Author: Tara Whitman

Rail passengers across the Midlands and North West are facing further disruption today after a brief but significant power failure at a key Manchester signalling centre brought trains to a standstill yesterday, forcing evacuations, stranding commuters, and prompting warnings from several operators to avoid travel this morning. Train passengers across the Midlands and north-west England face continued disruption today following a power outage that halted services yesterday afternoon. The failure struck the Manchester Rail Operating Centre near Ashburys station, one of Network Rail’s key signalling hubs controlling large sections of the region’s railway network. Although the outage lasted only around…

Citizens Advice has found that one in six Britons have resorted to measures such as sleeping in the kitchen, taking time off work or booking hotel rooms this summer, as the charity warns that millions of people are effectively trapped in homes they cannot keep cool. One in six Britons have taken what Citizens Advice describes as “drastic action” to cope with extreme summer heat, including sleeping in the kitchen, missing work or booking hotel rooms. The charity said millions of people across the UK are “trapped in homes they can’t cool,” with almost half of those surveyed, 44%, saying…

TikTok creator Kitty Willow Hinde, known for her content on blindness and accessibility, has faced a wave of online criticism after joking about a former partner’s appearance — while separate posts detailing an alleged financial exploitation by another ex-partner have prompted wider discussion about disability, dating and abuse. Kitty Willow Hinde, a TikTok creator with hundreds of thousands of followers who documents life as a blind person, has become the subject of online mockery following a video in which she joked about dating someone she was later told was considered “unfortunate looking.” Hinde, who lost her sight as a teenager…

New figures from the NHS Business Services Authority show a record two million women in England received hormone replacement therapy last year, more than double the number five years ago, though the data also reveals stark differences in access depending on where women live. A record two million women over the age of 40 were prescribed hormone replacement therapy on the NHS in 2025/26, according to new figures from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). The total marks more than a doubling since 2020/21, when 800,000 women received HRT through the health service. Alongside the record overall figure, the data…

An inquest has heard how Laura House, 29, was repeatedly discharged from Great Western Hospital in Swindon with migraine medication before a rare colloid cyst on her brain went undiagnosed until it was too late. Laura House, a 29-year-old pharmacy dispenser from Cricklade, died after attending Great Western Hospital (GWH) three times in as many days in July 2024 with worsening headaches, blurred vision and vomiting, only to be sent home each time with migraine medication. An inquest, held in Salisbury before HM Area Coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, Ian Singleton, has heard that a rare colloid cyst on her…

Eurostar will begin running direct services between London St Pancras and Antwerp from December 14, offering faster journeys to Belgium’s “diamond capital,” though passengers will still need to change trains in Brussels on the way back due to the absence of UK border facilities in Antwerp. Eurostar has announced a new direct route connecting London with Antwerp, set to launch just in time for the pre-Christmas travel period. From December 14, travellers will be able to book direct journeys from London St Pancras to Antwerpen-Centraal, opening up access to the Belgian city’s museums, festive markets and medieval streets. The new…

The Prince and Princess of Wales have sent their support to those affected by devastating wildfires sweeping across France, Spain and the UK, with William using the moment to issue one of his strongest public warnings yet on the dangers of climate change. Prince William has issued a stark warning over the “challenges posed” by climate change, as devastating wildfires continue to tear through parts of Europe. In a statement issued jointly with the Princess of Wales and signed “W & C,” their customary joint signature on social media, the couple wrote: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the…

Sir Clive Alderton, Principal Private Secretary to King Charles and Queen Camilla, has announced he will leave his role next year after two decades of royal service, with Buckingham Palace preparing an open recruitment process to find his successor. Sir Clive Alderton, Principal Private Secretary to the King and Queen, has announced he will step down from his position next year, bringing to an end 20 years of service to the Royal Household. His departure, confirmed by Buckingham Palace today, will coincide with his 60th birthday in May. Over 11 years in his current post, Sir Clive guided the household…

A viral Reddit photo comparing a tiny McDonald’s soft drink cup to a standard water cooler cup has reignited accusations of shrinkflation against the fast-food giant, with customers branding the serving “action figure-sized.” McDonald’s is facing fresh accusations of shrinkflation after a customer shared a photo appearing to show one of its drinks looking noticeably undersized. The image, posted to Reddit, showed what appeared to be a small McDonald’s cup placed next to a standard water cooler cup, with the poster captioning it “small Coke abomination” and describing the serving as “action figure-sized.” The photo has since generated millions of…

Meghan Markle appeared as a guest judge on the MasterChef Australia grand finale, where a pre-recorded FaceTime call from Prince Harry interrupted her as she tasted dishes from the show’s finalists. Meghan Markle received a surprise FaceTime call from Prince Harry during her guest appearance on the MasterChef Australia grand finale on Sunday night. The Duchess of Sussex, 44, was in the middle of taste-testing dishes from the show’s finalists when a stagehand walked onto set carrying a mobile phone to inform her she had a call waiting. The moment, though it appeared spontaneous on screen, was in fact pre-recorded…