Global Trade

Attempted murder arrests after two hit-and-runs

by Ellie
written by Ellie

Five teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a stolen Mini Cooper was allegedly deliberately driven at people on bikes.

The car was involved in a hit-and-run after being driven into two boys riding a Sur-Ron electric motorbike at about 12:30 BST on Thursday on Teyfant Road in Bristol, Avon and Somerset Police said.

At about 17:30 BST the same day it was also seen following a 19-year-old man on a scrambler-type off-road bike along Fulford Road, before colliding with him on Hareclive Road.

The man was taken to hospital with facial injuries, while the two boys on the electric motorbike did not sustain serious injuries. All five suspects have been released on bail.

Insp Terry Murphy said: "We are keeping an open mind about this investigation and at this time we believe the incidents are linked and we're treating the collisions as a deliberate act."

Business

Boat builder to restore Dunkirk lifeboat

by Sarah
written by Sarah

A boat builder from Devon is set to restore a vessel that helped evacuate soldiers from Dunkirk.

From 26 May to 4 June 1940, hundreds of vessels sailed through heavy enemy fire to rescue more than 338,000 British and Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk as part of Operation Dynamo.

Boat builder Abbey Molyneux, originally from Exeter, said the Guide of Dunkirk lifeboat, which has spent 40 years in Mevagissey, in Cornwall, would be transported to her boatyard in Norfolk for the restoration.

"She saved thousands of lives on the run to Dunkirk and we're now going to try and restore her," she said.

National Historic Ships Registry
The Guide of Dunkirk will arrive in Norfolk on Friday

Ms Molyneux told BBC Radio Devon the Guide of Dunkirk was in "perfect condition".

According to the RNLI, 700 civilian vessels, now known as the Little Ships of Dunkirk, made the crossing along with 19 RNLI lifeboats.

"They used all sorts of different boats and the Guide of Dunkirk was very popular, as were a lot of lifeboats because they've got a very shallow draft," Ms Molyneux said.

"They saved thousands and thousands of lives because they were the boats that could get closest to the shore to rescue the soldiers."

National Historic Ships Registry
Ms Molyneux said lifeboats were a key part of the evacuation

She added: "These little lifeboats were a key part of the whole evacuation."

Ms Molyneux, who has restored up to 30 Dunkirk little ships, said she hoped to restore the vessel back to its original condition and take it back to Dunkirk in the future.

The Guide of Dunkirk will arrive in Norfolk on Friday.

Industry

Council warns over trees cut down for developments

by Nolan
written by Nolan

Developers and landowners could face "serious financial and legal consequences" for cutting down trees on sites being considered for new homes, a Surrey council has warned.

Environmental laws, which mean builders must compensate for the loss of any nature on housing developments, came into force last year.

Tandridge District Council (TDC) said there had been a number of recent incidents where trees were felled to clear areas for planning applications.

A spokesperson for the Home Builders Federation said it can be "necessary to remove trees to allow a development to take place."

The Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements mean that sites now have to be assessed before bulldozers can enter and developers have to commit to delivering a 10% net improvement in biodiversity that lasts over a 30-year period.

'Environmental vandalism'

The leader of TDC, Catherine Sayer, said: "We have had incidents where 300 year-old oak trees have been cut down because they are in the way of development.

"In one instance, the developer withdrew the planning application when they realised the cost of replacing the lost biodiversity would be tens of thousands of pounds."

Sayer said the council wanted to raise awareness that this "environmental vandalism has serious financial and legal consequences and [we] hope it acts as a deterrent".

TDC leader Catherine Sayer (left) and resident Terry Morgan (second from left) are among those concerned about very old trees being cut down

Resident Terry Morgan, who lives near land where a tree was cut down ahead of a development taking place, told BBC Radio Surrey he was "angry."

"It's not a single tree, it is part of a long line of trees marking ancient boundaries, home to wildlife and so on," he said.

"To simply, for convenience, cut that tree down rather than make a planning application which is more appropriate to the site – that's the key thing I'm angry and annoyed about."

The developer has been approached for comment.

Sayer said she thought it was a "great shame" that ministers were looking at changing environmental rules to make it easier to build homes on smaller sites.

Last week, Housing Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the changes would "simplify" the planning process.

She denied environmental protections were being compromised.

A spokesperson for the Homebuilders Federation said: "Clearly in some instances it is necessary to remove trees to allow a development to take place.

"In those cases developers are required to abide by all the relevant rules and regulations in place."

Separately, TDC said it was investigating the felling of woodland on land near Lingfield a few weeks ago as alleged criminal activity.

Economy

Age to become part of anti-discrimination laws

by Asher
written by Asher

Plans to protect islanders from discrimination based on their age have been approved by the States.

Protection from discrimination is currently protected on the grounds of race, carer status, sexual orientation, religion or belief, with age coming into force within six months.

The changes mean people are protected from age discrimination in work, when buying goods and services, accommodation and education.

Committee for Employment & Social Security Vice-President Lindsay de Sausmarez said: "It is really good to have got such strong support for the committee's proposals and this is the next iteration of the prevention of discrimination ordinance."

It is hoped the laws will allow people to participate in the work force for longer if they choose to because it will mean that they are not facing arbitrary retirement ages.

The proposal is the latest stage of the introduction of anti-discrimination legislation in the bailiwick after initial changes came into force in 2023.

The Prevention of Discrimination Ordinance will be brought back to the States during the next government term.

Tech

Nature therapy centre targeted again by vandals

by Natalie
written by Natalie

Vandals have caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage at a nature therapy centre.

A group broke into a polytunnel filled with seedlings at The Flower Patch in Middlesbrough and caused "as much destruction as possible".

Founder Nicky Morgan, 57, said the "mindless" attacks had been happening since February and it was the same group of youths every time.

The crime has been reported to police and CCTV footage has been handed over. Cleveland Police has been contacted for comment.

The vandals ruined 40% of the seedlings that were growing in the polytunnel, Ms Morgan said, and hundreds of hours of volunteer time has been wasted.

She explained: "When we looked at the CCTV coverage it looks like they came with one aim, to cause as much destruction as possible.

"They had everything covered. They had gloves on, you couldn't see their faces, we watched the whole thing play out on video.

"What you've got to appreciate is that it has taken us five years to get to where we are now.

"In terms of volunteer time since February we are talking hundreds of hours.

"It is completely mindless. There is no rhyme or reason for it."

Industry

Tourism gets boost from industry body accreditation

by Michael
written by Michael

Tourism in Wiltshire has been given a boost after the county become an accredited member of a scheme aimed at growing the sector.

Wiltshire now has Local Visitor Economy Partnerships (LVEP) status, which gives it access to a range of resources to attract greater footfall.

At the moment, Wiltshire's tourism is worth around £1.5bn annually, with sites such as Stonehenge, Avebury Stone Circle, Stourhead, Salisbury Cathedral and the Westbury White Horse among its attractions.

It's new LVEP means it will be included marketing activity and public relations opportunities set up by British tourism authority VisitBritain, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Market

Jill Dando good news initiative aims to go global

by Nicole
written by Nicole

A good news initiative set up in memory of murdered TV journalist Jill Dando is aiming to "go global".

Journalist, presenter and newsreader Jill Dando was murdered outside her London home 26 years ago, but her legacy continues to live on among younger generations of budding journalists.

Jill Dando News is a positive news stories platform, founded in Jill's home town of Weston-super-Mare, that now wants to have a global presence after spreading to Malawi.

Shane Dean, 52, founder of Jill Dando News said: "Everybody's got a huge determination to take this global."

  • Timeline of Jill Dando's murder
  • Jill Dando: The golden girl of TV

Jill Dando was one of the highest profile members of on-screen BBC staff and was named the corporation's Personality of the Year in 1997.

Her murder remains one of the country's most high-profile unsolved murder cases, with more than 2,000 people having been named as potential suspects.

She is remembered for being the "nations sweetheart" by many.

In 2017 two student journalists and Mr Dean, a former journalist, came up with the idea to start Jill Dando News to honour her memory.

It grew from a good news initiatives at Priory Community School in Weston-super-Mare and Worle Community School – where Jill had been a pupil.

Jill Dando News Centres are now in place across 11 schools in Somerset but have now also expanded to include a school in Malawi.

Jill Dando was a well-known newsreader in the UK

Mr Dean, 52, from Weston-super-Mare said: "Everybody's got a huge determination to take this global.

"The children want to take this global. We're in Malawi now and I've been talking to schools in America.

"It is a watch-this-space situation."

Mr Dean added that Jill's love of positive stories is inspiring the students, improving their self-confidence as well as working to tackle the "epidemic" of poor mental health among young people.

"Instead of young people sat doom scrolling all day long, if we get the help of the government and business leaders I think we could have a day in a few years where the children are sat there scrolling good news stories, or even better, that they're writing them.

"Jill's legacy has been one of positive journalism," he said.

He added that her "courage and determination" to reach the heights of journalism gives hope to all students that they can achieve anything.

"She has inspired students with her unbelievable story while at the same time remaining humble.

"She never changed from being Jill."

Global Trade

South Londoners roll up their sleeves to save lives

by Anna
written by Anna

Blood donors across south London may have potentially saved around 11,000 lives in the three months since Brixton's new blood donor centre first opened to the public, according to data from NHS Blood and Transplant.

Between December 2024 and February 2025, 3,773 people donated at the centre in south London, providing more than 3,000 units of blood. Each unit can save up to three lives.

Around 1,000 first-time donors were among those who chose to give blood in Brixton, and 50% were under 35 – twice as many as the national average.

More than half of black heritage blood donors have the RO blood sub-type, which is needed by people with sickle cell disease.

'I wake up in pain'

For Calvin Campbell, who has sickle cell disease, regular blood donations keep him alive.

"One of the main things about sickle cell is pain," he said. "I am always in pain; I have been in pain every second, every minute of every single day of my life since I was six months old.

"I go to sleep in pain, I sleep in pain and I wake up in pain.

"If it wasn't for the people who donate blood, people who have never met me, I literally would not be having this conversation. The only reason I am sitting here now is because of regular blood exchanges."

Calvin Campbell is kept alive by the contributions of blood donors

Leitita, from Lewisham, has been donating blood since she was 18.

"As soon as I was able to give blood, I was so excited to start doing it," she said,

"It is really amazing, especially hearing that there's so few black heritage donors that are donating. It makes it even more important for myself to continue keeping myself healthy so that I can continue donating.

"I have got a sub-type, the RO sub-type, and knowing that it helps a specific segment of my community was even more motivating for me to continue donating my blood."

Rexford Osei-Bonsu says a visit to donate blood takes no longer than an hour

Rexford Osei-Bonsu, manager of the Brixton donor centre, is encouraging more people to come forward to donate their blood.

"We have the capacity to deliver more than 1,000 appointments a week and are happy to work round your availability, whether that's on your way to work, during your lunch break or as you head home," he said.

"Giving blood is quick and painless. The entire appointment takes no longer than an hour and, in most cases, is much quicker. The actual time spent in the donation chair can be around 15 minutes.

"Donors can only give three to four times per year, so recruiting more donors is vital to securing London's blood stocks."

About sickle cell disease

  • Sickle cell disease causes red blood cells to form into sickle or crescent shapes and become stuck in blood vessels, causing episodes of severe pain known as crises, as well as serious or even fatal complications, including organ damage and strokes.
  • Many sickle cell patients rely on regular blood transfusions or full blood exchanges to proactively manage their symptoms, while others are given transfusions as an emergency treatment.
  • A single patient receiving regular full blood exchanges can require blood from up to 100 donors each year.
Market

Uppies lead Downies in 'no rules' football series

by Laura
written by Laura

The first game in this year's traditional no-rules mass football series has taken place in Cumbria.

The 2025 Uppies and Downies series started on Good Friday in Workington, with players from the upper part of the town competing with rivals from the lower end for local pride and to win a specially made ball.

Match ball sponsor Billie Saffill's seven-year-old son Brodhie "threw off" the ball to mark the start of the three-match series.

Friday's opener was won by the Uppies. The remaining clashes will take place on Tuesday and on 26 April.

Ms Saffill said this year's ball was dedicated to Graeme Dixon, known as Willox, who died following a cardiac arrest during last year's series.

Uppie Richard Hodgson said he remembered Mr Dixon for always being in the scrum.

Patrick Carr, a Downie, added: "He was an absolute diamond of a person."

Family handout
Graeme Dixon died during one of the matches in 2024

Friday's game saw the Uppies clinch victory, with Shane Roe managing to get the ball after the scrum stalled at the cricket club.

The Uppies won last year's series 2-1.

Records of the game go as far back as the mid-1600s.

Originally it was a challenge between the dockers, now the Downies, and the miners, now the Uppies.

To win, the Uppies have to try to get the ball to Workington Hall, while the Downies need to take it to a ship's capstan at Workington harbour.

Uppies and Downies is one of a few surviving mass football games still played in the UK.

Others include the Shrovetide Football game in Ashborne, Derbyshire, and the Ba' Game played in Kirkwall, Orkney.

Elvin Jarvis
Shane Roe "hailed the ball" at the Good Friday game

Uppies and Downies in Workington remains the only medieval football game to neither have official organisers nor rules.

Participants turn up for each match at 18:30 at The Cloffocks.

Players do not wear uniforms or identifying colours, making it difficult to know which team they belong to.

There is a gentleman's agreement that cars must not be used to take the ball away from the scrum.

The game is played all across town and the game only ends when the ball is hailed – thrown into the air three times – by the winner.

The Downies will be trying to avoid another defeat on Tuesday

A ball is made especially for each game, with an inscription of the date and the name of the ball maker.

For more than 40 years, it has been made by Mark Rawlinson.

Three families sponsor each of the three balls in the series.

As a thank you, they choose who throws off the ball from the little bridge between the Black Path and Allerdale House, where the game traditionally begins.

The winner keeps the ball as a trophy and becomes a town hero for the night.

Market

Sloth has pioneering surgery to cure toothache

by Mia
written by Mia

A sloth has had pioneering dental surgery to cure toothache.

Rico is believed to be the first sloth to undergo such an operation, which was carried out by a team at Chester Zoo working alongside dental experts from Newcastle University.

The two-toed sloth went under the knife after keepers noticed swellings on the sides of its face, with investigations showing two root abscesses.

Dentist Fiona Beddis said the university's team had never carried out the procedure on a sloth so it "really was a step into the unknown, so we are all delighted with the successful outcome".

Chester Zoo
Rico is thought to be the first sloth to undergo the operation
Chester Zoo
Rico underwent a three-hour operation at Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo
The team had to work carefully to carry out the dental work

Ms Beddis said treating Rico had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it was "a great privilege to treat such a rare and beautiful animal".

Rico, who is 25 years old, had a three-hour operation at Chester Zoo's animal care centre, with the infected tissue surrounding two of the sloth's teeth removed.

Unlike a typical root canal, the dental experts went in through the bottom of Rico's tooth.