Councillors were briefed on the findings of a feasibility study

Proposals to make Swansea’s foreshore and the land behind it more appealing with extra event spaces, artwork, beach huts and potentially padel courts have been revealed.

The study commissioned by Swansea Council also felt there was real scope to increase what’s on offer at Blackpill Lido and Singleton Park Boating Lake.

The Swansea Bay foreshore feasibility study examined the approximately three-mile stretch between West Pier, Swansea Marina, and Blackpill and didn’t include sites where major plans were already moving forward such as the redevelopment of the Civic Centre.

The study identified opportunities to increase tourism and revenue opportunities by making more of the foreshore which, it felt, lacked vibrancy and facilities. Never miss a Swansea story by signing up to our newsletter here

Nearly 800 people provided feedback to the study, a council committee heard. More eateries, toilets, seating, barbecue areas, viewing platforms, public art plus better beach access and more parking spaces were important for people, along with an expanded Swansea Bay Rider Land Train service.

It’s early days and the proposals are just that at the moment. Bringing them to fruition in the future would require funding.

Steve Hopkins, the council’s strategic manager for tourism, marketing and special events, said: “Yes it’s a beautiful stretch but it does need more facilities.”

The study identified potential padel courts on land near the boating lake along with kiosk upgrades, new terraced banks and planting.

Further west at Blackpill Lido it envisaged upgrading the birdwatching building with a viewing observatory, a new event space and also a new bridge for walkers and cyclists crossing the Clyne River between Mumbles Road and where it flows onto the beach.

The study report before the economy and infrastructure service transformation committee also recommended a widened promenade and a “fast” and “slow” route demarcation.

Cllr Mike White described Swansea’s beach and foreshore as “absolutely tremendous” and asked if log cabins, lookouts and organised volleyball were in the mix. Mr Hopkins said lookouts were being considered and that there was potential for volleyball at Swansea Bay Sports Park, which is along the three-mile stretch.

Committee chairman Cllr Phil Downing welcomed the report but sought reassurance that commercial opportunities which may arise wouldn’t undermine footfall in the city centre.

Tracey McNulty, head of cultural services, parks and cleansing, said: “At this moment the proposals are very much about improving things gently rather than building new things.”

In answer to a question by Cllr White she also said the feasibility study hadn’t included the Slip Bridge site.

The committee also heard Mumbles wasn’t included as a major project to rebuild the seawall and improve the promenade had recently been completed.

Tyson Fury will face Russian boxer Arslanbek Makhmudov exclusively on Netflix and there’s a way to stream the fight live without having to pay for a subscription.

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Tyson Fury returns to the ring this weekend for his hotly-anticipated fight with Russian boxer Arslanbek Makhmudov. After hanging up his gloves for a fifth time 14 months ago, ‘The Gypsy King’ announced his comeback to face the so-called ‘knockout artist’ in his first bout in Britain for nearly four years.

Two-time heavyweight champion Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) will go 12 rounds with Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs) on Saturday, April 11, at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Fury has bested some of the biggest names in boxing’s modern era, including Deontay Wilder, Francis Ngannou and Wladimir Klitschko, but Saturday’s fight will mark his first since the defeat to WBC champion Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024.

In his pre-fight press conference earlier this month, Fury said: “If I fight a pudding, I don’t get turned on by that. I have to fight somebody dangerous to make me want to even train, make me want to even take it seriously.

“So now I know I’ve got a dangerous knockout artist in front of me. I’m looking forward to coming here, putting on a real show, and most of all, I’m looking forward to punching his face right in.”

Fury isn’t the only British boxer in the ring on Saturday as a stacked card also includes Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis as a co-headliner. With Fury vs Makhmudov now hours away, we’ve found a way to watch the fight for free.

When is Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov?

The Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov main card will get underway at 7pm on Saturday, April 11. The Fury and Makhmudov ringwalks are expected to begin around 10.30pm.

Earlier in the day, the preliminary card kicks off proceedings at 3.30pm, with Benn vs Prograis expected to fight around 9.30pm.

Watch Fury vs Makhmudov with free Netflix subscription

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Get the deal here

Tyson Fury has come out of retirement to face Russian boxer Arslanbek Makhmudov in a heavyweight clash in London on April 11. The fight will stream live on Netflix, which fans can get for free with Sky’s £15 Essential TV bundle or £24 Ultimate TV bundle, the latter of which also includes HBO Max and Disney+.

How to watch Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov without paying for Netflix

Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov will air exclusively on Netflix, with access included at no extra cost with each subscription tier. However, Sky is giving away a free Netflix subscription with its TV streaming packages, some of which also include HBO Max and Disney+.

While the £15 Essential TV bundle includes Netflix at no extra cost, the new £24 Ultimate TV bundle includes Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels. Sky says these five streaming subscriptions are worth around £240 a year, with those securing the deal able to tune into Fury vs Makhmudov at no extra cost.

Keep in mind there’s no sports coverage of the Premier League, Formula 1 or The Masters included with the deal, but Sky Sports can be added to the Ultimate TV bundle for an additional £20. Virgin Media also gives away free Netflix access with its rival packages such as the £34.99 Entertainment bundle, which also comes with 362Mbps broadband and more than 200 TV channels.

A caveat is that both Sky and Virgin require 24-month contracts to secure these deals. Netflix’s coverage of the fight will be hosted by Elle Duncan alongside Lennox Lewis, Laila Ali, and Carl Froch, with commentary from Mauro Ranallo, David Haye and Andre Ward.

Full Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov fight card

Main card

• Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov
• Conor Benn vs Regis Prograis
• Jeamie TKV vs Richards Riakporhe
• Frazer Clarke vs Justis Huni

Prelims

• Simon Zachenhuber vs Pawel August
• Breyon Gorham vs Eduardo Costa
• Mikie Tallon vs Leonardo Blanc
• Felix Cash vs Liam O’Hare
• Hector Lozano vs Sultan Almohammed
• Elliot Whale vs Tom Hill

The Met Office has forecast today’s weather for Wales.

It says: “A largely cloudy morning, however some brighter spells possible in the east at first.

“Outbreaks of rain pushing across the country during the day.

“Strengthening winds and near normal temperatures. Maximum temperature 11 °C.”

Wayne Rooney and Luke Littler both know what it is like to be thrust into the limelight at a young age.

A 16-year-old Rooney made the world sit up and take notice when he scored a stunning late winner for Everton against Arsenal in 2002.

At 18, he joined Manchester United in a £27m move, and by the time he was 21 he was a Premier League champion.

Darts world number one Littler was also 16 when he burst on to the scene by reaching the final of the 2024 World Championship.

He won both the Premier League and World Championship at 17 and successfully defended his world crown at 18.

At 19, he has 12 major titles to his name.

But when did Rooney and Littler realise that they could be among the best at such a young age?

“I’ve always had belief and this is where I think there’s loads of comparisons [between us]. I think you have to have a certain level of arrogance to be at your best,” Rooney told Littler in the latest episode of BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show.

“When I got in Everton’s first team, I’ve said it many times, I felt like I was the best player at 16.”

For Littler, his moment of realisation came when he was beating players more than double his age.

“I’ve been playing tournament-wise for many years, maybe my first proper tournament was at like nine, maybe 10,” he said. “And just like Wayne said, when you’ve showed a bit of arrogance, the more you do it, obviously people might not like it, but as long as you feel comfortable about doing it, that’s all that matters.

“When I started playing in pub leagues I started playing against adults. They weren’t happy losing to a 10 or 11-year-old.

“When I was beating them, I was going to the darts academy in St Annes as well, and I think the younger players in there were better than these old men. I was pretty much winning all the time.”

The spotlight on Littler only got brighter when he won BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2024, 22 years after Rooney did.

“The press can be mind boggling – you’re not used to it,” said Rooney.

“And [coming] from a similar area as I imagine to where Luke is from, you’re not used to that.

“You’re not used to media, you’re not used to talking in front of cameras and, and it can be intimidating, but one thing which is always remains is your safe place.

“Mine was on the football pitch and I would imagine where he’s comfortable is on the oche where he’s playing, that’s where no one can get to him. He’s safe – they can write what they want.”

Littler has started to draw more criticism over the past year or so, most recently following a mid-match spat with Gian van Veen during a quarter-final defeat on night nine of the Premier League in Manchester.

“When I first came on the scene, we were always looking at comments and everything, normally family, but now we just get used to it and just block it out,” he said.

“There’s always negativity with I think not only darts and football, every sport. Not everyone is going to like you and that’s just that’s just the way it is.

“Obviously the fans that pay the tickets, pay the money to watch us in person… I think obviously they do mean the most because obviously they want to watch us play good darts.

“But with the media – and bringing social media into it for the first time after the first [World Championship win in 2025] – it was hard to not bite back at people. But now it’s just: Just leave it. We’ve gotten used to it.”

PSNI said: “We will relentlessly pursue those that are trying to delay or deny justice to victims of crime”

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A 29-year-old man was extradited from Germany to Northern Ireland to face charges dating back eight years.

He is wanted to stand trial in Northern Ireland for one offence of robbery and one offence of possession of an offensive weapon.

The offences occurred in the Portrush area during November 2018. The male was granted bail at Antrim Crown Court on March 29, 2023 and failed to show up for his trial on September 11, 2023 when a warrant was issued for his arrest.

READ MORE: Co Down driver found to be ‘nearly three times drink drive limit’ after crashing into wallREAD MORE: Urgent appeal for missing pregnant woman last seen in Co Antrim

Sergeant Davey from the International Policing Unit said: “Today’s extradition demonstrates our commitment to tracking down fugitives wanted here in Northern Ireland. In this case we worked closely with national and international partners to locate, arrest and extradite this fugitive.

“Our message is clear to anyone who has skipped bail or left Northern Ireland to avoid the consequences of their actions. We will relentlessly pursue those that are trying to delay or deny justice to victims of crime.”

The suspect was arrested by police in Essen, Germany, on January 22, 2026, following an extradition warrant from Coleraine detectives. The process was finalised today, Thursday, April 9, with his successful return to Northern Ireland.

He is expected to appear before Antrim Crown Court on Friday April 10.

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

In 2025, Kyle Winchester’s (Huey Quinn) mum Amy Wyatt (Natalie Ann Jamieson) died during the catastrophic limo crash. As a result of this traumatic death, the Emmerdale youngster is now terrified about losing other members of his family.

Earlier this year, when Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley) told his sons about his cancer diagnosis, Kyle’s first thought was that he was going to die like his mum.

Cain did his best to reassure him despite not actually knowing how his future is going to play out. Earlier this week, Kyle found Cain lying unconscious in the road after being hit by a car, and fear led him to believe once again that his dad was going to die.

Amid his worries about his dad’s cancer, Kyle is also aware there’s a very high chance Moira Dingle (Natalie J Robb) is going to go to prison for the rest of her life. In upcoming episodes, his anxiety over losing his step-mum leads to Kyle running away from the family home.

The search to find the lad is led by Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller), but Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) eventually finds Kyle, who explains that he overheard Moira’s plan to plead guilty at the trial.

His guilt increasing over the fact he helped frame Moira in the first place, Robert vows to make things right.

Later, Aaron is stunned when Robert says that he’s going to turn himself in for Moira.

Robert agrees to stay at Butler’s one more night. The next day, everything changes as Kammy Hadiq (Shebz Miah) manages to trace Ray’s old car number plate to a storage unit in Hotten.

Aaron and Robert race over there and initially give up after finding dozens of identical containers.

Fortunately, Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) remembers that all-important HSU107 key from Celia’s farm. The group open the door to the unit, and find what appears to be loads of new evidence.

But will it be enough to save Moira?

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MORE: All Emmerdale spoilers for next week as fresh evidence frees one villager but condemns another

MORE: Emmerdale confirms who nearly killed Cain in early ITVX release – and a shocking demand follows

MORE: Is Cain Dingle leaving Emmerdale and does he die?

AS a fellow ‘Yorkie’ born and bred, I agree with Mary Morton’s verdict on Shambles in her letter ‘Pun created a stir’, The Press page 20, April 8.

However, at least one improvement can be cited; the ‘potty-emptying’ practice from upper storeys (accompanied by the warning cry, ‘Garde a l’eau!’, which became ‘Gardyloo’), has thankfully ceased.

When I worked at Pickerings bookshop in the street there were a few occasions when watering our hanging baskets we’d splash the occasional passer-by but not like in the ‘good old days’.

Derek Reed,

Middlethorpe Drive,

York

—

I had to chuckle

IT’S not often war provides a chuckle, but Tony Fisher stating as a fact that Trump has been lying about the progress of negotiations with Iran the very day a temporary deal is officially struck, did provide me with one.

To wrongly conclude no deal was being worked on, I can only assume he had his ear pressed against the wrong door in the Pentagon.

Dr Scott Marmion,

Woodthorpe,

York

—

Great day out

IT was great to see the York Model Railway show over the Easter Weekend at the Knavesmire.

What I liked about it was not only did you have exhibitors from Yorkshire but form the rest of the country as well.

There seems to be a great interest in model railways that you thought that somewhere like the National Railway Museum would after the revamp be able to stage a similar event.

Timothy Wynn Werninck,

Dodgson Terrace,

Acomb,

York

—

In praise of the ferret

IT’S nice to read a good news story in the paper – the reuniting of the ferret with its owner.

Ferrets are lovely; very inquisitive and full of mischief, although they sleep between 14 to 18 hours a day – so a bit of a specialised pet.

They are best kept in pairs and relatively easily hand trained and toilet trained to use a litter tray.

My uncle Fred used to keep them for a while for rabbiting until Myxomatosis (a contagious viral disease effecting rabbits) put paid to that.

Fed on cat food, they also liked bread soaked in milk and fresh raw meat and the occasional dead mouse or bird.

Ferrets are a very interesting and unusual pet.

D M Deamer,

Penleys Grove Street,

Monkgate,

York

What do you think?

Feel strongly about an issue? Write us a letter. Please write no more than 250 words and you must provide your full name, address and mobile number. Send your views by email to: letters@thepress.co.uk

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Join the debate and leave a comment in our comments section below this article – we may use your comments for a follow up article.

The supermarket has issued a recall

Tesco is recalling a dessert item as it has been deemed “unsafe to eat”. A Food Standards Agency (FSA) recall notice said that Tesco Finest Summer Edition Chocolate Affogato Dessert may contain pieces of plastic.

The affected product has a pack size of 538g and best-before dates of up to and including April 2027.

The FSA said: “This product may contain pieces of plastic, which makes the product unsafe to eat. Tesco is recalling the above product and has issued a recall notice to alert customers. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.

“If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to any Tesco store for a full refund. For further information, please visit Tesco’s contact Tesco page at: tesco.com/help/contact”

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About product recalls and withdrawals

The FSA explained: “If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be ‘withdrawn’ (taken off the shelves) or ‘recalled’ (when customers are asked to return the product).

“The FSA issues Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. In some cases, a ‘Food Alert for Action’ is issued.

“This provides local authorities with details of specific action to be taken on behalf of consumers.”

Taking a leap of faith and turning your business dream into a reality is always a risk but it’s one that’s certainly paid off for this busy working mum

Taking a leap of faith and turning your business dream into a reality is always a risk, never more so than during a global pandemic.

But that’s exactly what busy working mum Olivia Burns did back in 2020. After taking voluntary redundancy, Olivia founded her candle and home fragrance business Olivia’s Haven just as the Covid-19 pandemic took hold and the world locked down. She worked through the pandemic from her home studio in her native Coleraine to build the business one candle at a time.

Six years on, that risk has certainly paid off with a thriving business in the “phygital era”—the fusion of physical store experiences with the more digital TikTok shop approach. After almost a decade working in branding for both big global companies and smaller start-ups, Olivia always desired to create her own brand from start to finish.

READ MORE: ‘I swapped Amazon to walk the streets with strangers – I wouldn’t change it for the world’READ MORE: Riot Cycle – Inside Belfast’s newest exercise craze that’s more than just a spin class

A self-confessed candle lover, in January 2019 her fascination with the link between scent and how it helped her recall her own memories grew. She started experimenting with wax and fragrance oils to create the ultimate range of scented candles inspired by her own childhood memories. But it wasn’t just about creating a great range of products for Olivia’s Haven; they also needed to look just as amazing as they smell.

Initially starting online, Olivia went on to establish shops in Coleraine, another on the Belmont Road in east Belfast and a pop-up store on Ann Street in Belfast city centre in the run up to Christmas 2025. Olivia produces her range of soy candles and home fragrance at the firm’s base in Coleraine.

She told Belfast Live: “This all came about because I just loved home fragrance and candles. I loved having a beautiful home to come back to that just smelt warm and welcoming. But I also wanted to find scents that were totally unique because I found that when you went to the supermarket for example, all the fragrances were pretty boring or samey.

“I wanted something that was totally unique and really exciting but also looked beautiful and looked as good as they smelled—that’s what we’ve worked really hard to do. We started with just six soy wax candles and now we’ve got about 50 scents in our range overall which also includes reed diffusers, wax melts and room sprays.”

Olivia explained how the wide range of scents on offer are all linked to memories and stories: “All of our scents start with the story and then, the scent follows after that. For example we have one called ‘The Potting Shed,’ and the story behind that is my dad and his love of gardening.

“I really wanted to get that scent completely perfect with that feeling when you walk into a greenhouse or a potting shed and a gorgeous natural smell of greenery, tomato vines, and it’s lovely and earthy as well. The story behind the scent appears on every candle and diffuser box.

“Others in the range like ‘The Wedding,’ I had for my own wedding day and it smells like a beautiful bouquet of summer flowers while ‘The Nursery,’ as you might expect, smells like a beautiful fresh baby powder fragrance. We use soy wax and toxin-free ingredients and eliminate all the nasties from the products, so a lot of people like nice to burn in your home and you’re not breathing in paraffin wax which you do with mass produced candles.

As well as the physical stores, Olivia’s Haven sells its products on its website, as well as online on TikTok.

She explained: “We’re quite unique in that we have physical stores, plus we have the online and then we really lean into our socials as well. We do a lot on TikTok including live selling and packing our products to send them out across the world. Our beautiful physical stores give people the full experience and one of the reasons we did go down that route was just because we knew people wanted to hold, touch and smell our products and feel that quality as well.

For anyone considering making their business dream a reality, Olivia has this advice: “I had it in my head that I was going to start a business before I was 30. On my 30th birthday I had a big glass of Prosecco and was just like ‘right, I’m just going to put out my first Instagram post and then I’m committed and have to it.’

“Just do it and don’t worry about what other people think. You’ll regret more what you didn’t do than what you did. ‘Take a leap and the net will appear’ was always a little quote that was in my head. It’s really risky, but things tend to work out if you take the risk and put the work in.”

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Full fibre broadband is a non-negotiable in today’s fast-moving digital world. Whether it is an online business, a physical store or both, nowadays retailers rely on a steady internet connection to operate and communicate with customers as well as ensuring their day-to-day operations run smoothly.

Colin Hutchinson, managing director of Fibrus Group said: “Reliable, high-speed broadband is now essential to businesses, whether it’s powering card payments and stock systems in store or enabling brands to sell, stream and engage customers online in real time.

“It’s fantastic to see a local business like Olivia’s Haven thriving across physical stores while also embracing the pace and opportunity of platforms like TikTok Shop. At Fibrus Broadband, we’re proud to play a part in supporting ambitious businesses who are pushing boundaries and growing to reach new audiences by combining great in store experiences with strong online performance.”

Video: Justin Kernoghan

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The incident took place on Good Friday, April 3, on Lee Lane, Horwich, when a car collided with three pedestrians outside the Victoria and Albert Pub, leaving two hospitalised.

A 33-year-old man remains in custody for questioning after being arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, Greater Manchester Police confirmed this week.

A GMP spokesperson said: “At around 10.53pm on Friday, April 3, we were called to reports of a road traffic collision between a car and three pedestrians.

“Emergency services attended, and two men were taken to hospital for treatment.

“A 33-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

“He remains in custody for questioning, and enquiries are ongoing.”

The incident occurred outside the Victoria and Albert pub at around 10.53pm.

The pub did not want to comment on the incident itself due to its sensitivity, but did confirm that one of its staff members had been injured.

“The event has been traumatic for the staff team,” said Kevin Galbraith of the Victoria and Albert, “so we don’t wish to go over it again.

“We have assisted police with their enquiries.”

Greater Manchester Police issued an appeal for CCTV and dashcam footage to aid them in their investigations.

One anonymous Facebook user posted footage of what is thought to be the driver in question.

CCTV footage of pedestrians on the street seconds before the incident (Image: Anonymous)

The car in the footage swerves slightly onto the pavement before returning to the road.

It continues driving behind the car ahead of it before swerving to the left back onto the pavement, exiting the dashcam’s frame.

Horwich Cllr Charlotte Moncado-Sears said: “Horwich isn’t a place where we want people driving dangerously – we’re such a small, close-knit town.

“And Horwich is always so busy on Good Friday – everybody goes up Rivington Pike and comes back down into the village for a drink or something to eat.

“I know it was late, but there could be families and kids there.”

Also shared with the police was CCTV footage showing the moment of the incident, taken from the camera of a nearby business.

Horwich Councillor Ryan Bamforth said: “I really do hope everyone involved in the incident is alright.”

Anybody with information or footage of the incident is advised to contact GMP on 101 or via the online chat facility on the GMP website.

Anybody not comfortable contacting the police directly can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 to submit their footage/information anonymously.