The iconic character was first the hero of children’s books before making it onto television

Over the generations, there have been numerous iconic children’s TV shows, stories, and characters – like Iggle Piggle, Postman Pat, SpongeBob SquarePants or Bob the Builder. Each of these famous characters really takes people from all ages on a trip down memory lane and back to the good old days when our biggest concern was whether Bob the Builder could really fix it.

One small village, nestled in the middle of some lovely countryside, happens to have played a part in creating a very popular children’s character. Elsworth is a small village located around nine miles southeast of Huntingdon.

At first glance, it may look like any other village in the county, but it has a unique claim to fame. It is not only home to some gorgeous cottages but it also played a part in creating a much loved children’s character, Thomas the Tank Engine.

Reverend Wilbert Awdry OBE, was born in Hampshire but had later moved to the village in 1946 when The Railway Series, featuring iconic Thomas, was published. Reverend Awdry served as a rector from 1946 to 1952.

According to Cambridge Past, Present & Future, Awdry had just become rector of the parish of Elsworth when the success of his first two books led the publisher to ask Awdry to write a new book for the Railway Series every year. He did so for the next 24 years, writing five titles at Elsworth before moving to serve another parish.

A blue plaque commemorating the Reverend was unveiled in December 2020 to mark the 75th anniversary of his first children’s books. Cambridge Past, Present & Future put the plaque on the old rectory to mark the books he wrote there.

You may be wondering what else makes the village so special. Well, a pub, two schools, and a church are just a few reasons why Elsworth is lovely.

The George and Dragon, situated on Boxworth Road, is a popular gastropub with a focus on fresh fish and seafood from local suppliers as well as high-quality meats such as dry aged beef.

The village is also home to two schools – Elsworth C Of E Primary School, and Elsworth Pre School – making it an ideal location for families with young children.

The village, complete with many thatched cottages and farmhouses, is home to a 14th century church, the Holy Trinity Church (where Awdry was a rector), along with a local shop run by villagers to offer the basics including fresh bread, sweet treats, and meat.

According to Rightmove, properties in this village had an overall average price of £707,500 over the last year. The majority of properties sold in Elsworth during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £781,000. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £340,000.

What followed was an unlikely journey. He went to film school, spent time in India chasing creative opportunities, then returned to the UK. He also helped a YouTube channel grow to 70,000 subscribers in just a year. In a more unexpected turn, he found himself running a surgical supply company after a surgeon discovered his content online.

Doting mum Segen Ghebrekidan’s 17-year-old son Solomon was brutally murdered. She tells of his bravery, his heroism, and how he’s not just another victim of knife crime

When a 17-year-old lad from the next road gave Segen Ghebrekidan a hug as she returned home at midday, something felt strangely unsettling. The teenager had happily tucked into a Sunday roast with her family before now and mucked around on the PlayStation with her 18-year-old son, Solomon. But as he walked back to his house on August 15, 2019, Segen, 41, recalls: “I had a strange feeling something wasn’t right.” Her intuition was spot on, as less than two hours later, her life changed forever.

Until her encounter with the youth, Segen’s day had been full of hope. After years working as a carer, she had just completed the final registration process to start a four-year course in health and social care – hoping to build a brighter future for herself, Solomon and his sister Angel, who was just three at the time. She says: “I had an interview that day and everything seemed positive.”

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But Segen never got to start that course. For, at around 1.30pm, Solomon was walking through Brixton, where they lived in south west London, with a female friend, when they passed the same lad near a kebab shop. Exchanging a fistbump greeting, before leaving him and turning into another street, they realised the teenager was following them.

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Catching Solomon and his friend up, the youth confronted them, leading to an argument that turned violent. Protective over his female friend, Solomon tried to shield her – pulling the lad away. But, as they struggled, the 17-year-old pulled out a knife and stabbed him repeatedly — six times in the chest, neck and arms. Three witnesses watched in horror as Solomon collapsed onto the pavement and a friend raced to fetch his mother.

Segen doted on Solomon, who was born on June 26, 2001 at St George’s Hospital in Tooting, south west London, a few years after she moved to Britain from Eritrea. Sociable and caring, he made friends easily. Segen says: “He lit up any room he walked into. People just loved him.”

A devoted Manchester United fan, Solomon loved playing football and hanging out with friends on their estate. Studying painting and decorating at nearby Lambeth College, he hoped to have a career in the trade. Raised as a Rastafarian, following the beliefs of his father, who lives in Ethiopia, Solomon was active in the Ethiopian World Federation and regularly helped out at his church.

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Segen says: “He played the drums during gatherings, helped prepare food and drinks and was always volunteering. He did charity work and was very well known in the community. He would come with me to community events and help people. If neighbours needed shopping carried upstairs, he would help them. Everyone spoke well of him. He was respectful, kind, always smiling and he adored his little sister. He would do anything for her.”

But as Segen raced to Solomon’s side that August day, she could see that she was losing him. Surrounded by paramedics and police officers, all fighting to save him, Segen recalls: “They were pumping blood into him. There were ambulances, police cars and even a helicopter.”

Doctors worked frantically for 45 minutes, performing emergency treatment behind red medical screens. But his injuries were too severe and he died at the scene. “My world stopped,” Segen whispers. “Half of my heart went with my son that day.”

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The killer fled, but was tracked through CCTV and DNA evidence recovered from burnt clothing discovered during police searches. Five days later, on August 20, the 17-year-old handed himself in to police, accompanied by his mother. During interviews he repeatedly answered “no comment”.

But the girl Solomon had protected – who now lives under witness protection – testified in court. And six years ago, in March 2020, following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court, a jury found him guilty of murder. His identity protected because of his age, he was sentenced to detention at Her Majesty’s Pleasure – the juvenile equivalent of a life sentence – with a minimum of 14 years before becoming eligible for parole.

Angela Moriarty from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Solomon was the victim of a violent and unprovoked attack.” Semen says: “My son died a hero. He stepped between the blade and the girl walking beside him, shielding her as violence erupted.

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“’Run,’ he told her. She escaped. Solomon did not. That bravery has never really been acknowledged, but I am so proud of him. He was so selfless.” Since Solomon’s death, Segen has been forced to refute rumours that he was part of gangland culture. She says: “That simply wasn’t true. He had friends everywhere, but he wasn’t part of that life.”

To her horror, Solomon’s grave has been vandalised repeatedly, and threatening videos linked to gang culture appeared online, mocking his death. “It was incredibly disrespectful,” she says. In fact, Segen was so worried about knife crime and the risk of her son becoming involved that she regularly searched his room and pockets. She says: “He used to joke and call me ‘the police officer’.”

Nine days after his murder, Segen organised a memorial gathering at Brixton Town Hall for Solomon, attended by 500 people. Galvanised by her grief, since her son’s murder, Segen has poured all her energy into fighting knife crime. According to the latest government statistics, in the year ending March 2025, there were just over 50,000 police-recorded knife offences in England and Wales – 205 of them were murders.

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A voracious campaigner, she organises marches against knife crime, under the banner ‘Brixton Says No to Knife Crime’ and has protested outside Scotland Yard. She’s also created support groups for women whose lives have been shattered by youth violence.

Through community fundraising events and selling donated clothes and books at stalls, she has raised thousands of pounds, funding several bleeding control kits, which are installed around the community in places like shops and chip shops, to help treat victims of knife crime or accidents. She says: “I even carry one myself now. I show people how to use them. If it saves just one life, then something good has come out of this tragedy.”

At the Baytree Centre – a social inclusion and educational charity in Brixton – she runs weekly workshops for women and girls whose families have been touched by knife crime, offering everything from exercise and baking classes to open discussions about grief and trauma.

She says: “It’s a safe space where women can talk about what they’ve been through. Before this, nothing like it existed.” Where knife crime is concerned, Segen believes education is key, as the police cannot stamp it out alone. She says: “The police cannot control everything. Parents and communities need to be involved.”

Meanwhile, Segen says the home she shares with Angel, now nine, feels empty without Solomon. She says: “He was brave. He thought about someone else before himself. My son was a hero. He was not just another victim of knife crime. And I will spend the rest of my life making sure people remember that.”

*Follow Segen’s campaign on Facebook at Solomon Legacy, and on Instagram at Solomon_Legacy_18

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Seaham car boot sale, ran by Nobles Promotions Limited, took to social media this morning (March 29) to share the news.

The Facebook post said: “Unfortunately due to the high winds forecast for today the car boot fair at Seaham is cancelled for today.

“We will see you all next week.”

The car boot sale usually operates on Sundays between 12pm and 5pm, from the last Sunday in March to the third Sunday in October.

It is located north of the existing parking area at Seaham Hall Farm, off the B1287 road.

The seasonal event has previously been praised for its positive impact on the local community. 

“The car boot sale is of substantial social and economic importance to Seaham and the wider area,” a planning statement read. 

“On a typical Sunday, around 230 sellers and over 4,500 buyers attend, generating significant spend that benefits local traders, catering outlets, and the visitor economy. 

“It is more than a market: it is a valued community meeting place, supporting social interaction, affordable opportunities for families, and the re-use and recycling of goods.”

Olivia Attwood’s split from Bradley Dack has taken another turn as new allegations emerge that he cheated on her with ‘multiple women.’

The new claims come in the wake of reports that Olivia was never legally married to Bradley after all.

In January, it was revealed the ITV presenter, 34, and Gillingham footballer, 32, were ‘over for good’ after a 10-year relationship, shocking fans.

Both parties initially remained silent on the split, but sources soon alleged that there had been a ‘breach of trust’ from Bradley, leading to Olivia ending the relationship.

Now, however, more details have surfaced about their split, shedding light on the reasons why they never actually made their marriage legally binding.

In June 2023, Olivia and Bradley held a lavish wedding at the five-star Bulgari hotel in Knightsbridge, for which she stunned in a £30,000 Galia Lahav gown and adorned the venue with 25,000 individual flowers.

The pair had reportedly intended to formalise the marriage weeks later, but Olivia is said to have decided against it after uncovering issues that caused concern.

Now, recent reports claim that multiple women have accused Bradley of being unfaithful during his relationship with Olivia.

In one alleged incident, he is said to have spent the night with a woman he met on a night out while Olivia was reportedly out of the country.

The Sun reported that Bradley spent the night at the woman’s house in Wythenshawe, before leaving the next morning and never contacting her again.

The source continued, saying: ‘Olivia was ringing his phone all night and couldn’t get hold of him’.

Last week, Olivia hinted at more infidelity being revealed, writing on a selfie posted to Instagram in which she appears visibly emotional: ‘And reading “hey girly” texts on my break, gals come to the front today please and then I’m moving on with my life ty x’.

After Bradley and Olivia’s split was first revealed, she later took to Instagram as she updated her followers on the move into her new London pad, which she hadn’t ‘expected’ to be living in alone now.

Still, she insisted that she ‘wanted Brad to be happy’.

Since then, Olivia has begun opening up on her podcast, Olivia’s House, where she recently reflected on her engagement.

Speaking about the proposal in Dubai, she admitted her feelings have shifted since the breakup.

She said: ‘Don’t judge me, I think we were one of the first couples on my Instagram to do Dubai on the beach.

‘Now if someone did Dubai on the beach I’d say no, because it’s just… if I see one more Burj Al Arab engagement, I’ll vomit.

‘But when we did it, it was early enough it wasn’t. I loved it. I thought it was coming, but I didn’t know it was that day.

‘Getting engaged is great, you get told how great you are, you get a diamond ring. What’s not to like? It’s a great day out.’

As for where things stand now, Olivia made headlines with her best mate Pete Wicks last week, having been papped smooching on a night out.

The Kiss FM radio presenters and podcast co-hosts were out with friends at the Flute Bar in Soho, where they were seen locking lips, appearing to confirm that they were now more than friends, having previously shut down speculation that there was a spark between them.

Sources claimed Bradley felt ’embarrassed and upset’ upon seeing the snaps, which led to him unfollowing Olivia on social media.

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Brenda Fielding, from Atherton, marked the milestone by visiting the mill where she was employed in her younger years, bringing with her memories of its industrial past and sharing stories from her time on the mill floor.

Ena Mill welcomed Brenda and her family for the celebration, including a birthday cake provided by the team on site.

Reflecting on her return, Brenda joked about being “young and good looking” during her time working at the mill.

The visit offered a link between the building’s heritage and its present-day role, with Brenda’s story highlighting the mill’s place in the local community across generations.

Holidaymakers can now book direct flights with EasyJet to Seville, with operations starting on August 2, 2026.

Flights are scheduled to run twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays, serving both city break enthusiasts and holidaymakers seeking stays of a week or more.

Noted for its flamenco heritage, sun-soaked plazas, iconic orange tree-lined streets, and rich festival calendar, the Andalusian capital presents travellers with an array of attractions.

This new route comes as part of EasyJet’s ongoing expansion efforts around Liverpool.

The airline is adding another aircraft to its Liverpool base, leading to greater flexibility for passengers booking flights and package holidays across Europe and North Africa.

EasyJet’s new direct flights to Seville push their portfolio to 41 destinations in 18 countries, offered from Liverpool.

Public transport will be made free in two Australian states because of rising petrol shortages due to the Iran war.

Commuters in Victoria will be able to travel on trains, trams and buses free of charge for a month starting from 31 March, in a move described as a “temporary measure” to offset rising petrol prices.

Meanwhile, in Tasmania fares on buses and ferries have been waived from 30 March to 1 July.

Since the outbreak of the Iran war, the flow of oil through the Strait of Hormuz has been greatly restricted and fuel prices have soared in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region.

Petrol prices in Australia have skyrocketed from an average of $1.70 a litre (£0.88) before to war to about $2.50 a litre at some bowsers, local media reports.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said on Sunday that offering free public transport would make it more affordable for people to choose public transport over driving.

“This is a temporary measure to help with the cost of living – it will take pressure off the pump and help you save,” she said.

“This won’t solve every problem, but it’s an immediate step to help Victorians right now while we keep working on new solutions to make Victoria more affordable.”

Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the state’s residents were increasingly choosing public transport over driving, with a 20% increase seen in the last week.

“We know the rising cost of fuel is impacting the family budget, and that’s why we have again taken strong and decisive action to protect Tasmanians,” he said.

“We are stepping up to support Tasmanians when they need it most, delivering one of the state’s most significant cost-of-living measures.”

Across Australia, some fuel stations have run dry due to panic buying and shortages particularly in remote regions.

The country has also been releasing petrol and diesel from domestic reserves to ease shortages ‌affecting rural supply chains, mining and agriculture.

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With 80% of Asia’s oil and LNG travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, the region has been particularly hard hit by fuel shortages and price hikes.

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Spike in energy prices cause panic across Asia

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China has banned refined fuel exports to pre-empt a potential domestic fuel shortage.

Rising fuel prices have sparked protests in the Philippines, with government offices now open just four days a week. Bureaucrats must also limit the use of air conditioning to nothing cooler than 24C.

The Indian government had given households priority over businesses in its allocation of liquefied petroleum gas, used primarily for cooking, and has been absorbing most of the price increases to keep costs low for poor families.

The shortages have forced some restaurants to shorten hours and stop serving foods that absorb a lot of energy to cook, such as curries and deep-fried snacks.

In Thailand, public workers have been told to take the stairs instead of elevators.

The First Minister has been accused of failing to respond six months ago to a plea by a North Lanarkshire councillor.

John Swinney failed to respond to a plea six months ago to investigate the SNP’s complaints process linked to sex offender Jordan Linden.

The First Minister instead backed a probe on Friday despite being sent a letter in September by councillor Greg Lennon.

Linden, a former rising star in the SNP, was last week convicted of 10 separate offences following a trial at Falkirk Sheriff Court, including five sexual assaults.

The 30 year old was also convicted of directing unwanted sexual communications towards seven teenagers, the youngest aged 14.

His victims were five young men and boys aged 15 to 22 and the offences took place between 2011 and 2021.

The SNP was last week accused of ignoring complaints at the time and protecting the former senior SNP figure.

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It has now been claimed Swinney had been urged to investigate the complaints process last year but ignored the call.

Correspondence shows Lennon, who now sits as an independent in North Lanarkshire, wrote last year “on behalf of affected former SNP councillors” outlining concerns.

The letter, dated September 11, was emailed to the first minister and copied to his predecessor Humza Yousaf the day after.

It stated that in 2022, “eight [then] SNP councillors repeatedly raised safeguarding concerns in relation to the alleged sexual misconduct of Cllr Jordan James Linden”, adding:

“Thereafter, those councillors were subjected to prolonged suspension, exclusion, bullying and harassment and a series of unfounded or mishandled complaints. As a result, all eight councillors subsequently left the SNP and formed Progressive Change North Lanarkshire.”

Paul Di Mascio, another North Lanarkshire councillor who now sits as an independent for Airdrie South, said Swinney ignored the call.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Swinney issued an apology to Linden’s victims.

“The first thing I want to say is that for anybody who has suffered as a consequence of the behaviour of Jordan Linden, I’m very, very sorry for what they have experienced,” he said.

He also backed a probe into his party’s complaints process: “I want to make sure the SNP has the strongest possible complaints handling process in place in all circumstances.

“This process was reviewed in 2022 but I want to, in the light of the trial that (has been) completed, make sure that some independent scrutiny is applied to that complaints handling process so that we have the strongest arrangements in place.”

An SNP spokesman said: “We have undertaken a comprehensive review of our complaints procedures since 2016, but in light of this case [Swinney] has instructed that an independent review of these procedures be conducted.

“This will ensure people are protected and our complaints procedures are as robust as they can be.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cage-match fighting is coming to the White House to fete President Donald Trump, a proud proponent of cage-match politics.

In the coming weeks, crews will erect a 6-foot (1.83 meter) wire-mesh fence shaped into an octagon on the lawn, where UFC fighters will use a combination of kickboxing, jiujitsu, wrestling and other martial arts in a June 14 mixed martial arts show timed for Trump’s 80th birthday and as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

The celebration of bloody, brute force dovetails with Trump’s gleefully combative charisma and extreme ideological masculinity — a brawling, no-holds-barred approach to the highest office in the land.

Trump was the first sitting president to attend a UFC show, taking in a 2019 fight that was stopped because of a cut over the loser’s eye that left blood pouring down the fighter’s face.

“A lot of people don’t understand fighting and they think fighting is about anger. It’s not. If you’re angry when you fight, you’ll lose,” said veteran MMA referee and commentator “Big John” McCarthy.

“Fighting is about technique and style, and understanding how to make your opponent make mistakes while you don’t,” McCarthy said.

“I totally understand why he likes it,” he added of Trump. “Because I do.”

It is hard to find a phrase more Trumpian than Ultimate Fighting Championship.

A committed devotee of hyperbole, Trump relishes grand descriptors that can elevate anything to its “ultimate” version. He also proudly fancies himself a fighter: “Fight! Fight! Fight!” became his 2024 campaign mantra, one crystalized after an assassination attempt that summer.

Then there is “championship,” another thing close to the heart of a president who constantly professes love for winning and those who do it frequently.

All of that means Trump giving UFC its largest-ever platform “is calculated. He knows what he’s doing,” said Kyle Kusz, a University of Rhode Island professor who studies the connection between sports and the far right.

Trump “uses UFC to portray himself as a manly sportsman,” said Kusz, who said he sees parallels between the sport’s style of masculinity and Trump’s approach to policy and politics.

The league is planning to issue 85,000 free tickets for the event. Trump said UFC boss Dana White, a longtime friend, will build “a 5,000-seat arena right outside the front door of the White House” and eight large screens in a nearby park for ticket-holders to watch from afar.

The show falls on a Sunday, deviating from UFC’s usual Saturday night time slot, and will be carried live on Paramount+, which is controlled by the Ellison family, also close allies of Trump. France even pushed back the Group of Seven summit it is hosting so as not to conflict with Trump’s birthday festivities.

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Trump has boasted that the event will feature “all top guys.” But fans online have panned the card for lacking top talent such as former two-division champion Jon Jones, who requested his release from the UFC immediately after being excluded from the White House show. Also absent is MMA icon Conor McGregor, whose first bout since 2021 would have been a seismic moment for the sport. The UFC’s White “knows the White House card sucks,” said former champion Ronda Rousey, who is mounting her own MMA comeback outside the UFC because she says the promotion would not meet her financial expectations.

Rousey, who is close to White, says the White House show “fell extremely short of expectations.”

While still being finalized, the card features two championship fights. Brazil’s Alex Periera will meet France’s Ciryl Gane for the interim UFC heavyweight title. Then Spanish-Georgian lightweight champion Ilia Topuria takes on interim champ Justin Gaethje, one of just two Americans who currently hold even a share of the UFC’s 11 championship belts.

The White House did not answer questions about criticism of the card or the event’s aggressive politics. Instead, communications director Steven Cheung, said, “This will be one of the greatest and most historic sports events in history.”

Cheung, a UFC spokesman before joining Trump’s 2016 campaign, called Trump’s event “a testament to his vision to celebrate America’s monumental 250th anniversary.”

A UFC spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

In 2014, Trump invested in his own, short-lived MMA league. A decade later, his reelection campaign enhanced his UFC ties, seeking to reach voters who do not usually engage in traditional politics.

Two days after he was convicted on 34 felony counts in a hush money case in June 2024, Trump went to a UFC bout in New Jersey, strolling out into the crowd with White while Kid Rock’s “American Bad Ass” blared. Trump’s campaign used footage of the raucous ovation to help launch its TikTok account.

Then, after his election victory, Trump triumphantly appeared with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and a large political entourage at a UFC fight in New York. He also attended UFC bouts in Newark and Miami last year.

Trump, who has built a large portion of his domestic travel around sporting events, is not unique among presidents using sports to appeal to voters.

Republican George W. Bush zinging a pitch in from Yankee Stadium’s mound during the 2001 World Series is remembered as a moment of resilience after the Sept. 11 attacks. Republican Richard Nixon so publicly embraced his football fandom that aides worried it might alienate some voters, said Chris Cillizza, author of “Power Players: Sports, Politics, and the American Presidency.”

Such worries are gone today, though, since sports “now tends to self-select by political affiliation,” he said.

“In an era where people feel like politicians are mostly weirdo aliens,” Cillizza said “sports — playing them, having knowledge about them — represents one of the best ways to prove to voters you are actually a human being.”

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Associated Press writers Greg Beacham in Los Angeles and Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.