Students from Sedgefield Community College visited Hardwick East Park yesterday (February 5), ahead of the 2026 English National Cross Country Championships.

They took part in a series of mini races on part of the course that thousands of runners from across the country will tackle later this month.

The championships will be held on Saturday, February 21, marking the first time the event has returned to County Durham in 25 years.

National Cross Country Championships heads to Sedgefield later this month (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Students from Sedgefield Community College (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Organised by the English Cross Country Association alongside Sedgefield Harriers, the championships will feature 10 separate junior and senior races, starting at 11am.

During their visit, students from four year groups competed in a series of ‘Queen and King of the Hill’ races on part of the course, with prizes awarded to the fastest runners.

With financial support from North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, Sedgefield Harriers is investing additional resources into promoting the championships and encouraging more people to take up the sport.

The project aligns with the mayor’s ambition for the North East to become the UK’s first ‘Region of Sport’.

Students from Sedgefield Community College at the launch event (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Sue Dobson, chair of Sedgefield Harriers, said: “There’s a real buzz around the club and Sedgefield in general as we prepare to host the national championships of our sport. Loads of Harriers have signed up to take part, including some of our junior runners.

“A lot of them are students at Sedgefield Community College and we hope that their energy and enthusiasm will inspire more young people in the area to take up athletics.”

For more information about the championships, visit www.englishcrosscountry.co.uk

Students from Sedgefield Community College (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Lesley Strickland, events and sports lead at the North East Combined Authority, added: “Hosting the Nationals is a fantastic chance to showcase County Durham and inspire people of all ages to get into running.

“Grassroots sport is where healthy habits start, and events like this can spark that first step.”

Student Lewis Amer said keeping active has helped him develop socially.

He said: “I enjoy being active and healthy. I particularly enjoy the social aspects of sport. These are really important to me. I have made lots of friends through having an active lifestyle and also develop many personal qualities like teamwork and communication.”

Students from Sedgefield Community College (Image: SARAH CALDECOTT)

Steven Hepples, leader of sport and promotion of active lifestyles at Sedgefield Community College, said: “Events like this are fantastic for everybody in the local community. This includes the young and the old.

“Providing opportunities to spectate at, or even be a part of, such an event will hopefully inspire more people to lead healthy, active lifestyles.

“Whether trying something for the first time or achieving personal performance goals, we all need to find our own motivation to lead a health active lifestyle. Events like this in our community will support this.

From all of us at Sedgefield Community College, we would like to wish all competitors and organisers every success.

A British man has died after falling from the sixth-floor balcony of a hotel in Spain.

The country’s National Police are investigating the circumstances behind the death of the 37-year-old in the Costa del Sol town of Torremolinos in the early hours of Wednesday, according to local newspaper Diario Sur.

Emergency services had received several calls alerting them to the fall of a man from a hotel balcony.

Paramedics attended, but were unable to save the man’s life.

The man was staying at the hotel with his wife and two young children, both under the age of 10, the police investigation has found.

Read more from Sky News:
‘Suffolk Strangler’ survivor describes being chased by him
When will the rain end? What the Met Office are saying

According to Diario Sur, which cited the investigation, the couple had been drinking alcohol.

The woman, it is reported, said she went to the bedroom to sleep, while her husband stayed alone on the balcony, at which point he fell.

The newspaper said that she told police that she was sure the fall was an accident .

Parts of the East Coast Mainline are closed this afternoon – affecting train travel between York and Doncaster.

The incident was reported at 2.20pm today (February 6) with the entire mainline set to be impacted by the travel delays.

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Major disruption is expected until the end of the day and trains may be severely delayed by up to 60 minutes or revised

“A failure of the electricity supply between Doncaster and York means that the line towards York is blocked. As a result, trains running between these stations may be severely delayed or revised,” said a spokesperson for National Rail at time.

Network Rail engineers are on site and are investigating the issue.

Your ticket can be used at no extra cost on the following services and routes:

• CrossCountry between Doncaster, Leeds, York and Newcastle / Edinburgh
• Grand Central between London Kings Cross and Doncaster / Bradford Interchange / York
• Lumo between London Kings Cross and Edinburgh
• Northern between Doncaster, Leeds, York and Newcastle
• TransPennine Express between Manchester, Leeds and York / Newcastle
• LNER between Doncaster and Leeds
• Northern between Doncaster and Leeds
• TransPennine Express between Leeds and York
• LNER and CrossCountry between York and Newcastle
• TransPennine Express between Newcastle and Edinburgh
• ScotRail between Edinburgh and Glasgow Queen Street from 16:30

You do not need to amend your ticket to use it on these services.

Police received a report of a serious assault in the early hours of Monday (February 2) and were called to an address in the Eston area just before 3am.

It was reported that a man had entered the property, violently attacked the woman and fled with two mobile phones.

The woman was taken to James Cook University Hospital for treatment for her injuries.

A 34‑year‑old man was arrested on Thursday (February 5).

He remains in custody and now faces questioning on suspicion of aggravated burglary, theft, stalking and assault.

A spokesperson from Cleveland Police said: “Safeguarding measures have been put in place for the woman and enquiries by Redcar & Cleveland CID are ongoing.”

People in North Korea, including schoolchildren, are being executed for watching Squid Game and other foreign media, according to new testimony.

Citizens also face being killed for listening to K-pop, a South Korean music genre that includes bands like BTS.

Interviewees have described a climate of fear in which the South’s culture is treated as a serious crime.

The less well-off are more likely to suffer the harshest punishments, while wealthier North Koreans are able to pay corrupt officials to dodge prosecution, it is claimed.

The testimonies were revealed by Amnesty International after conducting 25 in-depth interviews with escapees who have fled the secretive state run by Kim Jong-un‘s regime.

The escapees said watching globally popular South Korean dramas, such as Squid Game, Crash Landing on You, and Descendants of the Sun, can lead to the most extreme consequences, including death.

‘Multiple executions’

One interviewee said they heard from an escapee with family links how people, including high school students, had been executed for watching Squid Game in Yanggang Province, which is close to the Chinese border.

Another execution for distributing the South Korean show was previously documented by Radio Free Asia in neighbouring North Hamgyong Province in 2021.

“Taken together, these reports from different provinces suggest multiple executions related to the shows,” Amnesty said in a statement.

Interviewees also described the perils of listening to foreign music, particularly K-pop from South Korea, with the popular band BTS named in their testimony.

In 2021, The Korea Times reported that a group of teenagers were caught and investigated for listening to the group in South Pyongan Province, which neighbours the capital, Pyongyang.

‘Homes sold to avoid re-education camps’

Choi Suvin, who fled North Korea in 2019, said people would sell their own homes to avoid punishment.

“People are caught for the same act, but punishment depends entirely on money,” the 39-year-old said.

“People without money sell their houses to gather $5,000 or $10,000 to pay to get out of the re-education camps.”

This inequality was further evidenced by the case of Kim Joonsik, who was caught three times watching South Korean dramas, but avoided punishment because his family had connections.

The 28-year-old, who left the country in 2019, said: “Usually when high school students are caught, if their family has money, they just get warnings.

“I didn’t receive legal punishment because we had connections.”

He contrasted his fate with that of three of his sister’s school friends.

In the late 2010s, the girls were condemned to years-long sentences in North Korea’s labour camps because their families could not afford bribes.

‘Executions to brainwash’

People, including schoolchildren, were made to attend public executions as part of their “ideological education”, the interviewees said.

Ms Choi described seeing someone executed for allegedly distributing foreign media in 2017 or 2018, in Sinuiju, near the Chinese border.

“Authorities told everyone to go, and tens of thousands of people from Sinuiju city gathered to watch,” she said.

“They execute people to brainwash and educate us.”

Kim Eunju, 40, said: “When we were 16, 17, in middle school, they took us to executions and showed us everything.

“People were executed for watching or distributing South Korean media. It’s ideological education: if you watch, this happens to you too.”

‘Ideological cage’

Sarah Brooks, deputy regional director at Amnesty, said: “These testimonies show how North Korea is enforcing dystopian laws that mean watching a South Korean TV show can cost you your life – unless you can afford to pay.

“The authorities criminalise access to information in violation of international law, then allow officials to profit off those fearing punishment.

“This is repression layered with corruption, and it most devastates those without wealth or connections.”

She added: “This government’s fear of information has effectively placed the entire population in an ideological cage, suffocating their access to the views and thoughts of other human beings.

“People who strive to learn more about the world outside North Korea, or seek simple entertainment from overseas, face the harshest of punishments.

“This completely arbitrary system, built on fear and corruption, violates fundamental principles of justice and internationally recognised human rights. It must be dismantled.”

Under North Korea’s 2020 Anti-Reactionary Thought and Culture Act, South Korean content is “branded rotten ideology that paralyses the people’s revolutionary sense”.

Those caught consuming such media face between five and 15 years of forced labour under the act, with heavier sentences – including death – for distributing it or organising group viewings.

Fifteen interviewees described how a specialised police unit dubbed the “109 Group” would hunt for foreign media, conducting spot checks on people’s homes, and street searches of mobile phones and bags, all without a warrant.

One defector recalled members of the unit warning: “We don’t want to punish you harshly, but we need to bribe our bosses to save our own lives.”

Read more:
K-pop stars BTS reveal comeback tour
Kim Jong-un dismisses deputy in rare public rebuke

Security agents ‘watch it secretly’

Nonetheless, consumption of foreign media is widespread in North Korea, the escapees said.

They described how dramas, films and music were smuggled in from China on USB drives, which are then plugged into notebook computers.

One interviewee said: “Workers watch it openly, party officials watch it proudly, security agents watch it secretly, and police watch it safely.

“Everyone knows everyone watches, including those who do the crackdowns.”

Most of those interviewed were aged between 15 and 25 years old when they escaped.

The most recent departure had fled in June 2020, with 11 more having left between 2019 and 2020.

Escapes have been rare since 2020, when COVID-19 border closures sealed the country off from the outside world.

The 2025 film has been called the ‘most underrated movie’ of last year and is available to stream on Sky Cinema and NowTV. It’s so good, it’ll leave you crying and laughing all at once

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People are being encouraged to watch the ‘most underrated film’ – and it’s left viewers in tears. Cinema enthusiast Eccy Reviews regularly posts about new films and series on social media and he’s done it again with his latest film.

Recently, he named The Ballard of Wallis Island as a film you’ll want to watch over and over again. The 2025 movie, available on NowTV and Sky Cinema, tells the story of “an eccentric lottery winner who lives alone on a remote island tries to make his fantasies come true by getting his favourite musicians to perform at his home”. Directed by James Griffiths and penned by Tom Basden and Tim Key, the film has been nominated for Best British Film at the BAFTA Awards.

He stated: “Everybody is finally talking about this film, calling it the most underrated film of last year.

“I told everyone to go and watch it months ago, begging people to go and watch it because this is funniest, emotional and heartwarming of last year.

“I have never cried so much at a film when I wasn’t even expecting it. The comedy is so on point, it’s such an enjoyable watch. It is a film I will definitely revisit time and time.”

Responding to his video, one user commented: “Ballad of Wallis Island is a 10/10.” Another added: “I’ll watch this at the weekend now it’s on Sky.” A third said: “Oooh, weekend film.”

One viewer on IMDb said: “The second I saw the location settings I knew that this film is going to be a great one.

“A simple story with some great performances especially by Charles and Amanda, they nailed their characters with their unique style of innocence as people cut off from the rest of the world.

“Adding to that, the soundtrack took it to another level. If you love movies with minimal characters happening at a remote location and with great soundtrack then you’ll definitely love this.

“You might even cry a little bit if you’re an emotional person, I mean I did when Herb saw those paper clippings and found out why Charles was doing what he did.

“A really heartwarming film with a touch of light humour, I definitely recommend you guys to watch this.”

Someone else added: “The Ballad of Wallis Island is a quiet gem that blends dry humor with deep emotion.

“At its heart, it’s a romantic film – not just in the traditional sense, but in its celebration of love, loyalty, and human connection.

“The characters may start from very different places, but their arcs are believable and rewarding, unfolding with care and subtlety.

“The film handles grief and pride with nuance, and never feels manipulative or forced. It’s slow-paced in the best way: giving space to linger, to feel, and to reflect.

“Poignant, charming, and at times laugh-out-loud funny, this is one of those rare films that stays with you long after the credits roll.

“Highly recommended for those who appreciate sincere, character-driven storytelling.”

Taylor Swift has released the Nineties-inspired music video for her hit single “Opalite”, revealing that she invited her fellow guests from The Graham Norton Show – and Norton himself – to co-star with her.

Irish actors Cillian Murphy and Domhnall Gleeson, actors Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith, and Scottish singer-songwriter Lewis Capaldi, who appeared with Swift on the show last October, all make an appearance in one way or another.

Gleeson stars as a man in an unhappy relationship, while Swift is in a similar situation. After being convinced to try a mysterious product, “Opalite” – advertised by a grinning Murphy – they find each other and fall in love.

Capaldi stars as a mall photographer taking pictures of Gleeson and Swift together, before getting in on the pictures himself, while Turner-Smith and Lee appear in cameos on retro TV screens.

“My favorite part about writing is that first spark of an idea,” Swift, 36, wrote on Instagram as she announced the video’s release.

Praising the “insanely charismatic and loveable” Norton, Swift spoke of how “lucky” she felt to be paired with such a lineup on the Irish host’s chatshow.

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“It can happen at any time, for any reason. The idea for the ‘Opalite’ music video crash-landed into my imagination when I was doing promo for The Life of a Showgirl,” Swift said, referring to her most recent album.

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“When we were all talking during the broadcast, Domhnall made a light-hearted joke about wanting to be in one of my music videos,” Swift recalled. “He’s Irish! He was joking! Except that in that moment during the interview, I was instantly struck with an *idea*. “

She continued: “And so a week later he received an email script I’d written for the ‘Opalite’ video, where he was playing the starring role. I had this thought that it would be wild if all of our fellow guests on the Graham Norton show that night, including Graham himself, could be a part of it too. Like a school group project but for adults and it isn’t mandatory.”

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Swift said she was delighted when everyone accepted: “I had more fun than I ever imagined – made new friends, metaphors, and fashion choices. It was an absolute thrill to create this story and these characters.”

The “Opalite” music video is currently only available to watch on Spotify and Apple Music.

One resident said a ‘more coherent’ and ‘safety-focused approached’ on speeding would be welcomed.

Village residents have said they would welcome reduced speed limits in a Cambridgeshire village where roads are used as a “cut through” from the A47. Cambridgeshire County Council has proposed to introduce a 20mph speed limit on roads in Elm, as well as Fridaybridge, near Wisbech.

It has also proposed a 30mph speed limit on part of Begdale Road and a 40mph speed limit in Gosmoor Lane. Several residents have said they would welcome these speed limits.

Neil Dring said a “more coherent, safety-focused approach to speed limits and traffic calming would be appropriate”. He added: “Legally, parts of Begdale Road are signed with the national speed limit of 60mph. My sat-nav frequently shows 60mph for that stretch.

“Even at the legal speed limit, travelling at 60 mph on a road where people live, with driveways, pedestrians, cyclists, dog walkers and children nearby is, in my opinion, a serious hazard.

“I’ve personally experienced the consequences first-hand: when we moved to this property we had four cats, we now have one. Sadly, all the losses were due to road traffic incidents, which underlines how dangerous and fast drivers often behave here.”

Neil also said the character of Begdale Road has changed “considerably in the last five years” and it has become a “popular shortcut” if there is a crash on the A47. Neil said: “All of this suggests to me that the current speed and traffic management measures on Begdale Road are out of step with how the road is used and experienced by residents.”

Deborah Gibson, who lives on Gosmoor Lane, said the current 60mph speed limit is “totally unsafe”. She added: “Some people use Gosmoor Lane as a cut through to be navigated as quickly as possible without any regard to any residents wishing to enter or leave their property.

“We also ride horses along the lane and I am in full agreement with any traffic speeding restrictions anywhere in or near the village. We find the HGV lorries noisy and disruptive as maximum sized, refrigerator units which also run in addition to the engine noise plus the vibrations that are created.”

Roads where 20mph could be introduced would be outside schools. Alan Thomas said he “totally agrees” about the limit outside schools.

Effie Laker also agrees with the 20mph speed limit. She added: “30mph in towns and also limits in danger areas is sensible. If a country lane has no speed limit, I believe we are taught to drive at a speed suitable for how far ahead we can see.

“Speeding blindly around a corner unable to stop if you meet a horse or pedestrian is unacceptable. If a road has no speed limit, why do so many assume you have to drive at 60mph, the national speed limit. I think common sense and courtesy for drivers would go a long way.”

Councillor Dal Roy (Ind, Elm and Christchurch) said the introduction of speed limits would improve safety in the area. Cllr Roy said: “Wisbech has expanded over the years and there is a lot more traffic coming through. Everyone complains about speeding traffic and we have an active speed watch group. We have a number of speeding problems in the area.”

Cllr Roy said he understands a reduced speed limit may lead to increased journey times for people, but it is about “protecting our children”. He added: “Fatalities are reduced by reducing the speed limit. When there is an accident on the A47, all the traffic is diverted through and drivers cut through Elm and Fridaybridge.

“We also have an issue with big HGV lorries coming through. 20mph adds a level of safety in just reducing the speed. Also, if we have people using mobility scooters and wheelchairs, the 20mph zone will give them a bit more comfort.

“The longer term plan is about sustaining safety within our community. We are asking drivers to change their attitudes and try to reduce fatalities.”

Cambridgeshire County Council is running a consultation on the speed proposals until February 11. A council spokesperson said: “We’re committed to improving road safety, and 20mph schemes are one part of this.

“Studies have shown even a 1mph drop in speed reduces collisions by 6%. Reducing speed limits from 30mph to 20mph can cut pollution by 30% and reduce the chance of a severe or fatal injury in the event of a collision by a staggering 60 per cent.

“A 20mph speed limit was requested by Elm Parish Council, who were successful in their application to the 20mph Funding Initiative Programme for 2024/25. We have worked with the parish to develop this proposal.

“The proposed 20mph speed limits cover the residential roads within the parish that are suitable for a reduced limit, including parts of Elm, Fridaybridge, and at the parish’s request, an extension of the speed limit on Begdale Road to reflect recent development changes. The proposed 40mph sections act as buffer zones, providing a gradual transition between higher‑speed rural roads and the proposed 20mph residential areas.”

Emergency services were called to the scene near the Co-op Funeral care at around 2.45pm on Friday, February 6, after reports of a road traffic collision.

The e-bike rider has suffered injuries not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing

Witnesses said a police cordon was put in place, with officers, paramedics and at least two fire engines attending.

Traffic in the area was reported to be heavy as a result of the incident.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said the collision involved a car and an e-bike.

They added: “The e-bike rider has suffered injuries which are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

“The driver remained at the scene and no arrests have been made.”

North West Ambulance Service has been contacted for further information.

Customers of all “well-known energy companies” should be on high-alert

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British Gas customers have been alerted to a scam. And it could affect more than just the company’s customers, with anyone being a potential target.

According to Which?: “Dodgy emails claiming to be from well-known energy companies will contain links that will go on to steal your personal and financial information if clicked on.”

Looking closely at one scam, it found an email which claimed to be from British Gas. Within the email, it said that customers could claim “a free Google Nest thermostat.”

Noting that this freebie could save households £200 a year, this is just one of many fake energy supplier emails doing the rounds.

The consumer champions explain: “The catch is that you have to follow a malicious link and complete a short survey to receive the free thermostat. The survey will gather details that the fraudster will use themselves, or your details will be traded, enabling fraudsters to target you with more scams.”

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British Gas warning

Talking about scams in general, and not this specific one, on its website British Gas warn: “Some scam emails are easy to spot. They often contain spelling mistakes, incorrect addresses, unusual formatting and other clues. But others are more convincing.

“If you’re ever in doubt, to know if an email from us is genuine please attach what you’ve received to a new email and send it to phishing@britishgas.co.uk for us to investigate. Then delete it.

“Reporting messages to us this way is free, helps keep you safe and allows us to block fraudsters’ numbers so we can prevent or shut down similar scams faster in future. Please also be aware of fake websites which claim to be British Gas or Centrica and report the URL to us immediately at the same email address as above. “

British Gas says you should look out for the following:

• Our emails will always be personalised to you. We’ll use your name and include your customer number. Beware of emails that greet you as ‘customer’ or by your email address.
• Be suspicious of any email you weren’t expecting, or that asks you to do something unusual like make an unscheduled payment.
• Emails can show in your inbox as having come from ‘British Gas’ when they haven’t. Double-check the sender details for a @britishgas.co.uk email address.
• We’ll never ask you for your password or any other personal or sensitive information by email. We’ll also never ask you to reply to an email directly.
• Typically, the links in our emails will direct you to a britishgas.co.uk webpage. Hover over links to check where they’re sending you before clicking on them.
• Apart from your welcome email, which we attach your contract or agreement to, we don’t add attachments to our emails. Don’t open attachments in any later emails claiming to be from us.
• Phishers often use urgency or threats to pressure customers into taking immediate action, such as claiming their account will be suspended. This also will commonly include pressure to click on links or download attachments with claims of urgency. They want the customers to feel flustered and rushed.
• Phishers will also often offer incentives, for example gift cards, discounts or free access if you respond quickly.

Do this

Which? stresses that unusual messages, calls or emails must be “treated with caution”. As well as this, “information given to you in this way should be verified.”

It stresses that scammers will use urgency to get you to sign up for things or share details, hoping you will act fast and question later, when it’s too late.

They may also use “special offers, heavy discounts, huge savings or competitions to gather your data and get you to part with your money.”

If it’s too good to be true, it probably is. But if you lose any money to a scam, call your bank immediately, it is advised.

Make sure you use the number on the back of your bank card and report it to Report Fraud (formerly known as Action Fraud) or call the police on 101 if you’re in Scotland, Which? recommends.

Spot and report scam texts

If you receive a suspicious text, Which? says you should look out for the following:

• Messages from unknown numbers
• Requests for personal and financial information
• Texts which include links
• Poor spelling and grammar
• Being pressured to take action quickly

You can report scam texts by forwarding the message for free to 7726.