“There will be something for everyone to enjoy on the day, and I’d encourage families to come along, get involved and show their support”

A free fun-filled family day will take place in South Belfast this May Bank Holiday weekend.

Held at Drumglass Park on Saturday, May 23, families are encourages to come down and support one of the Lord Mayor’s chosen charities this year, South Belfast Sure Start.

From 12pm-4pm, there will be activities for all ages, including sensory play, messy play, a mud kitchen, sea creatures and bubble workshops, bouncy castles and face painting.

READ MORE: Belfast Spring Market to bring over 70 traders to grounds of City Hall this Bank Holiday weekendREAD MORE: Family-friendly TV and film car show racing into Northern Ireland this summer

South Belfast Sure Start is one of four charities chosen by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, for her year in office.

Sure Start supports young children and their families living in disadvantaged areas of Belfast, running nine projects in the city which offer early intervention and advice services to help with everything from healthy eating to good quality play opportunities.

Joining young families to launch the event, Councillor Kelly said: “Sure Start provides invaluable help to children and families in our local communities, giving young people the best possible start in life.

“As someone who used Sure Start services myself when I became a mum for the first time, I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact their work has on parents and children, helping them to thrive.

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“I’m delighted to work with them to put on this fun day event and to raise awareness of the important services they provide. There will be something for everyone to enjoy on the day, and I’d encourage families to come along, get involved and show their support for this fantastic local charity.”

Joy Poots, Project Co-ordinator for South Belfast Sure Start, said: “We have had an amazing year as one of the Lord Mayor’s charities and the fun day will be the icing on the cake.

“While this event will be open to families and children of all ages, it is so lovely to see so many activities that can be enjoyed by Sure Start-aged children.

“It has been great to work with the council on this event and, in this time of pressure on families, people can come along and have fun together for the afternoon.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our What’s On newsletter

Grüum’s dual-ended grö Eyelash and Brow Serum is winning over beauty fans who want fuller, healthier-looking lashes and brows without the premium price tag – and some shoppers say they noticed a difference in less than a month.

Maintaining full and healthy-looking brows and lashes can require a bit of extra care, and the right serum can make a world of difference. While there are numerous expensive options available, shoppers say they have discovered a wallet-friendly favourite that genuinely delivers results.

grüum’s grö Eyelash and Brow Serum is formulated to work on both lashes and brows, enabling shoppers to simplify their routine while saving money compared with purchasing separate products. Early reviews have commended the serum for making lashes look fuller and healthier, without the hefty price tag attached to many comparable treatments.

Normally retailing for £12, at the time of writing, the product has been cut to £8 on sale. Once the discount ends, beauty lovers can save on the £12 price tag with code LINK15.

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The dual-ended serum is loaded with ingredients formulated to nourish and strengthen hair, including caffeine to help energise follicles and boost micro-circulation, which can assist in awakening dormant hairs. It also features hyaluronic acid to hydrate and condition lashes and brows, helping them appear healthier over time.

Unlike certain lash serums, grüum’s oil-free formula is suitable for contact lens wearers and those with eyelash extensions, making it a straightforward addition to most beauty regimens. To use, shoppers should cleanse and dry the targeted area before applying a thin layer of serum.

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Shop the grö Eyelash and Brow Serum

The product can then be brushed through lashes or brows using the integrated bristle brush to ensure every strand is covered. For optimal results, the Manchester-based brand advises applying the serum twice daily, morning and evening, for the initial 12 weeks. Shoppers should be aware that standard delivery costs £4.95, reports the Mirror.

Apart from grüum, another well-regarded eyelash serum is Uklash’s Lash Growth Serum (£38). The formula is designed to deliver 85% longer, 80% fuller-looking lashes, featuring ingredients that have been approved by dermatologists and ophthalmologists.

Alternatively, RapidBrow’s Eyebrow Enhancing Serum (£27, Lookfantastic) offers an option for achieving fuller brows. The deeply nourishing formula, which is said to produce visible results within 60 days, contains keratin, sweet almond extract and polypeptides.

As previously mentioned, the grö Eyelash and Brow Serum has received numerous positive reviews from satisfied shoppers. This customer shared: “I was sceptical about this product, but I must say it’s really helped my eyelashes look so much fuller and for a really reasonable price! No complaints from me.”

Meanwhile, another said: “I’ve been using this lash serum for six weeks, and I didn’t expect THIS much of a difference. My lashes look way longer, fuller and more lifted even without mascara.

“When I do wear mascara, they look insane! My lashes are touching my eyebrows. I’m so happy.”

However, as with all beauty products, not everyone has been equally impressed. This person encountered an issue with the applicator, stating: “Product is great, eyebrows and lashes felt in really good condition….but mascara wand for the brows and the brush for your lashes was way too hard for me.”

On a more positive note, one devoted fan of the grö Eyelash and Brow Serum commented: “I am so disappointed that I didn’t start to use this sooner. I am so pleased with my results and can’t recommend this product more.”

While another remarked: “I have been using this lash serum more or less for two months now and my lashes are definitely fuller.”

Alongside the Eyelash and Brow Serum, grüum has recently expanded its range with the addition of the Melting Cleansing Balm (£18) and Clear Complexion Gel Serum (£13). The cleansing balm harnesses the power of shea butter and coconut oil to deeply nourish the skin and stimulate collagen production, with one customer noting: “It lasts for ages and is really good value.”

The Clear Complexion Gel Serum, meanwhile, combines a powerful blend of natural actives to tackle acne-prone skin without the use of harsh chemicals or stripping agents. One satisfied customer enthused: “My skin is the clearest it’s ever been. I get many compliments on my skin, too.”

The youngster was cruelly taken from Carmel Gardens in Norton at dusk on January 19 while her mum Sandra was preparing her bedtime bottle. 

But tragically, two hours later, her body was found lying face down in a pool of water on marshy Billingham Bottoms, less than a mile from her home. 

Kimberley had been drowned – and her pram had been found nearby.

The killing was said to have brought “terror to mothers living on the north bank of the Tees” at the time, as reported in The Northern Echo in 1973. 

A major murder investigation was launched by Cleveland Police at the time, with around 50 detectives from across Teesside and County Durham combing the area and knocking on doors.

Kimberley Jackson was taken from her home in Norton (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

Statements were taken from thousands of people living in the area before one clue emerged in the case; a boy had been seen wheeling a pram in the area at the time. 

Police pulled together an image of what the boy – believed to be between 11 and 14-years-old – looked like, and was sent out to every shop and office nearby. 

Despite thousands of hours and school visits, the mysterious boy was never found.

The year after the killing, The Northern Echo reported how the flood of calls to Stockton 52603, the murder squad headquarters at Billingham, had started to slow. 

“People suddenly stopped talking about the murder”, a story said. 

Carmel Gardens, in Norton, today (Image: GOOGLE)

Nobody was ever charged in relation to the death of Kimberley. 

Adam Harland, manager of the Cleveland Police Cold Case Review Unit, said: “We would always welcome new information on any unsolved, historic murder case.

“Over time, we know that allegiances change and people may now be more inclined to come forward and speak to police about what they know.

“The slightest bit of information could help provide closure for families, and allow them to move forward without questions hanging over them about what happened to their loved ones. We also want to provide justice for these families and the victims, and protect our communities.

“Anyone who wishes to pass on information is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101, or pass information anonymously to Crimestoppers online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.”

Kimberley’s death is one of the many unsolved deaths or disappearances across the region that the Echo will be reporting on as part of our new ‘North East cold cases’ series.

In 1901 Rowntree wrote a study entitled “Poverty: a study of town life” which contained a supplementary chapter that described pub life in the city of York – viewing the local boozer as an indicator of the city’s social cohesion and economic health. 

Now, the Cost of Living Research Group at the University of York is preparing an anniversary report to celebrate 125 years since the original publication.  

As part of the project, researchers are calling on York residents to share their experiences of going to the pub, aiming to map how modern inequality and social habits compare to the city Rowntree documented all those years ago.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Seebohm Rowntree’s pioneering work on poverty in York

Today, the British pub is facing an uncertain future, with changing consumer behaviour and a cost-of-living crisis forcing many to close.

Pub numbers have dropped significantly over the last 25 years and in 2025 there were fewer than 40,000 pubs in the UK, compared to approximately 60,000 in 2000. 

The project seeks to understand how pubs reflect broader social change and changing consumer habits. 

Seebohm Rowntree (Image: Pic supplied)

From housing and wages to the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, the project will examine how the struggles of 1901 mirror or differ from the pressures of 2026.

As part of the project, anyone aged 18 and over and who lives in or around York and visits local pubs is asked to complete a short questionnaire regarding their drinking habits and pub visits.

Researchers say the findings will be used to help preserve the city’s community hubs and provide a modern-day counterpart to the Rowntree legacy.

The call for public participation follows the release of a major new study looking at the future of pubs, published in the journal Contemporary Social Science.

The study examines why people choose specific venues, comparing this with the foraging behaviour of animals looking for food sources.

 The study highlights a precarious reality for York’s hospitality sector.

Key findings include most customers not seeking the ‘best’ pub but one ‘good enough’ nearby; customers tend to stay loyal, even if standards drop, and factors like seating comfort, noise levels, and physical space are as critical as the drink selection.

Study co-author Victoria Wells, Professor of Sustainable Management at the University of York’s School for Business and Society, said: “Rowntree’s landmark study wasn’t just about numbers; it was about how people lived their lives.

“By understanding why people visit, or stop visiting, these hubs, and what they do in them we gain vital insight into the economic and social wellbeing of York.”

Study co-author Dr Nadine Waehning, from the University of York’s School for Business and Society, added: “The loss of pubs can be devastating, particularly in smaller localities where closure means the loss of a community hub, where social cohesion and capital can be built, severely affecting opportunities for sociability and exacerbating loneliness.

“Our survey and research is important as it allows us to look beyond the pint glass and understand the pub’s true value as a social lifeline. By comparing our modern findings with Rowntree’s historical data, we can identify how the cost-of-living crisis is reshaping our social landscapes and ensure these vital community spaces aren’t just surviving, but actually serving the needs of the people who rely on them the most.” 

The questionnaire is at: https://forms.gle/JCt33n8wmFBnBeth6 

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Thousands of people are rallying Saturday in the cradle of the modern Civil Rights Movement to mobilize a new voting rights era as conservative states dismantle congressional districts that helped secure Black political representation.

“The bottom line is we are seeing a full-fledged, coordinated attack on Black political power that can actually reshape the entire political landscape, not just on the South but throughout the nation,” said LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter.

The rally will begin in Selma, where a violent clash between law enforcement and voting rights activists in 1965 galvanized support for passage of the Voting Rights Act. It will then move to the state Capitol, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “How Long, Not Long” speech that same year.

“We’re picking up where it was left because we still have unfinished business,” Brown said. “There will not be a new Jim Crow.”

A recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling involving Louisiana hollowed out voting rights law that was already weakened by a separate decision in 2013 and then narrowed further over the years. That helped clear the way for stricter voter ID laws, registration restrictions, and limits on early voting and polling place changes, including in states that once needed federal preclearance before they could change voting laws because of their historical discrimination against Black voters.

Veterans of the Civil Rights Movement are alarmed by the speed of the rollbacks, noting that protections won through generations of sacrifice have been weakened in little more than a decade.

Kirk Carrington, 75, was a teen in 1965 when law enforcement officers attacked marchers in Selma on what became known as “Bloody Sunday.” A white man on a horse wielding a stick chased Carrington through the streets.

“It’s really just appalling to me and all the young people that marched during the ’60s, fought hard to get voting rights, equal rights and civil rights,” Carrington said. “It’s sad that it’s continuing after 60-plus-odd years that we are still fighting for the same thing we fought for back then.”

Montgomery is home to one of the congressional districts that is being altered in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling.

A federal court in 2023 redrew Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District after ruling that the state intentionally diluted the voting power of Black residents, who make up about 27% of its population. The court said there should be a district where Black people are a majority or near-majority and have an opportunity to elect their candidate of choice.

But the Supreme Court cleared the way for a different map that could let the GOP reclaim the seat. While the matter remains under litigation, the state plans special primaries Aug. 11 under the new map.

Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures, who won election in the district in 2024, said the dispute is not about him but rather people’s opportunity to have representation.

“When Republicans are literally turning back the clock on what representation, what the faces of representation, look like, what the opportunities, legitimate opportunities for representation look like across this country, then I think it starts to resonate with people in a little bit of a different way,” Figures said.

Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, a Republican, said the Louisiana ruling provided an opportunity to revisit a map that was forced on the state by the federal court.

“People tend to forget what happened. When this thing went to court, the Republican Party had that seat, congressional seat two,” Ledbetter said last week. “There’s been a push through the courts to try to overtake some of these red state seats, and that’s certainly what happened in that one.”

Evan Milligan, the lead plaintiff in the Alabama redistricting case, said there is grief over the implosion of the Voting Rights Act but it is crucial that people recommit to the fight.

“We have to accept that this is the new reality, whether we like it or not,” Milligan said. “We don’t have to accept that this will be the reality for the next 10 years or two years or forever.”

Nothing has worked for the 49-year-old Toronto woman, who described herself as “functionally terminal”, no longer able to work, leave the house or speak with her loved ones. She is now enrolled in a psychiatric care programme at a local hospital that, she said, is designed to support people with severe and persistent mental illness who have exhausted all treatment options.

A Scottish woman has opened up about being denied breast reduction surgery after doctors allegedly said she was “too fat”. Summer Robert, 28, has told people how it all happened

A woman claims she has been told she is “too fat” to undergo surgery that could potentially transform her life. Summer Robert, 28, has previously stated she has the “biggest boobs in the UK”, a condition that brings with it a host of significant consequences.

Summer’s breasts currently measure a 30R and weigh approximately 25kg (55lbs), which is roughly the equivalent weight of a small child. For around 10 years, she alleges she pleaded with doctors for a reduction, only to be met with a firm “no”. It appears her breasts are so heavy that her BMI (body mass index) remains technically elevated, leading doctors to dismiss her as “too fat” for the procedure, despite her petite frame.

This is not the first time she has spoken out about her difficulties either. Previously, she has admitted that women can troll her simply because she has large breasts.

Summer, from Scotland, who has amassed over 300,000 followers on Instagram, has always been candid about her battles with body image. In recent years, however, she has grown to love and embrace her body far more.

It has now reached the stage where she no longer desires the surgery. She explained: “I no longer want it as I have come to terms with how beautiful my body is. I was also told even if I get it they will just come back.”

Summer suffers from a condition called Macromastia, which is the medical term for having abnormally large breasts, and it can lead to various complications like chronic back, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, bra strap grooving and difficulty carrying out daily activities.

While it’s a condition that brings its fair share of struggles, she has learned to cope with the challenges it presents. It was nonetheless a blow to discover that nothing could be done about it.

“The doctors told me that my BMI was too high because my boobs weigh too much,” she added. “⁠I felt deflated, but I’m glad in the long-run.

“⁠The doctors can’t guarantee that they won’t stop growing, but they also can’t say if they will. It’s a grey area.” She now believes her best course of action is to embrace herself for who she is and simply accept her body.

She came close to having a reduction when she was 24, however. Following a health scare involving a non-cancerous lump in her breast, specialists eventually recommended a reduction. But, just as she was preparing for the surgery she had longed for since childhood, the Covid-19 pandemic struck, bringing all non-emergency procedures to a standstill.

“Actually, I’m really happy that Covid happened,” Summer admitted. “It sounds crazy because of all the people that died, but it meant that I didn’t get a reduction, and then I wouldn’t be where I am now. I wouldn’t be successful.”

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During the lockdown period, Summer began producing saucy content online, and this proved to be a turning point for her. For the first time, she discovered a community that didn’t regard her body as a strange medical oddity, but rather as something to be celebrated.

The change in outlook was dramatic and swift. Summer added: “My whole life, people have told me that my body’s weird because my boobs are so big.

“No one’s ever been nice about it. They’ve always just been like, ‘yeah, it’s weird that she has massive boobs and she’s so young.’ Then everyone celebrated the fact that I have a different body.

“Realising that my body is actually beautiful instead of weird, like everyone else said, it changed everything.”

This newfound confidence has had a positive impact on her personal life too. After spending years feeling that her body was a problem to be corrected in order to satisfy others, including former partners and their families, she now regards her boobs as her “big money maker” and a source of immense pride.

She said: “The only reason I would want a reduction was to, like, appease other people, to make other people feel better and make my ex-boyfriend’s parents not judge me. But now, I genuinely love my boobs, and I love my body so much.”

H2O Hair 2 Order, on Halliwell Road, was forced to operate through its back door for months while repairs were carried out following the crash.

Owner Victoria Welsby, 55, said all the hard graft has now been completed after the salon’s frontage was badly damaged.

She said: “Thankfully all the work is now finished.

The car crashed into the shops shutters over Christmas. (Image: Victoria Welsby)

“It was very stressful. I was traumatised by that original incident, and I’m always in fear because it’s such a busy road.”

The crash happened on Boxing Day when a vehicle smashed through the salon’s shutter and front windows.

The business reopened on January 17, but it used a rear entrance before a new shop front was installed in March.

Victoria said repairs to the salon interior have only just been completed, including a new floor, reception desk and window.

She added: “It certainly affected the business because we looked closed.

(Image: Victoria Welsby)

“Something good has come out of something bad, and it looks gorgeous now.”

Victoria said she is now planning a grand reopening event after returning from holiday.

The salon offers hair cutting, colouring, wedding hair and other hairdressing services.

Victoria added: “We will survive, get through anything. It’s going to be a new and improved business.”

(Image: Victoria Welsby)

She also raised concerns about speeding on Halliwell Road following the crash.

She said: “They speed up and down Halliwell Road. They should have cameras on it. It’s dangerous.”

The Bolton News previously reported that emergency services attended the scene on Boxing Day after the car crashed into the salon and the driver was taken to hospital.

The River Ure marks the backdrop for the walk, which includes Aysgarth Falls, Bolton Castle, and pretty Redmire.

Head across the fields from Redmire towards the village of Castle Bolton.

The path heads directly for Bolton Castle (it’s the village name which is Castle Bolton – confusing), certainly the best-preserved castle in the area.

Highlights on Wensleydale map (Image: Johathan Smith)

Bolton Castle is most famous as the ‘prison’ of Mary Queen of Scots for 6 months as she awaited the pleasures of Elizabeth I.

It is worth paying the entrance fee at least for the gardens, which are impressive throughout the spring and summer.

However, the walking has hardly started so it is soon time to move.

From the castle, leave via a gate to the west of the castle car park (follow the farm track to keep your height) and head initially through fields of sheep but soon on to the open moors.

The views both up and down Wensleydale are excellent.

Where the farm track runs out, follow the bridleway as it bends south/left and starts to drop steeply down towards the village of Carperby.

Aysgarth Upper Falls (Image: Johathan Smith)

The bridleway turns into a lane just above the village and enters on its eastern fringes.

Take your time walking through this lovely village, exactly as the ‘real’ James Herriott (Alf Wight) did on his honeymoon in November 1941.

I find walking from Carperby to Aysgarth Falls not very satisfying, my best suggestion is to take the road heading south from the west end of the village for 350 metres and then head along the footpath in the fields to your right.

This soon enters the car park and visitor centre at Aysgarth Falls.

If you have not visited the falls previously, the most interesting circuit is to the east of the road near the visitor centre, where there are viewing platforms and some lovely woodland walking.

You can also get to the Upper Falls, to the west of the road near the road bridge at the foot of the road.

It is a good time to stop and enjoy a bite and a brew.

Cross the River Ure at the road bridge and immediately in front of you some steep steps climb through some buildings into the grounds of St Andrews Church, a grade 2 listed building set in a large churchyard.

Pick your way through the gravestones to emerge at its east end and start four and a half miles of excellent riverside walking.

It is rare in the Dales that you can stick so close to a river on a public footpath for so long.

It is well signposted.

There are only two things to disturb the walk; meeting the busy A684 for 100 metres as it crosses Bishopdale Beck and a little further on where you may (and should not) be tempted to shorten the walk by crossing the stepping stones across the Ure.

The first bridge crossing of the Ure east of Aysgarth is at Bolton Hall, a lovely country house set in its own grounds.

Take it.

Continue north on the estate road, cross the busy road to Wensley and continue up the footpath to the attractive (another one!) village of Preston under Scar, a history dominated by lead mining.

A footpath heads west through the village and some woodland for three-quarters of a mile before emerging at a road, turn left and drop the final half mile back into the village of Redmire.

FACT BOX:

Distance: Roughly 13.5 miles.

Height to Climb: 400m (1,310 feet).

Start: SE 047912.

There is parking in Redmire to its north end.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard.

A long walk but straightforward and easy to follow.

The riverside section can be muddy after rains.

Refreshments: The Bolton Arms at Redmire is a lovely traditional Dales pub.

Be Prepared:

The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk.

You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL30) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass.

You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors.

Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.

Please observe the Countryside Code and park sensibly.

Jonathan runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales:

He has written 3 books on walking in the Dales; ‘The Yorkshire 3 Peaks’, ‘The Dales 30’ mountains, and the long-distance path ‘The Bracken Way’.

Buy them direct from Where2walk.

Jonathan runs Navigation Training Courses.

The next Beginners Course is on Saturday, June 27th from Long Preston, near Settle.

You can buy Dales 30 Guide Book, T-shirts, and branded caps from the NEW Dales 30 website.

Start the challenge today.

Where2walk.co.uk features hundreds of walks with descriptions across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs.

Visit the website for details of all these walks, guiding days, and navigation.

This could also be damaging to your mental health

A neurologist has shared a warning about a common night-time issue that he claims “destroys your body”. According to the expert, this could be damaging not just your physical health but your mind too.

In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, neurologist Dr Baibing Chen, explained that a poor sleep schedule could lead to medical issues and even an “earlier” death. This is because consistency in your sleep pattern might be “just as important” as quantity.

Dr Chen, who is known as Dr Bing online, said: “Science shows that if your sleep schedule is inconsistent and all over the place, you are more likely to have medical problems and die earlier. And here’s why.

“We used to think that sleep was just about getting seven to nine hours, which still matters a lot. But new research shows that consistency might be just as important.”

Changing your sleep pattern regularly could make your brain feel like it’s constantly “flying across time zones”. Dr Bing continued: “So, for example, if you sleep from 10pm to 6am during the week, then the weekend hits, and now you sleep from 1am to 11am, you’re still getting eight hours.

“But to your brain, that’s like flying across time zones every single weekend. And if you do this over and over again, over the long run, your body and your brain are not going to like it.”

This is due to something called your circadian rhythm. “This is because your brain has an internal clock called your circadian rhythm,” Dr Bing said.

“And that clock helps control your hormones, blood pressure, your metabolism, your body temperature, and your immune functions. And when your sleep schedule keeps shifting, that clock gets confused, and your body starts releasing hormones at the wrong times.

“And things like cortisol, melatonin, and insulin regulation all get disrupted over time.” This can have a severe impact on your health.

He said: “That’s then linked to higher rates of heart disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, depression, and earlier death. And this doesn’t just affect how long you can live, but can actually affect your quality of life.

“Because irregular sleep doesn’t just affect long-term health, but it can hurt your mood, focus, your reaction time and energy.”

His advice therefore, was to sleep seven to nine hours a night, via a consistent pattern. He added: “Right now, this is why I always recommend to my patients, whether they have brain fog or migraines or seizures or cognitive decline, that they need to sleep consistently. And they need to sleep seven to nine hours a day.”

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Research

His advice is backed by one study, which suggests that an irregular sleep pattern can raise your risk of cardiovascular issues. The findings, published in BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, showed that people who had both an irregular sleep schedule and got under eight hours of sleep per night were more likely to experience a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE).

In the context of the study, this included heart attack (acute myocardial infarction), unstable angina, stroke, heart failure hospitalisation, or cardiovascular disease death. Study authors wrote: “They concluded: “Among the participants with sleep durations under eight hours, irregular sleep timing was a significant risk factor for MACEs. Specifically, variability in bedtime and sleep midpoint, but not in wake-up time, was associated with increased risk.

“These findings highlight the importance of consistent sleep behaviour, particularly regular bedtimes, as a potential target for health promotion.”

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How to improve sleep

The NHS states that the average adult needs seven to nine hours of sleep a night. To improve your sleep, the NHS recommends that you:

• Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day
• Relax at least one hour before bed, for example, take a bath or read a book
• Make sure your bedroom is dark and quiet – use curtains, blinds, an eye mask or ear plugs if needed
• Exercise regularly during the day
• Make sure your mattress, pillows and covers are comfortable
• Do not smoke or drink alcohol, tea or coffee at least 6 hours before going to bed
• Do not eat a big meal late at night
• Do not exercise at least four hours before bed
• Do not watch television or use devices, like smartphones, right before going to bed, because the blue light makes you more awake
• Do not nap during the day
• Do not drive when you feel sleepy
• Do not sleep in after a bad night’s sleep and stick to your regular sleeping hours instead

The health body says you should see a GP if changing your sleeping habits has not helped your insomnia, you’ve had trouble sleeping for months, or your insomnia is affecting your daily life in a way that makes it hard for you to cope.