Leeming Bar Grange in Leeming Bar marked International Hugging Day with a visit from children at Little Bear Tiney Nursery.

The day was filled with playing, singing, and a flurry of warm embraces, with residents and children alike enjoying the simple joy of connecting through touch.

Liz Kellettt with one of the children (Image: Supplied)

It wasn’t just hugs that made the day special -children also crafted “keepsake hugs” for the residents to treasure.

Kathryn Billett, general manager at Leeming Bar Grange, said: “Celebrating International Hugging Day is a lovely way to spread joy amongst our residents and our local community.

“We wanted to positively impact people and I think we did just that.

“It is amazing how a small gesture can put a smile on someone’s face and we all know how infectious a smile is.

Resident Muriel Tarn hugging a little one (Image: Supplied)

“We all had a wonderful time, it feels so good to make someone else happy with a little hug-shaped act of kindness.”

International Hugging Day, which took place this January, is an invitation to extend your arms and offer affection, understanding and warmth.

The idea is that by promoting a simple but meaningful act of kindness in the form of a hug, we can transform people’s lives, one small gesture at a time.

Leeming Bar Grange is part of Barchester Healthcare.

Venues range from “affordable gems to remarkable experiences worth forking out for”

The UK’s finest restaurants have been revealed in a new map – with venues ranging from “affordable gems to remarkable experiences worth forking out for”.

SquareMeal has published its Top 100 UK Restaurants for 2026. Based on “performance, value, and quality”, the restaurant, bar, and venue reviewer said that each establishment merits its place amongst the country’s leading restaurants.

Experts at SquareMeal said: “It’s no secret that the UK’s restaurant sector is facing formidable challenges. And yet, with each year that passes, hospitality pros continue to invest everything they have into projects for the love of what they do.”

READ MORE: The Belfast restaurants named in the UK’s Top 100 for 2026READ MORE: Belfast restaurant awarded ‘value for money’ status from the Michelin Guide 2026

Two Northern Irish restaurants made the top 100 this year.

You can find them by searching our interactive map below…

Topping the list is Wilsons in Bristol, SquareMeal’s UK Restaurant of the Year. Run by Mary Wilson and Jan Ostle, it is marking its 10th anniversary in 2026 with a £39 set menu.

All the restaurants listed are outside London, with SquareMeal producing a different top 100 list, focusing exclusively on the capital.

The full UK’s Top 100 Restaurants (outside London) is:

1. Wilsons (Bristol)

2. Skof (Manchester)

3. Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms (Nottingham)

4. Vraic (Guensey)

5. L’Enclume (Westmorland and Furness)

6. Grace & Savour (Solihull)

7. The Greyhound Beaconsfield (Buckinghamshire)

8. JÖRO (Sheffield)

9. Pine (Northumberland)

10. Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms (West Lancashire)

11. Ynyshir (Ceredigion)

12. Restaurant 22 (Cambridge)

13. Lyla (City of Edinburgh)

14. Woven by Adam Smith (Windsor and Maidenhead)

15. Upstairs at Landrace (Bath and North East Somerset)

16. Myse (North Yorkshire)

17. Updown Farmhouse (Dover)

18. Osip (Somerset)

19. The Little Chartroom (City of Edinburgh)

20. The Kinneuchar Inn (Fife)

21. Opheem (Birmingham)

22. The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant (Perth and Kinross)

23. The Old Stamp House (Westmorland and Furness)

24. Lark (West Suffolk)

25. Tallow (Tunbridge Wells)

26. The Angel at Hetton (North Yorkshire)

27. Alchemilla Nottingham (Nottingham)

28. Dogstar Edinburgh (City of Edinburgh)

29. Heft (Westmorland and Furness)

30. Argoe Newlyn (Cornwall)

31. Stow (Manchester)

32. Juliet (Stroud)

33. Bavette (Leeds)

34. Paul Ainsworth at No 6 (Cornwall)

35. Hansom (North Yorkshire)

36. Vetch (Liverpool)

37. Shaun Rankin at Grantley Hall (North Yorkshire)

38. The Sportsman (Canterbury)

39. The Shed (Swansea)

40. The Parkers Arms (Ribble Valley)

41. Higher Ground (Manchester)

42. Moss (City of Edinburgh)

43. Meadowsweet (North Norfolk)

44. The Pony Chew Valley (Bath and North East Somerset)

45. Dongnae (Bristol)

46. Gorse Cardiff (Cardiff)

47. The Barn at Moor Hall (West Lancashire)

48. Fish Shop Ballater (Aberdeenshire)

49. OTHER (Bristol)

50. Winsome (Manchester)

51. The Wilderness (Birmingham)

52. Restaurant Interlude (Horsham)

53. The Pass at South Lodge (Horsham)

54. Furna (Brighton and Hove)

55. Big Counter (Glasgow City)

56. Roots York (York)

57. The Swine Bistro (Leeds)

58. Seasonality (Windsor and Maidenhead)

59. The Muddlers Club (Belfast)

60. The Abbey Inn Byland (North Yorkshire)

61. The Forest Side (Westmorland and Furness)

62. The Cottage in the Wood (Cumberland)

63. The Greyhound Inn – Pettistree (East Suffolk)

64. Root Bath (Bath and North East Somerset)

65. Upstairs by Tom Shepherd (Lichfield)

66. Forge at Middleton Lodge (North Yorkshire)

67. Maré by Rafael Cagali (Brighton and Hove)

68. Waterman Bistro (Belfast)

69. Gwen (Powys)

70. Bybrook Restaurant at The Manor House (Wiltshire)

71. Wild at Bull Burford (West Oxfordshire)

72. The Black Swan at Oldstead (North Yorkshire)

73. Cedar Tree by Hrishikesh Desai (Cumberland)

74. Long Friday (Newcastle upon Tyne)

75. Aven (Preston)

76. Olive Tree Bath (Bath and North East Somerset)

77. Emilia (Teignbridge)

78. The Jackdaw Conwy (Conwy)

79. Manifest (Liverpool)

80. Shwen Shwen (Sevenoaks)

81. Catch at The Old Fish Market (Dorset)

82. Riverine Rabbit (Birmingham)

83. Amari (Brighton and Hove)

84. Ardfern (City of Edinburgh)

85. The Blue Pelican (Dover)

86. Skosh (York)

87. 670 Grams (Birmingham)

88. The Coach Marlow (Buckinghamshire)

89. Gloriosa (Glasgow City)

90. Cardinal Edinburgh (City of Edinburgh)

91. The Victoria Oxshott (Elmbridge)

92. Briar (Somerset)

93. Bench Sheffield (Sheffield)

94. Henrock at Linthwaite House (Westmorland and Furness)

95. Lapin Restaurant Bristol (Bristol)

96. The Suffolk (East Suffolk)

97. Tharavadu (Leeds)

98. Belzan Liverpool (Liverpool)

99. The Oarsman (Buckinghamshire)

100. Legacy at The Grand, York (York)

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A council report shows that an administrative deadline had been missed by the applicant with the previous planning permission then expired in July 2022. A new application was entered in February 2023.

The co-founder of a major Northern Ireland distribution company has had plans for a Lisburn home refused despite a previous approval.

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s planning committee turned down the application this week due to an updated policy on plot sizes.

Planning officers had recommended a refusal of the Glenavy Road house and garage by applicant ‘Lynne Morrow’, but the building had already been granted permission in 2019.

READ MORE: Let’s Go Hydro proposes major Belfast development.

READ MORE: Lisburn Garden of Reflection for babies and children damaged during ‘incident’.

In chambers, Matrix planning agent for the applicant, Andy Stephens said:”The critical issue here is over one not two dwellings.

“Officers say the gap on the site does not comply, but it is common sense dictates to approve these plans as the policy makes no sense.”

The PRM Group co-founded by Ms Morrow, which transports chilled and frozen foods, has announced plans (April 2025) to build a new £25m facility at its Lisburn headquarters, for which it has received planning permission.

The firm, founded in 1988, delivers well known food brands with over 300,000 cases of food every week transported across the island of Ireland.

A council report shows that an administrative deadline had been missed by the applicant with the previous planning permission then expired in July 2022. A new application was entered in February 2023.

Lisburn North UUP councillor Nicholas Trimble said:”I think that the gap of 45 metres on the site can be for two houses.

“When you look at the other house on the site, right on the doorstep of these plans we have a precedent.

“Should there ought to be two dwellings in the gap? Probably not.

“Perhaps we have been heavy handed in the past.

“However, to me this is a ribbon development with a gap for two dwellings.

“So there is enough wriggle room for me to go against the officers’ recommendations.”

The size issue before the chamber centres around a change in planning policy (June 2023) on space for an infill rural house being enough for two dwellings.

The size of the new builds are compared to what is already on the site and a gap measured in between buildings.

Council officers suggest that there is not enough space at the Glenavy site and it is not an acceptable application for the countryside.

This led to a site visit by the planning committee (Jan 22) which caused a split in chambers over how councillors viewed the

Castlereagh East Alliance Alderman Martin Gregg added:”I would agree with Councillor Trimble in many things, but not that we have been heavy handed.

“The policy has now shifted since and is being applied fairly.”

The planning committee voted with six supporting the refusal and three against.

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Scientists are calling for urgent action on free-living amoebas – a little-known group of microbes that could pose a growing global health threat. Here’s what you need to know.

Free-living amoebas are single-celled organisms that don’t need a host to live. They are found in soil and water, from puddles to lakes.

What makes them remarkable is their ability to change shape and move using temporary arm-like extensions called pseudopodia – literally “false feet”. This allows them to thrive in an astonishing range of environments.

What is the ‘brain-eating amoeba’ and how dangerous is it?

The most notorious free-living amoeba is Naegleria fowleri, commonly known as the “brain-eating amoeba”. It lives naturally in warm freshwater, typically between 30°C and 40°C – lakes, rivers and hot springs. But it is rarely found in temperate countries such as the UK, due to the cold weather.

The infection happens when contaminated water enters through the nose, usually while swimming. From there, the amoeba travels along the nasal passages to the brain, where it destroys brain tissue. The outcome is usually devastating, with a mortality rate of 95%-99%.

Occasionally, Naegleria fowleri has been found in tap water, particularly when it’s warm and hasn’t been properly chlorinated. Some people have become infected while using contaminated tap water to rinse their sinuses for religious or health reasons.

Fortunately, you cannot get infected by drinking contaminated water, and the infection doesn’t spread from person to person.

Why are these amoebas so difficult to kill?

Brain-eating amoebas can be killed by proper water treatment and chlorination. But eliminating them from water systems isn’t always straightforward.

When they attach to biofilms – communities of microorganisms that form inside pipes – disinfectants like chlorine struggle to reach them, and organic matter can reduce the disinfectants’ effectiveness.

The amoeba can also survive warm temperatures by forming “cysts” – hard protective shells – making it harder to control in water networks, especially during summer or in poorly maintained systems.

What is the ‘Trojan-horse effect’ and why does it matter?

Free-living amoebas aren’t just dangerous on their own. They can also act as living shields for other harmful microbes, protecting them from environmental stress and disinfection.

While amoebas normally feed on bacteria, fungi and viruses, some bacteria – like Mycobacterium tuberculosis (which causes TB) and Legionella pneumophila (which causes legionnaires’ disease) – have evolved to survive and multiply inside them. This helps these pathogens survive longer and potentially become more dangerous.

Amoebas also shelter fungi such as Cryptococcus neoformans, which can cause fungal meningitis. It can also shelter viruses, such as human norovirus and adenovirus, which cause respiratory, eye and gastrointestinal infections.

By protecting these pathogens, amoebas help them survive longer in water and soil, and may even help spread antibiotic resistance.

How is climate change making the problem worse?

Climate change is probably making the threat from free-living amoebas worse by creating more favourable conditions for their growth.

Naegleria fowleri thrives in warm freshwater. As global temperatures rise, the habitable zone for these heat-loving amoebas has expanded into regions that were previously too cool. This potentially exposes more people to them through recreational water use.

Several recent outbreaks linked to recreational water exposure have already raised public concern in multiple countries. These climate-driven changes – warmer waters, longer warm seasons, and increased human contact with water – make controlling the risks more difficult than ever before.

Are our water systems adequately checked for these organisms?

Most water systems are not routinely checked for free-living amoebas. The organisms are rare, can hide in biofilms or sediments, and require specialised tests to detect, making routine monitoring expensive and technically challenging.

Instead, water safety relies on proper chlorination, maintaining disinfectant levels, and flushing systems regularly, rather than testing directly for the amoeba. While some guidance exists for high-risk areas, widespread monitoring is not standard practice.

Beyond brain infections, what other health risks do these amoebas pose?

Free-living amoebas aren’t just a threat to the brain. They can cause painful eye infections, particularly in contact lens users, skin lesions in people with weakened immune systems, and rare but serious systemic infections affecting organs such as the lungs, liver and kidneys.

What’s being done to address this threat?

Free-living amoebas such as Naegleria fowleri are rare but can be deadly, so prevention is crucial. These organisms don’t fit neatly into either medical or environmental categories – they span both, requiring a holistic approach that links environmental surveillance, water management, and clinical awareness to reduce risk.

Environmental change, gaps in water treatment and expanding habitats make monitoring – and clear communication of risk – more important than ever.

Keeping water systems properly chlorinated, flushing hot water systems, and following safe recreational water and contact lens hygiene guidelines all help reduce the chance of infection. Meanwhile, researchers continue to improve detection methods and doctors work to recognise cases early.

Should people be worried about their tap water or going swimming?

People cannot get infected with free-living amoebas like Naegleria fowleri by drinking water, even if it contains the organism. Infection occurs only when contaminated water enters the nose, allowing the amoeba to reach the brain. Swallowing the water poses no risk because the amoeba cannot survive or invade through the digestive tract.

The risk from swimming in well-maintained pools or treated water is extremely low. The danger comes from warm, untreated freshwater, particularly during hot weather.

What can people do to protect themselves?

People can protect themselves from free-living amoebas by reducing exposure to warm, stagnant water. Simple steps include avoiding putting your head underwater in lakes or rivers during hot weather, using nose clips when swimming, choosing well-maintained pools, and keeping home water systems properly flushed and heated.

Contact lens users should follow strict hygiene and never rinse lenses with tap water. For nasal rinsing, only use sterile, distilled, or previously boiled water.

Awareness is key. If you develop a severe headache, fever, nausea, or stiff neck after freshwater exposure, seek medical attention immediately – early treatment is critical.

Increased inflammation and elevated resting heart rate may partially explain the link

People with cancer who eat a lot of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) could be almost 60% more likely to die from their disease, research suggests. Those with the highest intake were far more likely to die earlier than those who consumed the least, researchers in Italy found.

UPFs have been linked to poor health, including an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, cancer and early death. Examples of UPFs include ice cream, processed meats, crisps, mass-produced bread, some breakfast cereals, biscuits, many ready meals and fizzy drinks.

UPFs often contain high levels of saturated fat, salt, sugar and additives, which experts say leaves less room in people’s diets for more nutritious foods. They also tend to include additives and ingredients that are not used when people cook from scratch, such as preservatives, emulsifiers and artificial colours and flavours.

The new study was published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. Researchers followed 24,325 people from 2005 to 2022 who were 35 or older at the start of the study and living in the southern Italian region of Molise.

Within this group, 802 cancer survivors (476 women and 326 men) had filled in detailed questionnaires on their diet at the start of the study. Experts then calculated UPF food and drink intake by the weight consumed each day, and they also looked at the calories.

People were then divided into three groups based on the weight ratio of how much UPFs they had, with researchers also taking factors such as smoking, body mass index, exercise, medical history, cancer type, and overall diet quality into account. The study found that during an average follow-up of 14.6 years, there were 281 deaths among the 802 cancer survivors.

Those in the highest third of UPF intake had a 48% higher rate of death from any cause and a 59% higher rate of death from cancer compared with those in the lowest third. A higher calorie ratio of UPFs showed similar results for cancer death, but not other causes.

Dr Marialaura Bonaccio, from the department of epidemiology and prevention, IRCCS Neuromed in Italy, said: “The substances involved in the industrial processing of foods can interfere with metabolic processes, disrupt gut microbiota, and promote inflammation.

“As a result, even when an ultra-processed food has a similar calorie content and nutritional composition on paper compared to a minimally processed or ‘natural’ food, it could still have a more harmful effect on the body.”

Dr Bonaccio and colleagues also looked at the ways the body may be affected by processing in UPFs, including examining inflammatory, metabolic and cardiovascular biomarkers in people in the study. She said: “These results suggest that increased inflammation and elevated resting heart rate may partially explain the link between higher consumption of ultra-processed foods and increased mortality, and help to clarify how food processing itself could contribute to worse outcomes among cancer survivors.”

The team also examined data for seven specific groups of UPFs such as sugar-sweetened beverages, artificial sweeteners, and spirits; processed meat and salty snacks and savoury foods. Some food groups were linked to higher mortality, while others showed no clear pattern.

Dr Bonaccio said therefore that working out the differences in UPFs can be challenging, but added: “The main message for the public is that overall consumption of ultra-processed foods matters far more than any individual item. Focusing on the diet as a whole and reducing ultra-processed foods overall and shifting consumption toward fresh, minimally processed, home-cooked foods is the most meaningful and beneficial approach for health.

“A practical way to do this is by checking labels: Foods with more than five ingredients, or even only one food additive, are likely to be ultra-processed.”

From the police angle, it all reeks of self-congratulatory back-patting. We’re led, step by step, through how their case came together: babies at the neonatal unit started dying, but those deaths stopped when Letby was taken off the unit. People started getting suspicious. She was arrested three times, and each time, the police trawled through her house in search of evidence. Eventually, they found some, which, paired with apparently suspicious interviews, saw her charged with murder.

Drivers over the age of 70 will be affected by some major changes as the government seeks to make the roads safer

Older drivers could be facing a new slate of rules, tests and mandatory requirements if they want to continue being on the roads once the government’s Road Safety Strategy comes into play. The proposed strategy will have a wide-reaching impact from car manufacturers to town planners and drivers.

One of the headline proposals in the strategy will introduce mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over the age of 70 as well as options for cognitive testing for older drivers. The strategy notes: “The government is consulting on introducing mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over age 70 and will develop options for cognitive testing for older drivers These measures aim to reduce deaths and injuries involving older drivers, without unnecessarily restricting their mobility and personal freedom.”

As the population ages there is more older drivers on the roads. The strategy recognises the independence driving provides for this age group but warned that issues like declining vision, cognitive function and increased frailty can pose a danger to all road users.

Since 2012, the number of licenses held by people over 70 has almost doubled from 3.9 million to 6.2 million according to DVLA statistics. The Older Drivers Forum noted: “No one wants unsafe drivers on the road, and regular vision checks can actually help people continue driving for longer by identifying issues early and enabling timely treatment.”

When facing these eye tests, a driving licence will only be withdrawn if a person’s eyesight no longer meets the legal standard for safe driving. People over the age of 60 are already entitled to free NHS-funded eye tests in England.

Older motorists with certain medical conditions could also face cognitive assessments in the future in order to keep their licenses. This is also meant to emphasise the importance of telling the DVLA if you have a notifiable medical condition.

Cognitive tests like this are already available through platforms like Driving Mobility, which provides personalised advice, vehicle adaptation recommendations and clear reports for the DVLA, all in an effort to ensure drivers can be on the road safely for as long as possible.

There is no statutory age at which you’re required to stop driving, although over-70s must renew their licence every three years. When you choose to cease driving or are advised by your GP to do so, you’ll need to inform the DVLA and send them your licence.

Secretary of State for Transport, Heidi Alexander, wrote in the foreword of the strategy: “Bereaved families don’t need sympathy, they deserve action. This strategy, the first in over a decade, shows a government that’s not just listening, but leading.

“Our vision is clear: to ensure that people can travel safely on our roads however they choose. This strategy is not just a document; it is a call to action for government, local authorities, road safety groups, emergency services and the public. Together, we can build a safer future for all road users.”

Other proposed changes in the strategy include stricter drink-drive limits, a minimum three or six-month learning period for new drivers before taking their practical test and the National Work-Related Road Safety Charter for businesses that require people to drive or ride for them.

The meeting forms part of the committee’s inquiry on the State Pension age.

Nineteen people aged over 50, some not yet of State Pension age, met with committee members in a session organised by Age UK County Durham.

Participants spoke openly about the financial pressures they face after leaving work due to health issues or caring commitments, and their struggle to get by without a pension.

Debbie Abrahams, chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, said: “We heard today from people in their 50s and 60s, some of whom have been forced to retire ahead of State Pension age due to the issues they face, either due to caring responsibilities or health conditions.

“That people approaching State Pension age face particular issues, such as increased hardship, is something we came across in a previous inquiry, which is why we decided to look specifically at this problem.”

Attendees described being pushed into debt or relying on dwindling savings and insecure work to survive.

Many said they felt too proud to seek help, while others criticised the lack of clear, accessible information about their options.

Robyn Holmes, CEO of Age UK County Durham, said: “This has been an excellent opportunity for people aged over 50 who live and work in County Durham to be heard on many issues that potentially have a huge impact on their well-being.

“We’ve heard some real concerns about income gaps, particularly from those who care for others, and those with long-term health issues.

“We’ve heard very clearly about the need for quality, local advice, for information and support on these issues.”

Gender differences also came to light: women often faced lower retirement incomes due to gaps in their National Insurance record from time taken out to care for family, while men who had spent years in manual work were likely to have fewer healthy years in retirement.

Participants also raised issues with Jobcentre support and the loss of Carer’s Allowance when they claim the State Pension.

Suggested solutions included better access to free financial advice, simpler communications about retirement, and practical help for those with limited digital skills.

Tackling ageism in the workplace was also flagged as a priority.

One attendee, Steve, said: “I’ve been looking forward to actually have a say to MPs to maybe make a tiny little bit of difference to other people’s lives.

“We talked mainly about our experiences. We all had things to say and it was absolutely brilliant.

“I think the event was great and I am chuffed to have had the experience and the chance to do this.”

Age UK County Durham runs a support programme for people aged 50 to 69, offering guidance on financial planning, health, and preparing for retirement.

The risk of poverty is high: nearly one in four people over 60 live below the poverty line, and when the State Pension age last rose to 66, poverty rates among 65-year-olds doubled.

The committee will publish its findings from the inquiry later this year.

Ms Abrahams said: “We needed to hear of the impact that the challenges pre-pensioners encounter as they aim to get the comfortable retirement they deserve.”

Ms Holmes said: “That’s why Chapter 50: Future You, a piece of work initiated by Age UK County Durham, is so important in raising awareness of leaving employment, of impending retirement, and preparing financially, socially, and physically for a more sustainable and enjoyable later life.”