Innovation

Homes evacuated as suspected grenade found in shed

by Sophia
written by Sophia

A suspected grenade has been found in a shed, causing 150 homes to be evacuated.

Police have put up a 328ft (100m) cordon around a property on Gilsland Crescent in Darlington and contacted bomb disposal experts.

The new owner of the property discovered what they suspected was a grenade in a shed and called emergency services, Durham Police said.

The force has asked the residents of 150 homes within the area to leave as it believes the cordon will be in place for some time.

The council have set up the Dolphin Centre as a rest centre for all those affected.

Police have closed several roads around the property and have advised motorists to find alternative routes.

The following road closures are in place:

  • Thompson Street East with the junction of Whinfield Road
  • Locomotive Street junction with Thompson Street East
  • Gisland Crescent Junction with Morpeth Avenue
  • Furness Street junction with Ajax Street

Nearby St Bede's Catholic Primary School said it was unaffected but had offered the option of an early pick-up for children with families who might be.

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Market

Some residents at evacuated flats set to return

by Caleb
written by Caleb

Some residents who were forced to evacuate their apartment block due to dangerous cladding have been allowed home, according to the building's managing agent.

On 4 June, 60 people, including eight children, were told to leave Barbourne Works in Worcester after inspectors found dangerous fire safety risks.

On Friday, bosses at FirstPort, which operates the building on behalf of a management company, said residents on the ground and first floors were being allowed to return.

They said a prohibition notice remained in place for residents on the second and third floors.

A spokesperson for FirstPort said those homes on the upper floors did not currently meet required standards for fire escape.

"Work is under way to implement the necessary safety measures to enable safe reoccupation of these floors as soon as possible," they said.

"We fully recognise how disruptive this situation is for residents. However, this action was taken with their safety as the highest priority.

"We remain committed to working closely with all parties to provide continued support and timely updates as we address the issues raised."

Anne Eason
Anne Eason said being evacuated and without her home for more than a week had affected her mental health

Earlier this week, some residents told the BBC the events of the past week had left them struggling.

"I feel mentally exhausted, because every day you don't know where you are, what you're doing or what's going on," Anne Eason said.

Army veteran Chris Sherwin, 43, and Amy Hawkswood, 40, were also evacuated and are being housed at a hotel in Droitwich.

The couple are due to get married next week but Mr Sherwin said the stress of the situation had overshadowed what should be a memorable time.

"We're getting married, but we don't know if we will be able to do any of the plans we wanted," he said.

FirstPort said there had been a comprehensive review of the external walls and an independent fire engineer's assessment carried out on the building.

It described the situation as "complex and evolving".

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Business

Flare 'emergency' was part of gender reveal party

by Laura
written by Laura

An emergency call-out prompted by a red flare being spotted above the mouth of the River Tyne turned out to be a pyrotechnic that had been let off at a "gender reveal" party.

Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade (TVLB) was called to check on the welfare of those on board a boat from which the flare had been fired late on Saturday.

When the brigade arrived, they learned that the flare had actually been pink in colour, and the boat's crew had been helping an expectant couple reveal the gender of their baby.

A spokesperson for the brigade recommended avoiding using flares near the coast and said the boat's skipper had been "very apologetic".

The boat had appeared to be circling before the flare was let off, the spokesperson said.

It eventually headed back upriver towards the Royal Quays Marina in North Shields, where the TVLB located the boat and spoke to its captain.

A spokesperson said the shout was soon "marked down as one of our stranger false alarms with good intent".

They added: "The skipper of the boat was very apologetic and ultimately we're grateful everyone was safe and well.

"We send our best wishes to the parents to be!"

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Business

Atonement film location to close to public

by Cameron
written by Cameron

A Victorian house which became famous as the location for the 2007 film Atonement will close to the public at the end of the year.

The house at Stokesay Court in Shropshire was opened up to visitors in the year the film came out, but its owner, Caroline Magnus, said: "It's hard work, I'm not getting any younger."

She said she came to the decision after she broke her ankle 18 months ago.

The grounds would continue to open for special events and fundraising, she said.

Ms Magnus took over the running of Stokesay Court from her aunt in 1995 and said it took her 10 years to renovate it.

The house gained widespread fame when Atonement, starring Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, was shot there and went on to win major awards including an Oscar.

Opening it up to the public had been "fantastic" Ms Magnus said, and had given her the chance to meet lots of people.

But she said when she broke her ankle, she asked herself: "Do I want to do this or do I want to sit and enjoy the house?"

She said she plans to "enjoy it more as a home than a business" from now on and public visits would come to an end at Christmas.

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Tech

Shop raises £4,000 in two weeks in shares scheme

by Julian
written by Julian

A volunteer-led community store has raised £4,000 in two weeks after launching a shareholder scheme to secure its future.

Lympsham Village Shop in Somerset opened in 1998, following a fundraising scheme in the area, and is staffed by volunteers.

People who buy into the shareholder scheme can receive the shop's annual accounts, go to shareholders meetings and make decisions on the store's next steps.

Management committee chair David Smith said he hopes the scheme will help make the shop the "centre of the community".

As reported in BurnhamOnSea.com, the shop was converted from a limited company, without shareholders, to a community benefit society in 2024 and registered with the Financial Conduct Authority.

Profits, over and above running costs and reserves, are invested back into the community to support local projects.

Burnham-on-sea.com
Lympsham Village Shop in Somerset first opened in 1998
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Tech

Tony Hudgell 'over the moon' to get Beckham gift

by Violet
written by Violet

A 10-year-old boy who had both legs amputated after being abused as a baby has been gifted a signed football shirt by David Beckham.

Tony Hudgell was given an Inter Miami shirt from Beckham, who co-owns the US club, with Tony's adoptive mother Paula saying the England legend had been "quietly following his journey".

Mrs Hudgell, from West Malling in Kent, said the gesture was "really lovely" and Tony was "absolutely blown away" having received the shirt.

She added: "There was a little card as well which said 'keep doing what you are doing'".

Mrs Hudgell said Tony was "absolutely over the moon" and described Beckham as "such a lovely guy and really generous".

The Tony Hudgell Foundation said on X the gift had come after a "tough week" where the parole board confirmed Tony's birth mother Jody Simpson would be released from prison.

Getty Images
Beckham is set to be knighted in King Charles' birthday honours

Simpson was given a 10 year prison sentence in 2018 alongside Anthony Smith having been found guilty of causing Tony's near-fatal injuries.

The pair were found to have hurt him so badly at six-weeks-old that his legs had to be amputated.

Tony was later adopted by Paula and Mark Hudgell and has since raised millions of pounds for charity and received the British Empire Medal for services to the prevention of child abuse.

In 2024, he underwent surgery to be fitted for new prosthetics to allow him to walk without crutches.

Beckham, who is also a co-owner of Salford City, is set to be knighted in King Charles' birthday honours.

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Innovation

Man charged with murder after Twickenham stabbing

by Shannon
written by Shannon

A man has been charged with murder following a fatal stabbing in Twickenham, south-west London, on Saturday night.

Harpal Singh Roopra, 38, died after being found with stab wounds in Ellerman Avenue, at 23:39 BST on 26 April.

His family continue to be supported by specially trained officers, the Met Police said.

George Luka, 45, of Ellerman Avenue, Twickenham, was charged with murder and will appear in custody at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court on Monday.

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Global Trade

Lifeguards return to Camber Sands

by Jasmine
written by Jasmine

RNLI lifeguards have returned to a popular East Sussex beach, the charity says.

From 18 April to 18 May, lifeguards will be on duty every weekend and bank holiday from 10:00 to 18:00 BST on Camber Central beach.

To coincide with the summer season beginning, lifeguards will then be on the beach daily from 24 May to 28 September.

Hugh Richardson, lead lifeguard supervisor for the RNLI in East Sussex, said: "Our lifeguards have spent the last few weeks going through their inductions and training hard in preparation for the season ahead."

He said: "RNLI lifeguards have to maintain a level of fitness, which allows them to swim 200m in under three-and-a-half minutes, and run 200m on sand in under 40 seconds."

The RNLI said that in 2024 its lifeguards saved 15 lives, as well as dealing with over 1,930 incidents and assisting nearly 2,284 people across south-east England.

The beach falls under the control of Rother District Council.

Councillor Hazel Timpe said: "It's really good news that RNLI lifeguards will once again be patrolling Camber Central Beach.

"The lifeguards are a major part of the multi-agency approach to beach and sea safety for residents and visitors alike and we look forward to working with them, as we prepare for another season at Camber and along the coast."

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