His hugs, infectious humour, cheeky laugh and the simple words he always shared with his sisters have become memories they now cling to.

Paul died on July 30, aged 52, leaving behind his son, five grandchildren, sisters, wider family, and friends.

His sister, Debbie McDonald, in Westhoughton, said Paul was a “gentle giant with a big heart” who had become especially close to his family during the final 18 months of his life.

Paul Durkin as a child (Image: Debbie McDonald)

She said: “We were just really, really, really close.

“Especially in the past 18 months, we just spent time together every single day.

“Always telling each other that we loved each other, that we were proud of each other.”

Paul, who was born on April 16, 1974, was described as a man who was incredibly proud of his family.

Debbie said he had turned his life around as he grew older and was particularly proud of the changes he had made.

She said: “Turned his life around, changed his life really, especially in the last 18 months.”

Family remained at the heart of Paul’s life, with Debbie recalling how proud he was when she started her own business.

The man died at 52 (Image: Debbie McDonald)

But it is his hugs and laughter that his family will miss the most.

Debbie said: “It was just the hugs, that’s probably one of the biggest things that we’ll miss is hugs and his cheeky laugh.

“He was very mischievous, a 52-year-old man that was full of mischief.”

Paul had previously worked as a scaffolder before becoming disabled.

His family said the exact medical cause of his death is not yet known.

He had severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart and kidney problems, and deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

Away from his family, Paul loved television, YouTube, Netflix, cars, and motorbikes.

Paul was much-loved (Image: Debbie McDonald)

As a teenager, he was also passionate about pigeons and had his own shed for them.

His death has left his only son, in his early thirties, devastated, while his five grandchildren have also lost a much-loved grandad.

Paul was the middle of three siblings, their parents had both died, with the mother 19 years ago and their father from cancer three years ago.

Debbie said Paul would always leave his sisters with the words “love you sis’”.

Now, her message back to her beloved brother is simple.

She said: “Love you bro’.”

Paul’s funeral will take place at Howe Bridge Crematorium on Wednesday, August 26 at 3:30pm.

It can be incredibly frustrating when a parcel goes missing from your doorstep — but there are important steps to take if this happens

Few things are more frustrating than receiving a notification confirming your parcel has been delivered, only to find it has vanished without a trace. Even after checking with neighbours and scouring bins, packages can sometimes simply disappear. A missing parcel is a genuine headache, particularly when the contents are valuable or urgently needed.

To help consumers understand their rights regarding missing deliveries, Citizens Advice has set out exactly where responsibility lies and what steps to take. According to the organisation, several important actions are worth considering.

Citizens Advice states that if you purchased goods from a business for delivery, the responsibility for ensuring those goods reach you lies firmly with the seller.

If the seller enlisted a courier, it is their duty to chase that courier and establish what has happened to your order.

It is also advisable to double-check the delivery address you provided to the retailer or seller before contacting them about your missing order.

Citizens Advice said: “If the seller claims they’ve delivered it or don’t know where it is, you can ask for a redelivery. You might be able to get a refund in some circumstances.”

Should your parcel be lost, damaged, or delayed, you may be entitled to claim compensation from the responsible delivery firm.

They said: “How much money you get depends on how the item was sent and what the problem is.

“You can also complain to the delivery company about their service at any time. You don’t have to make a complaint to be able to claim compensation.”

However, if you have bought something online, it is crucial to contact the seller before raising a complaint with the delivery firm or seeking compensation. This is particularly important if the parcel was left somewhere you did not specify at the time of purchase.

Citizens Advice said: “You’ll usually get a better result. You can ask for a refund or redelivery if the item didn’t arrive, and check your options for returning damaged or broken goods.”

Should you suspect your item has been stolen, you are entitled to claim compensation, lodge a formal complaint and report the theft to the police.

While the parcel may not be recoverable, it is still worth raising in any compensation claim or complaint you make.

Citizens Advice added: “To help avoid more thefts in the future, you might want to get your parcels delivered to a collection point in a local shop or secure locker.

“If you need your parcels delivered directly to your home, you could think about getting a parcel safe, but these can be expensive.”

A local veterinary practice in Bolton is launching a pet healthcare plan that will remove worries about booking veterinary consultations at a time when many families are under financial strain.  

Regan Veterinary Centre, Bury Road | CVS Vets new Healthy Pet Club Advanced includes completely unlimited consultations with veterinary surgeons and nurses, with no exclusions (1). It also includes regular preventative healthcare appointments such as vaccinations, parasite protection and annual health checks to avoid problems developing. 

The plan is being launched to remove the question of whether to book a veterinary consultation for pet owners who notice a change in appetite, unusual behaviour or a minor health concern. 

Lizzie McLennan Green, Veterinary Director of the CVS Vets family which includes Regan Veterinary Centre, Bury Road said: “We know that for many owners, there’s often a moment of hesitation before booking a consultation. That’s completely understandable, but it can sometimes mean pets are seen later than we would recommend. 

“We are making the cost of consultations, vaccinations and preventative healthcare predictable and we’re empowering owners to seek advice whether that’s a minor concern or something more serious.” 

The plan includes regular preventative healthcare appointments such as vaccinations, parasite protection and annual health checks (Image: Nico Russell)

Commissioned by CVS Vets, YouGov’s research found that some pet owners are seeking other options if they delay treatment,  

• 70% have looked up advice about their pets’ symptoms online. A recent study by RSPCA found 10% using AI chatbots for pet care advice. 

• 37% have consulted families and friends for their advice about the symptoms. 

The addition of unlimited consultations offers continuous access to veterinary expertise and encourages earlier conversations about pet health (Image: Nico Russell)

Healthy Pet Club Advanced builds on Regan Veterinary Centre, Bury Road | CVS Vets existing Care Plan, which already helps local pet owners manage routine healthcare through vaccinations, parasite prevention, regular health checks and discounts on treatments, making it easier to manage their pet’s health and spread the cost of care over the year. The addition of unlimited consultations takes this further, offering continuous access to veterinary expertise and encouraging earlier conversations about pet health. 

The monthly cost of the plan is: 

For more information about Healthy Pet Club Advanced, visit https://www.cvsvets.com/healthy-pet-club . Local pet owners can also contact the Healthy Pet Club support team on hpc@cvsvets.com for further information on how the plan can support their pet’s ongoing health and wellbeing

(1) CVS Healthy Pet Club Advanced offers unlimited consultations – including chronic care checkup & injections and with no chronic condition exclusions. Does not include specialist, referral, peripatetic, second opinion, and out-of-hours consultations. Unlimited consultations are subject to a Fair Use Policy which ensures that we can see all Healthy Pet Club Advanced members.

The call comes ahead of the 2026 Middlesbrough Runs, taking place on August 29 and 30, which includes the Middlesbrough 10K, the Ali Brownlee 5K, and the debut of Paula Radcliffe’s Families on Track programme.

The organisers, Events of the North, are working in partnership with Middlesbrough Council and Everyone Active to deliver the festival, which brings together a full weekend of running for all ages.

A volunteer hands out medals at an Events of the North race (Image: Supplied)

Steve Cram, race director for Middlesbrough Runs, said: “As with any major event, we couldn’t stage the Middlesbrough Runs without our brilliant volunteers.

“Bringing together the Middlesbrough 10K, Ali Brownlee 5K and Paula’s Families on Track into one weekend will create a really big occasion and a fantastic atmosphere, but that does mean that we need a little extra help, so we’re asking for more local people and community organisations to get involved.

“We’ll be welcoming some of our regular volunteers from events that we stage elsewhere who love being part of them and want to help in Boro, and it will be great to see them working alongside adults and youngsters from the local community.”

Young volunteers in action (Image: Supplied)

The festival requires a large team of volunteers to support the core team, particularly for marshal points and radio marshal roles around the course on Sunday, August 30.

Volunteers will also help at the finish line, handing out medals to race finishers.

Helen Sherratt, a long-time volunteer with Events of the North, said: “I first volunteered when I saw an advert asking for helpers for the inaugural Worcester City Runs, and as someone who is passionate about the city, I wanted to be part of putting on a great event here.

Some of Events of the North’s hi viz heroes (Image: Supplied)

“The next year, I went back for more, and that was just the start.

“I soon started volunteering at other Events of the North races around the country and I have had many roles over the years, ranging from organising the parking to handing out medals.”

Ms Sherratt’s volunteering experience has opened doors to opportunities at national and international sporting events.

She said: “Events of the North suggested that I could also get involved in other major events, such as national and international championships.

Helen Sherratt has volunteered at multiple events around the country (Image: Supplied)

“After applying to UK Athletics, I found myself in even more roles at British and global events, indoors and outdoors, and I’ve most recently been working on the medal ceremonies at the European Athletics Championships, which has been really interesting and exciting.”

She encourages others to consider volunteering, saying it offers far more than it asks.

Ms Sherratt said: “I always say that I get so much more out of volunteering than I give.

“As well as being lucky to work on all these events, it has given me the opportunity to do something completely different from my day job, along with the chance to have new experiences and meet many lovely people, a large number who are now close friends.”

Volunteering at the Middlesbrough Runs comes with additional perks.

All volunteers will receive snacks and refreshments on the day, and as a thank you, each will be given complimentary entry to one Events of the North running event over the next 12 months.

This includes events in Kielder, Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, Worcester, and the following year’s Middlesbrough Runs.

Alternatively, volunteers can opt for a 50 per cent discount on multi-sport events such as the Northumbrian Triathlon or Kielder Duathlon.

Events of the North also operates a scheme for youth organisations, charities, and community groups, offering a donation in place of complimentary entries for teams of more than six or 10 volunteers.

Many individuals who began volunteering at these events have gone on to support other major sporting occasions, including the Commonwealth Games and European Athletics Championships.

Those interested in volunteering at the 2026 Middlesbrough Runs can email volunteers@eventsofthenorth.com.

More information and race entry details are available at Middlesbrough Runs – Events of the North.

When people think about climate change and animals, they might picture melting sea ice, drought-stricken landscapes or species struggling in the wild. Far less attention is given to the animals living in our care. Yet as heatwaves become more frequent, intense and unpredictable, zoos may be facing one of the biggest animal welfare challenges of the coming decades.

The recent deaths of three lions at Tama Zoo, Japan during a heatwave that reached over 40°C have brought this issue into sharp focus. Investigations are ongoing, but the incident raises an important question. Do we understand how animals will – or won’t – cope with heat in a rapidly changing climate?

Many people are surprised to learn a lion can be vulnerable to high temperatures. After all, lions evolved in Africa and are often associated with hot, arid landscapes. But this assumption oversimplifies how animals experience heat. Temperature is only one part of the story.

Humidity can play an equally important role. Lions, like many mammals, do not sweat effectively like humans do. Instead, they seek shade, move less and pant to dissipate heat.

High humidity can make these cooling strategies less effective. Perhaps surprisingly, humans are often more heat tolerant than lions. Our ability to sweat over most of the body makes evaporation cooling remarkably effective, allowing us to remain active in conditions that may force lions to rest and seek shade.

In the wild, lions may have more choices available to them that help them to remain cooler. Wild lions can move across large landscapes, select favourable microclimates, rest in shaded areas and adjust their activity patterns – none of which may be feasible in a zoo. Wild lions are famously inactive for much of the day, often waiting until cooler periods to hunt and socialise.

Other vulnerable species are perhaps unsurprising, including polar bears, penguins and red pandas, all of which are adapted to cooler climates. However, climate change may also affect species that people typically associate with warm environments.

Great apes, tapirs, cheetahs and even elephants can struggle with dangerous levels of thermal stress when high temperatures are combined with humidity, which reduces the body’s ability to dissipate heat. For elephants in particular (due to their large body size), the risk is heightened when access to shade, water or other cooling opportunities is limited.

This highlights an important principle in animal welfare science: welfare is influenced not simply by the environment animals are exposed to, but by the degree of choice and control they have within it.

Climate change is changing welfare

Historically, many zoos, particularly in temperate regions such as the UK, were designed with cold weather in mind. Considerable effort has gone into protecting animals from low temperatures and rain. Extreme heat, by comparison, has often been viewed as a relatively minor concern. That assumption may no longer hold.

Climate change is increasing the frequency, duration and intensity of extreme heat events across the globe. As heatwaves become a more regular feature of British summers, zoos will need to think differently about how they manage animal welfare. Temperature control measures that were adequate ten or 20 years ago may not be sufficient for the conditions today and in the future.

Zoos have long managed environmental conditions for species with specialised needs. Tropical animals are often provided with heated indoor shelter, for example. The challenge is that climate change is shifting the environmental baseline upon which many of these systems were designed.

One strength of modern zoo management is its recognition that animals are individuals. Two animals of the same species living in the same enclosure may respond very differently to identical conditions. Older animals may have less physiological resilience. Animals with respiratory conditions or other underlying health issues may be particularly vulnerable.

The good news is zoos routinely maintain detailed individual records on behaviour, personality, social relationships, health history and life experience, which will help them monitor any changes.

Increasingly, extreme heat should be treated in the same way as severe storms, flooding or disease outbreaks: as a foreseeable animal welfare risk. This might involve expanding shaded areas, creating climate-controlled refuges, improving ventilation, installing misting systems and water features, and monitoring temperature and humidity in real time.

But infrastructure alone will not be enough. Zoos may also need to adapt their daily management practices, adjusting feeding and enrichment schedules and modifying routines to minimise heat exposure during the hottest parts of the day.

Tell-tale signs

One of the most valuable and commonly used indicators of animal welfare is behaviour. An animal that appears lethargic, withdrawn or less engaged with its surroundings may be signalling compromised welfare long before clinical symptoms emerge.

An animal experiencing thermal discomfort may alter its activity patterns, spend more time in certain locations, change its posture, eat less food or interact differently with other animals. Humans are no different.

During heatwaves we change our routines, seek cooler places, struggle to sleep and often reduce activity. In people, exposure to extreme heat also affects cognition and behaviour. Evidence suggests that attention, memory and decision-making can deteriorate under thermal stress, raising important questions about how heat may influence the behaviour and welfare of animals in our care.

These insights are relevant not only to zoos, but to all managed animal populations. Farms, wildlife parks, rescue centres and companion animal owners are all likely to confront similar welfare challenges in a future defined by more frequent and intense heatwaves.

No longer do mountain lairs exclusively belong to the cat-stroking and eyepatch-wearing villains of spy novels. 

Now, you too can buy an ultra-high security vault that lies more than 330ft beneath a Swiss mountain range – as long as you have nearly half a million pounds spare. 

Swiss security firm Brünig Mega Safe is working to dig out up to 25 caverns from the limestone that makes up the Brünig massif. 

It is selling access to these vaults – which are intended to store valuable artwork, cars, wine, safety deposit boxes and other valuable assets – with the promise of near total security. 

The firm claims it is breaking ground in Brünig in January and it claims its vaults will be ‘comparable to that of the Swiss National Bank’.

Thomas Gasser, chairman of Brünig Mega Safe, said: ‘You’ll first have to drive through a special checkpoint and get out of your vehicle: there will be several security checks, which obviously won’t be disclosed to the public.’

Thanks to the depth of the vaults, they will have a natural temperature of 13C, which is ideal for storing wine and art. 

But in a world that has seen increased instability and tensions between nations, coupled with the threat of climate change, the caverns are also being proposed as a place for humans to retreat in the event of a disaster. 

The vaults are being sold as an ultra-secure way to store valuable items

The firm said room modules can be added to purchased caverns

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The firm, founded by a team of mountain engineering entrepreneurs, says on its website: ‘Additional room modules complement your security cavern where more than just protection is required. 

‘For example, for personal temporary retreat areas, discreet meeting areas or lounges with special atmosphere.’

Customers will have 24-hour access through a tunnel large enough to fit lorries. The firm claims clients are already signing up for 99-year leases of the vaults, which the company says will start opening from next year. 

The firm says it is also setting up a centre for security training, risk analysis and survival alongside the underground caverns. 

Mr Gasser said the market for ultra-secure storage is getting bigger year-by-year: ‘For a long time, Dubai was considered safe. Today, that sense of security is being called into question. People simply want to safeguard part of their wealth.’

Switzerland has long used its mountains for secure storage. Many disused military bunkers have been converted into vaults or even data centres. 

In 2024, the country launched a programme to upgrade all of its nuclear bunkers to prepare for a possible war. 

Under a 1963 law, all residents of the country – including foreigners and refugees – are guaranteed a place in a shelter capable of protecting them from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons as well as ‘close hits from conventional weapons’.

The vaults are more than 100m deep in the Brünig massif

Switzerland has long used its mountains for secure storage

Elite guards will be posted to the vaults around the clock, the firm said

Much of Europe is preparing for the possibility of war, with some nations having spent decades planning and investing.  

Underneath Helsinki, Finland’s capital city, more than 5,500 shelters have been carved into the bedrock, with enough space to hold nearly a million people – a huge number, especially given that the city’s population is only 675,000. 

The country has been continuously building safety bunkers since 1939, when Russia invaded during the Second World War in a protracted conflict known as the Winter War. 

But since 1954, Finland’s government has legislated that a bomb shelter is mandatory underneath buildings exceeding 1,200 square metres (12,900 square feet). 

The application, from Modern Housing, proposes 23 flats which would be built at a currently vacant site off Holytown Road. This housing development also includes 28 parking spaces.

North Lanarkshire Council has received a planning application seeking approval for new housing association flats in Holytown.

The application, from Modern Housing, proposes 23 flats which would be built at a currently vacant site off Holytown Road. This housing development also includes 28 parking spaces.

Supporting information from the applicant explains that the brownfield site used to be the location of a row of cottages but these were demolished in 2010, leaving the land vacant, becoming overgrown and unattractive.

According to this statement the area is also associated with antisocial behaviour including unauthorised gatherings and fly tipping, and the community wants to see the land brought back into productive use.

The 23 affordable homes would be a mixture of one and two bedroom properties in line with local housing demand, and the residents would enjoy excellent access to various local amenities including shops, schools and health facilities within easy walking distance as well as very good public transport by bus and rail.

For further information on this application or to leave comment for consideration, visit North Lanarkshire Council’s website and search for planning reference 26/00881/FUL.

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LIV Golf has announced the cancellation of its Michigan team championship event, with the season ending early as the team title will now be decided at LIV Golf Indianapolis this week

LIV Golf has announced it is bringing its season to a close a week ahead of schedule, confirming on Monday that the planned team championship in Michigan will not go ahead. Instead, the team title will be decided this week at a venue 20 miles north of Indianapolis.

This year’s 12-event schedule – reduced after New Orleans was previously postponed – represents the smallest calendar LIV Golf has seen since its launch in 2022, backed by substantial Saudi Arabian funding, when it featured just eight tournaments.

Jon Rahm has already secured the individual season title for the third consecutive year. LIV Golf Indianapolis, which gets under way on Thursday at The Club at Chatham Hills, will determine the second and third-placed players, as well as the top team.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which has been the financial backbone of the rival league from its inception, decided in March that this would be its final year of funding. Earlier this month, LIV Golf announced it had reached an agreement with a lead investor to sustain a new version of the league from 2027.

LIV CEO Scott O’Neil said in a statement: “By concluding the season now, we can put our full resources behind what comes next and maintain the operational rigor this transition demands,”.

He added: “We are reimagining LIV Golf as a fundamentally new league owned by the players and anchored in a sustainable business model, with an evolved fan experience built for the markets where the game is growing fastest across the globe and the support of world-class partners.”

The scrapping of LIV Golf Michigan came as little surprise. Reports had been circulating in recent weeks that the tournament had not even begun preparations for grandstands and other facilities.

LIV Golf confirmed that ticket holders would receive full refunds.

In a further belt-tightening measure, which LIV attributed to “unavoidable changes in the entertainment program,” the league informed Thomas Rhett and Disco Lines that their live performances would no longer be going ahead at LIV Golf Indianapolis.

The final event, boasting a $20 million purse that pays out $4 million to the winner, could represent the last significant payday for LIV and its 57 players. LIV declined to name the lead investor, disclose the size of the cash injection, or clarify whether it constituted an investment or a loan.

O’Neil has indicated that the LIV 2.0 version, planned for 2027 and beyond, would see players become equity owners. He described it as a “second bite at the apple” – equity rather than cash.

However, this likely signals the end of $20 million purses for individual events, with cutbacks already under way. Rahm earned $6 million for clinching the points title, a stark drop from the $18 million paid out in each of the previous two years.

“As we concentrate on finishing the season strong and building the next chapter of LIV Golf, we’ll carry the energy and enthusiasm our fans have shown us into what comes next,” O’Neil said.

The structure for the 2027 campaign and the squad compositions also remain up in the air. What’s yet to be decided is whether Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau – the two most prominent figures – along with other players who signed up to the league for its eye-watering prize purses will fancy sticking around for LIV 2.0.

Regarding the concluding tournament, Joaquin Niemann, Lucas Herbert and Tyrrell Hatton are battling it out for third spot, which comes with a $1 million bonus. DeChambeau sits comfortably in second, earning $3 million.

Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces outfit holds a slender advantage over Australia-based Ripper, while Rahm’s Legion XIII, which includes Belfast golfer Tom McKibbin, and Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers squad are all vying for the team championship.

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Witnesses reportedly heard strange sounds from the aircraft before it went down

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Three people have perished in a horror helicopter crash in Greece, according to local reports.

The crash, which unfolded on the Greek island of Sifnos at around 6pm local time (4pm UK time) on Monday (August 17), saw the helicopter erupt into a giant fireball.

Local news reports a British couple visiting the island on their honeymoon are among the three dead. The third is reportedly an experienced military pilot and dad-of-three.

After the flames were extinguished, the bodies of all three people were sadly pulled from the wreckage, The Mirror reports.

The crash occurred near to homes in the Tholos neighbourhood. The fire department said the bodies of three people were recovered once the flames have been put out.

The helicopter, operated by Bellavia Aviation Services, crashed just before it was due to land at Sifnos heliport. Witnesses claimed they heard a strange noise as the aircraft approached, Proto Thema reported.

A photograph taken of the crash in the aftermath showed plumed of thick black smoke billowing from a fireball at the site.