Television production crews were set up in Le Mans Crescent, a popular location for producers of hit dramas.

The Bolton News understands the crew were filming a ‘courtroom drama’ and aptly the shoot was taking place outside the old courthouse, which has been used for some of the biggest dramas, including the detective series Ridley.

Those on the set said it was a Liverpool-based production.

Currently filming in the North West is Saviour, which is a courtroom drama.

Actors could be seen on the steps of the building, looking lawyerly in full suits, overcoats, and briefcases.

The production crew was made up of around 30-40 people, operating boom mics, several sets of cameras, and a big white backdrop screen.

ITV crews were spotted in Bury last month filming a new season of the Liverpool-based courtroom drama Saviours.

The show stars Anjli Mohindra, Shaun Parkes and Aidan Gillen, who played ‘Little Finger’ in the hit HBO show Game of Thrones.

Three actors could be seen on the steps of the building, outfitted in lawyerly garb (Image: Dan Dougherty)

Saviour follows Ben (Archie Fisher), who, after borrowing his dad’s police uniform for a costume party, gets into an altercation that results in a man’s death.

In defending Ben from an allegation of murder, Indy is confronted with a world of corruption, racial politics, media buzz, a frustratingly traditional justice system and a defendant who is keeping secrets from her.

Saviour will air on ITV, STV and stream on ITVX and STV Player.

Sunderland City Council has announced a temporary prohibition of pedestrian traffic on certain footways in Chacombe, Finchale, and Melrose in Washington.

The closure, effective from April 15, is due to necessary gas main repair works.

• For more notices affecting YOUR area, visit our Public Notice Portal – Public Notices from The Northern Echo ( publicnoticeportal.uk ).

The council issued the order on March 31 under Section 14(1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Though the order permits a maximum closure duration of six months, the repairs are expected to be completed within 86 days.

Pedestrians will not be able to use the following paths:

• Chacombe: From No 10 Chacombe to No 33 and 34 Chacombe
• Chacombe: Path linking No 33 and 34 Chacombe to No 35 Chacombe
• Chacombe: From the extended party property of No 59 and No 60 Chacombe, to its western extent
• Chacombe: Path linking No 44 to No 48 Chacombe
• Finchale: Path linking No 33 and 34 Chacombe to No 26 Finchale
• Melrose: Path linking No 26 Finchale to No 26 Melrose
• Melrose: Path linking No 11 Finchale, for a distance of 69 metres in a westerly then a southerly direction

An alternative route will be provided for pedestrians.

Children say trains are their favourite way to travel

A fifth of children dream of becoming a train driver when they grow up – while a quarter say train journeys excite them more than car, boat or bus trips, according to research by TransPennine Express (TPE).

One in five children named trains as their favourite way to travel and a quarter of parents say journeys that begin by train often turn into their most memorable family experiences. The study also revealed that looking out of the window tops the list of what children enjoy most, followed by the sense of adventure.

To celebrate how much children love travelling by train, TPE has launched a free children’s activity book onboard its services. The booklet, which has arrived just in time for the Easter holidays, can be requested by parents or children directly from onboard service hosts on all routes.

Designed for children aged between four and 11, it aims to make family journeys more entertaining while also teaching facts about train travel and safety. The booklet also introduces children to destinations throughout the TPE network with interactive games.

Alongside the activity books the train operator is also providing junior travellers with ticket wallets to help keep their tickets safe.

Andrew McClements, Customer Experience and Transformation Director, said: “We wanted to create something that makes travelling with us even more enjoyable for families, while also helping children learn along the way. The activity book is designed especially for young customers and even road-tested by children to make sure it’s fun, engaging and easy to use.

“It’s a great way to introduce important safety messages and the excitement of travelling by train.”

The bridge in Waterbeach forms part of an off-road route between Waterbeach and Cambridge

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Cambridgeshire Live readers have mostly welcomed news that a new bridge for pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders across a major road in Cambridgeshire has officially opened. The bridge forms part of an off-road route connecting Waterbeach with Cambridge.

Local residents were among the first to cross the bridge on foot and by bike, with the formal opening planned for May once landscaping work is completed. The route is intended to a safer, off-road alternative for travelling between Waterbeach and Cambridge. It passes landmarks such as Cambridge Science Park and Cambridge Regional College, before continuing into the city centre.

Fiona Reardon-Rose, Communications and Partnership Manager for the Waterbeach development, said: “The new bridge encourages active, low-carbon travel for residents and the wider community, whether commuting, exercising, or exploring with the family over the Easter break.

“It also makes journeys significantly safer by removing the need for pedestrians, cyclists, and horse riders to cross the A10 at road level. There has been a lot of excitement about the bridge, and now that installation and safety checks are complete, we wanted residents to start using it right away. We look forward to the official opening in the coming weeks.”

Commenter Freddly thinks: “This seems not only a useful and attractive asset, but also appealing because spending on active travel means the money wasn’t available for the endless demands of the motoring lobby. It’s a small win compared to the billions spent on them, but a win nonetheless.”

Gabriel B writes: “With the town set to have over 11,500 homes once complete, and a connection to the new park and ride by the bridge, it’s bound to be well used.”

Michael F agrees: “It’s set to be a fantastic asset for cyclists, walkers, and horse riders alike. I can’t wait to try it and see how it brings everyone together while making journeys safer and more enjoyable.”

Linda B complains: “Another thing for cyclists, I doubt pedestrians will use it, given how recklessly some of these cyclists ride.”

Michael F retorts: “In Cambridge, pedestrians use all the shared cycling and pedestrian bridges without any real problems. Aside from a very small minority, most cyclists are considerate, giving plenty of space and waiting patiently for pedestrians to cross safely.”

Squeaks33 thinks: “It definitely needs some lighting for safety, especially for early mornings, evenings, and during the darker months, to ensure it’s usable and secure for everyone.”

Meanwhile, Skipper says: “Meanwhile, potholes keep multiplying with insufficient funding, causing damage to people’s cars. Will CCC now run a month-long survey to check how much this bridge is actually used and by whom, to determine if the spending was justified? The bridge seems wide enough for cars, so it could be converted for vehicle use if push bikes rarely use it. From the photo, it doesn’t look heavily trafficked.”

Windypants retorts: “Car owners have worn out roads, pavements, and cycleways with their overweight vehicles, yet don’t pay enough tax to fix them. Better suspension could help.”

This new bridge seems like a great boost for cyclists, walkers, and horse riders. Would this make you ditch the car for short trips? Have your say in our comments section.

The latest attempt by Donald Trump to ease uncertainty over the US and Israel’s war on Iran has only heightened investor concerns.

The US president’s primetime address, saying American forces could leave Iran in two to three weeks, while threatening to strike Iranian electric plants “extremely hard”, has caused the fallen oil price to jump again.

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A barrel of benchmark Brent crude oil is now up more than 7% at $107.50 since his comments, having fallen below $100 yesterday. Oil prices impact the cost of petrol and diesel, home heating oil and prices throughout the economy.

It was a similar story with the UK wholesale gas price, which rose more than 6% following Mr Trump’s statements. British electricity prices are still tethered to wholesale gas costs.

Asian stock markets were also in the red, with Korea’s Kospi and Japan’s Nikkei indices posting big falls of more than 4.5% and 2.3%, respectively.

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Oil prices rise after Trump speech

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The crux of the worry is of a 1970s-era energy crisis due to the month-long disruption to shipping in the key oil and gas shipping route, the Strait of Hormuz.

More than a fifth of the world’s oil and liquified natural gas (LNG) is typically transported through the channel but for the last month, it’s been too dangerous and expensive for most tankers to pass.

Iran has attacked many ships making the journey and insurance companies have hiked premiums.

That’s meant shipments not getting through from major petrostates of the Gulf, oil and gas storage filling up and energy producers powering down.

Oil and gas production is not easily switched on and off, meaning resuming supply will not be a speedy process.

Impact in the UK

As the dollar rose amid continued uncertainty, sterling fell. Before Mr Trump’s announcement, a pound bought $1.33, which dropped to $1.32 this morning. A pound now buys slightly over €1.15, down from €1.16 on Wednesday afternoon.

That means buying dollar-priced goods, such as oil, becomes even more expensive than yesterday.

And after strong rises on Wednesday, the UK’s flagship stock index, the FTSE 100 of the most valuable London Stock Exchange companies, shed 0.6%.

Home heating oil prices have remained at more than double pre-Iran war levels, while motoring organisation the RAC said UK petrol and diesel prices in March jumped more than in any previous single month.

Even if the war were to end in a few weeks the membership body for food and drink manufacturers, the Food and Drink Federation, said estimates food inflation will rise to at least 9% by the end of the year.

Latest effort to calm markets

The overnight address by Mr Trump was just the latest in a line of attempts to assuage fears of investors and his voters over the duration and cost of living impact of the war.

In the first week of the war, he said the US Navy could escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

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Trump’s Iran address: Clarity or confusion? Watch Mark Stone’s analysis

After this did not materialise, the Trump administration lifted sanctions on Russian oil so Indian refineries could begin processing the fossil fuel.

Persistently higher oil prices were not lowered by Mr Trump’s repeated statements that many of his objectives had been attained and the war would conclude soon.

His suggestion that US troops could seize the major Iranian outlet for oil exports, Kharg Island, also did not move the needle on oil.

The only thing harder than losing weight is keeping it off. Many people who lose weight find themselves stuck in the cycle of “yo-yo dieting” – losing weight and gaining it all (and sometimes more) back again.

Research on yo-yo dieting has long indicated it can be harmful for your health. But a recent paper has now suggested yo-yo dieting might not be as unhealthy as we’ve been led to believe.

This recent paper, published in BMC Medicine, presents the findings of two separate weight loss trials that were conducted five years apart.

The first trial (trial 1) looked at 278 participants who were overweight or obese. Participants were randomised to follow either a low-fat or low-carb Mediterranean diet – either with or without exercise. All participants lost a comparable amount of weight at the end of the 18-month trial. But those who incorporated exercise achieved the biggest decrease in visceral fat (a dangerous type of fat that is stored around the organs).

The second trial (trial 2) was conducted five years later. Similar to trial 1, the 294 participants followed a Mediterrean-style diet for 18 months. But this time, one group ate a diet very high in polyphenol-rich foods (naturally-occurring plant compounds which have been linked to health benefits such as lower risk of chronic disease). The second group ate a normal Mediterranean diet, while the third group followed normal healthy diet guidelines.

While both Mediterrnanean diet groups lost weight and saw improvements in their overall health, the polyphenol group lost more visceral fat.

A unique aspect of trial 2 was that it included around 80 participants from trial 1. Some of these participants weighed more than they did at the start of the first trial. Such weight recidivism is common following weight loss. This is due to various biological and physiological functions that reduce metabolism and increase hunger, causing people to regain weight and store fat.

The authors compared the people who rejoined the research project against their health and weight status at the start of trial 1. They assessed body weight and other aspects of health – including body fat and blood sugar levels. Despite the re-joiners weighing around the same (if not more) than they did at the start of trial 1, they had lower levels of abdominal fat and visceral fat five years later.

Their metabolic health was also better than it was at the start of the first trial, based their blood lipid (fat) levels, cardiovascular health and blood sugar control.

On the surface, this appears to be good news – suggesting participants retained some of the health benefits of the weight they lost the first time around, despite regaining the weight.

Yet, the results suggest that the very adaptations which helped the re-joiners stay healthy despite regaining weight could potentially have repercussions later. To understand why this is the case requires a grasp of how the body responds to a calorie deficit.

Weight loss and body fat

Our fat stores (known as adipose tissue) serve as our main energy (calorie) buffer when there’s no food to provide that fuel. These stores are sacrificed to cover the energy shortfall, causing fat cells to shrink. Visceral fat is the first to go, followed by the more beneficial fat cell stores.

But when people stop dieting, the body puts priority on regaining lost fat. Indeed, our body replenishes fat stores far more quickly than it does muscle or protein stores. More importantly, in response to this shrinkage, the body compensates by making more fat cells. It does this to help the body better cope the next time there’s a fuel crisis.

So dieting literally makes you fatter in the long run. But thankfully, this will most likely be healthier subcutaneous fat (in the hips, thighs, buttocks and torso) instead of around the organs as harmful visceral fat.

So even though you’ll be carrying excess weight, you’ll experience fewer of the metabolic issues caused by unwanted visceral fat – such as insulin resistance and high cholesterol, which elevate your risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

But with the higher capacity to store fat comes the risk of overshooting your original weight. This may also have implications for yo-yo dieting.

The weight loss cycle

In the paper, the re-joiners who took part in trial 2 did manage to lose weight again. But, on average, they lost slightly less than the trial’s first-timers. That said, when all of the participants from trial 2 were followed up five years later, the re-joiners from trial 1 had regained less, too. They had also retained more of the health benefits of losing weight.

Taking stock of the whole weight-loss journey, it appears that those who regained weight and then joined trial 2 are at a comparable place at the end of ten years to those who just did trial 1.

But there are a few caveats to the trial’s findings.

First, the paper only examined body fat. It didn’t provide any information on lean tissue (such as muscle). This is important, as when we lose weight we lose both fat and muscle. Given muscle’s importance for a healthy metabolism, a lack of muscle could result in even greater weight gain.

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Weight loss: why you don’t just lose fat when you’re on a diet

It’s also not clear whether regaining weight changes the nature of muscle tissue. There are two key types of muscle fibre. Type 1 is smaller and more efficient at burning fat. Type 2 is larger, faster and more powerful – important for explosive exercise.

If an overall loss of muscle results in muscle fibres changing from type 1 to type 2, this could increase risk of health problems – including sarcopenic obesity and earlier onset of age-related health issues associated with muscle loss.

Overall, the paper shows us that weight loss is still beneficial for your health – even if it requires a few attempts to get to your goal weight. But to avoid potentially gaining more weight the second time around, it’s key to establish good diet and lifestyle changes that are sustainable long-term.

Arlene Phillips, a former judge on the hit BBC One dance show, was among the showbiz stars supporting Johannes Radebe

A former Strictly Come Dancing legend has described a moment with one of the show’s current professional dancers as ‘unexpected’ amid an outpouring of love and praise.

Arlene Phillips, a former judge on the hit BBC One dance show, was among the showbiz stars supporting Johannes Radebe and the cast of Kinky Boots at a special Gala performance of the Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning musical, in support of international charity, WaterAid.

The professional dancer, who is a fan-favourite among viewers of Strictly, is making his West End debut as he reprises the fabulous role of drag queen Lola and he and his co-star Matt Cardle, as well as their fellow Kinky Boots cast, were supported by a number of famous faces on the night, including a host of Strictly professionals and former contestants, including a number Johannes’ former partners.

Johannes has since taken to Instagram with a string of videos and pictures from the special night in the theatre, and simply told his followers: “Heart is full! [heart emoji] @kinkyboots_uk #westend.”

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Among the clips was one of Johannes with the cast on the red carpet, in which he could be seen lifting a smiling Arlene up in front of the cameras. She commented on the post, explaining: “The most unexpected moment ever. One moment i was saying congratulations and good bye to the brilliant JoJo and the next second he threw me up in the air me up in the air.”

And the moment caught the eye of Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham, who was quick to respond to the post: “@arlenephillips getting the love and respect she DESERRRRRRVES @johannesradebe you’re wonderful!”

Meanwhile, Johannes was also being flooded with love and support, as Strictly co-star Vito Coppola gushed: “Just saying: you are AMAZING!!! Keep smashing [it]. Love you Jojo.” His former celebrity dance partner Annabel Croft added: “You were born to play this role and I’ve never witnessed energy quite like that on stage. Quite sensational and the show is spectacular !! Loved every minute and so proud.”

One man has died near Athens as Storm Erminio brings severe weather, floods and Saharan dust turning skies red across Greece with flights disrupted on Crete

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A man has lost his life as ferocious gale-force winds and flooding from Storm Erminio battered Greece – while a Saharan dust storm transformed skies to a crimson hue.

The victim was discovered beneath a vehicle in the Nea Makri countryside near Athens this morning, fire services confirmed, after reportedly venturing outside his apartment and being swept away by the extreme conditions.

Storm Erminio has left streets submerged and forced the closure of several schools. Air travel has been disrupted on Crete following an African dust storm that filled the atmosphere, casting an eerie red-orange glow across the sky.

The national weather service EMY has issued a red alert and is predicting further “severe weather” today across most of Greece “with prolonged and intense rain and thunderstorms, and possibly localised hailstorms.”

Red alerts have been declared for eastern Peloponnese, Central Greece, Evia, Thessaly, the Sporades Islands, Attica, and the Dodecanese, reports the Mirror.

An orange warning has also been issued for the Cyclades and the eastern Aegean islands. Temperatures are set to plummet to 9C inland, 11C along coastal areas and 5C in the highest mountainous regions.

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A red warning remains in effect for Crete, particularly in western and southern areas, from midday until late Thursday evening. Three flights bound for Iraklio were forced to divert, state news agency ANA reported.

Aircraft were grounded at Heraklion’s principal airport in Crete on Wednesday, with at least two flights compelled to reroute after visibility plummeted to approximately 1,000 metres, a level deemed unsafe for landing. A British Airways flight from London was diverted to Corfu, while a SKY Express service from Brussels was redirected to Athens. The thick dust cloud lingering over Crete continues to disrupt air travel across the island.

On the ground, dramatic incidents were reported, including a powerful tornado flipping a lorry in the coastal region of Pachia Ammos as it was set to load agricultural exports.

In Ierapetra, enormous waves crashed into the first houses along the old town due to strong southerly winds creating hazardous coastal conditions. Officials anticipate the dust wave will start to dissipate later today.

The dusty conditions have been exacerbated by Storm Erminio, a potent weather system bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms and robust winds across Greece.

The historic Boat Race is set to embrace a new era of relatability as it moves to Channel 4, with organisers hoping reality television stars and deeper insights into athletes’ lives will draw in fresh audiences.

The five-year broadcast deal, announced in October, initially raised concerns among some who viewed the departure from long-standing hosts the BBC as a worrying sign for the 197-year-old British tradition.

However, those in charge see the shift as a prime opportunity to captivate new viewers with a revamped broadcast, while still catering to its traditional fanbase.

Olympic bronze medallist and Oxford women’s president Heidi Long told the Press Association: “It’s a big change, but so much in the world of media is changing. I don’t think it necessarily is a good thing or a bad thing, but I think it’s a change.

“One of the fun opportunities that we’ve had working with Channel 4 is unlocking (our personalities), and so much about sport is the athletes and the people taking part in it.”

Channel 4 has enlisted former Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing to join Saturday’s broadcast team, alongside seasoned presenter Clare Balding and Boat Race hosting newcomer Ade Adepitan.

Adepitan commented: “When it comes to the Boat Race, it can feel quite intriguing, quite enigmatic, something that’s far off from people. I think what Channel 4 want to do is open it up. If (Channel 4) can do what we’ve done with the Paralympics to the Boat Race, the sky’s the limit, literally.”

Media production managing director Phil Sibson revealed that the broadcast will incorporate “relatable comparisons” to other sports, clever “visual props”, and exclusive footage of the crews enjoying outings away from their academic institutions.

Boat Race chair Siobhan Cassidy added: “Maybe (people) don’t know everything there is about the Boat Race, and actually they’re young people that are really relatable. They’re working really hard.

“Everyone here will have earned their place at Oxford and Cambridge based on academic ability only; they just happen to be incredibly hard-working and dedicated rowers at the same time.”

Yet, this push for relatability has its inherent limitations. This year marks the second of luxury brand Chanel’s title sponsorship, and many of the student-athletes’ stories are far from ordinary.

Oxford men’s stroke Harry Geffen has represented Great Britain at under-23 level, including last year’s world championships. Meanwhile, Carys Earl, in the Cambridge women’s four seat, balances two daily training sessions with demanding medical studies.

Earl, who hopes to achieve a personal hat-trick in the light blue boat, has delivered babies before joining her crew and, on at least one occasion, left a surgical theatre at 3am to make training two hours later.

She affirmed: “It’s hard work, it’s full on, and sleep is not something you get to do very often, but it’s incredible the opportunities that I’m given, and I want to make the very most of it.”

A terror suspect accused of killing 15 people in a shooting spree on Bondi Beach has lost a bid to protect the identities of family members.

Naveed Akram allegedly opened fire on ‌a Jewish Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia, in December in an attack which police say was inspired by Islamic State.

His dad, Sajid, who police say was also involved in the shooting, was shot dead by police at the scene.

Akram is facing 59 charges over the attack, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.

The 24-year-old had sought a 40-year anonymity order to prevent the publication of the names or photographs of his mother, brother and sister as well as their addresses and places of work and school over concerns for their safety.

Akram’s bid was opposed by a number of Australian media groups, who argued the proposed order would prevent proper reporting of the case.

Judge Hugh Donnelly ruled in favour of the media, and said that the principle ⁠of open justice was fundamental to ⁠the trial.

He said that suppression orders “should only be made in exceptional circumstances”.

Judge Donnelly added: “This case has caused unprecedented public interest, anger, outrage and ‌grief.”

Akram’s driving licence, showing his home address, had been widely circulated online after the shooting, while his mother gave an interview to a local newspaper after the shooting, the court heard.

Social media platforms and overseas publications, would have been exempt from any order preventing publication of their identities, so it would have been ineffective in any case, Judge Donnelly added.

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“This case is exceptional by virtue of the sheer ⁠magnitude and intensity of commentary on social media,” he said.

Akram, speaking via a video link, spoke only to confirm that he could hear the proceedings.

Richard Wilson, Akram’s barrister, told the court that he did not plan to appeal the decision.

The Bondi attack is regarded as Australia’s worst terror attack and biggest mass shooting since 1996.

It prompted the Australian parliament to strengthen gun control and hate speech laws, and a government-backed inquiry into antisemitism and social cohesion in the country was launched in the wake of the atrocity.

That inquiry is expected to report its findings by December this year.