An investigation is underway

A motorcyclist has tragically died following a horror crash in Stockport. Emergency services descended on the A6 Buxton Road, in Hazel Grove, at around 3.30pm on Friday (March 20).

Greater Manchester Police says the collision involved several vehicles, including a motorbike. The rider, a man in his 30s, sadly died at the scene. His family have been informed by police.

There are not thought to have been any other injuries following the crash. No arrests have been made, but witnesses are being urged to come forward as an investigation into the crash gets underway.

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The A6 was closed for several hours between the A555 junction in Hazel Grove and Windlehurst Road in High Lane while emergency services worked at the scene. An air ambulance had been seen landing nearby.

A badly-damaged motorbike and two other vehicles were seen inside the cordon afterwards. Debris could also be seen on the ground as initial collision investigation works took place.

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A GMP spokesperson said: “Our Serious Collision Investigation Unit (SCIU) is appealing for information after a motorcyclist died in Stockport. Officers were called to Buxton Road, Hazel Grove, at around 3:30pm yesterday (March 20) when there was a collision involving several vehicles.

“A man in his 30s who was riding a motorbike was pronounced dead at the scene attended by emergency services – our thoughts are with his family, who are being supported by specialist officers. No other injuries have been reported. Those involved in the collision are assisting officers, however currently there have been no arrests.

“If you have any information or dashcam footage of this incident which could assist the investigation, please contact SCIU on 0161 856 4741 quoting incident number 2139-20/03/2026. Alternatively, you can call us on 101 or talk to us via LiveChat at www.gmp.police.uk.”

In 1066, England was invaded by multiple foreign powers. A northern force led by King Harald Hardrada of Norway advanced on York via the River Humber, while a southern force, led by Duke William of Normandy (later William I the Conqueror) crossed the Channel with forces from Normandy, France, Brittany and Ponthieu, and took up position at Hastings.

King Harold of England had to dash up from London to deal with the vikings, only to hurry back south again to deal with William. A distance of more than 250 miles separated his victory at Stamford Bridge (on September 25) from Battle, the site of his defeat (on October 14) at the Battle of Hastings.

His “almost miraculous” march, as one historian described it, became part of Harold’s legend. It’s now taught in schools, recreated by re-enactors and depicted in TV dramas such as the recent BBC miniseries, King and Conqueror (2025).

For some, Harold’s forced march was an incredible feat of generalship. For others, it was a fatal mistake. The conquest historian Allen Brown criticised Harold’s “reckless and impulsive haste”, while Henry Loyn accused Harold of “rashness” in undertaking a mad dash south that exhausted his men and led to his defeat at Hastings.

Researching my new biography, Harold, Warrior King, I turned to the Latin and Old English sources. And what I found surprised me.

Going back to the beginning, the forces Harold had assembled that spring to counter the threat of Norman invasion were a land army and a fleet stationed on the south coast. They remained there until September 8, by which time William’s fleet had still not appeared. The land army was then sent home, and the fleet sailed to London.

According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, our most reliable contemporary account, after the fleet returned, Harold learned that Harald Hardrada was invading the north.

In 1801, the historian Sharon Turner took the Chronicle’s phrase “after the fleet came home” to indicate that the ships had all returned to their various ports. The father-figure of 1066 studies Edward Augustus Freeman agreed, and subsequent historians fell in with believing that Harold had no fleet when news of the vikings came.

A reference to a fleet (lið) which Harold then arrayed on the River Wharfe, south of York, when advancing on the vikings, was taken to refer to some hastily gathered force.

Assertions in two early Latin accounts of the battle that Harold had sent a fleet against William at Hastings appear to have confused many historians, who had come to believe that Harold had disbanded the fleet.

It was this apparent lack of a fleet that led Freeman to surmise Harold had marched up and down the country. But Freeman was not the first to suggest this; John Milton had written of the king marching to London “in great haste” in his book History of England in 1670.

The thing scholars appear not to have recognised is that where the chronicle speaks of the fleet “coming home”, it means coming home to London. In its entry for the year 1052, the same chronicle refers to the fleet journeying “homeward to London” in this way.

Thus, the statement that has long misled scholars into thinking Harold’s fleet was disbanded actually indicates he retained it all along.

A centuries-old error

Once I had spotted what appears to be a 200-year-old error, I was able to join the dots. The presence of a fleet on the River Wharfe now made sense, for this was the same fleet which Harold had sent up from London, having used it, we may assume, to transport troops.

And those early references to Harold sending hundreds of ships against William’s camp at Hastings indicate that he sent the ships back down to London subsequently, after the battle of Stamford Bridge.

Furthermore, the king may have enlarged his fleet with captured viking vessels, since the chronicle states that 300 viking ships sailed into the Humber, but only 24 returned to Norway.

What, then, of the march? When I looked into the Latin and Old English texts, I was unable to find any reference to it. There are references to Harold hurrying south very quickly and to Harold “moving” his army south, but the march is missing.

Some scholars were so wedded to the idea of a forced march, however, that the translators of the Norman account Deeds of Duke William (circa 1071) translated the Latin phrase “returning speedily to attack you” (festinus redit in te) as “advancing against you by forced marches”.

Freeman called the march “almost miraculous”. And such a march would be. Sailing, however, would have taken a few days and allowed the English army a chance to rest. Since the sources track the movements of the fleet but nowhere mention a march, it would appear that Harold used ships for all his operations.

If Harold used ships, of course, he cannot be accused of “reckless and impulsive haste”, and the cause of his defeat at the Battle of Hastings must be sought elsewhere.

No longer that desperate, land-locked defender as traditionally depicted, assaulted on all sides from the sea, this research shows that Harold was a seaborne commander equal to his foreign foes – and no less sophisticated in combining warfare on sea and land in England’s defence.

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Manchester City meet Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final and several players may miss the match at Wembley Stadium as Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola have decisions to make

Manchester City could be close to having an almost fully fit squad again for the Carabao Cup final against a potential injury-affected Arsenal.

Josko Gvardiol is the only City player that Pep Guardiola will definitely be without as the defender continues to recover from a leg fracture. Max Alleyne has also been absent from their last two matches. John Stones, Rico Lewis and Savinho have been missing recently, too. However, all three made the bench for their midweek loss to Real Madrid.

Bernardo Silva was shown a red card in that game for handball, but the ban only applies to UEFA competitions, so he remains available for the cup final.

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Pep Guardiola also sounds positive about Erling Haaland despite withdrawing the striker during the second half in midweek. He said afterwards: “Erling Haaland has no injury, he will be available against Arsenal in the cup final.”

Guardiola added on Friday: “I’m pretty sure he’s focused, like all of us. I didn’t speak with him, we had two days off [after the Real Madrid match], but I’m pretty sure he’s ready.”

As for City’s opponents, Eberechi Eze, Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard are all questionable to play. The trio did not participate in Friday’s training session, but Mikel Arteta confirmed that the team will train again on Saturday.

The former City assistant manager has not ruled out any of them returning for Sunday’s match. Eze seems the most probable to play, despite apparently sustaining a minor injury during Tuesday night’s Champions League victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

The goalscorer was substituted midway through the second half as a precautionary measure, but reassured TNT Sports afterwards: “I’m alright, I’ll be OK.” Arteta also confirmed there were no new injuries following their fixture in Germany.

Mikel Merino remains sidelined for an extended period, with Odegaard and Timber also out. Their captain has now missed six consecutive matches due to a knee injury since appearing as a second-half substitute in the north London derby.

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Odegaard also sat out four of the five games before that, his only appearance being as a substitute against Brentford. Timber, on the other hand, was substituted before half-time in the 2-0 victory over Everton due to an ankle injury.

However, the issue seems minor as he is due to join the Netherlands for their upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and Norway. Notably absent from the Norway squad is Odegaard, while England have also selected Eze for their matches against Japan and Uruguay.

Arteta discussed the fitness of Odegaard and Timber during Friday’s pre-match press conference. Arsenal’s manager said: “We have another training session, so the ones that are in contention hopefully can give us good news. We have another session, so let’s see if they can make it.”

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 for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.

If you missed the display on Friday night, forecasters at the Met Office Space Weather Prediction Centre say it could be seen again on Saturday night.

They say “geomagnetic activity is expected to remain… with a chance of reaching a strong storm”.

The Northern Lights could therefore be seen across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern areas of England and Wales.

There’s also a small chance they could be seen further south.

Cloud could spoil the view for those in Scotland and Northern Ireland but elsewhere, especially during the first part of Saturday night, there will be some clear skies.

To have a go at spotting the lights, look to the north for a faint glow at first and, if you can’t see the colours, try through a camera lens or on your phone.

Geomagnetic storms and solar flares are perfectly safe for us as we are protected from the radiation by our atmosphere, but they can interfere with technology.

Finance expert Martin Lewis says people should avoid using it where possible

Personal finance expert Martin Lewis says one ‘demon appliance’ is the biggest energy guzzler in the home – and should be avoided to get bills down. Household energy bills in the UK are set to climb by £332 a year in July, experts say.Big increases in wholesale prices due to the conflict in the Middle East are set to feed through into Ofgem’s price cap. Analysts at Cornwall Insight say forecasts for the watchdog’s price cap from July to September have gone up to £1,973 a year for a typical dual fuel households.

That is an increase of £332 – or 20% on April’s cap. In advice shared last year on his BBC Radio 5 podcast – which is still relevant today – Mr Lewis highlighted one key appliance to use as infrequently as possible that might help as bills rise.

The appliance in question is the tumble dryer, which costs £1 per load. He said: “Do you know what the real ‘demon appliance’ is in most people’s houses – the one that you don’t want to use because it’s really expensive? Tumble dryers. You’re typically paying up to a quid per load so dry your clothes on an airer outside, to shorten the amount of time you’re using your tumble dryer, or avoid using it completely. Those who have dehumidifiers can take some of the moisture out of the air. It’s less wattage than a tumble dryer, so it can be more cost-effective.”

Martin Lewis’ verdict on dehumidifiers

Mr Lewis spoke on the issue after listener Rob said he had noticed that his flat had become damp since he started drying his washing indoors. He asked: “If I were to buy a dehumidifier, would it be cheaper than using the heating to keep the place dry?”

Martin responded: “Dehumidifiers take water out of the air rather than use the heating and they’re much lower wattage appliances than standard heating. So if the dehumidifier works for you, it will definitely have lower electricity bills.”

One of the problems is radiators heating spaces which do nothing to increase the temperature and escape outside rapidly. Speaking previously on his BBC podcast, Mr Lewis said that households should consider using reflective panels behind radiators – to send the heat back into the room rather than through the wall to outside.

He said: “A tip for you reflective panels behind radiators. Sheets of reflective material can be placed behind radiators. Crucially, this is on external wall radiators, so the heat doesn’t escape. If you don’t want to pay for those, then tin foil can work, although it doesn’t work quite as well.”

Radiator heat reflector foil

Currently a 4 metre long roll of the radiator heat reflector foil can be purchased at Screwfix for £6.39. Mr Lewis also shared other suggestions for radiators. He said: “If you’ve got radiators in rooms that you’re not using, go and turn them off before you turn the heating on so you’re not wasting cash overheating empty spaces.

“Changing the flow rate on your boiler can cut gas bill by over 9% and you won’t notice the change.” He added: “Other general tips included: “Check your TV’s on a low energy setting too and walk around your house. Be a draft detector – what drafts can you spot as you walk around your house? And then try, if you can, to seal them up.”

Strictly Come Dancing professional Karen Hauer has confirmed that she’s quit the BBC show after 14 years.

Karen Hauer has announced her departure from Strictly Come Dancing after a 14-year stint.

Karen, 43, is the longest-serving professional dancer on Strictly, having joined the cast in 2012. There were rumours that she had been dropped from the BBC programme.

However, Karen has now clarified that it was her decision to leave, stating it was “the right time”. She shared an emotional video on Instagram discussing her exit from the dance show.

In the video, she expressed: “After 14 years on Strictly Come Dancing I’ve decided it’s the right time for me to close this chapter and take on new projects in other areas that I’m passionate about.

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READ MORE: Alison Hammond shares bizarre Strictly confession and says ‘it was awful’READ MORE: Greg James says ‘I’m not doing it again’ after £4m Comic Relief challenge

“Strictly completely changed my life, not only as a performer and a teacher but as a human being. I’ve had the privilege of meeting so many incredible people and brilliant celebrity partners who have become close friends and people I admire so much.”

She went on to say: “None of this would have been possible without the amazing fans. You’ve been there since day one when I just moved to the UK and had no idea what I was getting myself into.

“I’m so grateful you watched me grow over the years and witnessed all of my different hairstyles.

“I’m going to miss everyone who makes the show possible. To my fellow professional dancers who I adore – I will always be cheering you on,” reports the Daily Star.

Becoming emotional, Karen concluded: “Strictly will always be in my heart. I love you all.”

Karen was showered in support from fans and co-stars, with Rylan Clark writing: “You’re amazing and you’re gonna be missed so much xxx.”

Amber Davies said: “YOU DID THAT,” while pros Luba Mushtuk and Lauren Oakley also shared their support.

“Love you dear all the best,” Motsi Mabuse wrote, while head judge Shirley Ballas posted a series of hearts.

Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, who was partnered with Karen on the most recent series of Strictly, also said: “A true inspiration! Purely unique! Thank you for everything! Cant wait for the next chapter.”

During her stint on Strictly, Karen danced with Jamie Laing, Charles Venn and late Hairy Bikers star Dave Myers.

Paying tribute to him in an It Takes Two clip months ago, she broke down in tears as she said: “It was my second year on the show and I was still quite lost on who I wanted to be on the show and how to present myself.

“He unlocked that key for me, and went, ‘This is how you have fun, Karen.’”

She added: “He showed me how to make fun of myself, and since then, I’ve definitely taken that on board. He took care of me, and I just miss him.”

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and iPlayer later this year.

The beach is also said to have some of the best sunsets in the county

A hidden beach that is very close to a royal estate is “perfect to walk all year-round”. Beaches are some of the most peaceful places to walk with views out over the waves.

One beach that is only an hour and a half drive away from Cambridge is at Snettisham. This beach is considered one of Norfolk’s most secret beaches, as it’s a less touristy spot. It has beautiful unspoilt sands that feel like a dream to walk along.

Rather than a beach to sunbathe on, this is a better beach for walking as it is made up of a mixture of shingle and sand. The beach also provides some pretty panoramic views across its lagoons, salt marshes and mudflats.

If you’re looking for a romantic date location or want to see a picturesque view, the beach is the perfect place to watch the sunset. According to locals, Snettisham beach offers some of the best sunsets in Norfolk.

For anyone who likes wildlife, it is also a great spot to see some. While on a visit, people may be able to spot different types of geese at the right tide times, as well as avocets, bar-tailed godwits, and shelducks.

The beach is also a popular place for sports, as the Snettisham Beach Sailing Club is nearby. If you visit there, you can enjoy a go at wind and kite surfing, paddle-boarding, or kayaking. There is also a busy social club.

A big draw for the beach is a royal estate only a stone’s throw away. This is the Sandringham Estate, a much-loved country retreat for King Charles III and Queen Camilla. At Sandringham, there are more than 600 acres of parkland to explore, as well as gardens on the estate.

For anyone seeking a secluded beach getaway, a visit to Snettisham beach may be worth it.

A good frying pan should be versatile, durable (it won’t end up in the bin after three months) and good value for money, meaning it’s either pleasingly affordable or so long-lasting that it will be the last you ever buy.

There are lots of different frying pans out there, so we narrowed our search to three main fields: iron pans, which are highly durable but harder to maintain; non-stick pans, considered easier to maintain but generally less durable, and stainless steel, which are loved by the pros but trickier to use. For boiling or stir frying, you’ll want a saucepan or wok.

We’ve tested all the best frying pans on the market and you can read our reviews below, followed by advice from a cookware expert.

The best frying pans: At a glance

How to choose the best frying pan

The most important thing is to decide what you’ll be cooking, as each type of frying pan is suited to different tasks. For example, if frying eggs in the morning, non-stick is the best option and has the benefit of needing less oil.

If high temperatures are required – to sear steak, say – iron pans are superior. Stainless steel pans are a great in-between and are great for cooking sauces as well as frying vegetables. The downside is they tend to stick, so you’ll need plenty of oil.

Non-stick loosely describes pans that have one of two types of coating: Teflon (a form of plastic) or ceramic (a natural, mineral coating that’s non-stick and hard, but more fragile). However, several new technologies are emerging, included in the reviews below.

Non-stick pans are sold ready to use – you don’t need to season them – and they should retain their slick cooking surface through multiple uses.

How we test frying pans

His latest crimes were exposed by a bag of Walkers Sensations crisps

A high-level drug trafficker who boasted of “banana boat” smuggling routes and million-pound profits has been jailed for 13 years, the Liverpool Echo reports.

James Hitchmough, who operated under the EncroChat handle “Brutal Whale”, was brought to justice after detectives matched his fingerprints to an image he shared of himself holding a bag of Walkers Sensations crisps.

Hitchmough, of Kingsway in Huyton, had been a wanted man since 2020, fleeing to a bolthole in Dubai to avoid the fallout from the French police infiltration of the EncroChat network. However, the 35-year-old returned to the UK last October to “face the music”, telling the court through his lawyer that he “simply could not carry on any longer” as a fugitive.

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Liverpool Crown Court heard that Hitchmough ran a sophisticated criminal business that operated every single day across Merseyside.

Using the handles “Brutal Whale” and “Roll Play”, he orchestrated the supply of massive quantities of Class A and B drugs – including 64.5kg of cocaine, 37.5kg of heroin and 33kg of cannabis.

Prosecutors revealed that Hitchmough acted as a wholesaler, frequently purchasing 5kg blocks of cocaine for over £38,000 per kilogram. He was so established that he offered “deals of the day” to customers and invested over £2.4 million in dirty cash into properties abroad and luxury items.

The sentencing also brought to light Hitchmough’s history of extreme violence. In 2013, he was sentenced to nine years for a sickening assault on a 44-year-old dog walker in Bootle.

During that incident, Hitchmough and an accomplice waited in a white van before ambushing the victim and battering him with a hammer, rendering him unconscious. The victim, who suffered a fractured skull, was found bound and bleeding in the back of the vehicle.

Judge Garrett Byrne noted that this history showed a man “deeply entrenched” in a criminal lifestyle.

Despite his attempts to hide behind encrypted technology, Hitchmough left a digital trail that proved his undoing.

Merseyside Police identified him through several key errors which included other EncroChat users referring to him as “Jim” and “Jimmy” in messages and a series of images from a fishing trip Hitchmough had paid for which included a picture of his specific lakeside pitch.

The most definitive evidence, however, came from a photo he sent of himself holding a bag of crisps, which allowed forensic experts to map and match his fingerprints.

Hitchmough admitted conspiracy to supply heroin, cocaine, and cannabis, as well as transferring criminal property.

Jailing him for 13 years, Judge Byrne remarked: “On any view, this was an established, large scale, highly active and sophisticated operation… Those who engage in this sort of conduct must expect to receive lengthy periods of imprisonment.”

Merseyside Police have now confirmed they will pursue a Proceeds of Crime Act application to seize Hitchmough’s international assets and ill-gotten gains.

Lewis Rimmer was critically injured when a Range Rover struck him and pinned him against a steel pillar outside Sainsbury’s on Darwen Road on October 27 last year.

Having spent over 140 days in hospital, Lewis has undergone more than 40 hours of surgery, spent three weeks in a coma and nine weeks in intensive care.

He has since been transferred to Salford Royal Hospital as he begins the next stage of his rehabilitation.

Lewis Rimmer with close friends and best men Andy and Ben. // A devoted dad is fighting (Image: Rimmer Family / SWNS)

Family friend Andy Tonge said Lewis has started an “intense” physiotherapy programme to help maintain muscle strength and flexibility.

However, he will require further surgery to reset the right side of his pelvis, a major procedure doctors say cannot yet go ahead while his abdominal injuries continue to heal.

Despite the challenges, there has been some positive news for the family.

A recent biopsy on a fluid collection in his pelvis came back clear.

Lewis’s partner, Sarah, said his recovery remains slow and painful, with progress measured in small steps.

She posted: “There’s also been a lot of physio.

“At the moment it’s focused on basic things, like simply sitting on the edge of the bed.

“The injuries were so serious and caused a lot of damage, so recovery is happening in very small steps, and it’s very painful.

“But progress, even small, is so important to us right now.”

Lewis was transferred from Royal Preston Hospital to Salford Royal on February 22.

Lewis Rimmer, 41, with wife Sarah and their daughter. // A devoted dad is fighting for his life (Image: Rimmer Family / SWNS)

Paying tribute to the care he received, Sarah added: “We can’t thank the team at Preston Hospital enough.

“Saying they saved Lewis’s life still doesn’t feel like enough to express what they’ve done for us over the past 15 weeks.

“We truly owe them everything.

“Now it’s a new place with new faces, and we’re hopeful this means we’ll soon be having that long-awaited conversation about discharge.

“I never imagined in a million years that Lewis would be away from us at home for this long after being admitted on October 27.”

Lewis suffered devastating injuries in the crash, including multiple breaks to his pelvis, both femurs, and a compound fracture to his right shin.

He also sustained internal injuries including a ruptured bladder and two bowel ruptures, as well as three fractured ribs.

His left foot was so badly damaged it had to be amputated.

Since the incident, more than £110,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe page to support Lewis and his family as they adjust to the long road ahead.

Lewis, a dad of two young daughters, had been out celebrating one of their birthdays shortly before the incident and had gone into the supermarket when the collision happened at around 12.50pm.

Greater Manchester Police said a 56-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs.

He is on bail pending further enquiries.