Busy Bees has announced 10 new apprenticeship roles across its nurseries in Sunderland, part of a wider push to bring 500 new apprentices into the organisation nationwide.

The roles will be based at Busy Bees centres in Sunderland Doxford, Ashbrooke, Cleadon, Fulwell, and Ryhope Village.

Emma Langford, European People Director at Busy Bees, said: “Our apprenticeship programme reflects the culture we’re so proud of at Busy Bees – one that is rooted in investing in our people and nurturing future talent.

“We welcome ambitious individuals who want to build a career in early years while making a meaningful difference to children’s lives.

“Our apprentices play a vital role in shaping children’s formative years, and we’re incredibly proud of their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to supporting children’s learning and development.”

Apprentices will work towards Level 2, 3, or 5 qualifications in childcare and education, gaining hands-on experience in the nursery environment.

Successful candidates will be offered a permanent role following completion of the programme and will benefit from employee perks including enhanced family leave, discounted childcare, and pay rates above the National Minimum Wage.

Apprentices will also contribute to delivering Busy Bees’ Bee Curious curriculum, which has been designed to feed children’s natural curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning.

Emily Mellors, who recently achieved her Level 2 in Childcare and joined Busy Bees as an apprentice in September 2024, said: “I chose to do an apprenticeship at Busy Bees as I’ve always had a passion for working with children since I was a little girl.

“I love watching the children grow in confidence and come into a happy setting.

“I recommend doing an early years apprenticeship because it gives you hands-on experience from the very start, helping you build real skills while you learn.

“It also helps you grow in confidence, communication, and responsibility early on, while earning and gaining a qualification at the same time.

“An apprenticeship can open doors to long-term career opportunities and gives you a strong foundation for working in early years or progressing into further education later on.

“I’m excited to keep on developing my skills with Busy Bees and giving children the best start in life.”

The company currently has more than 1,100 apprentices in training across more than 357 nurseries and has been named among the top five employers in The Sunday Times Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2025.

For more details, visit www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk/working-at-busy-bees.

Sir Alex Ferguson is hailed as the most successful manager to ever grace the Premier League, with a legacy at Manchester United that will likely never be beaten

Sir Alex Ferguson sealed his legendary status as Manchester United manager with one last Premier League victory in the 2012/13 campaign. During his near three-decade reign at Old Trafford, the Scottish boss secured an extraordinary trophy haul.

Following his announcement to leave the club in May 2013, Ferguson guided United to another Premier League crown and secured Champions League qualification. The Red Devils finished 11 points clear of nearest challengers Manchester City and suffered just five defeats across the entire campaign.

During his final interview with Sky Sports, the manager fielded questions on a range of topics. However, two points in particular caught my attention regarding today’s football landscape.

At the time, the reporter asked why Wayne Rooney wasn’t included in either the starting XI or on the substitutes’ bench. Ferguson responded with remarkable honesty, admitting that the United legend had asked to leave – and even explained the reasoning behind Rooney’s choice.

READ MORE: Man Utd ready to rival Arsenal for blockbuster Sandro Tonali transfer this summerREAD MORE: Bryan Mbeumo makes telling comment about Man Utd under ex-boss Ruben Amorim

Ferguson said: “I don’t think Wayne was keen to play simply because he’s asked for the transfer.

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“I think he wants to think it through in his mind, I think that’s a good idea. We’re not going to let him go and I think he’s maybe just a little bit frustrated [after] being taken off once or twice in the last few weeks.”

Such stark honesty would be unthinkable in today’s Premier League, where managers typically shield their players by keeping transfer matters tightly under wraps. Yet it appears Ferguson’s influence at Old Trafford endured long after his 2013 departure, as Rooney remained at Manchester United until 2017 – a full four years later.

Sir Alex also made another startling allegation about the club “leaking” sensitive information. This concerned his planned retirement being made public before any official statement.

When questioned about the months-long delay in announcing his exit – despite making the decision over Christmas – Ferguson explained he’d hoped to maintain secrecy for as long as possible. However, after informing relatives and his playing squad on the Tuesday, whispers started spreading.

The United legend said: “Unfortunately there were rumours going around on Tuesday [but] wherever it comes from, you never know. Our club’s a sieve, stuff leaks out and it shouldn’t leak out but we then started to speed it up a bit.”

This pattern has persisted throughout United’s history, with an internal investigation opened just weeks ago in January 2026 to identify those responsible for current breaches. The investigation was triggered after the starting line-up was ‘leaked’ to journalists hours before the club’s 2-0 derby victory against City.

Ferguson’s reputation at United remains virtually untouchable, considering his extraordinary achievements during his tenure. However, in his farewell address as manager of one of England’s most decorated sides, he didn’t hold back from delivering some stark realities.

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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package

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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games this season, an increase of up to 100 more.

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According to the Met Office snow and ice are likely across Bolton, Bury and the rest of the North West from 9pm on the evening of Saturday February 14.

A yellow weather warning is set to be in place up to 10am on the morning of Sunday February 15.

A Met Office statement said: “Snow, heavy at times, may cause some disruption to travel, especially over high ground during Saturday night and Sunday morning.”

It added: “Outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards on Saturday night will fall as snow initially, even to low levels for a time, before becoming confined to higher ground as milder air arrives from the west.

“Temporary snow accumulations of 1-3 cm will be possible at low levels, with 3-7 cm possible above about 150 m elevation, and perhaps 10-15 cm above 400 m.

“Areas sheltered to the north of high ground may see very little snow. Ice will be an additional hazard, particularly across northeast England and parts of Scotland where precipitation has the potential to fall on frozen ground leading to very slippery conditions.

“Snow will turn increasingly to rain into Sunday morning, perhaps as a short spell of freezing rain in places, before eventually clearing to the east with a steady thaw of lying snow then setting in.”

England captain Harry Kane has reached 500 career goals after scoring twice for Bayern Munich in a 3-0 win over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.

Kane scored his ninth penalty of the season in the 22nd minute before doubling Bayern’s lead with a shot from the edge of the box to take his tally for the season to 41 goals. His record for the German giants now stands at 126 goals in 131 games.

And that second strike was the 500th of Kane’s career, meaning the former Tottenham striker reaches the milestone in 743 games for both club and country, and just over 15 years on from his first professional goal – for Leyton Orient against Sheffield Wednesday as a 17-year-old in January 2011.

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According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), Kane is the 27th man to score 500 goals in official games at the highest level of football, reports The Athletic.

This puts him alongside legends such as Cristiano Ronald (961), Lionel Messi (896), Pele (762) and Romario (756), with Kane perhaps expecting to surpass the likes of Uwe Seeler (552 ) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (561).

Over half of Kane’s goals so far have come for Tottenham Hotspur – with the 32-year-old having netted 280 times for Spurs – while a further 78 have come in an England shirt, with the current captain having moved to the top of his nation’s all-time top scorer list.

During his career, Kane has finished as the top scorer in the World Cup, the Premier League (three times), the Bundesliga (twice so far), the Champions League (joint-top in 2023/24) and the 2024 European Championship (joint-top), while he is also England’s top scorer in major tournaments, with 15 goals.

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Kane’s highest-scoring seasons saw him net 52 goals in both 2017/18 and 2023/24, though with the England striker having netted 46 already this season – and with a World Cup and the rest of the season to come – he is set to surpass that tally soon.

His latest brace against Werder Bremen helped Bayern to maintain their six-point lead over rivals Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga, and the Bavarians can move nine points clear next week as they face Eintracht Frankfurt before Dortmund take on RB Leipzig later in the day.

In an email to staff, which has been seen by BBC Scotland News, Brewdog said: “AlixPartners are specialists in business performance and transformation, and they will work alongside the leadership team in the coming weeks to evaluate options and make recommendations, including assessing the next phase of investment in the business.

Lumley Castle, located in Chester-le-Street and owned by the Earl of Scarbrough, dates back to the 14th century and has a storied past.

Originally a manor house, it was converted into a castle by Sir Ralph Lumley in 1389 after returning from military campaigns in Scotland.

Following his involvement in a plot against Henry IV, Sir Ralph was executed, and his lands were seized, though they were later returned to his grandson, Thomas Lumley, in 1421.

Lumley Castle is set to host a two day music festival in September. (Image: LUMLEY CASTLE)

King James I of England was among its most notable visitors, staying there briefly in 1603 on his journey from Edinburgh to London to claim the English throne.

The castle later became the residence of the Bishop of Durham in the 19th century after Bishop Van Mildert donated Durham Castle to the newly established University of Durham.

Lumley Castle served as a hall of residence for University College, Durham, with first-year students—known as Castlemen—living there before moving to Durham Castle for the remainder of their studies.

The castle was eventually sold in the 1960s by University College, with proceeds used to build new student accommodation closer to the university’s main site.

In the 1970s, Lumley Castle was transformed into a hotel, now boasting more than 70 rooms, and with a reputation as one of the most haunted sites in County Durham.

One legend claims the castle is haunted by a 14th-century lady of the manor who was thrown into a well for refusing to convert to Catholicism.

Reports of paranormal activity gained international attention in 2005 when the Australian cricket team stayed at the castle during the Ashes test.

The castle hosted Australia during the 2005 Ashes. (Image: LUMLEY CASTLE)

Belinda Dennett, Australia’s media officer at the time, told The Sun: “I saw ghosts.

“I swear I’m telling the truth.

“Several of the players were uneasy, although a lot of them in the morning said they were fine but maybe they were just trying to be brave.

“I looked out of the window and saw a procession of white people walking past.

“It was amazing, very scary.

“Then I returned to bed and the blind went up again—and there was someone looking in through the window.

“I know I wasn’t dreaming because I wrote down the message from my phone and the time.

“Certainly, when I started to tell my story, a lot of them didn’t want to know the details.”

Australian cricketer Shane Watson was reportedly so frightened he slept on teammate Brett Lee’s floor – England player Darren Gough later mocked him on the field by pretending to be a ghost and sneaking up on him.

Darren Gough mocked Australian cricketer Shane Watson by pretending to be a ghost. (Image: PA)

This is not the first time visiting sports teams have been unnerved; in 2000, three members of the West Indies squad reportedly also left the castle early after hearing unexplained noises during the night.

Lumley Castle will soon add another chapter to its history as it prepares to host Opulence, its first-ever music festival, on September 4 and 5.

Daz Flatman, operations manager at ATA Events, said: “We didn’t want to do something that was just another show in a field, we wanted a spectacular location where we could stage something unique.”

But still England are clinging to the hope that something will eventually click, that something will simply fall into place and provide them with their first complete performance of the competition.

It may come – possibly, should they beat Italy, on a flight back to the comfort of Sri Lanka where they won 3-0 before this trip – but right now England do not seem entirely clear where to look.

“I don’t know,” said Brook, asked why his side have not found their groove. “Things haven’t seemed to have clicked so far yet.”

He said what we can all see.

Brook was part of England’s squads at the 2022 and 2024 World Cups, which both began badly before turning in differing directions.

In 2022, England lost to Ireland but responded by comprehensively beating a New Zealand side that just thrashed hosts Australia by 89 runs.

England need a similar performance soon to reboot their tournament because right now it feels more akin to their efforts in 2024, when their only wins came against Oman, Namibia, the United States and West Indies.

England reached the semi-finals on that trip around the Caribbean but were beaten each time they faced the real contenders – Australia, South Africa and India.

In truth, the spark from England’s white-ball sides has been absent going back much further, ever since that night in Melbourne in November 2022.

It was absent at the 2023 World Cup, in the Caribbean in 2024 and at the Champions Trophy in Pakistan last year when the hiring of Brendon McCullum as white-ball coach failed to raise them from their slump and they left without winning a match.

Brook says it is the “belief” in the squad that makes him confident this tournament would be more like 2022 than 2024.

“We’ve been in this situation before where we have lost a game early and World Cups aren’t always smooth sailing,” he said.

Outside of the dressing room, that belief is waning.

If Brook cannot find it then coach McCullum must because an underwhelming run to the semi-finals did not save former coach Matthew Mott his job in 2024.

Salt thinks England can beat anyone on their day and it is time for them to pinpoint a date in the calendar.

Most of sport’s successful teams have had an arrogant streak. Crucially, though, it needs to be earned.

The Scotland win ensured they remain alive but England have no chance of winning this World Cup if they do not improve.

North Yorkshire Police have released a CCTV image of someone they’d like to speak to after a wallet was stolen from inside a vehicle in a York suburb last month.

The incident took place on between 6.30pm and 10pm on January 19 after a vehicle was broken into in Burton Stone Lane, York.

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“The victim’s wallet which contained numerous bank cards was stolen during this time , and their bank cards have been used at multiple locations across York,” said a spokesperson for the force.

They also asked people to contact them if they recognise the person pictured, as they may have information that will assist the investigation.

“Please contact us if you recognise the person pictured, as they may have information that will assist our investigation,” said a spokesperson for the force (Image: North Yorkshire Police)

If you can help the police, please email Nabiel.galab@northyorkshire.police.uk, call North Yorkshire Police on 101 and ask for 000319, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 – or via their website.

Please quote reference 12260011469 when passing on information.

“A great denim dress for spring. Lovely quality material that gives a good fit”

With spring on its way, prepared fashion fans will no doubt be thinking about their transitional weather wardrobes. If your dress collection could do with an update, it’s worth turning your attention to Marks and Spencer.

The high street retailer has recently released a dress that is perfect for spring and shoppers are snapping it up. In fact, the Pure Cotton Denim Midi Shirt Dress has been labelled as ‘in demand’ and is currently the number one bestselling dress on the Marks and Spencer website.

The Pure Cotton Denim Midi Shirt Dress cost £46 but looks a lot more expensive than its modest price tag, it has longer arms for those who want to cover them up a little more, and a tie waist gives a slimming effect. Ticking all the boxes when it comes to style and practicality, those who have already got the spring dress of dreams insist that it is ‘perfect’.

READ MORE: Mature fashion fans say ‘flattering’ £36 spring dress is ‘perfect for the young at heart’

READ MORE: I found the prettiest dress for spring that’s easy to throw on with trainers and a denim jacket

Available in sizes six to 18 in petite, regular and tall lengths, the dress is designed in a regular fit, with a button-through fastening and an elasticated self-tie belt that cinches the waist. The short-sleeved piece is finished with a shirttail hem and contrast stitching for added interest.

Thanks to its versatile design, the Pure Cotton Denim Midi Shirt Dress can be styled with virtually any pair of shoes. Chuck on a pair of trainers or flats when you want to style the dress down or pair it with boots on cold days. Even a pair of heels would look good with it too.

Elsewhere, Roman’s Denim Denim Button Through Midi Dress is available for £36 instead of £40 with the discount GRAB10 applied at checkout. Crafted from soft cotton denim fabric, a stylish V-neck collar and sleeveless design make the dress perfect for warmer days.

Alternatively, Next’s Dark Blue Denim Midi Shirt Dress comes in at £58. The classic denim shirt dress offers a timeless silhouette, effortless styling and all day comfort thanks to the adjustable belt and press stud fastening.

Back at Marks and Spencer, the Pure Cotton Denim Midi Shirt Dress boasts an overall star-rating of 4.4 out of five based on almost 20 reviews. One satisfied shopper said: “Just love this dress. The denim is not too thick, not too thin. A quality piece I shall wear again and again.

A second wrote: “A great denim dress for spring. Lovely quality material that gives a good fit. Generous size, I’m normally a size 10, ordered 8 and it’s perfect.”

“This was love at first sight,” a third penned. “I ordered a size 18 as I’m a busty size 16 and kept my fingers and toes crossed it would fit. It does fit my bust perfectly and it’s not too big in the body too.

“I can’t wait to wear it. Looks great with any footwear, boots, flats, trainers, loafers, the lot. I cannot recommend this enough, ooh and I forgot it has pockets too, what’s not like?”

One shopper, however, was left feeling disappointed with the Pure Cotton Denim Midi Shirt Dress because of the sizing and gave it a two-star review. It reads: “I love the style of the dress but it’s meant to be petite and is still too long for me at 5ft 1ins. I M&S petite to not actually be petite. Disappointed.”

But another loved their latest Marks and Spencer purchase, adding: “Very nice dress. I upsized so I could layer underneath. Very comfy but also smart.”

Passengers will be moved to another plane according to Cornwall Airport Newquay

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A Ryanair flight heading for Newquay Airport was forced to divert to Spain due to a ‘technical’ problem. The diversion happened today (February 14) as the FR9448 flight was due to land in Newquay at 4.45pm.

However Newquay Airport has said the flight is delayed and expected at 5.55pm, CornwallLive reports. A passenger on the plane said that the flight landed safely in Madrid after taking off in Malaga.

The passenger said there was an issue with the plane “burning excess fuel” as it was “not able to climb high enough”. Passenger Eileen has revealed that the flight has landed in Madrid and at the time of reporting, passengers are still on the plane.

Eileen has added that luggage has started to be removed from the plane, she said: “Ryanair flight from Malaga to Newquay lands in Madrid.

“Passengers remain on board. Full flight. Landed safely in Madrid.”

Cornwall Airport Newquay said they were tracking a flight that had a technical fault, which has landed in Madrid. The airport has said passengers are expected to be transferred to another plane.