The green has a fascinating historyLaundress Green in Cambridge(Image: CambridgeshireLive)A city park, described as “iconic” by previous visitors, offers a scenic area where you can look out for cows grazing. Laundress Green in Cambridge offers a beautiful green area to indulge in picnics, sunbathing, or a walk.The city can be quite overwhelming at times, with all the hustle and bustle – particularly in the busy tourist season. Laundress Green offers a place to escape just a few minutes from the heart of the city.Although today it is a beauty spot, it has a history of hard work – and the name ‘Laundress Green’ hints at its past. Local washerwomen would frequent the area to use the city council washing lines for the laundry staff at the Cambridge colleges.According to Capturing Cambridge, on Mondays and Tuesdays the ground was free from grazing animals, so that women from Granta Place and Mill Lane could safely hang out their laundry there to dry. For this privilege, they likely had to pay a shilling a year and put up their own posts.In those days, people used this part of the River Cam when the best source of water for washing was the river, long before the era of a much simpler method – a washing machine. Eventually, clean water was made available in homes throughout the city and this function at the river became no longer necessary.Situated next to Lammas Land and near The Granta and The Anchor pubs, the green has become a popular place to visit throughout the year, but especially in the summer. A previous visitor to the park described it as “one of the most iconic” river places where “you can find cows grazing in the morning” from spring to autumn.Another wrote on Google: “The banks of the river Cam and the grounds surrounding are a beautiful park to go for a walk, picnic or have some drinks on the pubs around the area. The pound mill is a very beautiful spot with swans and other birds and trees.”
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‘Iconic’ Cambridge park where you can see cows grazing minutes from city centre
How Sapphire McIntosh went from homelessness to Ted Lasso
After three months, she was given a studio flat in the area, where she lived alone until moving into university halls in Manchester at age 19.
“I can imagine it’s not like this now, but I actually felt very supported,” she says, crediting a council support worker and her sixth form college for backing her over those years, as well as benefits like education maintenance allowance and income support.
Her football fixation also got her through. “I did grow up too quick, definitely. But football at that point was my life – I was just obsessed,” she says. Alongside a job at Nando’s and studying for three A levels, McIntosh trained at least twice a week, playing with various different teams in between.
“I was just locked in, and football really helped with my situation.”
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McIntosh played semi-professionally until the age of 19, when she moved to Manchester for a criminology degree which she realised during a lecture on the history of policing “was not for me, actually”. But it was during this time that she made her first social media skit: Cooking with Rhonda, in which she played a Jamaican chef, teaching people how to cook basic dishes. Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
“I uploaded it onto Facebook. And then I went out that week and someone said to me, ‘Saph, we keep on watching that video, we’ve been watching it over and over.’”
“But I knew then that was what I wanted to do. So then throughout my twenties I’d make little videos, I’d make characters, vox pops. And I always talked about doing stand-up but I just never did it.”
That is, until 2020, when she enrolled in a stand-up comedy class. She excelled in the class but still lacked the confidence to get up on stage, until she saw social media clips of others from her course putting themselves out there.
There was the small matter of a pandemic in the way – but in 2021, McIntosh booked her first stand-up gig and hasn’t looked back.
McIntosh grew up a football obsessive in Leeds. Image: Michael Jullings
In the five years since, she has reached the finals of countless comedy competitions, performed with improv and sketch groups, appeared in Channel 4’s Comedy Shorts series and continued making her own viral content. And last year, she even found the time to film the upcoming season of Apple TV’s Ted Lasso, starring as a player for the new Richmond WFC.
The audition process was unconventional – more keepie-uppies and football drills than screen tests and table reads. But for McIntosh, it was a perfect full-circle moment. Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
“I was so happy [when I got the call], because the reason I live the way I do is so that I’m flexible for my art,” she says, referring to the years of London renting that have variously seen her lodging illegally, boarding in a mansion and now sharing with eight housemates in a co-op.
“To be able to get what was basically a full-time job, on one of the biggest comedies – a flagship show about women’s football. It was just great.”
As for the future, McIntosh hopes there will be more acting gigs, as well as opportunities to tour more and hopefully get into writers’ rooms.
Previews of Squeaky Bum Time have been well-received, and she’s looking forward to bringing it to Edinburgh.
“I’m proud of the show – it’s something new and fresh,” she says. “I feel like there’s not many comedians who’ve had my upbringing. I’ve overcome things and I’ve got a new perspective.”
And when it comes to renting in London? Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
“I’m the most secure I’ve been now because we’re protected in the co-op – everyone is a landlord and you can’t get kicked out unless you do something really, really bad,” she says.
“So yeah, I’m here now and I live with a lot of people, and it allows me to do the work I do. But maybe it also pushes me, because I don’t want to be living like this forever.”
Squeaky Bum Time by Sapphire McIntosh will be at Underbelly, Edinburgh Fringe at 5.45pm each day, 5-30 August. The fourth season of Ted Lasso is on Apple TV from 5 August
Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more.
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Stoke-on-Trent curry house ‘opening soon’
Multan Courtyard is promising ‘luxury dining’14:16, 18 Jun 2026Updated 05:35, 27 Jun 2026Multan Courtyard is opening in BurslemA town centre restaurant is ‘opening soon’. Multan Courtyard is opening on St John’s Square, in Burslem.It is in the former Agie and Katie restaurant which closed down in 2023 following seven years in Burslem.Now Multan Courtyard is tantalising tastebuds with a ‘breakfast buffet, lamb roast, and authentic Pakistani’ meals.A banner outside the restaurant states: “Multan Courtyard opening soon. First time in Stoke-on-Trent with premium cuisine and taste.”Get even more North Staffordshire exclusives – and it is free
WWE SmackDown results, live discussion: Cody Rhodes speaks
WWE SmackDown is live was taped to air tonight (June 26, 2026) from the O2 in London, England, in the United Kingdom, and it’s the blue brand’s go-home show for Night of Champions!Advertised for tonight: “American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes will address both GUNTHER and Sami Zayn before defending his title against both of them tomorrow.Plus, Paige goes one-on-one with Jacy Jayne, Rey Fenix defends the AAA Cruiserweight Championship against Nathan Frazer, and more! Get ready with our preview here! Or, since this is a pre-taped show, check out spoilers here!Come right back here back at the normal start time of 8 pm ET. That’s when the SmackDown live blog will kick off in the space below once the show starts on USA.WWE SmackDown RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR JUNE 26It must have started with that stick in the mud, that there’s where clouds are born. Clouds can’t stay where they are born, winds push them so far from home, but me? I’m just here to liveblog this pro wrestling show for you, folks.The show opens with Michael Cole greeting us over a flyby of London.A recap of the Cody Rhodes vs. GUNTHER vs. Sami Zayn saga follows.Then we get the usual montage of talent arriving at the arena.Trick Williams makes his entrance, accompanied by Little Yachty, and he gets on the mic.Williams asks Yachty if he knows what he thinks and he says he thinks the people in London miss Trick Williams and Little Boo. Yachty agrees because they missed last week, and Trick says he doesn’t just miss SmackDown, it’s gotta be something meteorical, so he’s gonna fill us in.Last week, he went to Jamaica, Little Yachty was there, Lash Legend was there, and he’s now a married man. Yachty says there were violinists, cigars, big booties everywhere, it was so crazy, and love was in the air. Williams says getting married has to have been the best day of his life. His friends and family were there, she said I do, and then he did. Oh, he did it all night long!Lash isn’t here tonight, but he wants to send a message that he loves her, baby. But while he was out he found out Ricky Saints is the new number one contender to his United States Championship, and he’s absolutely gonna whoop his ass and then high step into SummerSlam wearing his lemon pepper steppers with a ring on his finger and a title around his waist.Enter “Absolute” Ricky Saints.He congratulates Trick on being married and whatnot but what that tells him is that Williams actually isn’t good at making life decisions. The crowd chants “Who am I?” and he says he’s your wife’s favorite lover and a few other epithets and Williams says he’ll smack him down to London Bridge, let’s talk about it.“Whoop that Trick!” chants go up and Saints says Trick seems to be on the sauce right now from his wedding night, he’s crazy, talking out his head, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about, SummerSlam, lemon pepper steppers, London Bridge cheap pop but he shouldn’t be looking past Saints, because tomorrow night you’re looking at the United States Champion, baby.He knows this Trick Williams hype train is ending tomorrow, baby boy. Trick says Ricky Suave is popping off like he’s number one, but he needs to focus on who his dentist is gonna be when he kicks his teeth down the back of his throat. Yachty adds he should get a smaller size next time and Saints tells the peanut gallery to stay out of it.Ricky asks if his little buddy comes with the title, Yachty says he’d never work for Saints, and Ricky decks him! Williams checks on his pal and Saints runs back in and decks the champion with a microphone shot before running away again!They stare each other down.We get a recap of Liv Morgan beating an injured Charlotte Flair in the Queen of the Ring semifinals last week.Alexa Bliss is interviewed backstage.She says Charlotte is feeling physical and emotional pain, and after what Jade Cargill and her minions did last week, she WILL get revenge on them, even if it means teaming with… Tiffany Stratton.The camera pans over and Tiffany is there.She says she’s just here to defend her title and Bliss says she’s grateful for Tiffany’s help actually and she wants to return the favor. Stratton accepts her explanation but says after tomorrow, they’re gonna go their separate ways.Tiffany Stratton makes her entrance ahead of our next match, sending us to break.Back from commercial, Alexa Bliss makes her entrance ahead of our next match.Then, of course, B-FAB and Michin make their entrance together to get things going.Alexa Bliss & Tiffany Stratton vs. the Baddies (B-FAB & “Michin” Mia Yim)Michin and Stratton to start, Tiffany with a side headlock, shot off, knees in the ropes, vicious dropkick, cover for a nearfall! Bliss tags in, cutting Yim off, looking for Sister Abigail but Mia blocks, off the ropes, blind tag to B-FAB! Basement dropkick from Alexa, going to the floor after Yim, diving tornado DDT off the apron but B-FAB meets her with a crescent kick and we go to break!Back from commercial, Bliss on the wrong side of town, fighting Michin off, tags made! Stratton in hot with lariats, big back elbow, dropkick clears the apron, cartwheel Alabama Slam… NO DEAL! Handspring Stunner, another nearfall, senton atomico… YIM BREAKS IT UP! Bliss goes to the floor to fight her off and ends up in the timekeeper’s area!Tiffany fends Mia off, Finlay Roll sets up the moonsault… JADE CARGILL IS HERE AND TRIPS HER UP! B-FAB takes advantage…The Baddies win by pinfall with a hangman’s neckbreaker spun into an X-Factor from B-FAB on Tiffany Stratton.Post-match, Chelsea Green comes running down to ringside, kendo stick in hand, trying to make the save for Tiffany!She manages to send all three Baddies packing and stands tall with a slightly confused Stratton and more confused Bliss.Tama and Talla Tonga chat with Solo Sikoa backstage.Solo is boisterous about their chances against the Bloodline but Tama Tonga tells him his obsession with Roman Reigns is tearing the MFTs apart. Last week they told him to stay in the back, he didn’t listen, and now they’re standing with no gold on their waists and Sikoa is helping LA Knight.Talla says they got word from the elders, and he and his brother are out. Solo says they can’t leave but Tama says they just did and they walk off as Sikoa shouts about how nobody leaves him and we go to break.Back from commercial, we get a recap of the tag match we just saw.Jade Cargill angrily confronts general manager Nick Aldis and demands a match against Chelsea Green tonight, and he cheerfully agrees to give it to her.Nathan Frazer makes his entrance ahead of our next match, accompanied by Axiom.And then Rey Fenix makes his entrance so we can get things going.Nathan Frazer vs. Rey Fenix (c) (AAA Cruiserweight Championship)Light lucha libre to start, trading leapfrogs, legsweeps from Frazer, quick covers, duck a crescent kick from Fenix and they stalemate! Backflip evasion, Nathan in the corner, Rey clobbers him, charges in, cut off, Frazer hits the reverse STO into the turnbuckles! Fenix comes back with a kick, diving crossbody, only a nearfall!Boot sends Nathan to the floor, Rey goes up top, plancha off the top, back inside, enzuigiri from Frazer, off the ropes… TOPE CON GIRO CONNECTS TO SEND US TO BREAK!Back from commercial, Fenix with a handspring Stunner, follows it with a fireman’s carry neckbreaker… NO DEAL! Up in the corner, Nathan hits the superplex, Rey rolls through into a small package for two! A frenzy of kicks and both men end up down and out! Big knee from Frazer, Fenix off the ropes, feint into a crescent kick, springboard, Nathan meets him, springboard Russian legsweep into a Final Cut… FENIX KICKS OUT!Off the top for the Phoenix Splash, nobody home, Rey gets him in the corner, double knees, set him up top, hook him, jockeying for position, Nathan kicks him away and sets him up top for an enzuigiri that sends the champion crashing to the floor! Off the ropes… FRAZER GOES FOR A SUICIDE DIVE BUT FENIX SIDESTEPS AND NATHAN BOUNCES FACE-FIRST OFF THE ANNOUNCE DESK!Back inside, Rey up top, frog splash… FRAZER WILL NOT STAY DOWN! Nathan goes up top but Fenix gets him…Rey Fenix wins by pinfall with the Mexican Muscle Buster, retaining the AAA Cruiserweight Championship.Post-match, the two men embrace in a show of sportsmanship.Damian Priest and Ron “the Truth” Killings are interviewed backstage.Truth says they’re gonna go hang out in the hot tub in the clubhouse, but Priest disagrees and starts talking about who they want to wrestle next–Erik says he wants to put their AAA tag titles on the line in a title for title match! Killings responds in a bad Scott Hall impression and says Little Jimmy says everyone in Judgment Day can have a title if it’s title for title, including Finn Balor and JD McDonagh. War Raiders try to remind him he’s not in Judgment Day but he’s not having it and Priest clamps his hand over his partner’s mouth and accepts the challenge.LA Knight drives up and rolls into an interview.Asked why he’s at SmackDown as a Raw guy, he says he’s got questions too and he’s gonna go get some answers, right now.Back from commercial, we get a hype reel for the King of the Ring finals between GUNTHER and “Main Event” Jey Uso.LA Knight makes his entrance and gets on the mic.He says Monday night he and “Big” Jim Uso came out here and had a battle and unfortunately Jim caught a BFT and ended up looking at the lights. Jimmy is the one guy in the Bloodline he kind of respects but even so he thinks he got what he deserved. He had a little help from Solo Sikoa though, so he wants him to get his keister down here right now.“Oh, Solo Sikoa” singing chants go up and Knight says he’s gotta be honest, that’s a little catchy and ten out of ten times, when Solo comes down to the ring it’s been to attack him, distract him, fight with him right here in the center of the ring so he’s trying to wrap his head around Monday.Sikoa says he’s not here to fight him, okay, if he’s looking for a fight, he’s wasting his time. He doesn’t know if LA saw earlier, but everyone in his family has left him. Knight says that’s gotta hurt but his heart doesn’t pump purple piss(?!) for him and his family and if you ask him that just leaves Solo wide open to go right back into the bloodline.LA continues and says he bets Solo doesn’t know why he did it, but Sikoa explodes at him and says it’s because he hates the family, he hates that he was a part of the Bloodline, he hates Jacob Fatu, he hates the Usos, he hates Roman Reigns. In fact, about the only thing he has in common with Knight is he hates the Bloodline.Knight rants about how everybody else in the Bloodline SHOULD hate Roman Reigns but they still went back anyway. “Main Event” Jey Uso is now “Baggage Handler” Jey Uso and he’s supposed to trust that Solo isn’t gonna go back? He’s seen this movie before and what’s to prove it’ll be different this time?Solo says it’s different because he has nothing to lose, he’s all alone now, and the enemy of his enemy can be friends. He pitches LA on working together as partners to take out the Bloodline, watching each other’s back. Knight asks “We?” and “Friends?” and says he’s heard “it’s just me” before, day one, Uso, etc.But he’ll take a minute to digest it, because does he hate the Bloodline? Yeah. Is he outnumbered? Yeah. Have those numbers always worked against him? Yeah. Does he probably need help? Does he need Solo Sikoa standing next to him, watching his back? Solo says yeah but LA says nah, he lives and dies doing things his way.And he’ll live and die the same way, being him, the only way he can, thanks but no thanks.Sami Zayn is interviewed backstage.He says he doesn’t need to hear from Byron Saxton about his officiating last week and insists he called it down the middle until he was pushed too far and retaliated same as anyone else would have. Nobody gets it except catatonic Johnny Gargano, who’s laying on a road case just to the right of him, with his wife Candice LeRae babysitting him.Zayn says he’s gotten his way to a WWE Championship match and admits he hasn’t been himself lately, ever since he lost his title match in Saudi Arabia. But since he’s stayed true to himself, the universe has given him this chance to redeem himself. He has a flash of revelation and decides this means he’s gonna become WWE Champion.Paige makes her entrance ahead of our next match, accompanied by Brie Bella, and we go to break.Back from commercial, Fatal Influence make their entrance to get things going.Jayne gets a pep talk from Fallon Henley, circling, Paige distracted by Lainey Reid and Jacy drops her with a superkick! Putting boots to her in the coner, choking her, referee Jason Ayers admonishes Jayne and then Paige gets the better of her with a slap and a snapmare! Putting her into the top rope throat-first, slinging her off, Paige says this is her house and hammers her with a headbutt!Smashing Jacy face-first into the turnbuckles over and over, Ayers warns her off as well and Paige changes gears to stomp a mudhole! Deathlock STF applied, Jayne fights to the ropes and calls for a time-out as she huddles with Fatal Influence and Paige takes the other two out with a cannonball senton off the apron!Jayne drops her with a Penalty Kick off the apron, says this is her house now and you’re gonna respect her and sends us to break.Back from commercial, trading elbows, Paige Turner connects, cover for two! Capture DDT countered to a small package, only a nearfall, off the ropes, Busaiku knee from Jayne gets two and she’s frustrated about it! Pulling herself up in the corner, lining Paige up, she ducks the rolling elbow, trying for a backslide, Jacy puts her in the turnbuckles, backslide and her feet on the ropes… BRIE BELLA KNOCKS HER FEET OFF AND PAIGE KICKS OUT!Lainey Reid beats Brie up, trading nearfalls…Paige wins by pinfall with a schoolboy pin.Backstage, Danhausen is experimenting more on Miz and Kit Wilson.Matt Cardona rolls up and thanks him for the Knicks championship run but says ever since he gets shocked his fist has been twitching and he wants to move back to Long Island.Danhausen runs off distracted and fails to respond directly to Cardona.Los Garza roll up and demand Danhausen give him the money back but Cardona says he can’t help them. He reaches down to grab at a clothed figure and Danhausen yells at him not to touch from off-screen and we go to break.Back from commercial, commentary shills for the thing where you can pay to have your name on the canvas.Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga run into Finn Balor backstage.Balor says it’s good to see them and to see Tama making his own decisions, and it reminds him of when they ran together. Tama says that was a long time ago, and Shinsuke Nakamura was from his past too and we all saw how that went.Danhausen makes his entrance, zombie Miz and zombie Kit Wilson in tow.While they shamble into the ring, commentary tells us that we’re finally blessedly going back to two hours next week.Danhausen greets Londonhausen and welcomes us to Danhausen TV, with his guests, the Legion of Danhausen. He asks Miz how he feels being replaced on his own show and he says it’s awesome. Kit Wilson says Los Garza interrupting Danhausen’s experiments is toxic, toxic, toxic.They beat the zombies down and turn to Danhausen, who backs up until he hits the ropes and puts his dukes up–MATT CARDONA MAKES THE SAVE!General manager Nick Aldis comes down and books the obvious tag team match to start… right now!Or actually, after the break.Danhausen & Matt Cardona vs. Los Garza (Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo)Back from commercial, match joined in progress, Cardona gets Carrillo down and out, woo woo woo, Broski Boot! Rough Ryder countered, off the ropes, big boot, back body drop to the apron and Garza dropkicks him to the floor and woos! Quick tags, working Matt over in the corner, Los Garza break away to attack zombie Kit Wilson on the floor but still manage to block a tag.Tags made anyway, Danhausen with a Manhattan Drop, a lariat, northern lights suplex on Garza, corner lariats on both men! Danhausen out of gashausen, he ducks a body avalanche and Humberto goes into Angel, German suplex… GARZA BREAKS IT UP! Angel goes and gets a chair, zombie Miz gets in his way and he goes to swing the chair but Wilson grabs it and blocks him!Rough Ryder takes Garza out, Danhausen rolls up Carrillo for two, eats an enzuigiri, Humberto up top, Danhausen curses him and the ringpost blows up under him and spews sparks and smoke right into his gentleman’s area, sending him crashing down…Danhausen & Matt Cardona win by pinfall with an inverted DDT from Danhausen on Humberto Carrillo.GUNTHER is interviewed backstage.He scoffs at Sami Zayn’s redemption, saying if anybody needs redemption it’s him after getting screwed out of the WWE Championship twice. He doubles down on having been screwed and says he’s gonna tell Cody just how he’s gonna beat him, tonight.Chelsea Green is shown walking backstage, anxious about her match, to send us to break.Back from commercial, we get a hype reel for the Queen of the Ring finals between IYO SKY and Liv Morgan.We get entrances for our next match, first Chelsea Green and then Jade Cargill.Chelsea Green vs. Jade CargillCollar and elbow, feeling out, Cargill quickly takes control, action to the floor, big lariat and we go to break!Back from commercial, Cargill with a chokeslam… NOPE! Grounded punches, drawing Green back up, throwing her into the turnbuckles, but Chelsea sidesteps the charge and Jade’s shoulder goes into the post! Folding press for two, trying to go punch for punch, Cargill throws her into the corner but Green manages to duck and throw a few punches!Snapmare, to the corner, back body drop to the apron, Chelsea listens to the crowd and lands a missile dropkick for two! Killswitch countered, pump kick from Jade, double chickenwing…Jade Cargill wins by pinfall with Jaded.Post-match, B-FAB and Michin return to the ring, as do Alexa Bliss and Tiffany Stratton and a brawl breaks out!Tiffany ends up on the wrong side of That Damn Numbers Game and eats a Jaded into a nice long pin and Jade telling her that’s a preview of Saturday.Solo Sikoa is interviewed backstage.He looks sadly at Byron Saxton after being asked about being left all alone and turns to see Royce Keys standing there.Royce says he knows Jacob Fatu is coming for him, right? Solo asks if Keys is gonna have his back like he had his and Royce pauses for a long beat before clapping him on the shoulder and wishing him luck to send us to break.Back from commercial, we get a hype reel for Bron Breakker vs. Seth Rollins.Commentary hypes up the Night of Champions card.Trick Williams is interviewed backstage with Little Yachty pacing in the background.Yachty takes charge and says Ricky Saints has their attention and earned himself a tricky situation, and only a sucker would sucker punch a man. Williams said he’s sick and tired of pretending he and Saints are on the same level when Ricky had to trick and connive his way into a match and he’s stronger, faster, and prettier than Saints.Night of Champions is gonna be a night of Trick Williams, let’s talk about it.Giulia makes her entrance ahead of our next match and sends us to break.Back from commercial, Kiana James makes her entrance to get things going.James hot out the gates, beating Giulia down, throwing her into the turnbuckles for shoulder blocks, out to the floor and the Beautiful Madness cuts her off and gets some breathing room. Back inside, grabbing a handful of Kiana’s hair, buzzsaw kick, back out to the floor and James puts Giulia face-first into the steel steps to send us to break!Back from commercial, trading elbows, Giulia bringing the heat, whip reversed, big tijeras and she’s fired up! Facewash, Saito suplex, cover for two! Beautiful Madness up top, James gets under her… MILITARY PRESS SLAM OUT OF THE CORNER! Falcon Arrow connects… NO DEAL! Arrivederci blocked, James with a folding press for two!Fireman’s carry, up top, Giulia slips out… SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB! Arrivederci connects, hook her…Giulia wins by pinfall with the northern lights bomb.Post-match… BLAKE MONROE IS FINALLY HERE AND SHE’S BEATING GIULIA DOWN! NEUTRALIZER LAYS HER OUT!Back from commercial, “American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes makes his entrance and gets on the mic.He asks London what they want to talk about and starts talking about Night of Champions–He thanks all of his ride or die fans here in London and says he loves them, thanks them, and appreciates them. But that’s not why he’s out here, he needed to tell Cody face to face, man to man, and for whatever it might mean at this point, as a friend, that he regrets how some of last week with him as a guest referee went down.Yes he was provoked and pushed to his limit, but at the end of the day he’s a good guy, the last real good guy around here, so he should have been better. So he regrets the fast count and striking the official and especially knocking Rhodes out cold with the WWE Championship. It was a mistake–Rhodes cuts him off and asks it if was a mistake. Sami says it was and now they find themselves about to wrestle for the WWE Championship, and he needs Cody to know this isn’t how he wanted it, it’s never how he wanted it, he didn’t want to be in the middle of this thing, it’s not how he wanted it–Cody bellows and tells him enough, this is exactly what he wanted. Gosh, Sami, you’re wrestling for the WWE Championship in a country that loves him in a match where Rhodes doesn’t have to be pinned to lose the title? Things are looking up for Zayn! He keeps playing this victim card for everybody, for the thing laying down backstage that he talks to, but he’s not a victim.What Sami is is exhausting. Every interaction backstage is like a mosquito sucking the blood from him, what, does he expect Cody to keel over and hand him the title? He can’t wrap his head around that Zayn is best friends with Kevin Owens because there’s two big differences between them.One, Kevin would have come out here, got to the point, said what he had to say, and stabbed him in the front. And two, Kevin has been WWE Champion. (Well no, he was Universal Champion, but sure.)Sami says to keep Kevin’s name out of his mouth and that if it weren’t for him GUNTHER would be champion and Cody shouldn’t be chastising him but rather on his hands and knees thanking him. He’s the reason Rhodes is still champion and after Night of Champions, Sami will be the reason he’s not champion any longer.He asks what all the drama here is before saying he doesn’t care. All he cares about is winning what’s rightfully his and is hanging over Cody’s shoulder. Sami is right about one thing, if he hadn’t screwed him out of the title he’d be champion right now and Rhodes knows it. But Zayn is wrong when he says he’s gonna leave Night of Champions with the title, because the Ring General will.As a referee he caused a lot of damage, but as a wrestler, he’s a non-factor. He’s never been WWE Champion and he never will be. And as for Cody, enjoy your last night as the golden boy, because tomorrow he’s gonna take it all away and walk into SummerSlam facing the King of the Ring, not Rhodes.Enter “Main Event” Jey Uso.GUNTHER tells him no running it back on his time, and Jey keeps it short and sweet, saying he’s gonna punch his ticket to SummerSlam by becoming King of the Ring and then whoever wins the title tomorrow is getting a warning shot, except the Ring General doesn’t need one because he already tapped him out like a little bitch at WrestleMania.That kicks off a brawl that leads to Cody and Jey Superkick Partying GUNTHER to the floor!He gets on the apron and stares Jey and Cody down with a smile on his face and Uso takes Rhodes out with a superkick!Jey focuses on Oba and GUNTHER slides in and takes him out with a lariat! GUNTHER grabs the title and stares Femi down but Sami Zayn takes him out and does the same bit with the belt! Cross Rhodes connects and Cody grabs the belt as the Ruler gets in teh ring, standing over him and staring down.Rhodes gets to his feet and holds the title up, staring the Destroyer of Worlds dead in the eye.That’s the show, folks.
Unheralded city park that might just be the best in Liverpool
Calderstones and Sefton Park are lovely, but if you take the time to rediscover this beautiful green space you’ll find so many good things going onWalton Hall Park(Image: Liverpool Echo)Liverpool has many fine parks, some of them are truly spectacular green spaces, beloved by people across the region, but for me, Walton Hall Park is the best in the city.It was officially opened by King George V in July 1934, when he visited Liverpool to open the Queensway Tunnel, and its origins are believed to date back to Henry de Walton, steward of the West Derby hundred in 1199. The land once belonged to some of Merseyside’s richest residents, and the park site serves as one of the last reminders of Walton Hall, which was demolished around the turn of the 20th century.In its current incarnation, Walton Hall Park is replete with lush green spaces, mature trees and blooming foliage. It also contains various leisure facilities, including a bowling green, professional-standard football pitches, a fitness centre and outside exercise activities sited along its various pathways.For families, there’s also a children’s playground, which is subject to extra funding by Liverpool City Council, as part of the planned installation of new equipment.The 130-acre park also contains two lakes. The smaller pond is used to sail model boats, and the larger one has two islands. The waters are inhabited by several large carps, bream and tench fishes, as well as a large number of skimmer breams, roaches and perches.Man fishing in Walton Hall Park(Image: Liverpool Echo)On a recent visit to the park there were dozens of anglers, all set up to fish the lakes, and during the last few days, relaxing in the haze of early evening sunshine. It all looked like a little piece of heaven.There’s also something for the ramblers and cyclists with a path circumnavigating the entire park, as well as a few carved out walkways among the greenery, the latter of which is accompanied by the buzz of summer insects and the serenity of birdsong – you’d be forgiven for believing you were in the deep wilds of the countryside.For those yearning for a place to relax, listen to a podcast, some music, read a book, or for an afternoon snooze in the sunshine, there are at least five large open spaces, with well tended grass. Some people use them for picnics and family get togethers, while others use them for a bit of recreation, or wellness activities.Beautiful green spaces in Walton Hall Park(Image: Liverpool Echo)For full disclosure, I grew up in Walton, and although I used the park to play football, and run about with friends, I was never a frequent visitor, and preferred hiking over to Croxteth Hall Park, a place many consider to be the best in Liverpool.Which speaks to the central theme of this piece, the fact is that these things are always subjective. Some will say Sefton Park, others will extol the virtues of Calderstones Park – and they would all be right in one way or another because they’re also wonderful and beautiful in their own way.Part of the reason I want to platform Walton Hall Park is because, like a few other parks around Merseyside, it’s largely unheralded, but if you take the trouble to rediscover the park – or even visit for the first time – you will find so many good things going on, and so many things to enjoy.Walton Hall Park(Image: Liverpool Echo)We recently covered the work of Scouse Flowerhouse, an organisation dedicated to bringing wildflowers and creative ecology projects to areas across the city. Through the cultivation of wildflowers and facilitating seeding projects, it aims to connect people to the land around them.It is part of the wider Northern Flowerhouse group, started in 2017, and led by Richard Scott, who we met at the Abingdon Fields site, approximately 100 metres away from Walton Hall Park. As you approach the fields, you can see a large patch of green space, filled with some of the rarest flowers in the whole of Europe.It is a two minute walk from the wildflower blossoms running throughout Walton Hall Park, which are now flowering, and bringing an assortment of beautiful colours to a landscape dominated by green grass and assorted foliage.Wildflowers in Walton Hall Park(Image: Liverpool Echo)This is also complimented by the Walton Community Garden, at the far end corner of Walton Hall Avenue, and where the park sits just opposite Blackthorne Road. It is tended to by the Friends of Walton Hall Park volunteer group, taken over by Jimmy Byrne after his wife, Chrissie, sadly passed away in January 2023.Chrissie had saved the garden, and was given an honorary Citizen of Honour award for her passionate campaigning for green spaces, and determination to protect parks from development.Asked what makes the park so special to him, Jimmy told us: “Our Walton Hall park means everything to me, not only because my late wife spearheaded the fight to save it but all the park’s in Liverpool.”I promised her I would continue to save and look after it while she lay in a hospital bed knowing she had only day’s left.Walton Hall Park(Image: Liverpool Echo)”The park means so much to not just me but all the local community and all that visit it. As my late wife Chrissie use to say, Walton Hall Park is the gem in the crown of Walton.”We also reached out to Liverpool City Council to ask about the evolution of Walton Hall Park, the work that goes on there and the partnerships it leans on to ensure engaged community involvement.A spokesperson told us: “Our parks and greenspaces – of which there are more than 100 across Liverpool – are a huge part of what makes this city beautiful. Walton Hall Park is no exception to that and, as is the case with our other parks, is looked after all year round.Walton Community Garden(Image: Liverpool Echo)“We have recently refurbished the bowling green pavilion and the play area, as well as making improvements to the car park. Bins across much of the park have been replaced with a new one to help keep it litter-free.“The resource for the lakes team has been doubled meaning we’ll be able to make more frequent visits to a very popular part of the park, and we will be undertaking repair works to maintain the water levels early next week.”A new grounds management approach means we can prioritise mowing and cleansing of the key areas in the park, on top of keeping hedges, shrubs and vegetation in check.“As with many of our other parks, we are lucky to be able to work with a passionate and dedicated Friends Group who make a massive difference for the community.”
Rough sleepers offered water, suncream and shade in the heat
Brenland has upped his support this week, handing out water, wet wipes, ice lollies, suncream, snacks and basic toiletries from The Bus Shelter Ipswich.Parked up in a sheltered spot in the town centre, it also offers the chance for shade and a cooling shower.”We just do what we can,” added Brenland, who founded the community interest company.”Members of the public are generally kind enough to make sure [rough sleepers] have got food and drink and the essentials, but it’s always nice to have a base that they can come to if they need to.”A 34-year-old man in Ipswich, who did not want to give his name, said he had suffered sunstroke twice in recent weeks.”It’s hard, especially with my fair skin,” he said. “It’s horrible.”
Concerns over dust ‘like fog’ on resurfaced A6 Mountsorrel bypass
A spokesperson for the county council said surface dressing work was carried out to “help protect the road and prevent potholes”.”But on this occasion, we are aware this has caused disruption and we understand how frustrating it’s been for people living nearby and using the route,” they said.”This type of treatment seals the surface, improves grip and stops water getting in, helping the road last longer and reducing the need for more disruptive repairs later. “We carry this surface dressing out in warmer summer months as the dry conditions help the new surface set and bond properly.”Some people may have noticed more dust than usual. “In these very hot, dry conditions that can happen for a short time while the new surface settles, this will ease. “We’ve been sweeping the road daily and will continue to do so this week to help clear as soon as possible.”The authority advised motorists to abide by the temporary 10mph (16km/h) advisory speed limit in place and leave extra space between vehicles to “help everything bed in more quickly”.”We’d like to thank residents for their patience and understanding,” it added.
Ex-Cambridgeshire Police officer created toxic WhatsApp culture
Jurors heard 12 other officers had been investigated over their conduct arising from the “toxic” culture Street had created.Pc Josh Williams, 38, from Huntingdon, pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.Of 11 others who were investigated, two resigned, one was dismissed for gross misconduct, one received a final warning and two received written warnings.In 2020, Williams was tasked with examining the phone of a female suspect and told Street she was “quite fit”.Street asked him if there were “any nudes”, and Williams replied that there was a video of the woman committing a sexual act.Williams went on to send Street a photo from the woman’s phone depicting her in underwear.The following year, Street asked if Williams still had the intimate private video because he wanted to show it to “the lads from footy”.When interviewed about it, Street claimed he wanted to see the images to reassure himself the woman, who was released without charge, was not the victim of exploitative behaviour.But Prosecutor Anne Whyte KC told jurors it was not Williams’s job to discuss or share the private images, and neither was it Street’s job to ask for nudes or the sex video.
Transfer news: Summer transfer window 2026 – Premier League deals, ins and outs
The summer transfer window opened on June 15 and closes at 11pm UK time on September 1. Find out who is on the move across the Premier League.Check below for a comprehensive list of all the Premier League ins and outs from the 2026 summer transfer window, as clubs confirm released lists and look to make reinforcements around the 2026 World Cup.
Keep track of all the latest developments with our Transfer Centre blog.
Fees include potential add-ons.In
Piero Hincapie – Bayer Leverkusen, £34.5m
Out
Jakub Kiwior – Porto, £19mKerl Hein – Werder Bremen, £2.6mInModou Keba Cissa – LASK, £4.8mOutDonyell Malen – Roma, £21.7mIn-OutHamed Traore – Marseille, £6.5mLuis Sinisterra – Cruzeiro, £5.2mMarcos Senesi – Tottenham, freeInJannik Schuster – Red Bull Salzburg, £16.5mOutTony Yogane – Aberdeen, undisclosedEthan Laidlaw – Falkirk, undisclosedRyan Trevitt – releasedBrighton transfersInZadok Yohanna – AIK, £21.5mCostinha – Olympiacos, £8mOutJan Paul van Hecke – Tottenham, £52mJeremy Sarmiento – Middlesbrough, undisclosedAdam Webster – releasedJoel Veltman – releasedSolly March – releasedJames Milner – retiredInGeovany Quenda – Sporting, £44mDenner – Corinthians, £8.7mDastan Satpaev – Kairat Almaty, £2.1mEmmanuel Emegha – Strasbourg, undisclosedOutMarc Cucurella – Real Madrid, £51.8mJimmy-Jay Morgan – West Brom, undisclosedBrodi Hughes – releasedRichard Olise – releasedSam Rak-Sakyi – releasedJimi Tauriainen – releasedIn-OutJamie Allen – releasedBrad Collins – releasedConrad Ambursley – releasedCharlie Finney – releasedJack James – releasedGreg Sandiford Junior – releasedKai Yearn – releasedIn-OutCraig Farquhar – Barnet, freeInMerlin Rohl – Freiburg, £21.7mOutIsaac Heath – Cambridge, freeSeamus Coleman – releasedTyler Onyango – releasedIdrissa Gueye – releasedIn-OutRaul Jimenez – Wolves, freeSteven Benda – releasedHarry Wilson – releasedIn-OutHarry Vaughan – releasedInChuba Akpom – Ajax, £7mCedric Kipre – Reims, £3.9mOutArijanet Muric – Sassuolo, £6mLeon Ayinde – Doncaster, freeConor Chaplin – releasedConor Townsend – releasedAshley Young – retiredIn-OutIllan Meslier – releasedInJeremy Jacquet – Rennes, £60mVictor Munoz – Osasuna, £34.5mOutAndy Robertson – Tottenham, freeIbrahima Konate – Real Madrid, freeMohamed Salah – releasedRhys Williams – releasedIn-OutBernardo Silva – Real Madrid, freeJohn Stones – releasedIn-OutRasmus Hojlund – Napoli, £38mCasemiro – releasedTyrell Malacia – releasedJadon Sancho – releasedInEwen Jaouen – Reims, £18.5mOutAnthony Gordon – Barcelona, £69.3mKieran Trippier – Wolves, freeEmil Krafth – releasedJohn Ruddy – releasedMax Thompson – releasedMatt Targett – releasedIn-OutWilly Boly – releasedStefan Ortega – releasedAngus Gunn – releasedIn-OutHarrison Jones – Peterborough, undisclosedBertrand Traore – releasedDan Neil – releasedDennis Cirkin – releasedNiall Huggins – releasedInJan Paul van Hecke – Brighton, £52mMartin Dubravka – Burnley, freeAndy Robertson – Liverpool, freeMarcos Senesi – Bournemouth, freeOutYves Bissouma – released
Smart technology scheme helps to tackle rural isolation in Staffordshire
A pilot scheme using voice-activated technology to help socially isolated residents in rural Staffordshire stay connected and live more independently has been hailed as a success.
Staffordshire County Council has been running the assistive technology pilot in partnership with Staffordshire Moorlands and South Staffordshire district councils in both areas over the last six months.
It’s part of the county council’s wider commitment to using digital innovation to improve lives and deliver more inclusive services.
Smart devices have been provided to people at risk of digital exclusion or loneliness, helping them stay in touch with others, access information and support their wellbeing.
WATCH: Fred and daughter Janice explain how the smart device has helped to keep them connected.
The pilot uses voice-activated smart speaker devices, managed on a remote platform. Devices offer access to news, reminders, entertainment, and video calls – all tailored to individual needs and preferences. Unlike an off-the-shelf device, devices are pre-configured and centrally managed, meaning no technical setup is required by the user and on-screen content can be tailored to the individual’s needs.
The scheme aims to:Reduce social isolation and loneliness
Improve digital confidence and inclusion
Support healthy routines through reminders and wellbeing prompts for things like medication and hydration
Enhance access to local services and community eventsOne resident said: “I love it. It’s better than a mobile and really helps as I have arthritis in my hands and I don’t have to hit any keys or touch anything.”
Another said: “This is a gamechanger for my daughter as it gives her peace of mind.”
A full evaluation will assess the impact of the 12-month pilot when it ends and could then be rolled out to other areas.
Andrew Mynors, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Connectivity, said:
We’re always looking at new and innovative ways to support our residents, especially those in more rural or isolated communities. This pilot is a great example of how digital technology can make a real difference to people’s lives.
The feedback from those involved has been fantastic and is invaluable to our team in shaping the scheme moving forward.
It’s our priority to make sure that all our residents – wherever they live in the county and whatever their needs or age – can lead independent, fulfilling lives as no-one should be isolated in today’s society. This project is about giving people the tools and confidence to stay connected and lead happy, healthy lives at home for as long as possible.”Karen Riley, customer engagement team manager, welfare services at South Staffordshire Council, said:
It’s been truly rewarding to witness the significant changes these devices have brought about in the lives of those we support. Perhaps most importantly, these devices have given families a genuine sense of peace of mind, knowing their loved ones are safer and more connected.
I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with team members to identify vulnerable adults who could benefit from our device initiative. Together, we’ve not only provided these devices to those in need but have also supported them in developing and expanding the services these devices can offer.
Thank you to everyone who has been involved in making this progress possible. I look forward to continuing our efforts and seeing even greater positive impacts in the community.”
