Cardiff reached the United Rugby Championship play-offs for the first time ever after a sensational 22-16 bonus-point victory over the Stormers at the Arms Park.

Corniel van Zyl’s side will be Wales’ only representative in next season’s Investec Champions Cup after outplaying the in-form Stormers.

After a difficult start to the game Cardiff bounced back strongly with No 8 Taine Basham and outside-half Ioan Lloyd outstanding. Lloyd also contributed two further points from the kicking tee.

Andre Smith scored the Stormers’ only try with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu kicking five points.

Tries from Jacob Beetham (twice), Tom Bowen and Lloyd got the home side over the line.

Cardiff were superb throughout, with Lloyd putting Beetham over for the opening try via a lovely cross-kick.

Lloyd’s pass released Bowen down the wing a few minutes later with the Wales U20s wing showcasing his pace to score out wide.

With the first-half drawing to a close Lloyd finished tremendously well out wide to give the hosts a 17-10 lead at the interval.

Cardiff carried on where they left off after the break as Lloyd put Beetham over for his second try out wide.

The Stormers threw everything at Cardiff during the closing stages of the game but the Welsh club’s defence remained intact as they claimed a famous victory.

Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Jacob Beetham, Ben Thomas, Rory Jennings, Tom Bowen; Ioan Lloyd, Johan Mulder; Danny Southworth, Liam Belcher (capt), Javan Sebastian, George Nott, Rory Thornton, James Botham, Dan Thomas, Taine Basham.

Replacements: Dafydd Hughes, Rhys Barratt, Keiron Assiratti, Alun Lawrence, Evan Lloyd, Ellis Bevan, Steff Emanuel, Leigh Halfpenny.

Stormers: Damian Willemse; Sileiman Hartzenberg, Wandisile Simelane, Jonathan Roche, Leolin Zas; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Imad Khan; Ntuthuko Mchunu, Andre-Hugo Venter, Neethling Fouche (capt), Adre Smith, Ruben van Heerden, Paul de Villiers, Ben-Jason Dixon, Evan Roos.

Replacements: JJ Kotze, Oli Kebble, Zac Porthen, Salmaan Moerat, Marcel Theunissen, Keke Morabe, Stefan Ungerer, Jurie Matthee.

Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)

Live updates below:

Back in April, Wiswell was named one of the UK’s poshest villages by The Telegraph, which used exclusive research provided by Savills.

The newspaper shared the average house price in the village – £687,878 – and that it was included in the list thanks to its “award-winning gastropub” and location near the Forest of Bowland, among other factors.

How to spend a day in Wiswell

Pendle Hill

On a clear day, you might like to start by walking up nearby Pendle Hill to take in the stunning countryside views.

Visit the cafe at the bottom of the hill for your morning refreshments, whether that’s a hot drink or a full English breakfast.

The Freemasons

Need a pick-me-up or want to try some of the best food in Lancashire? Visit the Freemasons.

This award-winning gastropub has plenty on the menu and has been praised by visitors on Tripadvisor, where it has a 4.2-rating from 1,235 reviews.

One customer said: “Beautifully appointed, comfortable room, excellent food with duck liver parfait and sable dessert outstanding cooking, all the time we and our dog were well looked after by Andrew and the rest of the staff.”

This person shared: “This was our second visit for Sunday lunch but our first staying overnight and it didn’t disappoint.

“Sunday lunch was amazing – from the breads, amouse bouche, the most tender beef and best ever sticky toffee pudding!

“The room was immaculate, beautifully decorated and so quiet .

“Special mention to Andrew, Jackson and Joe – all so friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating – thank you all for making our trip so enjoyable!”

Spring Wood

If you’ve got some energy left, you could explore Spring Wood, “one of Lancashire’s best-loved bluebell spots”, according to The Telegraph’s prettiest villages list.

The Woodland Trust says: “There is an access for all route, one leading to the centre of the wood, suitable for buggies and trampers, and a steeper path, climbing to the summit via the arboretum.”

A guide to safe and responsible hiking

Holmes Mill

Alternatively, or maybe even in addition to The Freemasons, you can head to Holmes Mill in Clitheroe to celebrate Lancashire’s food and drink.

It’s around a 10-minute drive from Wiswell and has a beer and food hall, plus a hotel and other restaurants.

You might even catch some entertainment there.

Recommended reading:

Bowling in Clitheroe

If you’re looking for a fun and family-friendly activity while in the area, you could move over to Clitheroe’s Boiler House Bowling.

It’s even more challenging than your usual bowling night out as it’s duckpin bowling rather than ten-pin bowling.

This means smaller lanes and bowling balls, “making a strike even harder to achieve”, according to Visit Lancashire.

How would you spend a day in Lancashire’s poshest village? Tell us in the comments below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is drawing down thousands of troops in Europe by canceling deployments to Poland and Germany as opposed to yanking forces already stationed there, U.S. officials say, as President Donald Trump has tussled with allies over the Iran war and called for changes.

Several U.S. officials confirmed that 4,000 troops from the Army’s 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division were no longer en route to Poland this week. The Trump administration had previously said it was cutting U.S. forces only in Germany, and the decision spurred questions and criticism in both Warsaw and Washington.

Two officials told The Associated Press the Poland deployment was canceled after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo directing the Joint Chiefs of Staff to move a brigade combat team out of Europe. One of them said the choice of which unit was left to military leaders.

Besides the Army combat team based in Fort Hood, Texas, the memo also led to the cancellation of an upcoming deployment to Germany of a battalion trained in firing long-range rockets and missiles, according to the two officials, who like the others spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.

Three U.S. officials said the canceled deployments were part of an effort to comply with a presidential order issued at the beginning of May to reduce the number of troops in Europe by about 5,000. The reasoning does not appear to have been well communicated because others based in Europe said they did not know if the halted deployment to Poland was part of the previously announced reduction in troops.

Trump and the Pentagon have said in recent weeks that they were drawing down at least 5,000 troops in Germany after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the U.S. was being “humiliated” by the Iranian leadership and criticized what he called a lack of strategy in the war.

The drawdown reflects a growing rift between the administration and traditional European allies, with the U.S. leader repeatedly criticizing fellow NATO members for a lack of support for the Iran conflict.

Polish officials on Friday insisted that the canceled U.S. deployment to Poland, which was reported earlier by The Military Times and other outlets, was not targeted directly at their country but was a consequence of Trump’s decision to reduce the number of troops in Germany.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said he “received assurances” that the decision was of a logistical nature and said it does not directly impact deterrence capabilities and Poland’s security.

Military says the decision to cancel a unit heading to Poland was made recently

Joel Valdez, a Pentagon spokesman, said “the decision to withdraw troops follows a comprehensive, multilayered process” and he argued that it was “not an unexpected, last-minute decision.”

Speaking to Congress in a hearing Friday, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Gen. Christopher LaNeve, the Army’s chief of staff, said discussions around the halted deployment to Poland occurred over the past two weeks but that the decision itself was made in the past couple days.

Republican Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska said he spoke with Polish officials Thursday and they were “blindsided.”

The move also left some U.S. military personnel in Europe in the dark about how the Trump administration was reducing forces. A U.S. official based in Europe said a meeting was called with 20 minutes’ notice on Monday to discuss the cancellation of the deployment to Poland.

At that time, troops had already been sent to Poland and some still in the U.S. were told shortly before departure not to travel to the airport, that official said. Another official said most of the Army unit’s equipment had already made it to Europe and was sitting in ports.

The change to troop deployment to Poland draws bipartisan criticism

Democratic and Republican lawmakers criticized the reductions as sending the wrong signal both to allies and Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose forces this week have launched one of the deadliest attacks on the Ukrainian capital in the 4-year-old war.

At the House Armed Services Committee hearing Friday, LaNeve said he worked with U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, commander in Europe of both American and NATO forces, after Grynkewich received the instructions for the force reduction.

“I’ve worked with him in close consultation of what that force unit would be, and it made the most sense for that brigade to not do its deployment in theater,” LaNeve said.

Bacon called the decision “reprehensible” and said it was “an embarrassment to our country what we just did to Poland.”

Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama, who chairs the committee, said the military is required to consult with lawmakers and that did not happen.

“So we don’t know what’s going on here,” Rogers said. “But I can just tell you we’re not happy with what’s being talked about.”

A State Department official said Friday at a security conference in Tallinn, Estonia, that the U.S. reductions in Europe were “right there in black and white” but also noted that “the U.S. isn’t going anywhere.”

“We’ll continue to work with the Pentagon and work with our partners to make sure we get the right fit and right mix of what’s happening here on the ground,” said Thomas G. DiNanno, U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security.

NATO says the change in Poland won’t affect defense

With the halted deployments, the U.S. military presence in Europe will now be at pre-2022 levels, before Russia commenced its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, one U.S. official said.

Europe has been bracing for a reduction since Trump returned to the White House, with the administration warning that Europe would have to look after its own security, including Ukraine’s, in the future.

A NATO official said the U.S. decision to cancel its rotational deployment to Poland would not impact NATO’s deterrence and defense plans. Canada and Germany have increased their presence on the alliance’s eastern flank, which contributes to NATO’s overall strength, the official said, insisting on anonymity in line with NATO regulations.

Ben Hodges, former commanding general of U.S. Army Europe, said the move “reinforces the perception that the United States just does things without consultation with allies,” which ultimately “damages cohesion inside the alliance.” The decision would in the long run harm the U.S. defense industry as it reduces the trust of partners, he said.

Around 10,000 U.S. troops are typically stationed in Poland, the majority of them present in the country on a rotational basis. Only about 300 troops are permanently stationed in the country, according to the U.S. Congressional Research Service.

Polish officials had hoped they would be spared from any cuts as Poland spends the most in NATO on defense as a proportion of its economy — around 4.7% in 2025. Hegseth has called it a “model ally” in NATO for spending so much on defense.

When Poland’s conservative president, Karol Nawrocki, visited the White House in September, Trump said he didn’t intend to pull U.S. troops out of Poland. “We’ll put more there if they want,” Trump said at the time.

___

Burrows reported from Tallinn, Estonia, and Ciobanu from Warsaw, Poland.

After back-to-back-to-back promotions from the National League to the Championship, season five follows Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as their club looks to take on the Championship

Welcome to Wrexham has returned for a fifth season on Disney+, tracking the North Wales club as they take on the EFL Championship for the first time in more than 40 years. After becoming the first team in the top five tiers of English football to win three straight promotions, Wrexham faced their toughest test yet under owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2025/26 – their first season at this level since 1982.

It has been a true Hollywood story since the A-lister and Always Sunny In Philadelphia actor got involved in the club as they continue their meteoric rise through the Football League pyramid. Season five opens at the start of that campaign, following everyone from the Hollywood co-chairs to the supporters as they prepare for life in the second tier which is available to watch exclusive on Disney+.

After achieving back-to-back-to-back promotions, the series kicks off with the fairytale story of Wrexham possibly having a fighting chance of securing promotion to the Premier League. The series, available on Disney+ from £5.99 a month, charts the highs and lows of the 2025/26 season – from relegation worries and cup runs to promotion pushes and painful setbacks – as Phil Parkinson’s side chase the dream of reaching the Premier League.

READ MORE: Ryan Reynolds’ Wrexham set for hostile reunion after Championship playoff blow

READ MORE: Ryan Reynolds statement after Wrexham heartbreak – ‘I’m completely gutted’

Spoilers for those who know what happens at the end of the season but it was so agonisingly close for the side as they finish two points behind Hull City in the play-off spots having picked up seven from a possible 15 points in their last five including two wins. Elsewhere, Sky is giving away free Disney+ subscriptions with its revamped Ultimate TV bundle.

This £24 per month package also includes Netflix, HBO Max and 135 regular channels. Subscribers can watch not only Welcome to Wrexham, but also a wide range of Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic and Hulu titles.

Stream Welcome to Wrexham on Disney+

£5.99

Disney+

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A Disney+ subscribtion now starts at £5.99 per month and provides access to hit series like Welcome to Wrexham

It comes as JD Sports cuts the price of this season’s Wrexham kits, with discounts across both the home and away editions. As for Disney+, many Trustpilot reviews point to the platform’s “very good selection” as a key strength.

One reviewer wrote: “Very good selection, friendly support and easy to cancel if you need to. Very easy to navigate their site and the openness and transparency they show should be a model for others.”

Not everyone is as positive, though. Another customer said: “The content library is extensive and impressive. However, the streaming quality is inconsistent.”

A separate five-star review added: “Disney+ has consistently delivered high-quality streaming content, from classic Disney movies to new releases, along with a wealth of popular TV shows and original content. The interface is user-friendly, making it easy to find and watch my favourite programs without any hassle.”

Residents have branded the situation a ‘dire mess’ and ‘ridiculous’

Closures on a busy motorway slip road have been in place for months as repair work complications prolong misery for drivers.

The M66 slip road at Bury is currently down one lane, with the restrictions causing regular queues of traffic up Rochdale Old Road and Rochdale Road. Residents have branded the situation a ‘dire mess’ and ‘ridiculous’.

MP James Frith said residents, commuters and businesses have contacted him with their frustrations over the situation. National Highways, which is responsible for motorways, has now said the closure is due to a damaged parapet, he said.

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The structure is understood to have been damaged in an accident. The parapet is a ‘key safety barrier’ according to National Highways.

Because of this, the lane cannot ‘safely reopen’ until permanent repairs have been completed. The situation is further complicated by the fact those repairs involve ‘major engineering work’ and ‘bespoke components which have to be specially manufactured’, Mr Frith explained in a Facebook post.

Mr Frith added: “I completely understand how frustrating this situation is, particularly for people trying to get to work every day and for local businesses dealing with the impact of the congestion. I’ve stressed concerns raised with me directly with the Highways Agency and will continue pushing them to prioritise the repairs and do everything possible to speed up the process with their contractors.”

This process can take up to three months, he said. However, people commenting on the situation were quick to point out that the restrictions have been in place for longer than three months.

One resident said: “What date did the damage take place? I think it’s more than 3 months ago. The lack of facts and dates sounds like an excuse.”

Another added: “Absolutely diabolical. It’s a metal barrier fence on the slip road with a slight bend.

“They need to get their finger out and get a move on. Traffic around the roundabout, Rochdale Road, Wash Lane, Bury Road, and Willow Street have been horrendous.”

Traffic jams in the area have also been exacerbated by roadworks further up Rochdale Road, at its junction with Bond Street, as part of an active travel scheme. Residents told the Local Democracy Reporting Service these are causing ‘chaos’, as well as confusion over why they are happening in the first place.

Those responding to Mr Frith’s post also pointed to the Rochdale Road roadworks as part of the problem.

One said: “The council has caused utter chaos on our roads for months, nothing is co-ordinated and all the roads seem to be getting dug up all at the same time.”

A second added: “In fairness, it’s not just the works on the M66. There are numerous roads closed, dug up, temporary lights which all adds to the congestion caused. Rochdale Road works are ridiculous and causing mayhem.”

“Having recently been back on the roads for work I can honestly say it’s horrific trying to get in or out of Bury,” a third person agreed.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service has contacted National Highways to ask when the repairs are expected to be completed. We had not received a response at the time of publication.

The Scottish Premiership referee has been placed under police surveillance in the wake of the controversy following Celtic’s dramatic win over Motherwell.

A teenager has been arrested and charged over a data protection offence after personal information relating to football referee John Beaton was leaked online following the penalty controversy in Celtic’s win over Motherwell.

Officers from Police Scotland made the arrest after the whistler had been placed under police surveillance in the wake of the match on Wednesday evening. The official has been at the centre of the discussion after a late penalty allowed the title race with Hearts to go down to the final day.

Cops were alerted on Thursday night after it was discovered that Mr Beaton’s address and personal details had been leaked on social media.

A Police Scotland statement read: “A 19-year-old man who was earlier arrested, has now been charged in connection with a data protection offence, following a complaint of personal information being shared online relating to a Scottish football official. He is due to appear at Hamilton Sheriff Court at a later date.”

On Friday, as the debate over the voracity of the penalty award raged on, the Scottish Football Association (SFA) released a hard-hitting statement claiming the official had been “scapegoated”.

Beaton’s decision to award the spot-kick came in the dying seconds of injury time and gave the visitors a 3-2 win Motherwell has been labelled by some critics as the “worst-ever in VAR”.

Sam Nicholson became embroiled in an aerial challenge with Hoops defender Auston Trusty in the dying seconds of the match at Fir Park, with the contest finely poised at 2-2. Following a battle between the pair for Anthony Ralston’s long-throw, with Nicholson having cleared, Andrew Dallas in the VAR room stepped in to alert referee Beaton to a handball incident – who subsequently awarded the spot-kick and Kelechi Iheanacho converted from 12 yards.

Had the match stayed level, Celtic would have faced Hearts on Saturday knowing a three-goal victory was required to clinch the Scottish title. Instead, the Jam Tarts go into Saturday’s (12.30pm kick-off) showdown with Celtic needing to avoid defeat in order to end the two Glaswegian teams’ strangehold at the summit of Scottish football.

Earlier today, the SFA issued a scathing statement torching those who have ‘scapegoated’ Beaton.

The statement read: “John Beaton and his family spent last night at home under police surveillance following a leak of personal details online.

“The Scottish FA condemns in the strongest possible terms attempts to compromise the safety of match officials. Such vigilantism, motivated by decisions perceived to be right or wrong on a field of play, is a scourge on our national game and we are grateful to Police Scotland for their swift intervention.

“We are also clear, sadly, that this is the inevitable consequence of the heightening criticism, intolerance and scapegoating demonstrated this season by media pundits, supporters, official supporters’ groups, clubs, players, managers and former match officials.

“We do not make that point lightly as the national association. Yet it is an inconvenient truth. Those who have sought to apportion blame and conspiracy towards match officials to deflect from defeats or perceived injustices throughout the season have contributed to an environment that puts the safety of our staff and match officials in jeopardy.

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“This is the consequence of a hysterical media narrative, fuelled by irresponsible knee-jerk post-match media interviews, commentary and official social media posts. The cumulative effect impacts on our ability to provide enough referees to service our game at all levels. When it compromises the safety and wellbeing of our most senior match officials, enough is enough.

“Referees are not infallible. Mistakes will be made on the field, and subjective calls made in front of the VAR monitor, just as managers will pick the wrong team, goalkeepers concede soft goals and strikers miss from five yards out. Yet the reaction to these inevitabilities could not be more contrasting.

“What happened yesterday is not an isolated incident. There are many examples of match officials being placed in harmful situations but with individuals fearful of speaking out lest it exacerbates the situation or causes further alarm to friends, family and colleagues.

“We will not allow this to become the norm. We will not allow a situation where match officials require special provision to protect their children at school to be considered an occupational hazard. We will not allow a situation where staying at home with the front door locked and avoiding the hazards of public interaction becomes a coping strategy.

“The Scottish FA will be seeking to strengthen its rules to better protect those integral to the game and urge those who will doubtless join us in condemning incidents like this to support those proposals, not contribute to their watering-down on the basis of self-preservation.

“As we approach what should be an exciting finale to the season, we ask those who have personalised and hyperbolised their opinions, those who have sought the easy way out by attributing defeats to perceived refereeing errors, and those who have approved incendiary statements and posts to reflect on their contribution to creating an environment of intimidation, fear and alarm.

“We urge tolerance and perspective to prevent any further, unthinkable escalation.”

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Since the last international break, no player has scored more Premier League goals than Watkins’ nine.

Manchester City‘s Erling Haaland is second on that list with seven, while Nottingham Forest‘s Morgan Gibbs-White is the next best English player on five.

But, while Watkins may well be arguably England’s most in-form striker heading into the World Cup, realistically the spot everyone is vying for is the number one back-up position to captain Kane.

Ivan Toney has been in prolific form all season for Al-Ahli but playing in the Saudi Pro League means his numbers are difficult to directly compare with the other contenders.

Of the rest, Watkins’ 19 goals in all competitions puts him five ahead of both Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who returned to the England fold after a five-year exile in March, and Danny Welbeck, whose last cap was in 2018.

“He’s got to be on the plane,” former Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie said on Sky Sports when asked about Watkins’ chances of being included this summer. “Since being left out we’ve just seen a massive turning of the corner.

“He’s been relentless in front of goal, he’s shown his capabilities. He’s a totally different player to Harry Kane and gives them something different.”

Frances Price said her ‘life will never be the same again’ following the death of her son Marcus Carpenter, 37, who was killed by Kyle O’Callaghan

A mother has said her life has been “destroyed” after her son was killed after being punched in the head outside a Wetherspoons pub. She told a court she would never get over her son’s death, saying “Mine and my family’s life will never be the same again.”

Kyle O’Callaghan, 30, punched Marcus Carpenter, 37, outside the Picture House pub in Ebbw Vale on February 21 after he had asked his victim ‘Do you want to come outside and have a word with me a minute?’. Both men walked to an alleyway outside the pub, where O’Callaghan punched Mr Carpenter to the face.

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court heard they continued talking for a couple of minutes before Mr Carpenter tried to walk away, but the defendant grabbed his fleece and punched him a second time, causing him to snap his head back onto railings. Make sure you never miss Wales’ biggest updates by getting our daily newsletter.

O’Callaghan attempted to wake the victim up, by dragging him around and slapping him to the face but Mr Carpenter remained unconscious.

The defendant returned inside the pub and asked one of Mr Carpenter’s friends “I can’t wake him up, he’s not moving. Get him up for me.”

Mr Carpenter suffered catastrophic injuries and was taken by Air Ambulance to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.

He was found to have suffered an “extensive and devastating” brain injury.

Some days later, it was established that Mr Carpenter displayed no signs of brain activity and he was declared dead on February 24.

A cause of death was given as hypoxic brain injury through lack of oxygen, an out of hospital cardiac arrest and traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage.

O’Callaghan, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter, was sentenced to 10 years and six months imprisonment, with an extended licence period of four years.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutor Martha Smith-Higgins read out victim personal statements, the first from Mr Carpenter’s mother Frances Price.

She said: “I am the mother of three sons, Marcus was my first born. He was a happy cheeky boy, always smiling. His smile meant he could get away with anything, same when he was an adult. He lit up places when he entered a room with his personality. He was kind and generous to family and strangers who were struggling, and he looked after me and his brothers.

“Since he was cruelly taken away from me my life has been destroyed in ways I never thought possible. I feel lost and empty, every day I feel in pain, I am heartbroken.

“To know I will never get to see him again tears me up. He was taken in such a selfish manner for absolutely no reason at all. I didn’t even know who this person was or why he took my son away from me.

“My mental health has declined, I feel at rock bottom. I drink more to get through the day and numb the feeling of immense loss.

“The outpouring of love and support shows me how much he was loved. I don’t think he would have realised how much he was loved, which breaks my heart. I will never get over this, mine and my family’s life will never be the same again.”

Mrs Price gave a second statement after she saw the footage of her son being punched by O’Callaghan.

She said: “Watching that footage killed me. It absolutely destroyed me seeing my son’s lifeless body treated as though he was nothing, as if his life did not matter when he was my life.

“He was dropped on the floor and dragged, nobody deserves to be treated that way. It was cowardly.

“I never thought something could hurt as much as losing my son, but watching that his last moments was so undignified exposed a new layer of grief I never thought possible. It has torn my family apart.

“I watched the footage with one of my sons and he said he no longer wants to live…

“(O’Callaghan) has taken my life as well as Marcus’s life. I don’t even have a memory of him anymore because every time I think of him, the footage of him being killed plays in my head. I try not to think of him but in truth I can’t think of anything else.

“The hurt and heartache caused by one person’s selfish actions is something me and my family will spend the rest of our lives paying the price for.”

The next statement was from Mr Carpenter’s partner Jay Murphy.

She said: “Marcus was my person, my partner in life. We met five and a half years ago and instantly became inseparable. For me, he was the man I wanted to be with forever. I instantly fell in love and knew it was he I wanted to be with with.,

“He was a caring, generous, and loving man who would give to anyone without hesitation. I am heartbroken he has been taken away from me.

“We were talking about marriage and making plans to be a family together. We had holidays booked and plans to look forward to but it now feels like my whole life has been ruined.

“I wait for him to come home. I can’t sleep, I am in a constant state of depression and I have started taking medication.

“I couldn’t be a mother for the first few weeks he was taken and my son had to stay with my mum. I work for the NHS but had to stop, how can I care for people when I can’t look after myself?

“I don’t know how I will ever move on from this, a person I didn’t know stormed into my life and my family’s lives and took my future and the love of my life.

“I will never get to say goodbye, I will never get the happy ending Marcus promised me.”

The final victim personal statement was from Mr Carpenter’s brother Ian Price.

He said: “Since the death of my brother I just feel empty. Life will never be the same. He was my best friend, we grew up together and spent time together.

“I have lost a part of me I will never get back, which someone has selfishly taken away from me.

“It has affected my mental health, I felt like I wanted to self-destruct. One minute I feel emotional and upset and the next I feel nothing.

“Someone unknown to our family has taken a huge part of our lives away from us. Our lives have been ruined in the most destructive and selfish way possible.

“I will never get over the loss of my brother, my heart is broken.”

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The York and North Yorkshire Mayor said the current state of his party after months of errors meant what it had delivered in Government was not landing with voters.

He said he would want someone who could unite the party if the prime minister goes but no one was challenging him currently so he should continue serving his mandate.

It comes as Sir Keir and the Labour Party continue to reel from the loss of more than 1,460 council seats across England along with defeats in Scotland and Wales.

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Nigel Farage’s Reform UK emerged as the big winners in England, gaining more than 1,450 council seats.

The results of local elections and those in Scotland and Wales have piled pressure on the prime minister who is now fighting to stay on as Labour leader.

High-profile Labour figures including former Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham have made moves to position themselves to run a potential leadership contest.

But a leadership election has not been officially triggered as of Friday, May 15.

York and North Yorkshire Mayor Mr Skaith appeared on BBC News where he described the situation in the party as a real mess.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) afterwards that he stood by his assessment and feared the consequences for Labour and the country going forward.

David Skaith has weighed in on Labour infighting (Image: Gavin Priestley)

The mayor added there would have to be a lot of water under the bridge to get to a fully-fledged leadership contest, including Mr Burnham standing in and winning a by-election.

Mr Skaith said: “I think there’s a lot of frustration on the doorstep, from myself and other mayors and MPs up and down the country at the state of the party.

“We’ve delivered a lot and there’s been good stuff about economic growth and NHS waiting times but it’s not landing because there’s been so many errors over the last 18 months.

“We’ve got to crack on and deliver what people put Labour into office for, especially after what we saw with the Conservatives with all the chopping and changing of leaders.

“The entire party needs to stop looking inward, if we’re unsuccessful a knee-jerk reaction to the far-right and Reform could be coming.

“A spent a lot of time in West Yorkshire before the local elections talking to voters, there’s a fear of a Reform government and there’s a lack of connection to Labour.

“No one else has put themselves forward so far, the entire Government has a five-year mandate and Keir Starmer’s the prime minister so they need to get on with the job.”

The bridge is widely recognised as the world’s oldest railway bridge still in continuous use, carrying trains over the River Skerne on the northern edge of Darlington town centre.

It was built for the pioneering Stockton and Darlington Railway (S&DR), the line which opened in 1825 and hailed the birthplace of the modern passenger railway.

The bridge famously carried George Stephenson’s Locomotion No.1 and a train of coal wagons and passengers on September 27, 1825, the opening day of the S&DR

That journey marked the first time the general public could travel by steam train, turning this modest stone arch into a symbol of a transport revolution that would spread around the world.

A closer look at the design

The bridge was designed in local stone by architect and engineer Ignatius Bonomi, who produced a single main arch over the river with two smaller arches at either side for footpaths.

Built by contractor Francis Peacock of Yarm, the structure was deliberately solid and unfussy.

Its location over the Skerne was one of the most challenging points on the original line, spanning what was then regarded as the biggest ravine on the S&DR.

When traffic grew more quickly than expected, the earth embankments leading to the bridge began to slump, forcing the company to return to the site within just a few years.

How the bridge was saved

By 1828, only three years after opening, the heavy coal traffic was already putting serious pressure on the new railway and the approaches to Skerne Bridge.

In 1829 the company brought in Heighington builder John Falcus Carter to carry out vital strengthening work.

Carter added curved flanking walls to hold in the embankments and protect Bonomi’s original arch, reshaping the way the bridge looks from the surrounding paths.

Further alterations in the early 1830s allowed the main line to be doubled, creating the widened bridge that appears in later Victorian paintings and engravings.

(Image: ANDREW WHITE)

From £5 note to national “100 Places”

Although it sits just off Northgate and within walking distance of Darlington station, Skerne Bridge fell from view for much of the 20th century as vegetation and neighbouring development closed in around it.

Even so, its importance was recognised nationally when it appeared on the back of the British £5 note in the early 1990s, the only bridge ever to be given that honour.

Historic England has since named Skerne Bridge as one of its “100 Places” – a list of irreplaceable historic sites that have shaped England’s story.

The structure is protected as both a Grade I listed building and a scheduled monument.

Restoration and Hopetown Darlington

Ahead of the 195th anniversary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 2020, Network Rail carried out a programme of cleaning and maintenance on Skerne Bridge.

Stonework was carefully cleaned and vegetation stripped back to make the bridge visible again from nearby roads and paths.

At the same time, the wider Hopetown Darlington project has opened up new ways to reach the bridge on foot and by bike.

A well-lit walking and cycling route now links John Street and Albert Road with the riverside, giving people a safe route under and around the arches as part of a wider heritage trail.

(Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Trains still crossing today

Nearly two centuries after Locomotion No.1 first crossed the River Skerne, modern services still rumble over the same stonework.

Today the bridge carries local trains on the Bishop Auckland to Saltburn route, a short distance from the East Coast Main Line which links London, Yorkshire, Durham, Newcastle and Edinburgh.

For passengers, the crossing passes in a matter of seconds and often goes unnoticed behind the carriage windows.

But each train adds another chapter to a story of continuous use that no other railway bridge in the world can match.

How to see it for yourself

Skerne Bridge sits close to John Street, off Northgate, where a riverside path follows the Skerne and passes directly under the arches.