The Conservatives are challenging the decision made at Stockton Council’s last cabinet meeting, which would leave £450,000 to make new improvements to the market town.

This came after the council abandoned a regeneration scheme for Yarm High Street which had been rejected by residents and businesses.

Out of a £2.35m budget, the cabinet agreed to return £950,000 of council money to general funds to reduce a £6.7m budget gap.

The remaining £1.4m is out of a £20m pot from the previous government’s Levelling Up Fund, and leaders said that money should stay in the Yarm and Eaglescliffe area.

They agreed to use most of this to pay off £950,000 borrowing for improvements to Eaglescliffe’s Preston Park, another LUF project.

This left £450,000, for which regeneration cabinet member Councillor Richard Eglington said officers should look at proposals put forward and draw up a “short list of achievable and realistic options”, including the replacement of two unsafe fishing pontoons.

He said: “We should then ask the residents which ones of those schemes they wish to take forward. I want to be guided by the residents of Yarm.”

The cabinet meeting earlier this month heard Conservative and Labour councillors thank each other for working together on the issue. However, the Conservatives have since accused their political opponents of trying to strip, raid or rob Yarm of funding.

The Labour leadership has responded with the council leader saying she was disappointed with the challenge. Cllr Lisa Evans said they had “worked tirelessly” with businesses, residents and councillors.

Stockton West Conservative MP Matt Vickers said: “This is as blatant as it gets.

Stockton West Conservative MP Matt Vickers on Yarm High Street. Picture: Matt Vickers.

“Labour have wasted years sitting on this funding, coming forward with one bad idea after another, and now they’re trying to take the money away altogether to cover their own mistakes.

“Let’s be absolutely clear, this isn’t ‘reprioritisation’, it’s a raid on Yarm to bail out Labour’s financial mismanagement. Residents were ignored when Labour tried to force through parking charges.

“They were ignored again when Labour pushed a completely inappropriate scheme on the town without proper consultation. Now Labour’s answer is to take the money and spend it elsewhere.

“It shows a complete disregard for Yarm, for local businesses, and for the people who were promised this investment.

“When I secured this money from the last Conservative government it was on the agreement that it was to benefit Yarm and Eaglescliffe, and that residents would be properly consulted in how it would be spent, but now it’s being siphoned off to cover a mess of the council’s own making.

“This decision must be overturned, and the money must be spent where it was always intended, in our communities.”

Conservative group leader Cllr Tony Riordan said: “The role of the opposition within council is to hold to account the decision(s) of the ruling group.

Councillor Tony Riordan, the Conservative group leader on Stockton Council, who is also chairman of the Cleveland Police and Crime Panel. No attribution required. Free for use by all BBC wire partners.

“On this occasion, the Labour cabinet have decided to take away 80 per cent of the funding that consultees who took part in the ‘You Decide’ exercise expected to be in spent Yarm and Eaglescliffe.

“The decision by the Labour cabinet appears to have ignored the expectations of the people who responded to their ‘You Decide’ consultation exercise without explaining why.”

The Conservatives have “called in” the decision, meaning it will be debated, scrutinised and decided upon in a meeting of the council’s executive scrutiny committee at a future date. They are urging the council to reverse course and deliver a new plan.

Cllr Lisa Evans from Stockton Council. Picture: Gareth Lightfoot

Council leader Cllr Lisa Evans said: “The leader, deputy leader and cabinet member have constantly engaged with residents, businesses and visitors to Yarm. We have also spent numerous hours with Yarm councillors but sadly not the MP that chooses not to engage.

“The call in is valid and we will reconsider our position.”

She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service their proposed course of action would help tackle the issue of borrowing, over which the Conservatives had also criticised the Labour leadership in a budget-setting debate, and the call-in would delay improvements to Yarm further.

She said: “I’m just very disappointed with the call-in because I’ve worked tirelessly with the residents, businesses and councillors of Yarm.

“We will continue to listen to the people of Yarm, and consider what they want.”

After nearly 20 years Scrubs is finally back with old and new faces in the cast

A cherished sitcom is making its comeback with several familiar faces alongside fresh additions to the ensemble.

Scrubs has arrived on Disney+, welcoming fans back to Sacred Heart Hospital with both established and new characters. JD makes his return to his original workplace in a different capacity, leading to reunions with best mate Turk and former spouse Elliot.

The trio now find themselves amongst the more seasoned staff members, tasked with mentoring the latest intake of medical professionals. The revived series’ synopsis states: “Medicine has changed; interns have changed; but their bromance has stood the test of time. Characters new and old navigate the waters of Sacred Heart with laughter, heart and some surprises along the way.”

So who features in the cast of the 2026 Scrubs revival? Here’s everything you need to know.

Who is in the Scrubs 2026 cast?

Spearheading the revived Scrubs series are three recognisable faces, with Zach Braff, Donald Faison, and Sarah Chalke all reprising their roles as John ‘JD’ Dorian, Chris Turk, and Elliot Reid respectively. While other original cast members do return, these three remain the only ones retaining main cast status, reports the Mirror.

Several other original cast members make appearances, though they’re only credited as guest stars, which may disappoint some devoted long-term fans. This includes John C McGinley as Dr Perry Cox, Judy Reyes as Carla, Robert Maschio as The Todd, while Phill Lewis also returns as Hooch. Audiences have also been eagerly awaiting the return of Neil Flynn as the Janitor, though it remains unclear in which episode he will feature.

Several new guest stars have already attracted attention, among them comedian Lisa Gilroy as Lily the harpist. Gilroy has also made notable appearances in Jury Duty and Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat, as well as Twisted Metal, where she portrayed Vermin.

Comedian Matt Rife has likewise featured in the Scrubs revival, playing patient Logan Nichols. Meanwhile, a number of new additions to the principal cast are gradually becoming familiar to viewers.

Ava Bunn, who has appeared in an episode of Netflix’s Man on the Inside, portrays Dr Sam Tosh, while English actor Jacob Dudman takes on the role of Dr Asher Green. Dudman has previously featured in the Harlan Coben adaptation The Stranger and numerous Doctor Who audio adventures.

David Gridley, whose previous credits include The Rookie and Rooster, steps into the role of Dr Blake Lewis. Surgical interns Dr Amara Hadi and Dr Dashana Trainor are portrayed by Layla Mohammadi and Amanda Morrow respectively.

Mohammadi has previously starred in Lioness, while Morrow made her television debut in 2021 in an episode of Law and Order: Special Victims Unit. Michael James Scott, renowned for his portrayal of the Genie in the Broadway musical Aladdin, takes on the role of Nurse Dubois, while X Mayo, who also stars in Wonder Man and served as a writer for The Daily Show, plays Nurse Raymond.

Further new recurring characters include Vanessa Byer’s Sibby Wilson. Byer is an alumna of Saturday Night Live, and has also appeared in Pixar’s latest film Hoppers and Brooklyn Nine Nine. Meanwhile, Joel Kim Booster portrays JD’s newest adversary, Dr. Kevin Park. He is recognised for his role in the Apple TV series Loot and for providing a voice in Big Mouth.

Scrubs is streaming on Disney+.

Television production crews were set up in Le Mans Crescent, a popular location for producers of hit dramas.

The Bolton News understands the crew were filming a ‘courtroom drama’ and aptly the shoot was taking place outside the old courthouse, which has been used for some of the biggest dramas, including the detective series Ridley.

Those on the set said it was a Liverpool-based production.

Currently filming in the North West is Saviour, which is a courtroom drama.

Actors could be seen on the steps of the building, looking lawyerly in full suits, overcoats, and briefcases.

The production crew was made up of around 30-40 people, operating boom mics, several sets of cameras, and a big white backdrop screen.

ITV crews were spotted in Bury last month filming a new season of the Liverpool-based courtroom drama Saviours.

The show stars Anjli Mohindra, Shaun Parkes and Aidan Gillen, who played ‘Little Finger’ in the hit HBO show Game of Thrones.

Three actors could be seen on the steps of the building, outfitted in lawyerly garb (Image: Dan Dougherty)

Saviour follows Ben (Archie Fisher), who, after borrowing his dad’s police uniform for a costume party, gets into an altercation that results in a man’s death.

In defending Ben from an allegation of murder, Indy is confronted with a world of corruption, racial politics, media buzz, a frustratingly traditional justice system and a defendant who is keeping secrets from her.

Saviour will air on ITV, STV and stream on ITVX and STV Player.

Sunderland City Council has announced a temporary prohibition of pedestrian traffic on certain footways in Chacombe, Finchale, and Melrose in Washington.

The closure, effective from April 15, is due to necessary gas main repair works.

• For more notices affecting YOUR area, visit our Public Notice Portal – Public Notices from The Northern Echo ( publicnoticeportal.uk ).

The council issued the order on March 31 under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Though the order permits a maximum closure duration of six months, the repairs are expected to be completed within 86 days.

Pedestrians will not be able to use the following paths:

• Chacombe: From No 10 Chacombe to No 33 and 34 Chacombe
• Chacombe: Path linking No 33 and 34 Chacombe to No 35 Chacombe
• Chacombe: From the extended party property of No 59 and No 60 Chacombe, to its western extent
• Chacombe: Path linking No 44 to No 48 Chacombe
• Finchale: Path linking No 33 and 34 Chacombe to No 26 Finchale
• Melrose: Path linking No 26 Finchale to No 26 Melrose
• Melrose: Path linking No 11 Finchale, for a distance of 69 metres in a westerly then a southerly direction

An alternative route will be provided for pedestrians.

Children say trains are their favourite way to travel

A fifth of children dream of becoming a train driver when they grow up – while a quarter say train journeys excite them more than car, boat or bus trips, according to research by TransPennine Express (TPE).

One in five children named trains as their favourite way to travel and a quarter of parents say journeys that begin by train often turn into their most memorable family experiences. The study also revealed that looking out of the window tops the list of what children enjoy most, followed by the sense of adventure.

To celebrate how much children love travelling by train, TPE has launched a free children’s activity book onboard its services. The booklet, which has arrived just in time for the Easter holidays, can be requested by parents or children directly from onboard service hosts on all routes.

Designed for children aged between four and 11, it aims to make family journeys more entertaining while also teaching facts about train travel and safety. The booklet also introduces children to destinations throughout the TPE network with interactive games.

Alongside the activity books the train operator is also providing junior travellers with ticket wallets to help keep their tickets safe.

Andrew McClements, Customer Experience and Transformation Director, said: “We wanted to create something that makes travelling with us even more enjoyable for families, while also helping children learn along the way. The activity book is designed especially for young customers and even road-tested by children to make sure it’s fun, engaging and easy to use.

“It’s a great way to introduce important safety messages and the excitement of travelling by train.”

The bridge in Waterbeach forms part of an off-road route between Waterbeach and Cambridge

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Cambridgeshire Live readers have mostly welcomed news that a new bridge for pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders across a major road in Cambridgeshire has officially opened. The bridge forms part of an off-road route connecting Waterbeach with Cambridge.

Local residents were among the first to cross the bridge on foot and by bike, with the formal opening planned for May once landscaping work is completed. The route is intended to a safer, off-road alternative for travelling between Waterbeach and Cambridge. It passes landmarks such as Cambridge Science Park and Cambridge Regional College, before continuing into the city centre.

Fiona Reardon-Rose, Communications and Partnership Manager for the Waterbeach development, said: “The new bridge encourages active, low-carbon travel for residents and the wider community, whether commuting, exercising, or exploring with the family over the Easter break.

“It also makes journeys significantly safer by removing the need for pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders to cross the A10 at road level. There has been a lot of excitement about the bridge, and now that installation and safety checks are complete, we wanted residents to start using it right away. We look forward to the official opening in the coming weeks.”

Commenter Freddly thinks: “This seems not only a useful and attractive asset, but also appealing because spending on active travel means the money wasn’t available for the endless demands of the motoring lobby. It’s a small win compared to the billions spent on them, but a win nonetheless.”

Gabriel B writes: “With the town set to have over 11,500 homes once complete, and a connection to the new park and ride by the bridge, it’s bound to be well used.”

Michael F agrees: “It’s set to be a fantastic asset for cyclists, walkers, and horse riders alike. I can’t wait to try it and see how it brings everyone together while making journeys safer and more enjoyable.”

Linda B complains: “Another thing for cyclists, I doubt pedestrians will use it, given how recklessly some of these cyclists ride.”

Michael F retorts: “In Cambridge, pedestrians use all the shared cycling and pedestrian bridges without any real problems. Aside from a very small minority, most cyclists are considerate, giving plenty of space and waiting patiently for pedestrians to cross safely.”

Squeaks33 thinks: “It definitely needs some lighting for safety, especially for early mornings, evenings, and during the darker months, to ensure it’s usable and secure for everyone.”

Meanwhile, Skipper says: “Meanwhile, potholes keep multiplying with insufficient funding, causing damage to people’s cars. Will CCC now run a month-long survey to check how much this bridge is actually used and by whom, to determine if the spending was justified? The bridge seems wide enough for cars, so it could be converted for vehicle use if push bikes rarely use it. From the photo, it doesn’t look heavily trafficked.”

Windypants retorts: “Car owners have worn out roads, pavements, and cycleways with their overweight vehicles, yet don’t pay enough tax to fix them. Better suspension could help.”

This new bridge seems like a great boost for cyclists, walkers, and horse riders. Would this make you ditch the car for short trips? Have your say in our comments section.

The latest attempt by Donald Trump to ease uncertainty over the US and Israel’s war on Iran has only heightened investor concerns.

The US president’s primetime address, saying American forces could leave Iran in two to three weeks, while threatening to strike Iranian electric plants “extremely hard”, has caused the fallen oil price to jump again.

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A barrel of benchmark Brent crude oil is now up more than 7% at $107.50 since his comments, having fallen below $100 yesterday. Oil prices impact the cost of petrol and diesel, home heating oil and prices throughout the economy.

It was a similar story with the UK wholesale gas price, which rose more than 6% following Mr Trump’s statements. British electricity prices are still tethered to wholesale gas costs.

Asian stock markets were also in the red, with Korea’s Kospi and Japan’s Nikkei indices posting big falls of more than 4.5% and 2.3%, respectively.

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Oil prices rise after Trump speech

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The crux of the worry is of a 1970s-era energy crisis due to the month-long disruption to shipping in the key oil and gas shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz.

More than a fifth of the world’s oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) is typically transported through the channel but for the last month, it’s been too dangerous and expensive for most tankers to pass.

Iran has attacked many ships making the journey and insurance companies have hiked premiums.

That’s meant shipments not getting through from major petrostates of the Gulf, oil and gas storage filling up and energy producers powering down.

Oil and gas production is not easily switched on and off, meaning resuming supply will not be a speedy process.

Impact in the UK

As the dollar rose amid continued uncertainty, sterling fell. Before Mr Trump’s announcement, a pound bought $1.33, which dropped to $1.32 this morning. A pound now buys slightly over €1.15, down from €1.16 on Wednesday afternoon.

That means buying dollar-priced goods, such as oil, becomes even more expensive than yesterday.

And after strong rises on Wednesday, the UK’s flagship stock index, the FTSE 100 of the most valuable London Stock Exchange companies, shed 0.6%.

Home heating oil prices have remained at more than double pre-Iran war levels, while motoring organisation the RAC said UK petrol and diesel prices in March jumped more than in any previous single month.

Even if the war were to end in a few weeks the membership body for food and drink manufacturers, the Food and Drink Federation, said estimates food inflation will rise to at least 9% by the end of the year.

Latest effort to calm markets

The overnight address by Mr Trump was just the latest in a line of attempts to assuage fears of investors and his voters over the duration and cost of living impact of the war.

In the first week of the war, he said the US Navy could escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

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Trump’s Iran address: Clarity or confusion? Watch Mark Stone’s analysis

After this did not materialise, the Trump administration lifted sanctions on Russian oil so Indian refineries could begin processing the fossil fuel.

Persistently higher oil prices were not lowered by Mr Trump’s repeated statements that many of his objectives had been attained and the war would conclude soon.

His suggestion that US troops could seize the major Iranian outlet for oil exports, Kharg Island, also did not move the needle on oil.

The only thing harder than losing weight is keeping it off. Many people who lose weight find themselves stuck in the cycle of “yo-yo dieting” – losing weight and gaining it all (and sometimes more) back again.

Research on yo-yo dieting has long indicated it can be harmful for your health. But a recent paper has now suggested yo-yo dieting might not be as unhealthy as we’ve been led to believe.

This recent paper, published in BMC Medicine, presents the findings of two separate weight loss trials that were conducted five years apart.

The first trial (trial 1) looked at 278 participants who were overweight or obese. Participants were randomised to follow either a low-fat or low-carb Mediterranean diet – either with or without exercise. All participants lost a comparable amount of weight at the end of the 18-month trial. But those who incorporated exercise achieved the biggest decrease in visceral fat (a dangerous type of fat that is stored around the organs).

The second trial (trial 2) was conducted five years later. Similar to trial 1, the 294 participants followed a Mediterrean-style diet for 18 months. But this time, one group ate a diet very high in polyphenol-rich foods (naturally-occurring plant compounds which have been linked to health benefits such as lower risk of chronic disease). The second group ate a normal Mediterranean diet, while the third group followed normal healthy diet guidelines.

While both Mediterrnanean diet groups lost weight and saw improvements in their overall health, the polyphenol group lost more visceral fat.

A unique aspect of trial 2 was that it included around 80 participants from trial 1. Some of these participants weighed more than they did at the start of the first trial. Such weight recidivism is common following weight loss. This is due to various biological and physiological functions that reduce metabolism and increase hunger, causing people to regain weight and store fat.

The authors compared the people who rejoined the research project against their health and weight status at the start of trial 1. They assessed body weight and other aspects of health – including body fat and blood sugar levels. Despite the re-joiners weighing around the same (if not more) than they did at the start of trial 1, they had lower levels of abdominal fat and visceral fat five years later.

Their metabolic health was also better than it was at the start of the first trial, based their blood lipid (fat) levels, cardiovascular health and blood sugar control.

On the surface, this appears to be good news – suggesting participants retained some of the health benefits of the weight they lost the first time around, despite regaining the weight.

Yet, the results suggest that the very adaptations which helped the re-joiners stay healthy despite regaining weight could potentially have repercussions later. To understand why this is the case requires a grasp of how the body responds to a calorie deficit.

Weight loss and body fat

Our fat stores (known as adipose tissue) serve as our main energy (calorie) buffer when there’s no food to provide that fuel. These stores are sacrificed to cover the energy shortfall, causing fat cells to shrink. Visceral fat is the first to go, followed by the more beneficial fat cell stores.

But when people stop dieting, the body puts priority on regaining lost fat. Indeed, our body replenishes fat stores far more quickly than it does muscle or protein stores. More importantly, in response to this shrinkage, the body compensates by making more fat cells. It does this to help the body better cope the next time there’s a fuel crisis.

So dieting literally makes you fatter in the long run. But thankfully, this will most likely be healthier subcutaneous fat (in the hips, thighs, buttocks and torso) instead of around the organs as harmful visceral fat.

So even though you’ll be carrying excess weight, you’ll experience fewer of the metabolic issues caused by unwanted visceral fat – such as insulin resistance and high cholesterol, which elevate your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

But with the higher capacity to store fat comes the risk of overshooting your original weight. This may also have implications for yo-yo dieting.

The weight loss cycle

In the paper, the re-joiners who took part in trial 2 did manage to lose weight again. But, on average, they lost slightly less than the trial’s first-timers. That said, when all of the participants from trial 2 were followed up five years later, the re-joiners from trial 1 had regained less, too. They had also retained more of the health benefits of losing weight.

Taking stock of the whole weight-loss journey, it appears that those who regained weight and then joined trial 2 are at a comparable place at the end of ten years to those who just did trial 1.

But there are a few caveats to the trial’s findings.

First, the paper only examined body fat. It didn’t provide any information on lean tissue (such as muscle). This is important, as when we lose weight we lose both fat and muscle. Given muscle’s importance for a healthy metabolism, a lack of muscle could result in even greater weight gain.

À lire aussi :
Weight loss: why you don’t just lose fat when you’re on a diet

It’s also not clear whether regaining weight changes the nature of muscle tissue. There are two key types of muscle fibre. Type 1 is smaller and more efficient at burning fat. Type 2 is larger, faster and more powerful – important for explosive exercise.

If an overall loss of muscle results in muscle fibres changing from type 1 to type 2, this could increase risk of health problems – including sarcopenic obesity and earlier onset of age-related health issues associated with muscle loss.

Overall, the paper shows us that weight loss is still beneficial for your health – even if it requires a few attempts to get to your goal weight. But to avoid potentially gaining more weight the second time around, it’s key to establish good diet and lifestyle changes that are sustainable long-term.

Arlene Phillips, a former judge on the hit BBC One dance show, was among the showbiz stars supporting Johannes Radebe

A former Strictly Come Dancing legend has described a moment with one of the show’s current professional dancers as ‘unexpected’ amid an outpouring of love and praise.

Arlene Phillips, a former judge on the hit BBC One dance show, was among the showbiz stars supporting Johannes Radebe and the cast of Kinky Boots at a special Gala performance of the Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning musical, in support of international charity, WaterAid.

The professional dancer, who is a fan-favourite among viewers of Strictly, is making his West End debut as he reprises the fabulous role of drag queen Lola and he and his co-star Matt Cardle, as well as their fellow Kinky Boots cast, were supported by a number of famous faces on the night, including a host of Strictly professionals and former contestants, including a number Johannes’ former partners.

Johannes has since taken to Instagram with a string of videos and pictures from the special night in the theatre, and simply told his followers: “Heart is full! [heart emoji] @kinkyboots_uk #westend.”

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Among the clips was one of Johannes with the cast on the red carpet, in which he could be seen lifting a smiling Arlene up in front of the cameras. She commented on the post, explaining: “The most unexpected moment ever. One moment i was saying congratulations and good bye to the brilliant JoJo and the next second he threw me up in the air me up in the air.”

And the moment caught the eye of Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, who was quick to respond to the post: “@arlenephillips getting the love and respect she DESERRRRRRVES @johannesradebe you’re wonderful!”

Meanwhile, Johannes was also being flooded with love and support, as Strictly co-star Vito Coppola gushed: “Just saying: you are AMAZING!!! Keep smashing [it]. Love you Jojo.” His former celebrity dance partner Annabel Croft added: “You were born to play this role and I’ve never witnessed energy quite like that on stage. Quite sensational and the show is spectacular !! Loved every minute and so proud.”

One man has died near Athens as Storm Erminio brings severe weather, floods and Saharan dust turning skies red across Greece with flights disrupted on Crete

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A man has lost his life as ferocious gale-force winds and flooding from Storm Erminio battered Greece – while a Saharan dust storm transformed skies to a crimson hue.

The victim was discovered beneath a vehicle in the Nea Makri countryside near Athens this morning, fire services confirmed, after reportedly venturing outside his apartment and being swept away by the extreme conditions.

Storm Erminio has left streets submerged and forced the closure of several schools. Air travel has been disrupted on Crete following an African dust storm that filled the atmosphere, casting an eerie red-orange glow across the sky.

The national weather service EMY has issued a red alert and is predicting further “severe weather” today across most of Greece “with prolonged and intense rain and thunderstorms, and possibly localised hailstorms.”

Red alerts have been declared for eastern Peloponnese, Central Greece, Evia, Thessaly, the Sporades Islands, Attica, and the Dodecanese, reports the Mirror.

An orange warning has also been issued for the Cyclades and the eastern Aegean islands. Temperatures are set to plummet to 9C inland, 11C along coastal areas and 5C in the highest mountainous regions.

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A red warning remains in effect for Crete, particularly in western and southern areas, from midday until late Thursday evening. Three flights bound for Iraklio were forced to divert, state news agency ANA reported.

Aircraft were grounded at Heraklion’s principal airport in Crete on Wednesday, with at least two flights compelled to reroute after visibility plummeted to approximately 1,000 metres, a level deemed unsafe for landing. A British Airways flight from London was diverted to Corfu, while a SKY Express service from Brussels was redirected to Athens. The thick dust cloud lingering over Crete continues to disrupt air travel across the island.

On the ground, dramatic incidents were reported, including a powerful tornado flipping a lorry in the coastal region of Pachia Ammos as it was set to load agricultural exports.

In Ierapetra, enormous waves crashed into the first houses along the old town due to strong southerly winds creating hazardous coastal conditions. Officials anticipate the dust wave will start to dissipate later today.

The dusty conditions have been exacerbated by Storm Erminio, a potent weather system bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms and robust winds across Greece.