Mike Short from Unison, which represents 50,000 early years workers, told MPs there were very mixed views among the workforce, saying while it is potentially helpful with the right safeguards in place, and can also protect staff against false allegations, it is no substitute for training and preventing things happening in the first place.

Crews remain at the scene

Five fire engines were called to a fire at a derelict farmhouse in Wigan. Emergency services were called to reports of the blaze at the junction of Common Lane and Ellesmere Street in Tyldesley on Wednesday evening (May 6).

Crews from Atherton, Hindley, Leigh, and Farnworth attended the scene.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Shortly after 6:20pm this evening (Wednesday 6 May), five fire engines from Atherton, Hindley, Leigh and Farnworth fire stations were called to reports of a fire at a derelict farmhouse at the junction of Common Lane and Ellesmere Street in Tyldesley, Manchester.

“The crews arrived quickly at the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus are using hose reels to extinguish the fire.

“Firefighters have been in attendance for around an hour and a half and remain at the scene.”

Dr Punam Krishan urged people to see their GP if their tiredness meets these criteria

Fatigue is a common issue in modern life, and many people are quick to brush it off as something minor that can be sorted with a good night’s sleep, regular exercise, or a healthier diet. While this rings true for the majority, Dr Punam Krishan has highlighted certain warning signs that suggest your exhaustion could have a more serious underlying cause.

Appearing on BBC’s Morning Live on May 5, the GP drew a clear distinction between ‘normal tiredness’ and the kind of fatigue that warrants a visit to the doctor. She noted that with “ordinary tiredness”, you can usually identify the root cause yourself.

Dr Punam went on to describe the more worrying type of exhaustion that people should not ignore: “The one I’m talking about is when you’re feeling absolutely fatigued and wiped out no matter how much you rest and you don’t know why you’re feeling tired all the time.

“It might be something as simple as a vitamin deficiency, low iron levels. It might be your thyroids, it might be blood sugar issues. But it can also be a sign of something with sinister. That’s why going in, getting your bloods done, getting a history, getting us to diagnose it could be really really helpful.”

The NHS recommends seeing a GP if you feel tired and:

• It has been going on for a few weeks without a clear reason
• It affects your daily life
• It is paired with other symptoms like weight loss or mood changes
• Someone has said you make gasping, snorting or choking noises when you sleep

Dr Punam highlighted these points after discussing the most recent healthy life expectancy figures, which showed that Britons are now becoming unwell roughly two years sooner than they were 10 years ago.

This indicates many people are enduring longer stretches of their lives in ill health than before. Dr Punam voiced particular worry for those who postpone getting medical attention when symptoms initially appear.

While the GP urged people not to be alarmed, she warned: “Sometimes I have people that go; ‘Oh, it started six months ago’. You know what, six months ago if had we seen you, it would be a different outcome.”

She pointed out several “essential red flags” that might indicate something is wrong in the body, including lumps, unexplained weight loss, bleeding and coughs.

Dr Punam made a plea particularly to women and carers, who often fail to put their own health and wellbeing first even when feeling poorly. She said: “The sooner we act, the sooner we recognise early symptoms and take action, the better it is for us.”

Aileen Armstrong, SRA executive director, strategy, innovation and external affairs, said: “When they work well, claims management services can benefit consumers. But we are concerned about poor practices and behaviours that are not looking after consumers’ best interest.

The closure order for 56 Langthorne Walk, just off Deane Road in Deane, comes after joint action by Greater Manchester Police, Bolton Council and Be One Homes, formerly Bolton at Home.

Officers say people living in the area nearby had repeatedly raised concerns about disorder and criminal activity.

Be One Homes’ head of neighbourhood safety services, John Molloy, said: “This action demonstrates how seriously we take reports of anti-social behaviour.

“We know the situation at Langthorne Walk has been affecting residents for some time, and by working closely with Greater Manchester Police and Bolton Council, we’ve been able to take firm action to bring it to a stop.

A previous closure order was granted at Blackshaw House, also in Deane (Image: GMP)

“We are committed to creating communities where people feel safe and respected. Where necessary, we will always use the powers available to us to deal with behaviour that falls below that standard.”

People living around Langthorne Walk have long raised concerns about anti-social behaviour, crime and drug use.

Back in August 2020, residents said an area of land behind the flats, including a car park, had become a haven for drug dealers.

They said that needles and laughing gas cannisters had often been found in the area.

The order was granted by Wigan and Leigh Magistrates Court on April 16 this year and will be in force up to July 16.

Over this period, entry into the house will be banned for anyone apart from authorised people like police officers or council officials.

Be One Homes, which rebranded from Bolton at Home earlier this year and acts as the borough’s biggest housing provider, says this is part of wider-ranging efforts.

In March this year, a similar closure order was granted for flats at Blackshaw House and Thornbank North, also in Deane.

This was part of a police and council operation aimed at tackling drug dealing and cuckooing, a practice where criminals take over the homes of vulnerable people.

Sergeant Oliver Cooper, of Bolton South’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “This closure order is yet another example of the great partnership work we can achieve when we work together.

“It also shows that we will not tolerate behaviour which affects our communities, so please keep reporting your issues.”

Be One Homes has encouraged anyone concerned about anti-social behaviour to call them on 01204 328000 or report it online.

Members of the public can also call Greater Manchester Police on 101, 999 in an emergency or independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Dunelm Bryant Behind Sofa Storage Unit has been reduced from £249 to £199.20

Shoppers are snapping up a ‘brilliant’ storage solution that has been significantly discounted, with many highlighting how perfectly it slots behind sofas and into compact spaces. The Bryant Behind Sofa Storage Unit is currently priced at £199.20, reduced from £249, at Dunelm, offering customers a 20% saving.

Dunelm’s Bryant Behind Sofa Storage Unit is engineered to sit unobtrusively behind the sofa, providing concealed yet accessible storage without occupying additional floor space. It boasts an open top for convenient access while seated, making it perfect for storing remotes, phones and daily essentials within arm’s reach.

Integrated cable management keeps wires organised, while elevated compartments help sort smaller belongings and deeper sections accommodate blankets or larger items.

Styled with a wood-effect frame and contemporary metal legs, it merges functionality with a sleek aesthetic that complements most home interiors.

There are alternative options available on the market, however. For instance, suited to narrow corners is the Isla Tall Storage Unit priced at £118, reduced from £169, on Dusk’s website.

This particular model features ‘beautiful rattan features’ and comes in natural, cream, black or taupe finishes, ensuring there is an option to suit everyone. Dusk also stocks the Paisley Buttoned Round Storage Pouffe in berry, available at the same price of £118, marked down from £189.

Versatile and practical, this piece can serve as storage, a footrest, stool or even a coffee table. For those seeking mounted storage with visual appeal, there’s the Habitat Jessie Modular Wall Shelf in natural, priced at £150 from Habitat, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Crafted from solid wood and weighing 15kg, it’s designed to maximise vertical space without requiring multiple separate units. Meanwhile, the Bryant Behind Sofa Storage Unit has garnered impressive feedback on the Dunelm website, with one customer commenting: “This storage unit is incredible.

“The whole internal space is separated into different storage sections and there is not one inch of wasted space. We have it behind our sofa so we can use it as a slim table for holding drinks and anything else.

“We have a little one due soon and this has given us excellent discreet storage for toys, books, blankets and nappy caddy. So so pleased!

“It’s very easy to put together, but takes two and some time, but the instructions are so easy to follow.” Another customer remarked: “Excellent piece of furniture, we are using (it) behind an L-shaped banquette sofa in our kitchen to fill a gap – it makes it look intentional.

“The storage is a bonus.” A third reviewer noted: “This unit was easy to put together with good instructions – the worst thing was getting the stickers off after.

“There is plenty of storage and (it) sits nicely behind the sofa.” While no additional reviews exist for this particular storage unit, customers have shared their opinions of Dunelm as a retailer on Trustpilot.

One customer commented: “Despite an order hiccup, the team there sorted it out and my product was delivered and works well.” While another noted in a lengthier review: “Good in-store service and good measuring up for fitting service BUT delivery by DHL so far unreliable.”

The Bryant Behind Sofa Storage Unit can be purchased from Dunelm.

Local elections decide who runs your council and who makes decisions on the issues that affect your daily life – from housing and planning to roads, care services and libraries.

These are not distant or abstract choices. They shape the places we live, work and raise our families.

The right to vote was not handed down lightly. Over generations, people have fought, suffered, and, in some cases, died so that ordinary citizens could have a say in how they are governed.

Choosing not to use that right risks taking those sacrifices for granted.

Before you go to the polling station, take the time to do your research. Look at who is standing in your area. Read what they say they will prioritise.

Ask whether their record and their promises match what you want for your community. You do not have to agree with everything on offer, but you should make an informed choice.

If you are eligible to vote, please take part tomorrow. A few minutes of your time can help shape the next four years. Democracy depends on participation – and it starts locally.

The Promoter

The promoter of this competition is The Conversation Trust (UK), a non-profit company limited by guarantee (number 08158264), with its registered office at Shropshire House (4th Floor), 11-20 Capper Street, London, WC1E 6JA. For queries about this competition, please contact climatepoetry@theconversation.com.

1. How to enter

1.1. The competition will close on September 1 at 11.59pm BST (the “Closing Date”).

1.2. All submissions to be made via the entry form and must be received no later than the Closing Date. All competition entries received after the Closing Date are automatically disqualified. No changes can be made to poems once they have been submitted.

1.3. We will not accept (a) responsibility for competition entries that are lost, mislaid, damaged or delayed in transit, regardless of cause, including, for example, as a result of any equipment failure, technical malfunction, systems, satellite, network, server, computer hardware or software failure of any kind; or (b) proof of transmission as proof of receipt of entry to the competition; or (c) entries in any language other than English or translations (d) entries that have previously been submitted to any other competition.

1.4. Poems must be a minimum of three lines and maximum of 40 lines and can follow any form. They don’t need to address a specific theme, but should be focused on communicating climate research.

1.5 By submitting a competition entry, you are agreeing to be bound by these terms and conditions.

1.6 The competition entries will be reviewed by the judging panel who will draw up a longlist based on the best entries. Winners will be selected by Helen Mort from a shortlist drawn up by the rest of the panel. The full names and credentials of all judging panel members will be made available on request after the Closing Date. The decision of the panel of judges will be final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding judging decisions

2. Eligibility

2.1 The competition is only open to researchers or academics employed by or affiliated to a university or approved research institution (IRO) in the UK, including PhD candidates under supervision by an academic.

2.2 The competition is not open to Masters students or to employees of The Conversation, their immediate families, nor any other person connected with the competition.

2.3 In entering the competition, you confirm that you are eligible to do so and eligible to claim the prize you may win. The winner must pay costs of travel to the prize themselves. You may be required to provide proof that you are eligible to enter the competition.

2.4 We will not accept competition entries that are: (a) automatically generated by computer or created by artificial intelligence (including but not limited to chatbots such as ChatGPT or similar software applications); (b) completed by third parties or in bulk; (c) illegible, have been altered, reconstructed, forged or tampered with; (d) incomplete; (e) already published or in the public domain.

2.5 There is no limit on entries, but each poem must be submitted individually. Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed.

3. The prize

3.1 The prize is as follows: five days and four nights (arrival 2pm or later on day one, departure by noon on day five) on dates to be mutually agreed, within 12 months of announcement of winner at the Little Goat Barn Writing Retreat, in the Vale of Conwy in North Wales. You’ll be welcomed and fully catered for by husband and-wife Dr Emma Claire Sweeney, author and creative writing lecturer, and Jonathan Ruppin, former literary agent and bookseller. The retreat offered is untaught. All food, non-alcoholic drink, bedding, towels and basic toiletries supplied. The retreat will likely be attended by up to four other writers of the retreat’s choosing.

3.2 There is no cash alternative for the prize and the prize is not negotiable or transferable. Winner must organise and pay for their own travel, though if travelling by rail, free collection and return by car from Chester or Chirk stations will be provided.

3.3 The retreat is provided by the owners of Little Goat Barn Writing Retreat, who hold appropriate public liability insurance and are solely responsible for the day-to-day delivery of the retreat experience. The Conversation will use reasonable endeavours to ensure the prize is awarded as described but accepts no liability for matters outside its reasonable control once the winner has been confirmed and the retreat arrangements have been communicated to the retreat owners

4. The winner

4.1 The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence or discussion will be entered into. The winner will be announced in November 2026.

4.2 We will contact the winner personally as soon as practicable after the judges have reached their decision, using the telephone number or email address provided with the competition entry.

4.3 The winner consents to their story being published on The Conversation as per its publishing terms & conditions, including a profile being created on The Conversation to accompany the work, including their first name, surname, institution and country. By winning, the winner grants The Conversation a non-exclusive licence to publish their poem under the terms described. The competition organisers must provide the surname and country of the winner to the Advertising Standards Authority on request.

5. Claiming the prize

5.1 The prize may not be claimed by a third party on your behalf.

5.2 We will make all reasonable efforts to contact the winner. If the winner cannot be contacted or is not available or has not claimed their prize within 30 of days of the Announcement Date, we reserve the right to offer the prize to the next eligible entrant selected from the shortlisted entries that were received before the Closing Date.

5.3 We do not accept any responsibility if you are not able to take up the prize.

6. Ownership of competition entries and intellectual property rights

6.1 All competition entries and any accompanying material submitted remain the property of the entrant. The winning entry will be published under the general terms and conditions of The Conversation, including under a creative commons licence. The Conversation reserves the right to make additions or deletions to the text or graphics prior to publication, or to refuse publication.

6.2 Non-winning competition entries will not be published or used by The Conversation without the express written consent of the entrant. All non-winning entries and associated personal data will be deleted within 90 days of the Announcement Date. The Conversation reserves the right to use anonymized, non-attributable excerpts or statistics about entries received (e.g. “We received over 200 entries from 50 institutions”) for promotional purposes relating to future competitions.

7. Data protection and publicity

7.1 The Promoter will process your personal data (name, email address, telephone number, and institutional affiliation) solely for the purposes of administering this competition, selecting winners, and publishing the winning entry as described in these terms and conditions. Your data will be retained until the prize has been claimed and delivered. Under UK GDPR, you have the right to access, rectify, erase, or restrict processing of your personal data. To exercise these rights or for data protection queries, please contact uk-privacy@theconversation.com. We will not use your data for marketing purposes without your separate consent

8. General

8.1 If there is any reason to believe that there has been a breach of these terms and conditions, the Promoter may, at its sole discretion, reserve the right to exclude you from participating in the competition.

8.2 We reserve the right to hold void, suspend, cancel, or amend the prize competition where it becomes necessary to do so.

8.3 These terms and conditions are governed by English law.

The man sexually assaulted the girl at a Cambridgeshire house in 2024

A man claimed he “didn’t know what he was doing” when he sexually touched a young girl. Edwin Timewell, 58, sexually assaulted the girl at a house in Peterborough on December 21, 2024.

The victim told her parents and the police were called. Timewell admitted to police that he touched the girl, but said he “didn’t know what he was doing”.

Timewell of Essex Road, Stamford, Lincolnshire, was jailed for two years after appearing at Cambridge Crown Court on April 29. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a girl under 13 by touching.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register until January 2036 and handed sexual harm prevention and restraining orders until April 2036.

Detective Sergeant Steph Parker said: “Timewell claimed he didn’t know what he was doing in that moment but offences like this can have huge impacts on victims and their families and that is reflected in the sentence given by the court.”

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