.

The additional sum is paid alongside your regular State Pension payment. However, it is worth noting that any extra payments resulting from deferral may be subject to taxation — further details are available on GOV.UK.

It is also worth bearing in mind that deferred State Pensions rise annually in line with the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate, rather than the highest measure of the Triple Lock policy.

Your initial payment will arrive within five weeks of reaching State Pension age, with full payments following every four weeks thereafter. You may receive a partial payment before your first complete one. The letter will outline what to expect.

You can also opt to receive your State Pension payments weekly or fortnightly, which will reduce the waiting time for the first payment. The day your State Pension is paid depends on your National Insurance number.

A baby allegedly sexually abused and murdered by his adopted dad had a bite mark on his bottom weeks before he died, a court heard.

Jamie Varley, 37, is on trial over the death of 13-month-old Preston Davey on July 27, 2023.

Preston had been placed with Varley and his partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, at their home in Blackpool aged nine months with a view to him being formally adopted.

But jurors at Preston Crown Court have been told the toddler was routinely ill-treated, sexually abused and physically assaulted, suffering dozens of injuries in the final four months of his life.

On Wednesday, Home Office pathologist Dr Alison Armour was shown several photos and videos of the toddler found on the couple’s phones.

In one image taken on June 12, 2023, Preston was standing naked in a garden paddling pool.

Asked to comment on a darker shade of skin on his right buttock, Dr Armour said: ‘It is my view, sir, it most likely represents a human bite mark.’

She said having looked at the photo, the mark on his body was a round, circular bruise, turning slightly purple and around 3.5cm in diameter.

Peter Wright KC, prosecuting, asked Dr Armour why she though it was a bite mark.

‘The size, configuration, which means the shape, are all consistent with a human bite mark,’ she said.

Dr Armour was also asked her opinion on a series of seven photos recovered from Varley’s phone of Preston in his cot, along with two toy teddy bears, taken four days before his death.

The images span a period of three minutes and 12 seconds, during which time Preston’s head and arms remain ‘slumped’ over the top horizontal bar of his cot with his neck resting on the bar.

His body is apparently partially suspended, his legs in a ‘frog-like’ position and the child seemingly asleep or unconscious.

‘This is very unsafe and in my view dangerous,’ Dr Armour said.

Mr Wright continued: ‘What is the risk here presented?’

Dr Armour said: ‘Partial suspension, ultimately leading to death, he’s got his neck in contact with that cot railing.

‘That’s going to inhibit your ability to breathe.’

In one photo, Preston’s head is in a slightly different position with fluid coming from his mouth.

Dr Armour continued: ‘Preston’s tongue is protruding, its blue and also his lips appear blue, consistent with a lack of oxygen in the blood.’

Mr Wright said: ‘In terms of a child in that position for that length of time, how safe or otherwise is such a position?’

Dr Armour said: ‘This is a very prolonged period of time for a child to be in such an unsafe position.’

Four days later, at around 6.20pm on July 27, 2023, the defendants rushed Preston unconscious from their home to Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Medics worked for nearly an hour to resuscitate the child but could not save him.

Varley said he had left the child alone in the bath for three or four minutes before he returned and the baby was partially submerged.

Dr Armour, who carried out the post-mortem examination at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, said people who drown often swallow water but she found no water in Preston’s stomach.

She added: ‘It is my position that drowning can be reasonably excluded as the cause of death in this case.’

Dr Armour concluded the cause of death was an upper airway obstruction, leading to Preston’s collapse by a deliberate act of smothering, or an object or objects inserted into his mouth.

The post-mortem examination also found external and internal injuries including bruises to Preston’s forehead, throat, mouth, bladder, bottom and bleeding in the lungs.

These were mostly ‘non-accidental’, she said, and could not be explained by the attempts by medics to save his life during resuscitation on hospital admission.

Many of the external injuries Dr Armour described as ‘fingertip’ bruises, consistent with gripping, prodding, poking and pinching, she said.

Preston also had severe bruising to the back of his throat which Dr Armour described as one of the ‘most unusual’ injuries she had never come across in her 39-year career as a consultant forensic pathologist.

‘This is an extensive bruise,’ she said.

Dr Armour said the underlying cause is ‘difficult to ascertain’.

Smothering ‘either by a hand or a soft object’ could be the cause, she said, but that ‘would be unusual’.

She added: ‘That leaves the other cause, in my view – the insertion of an object into the mouth occluding the airways.’

Dr Armour told jurors there were no injuries to Preston’s teeth, tongue, palette or cheeks, indicating the object did not have any ‘sharp edges’.

Asked if the injury was consistent with a sexual assault, she replied: ‘I cannot exclude that, sir.’

Dr Armour said the injuries to Preston’s throat, along with other serious injuries found on his body, were ‘very recent’.

Asked how close to death they were inflicted, she added: ‘I think I have said a matter of hours.’

Varley denies murder, manslaughter, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.

McGowan-Fazakerley denies allowing the death of a child, three counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.

The continues on Thursday.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

MORE: Alex Murdaugh has life term for killing wife and son overturned in shock twist

MORE: Husband jailed for ‘sadistic’ murder of his Miss Switzerland finalist wife

MORE: Paedophile who pretended to be disabled to dodge court jailed for 15 years

We’ve all popped in to a Home Bargains for an essential item or two, and ended up leaving with a hanging basket, solar lights or a rug that we didn’t know we needed.

Now, residents will soon be able to call in for ‘bits’ as work is underway to transform the space.

Homebase closed their doors here after a major restructure and its collapse into administration in late 2024, leaving the store space available for Home Bargains to take over.

The former Homebase store (Image: Google Maps)

The new store is set to open on August 1 and will be a significant addition to the town, especially since the current Home Bargains stores in Gateshead are relatively small.

Currently, these smaller branches are located in Gateshead High Street at The Precinct and in Blaydon.

Unlike these smaller stores, the new Team Valley Home Bargains store will be much bigger, giving people more options when shopping.

Once open, the new store will provide competition to other big names in Retail World, such as Smyths Toys, TK Maxx, M&S Simply Food, Asda Living, and Dunelm.

This development is anticipated to bolster the local shopping scene, with locals on social media calling the opening “another boost for local shopping”.

The Sun and Mercury are in an alignment known as a Cazimi in practical Taurus. This allows you to wade through complex details.

Sagittarius, Scorpio and Libra, communication and creativity are on your side today. Finding solutions to sticky issues is easy, so tune into that.

Today is prime time for planning, scheming and big goals. Keep your sights set ahead of you, not behind, and all will be well.

Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Thursday May 14, 2026.

Like checking your horoscope every morning? You can now sign up to our free daily newsletter to get a personalised reading for your star sign delivered straight to your inbox.

To order your unique personal horoscope based on your time, date and place of birth, visit patrickarundell.com.

Aries

March 21 to April 20

The Sun and communicator Mercury have forged an alliance in the practical Taurus, that’s helping you to decipher and plan anything to do with resources or everyday finances with an extra crispness and acumen. Indeed, with the planet of opportunity, Jupiter, still in touch with both, this can also be a time when positive family news can arrive.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aries

Taurus

April 21 to May 21

Your natural appreciation for continuity has been challenged in recent years by the restless Uranus, which has pushed you to be more experimental. And even if not everything has worked out, you’ve probably enjoyed experimenting. Today is another one that gives you an opportunity to showcase your unique talents and do so with added confidence.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Taurus

Gemini

May 22 to June 21

Your guide planet Mercury’s closeness to the Sun in a thoughtful part of your situation, which could see you have some powerful inner realisations or decipher key events from your past. But their link together to the expansive Jupiter suggests a hunch around a business idea could prove to be lucky – if you trust your instincts and act boldly and decisively, Gemini.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Gemini

Cancer

June 22 to July 23

You can enjoy lots of bright and breezy chats today, particularly within your group, considering an idea that you can all work on together. Then again, someone could give you valuable input on a future hope. With everyone pitching in like this, it can cheer you to know that your circle is supportive. Past connections that disappointed can start to fade away.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Cancer

Leo

July 24 to August 23

If you are thinking about or talking about retraining, learning new skills, or applying for another job, your mind can be super agile, but also focused on what the practical benefits may be. Mind with Jupiter, the planet much to do with faith, in an instinctive part of your situation, whatever the logic tells you, do be open to listening to your hunches too, Leo.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Leo

Virgo

August 24 to September 23

Whilst you may find yourself especially restless today, you can also find yourself super curious, and that’s not a bad combination. It’s just that often your preference has traditionally been for regular structures and routines in your everyday world, but currently exploring fresh horizons and new people just seems so much more stimulating – how good is that!

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Virgo

Libra

September 24 to October 23

Being one of the three air zodiac signs, you have a natural appreciation of communication and thinking carefully about situations. Some may feel that you overanalyse, but today you are going to have a fabulous opportunity to get beneath the surface. Excellent if you’re researching, seeking extra value, or even enjoying watching a TV programme on forensics.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Libra

Scorpio

October 24 to November 22

You can be very candid in your observations of people, but what others can really appreciate about you today is the time you take to listen carefully to what they have to say. With your listening skills so sharp, this can help you to perceptively tune into their situation, even if you don’t necessarily make a comment. Planning a joint travel jaunt? Things can shape up nicely.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Scorpio

Sagittarius

November 23 to December 21

If you’re wanting to get to grip on your personal paperwork or catch up on the domestic chores, today can see you determined to be precise and productive in all you do. Much as your nature can find such demands a little dull, you can just take on these tasks with a great deal of application, and once you have completed all you set out to do, feel quietly content.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Sagittarius

Capricorn

December 22 to January 21

Encounters today can be warm, friendly, and amusing. Your dry wit is one of your great qualities and rarely gets talked about in the astrology archetypes of your sign, but it should be. Also, if there is someone that you’re getting to know that you really like, things can just flow very nicely between you. Even if this is not outright flirty, it can still be rather lovely.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Capricorn

Aquarius

January 22 to February 19

If you have a home office, as many people do these days, today is an excellent opportunity to think about whether it’s working as effectively as it might. If it’s squeezed in a corner and has to compete with other domestic demands. It might be worth considering if moving things around would create a little bit more of a quiet cocoon and the chance to concentrate better.

Head here for everything you need to know about being an Aquarius

Pisces

February 20 to March 20

There is little doubt that you can be one of the most intuitive of the zodiac signs, but today your mind can be as sharp as a pin, able to dextrously whirl different concepts around with ease, but also amuse people with your sharp observations and playfulness. With the weekend racing up, and a bubbly New Moon, this can see you keen to arrange fun social possibilities.

Head here for everything you need to know about being a Pisces

Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.

Head here for this week’s tarot horoscope reading, and see what the cards have in store for you!

Check out the tarot horoscope reading for the month of May here.

Prefer us to the others? Then tell Google!

As a loyal Metro reader, we want to make sure you never miss our stories when searching for your news. Whether it is the latest politics news explained, live football coverage or a showbiz scoop.

Click the button below and tick Metro.co.uk to ensure you see stories from us first in Google Search.

Add us as a Preferred Source

Advertisement

MORE: Daily horoscope May 13, 2026: Today’s predictions for your star sign

MORE: Daily horoscope May 12, 2026: Today’s predictions for your star sign

MORE: Daily horoscope May 11, 2026: Today’s predictions for your star sign

Hydrangeas are a popular flower but few people know you can change the colour of them.

Advertisement

Hydrangeas are a beloved choice for British gardens. Their enormous, luxurious blooms deliver a spectacular splash of colour, and they’re comparatively straightforward to maintain.

They’re also amongst the select few garden plants capable of changing colour over time. Many gardeners purchase these shrubs assuming their hue is permanent, but specific varieties can transform as time passes. With the appropriate soil conditions, hydrangeas can shift from pink to blue or even purple. This occurs when the soil becomes more acidic, making aluminium more accessible to the plant, which can influence the pigment of the petals.

Jo McGarry, from Caragh Nurseries, said: “Many people are surprised to learn that hydrangea colour is directly linked to soil pH. In acidic soil, the blooms turn blue, while alkaline soil encourages pink petals. Purple shades appear when the soil is close to neutral.

“Only certain hydrangeas respond this way, particularly macrophylla and serrata varieties. White hydrangeas generally stay white regardless of soil conditions.”

If you’re hoping to alter the colour of your hydrangeas, it’s reasonably straightforward to achieve. However, some traditional techniques ought to be avoided, reports the Express.

One approach gardeners have attempted to modify their hydrangeas’ colour is by placing a rusty nail into the soil underneath their shrubs.

Jo said: “Burying rusty nails in the soil to turn hydrangeas blue is something gardeners have talked about for years, but it isn’t the safest or most effective option.

“Sharp metal hidden in borders can become a hazard for people and wildlife. They also provide too little soluble iron to impact petal colour.”

Advertisement

Instead, there are more secure alternatives to transform your garden.

Jo said: “Using ericaceous compost, coffee grounds, or aluminium sulphate is a much better approach for gardeners wanting blue hydrangeas. These methods gently increase soil acidity without creating unnecessary risks in the garden.

“For pink hydrangeas, the soil needs to be more alkaline. Adding garden lime can help raise the pH and reduce aluminium uptake. This encourages pink blooms to develop.

“A fertiliser with higher phosphorus levels can also help limit aluminium absorption and support stronger pink colouring.”

It typically requires at least one growing season before visible colour changes emerge.

Jo said: “Testing your soil pH first is always worthwhile because overcorrecting can stress the plant and affect nutrient uptake. Small gradual changes tend to give the healthiest and most consistent results.”