The North East Dog Festival will take place at Kirkley Hall in Northumberland on Saturday, August 22, and Sunday, August 23.

Established in 2015, the festival promises a packed weekend of dog-themed entertainment, activities, and shopping.

Rebecca and Dawn, directors of the festival, said: “When we started the North East Dog Festival, it was simply about creating something special for dog lovers like us.

“Seeing how it’s grown into such a loved event across the region is something we’re incredibly proud of.

North East Dog Show is returning this August. (Image: NORTH EAST DOG SHOW)

“Over the last decade we’ve kept a strong focus on dog welfare and education and the community aspect has organically grown.

“We genuinely can’t wait to welcome everyone back in 2026.”

The festival will feature more than 10 ‘have-a-go’ activities delivered in partnership with Mains Cottages, including flyball, trick training, and fastest recall – with options for dogs of all ages and abilities.

The Main Arena will showcase live demonstrations and performances such as agility, flyball, and a new Hoopers showcase.

Charity dog shows will also take place, raising funds for Northumberland Dog Rescue and Newcastle Dog & Cat Shelter and offering visitors the chance to enter their pets in a range of fun classes.

North East Dog Show is returning this August. (Image: NORTH EAST DOG SHOW)

The Clever K9 Ring will offer free training sessions throughout the day on topics such as recall, loose lead walking and canine confidence.

And a Wellbeing Area will host expert talks on behaviour, training, nutrition, and rehabilitation.

Visitors can also explore the Breeds, Bants & Brains area, shop from more than 120 dog-friendly exhibitors and enjoy food and drink stalls for all the family.

Early bird tickets are on sale now. More information and tickets are available at northeastdogfestival.com.

Will you be heading to the event? Let us know in the comments.

Commuters have described the rising St Neots station parking prices as ‘extortionate’, with many saying they feel left with no alternative but to pay or abandon the train altogether

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CambridgeshireLive readers have been voicing their concerns about escalating station car parking charges, with many saying they feel caught between steep costs, restricted alternatives and conflicting messages about transport choices.

Commuters have branded price rises for car parking at a Cambridgeshire railway station as “extortionate”. Parking at St Neots station previously cost £4.40 during off-peak hours, which run between 10am and 5pm. This charge has now jumped to £11.30 for parking until 5pm on weekdays.

Some readers challenged the notion that driving to the station is necessarily beneficial. Freddly says: We mustn’t make the error of thinking that driving to a train station to take the train is virtuous. It’s better than driving all the way to work, but it’s still hauling yourself around the city in a ton of steel.”

Camssurvivor adds: “Interestingly, between 1960 and the 1990’s passenger numbers were stable . Since they were privatised in the ’90’s passengers numbers have grown by 50% . Will they decrease again with renationalising next year?”

Windypants believes: “There should be no parking at any station anywhere. There is plenty of room for bikes on the train. In fact, they should make trains cycle-on/cycle off like the Eurotunnel, that way we can remain on our bikes at all times.”

Banthebikes disagrees: “If you have no parking at stations, then people will not use the train and travel by car. You should think a little before you comment, as for making trains just for cyclists, that would make them like a cycle way and not be used.”

Over on our Facebook page, Rachel B comments: “To be fair in my home town, all parking is free except if you park at the train station. And they wonder why people avoid (where possible) parking at the train station! I avoid using the train now, due to station parking costs and very high ticket prices, it’s actually cheaper for me to drive!”

Frank M writes: “The problem is also that there are too many cars (2-3 per household). As a result, cars are parked on yellow lines, cycle/foot paths, and specific allocated parking for disabled, visitors. A station may increase the parking problem in the surrounding areas.”

Patrick D. L says: “If the price is too cheap, then there won’t be any spaces available when you get there.”

John Moore believes: “Ridiculous and will drive people off the trains and drive more. I thought the idea was to attract people to use the trains.”

Do you agree with the parking prices at this station? Comment HERE or below to join in the conversation.

The Grade II listed two-bedroom home is for sale overlooking the city walls in Dewsbury Terrace for £525,000.

Ashtons, which is marketing the property, said it is a “rare opportunity” to acquire a home a “stone’s throw from all the city amenities, yet benefiting from a tranquil and quiet location with views of the walls”.

Inside the two-bedroom home for sale overlooking the city walls in Dewsbury Terrace, York, for £525,000 (Image: Ashtons/Zoopla)

The property has been refurbished over the years and has been kept to an “exceptionally high standard” by its previous owner, the estate agent said.

Inside is a central hallway with a sitting room and dining kitchen.

Recommended reading:

A rear utility room and ground floor shower room can also be found on the ground floor.

Upstairs are two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor.

Outside, courtyards sit at the front and rear of the home.

For more information about the property, visit its listing on Zoopla.

London can be a noisy and busy place, but one walk in a nature reserve could make you feel like you’ve left the city because it’s so calm – and it’s ideal for families

If you’re keen to swap the chaos of London city streets for a breath of fresh air, you might not need to venture as far as you think – nature is closer than you’d expect.

Walking is one of the finest ways to keep fit, regardless of your fitness level. You can tackle any route at whatever pace suits you, and heading somewhere green means you can soak up some stunning scenery along the way, whether you’re taking a leisurely stroll or picking up the pace.

And you certainly don’t need to leave London to find it. The capital is well known for its sprawling parks and open green spaces, but it’s also home to some wonderfully tranquil nature reserves that can be explored on foot or by bike throughout the year – a proper antidote to the relentless buzz of city life.

A TikTok video posted by Londoners Helen and Andy showcases one of the city’s “easiest” walks – a route so stunning you’ll completely forget you’re still in the heart of the capital. It takes you straight through the much-loved Parkland Walk.

Parkland Walk holds the title of London’s longest linear nature reserve, tracing the route of a former railway line between Finsbury Park and Alexandra Palace. Stretching around 4km (2.5 miles), it’s a fantastic option for families, dog walkers, and cyclists alike.

Helen explained in the video: “This walk takes you along London’s longest nature reserve. You’ll follow a former railway line connecting Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace, which opened in 1873. It splits into two sections, north and south, with a short stretch through Highgate linking them together.

“Start at Finsbury Park, heading into the park, past the tennis courts, and you’ll find the start of the Parkland Walk on your left. You’ll follow the trail for around 3km. It’s so green and peaceful, it honestly feels like you’ve left London.”

While the railway tracks have long since disappeared, the platforms and graffiti so characteristic of railway lines across the country remain visible throughout the walk. Just before reaching Highgate, a dedicated path leads to a wildlife trail specifically established to enhance biodiversity in the local area.

If you time the walk close to sunset, you may even be lucky enough to spot bats in the nature reserve, as part of the old railway tunnel has been sealed off to safeguard the creatures.

She added: “From here, you’ll need to walk on the road briefly to the northern section. Head past Highgate Station and turn right down Muswell Hill Road, between Queens Wood and Highgate Wood. Just past Highgate Wood on your right, you’ll join Parkland Walk north, and you’re straight back into the trees.

“There are lovely views over the rooftops and turrets of north London. Keep following the path, and you’ll arrive at Alexandra Palace. There are a few different paths, but as long as you’re heading uphill towards the big building, you’ll get to the right place. At the top, you’re rewarded with some of the best skyline views in London.”

While the Parkland Walk itself doesn’t have any cafes or rest stops, there’s no shortage of places to grab a bite or a drink in Highgate, Queen’s Wood, Highgate Wood and Finsbury Park, as well as at your final destination, Alexandra Palace.

The Parkland Walk website offers more information about the nature reserve, including additional walking route options and a detailed account of the site’s history.

Part of the website reads: “The Parkland Walk is the longest linear nature reserve in London at 4km in length, and follows the former railway line connecting Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace that opened in 1873. Its fame is now global, and it often features on ‘must-do’ lists for visitors from overseas.

“Sunny weekends bring out large numbers of ramblers, walkers with their dogs, runners and cyclists to escape the urban hullabaloo. Don’t get swept along by the crowd, though. Stop and take in the ambience that nature has to offer.”

When it comes to murder victim suspects, surely Theo Silverton is high up on the lists of many a Coronation Street fan – and, for very good reason.

One of the most deplorable ever characters to haunt Weatherfield, he has subjected Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) to a campaign of terrible abuse, killed Billy Mayhew, and been a mental and violent aggressor to those closest to Todd.

James Cartwright, who plays the dastardly villain, warns Metro that while the soap gods will inevitably catch up with Theo in some capacity, his vile acts may not be done.

He could even kill again…

‘100% he cold, and I think he could kill Todd,’ the actor declared to us. ‘Yeah, just you know, like a death pact.

‘He could definitely kill Carl after he grabs him in the crotch in a scene. He could kill George…

‘There are all these people I think, if I was watching that, I would think he is gonna kill some of them because he’s done it before.

‘So he knows he’s in trouble now, the story with Billy’s out. So I would say he probably could kill again – it’s highly likely he could kill again!’

There’s certainly going to be at least one death next week – that’s all confirmed – as one of five villains of varying degrees of meanness will meet their maker at the hands of a Corrie resident.

And James reckons there’s every chance that Theo’s time might well be up after everything he has done.

‘Well, he’s like a stray dog that keeps biting people’s legs. I think ultimately, sooner or later, you want the dog dead, you know?

‘And he’s sort of feral by this point, isn’t he? He’s painted himself into a corner, and I think he’s become so awful that he’s making ordinary, nice people do extraordinary, horrible things.

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‘It has been one of those journeys, I think. He started off, he was so in love and he thought he was doing the right thing to protect his relationship. And it is death by a thousand cuts. And as he’s gone further and further along the line, he’s got worse and worse and he’s riled everybody up.

‘And before you know it, he’s turned Corrie into a pack of wolves. They’ve sort of hunted him down and savaged him like a stray badger!’

If Theo were to die, there’d be no shortage of suspects and James wouldn’t rule anyone out.

‘If Theo was to be the unfortunate specimen to befall the justice of Corrie, let’s stick a pin in a map!’ he laughed. ‘You’ve got George, George could do it because George could put him in a coffin and bury him and you’d never know, do you know what I mean? You’ve got Todd, you’ve got Carl obviously. I think Carl’s like the tarantula of Coronation Street. He sort of prowls, sinks his teeth into anyone. 

‘It could be any number of people and I think very often with these things, it could be who you least expect. I mean imagine someone like Summer! Imagine he walks into the shop and she just cracks him over the head with a tin of beans, closes the shop sign and sticks him in a bin bag.’

I am pretty sure we’d all unite to give Summer an alibi if that were the case!

And James is not wrong when he says ‘feral’! In the episodes, we see an unhinged Theo with nothing left to lose, making him more dangerous than ever.

‘He’s really desperate – I think eventually it’s got to the point where he’s not even bothered now. He is not even bothered trying to persuade people he’s a nice fellow. Because you know, the game’s up and so now it’s about survival.

‘And I think very much like the wild dog analogy. You know, a dog backed into a corner is a dangerous dog and actually he’s suddenly become incredibly unpredictable. I think he’s become hyper-aggressive. I think all his negative traits have suddenly bubbled to the surface and you realise what a dangerous nut job he is.’ 

He’s been terrifying and heart-wrenching to watch and James admit it can be hard to switch off from the part of Theo, admitting that when he has been crying and shouting all day, the body doesn’t necessarily know it’s not real so can physically be exhausted.

But he has been enjoying every minute of his part in one of the show’s most talked about storylines.

‘It has, and continues to be, one of the great privileges of my life. To be involved in the show in the manner of which I have the arc with Todd, and the two-hander episode and then obviously the stuff with Billy and the Christmas stuff, and also to tell a story of meaning, of weight and importance , I honestly, from the bottom of my heart, could not feel more privileged.

‘It feels like I’m in the show at the most amazing time. You’ve got the wonderful Kate Brooks, you’ve got Iain and Verity MacLeod, all the writers.

‘It feels like it’s in a real purple patch and I think there’s so much competition now from YouTube and streaming platforms and I really think it’s interesting to see the show evolve and raise its stakes in order to keep ahead of the game and it’s still by far the best show you can watch on TV or anywhere.’

But it remains to be seen whether James will have the added privilege of being the latest addition to the Corrie body count…

MORE: Coronation Street video shows horror moment Theo closes in on Todd

MORE: Coronation Street spoiler videos show murder victim’s final moments

MORE: Coronation Street ripped from ITV schedules tonight at the worst possible time

Bukchon is one of Seoul’s most popular and photographed neighbourhoods. It features a maze of traditional hanok houses, which recently inspired the setting for Netflix smash KPOP Demon Hunters

A man dressed in a whip sharp uniform approached me, held a finger to his lips and shushed.

Having not been briefed on the presence of ‘the quiet police’, I was a little confused as to how I’d provoked the authorities. Then I spotted his sign.

“This place is a residential area. Keep your voice down,” it read. I quickly shut up.

Bukchon is one of Seoul’s most popular and photographed neighbourhoods. It features a maze of traditional hanok houses, which recently inspired the setting for Netflix smash KPOP Demon Hunters.

The area dates back 600 years, but it’s only in the last handful that locals have started getting really cross.

Those living in the 900 homes there have grown tired of the chattering crowds outside their front doors, dressed in traditional hanbok hired from nearby outfit shops. Supermarkets have been pushed out by souvenir stores that do a roaring trade during the April high season.

READ MORE: 15 airlines cancel flights amid fuel crisis as 20,000 axed and fares surgeREAD MORE: Ryanair warns passengers it’s changing its luggage rules in 2026

Once you’ve seen how thick the crowds get and in the way the front doorstep sitters are, their frustration is understandable. But rather than stewing about the inconvenience, locals have decided to act.

Starting in July 2025, the district launched a pilot program to ban large tour buses from entering the area’s narrow streets. The policy became permanent in February, with a 300,000 won (£150) fine for any coach that enters.

Tourist-free ‘red zones’ were cordoned off. Now, when the clock hits 5pm each day, the quiet police – officially known as the Bukchon Guardians – politely ask tourists to leave. The neighbourhood then returns to its peaceful state.

The setup is in its early days, but it’s one that other places with particularly dense concentrations of tourists may begin to copy. It’s easy to see how the busier residential parts of Venice or Barcelona, and overwhelmed villages such as Bibury in the Cotswolds, could benefit from such an approach.

Kim Nam-jo, a professor in the Department of Tourism at Hanyang University, is supportive of the changes.

“The convenience of the residents must be the number one priority,” the professor told the Korea Times, explaining why the hanok houses should be respected.

“They are the traditional housing of Korea that carries the identity of the Korean people. It represents the residential identity of those who have lived in this country for generations. People come here to feel the aura and the collective identity of our culture, which is why preserving the actual living environment is so important,” Kim added.

The changes appear to be popular with local residents. Jung, who has lived in the area for close to 30 years, welcomed the new rules.

“We deserve peace and quiet too. In the past few years, the noise and traffic from both tourists and weekend protests made it impossible to stay at home or move around the neighborhood. These rules help us control our own daily lives again and make the neighborhood predictable,” he said.

If other areas do follow this approach, they may find it less easy to control the crowds.

South Korea has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, according to Numbeo. The streets of Seoul are incredibly clean in most areas, despite the city having virtually no public rubbish bins.

Police numbers in the capital are high and officers are notably present. They are on hand to administer fines to those breaking the city’s many bylaws, as highlighted on its ample street signs.

These include fines of 100,000 won (£50) for smoking in non-designated areas, which cover the vast majority of the city, and jaywalking. So seriously is the anti-road-crossing measure taken that pedestrians are regularly seen running across the road to make sure they arrive before the timer reaches zero.

The apparent success of the policy in Bukchon may be due, in part, to this general appreciation of the rules. Whether Brits abroad would be similarly code-compliant remains to be seen.

Book it

Inside Asia offers tours of Seoul in general, with a personal local guide.

Virgin Atlantic flies from London Heathrow to Seoul daily.

Mark Allen has responded to criticism from seven-time champion Stephen Hendry

Mark Allen fired back at seven-time champion Stephen Hendry for “talking rubbish” after storming into the quarter-finals of the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.

Hendry had been highly critical of the Antrim man’s shot selection during the opening session of his second-round clash against Kyren Wilson on Thursday, as Allen squandered a commanding 5-0 lead.

However, Allen bounced back to seal a 13-9 victory on Saturday morning before turning his sights on Hendry, asserting: “Stephen’s entitled to his opinion, but more often than not, he’s full of rubbish, to be honest.”

Allen went further, adding: “Not everyone can come here and make it look as easy as he did, but you’re also looking at someone that never won a ‘triple crown’ event after they turned 30, so the game changes and maybe that stubbornness is what cost him his later part of his career.”

Allen claimed four of the first six frames in Saturday’s morning session to overcome the 2024 champion, and will now face either Barry Hawkins or Wales’ three-time champion Mark Williams in the last eight.

Wilson, who defeated Jak Jones to clinch the 2024 title, had reeled off six consecutive frames to take a 6-5 advantage before a tense back-and-forth battle ensued. Allen then won the final two frames in Friday’s session, aided by a stunning 140-break, to nudge 9-7 ahead.

Wilson pulled one back on Saturday morning with a score of 78 in the opening frame, but Allen responded with breaks of 78 and 61 to move 11-8 clear and, despite dropping the next frame, held his nerve to progress. Neil Robertson, the 2010 champion, let slip a 4-1 advantage in the opening session of his second-round clash with Chris Wakelin.

The Australian had reeled off four consecutive frames after dropping the first, but world number 13 Wakelin fought back, compiling a break of 77 to halt the momentum and claiming the final two frames of the morning session to draw level.

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Crews have dealt with multiple blazes in the scenic mountain range over the weekend

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service are continuing to battle a number of wildfires in the Mournes.

Crews have dealt with multiple blazes in the scenic mountain range over the weekend as Northern Ireland enjoys a spell of dry weather.

An incident at Ballagh Road in Newcastle has been scaled back, although crews remain on the scene to monitor the situation.

The NIFRS are continuing to tackle a blaze at Sandbank Road in Hilltown.

A NIFRS spokesperson said: “NIFRS are in attendance at wildfire incidents in the Ballagh Road, Newcastle and Sandbank Road, Hilltown areas of the Mourne Mountains.

“The Ballagh Road incident has been scaled back and fire service crews will be remaining on scene and will monitor.

“Firefighting operations are currently continuing at the Sandbank Road incident.