Good afternoon,It is the hottest day of the year so far and it has coincided with a bank holiday. Thousands of people have headed to train stations as they head to beaches and parks to enjoy the heat.This has led to some services being affected as Merseyrail deals with high passenger numbers. The Liverpool Central to Chester service will run non-stop between Birkenhead Central and HootonThe Liverpool Central to Chester service will run non-stop between Birkenhead Central and Hooton, skipping Green Lane, Rock Ferry, Bebington, Port Sunlight, Spital, Bromborough Rake, Bromborough, and Eastham Rake.This is known as a “semi-fast service”, used by Merseyrail to help restore a disrupted timetable. This means that trains will run directly between two appointed stations, not stopping at stations in between.All other services on the Ellesmere Port, West Kirkby, New Brighton, Southport, Ormskirk and Hunts Cross, and Headbolt Lane lines are running as scheduled.A Merseyrail spokesman posted on X: “Due to the large number of passengers travelling, services on the Chester line face cancellations or alterations.”
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Travel chaos live as Merseyrail services disrupted and traffic gridlocked
Leicestershire council set to increase parking and wedding fees
The proposals include raising the price of a season parking ticket at council-run country parks from £85 to £95 as well as £10 increases for some register office ceremony fees.The report also suggests the council could increase meal prices at its staff restaurant at County Hall in Glenfield to generate £80,000.Kevin Crook, deputy council leader and cabinet member for culture and heritage, said: “Our efficiency review is about gripping our budget and making every pound we spend work harder. “It’s a major project, leaving no stone unturned, and includes increasing fees where it makes sense to do so, with all money collected going back into running and improving our services, including country parks.”Deborah Taylor, leader of the council’s Conservative opposition group, said: “This is Reform putting up the costs of services.”It’s a political choice.”They chose to increase council tax by 2.99% and made a big point of that. “Then they have hidden taxes like these increases to make up the difference.”
The Cambridgeshire village with ‘glorious’ pub once used to store coffins
Hidden in the countryside of south Cambridgeshire lays a quaint, picturesque village that holds a peculiar history. Fowlmere, one of the southernmost villages in the county, had only 1,259 residents as of 2018.The village is home to an ancient monument known as the ‘Round Moat’ which is the remains of an early Saxon settlement dating from around the ninth century. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a wildlife haven.
Fowlmere offers one pub called The Chequers, which has been in operation since the 16th century. It previously served as a coaching inn for travellers going to and from Cambridge. The intriguing pub was once used as coffin storage for those travelling with bodies.
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Notably, the pub was mentioned in the diary of Samuel Pepys. In present times, the pub serves as a popular meeting hub for the locals offering a bar and restaurant – but no storage for coffins.
With an average rating of 4.7 stars out of five amid over 600 reviews on Google, it appears to be a much-loved establishment. One previous guest described the setting as “glorious”, highlighting the “brilliant service” they experienced.Another guest wrote: “Never had a bad meal here and it has risen top of my list for my local pubs. Staff are always outstanding and the menu is constantly evolving and improving. Amazing pub!”
Fowlmere was once struck by a tornado. On November 23, 1981, the record-breaking nationwide tornado outbreak tore through the village. The United Kingdom tornado outbreak of that year has been considered the largest recorded tornado outbreak in Europe history.
Fowlmere does not currently have a convenience shop but it does have a café and a village hall. Only a short 15-minute drive takes you to the renowned Duxford Imperial War Museum where visitors can take in the incredible history of the airfield and watch some beautiful air shows.
The village offers one school called Fowlmere Primary School, which teaches pupils aged four until 11. House prices in Fowlmere reflect its desirability – with an average price of £551,786 over the last year, according to Rightmove. The majority of properties sold in Fowlmere during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £693,125.
New London-Stirling train service launching in Crewe
It’s a budget rail option via Crewe stationAuthor: Adam SmithPublished 3 hours agoCrewe will soon benefit from a new train service beginning on 25th May 2026, linking the town to London and Stirling.The operator, Lumo, owned by FirstGroup, is introducing this service to provide more affordable travel options on the West Coast Main Line (WCML).The new route will offer up to four return journeys daily from London Euston to Stirling, enhancing both accessibility and competition.What is Lumo?For those unfamiliar with Lumo, the brand operates on an open-access basis, setting its own prices and assuming revenue risks.Currently, Lumo connects London King’s Cross with cities such as Edinburgh and Glasgow, providing passengers straightforward travel without premium seating.As part of the launch, Lumo has partnered with the Stirling Pride festival, offering free tickets to London, marking the occasion and forging community ties.Stuart Jones, managing director of First Rail Open Access, said:“This is a very exciting moment in our journey to launching a pioneering new service for the West Coast.“Customers can look forward to simple, low-cost fares with an excellent experience on our services between Scotland, the North West of England and London.”Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.
Robertson pays classy tribute to Everton captain Coleman after Liverpool goodbye
Liverpool legend Andy Robertson paid special mention to Everton great Seamus Coleman after both called time on their careers on MerseysideAndy Robertson paid tribute to departing Everton captain after his Liverpool farewell Liverpool legend Andy Robertson made sure to pay tribute to Everton great Seamus Coleman after the pair called time on their illustrious playing careers on Merseyside.Robertson was making his 378th and final appearance for Liverpool in their final-day 1-1 draw at home to Brentford alongside fellow modern-day Anfield icon Mohamed Salah.The Scotland captain and Egypt skipper were interviewed on the pitch after the match and, unprompted, the former made sure to namecheck Pep Guardiola, the long-time Reds rival who is leaving his position as Manchester City manager, as well as Coleman.Over in north London, the Everton captain was making his 435th and final appearance for Liverpool’s city rivals.READ MORE: Mohamed Salah in tears as he and Andy Robertson get guards of honour on Liverpool farewellsREAD MORE: What Seamus Coleman did at full-time as Everton captain delivers one final classy actAnd Robertson told Sky Sports: “For me there’s two other people leaving other clubs today who are pretty important.”Pep Guardiola pushed us to completely new limits – I think both of us (Robertson and Salah) would agree with that.”We should have won more Premier Leagues if it wasn’t for that man. What a servant to Manchester City and I wish him all the best.”And finally Seamus Coleman. When I was growing up he was one of the Premier League full-backs who played at a very, very high level and he was certainly a better bargain than me at 60 grand!”He’s leaving Everton and he’s been a fantastic servant to that football club and I wish him all the best as well.”Coleman, a £60,000 signing from Sligo Rovers in January 2009, has the offer to remain at the Blues in a non-playing position.But the Republic of Ireland stalwart, who came on a second-half substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur, will use the summer to weigh up whether to continue his playing career at another club.Robertson, an £8m arrival from Hull City in 2017, will now leave Liverpool along with Salah at the end of his contract.
England’s First Bedfordshire Beavers in 400 Years Are Already Changing the Land – AOL
Following years of careful preparation, the beavers are back in Bedfordshire (a county in the east of England). This is the first time in 400 years that these remarkable mammals have returned to the county’s rivers, marking a historic milestone for the area. Their presence is already demonstrating why the species is so vital for UK ecology.About Britain’s BeaversThe UK beaver (Eurasian beaver) species is different from that found in the US. They look similar and lead similar lives, but the Eurasian beaver typically has fur that is a lighter shade of brown than its American cousins, and its tail is a little narrower.Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) are found in riparian habitats, close to freshwater and surrounded by wetland plants and woodland. They are the largest rodent in Britain and weigh up to 80 pounds or so. Their most distinctive feature is their flat, scaly, paddle-shaped tail, which can be up to 13 inches long.What Happened to Britain’s Beavers?The Eurasian beaver has a chequered history in the UK and indeed in many parts of Europe. The species likely evolved in the early Pleistocene era, around 3 million years ago. During the late Pleistocene ice age, they apparently disappeared from much of Europe and Asia, but later rebounded as the climate warmed.Beavers were over-hunted in Britain.©Michal14/Shutterstock.comMore recently, they have been hunted throughout the UK and Europe for their fur, meat, and castoreum (an exudate produced to mark their territory and which was traditionally used in perfumes). This took a heavy toll on populations, and the last sighting of a British beaver was recorded in Loch Ness in the 1500s. It is possible, however, that a few small, isolated populations survived into the 1700s. No further sightings of live beavers were recorded until 2002, when the first official reintroduction occurred at a fenced wetland site.Where in the UK Have Beavers Been Reintroduced?There have been several fenced enclosure trials of beaver reintroduction in the UK. Two licensed free-living populations can be found on the River Otter and in Knapdale, Scotland. Several additional licensed wild populations now exist as beaver reintroductions have expanded in recent years.Also, there are likely unlicensed free-living populations elsewhere. In 2019, beavers were granted protected species status in Scotland, and in 2022, the UK government officially recognised them as a native species. Beavers are a protected species in the UK, so they cannot be culled there without a license. Why Release Beavers in Britain?Beavers are widely recognised as ecosystem engineers. This means they modify their environment to create habitats and resources for other species. Beavers live in riparian habitats—transitional areas between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In these partially wetland and partially woodland areas, they eat vegetation such as rhizomes, pondweed, ferns, and grasses.In the winter, however, they switch to wood and tree bark. They prefer deep, slow-moving rivers or lakes, and if they can’t find them, they will create their own!To do this, they build dams to slow down the flow of water and dig burrows into the riverbank. Alternatively, they will construct a ‘lodge’ from wood, twigs, and soil, where the beavers can hide from predators.The Bedfordshire Beaver ReleaseThe beavers have been released at Southill Estate in Bedfordshire under a Natural England license. It has taken two years to obtain the license and to prepare a purpose-built enclosure. The work was carried out in partnership with the Beaver Trust. The news release on their website describes how they “led on the [license] application, co-designed the main release pond, coordinated trapping operations, and oversaw the safe transfer of animals to [the] site.”Beavers modify their habitats.©Tomas Palsovic/Shutterstock.comThe estate team and specialist contractors carried out many modifications to create a suitable habitat, including pond creation, willow planting, and restoring a more natural hydrological flow and habitat complexity to an existing ditch.During the first stage of the release, an adult male and two kits that had been humanely trapped under license from Scotland were introduced. A few days later, an adult female was introduced, who had spent 14 months being prepared for independent living at the Wildwood Trust.Beavers and Land ManagementThe beaver release is part of a broader commitment to manage the land so that there is space for nature alongside productive land use. The project aims to achieve ecological restoration, which brings drought resilience to the wider estate. Bedfordshire is one of the driest counties in England. When beavers build dams, they also create a mosaic of wetland habitats, including pools, channels, and standing deadwood. This process retains water in the landscape, benefiting both humans and wildlife. It also reduces peak water flows, lowering the risk of downstream flooding.The benefits are already apparent: grey partridges are being seen in greater numbers, along with increases in wading birds, songbirds, and invertebrate communities.This new beaver community will be closely monitored. Future offspring may even be trapped and relocated to additional licensed reintroduction sites.The post England’s First Bedfordshire Beavers in 400 Years Are Already Changing the Land appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Burnley 1-1 Wolves: Zian Flemming rescues point for Clarets to ensure Rob Edwards’ side finish bottom of Premier League
Relegated pair Burnley and Wolves played out a 1-1 draw in their final Premier League game before they return to the Sky Bet Championship next season.Adam Armstrong’s fifth-minute penalty put Rob Edwards’ men in front, but Zian Flemming struck inside the first two minutes of the second half to earn the Clarets one final point.
As a result, Wolves finish bottom of the table, without an away win all season. Burnley finish 19th, two points ahead.A rarity at Turf Moor
This was just the fifth instance of two already relegated teams meeting in the Premier League, after Leicester vs Ipswich in 1994/95, Coventry vs Bradford in 2000/01, Leicester vs Southampton in 2024/25 and Leicester vs Ipswich in 2024/25.
How Burnley and Wolves bowed out with a drawWolves flew out of the traps and, inside five minutes, were awarded a penalty. Ladislav Krejci’s header was handled by Florentino and, after a swift glance at the VAR monitor, referee Andrew Kitchen pointed to the spot.Armstrong has been less than prolific since his February move from Southampton, but he stepped up confidently and beat Max Weiss emphatically to take his return to two in 14 Premier League games.
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Adam Armstrong converts a penalty after Florentino Luis’ handball
Burnley then started to dominate the ball, but could have been 2-0 down after 15 minutes. Only the slightest of fingertips from Weiss took Mateus Mane’s shot from the edge of the box – after a magical run down the right – onto the post.
They did have the chance to level proceedings deep into first-half stoppage time, but a full-stretch save from Jose Sa kept out Florentino’s thunderous strike from 25 yards.
It was 1-1, though, after 47 minutes. Flemming took charge after a tidy exchange of passes with Loum Tchaouna and fired a controlled strike into the bottom-left corner.Image:
Zian Flemming celebrates his equaliser with team-mate Axel TuanzebeThere was never much danger of either side hitting a winner thereafter, and that was the way it ended.Two notable milestones were hit, however. Ashley Barnes came on for his 320th – and thought to be final – appearance for Burnley, shortly after 16-year-old Jerome Abbey was sent on to become the second-youngest player in Wolves’ history.Jackson: We must learn from latest relegationBurnley interim head coach Mike Jackson speaking to Sky Sports:”In terms of the game, we didn’t start well at all. It was a really poor start from our point of view.”We’ve not been used to having lots and lots of the ball, so when you actually do get that, sometimes your habits within that can be a little bit sloppy and we gave the ball away too easily.”We had a few words at half-time, fixed a couple of things and, in the second half, I thought we were a lot better, created a lot of chances and solved a lot of problems we caused ourselves in the first half.”You want to keep all of your best players if you can, but with the reality of what’s happened this season sometimes it can be difficult.”I’m sure the club will do their best, but it’s a balancing act going down.”Since Scott [Parker] left, it’s been quiet on that front [Burnley’s next head coach]. The club have to do their due diligence in the way they want to go.”We’ve been in this situation before and it’s not good to be in it again, but we have to learn from this and know what’s required from the Championship next season.”Everything should be geared towards that. I don’t think setbacks should define you and it’s about what we do next now. That’s the most important thing.”Edwards: Either team could have won thatWolves head coach Rob Edwards speaking to Sky Sports:”I thought we started the game brilliantly. We had a number of set-pieces, got the goal, went 1-0 up and I thought we could’ve got two or three in that first. The ‘keeper has made a couple of amazing saves. And I didn’t like the start of the second half.”Then the game became a bit basketball-like and quite open; maybe a bit end-of-season and the heat played a part. But after the second drinks break, we were able to get things together again.”Either team could have won it. It was probably quite exciting for the neutral to watch, but we wanted to win the game and we weren’t able to do that.”On debutant Abbey: “We’ll see how he progresses. He’s a young player we really like. He’s trained with us a number of times and we’ve always really liked him.”He’s got a great future and an exciting future ahead, but let’s not put too much pressure on too soon. That’s a nice one for him and I thought he did really well when he came on.”Story of the match in stats
What’s next?Here’s your summer diary:June 11: World Cup starts – day-by-day fixture listJune 14: Scotland’s opener vs Haiti (2am)June 15: Summer transfer window opensJune 17: England’s opener vs Croatia (9pm)July 19: World Cup finalJune 25: Championship fixtures releasedAugust 14-25: Championship opening weekendSeptember 1: Transfer Deadline Day (window closes at 11pm UK time)
‘Epic’ period drama filmed in beautiful Cambridgeshire venue is ‘masterpiece’
An ‘epic’ period drama filmed in Cambridgeshire has been hailed as an ‘outstanding’ production that reduces audiences to tears.The emotionally powerful film, loosely inspired by genuine historical figures, was shot across numerous breathtaking buildings and countryside settings throughout England.
The overlooked 2008 production from director Justin Chadwick features an impressive ensemble cast, including Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Eddie Redmayne, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirstin Scott Thomas and Mark Rylance.
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The IMDb synopsis for the picture simply states: “Two sisters contend for the affection of King Henry VIII.”
The historical drama chronicles the devastating tale of Anne Boleyn (Portman) and her sister Mary Boleyn (Johansson).An ‘epic’ period drama is set in the Tudor period(Image: Alex Bailey
)In the film titled The Other Boleyn Girl, both vie for the affections of the perilous monarch Henry Tudor (Bana), notorious for his appalling treatment of his spouses, reports Derbyshire Live.
Viewers flocked to the comments section of Rotten Tomatoes to express their opinions on the production, with one person declaring: “Every scene has been shot brilliantly! The Other Boleyn Girl is a masterpiece.”
“Whoa, shockingly good, a lot better than I expected it to be,” another confessed, while a third remarked: “I cried, and that is a thing per sé, I never cry.”
One audience member noted: “I definitely never expected to like this movie as much as I did. Amazing performances by Johansson and Portman with a really good cast as well. Probably one of the most messed up and tragic love stories I’ve ever seen.”
The star-studded period drama was filmed in several beautiful UK locations(Image: Publicity Picture
)Another reflected: “It’s a very complex and heartbreaking story. The acting is great, outstanding really. I enjoyed the movie greatly, even though it scared me from time to time. The hardship of literally staying alive in that time frightened me quite a bit.
“It’s a nice epic drama about betrayal,” one viewer remarked, while another added: “Amazing. Brilliant acting, direction and perfect portrayal of the well known and tragic historical story.”
Nevertheless, not everyone was impressed, with one viewer describing it as “overly dramatic and visually unsettling”.
Another contended: “The acting is great but they play so fast and loose with history it is deeply unsatisfying.”But where was the sweeping Tudor tragedy filmed? Let’s explore some of its most memorable filming locations throughout the UK.
Where was The Other Boleyn Girl filmed?
CambridgeshireEly Cathedral was used as a filming location(Image: Getty)
According to The Worldwide Guide To Movie Locations, the impressive Ely Cathedral, featuring its intricately carved spiral organ stairs, represents the grand ceremonial areas of the palace.
The Cambridgeshire cathedral, situated 12 miles north of Cambridge, was also employed to recreate Westminster Abbey in the 2012 film The King’s Speech.
DerbyshireScenes were shot at Haddon Hall(Image: Historic England Archive/Heritage Images via Getty Images)
The historical drama captured numerous scenes in Derbyshire, particularly around the Peak District.
Multiple Tudor properties were combined to create the interior of the Boleyn family residence, including the historic Haddon Hall, situated just south of Bakewell in Derbyshire.
Meanwhile, Cave Dale, a limestone valley extending south from the village of Castleton, served as the picturesque green valley through which the King and his entourage ride while travelling to the Boleyn estate. Finally, when Mary is exiled from court, she makes her home in the countryside with William Stafford and her children. These sequences were captured at North Lees Hall, Hathersage in Derbyshire’s Peak District.
KentDover Castle was one of the filming locations(Image: Getty)
The Other Boleyn Girl was filmed across numerous locations throughout Kent, including the stunning Knole House in Sevenoaks, which served as the palace exterior and the rooftops of 16th century London.
The Tower of London sequences featured in the film were not actually captured in the capital, with Dover Castle in Kent substituting for the famous landmark.
Meanwhile, the 14th century Kent manor house of Penshurst Place serves as Baron’s Hall, where Anne is depicted flirting with the king at a banquet.
The Other Boleyn Girl can be rented for £3.49 or bought for £5.99 on Prime Video and Apple TV+.
Police update after air rifles stolen in Stoke-on-Trent caravan break-in
Police have made three arrestsArmed police outside Captain Kooks, in BurslemPolice are continuing to investigate a break-in. Armed police made three arrests after swooping on a car outside Captain Kooks, in Sandbach Road, Burslem.It followed a caravan break-in on Pinfold Avenue, in Norton, and the disappearance of two air rifles. The drama unfolded on Wednesday 20 May.Staffordshire Police arrested and quizzed three Stoke-on-Trent men – aged 23, 36, and 49 – on suspicion of burglary. Now the suspects have been bailed.A police spokesman said: “All three have been released on bail while enquiries continue.”Police are appealing for witnesses. They should call the police on 101, quoting incident number 310 of 20 May, or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.Get even more North Staffordshire exclusives – and it is free
Huge queue spotted on Water Street
An exciting pop-up has arrived in Liverpool city centreBig Boy Bakery queue spotted today(Image: Liverpool Echo)Dozens of people were spotted queuing as a new pop-up arrived in Liverpool city centre. The queue was pictured at around 10.45am today (May 24) as customers waited to get their hands of baked goods from Big Boy Bakery. Liverpool John Moores University student Sara Al-Janabi is the brains behind Big Boy Bakery – a brand that has become popular on TikTok.Her business is currently on show in a pop-up at The Coffee ザ・コーヒー, an international coffee brand found on the ground-floor unit at the Grade I listed Oriel Chambers on Water Street in the city centre.The chain, which operates more than 150 cafes across 28 countries, has already established sites in major cities including Barcelona, Paris, Sydney and Dubai. However, this is the first and only Liverpool venue.The ECHO was outside the coffee shop today as people could be seen waiting for the pop-up to open at 11am.People waiting for the Big Boy Bakery pop-up today(Image: Liverpool Echo
)Big Boy Bakery owner Sara started making cookies when she was 18, after having meniscus surgery.Sara previously told the ECHO: “When I was back home, I was selling them, but then I stopped because I wanted to move out and do that typical university experience.”I kind of felt a bit slummy at uni, I felt like there’s something more than this. Then I had the kind of ‘f**k it’ moment, because I’m in my last semester at uni studying digital marketing with business and I was like this is clearly what I’m interested in.Sara makes the cookies from her mum’s house(Image: Supplied/Sara Al-Janabi)”It’s constantly like the seed is in my brain. Why am I like scared of doing it? I think maybe just because I’d done it before and stopped.”Sara made the decision to start baking again, starting her business, Big Boy Bakery. Like many small businesses starting out, her first thought was to try and draw attention to it on social media.More information on Sara and the pop-up can be found here.
