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DWP confirms early state pension payment dates for May 2026 bank holidays

The DWP has confirmed early state pension and benefit payment dates for May 2026 as the UK prepares for two Bank Holidays
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced the dates when millions of people across Britain should anticipate receiving their benefit and pension payments during the forthcoming bank holidays. Next month sees two bank holidays in the UK: the early May Bank Holiday, falling on Monday, May 4, and the spring Bank Holiday on Monday, May 25.
Because of these bank holidays, the DWP has confirmed that any payments scheduled for either date will be issued earlier than usual. GOV.UK states: “Benefits are usually paid straight into your bank, building society or credit union account. If your payment date is on a weekend or a Bank Holiday you’ll usually be paid on the working day before.”
Anyone expecting a payment on Monday, May 4, will receive their funds on Friday, May 1 instead.
Those awaiting their payment on Monday, May 25 should anticipate it arriving on Friday, May 22.
Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payments, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, and Attendance Allowance will all be distributed ahead of schedule, reports the Express.
Nevertheless, it is crucial to understand that these early Bank Holiday payments will not affect subsequent payment dates. These will continue to be issued on their regular schedule.
Should a payment fail to arrive on the anticipated date, claimants are encouraged to verify their bank account and online DWP account before getting in touch with the department.
Those needing to contact Universal Credit can ring their helpline on 0800 328 5644 from Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, excluding public holidays. The same applies to state pension payments, with anyone expecting theirs on Monday, May 4 receiving it on Friday, May 1 instead. Those anticipating payment on May 25will get it on May 22.
The day pensioners typically receive their payment is determined by the final two digits of their National Insurance number.
Those with numbers ending 00 to 19 are paid on Mondays, 20 to 39 on Tuesdays, 40 to 59 on Wednesdays, 60 to 79 on Thursdays and 80 to 99 on Fridays.
April 24, 2026
Boy, 7, airlifted to hospital after being hit by car while riding scooter
Emergency services rushed to the scene where the seven-year-old was reportedly struck by a car at about 4pm on Wednesday, April 22 and police said the driver of the car remained at the scene

A boy was taken to hospital after being hit by a car(BPM Media)
By
Tannur Anders
01:25, 24 Apr 2026Updated02:15, 24 Apr 2026
A young boy has been taken to hospital after being hit by a car.
The seven-year-old was riding his scooter on the road when he was reportedly struck by a car at about 4pm on Wednesday, April 22. Emergency services rushed to the scene at Commercial Road in Hanley, Staffordshire. Police said that the driver of the car remained at the scene.

The boy remains in a serious but stable condition at the hospital.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: “We are appealing for information following a serious collision in Stoke-on-Trent involving a child.”
“We were called at around 4pm on Wednesday (22 April) to Commercial Road, Hanley, following reports of a collision involving a silver Volkswagen Polo and a seven-year-old boy, who was riding a scooter.”
Police spoke to people at the scene at the time of the incident and carried out initial enquiries.

The boy was taken to hospital(BPM Media)
“We are now asking anyone who witnessed the collision or who has relevant CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage and has not yet spoken to a police officer to get in touch,” the Staffordshire Police spokesperson said.
The road was closed while emergency services responded to the incident and officers carried out enquiries and opened later in the day at around 8.45pm.
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April 24, 2026
What four new CDCs are being delivered under the NHS programme?
The latest wave of NHS Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) investment will deliver four entirely new facilities in Gorton (Manchester), Luton, Boston (Lincolnshire) and Bideford (Devon).
The four new-build CDCs sit within a recent government cash injection of £237m to fund 36 schemes across England.
The latest investment builds on earlier waves of CDC funding across England.
The 36-site programme includes a mix of new-build centres, expansions and upgrades, with the four locations confirmed as standalone developments.
Spanning major urban centres and rural healthcare settings, the four new CDCs highlight the programme’s dual focus on addressing both city demand pressures and long-standing access gaps in more remote communities.
Gorton CDC, Manchester
The Gorton CDC is being delivered through Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), with the scheme forming part of its wider CDC network expansion across Greater Manchester.
While MFT has confirmed funding approval and early delivery phases at Gorton Community Hub, a single lead main contractor for the full build has not been publicly confirmed in NHS announcements to date.
Early enabling and design activity is understood to be underway as part of the phased rollout of the CDC.
The project sits within MFT’s broader CDC programme, which includes multiple sites across the city region delivered through a mix of estates partners and framework procurement routes.
Luton CDC, Bedfordshire
The Luton CDC, located on the University of Bedfordshire campus, is being delivered by Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The main construction works are being undertaken by Ashe Construction, which has been appointed to deliver the £10m refurbishment and fit-out of the former university space into a diagnostic facility.
The scheme is part of a wider redevelopment of campus buildings and includes significant M&E installation, imaging infrastructure and patient access alterations.
Completion is expected in phases, with opening anticipated in early 2026–27.
Boston CDC, Lincolnshire
The Boston CDC is being delivered by the Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group, with MTX Contracts involved in the build phase as part of the main delivery team.
The scheme is located on the former York Street football ground site in Boston, where enabling works and demolition have already begun ahead of construction.
The project is a large-scale new-build CDC incorporating MRI, CT, X-ray and ultrasound capacity, and is being delivered as part of a wider estates regeneration scheme in the town centre.
Bideford CDC, Devon
The Bideford CDC in north Devon is being developed within the existing Bideford Community Hospital site, with delivery managed through local NHS estates and community health partners.
Unlike the other three schemes, it is not a fully standalone new build; instead, it is a redevelopment and expansion of an existing community hospital footprint, integrating diagnostic services into an upgraded community facility.
No single national contractor has been publicly confirmed for the full build, as delivery is being managed through local NHS capital and estates frameworks.
Programme context
Alongside the standalone developments, the funding includes expanded and enhanced existing CDC sites, collectively aimed at significantly increasing diagnostic throughput.
Across all locations, the CDC programme is focused on improving early diagnosis of cancer and long-term conditions, reducing pressure on acute hospital diagnostics, increasing access to same-day and community-based testing, and supporting more integrated care models closer to home.
Together, the Gorton, Luton, Boston and Bideford centres represent a targeted expansion of NHS diagnostic infrastructure into both urban growth areas and underserved rural communities.
Companies:
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Ashe Construction
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April 24, 2026
Teenager handed driving ban after leading officers on dangerous pursuits

The teenager failed to turn up to his first court appearance, but was caught three days later for similar offences
Police pursue teenage driver
A teenager has been handed a driving ban after leading police officers on two dangerous pursuits in two months. Vjaceslavs Perunovs, of Sorrel Avenue, Whittlesey, who was 17 at the time of the offence, was arrested on February 14 by the Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) after a short pursuit through Wisbech.
The teenager was caught after overtaking them in a black Renault Modus that was missing a number plate, had a smashed rear windows, and the exhaust hanging off. Police officers tried to stop the car after checks revealed it was not taxed or insured.
The car made off at speed before police could stop the car. The Renault reached speeds of up to 60mph in a 30mph zone and overtook vehicles dangerously before the driver got out of the car while it was still moving.
Officers were able to detain the driver and found cannabis on him. He refused to co-operate with a roadside drugs test. Perunovs was charged with offences and was due to appear in court but failed to attend. Three days after his court date on March 30, he failed to stop for traffic officers in March. He led them on a short pursuit through town before fleeing the area. He was chased down by officers.
Perunovs, who has since turned 18, appeared at Huntingdon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 15. He pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving, two counts of driving without insurance, two counts of driving without a licence, two counts of possession of cannabis, two counts of failing to stop for police, failing to provide a specimen for analysis, and failing to co-operate with a preliminary test.
He was given an 18-month driving ban. He was also given a 12-month referral to a Youth Offender Panel.
PC Brady Slack, who investigated, said: “During these pursuits the driver reached high speeds in residential areas and put himself and other road users at risk.”
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April 23, 2026
Four teenagers arrested over cake shed ransacking in Rode Heath

Four teenage boys have been arrested in connection with the incident
Author: Natalia AntoniwPublished 44 minutes ago
Last updated 32 minutes ago
Four teenage boys have been arrested after a reported theft at a cake shed in Rode Heath.
Bell’s Pantry on Cherry Lane say they were ransacked at around 10.30pm on 20th April.
They reported stolen stock including cakes, sausage rolls, baskets and change tubs.
They also say the shed was smashed up, with cakes thrown down the road.
The shed was closed the day after, but has since reopened.
They posted in a statement on Facebook: “Once again thank you to everyone for all your support! You will never know how much it means to us as a family!”
Two boys aged 16, and two aged 18 were arrested in the Staffordshire area last night due to an unrelated incident.
Police say they are ‘helping with their enquiries into both matters’.
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.
April 23, 2026
24 Hours in Police Custody episode leads to further rape conviction in Bedfordshire

The latest conviction came after a victim was prompted to come forward following an episode of the show titled “The Predator”
Custody image and screen grabs taken from 24 Hours in Police Custody ‘The Predator’
Author: Isabella HudsonPublished 2 hours ago
A case featured on 24 Hours in Police Custody has led to a further rape conviction after encouraging another victim to come forward.
Mohammed Altaher, already serving time for two rapes in Bedfordshire, has been convicted of another rape after his case was featured in the TV series.
Altaher was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2023 for two sexual assaults on men he met through the dating app Grindr in Bedfordshire.
The latest conviction came after a victim was prompted to come forward following an episode of the show titled “The Predator.”
Bedfordshire Police’s Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) team, alongside Thames Valley Police, led the investigation into the new allegations.
The episode’s footage contributed to securing additional evidence, which led to Altaher being charged.
On 8th April, Altaher, 41, residing at HMP Bure, Norfolk, was found guilty of rape at Aylesbury Crown Court.
He received a five-year prison sentence, with seven years extended licence, concurrently running with his existing sentence.
PC Heather Hutchinson from the RASSO team said: “Not only does 24 Hours in Police Custody play a vital role in educating the public on issues such as consent, but it also helps to build public trust and gives victims the confidence to come forward.
“Viewers can see investigations handled with care, professionalism and persistence, and for those watching who may be carrying their own trauma in silence, it can be the catalyst that gives them the strength to speak out and seek help.
“I want to commend the immense bravery of the original victims who first spoke out about their experiences, as well as the courage shown by the victim who came forward after the programme aired.
“In this case, that courage led directly to further evidence being secured and a dangerous offender being held to account.
“Altaher showed no care or compassion for his victims, and I hope the conviction and sentence provide some sense of closure for those affected.”
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.
April 23, 2026
Waipā pair in debating team – Cambridge News

The 2026 Waikato regional debate team includes Pippa Owsley (Cambridge High School)
Waipā students make up two thirds of the 2026 Waikato regional debate team.
St Peter’s School Cambridge’s Anjana Kanchi has been named as a reserve. Photo: New Zealand Schools’ Debating
Eva Walton (Te Awamutu College) and Pippa Owsley (Cambridge High School) have been named alongside Kanu Millward of Hamilton Boys’ High School.
Read more
The 2026 Waikato regional debate team Pippa Owsley (Cambridge High School), Kanu Millward (Hamilton Boys’ High School) and Eva Walton (Te Awamutu College).
April 23, 2026
Port Vale relegated to League Two

The Valiants depart League One fotoball after putting up a fight against Cardiff City
Port Vale sign at Vale Park
Author: Adam SmithPublished 6 hours ago
Port Vale Football Club has been relegated to League Two after a 1-nil defeat against Cardiff City.
Rubin Colwill scored the decisive goal in a match where Port Vale put up a strong fight against the already-promoted side.
This outcome sees Port Vale join Rotherham and Northampton in descending to League Two.
Their League One presence has fluctuated over recent years, with spells from 2013 to 2017 and 2022 to 2024, totaling six seasons in the division.
Defensively, the team demonstrated strength with 13 clean sheets, but struggled offensively, managing only 33 goals in 42 games.
Manager Jon Brady is focused on enhancing goal-scoring capabilities for the next season, highlighting recruitment to improve the team’s attacking power.
Optimism remains amongst fans, with 2000 season tickets already sold, supporting a vision for a robust push to regain League One status under Brady’s strategic direction.
First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.
April 23, 2026
3-Alarm Blaze Goes Up At Monsey Home (DEVELOPING)

Updated Wed, April 22, 2026 at 5:48 PM UTC
The scene of the fire at 161 Remsen Ave. in Monsey. — The Monsey Scoop
A large fire started at a home in Rockland County on Wednesday, April 22, prompting a large emergency response and a road closure in the area.
Firefighters were called to 161 Remsen Ave. in Monsey at around 11:40 a.m., where heavy smoke was seen pouring from the house as crews arrived on scene, according to reports from The Monsey Scoop.
As the incident escalated, the fire was upgraded to a third alarm, bringing in more firefighters and emergency personnel to help battle the blaze.
The fire was under control by 1:30 p.m., according to the Monsey Scoop.
Authorities have not released details about possible injuries or the cause of the fire as of early Wednesday afternoon.
Ramapo Police said Remsen Avenue has been shut down between Hilda Lane and Grove Street until further notice as crews continue working at the scene. Drivers are being urged to expect delays and avoid the area if possible.
More information is expected to be released as the situation develops. Check back to Daily Voice for updates.

April 23, 2026
Fire crews tackle blaze at Wilburton landfill site

Firefighters are tackling a blaze at a landfill site.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was called to Pools Road, Wilburton, just after 15:00 BST.
It said six crews were in attendance along with a water carrier.
The fire service warned people to avoid the area and encouraged nearby residents to close doors and windows, due to the amount of smoke.
April 22, 2026