A study by family holiday specialist Ski Famille analysed ratings for 97 motorway service areas across the UK and found that Moto’s Southwaite Services and Lancaster Services were among the poorer-performing sites.

Southwaite Services, on the M6 in Cumbria, narrowly avoided appearing in the UK’s 10 lowest-rated service areas, receiving an average score of 3.71 stars from 11,455 Google reviews.

Meanwhile, Lancaster Services was ranked as the sixth-lowest rated motorway service station in the UK, with an average rating of 3.65 stars from 12,798 review.

The findings were published as part of a wider ranking which also saw Cumbria’s Tebay Services and Killington Lake Services named among the country’s top 10 best-rated motorway stops.

Tebay had an average of 4.34 stars from more than 39,000 reviews, and Killington Lake Services had average rating of 4.22 stars from 4,640 reviews.

Responding to the results, a spokesperson for Moto said customer experience remains a priority for the company and argued that other research paints a more positive picture.

A Moto spokesperson said: “A great customer experience is hugely important to us and we continually listen to feedback to understand where we can make improvements across our sites.

“While this particular ranking is based on publicly submitted Google reviews, which can vary considerably in volume and over time between individual locations, broader independent customer research provides a different picture.

“The in-depth Transport Focus Motorway Services User Survey found that 94 per cent of respondents were either satisfied or fairly satisfied with their experience at Moto sites.

“We nevertheless take every piece of customer feedback seriously and will continue investing in our facilities and working with our teams to give motorists the best possible experience when they stop with us.”

The original ranking was compiled using Google review scores from motorway service stations across the UK, with separate ratings combined where sites had different scores for each side of the motorway.

The UK’s 10 lowest-rated motorway services, according to the study

1. Bridgwater (Moto), M5, Somerset: 3.05 stars from 9,994 reviews
2. Leeming Bar (Moto), A1(M), North Yorkshire: 3.26 stars from 2,151 reviews
3. Severn View (Moto), M48, South Gloucestershire: 3.60 stars from 2,252 reviews
4. Bothwell (Roadchef), M74, South Lanarkshire: 3.63 stars from 1,257 reviews
5. Frankley (Moto), M5, Worcestershire: 3.64 stars from 9,466 reviews
6. Lancaster (Moto), M6, Lancashire: 3.65 stars from 12,798 reviews
7. Gordano (Welcome Break), M5, North Somerset: 3.66 stars from 9,218 reviews
8. Sedgemoor Northbound (Welcome Break), M5, Somerset: 3.68 stars from 4,994 reviews
9. Scotch Corner (Moto), A1(M), North Yorkshire: 3.71 stars from 6,599 reviews
10. Knutsford (Moto), M6, Cheshire: 3.71 stars from 10,500 reviews

Portugal captain Bruno Fernandes praised Wales after their narrow win, admitting Craig Bellamy’s side showed they have plenty of quality

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes said he was “not impressed” by Wales’ performance because Portugal knew what they were capable of after the Dragons pushed the European giants all the way in Lisbon.

Portugal edged to a 1-0 victory at the Estadio Jose Alvalade in the opening game of Wales’ Nations League campaign, with Joao Felix’s deflected first-half strike proving enough to settle a hard-fought contest.

Craig Bellamy’s side had their moments, particularly after the break, and came within inches of an equaliser when Brennan Johnson’s effort clipped the crossbar before Portugal cleared the resulting scramble off the line.

Fernandes, who captained Portugal after Cristiano Ronaldo was substituted, insisted Wales’ performance had not come as a surprise to the hosts.

“No, we were not impressed,” he said to the BBC post-match when asked whether Wales had surprised Portugal with their performance.

“We knew they were good. We know that they have a lot of good players.

“I’ve played against many of them. If they play in the Premier League they need to have quality. They need to have a certain high level.

“So I think we knew they could cause us problems. But we created a lot of chances and we could have scored more goals.

“Unfortunately today it was not the case but we scored one and didn’t concede and that’s amazing.”

Wales’ performance was made all the more impressive by the absences Bellamy had to contend with, with Harry Wilson, Joe Rodon, Nathan Broadhead, Dylan Lawlor and starting goalkeeper Karl Darlow among those unavailable.

The result means Wales begin their return to Nations League A with a defeat, but they showed enough to suggest Portugal will face another difficult assignment when the sides meet again later in the campaign.

The reverse fixture takes place on November 17, when Portugal will travel to Wales and face a very different atmosphere.

Fernandes is expecting the hosts to feel the full force of their home support.

“Yes, probably even more pressure, playing with your fans against us,” he said.

“We know the atmosphere you can create there.

“We expect a lot of pressure and moments where fans will push the team to go forward and we need to be aware of that.”

Wales’ next fixture sees them take on Denmark on Sunday, while Portugal will take on Norway in the other match in Nations League A Group 4.

Many leaders saying many things about many topics that matter to them, to their regions, to the world: That’s what the U.N. General Assembly invariably produces each year.

And each year, certain voices dominate. Here, The Associated Press takes the opposite approach and spotlights some thoughts from leaders who might have not captured the headlines and airtime on Thursday, the third day of the 2026 General Debate.

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“The time for simply setting out goals is behind us.”

—Mia Amor Mottley, president of Barbados, on climate change

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“A United Nations that delivers for all cannot mean an organization that responds loudly to some crises and quietly to others.”

—Janez Jansa, prime minister of Slovenia

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“Power earns trust only when it respects law.”

—András Baka, president of Hungary

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“Narrow self-interest is breaking the bonds of solidarity.”

—Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland

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“Please allow me to quote the great African writer Chinua Achebe, who said the following: ’When we gather in the village under the moonlight, it’s not because of the moon. Each person can see the moon in his own backyard. We gather because it is good to do so.’”

—Azali Assoumani, president of The Comoros

The Channel 5 favourite is back for its seventh series, bringing the fictional Yorkshire village of Darrowby and its sweeping countryside back to screens.

Tonight is the second episode of the series, with Siegfried is attempting to keep up with the times, treat a sow and keep his cool through it all.

Siegfried is attempting to keep up with the times, treat a sow and keep his cool through it al

Here is your first look at Episode 2 of Series 7 📸 Siegfried is attempting to keep up with the times, treat a sow and keep his cool through it all 👀 ACGAS Series 7 continues Thursday at 9pm on @Channel 5 https://t.co/ImfpL6lS1S

— All Creatures Great and Small (@AllCreaturesTV) September 23, 2026

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And Darrowby is not quite as fictional as it looks.

Much of the series is filmed across Yorkshire, with real pubs, shops, railway stations, waterfalls and villages transformed to recreate the world of the famous vet.

And several of its most recognisable locations can be visited on a day out from Bolton.

Grassington becomes Darrowby

The place fans are most likely to recognise is Grassington.

The Yorkshire Dales village undergoes a remarkable transformation to become Darrowby , with modern signs removed or covered and its shops given period makeovers.

Its cobbled streets and market square have become some of the defining images of the Channel 5 series.

Even the shops viewers see are real businesses in disguise.

The Stripey Badger bookshop has been transformed into fictional grocer G F Endleby, while other buildings around the square are dressed to look as though they belong in James Herriot’s era.

Screen Yorkshire says the transformation has previously been so convincing that visitors have walked into shops during filming expecting to find the fictional businesses inside.

You can have a drink at The Drovers – sort of

One of the best-known locations in Darrowby is also a real pub.

The Drovers Arms is another location in the TV show

The Devonshire in Grassington becomes the exterior of The Drovers Arms, where James, Tristan, Siegfried and the other characters are regularly seen.

Visitors can therefore stand outside the same building seen on screen – and go inside for a drink.

There is, however, a catch.

The interior viewers know as The Drovers was filmed at another pub around 30 miles away.

The Green Dragon Inn in Hardraw has been used for scenes inside the fictional watering hole, meaning the two halves of The Drovers are actually in completely different villages.

Mrs Pumphrey’s grand home is real too

The impressive home associated with the eccentric Mrs Pumphrey and her beloved Tricki Woo can also be found in Yorkshire.

Broughton Hall, near Skipton, has been used by the production for her grand country home .

Broughton Hall

The Grade I-listed house sits within a sprawling historic estate and is one of a number of locations around the Skipton area to have appeared in the programme.

James’s waterfall swim

Fans may also remember the rather chilly-looking moment James went swimming in a waterfall before being discovered by Helen.

That was not a studio set.

The scene was filmed at Janet’s Foss, a woodland waterfall near Malham .

Janet’s Forest

The beauty spot is accessible on foot from Malham and is one of the most striking real locations to have appeared in the series.

The wider countryside around Malham has also been used to create the sweeping Yorkshire landscape seen on screen.

The railway station has another claim to fame

James Herriot’s world would not be complete without a traditional railway station – and producers found one which already had an impressive film history.

Oakworth station on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway was used in the Channel 5 adaptation.

Long before All Creatures arrived, the station became famous as a filming location for the 1970 classic The Railway Children.

Keighley station has also been used during filming of All Creatures Great and Small.

Bolton Abbey has appeared on screen

There is even a familiar name among the filming locations.

Barden Bridge on the Bolton Abbey Estate has appeared in the series, with the surrounding landscape providing exactly the kind of dramatic Dales scenery for which the programme has become known.

Barden Birdge

Despite its name, of course, Bolton Abbey is in North Yorkshire rather than Bolton.

And there are plenty more

The production has travelled extensively around Yorkshire since the Channel 5 adaptation first hit screens.

Bradford Industrial Museum was used in the opening episode, while locations including Kettlewell, Arncliffe, Ripley Castle, Newby Hall, Birstwith Hall and Scar House Reservoir have all featured.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Ritz Cinema in Thirsk and Studley Royal Cricket Club have also been used to transport modern-day Yorkshire back to James Herriot’s time.

But for anyone wanting the closest thing to walking into All Creatures Great and Small, Grassington remains the place to go.

With Darrowby’s square, familiar shopfronts and the exterior of The Drovers all within walking distance, fans might find themselves recognising parts of the village before they even realise why.

All Creatures Great and Small returned for its seventh series on Channel 5 on Thursday, September 17, with new episodes airing on Thursdays.

A delivery driver who killed a five-year-old boy while taking a short cut through a ‘no entry’ sign has been jailed for six years. 

Abdullah Ebrahim was struck down on a Leeds backstreet on July 7, 2022 by 32-year-old Colin Agyei, who had driven the wrong way in order to save time. 

Abdullah’s mother, Salma Begum, watched in horror as her son – who later died in hospital – lay on the street and Agyei carried on without stopping his vehicle.

On Thursday, Agyei, of Knottingley in West Yorkshire, was jailed for six years at Leeds Crown Court after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving by a jury last month. He was also handed a driving ban of more than seven years.

In an emotional statement, Ms Begum told the court she is haunted by the image of her son lying alone in the road after he was run over and killed. 

She said: ‘I will never forget the image of Abdullah lying on the floor on his own. That image has stayed with me for four years. It is something I carry every single day.’

The court heard Agyei – who was driving a black Nissan Note – drove past a ‘no entry’ sign and proceeded the wrong way down one-way Back Camberley Street, Beeston, because it saved time while he made deliveries.

It was then he collided with five-year-old Abdullah as the youngster ran across the road. The boy sadly died in hospital shortly following the incident. 

Colin Agyei was jailed for six years at Leeds Crown Court after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving 

Judge Tom Bayliss KC, sentencing, said Agyei took Abdullah’s life ‘for no better reason’ than it saved him time as a delivery driver. 

He said: ‘The one-way system was clearly signed and you had ample opportunity to observe these signs.

‘It’s a narrow street separating back gardens of two rows of terraced houses. The sort of place where children may either be playing or crossing.’

Judge Bayliss added Agyei was not speeding but his speed was still ‘inappropriate’ for the narrow backstreet. He also accepted Agyei was remorseful and had been ‘oblivious’ to the collision.

‘This was a little boy,’ he concluded. ‘It’s hard to imagine a more vulnerable road user.’

Ms Begum told the court she failed to understand why Agyei failed to stop and left her child in the street. 

She said: ‘I attended the trial and had to sit and listen to the defendant say that he did not see my son. I heard his account change several times, and I felt that he was not telling the truth about what happened.

‘The jury took only around 40 minutes to find him guilty on all counts.

‘For me and my family, however, the pain did not end with that verdict. We have waited four years for justice. During that time, I have had to go through this awful ordeal again and again. Having to attend court, hear the evidence and relive the circumstances of Abdullah’s death has caused me enormous emotional suffering.’

Ms Begum then asked the court to remember that behind the evidence, the charges and the verdict is a family who has lost someone they love.

‘Four years have passed, but my grief has not passed. I still miss my son. I still think about him every day,’ she said.

Speaking after sentence, Detective Sergeant Steve Suggit of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team described Abdullah’s death as a ‘truly tragic incident’. 

He said the collision could have been ‘completely avoidable’ had Agyei complied with the no entry sign. 

‘Young Abdullah would not have been expecting a vehicle to be driving up the road and did not have time to react,’ Detective Suggit said.

‘While we estimate that Agyei was driving at a relatively low speed of around 15mph, during our investigation we thoroughly tested the back street and found that because of the nature of the road you cannot drive safely on it at speeds of over 7mph.

‘Agyei admitted a lesser careless driving offence but was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.

‘While he has been given a custodial sentence, I know that no sentence can ever in any way equate to the lifetime of grief that Abdullah’s family face.’

Death in Paradise favourite Ben Miller’s drama Professor T concludes tonight as the final episode of series four airs on ITV1

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The fourth series of Professor T draws to a close this evening but will it return for another season?

ITV broadcasts the sixth and final episode of the current run, entitled The Warrior Gene, on Thursday (September 24) night, as Professor Jasper Tempest ( Death in Paradise’s Ben Miller) grapples with his emotions towards Dr Helena Goldberg (Bend It Like Beckham’s star Juliet Stevenson).

The synopsis reads: “In the run up to Wilfred and Zelda’s wedding, Jasper is wrestling with his feelings for Helena. Dan is stunned by a new case where he sees a dying man admit he killed someone.

“Whilst Dan and Chloe try to track down who’s been killed, Maiya thinks they are going on a wild goose chase, concerned this is about Dan’s grief over Lisa.

“Zelda has second thoughts about the wedding but when Jasper explains to her that ‘love is enough’, he realises his feelings for Helena and invites her to Zelda’s wedding.”, reports the Mirror.

It continues: “Ms. Snares takes Jasper to Lyndon Collins’ lecture on the warrior gene and Jasper is intrigued by something Collins says about the case Dan is investigating.

“On the day of the wedding and Lisa’s memorial event, Jasper uses the case to get Dan to open up about Lisa and gain the strength to attend her memorial.

“After helping Dan, Jasper returns to Zelda and Wilfred’s wedding and is thrilled when Helena appears. Helena spots Jasper has finally removed his gloves. It’s clear he’s come a long way.”

Fans will be glad to know that the fifth season has already been filmed and is currently airing across the pond but fans in the UK will have to wait for the next installment.

ITV is set to plug the Professor T-shaped hole in its schedule next week with the arrival of Richard Armitage’s new drama Winter, in which the actor portrays an unconventional forensic pathologist whose distinctive methods place him at the centre of a string of complex murder investigations.

Winter launches on ITV1 on Wednesday (September 30) at 9pm, with each episode presenting a standalone murder case alongside a continuing personal narrative for Armitage’s character.

The synopsis for the new six-part series states: “Although Winter does not always follow the expected rules, he has an exceptional ability to examine the evidence and uncover clues that others might miss.

“His skills bring him together with DI Lauren Bell, played by Annabel Scholey, a meticulous and no-nonsense detective who is equally determined when it comes to solving a case.

“Together, Winter and Bell form a formidable investigative partnership as they attempt to solve some of the most challenging murder cases.”

Professor X is available to stream on ITVX

Firefighters expect to work all night as a fire blazes at the military barracks accommodation block in Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said in a statement that multiple crews were at the scene, along with an appliance from County Durham and Darlington.

“The incident is expected to be ongoing throughout the night,” the statement said.

Unverified videos and images shared online show flames and smoke rising up from a building as bystanders watch.

The BBC has asked the Ministry of Defence for comment.

Hipswell and Colburn councillor Kevin Foster told local media that details were limited at this stage.

“My immediate concern is for the safety and wellbeing of everyone at the camp, including our military personnel, their families and the emergency services responding to the incident,” he said.

This is a developing story.

Those organisations include Anera, Glia, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Taawon, Heal Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement, Middle East Children’s Alliance, Jewish Voice for Peace, Medical Aid for Palestinians, Institute for Middle East Understanding, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and UNRWA USA.

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted Chinese President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan at the North Portico, stopping for a quick group photo before heading to an opulent State Dinner alongside top business titans and government elites.

The lavish black-tie State Dinner in the historic East Room stands as one of the most star studded evenings of the administration, offering a glitzy opportunity to smooth over notoriously fierce geopolitical friction with the Asian superpower.

Some of the CEO’s invited that will enjoy the feast include Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, Michael Dell, Jensen Huang, Sam Altman, Jane Fraser and Tim Cook. 

Beyond the corporate executives, key political attendees include Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chief Justice John Roberts, and Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as family members like Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump, and foreign dignitaries including LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault. Prominent media figures are also present, including Fox News anchors and hosts Bret Baier, Laura Ingraham, and Jesse Watters.

Behind closed doors in the East Room tonight, Melania’s office says they personally orchestrated the evening’s extravagant arrangements, transforming the space with red linens, Reagan-era vermeil, and overflowing urns of crimson dahlias – a striking aesthetic that the First Lady notes ‘draws on the color red’s longstanding cultural significance throughout Chinese history.’

As the leaders and their guests dine, there will be several performances, including military musicians and inauguration tenor Christopher Macchio setting a grand soundtrack.

Inside the dining room, guests are raising glasses of Schramsberg ‘Blanc De Noir’ for a symbolic toast, reviving the historic 1972 ‘Toast to Peace’ between Richard Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai in China. 

White House chefs fused classic American ingredients with subtle Asian flavors across a lavish multi-course menu.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez arrive for a state dinner

Tim Cook, Chairman of the board of directors of Apple, arrives dressed in a black suit and bowtie, holding up a peace sign

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, left, and his wife Lori Huang walk to the White House Thursday evening

VIPs enjoy a silky yellow squash velouté topped with crispy pancetta, followed by sesame-crusted sea bass served over braised baby bok choy, before rounding out the feast with a fruit-shaped vanilla cremeux paired with ice cream churned directly from White House honey.

The grand occasion comes with a touch of signature White House drama.

Trump has made no secret of his annoyance that his ambitious new White House ballroom remains unfinished, forcing the glittering diplomatic showcase into the East Room instead.

While galas, orchestrated by the Office of the First Lady, traditionally serve as the most glamorous showcase of American power, tonight’s event is unfolding largely behind closed doors.

Often the secret catalyst for blockbuster trade deals and historic treaties, this evening’s private gathering marks the first White House state dinner hosted for China since former President Barack Obama welcomed Xi back in September 2015.

This week, President Trump rolled out the red carpet for Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The visit kicked off with full military pomp today – complete with blaring bands, crisp salutes, roaring jet engines, and a personal guided tour by Trump through his gold-encrusted White House hallways.

The lavish black-tie State Dinner in the historic East Room stands as one of the most star studded evenings of the administration, offering a glitzy opportunity to smooth over notoriously fierce geopolitical friction with the Asian superpower

Jane Fraser, CEO of Citigroup, arrives in a red sequined dress

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman arrives for the state dinner

A US Air Force flyover roared overhead as Xi remained unflinching and Trump cracked a smile

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The first couple of China touched down just before 6pm local time. They will stay in the nation’s capital through Friday afternoon 

First ladies Liyuan and Trump pose for a photo with children during a visit to the Smithsonian’s National Museum Of Asian Art

The dramatic spectacle began the moment the Chinese President and his wife touched down at Joint Base Andrews.

As the leaders stood on the tarmac alongside rows of soldiers positioned in front of F-35 fighter jets and Air Force One, a screaming flyover shattered the air overhead.

The deafening roar caught Trump off guard, causing him to visibly wince while a stoic, stone-faced Xi didn’t even flinch.

Breaking more than a decade of presidential protocol, the Trump’s personally greeted the Chinese delegation on the tarmac – marking the first time a sitting US president has met a foreign leader at an airport in over 11 years.

A grinning Trump also celebrated an immediate PR win when Xi announced Beijing is sending two giant pandas, Ping Ping and Fu Shuang, to Zoo Atlanta within days, continuing the famous ‘panda diplomacy’ tradition sparked by Richard Nixon’s 1972 trip.

This week’s three-day visit is packed with cultural events alongside tough bilateral negotiations, where trade battles and thorny conflicts from tech dominance to Tehran are set to take center stage.

According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the two leaders could face each other up to four times before the year is out, with November’s APEC summit in Shenzhen and December’s G20 at Trump’s Doral golf resort in Miami already on the schedule.

The diplomatic charm offensive continues Friday, when the Trumps, Xi, and Madame Peng tour the National Archives to view America’s original founding documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Sonni Mason was out celebrating a friend’s birthday when he saw a man allegedly snatch a handbag outside a bar

A reveller dressed as Batman turned into an unexpected hero after pursuing a suspected handbag thief through Norwich city centre and helping to retrieve a woman’s stolen property.

Sonni Mason, 25, was out celebrating a mate’s birthday on Saturday evening when he witnessed a man allegedly grab a handbag outside a bar on Queen Street. Still wearing his Gotham City vigilante costume, he chased the suspect through the streets before getting help from a police officer.

The hunt for the missing bag eventually took Mr Mason to a wall near Norwich Cathedral, where it had been dumped. Sadly, his makeshift grappling hook, created from a recycled toilet roll, wasn’t up to the job, according to the Mirror.

Instead, Norwich’s own Dark Knight needed help from his fellow partygoers, who were dressed as Mr Fantastic, Poison Ivy and Cyclops, to collect the bag and give it back to its rightful owner.

The drama began when a stranger approached Sonni and his friends as they queued outside a bar. After initially seeming pleasant, the man allegedly claimed two women had stolen his cigarettes before snatching a handbag and running off.

Sonni’s swift actions meant the bag was ultimately found with all its contents intact and returned to its owner. “There’s not a lot of good things going on in the world. At the time, being able to get someone’s bag back, [making] sure she could go home safe and see[ing] someone happy again felt good”, Sonni told the Eastern Daily Press.

“Everyone needs a little bit of that in them. A little bit of Batman. You have to be brave, bold and kind.”

A TikTok clip showcasing his brave actions has racked up over 300,000 views. Sonni frequently shares content on the social media platform dressed as various superheroes, including Daredevil and Cyclops, though this particular outing enabled him to use his outfit for something more meaningful.

Despite his courageous deeds, Sonni acknowledged his day-to-day existence is far removed from that of Batman’s billionaire alter ego, Bruce Wayne. He’s employed at a local café while nurturing his love for filmmaking.

“I’m a bog-standard guy, to be honest, I currently work at a café, but I’m a creative at the core. I love films and have four or five years of experience in that industry.

“I didn’t want to jump off rooftops or beat people up. I just want to make sure everyone else is all right. Sincerely, that’s what [Batman] is about. He’s a protector. I just hope more people will be inspired to do the same if they see someone being mugged or feeling uncomfortable on a night out.”

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Norfolk Police have confirmed that officers were approached for help during their regular patrols on Saturday, 19th September. No arrests were made.

A police spokesman said: “Officers on routine night-time economy patrols in Norwich were approached by a member of the public, on Saturday, September 19, who requested help to find a missing bag.”

The spokesman added: “Following enquiries at the scene, the bag was located with all of its contents intact and subsequently returned to its owner.”

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