The smile that welcomed me onboard the Aer Lingus flight to Cork spread from ear to ear and seemed effortlessly genuine. We all know that boarding a plane can be far from a joyous affair these days but, from the check-in staff to the cabin crew, I experienced nothing but good humour and Irish joie-de-vivre. The short, one-hour trip was also a considerable bonus.

Situated on the banks of the River Lee in the far south west of the republic, Ireland’s ‘second city’ (after Dublin) has numerous bridges, a wealth of history, interesting places to visit and a laid-back feel that’s almost instantly de-stressing.

I was staying at The Kingsley, a four-star spa hotel a stone’s through from the river bank and an easy, flat 30-minute walk from the city centre.

Three separate, stand-alone reception desks in the bright, airy foyer ensured an impressively quick check-in process, accompanied by some jaw-dropping breaking news.

“That was on fire last night!,” the receptionist was indicating towards a huge red-brick building that dominated the skyline on the opposite shore, half its roof and upper floors gutted by what must have been a massive blaze.

“It’s the old asylum and it’s been Kiss the Blarney Stone! empty for a long time. Fortunately, no-one was hurt.”

I could see the charred remains clearly from my spacious, comfortable first-floor room. Next to the burnt-out husk was an even bigger, grey-gabled edifice which has apparently been converted into flats.

Sufficiently removed from the red-brick pile not to have been affected by the flames, it’s apparently Ireland’s longest building and was once also home to ‘mental’ patients. Who were those poor unfortunates?

According to The Little Book of Cork, people suffering from a range of lunatic anxieties including ‘grief, epilepsy, ‘religious insanity’, nervous depression, want of employment and desertion by a husband or wife’.

Having decided not to hire a car but, instead, to spend three full days exploring on foot and by bus, my first must-do visit was to Blarney, the pretty Irish village world famous for its stone.

Said to endow those who kiss it with the gift of eloquence, the stone turns out to be embedded in the battlement wall of Blarney Castle, a romantic-looking 15th-century tower surrounded by flower-filled gardens, rocky grottoes, weaving pathways and picturesque waterways.

Kissing it requires queuing (unless you beat the crowds by arriving early or late) climbing more than 120 steep, spiral steps and nerve – if, like me, you’re prone to vertigo and the idea of lying down and tilting your head backwards over a dizzying gap brings on leg-trembling terror. But the challenge doesn’t seem to put people off!

Joining me in the line were Americans, Australians and Swiss – all united in our desire to leave Ireland with the talent of suave rhetoric like fellow Blarney Stone kissers Sir Winston Churchill and Mick Jagger before us.

That cosmopolitan feel Cork and its environs have was echoed when I walked to Cork Gaol the following morning. First opened in 1824 and closed as a prison after the civil war around 100 years later, it stands as an evocative and compelling reminder of just what justice in the past meant and why, for those born poor, punishment was often much harsher.

Our guide had the Irish gift of storytelling and the somber cells and stark corridors, where once speaking was forbidden, were vividly re-imagined through the attraction’s human tales, mannequin-led displays and well-produced video.

In need of a pick-me-up after all that tragedy, my next stop was Midleton, 10 miles east of Cork and the place where Jameson’s whiskey is still made and distributed. I travelled by bus (easily caught in the city centre and, at 7 euros return, very economical).

The old distillery is home to a grand old water wheel that once dominated production, the biggest copper still in the world, enormous iron-bound vats and a vast number of barrels hand-made by coopers. No whiskey tour would be complete, of course, without a tasting or two. My verdict? I’d like another please…

Strange as it might seem, one of the places to see in Cork is the covered English Market. With a history dating back to 1788 when it was first opened, it’s a feast for the eye and stomach with a cornucopia of independent traders selling everything from meat and fish, herbs and spices, chocolates and cakes, cheeses and pasta to crockery and art.

The selection on offer is dazzling and, despite the name, a real tribute to Irish enterprise and traditional culinary know-how. No wonder Rick Stein is quoted as saying: “in my opinion this is the best covered market in the UK and Ireland.”

How to sum up my Cork stay? Fascinating, exciting, full of things to do and, above all, welcoming. Would I go again? In a heartbeat.

Fact File

* Sue Bradbury stayed at the 4-star Kingsley Hotel in Cork on a bed and breakfast basis, the cost from 133 euros per night – http://www.thekingsley.ie/

* Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Stobart Air, fly to Cork from nine destinations; Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, Southampton and seasonal routes Newquay and Rennes.

* The airline flies up to 620 flights per week across 26 routes throughout Ireland, the UK and France. For more information visit www.aerlingus.com

The company that handles private jet flights for the rich and famous was today ordered to pay a quarter of a million pounds after a worker was left in a persistent vegetative state.

Suzi Dorbon, 47, was employed as an aircraft mover by Signature Flight Support at Luton Airport.

On the evening of Tuesday 28 April 2015 she was crushed when she became trapped between two sections of mechanically operated doors at Hangar 219.

St Albans crown court heard the crushing injuries were so severe that they caused brain damage that has left her in a coma. She is currently at the Marbrook Centre in St Neots, where her husband Mick visits her every day.

Suzy, who was extremely fit, walked eight miles to work every day from the home she shared with Mick in Barton-Le-Clay. He has given up his job at the airport to be her carer.

Sentencing the company, Judge Andrew Bright QC said: “I have heard the very moving Victim Personal Statement of Michael Dorbon in which he sets out the appalling consequences of the injuries his wife suffered and the life-changing effect that her on-going condition has had and continues to have upon him, her parents and their friends and family.

“No punishment I can impose can ever make up for the dreadful human tragedy which this case represents.”

Prosecutor Catherine Rabaiotti told the court that Hangar 219 became operational in April 2014 and was fitted with two mechanically operated doors, each of which had three solid ‘leaves’ which could be moved horizontally along tracks using a hand-held control panel.

Signature provided short training sessions to staff, including Mrs Dorbon, on how to open and close the doors and issued a guidance document warning employees to take care to avoid any crush hazard.

But the formal Risk Assessment Document prepared at or about the same time, failed to identify the risk of being crushed by the doors or any steps which needed to be taken to mitigate the risk.

The judge said: “In particular, staff were not told of a specific distance to stand back from the doors when operating them nor were they provided with any follow-up or refresher training.”

He said after the initial training, Signature took no steps to monitor or supervise the way staff were opening and closing the doors. “Had the defendant done so, it would soon become apparent that the way in which some employees were moving the doors were unsafe and that the staff needed to be provided with further training and instruction to prevent unsafe methods of work from becoming common place.”

After Mrs Dorbon was crushed, the company painted yellow lines on the floor to show workers how far to stand back from the doors. Also, new warning signage was put up, a new manual on hangar door operations was introduced, staff were re-trained and there were regular CCTV reviews to monitor how the doors were being operated.

Judge Bright said: “In my view, the prosecution are correct in contending that all these steps could and should have been taken when the doors were first installed. They were simple, inexpensive and reasonably practicable measures which would have prevented the risk which resulted in catastrophic injuries to Suzi Dorbon.”

The company pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the health, safety and welfare of work of employees between 28 March 2014 and 28 April 2015.

Defending, Malcolm Galloway said the company pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and has a good health and safety record.

The judge fined Signature Flight Support £250,000 and ordered the company to pay £19,483.50 prosecution costs within 28 days.

After the hearing, Tristan Holdom, of Tollers Personal Injury Solicitors, who is representing the family said: “I will start civil proceedings in the High Court if Signature do not now concede liability. So far the company has only helped with travelling expenses.

“Mick just wants to be able to take Suzy home with a proper care package set up.

“He is visiting her every day at the unit. If she is transferred home, we hope that in time she might come out of the coma.”

This sickening footage shows a chicken producer which supplies Asda, Lidl and Nando’s allegedly breaching animal cruelty laws.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Some people may find the footage and pictures in this article distressing

Secret filming at Cambria Farm in Taunton, Somerset, claims to show a worker dumping a live chick in a wheelbarrow full of dead birds.

The chick was left for an hour before the same worker returns and snaps its neck, according to vegan campaign group Animal Equality.

The group says it also filmed workers kicking chickens, lame birds struggling to walk and slowly dying on their backs because they were unable to stand and reach water.

Other distressing images show chickens with ammonia burns leaving them red raw, ill and dying birds being left to fend for themselves and workers snapping chickens’ necks.

Further footage shows workers tipping scores of dead chicks into waste bins at the farm.

Workers can also be seen violently catching and crating birds for transport to the slaughterhouse, including carrying birds by one leg.

The poultry farm has suspended production following the undercover expose which was carried out between May and July this year.

Animal Equality has passed the evidence to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) for investigation.

Dr Toni Shephard, UK executive director of Animal Equality, said: “The birds were just a few days old when we first filmed, yet already hundreds of chicks were dying every day and the bins outside the giant sheds were full of tiny bodies, still with their yellow baby feathers.

“Just a couple of weeks later, the skips were fuller still and many of the birds were suffering from painful lameness.

“By our last visit, the sheds were so crowded it was difficult to walk through them.

“Some birds were on their backs slowly dying as they were unable to stand up, while others had large sores from constantly sitting in the ammonia-soaked litter as they were in too much pain to walk.

“These distressing scenes suggest we are not ‘leaders in animal welfare’ as claimed in the current row over US imports.”

Cambria Farm, which houses more than 150,000 birds in four giant sheds, supplies Faccenda, the second largest chicken company in the UK.

Faccenda then sells the meat to clients including Nando’s, Lidl and Asda.

A spokesman for Faccenda said despite being ‘disappointed’ with the footage, they had visited the farm and would still be using it as a supplier.

He said they hoped to work with Animal Equality in order to ensure the welfare of animals on all the farms they work with.

The spokesman added: “We’re obviously disappointed with the images that have been presented to us.

“Where there is a need for improvement in specific areas we will work with the farmer to make sure that it happens.

“When we were notified of the allegations we immediately assigned an external vet to visit the farm and conduct an investigation.

“Following his review of the facilities, and after meeting the team, he approved the farm for continued use.

“We are not going to comment on individual pieces of limited footage but will make sure that the information from Animal Equality is used on all of our farms to help ensure that our high standards and expectations are maintained on every farm, every day.”

Paul Vaughan-France, owner of the farm, said: “I will take the images as good feedback and will do everything I can to work on every aspect of my husbandry.

“I have had an independent vet on site to review my practices and he is satisfied with his findings.”

A Nando’s Spokesperson said: “Animal welfare is very important to us and we source 100% of our chickens from suppliers that meet the UK Red Tractor standards. We were extremely concerned to hear the report that this farm was not meeting our standards and we are conducting a thorough investigation. Nando’s will continue to insist all of our suppliers meet our strict animal welfare expectations, and is committed to only ever buying from farms that do.”

A Leighton Buzzard mum and former owner of Ann’s Bridal Room has finally met her sister thanks to ITV show Long Lost Family.

Ann Beggs, 45, has found her half sister, Cathie Cutler-Evans, who was put up for adoption by her mother, Adrienne, when Adrienne was 19 and a single mother.

Adrienne always told Ann, and Ann’s brother, Mark, that they had an older sister, but sadly Adrienne passed away in February 2012 after spending years searching for her daughter since Cathie turned 18.

Then, earlier this year, Ann received the surprise of a lifetime when she opened a letter from the Long Lost Family team saying they were helping Cathie, who wanted to find her birth mother.

Ann said: “Mum was the best – she was just amazing. We always knew about Cathie – there was never a sit down moment; Cathie was always spoken about for as long as I remember.

“I hope people who watch the show learn what life was like in the 60s – things were very different if you were a single mother; there were no benefits or housing waiting lists.

“I always wanted to find Cathie to the point of obsession and when we met in March the connection was palpable. It’s been an amazing journey.”

It seems that business runs in the family, as while Ann is known as the former owner of Ann’s Bridal Room, Cathie runs a barbers shop in Chester as well as raising her three sons.

The entrepreneur always knew she was adopted, growing up in The Wirral and having a happy childhood.

However, after both her adoptive parents passed away, the desire to find Adrienne meant Cathie contacted ITV for help.

Early on during the filming of the show, Cathie told ITV cameras: “I imagined meeting her (Adrienne) and touching her and holding her and having that instant contact; I hope I can do that.”

However, tragically, the meeting would never happen.

An ITV spokesperson, said: “Long Lost Family searched marriage records and found a marriage for Adrienne Powell in Cheshire in 1966, which seemed very likely to be Cathie’s mum.

“After searching under her married name, we discovered the news that Adrienne had died in 2012 and tragically Cathie would not be able to meet her birth mother.

“Records did show that Adrienne had two other children and our intermediary contacted them with the news that Cathie was searching.

“Mark didn’t want to appear on camera but Ann asked to meet show host, Nicky Campbell, and was overcome with emotion when she saw photo of her big sister.

“Meanwhile, Cathie was told off-camera about her mother’s passing before Davina visited her to reveal that she had a half brother and sister.

“Cathie was overcome with emotion: ‘I know I won’t get to see Adrienne, but I can’t wait to meet Ann… I’ve always wanted a sister and now I’ve got one.’”

One week after receiving the news, Cathie travelled to Liverpool to meet with, Ann, who was to hold the answers to so many burning questions.

When she was a teenager, Cathie’s adoptive parents had shown her a letter from her birth mother, Adrienne, thanking Cathie’s adoptive parents for giving her a loving home and asking them to explain to Cathie how much she loved her.

Cathie’s adoptive mother had also described how young Adrienne was when she gave birth, and how Adrienne wanted Cathie to be part of a family – after caring for her daughter for the first 10 weeks, Adrienne had taken Cathie to an adoption agency in Liverpool.

Fast forward to 2017, and Cathie now knew that she had younger a brother and sister – but had they known about her?

Ann said: “Cathie was really scared that she was going to be a secret, so when Davina revealed that mum always talked about her it meant so much!

“We sat down at the (hotel)table and talked for about two and a half hours – it felt like we had known each other forever.

“She is so incredibly like mum it’s uncanny. In personality too – Cathie wears her heart on her sleeve and would do anything for anybody, just like mum.

“Cathie also has the same mannerisms and I can’t believe somebody that was not raised by mum can be so like her. It really brings into focus the nature versus nurture debate.

“ Cathie and I are thick as thieves; it’s heart-breaking that mum never got to meet her.”

The spooky thing was that last summer, when Cathie was applying for the show, it was also on Ann’s mind, too...

Her daughter, Willow, 15, tried hard to persuade her, but Ann just didn’t believe it would be possible, especially as they had tried to find Cathie before and just hit a brick wall.

Ann said: “I take my hat off to the Long Lost Family team. They take you through every step of the way, and when Cathie and I were filmed you couldn’t even see the cameras.

“No-one interrupts you, and when they’d filmed what they needed to, they just melted into the background.

“They are very passionate about what they do and took great care of our emotions.”

Ann describes how friends who have met Cathie have said: “you’ve got a piece of your mum back”, immediately seeing the similarities to Adrienne.

Ann and Mark also grew up in The Wirral, and when Ann and her children moved to Leighton Buzzard in January 2003, Adrienne followed, becoming a much-loved community member.

Ann said: “Mum was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in her 30s and always had a cause and mission, raising tens of thousands of pounds for charity; she campaigned for better disability access and was one of the first people to use a mobility scooter in the 80s, organising charity ‘scooterthons’ .

“She was also chairwoman of the MS Society in The Wirral, and later chairwoman of Leighton Buzzard’s MS Society.

“What she achieved in her life is incredible!”

Adrienne was a member of the Women’s RAF until she was released due to a head injury, and held several jobs, including as a florist and a photographer.

Her two daughters appeared on ITV’s Lorraine on July 26 and their Long Lost Family episode, produced by Wall To Wall Productions, also aired last Wednesday, available on ITV Player.

Ann lives with her husband, Nick, 55. She has three children from a previous marriage: Olivia, 24, and twins Jake and Callum, 21, and Ann and Nick have a daughter, Willow, 15.

Olivia has also blessed her mum with a granddaughter, 10 month old Orla.

Ann concluded: “Giving Cathie up for adoption devastated mum; I don’t think she ever got over it... she used to write Cathie’s birthday in her diary every year.

“Long Lost Family has been a really positive experience – a nod to mum. We’ve got Cathie now and she’s incredible.”

It’s the start of a new month and PlayStation owners know what that means... free stuff.

PlayStation Plus members can now download a host of free games with some fantastic offerings.

As usual, the free games are divided evenly across PS4, PS3, and Vita.

PS4 owners get their hands on destruction-oriented open-world game Just Cause 3, as well as Assassin’s Creed: Freedom Cry, a standalone spinoff of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag where you play as Adéwalé, a slave-turned-Assassin.

Free-to-play game 
Dreadnought launches into open beta on August 1, and Plus members will be able to pick up a free DLC pack for it starting on August 15.

On PS3, the games include Super Motherload and Snakeball. Those with a Vita can pick up Level 22 and the excellent Downwell, which also features Cross-Buy with PS4, getting PS4 owners a total of three games this month.

The games are free to download for Plus members from August 1 but you can now no longer download July’s free Plus games.

PlayStation Plus Free Games For August 2017

PS4

Assassin’s Creed: Freedom Cry

Downwell

Just Cause 3

PS3

Snakeball

Super Motherload

Vita

Downwell

Level 22

Everybody’s.... excited

In other gaming news, Sony is gearing up for the much-anticipated comeback of cult classic Everybody’s Golf at the end of the month.

The series is well known for its humorous take on the game of golf which includes cartoon-like characters and modes such as miniature golf paired with a realistic engine and precise ball physics.

Everybody’s Golf is set to be released 20 years on from the original and is the 12th title in the series. Shuhei Yoshida of Sony’s Worldwide Studios said that the upcoming game would feature open world elements for the first time.

Researchers at Aberdeen University have said that more needs to be done to stop women being forced to wear high heels in the workplace after finding direct links between wearing high heels and injury.

The warning comes after the UK Government rejected calls for a ban on enforcing high heel wear.

Dr Max Barnish, who led the research, said, “From our review it is clear that despite the huge amount of evidence showing heels are bad for individuals’ health, there are complex social and cultural reasons that make high heel wearing attractive.

“We feel the UK Government should follow the lead of other authorities who have introduced specific laws to tackle this practice rather than simply relying on existing legislation which has left the situation in this country uncertain and open to misinterpretation.

“Also, this matter has in the UK been so far addressed through UK-wide equality laws. However, there may be scope for the devolved nations of the UK such as Scotland to consider introducing further measures under devolved health legislative powers.”

Enforcing high heel wear in the office was brought to attention earlier last year when London receptionist Nicola Thorp was sent home after she refused to wear heels at work. Ms Thorp subsequently launched a petition to ban the enforcement and attracted over 152,400 signatures.

So if your boss still insists on female employees wearing a pair of heels to the office, here are six ways that they could actually be damaging your health.

The BBC is looking for contestants from our county for a new game show with a difference.

Ready or Not, which will air as a prime-time BBC One Saturday night show, aims to take contestants by surprise up and down the country - testing the knowledge and nerves of the unsuspecting people of Britain.

This six-part series is, say producers Remedy Productions, is a twist on the traditional game show.

Each week a roving team of hosts will head out to surprise members of the public in a series of quick-fire quiz ‘hits’ to win cash or prizes on the spot.

So, it’s fun and outgoing people who will enjoy being surprised who will fit the bill.

Obviously the element of surprise is key, so if you have a friend or family member you would like to secretly nominate then get in touch - email applynow@remedyproductions.tv before September 15.

And don’t forget - keep it a secret from whoever you nominate!

Headache and nausea aside, the morning after an evening of drinking can be filled with regret, anxiety and misery. But it can also be a time of humour, storytelling and emotional bonding.

This is what we found in a recent study examining the experiences of university students with hangovers. We asked them about their attitudes to being hungover – and the psychological and social effects on their lives.

Alcohol is a mood-altering drug. Intoxication can bring feelings of increased euphoria, relaxation and positivity, while reducing anxiety and tension. These effects are part of what makes alcohol one of the most widely consumed drugs in the world.

It is also a “biphasic” drug, which means it has two distinct phases of action.

The first, known as the “ascending limb” brings positive and euphoric mood as the concentration of blood alcohol increases. The second phase, the “descending limb”, occurs as blood alcohol concentration decreases and is generally accompanied by feelings of fatigue and low mood.

A small body of research has begun to study the effects of hangovers on mood and emotion. In general, these studies indicate that hangover is associated with decreased positive mood and increased anxiety.

These findings have serious implications for those who may have hangovers while carrying out caring responsibilities – parents, nurses, doctors and teachers, for example. But studies so far have been limited by simply asking individuals about their mood using questionnaires. Research using animals has been able to examine in more detail how socialisation and engagement with others may be influenced by a hangover.

A study of rodents showed that 18 hours after alcohol intoxication, the social behaviour of rats is reduced. The experiment was also able to look at differences in social behaviour between rodents of different ages. The adolescent rats engaged in more social interaction when hungover compared to the adults rats.

This finding suggests that adolescent rats might be less sensitive to the effects of alcohol hangover on anxiety and sociability. In our work researching young peoples’ experience of hangover and the relationship between hangover and drinking behaviour, along with our colleague Maddie Freeman, we found that young people had a similar kind of tolerance.

All of the students we interviewed at a university in south-west England mentioned the psychological impact of hangovers. They spoke of feeling low, irritable, angry, sad and lonely.

But they also felt that reducing alcohol consumption was not an option for minimising the effects. Hangovers were expected – and even planned for in their day to day lives. These findings are consistent with the animal research, suggesting a lesser impact for the youthful. For younger adults, hangovers may not be a powerful disincentive to heavy drinking.

We also found that some students actually considered hangovers to have a positive role in promoting group socialising. Communal experiences of hangover were presented as beneficial – of suffering the symptoms “all together”.

About last night

Hangovers were viewed as a continuation of the socialising from the previous evening, which included reminiscing about drunken activities from the night before. Similar to the adolescent rats engaging in social behaviours such as play fighting while hungover, it appears that for younger drinkers a hangover is part of the social experience of drinking.

Universities have long been thought of as places where young people learn not just about their chosen academic subject, but also the effects of drinking alcohol. For many, having a hangover is part of the university experience.

How it affects their actual studies, we cannot yet be sure. Recent research suggests that hangovers have a significant affect on how we carry out routine activities such as work and driving. On any given work day, around 200,000 British workers turn up to work hungover.

Nor is research into the social element of hangovers complete. Fittingly perhaps, the overall effects on mood and interaction are not yet clear – blurry, even.

For some, hangovers are a time of psychological discomfort, accompanied by low mood. For others, they are an enjoyable extension of social drinking – when it really does seem that misery loves company.

Sally Adams is lecturer in health psychology, University of Bath. Christine Griffin is professor of psychology, University of Bath, Paula Smith is senior lecturer in psychology, University of Bath

This article originally appeared on theconversation.com

Up to 130 drug users may have died in Britain using man-made sedative Fentanyl just since December, fear police.

And detectives fear the sedative 10,000 times stronger than heroin is being mass produced in illegal drug labs all over Britain.

Fentanyl and its event more potent analogue carfentanyl, a drug used to sedate elephants, is being created in kitchen top laboratories to sell to hundreds of drug addicts both in Britain and overseas.

Drug makers are using a supply from Chinese distributors to manufacture the drugs, which is then supplied and exported from Britain.

More than 70 deaths suspected to be related to a spike in fentanyl drug use are awaiting toxicology reports, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has revealed.

The 70 cases are in addition to 60 already confirmed deaths related to fentanyl consumption.

So far police have swooped on two home-laboratories that were exporting fentanyl and its analogue carfentanyl to more than 700 drug addicts, more than 300 of whom live overseas.

Four men, three from Leeds in West Yorkshire and one from Gwent in Wales, have been charged with importing, supplying and exporting fentanyl.

Kyle Enos, 25, is alleged to have used the dark web to purchase fentanyl and other synthetic opioids, which are more than 100 times stronger than morphine.

Carfentanyl is more than 10,000 times stronger than street heroin and 0.00002g is considered to be a lethal dose.

Users are thought to be unaware their drugs are mixed with fentanyl, which can be consumed through touch as well as being inhaled and injected.

Ian Cruxton, deputy director of the NCA, said: “Since December 2016 we have seen a number of drug related deaths linked to fentanyl and carfentanyl.

“The NCA has been working with partners, both in the UK and overseas, to take action against those drug dealers who are playing Russian Roulette with the lives of their customers by mixing synthetic opioids with heroin and other Class A drugs.

“I believe the action taken in the UK by the NCA and our police colleagues has significantly reduced the risk to the public.

“At the same time drug users, their friends and families need to be vigilant.”

Simon Bray, from the national police chief’s council, said: “We see that a substantial part of this particular drug supply operates over the internet and the dark web market places.

“In some cases we see incidences where fentanyl has been mixed with other drugs, in particular heroin.

“We see these drugs posted around the world using a variety of different postal systems.”

He added: “They are fairly small kitchen top affairs.”

Fentanyl and its analogues are Class A synthetic opioids covered under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act.

People obsessed by their smartphones or tablets should wear special computer glasses or use screen filters to block out blue light to get a good night’s sleep.

If they use these filters three hours before bed, they will see levels of their sleep hormone increase by nearly three fifths, sleep better and nod off quicker and get an extra 24 minutes sleep a night.

The ubiquitous digital gadgets are always on hand and the temptation is to use them just before we go to bed.

The largest source of blue light is sunlight and it boosts alertness and regulates our internal body clock that tells our bodies when to sleep.

But the blue light emitted from most LED-based devices disrupts sleep by suppressing the sleep hormone melatonin leaving many tired out in the morning.

Lead author Assistant Professor Dr Lisa Ostrin said to avoid sleep disturbances, people should limit their screen time, apply screen filters, wear computer glasses that block blue light, or use anti-reflective lenses to offset the effects of artificial light at nighttime.

Some devices even include night mode settings that limit blue light exposure.

Prof Ostrin of the University of Houston College of Optometry said: “Exposure to increasing amounts of artificial light during the night may contribute to the high prevalence of reported sleep dysfunction.

“Release of the sleep hormone melatonin is mediated by the intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs).

“This study sought to investigate whether melatonin level and sleep quality can be modulated by decreasing night-time input to the ipRGCs.

It gave 22 participants aged 17 to 42 short wavelength-blocking glasses three hours before bedtime for two weeks while still performing their nightly digital routine.

They also wore activity, light exposure and sleep monitors 24 hours a day during the study period.

Saliva samples were collected to assess melatonin content, sleep quality assessed by using The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and pupil dilation measured.

All had about a 58 per cent increase in their nighttime melatonin levels, the chemical that signals your body that it’s time to sleep.

And levels were even higher than increases from over-the-counter melatonin supplements.

All participants also reported sleeping better, falling asleep faster, and even increased their sleep duration by 24 minutes a night from an average six hours and 48 minutes hours to seven hours and 11 minutes.

They also had slower redilation phase.

Prof Ostrin said: “The most important takeaway is that blue light at night time really does decrease sleep quality.

“Sleep is very important for the regeneration of many functions in our body.

“By using blue blocking glasses we are decreasing input to the photoreceptors, so we can improve sleep and still continue to use our devices.

“That’s nice, because we can still be productive at night.”

She concluded: “The use of short wavelength-blocking glasses at night increased subjectively measured sleep quality and objectively measured melatonin levels and sleep duration, presumably as a result of decreased night-time stimulation of ipRGCs.

“Alterations in the ipRGC-driven pupil response suggest a shift in circadian phase.

“Results suggest that minimising short wavelength light following sunset may help in regulating sleep patterns.”

The study was published in Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics.

Mothercare has announced a voluntary recall of one of its own-brand baby bouncer chairs after it emerged that the fabric seat could become detached from the frame, resulting in a child falling through.

While the firm said that incorrect assembly could lead to injury, it also highlighted that the risk of detaching fabric was still present in correctly assembled chairs.

A company announcement read: “Bouncers with a batch date of 12/2015 onwards and with a barcode ending in 843611-3 are affected by this recall. All earlier versions are unaffected.

“If you own one of these bouncers please stop using it immediately and return your product to a mothercare store where a full refund will be given.

“If you have any queries please contact mothercare via email on: bouncerEnquiries@mothercare.com”

The organisation also apologised to customers, saying: “This action has been taken to ensure the safety and well-being of our customers and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Eaton Bray aren’t about to give up their Four Counties Division 1 crown willingly after frustrating title contenders Milton Keynes on Saturday.

All but out of the running to make it back-to-back championships, Eaton Bray dug in late on to salvage a draw, with MK seeking to keep up with leaders Thurleigh’s winning run of late.

Early rain in Milton Keynes threatened to put the game to bed before it even got going, but patience prevailed and the match went ahead, albeit shortened to 40 overs aside.

But it was a tough beginning for the visitors as Nimesh Chavda and Nick Hillman got their feet under the table.

The pair put on 58 for the opening wicket, with Hillman falling for 35.

When Chavda fell for 25 with the score on 87, it sparked a mini collapse for the home side, who soon found themselves 94-4 as James Flecknell and Nick Pearson began to find their groove.

But in bringing Grant Ebrahim to the crease, Eaton Bray were soon given the runaround by the MK batsman.

He fired a rapid 59 not out from 47 balls, which featured six boundary fours and two maximums as he carried the score to 184-6.

Both Flecknell and Pearson finished with three wickets apiece.

Chasing 185 for the victory, Bray were on shaky ground from the off, thanks in large part to MK bowler Brian Tompkins.

Tompkins took out opener Joe Roff without troubling the scorer, before Flecknell exited not long after, leaving the visitors 19-2.

Skipper Josh Peacock and Jonathan Marum too were quickly back in the pavilion courtesy of Tompkins (3-26)with Bray’s score reading 32-4 and staring defeat down the barrel.

But Sam Slatter and Joe Braddon mounted a fine recovery for Bray, dragging the scoreboard along with them.

Braddon’s eventual dismissal came with the visitors nearing the 100 mark, having scored a patient 35.

Slatter, meanwhile, appeared even more patiently and intent to rescue the draw, held on for his unbeaten 31.

Chavda, who’d taken care of Braddon added Lee Gauntlett and Jaco Jacobs to his list on his way to 3-15, but the reduced overs would save Eaton Bray, but cause frustration for MK.

The visitors would in the end close on 133-8, never troubling MK’s total but in preventing them from taking full marks from the encounter, helped Thurleigh extend their lead at the top of the charts to eight points.

And Eaton Bray play host to the league leaders next week at The Rye Gardens.

James Hatch bagged a brace as Leighton Town made light work of Oxhey Jets to reach the FA Cup Preliminary round.

Hatch netted Town’s second and fourth goals in a man of the match performance, with Kai Ashley and Lorrel Smith adding the others to book their spot in the next round.

“It was a really good performance,” said manager Scott Reynolds afterwards.

“We got better as the game went on. In the first 20 minutes, there wasn’t much between the sides.

“We got the opener just before half time, and we weathered a storm for the first 10 minutes of the second half, but with the second goal, we were in complete control. It was a really professional performance.”

With Leighton’s Bell Close home still being renovated, the teams played at the home of Berkhamsted Town.

The opening was a little slow and tentative from both sides and openings were few and far between. Club captain Dom Marsala had the games first real opportunity with a neat run on the far side and he cut it to shoot he couldn’t get his shot away or pass back and Jets keeper Harry Beaumont did well to claim.

Town finally got the goal their pressure had warranted with Ashley getting the first of the game just on the stroke of half time. Danger man Marsala made a strong run and played in a incisive cross to Ashley who was on hand to slot it home.

Brad Kirkwood in the Leighton net did well to deny Jets an equaliser early in the second half, and when Hatch doubled the lead with a cool finish, the writing was on the wall for the visitors.

Smith then got Leighton’s third with skill. His first touch looked heavy but he took the ball round the defender and poked it past the keeper.

Some say that attack is the best form of defence and that’s exactly what the hosts did getting a fourth soon after. Hatch got his second of the game after an inviting cross from Towell found him, his shot took a deflection but it was still enough to go past Beaumont and into the net.

Shoppers at Tesco stores across Britain will no longer be able to buy 5p ‘single-use’ plastic carrier bags from the end of the month.

In a move welcomed by campaigners, Britain’s biggest grocer will become the first major supermarket chain to ditch its throwaway bags.

From August 28, shoppers who forget their bags will still be able to buy one – but it will be a more expensive reusable one, made from thicker recycled plastic, costing 10p.

“It’s great to see major retailers moving away from disposable plastic. For too long we’ve seen plastic as something to be used once and thrown away,” said Louise Edge, senior campaigner at Greenpeace UK.

The move followed a 10-week trial in three stores in Norwich, Aberdeen and Dundee during which sales of single-use bags fell by 25 per cent. Bag sales have tumbled Tesco has given out 1.5 billion fewer single use bags since the introduction of the carrier bag charge in England in 2015, but still sells over 700 million of these each year.

The retailer hopes that removing single use carrier bags will significantly reduce the number of bags sold, helping reduce litter and bags sent to landfill.

Matt Davies, Tesco’s UK head, said: “The number of bags being bought by our customers has already reduced dramatically. Today’s move will help our customers use even fewer bags.”

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey added: “I welcome Tesco wanting to go further and help their customers use even fewer plastic bags.”

The introduction of the 5p charge in England in October 2015 brought it into line with schemes already operating in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. About 8m tonnes of plastic makes its way into the world’s oceans each year, posing a serious threat to the marine environment. Official figures last July revealed that the number of single-use plastic bags used by shoppers in England plummeted by more than 85 per cent after the introduction.

More than 7bn bags were handed out by seven main supermarkets in the year before the charge, but this figure plummeted to slightly more than 500m in the first six months after the charge was introduced. However, while campaigners welcomed Tesco’s move they warned much work remains to be done to curb plastic pollution further – especially when it comes single-use bottles.

“The plastic bag charge has done wonders for reducing the number of bags polluting our coastlines and waters. Now we need to see the same for throwaway plastic bottles – a deposit return scheme which encourages collection,” Ms Edge said.

A professional declutterer from Leighton Buzzard once found an uncashed cheque for over £40,000 from a betting shop when she was helping one of her clients.

Lisa Pantling, 35, loves her job as a professional declutterer and helping people clear out their homes.

She was working in London, helping an elderly man who lived in a care home, sort through his belongings when she found the cheque, that was twenty years old.

She said: “He told me he didn’t want the money, he wanted someone else to have it and he asked me to put it in the safe for him.

“It turned out that when he passed away his nephew inherited the cheque and he was able to cash it in at the bookies. This happened about five years ago and is one of the strangest things I have found wile helping people.”

The mum-of-two worked in London as a team manager in Adult Social Care before she set up Clutter Free Living a year ago.

When working in London she found that her team was working a lot with people with a hoarding disorder.

She said: “I set up a hoarding peer support group with the mental health charity MIND and worked with colleagues to create a practice guidance and policy for professionals working with people who hoard and/ self neglect.”

Since setting up her business she has helped ten clients and they have called her for a variety of reasons.

She told the LBO: “Some of them are just regular families that need a bit of a kick start into having a sort out, others are people with hoarded homes that require a lot of support, both emotionally and practically.

“The most common thing people seem to struggle with is paperwork, and therefore let it build up. Luckily I love sorting paperwork, and can help with shredding and setting up filing systems to make sure that it doesn’t just build up again after I have gone.

“On the other side of the job, the hoarding of items, it can be quite emotional for my clients when they are going through their stuff, a lot of the time it brings back a lot of memories and they are always happy to share their stories with me.

“I absolutely love my work and really enjoy the flexibility and independence of working for myself.”

“However, I am a member of the APDO (Association of Professional Declutterers and Organisers) which means I also feel like I have ‘colleagues’ and we offer support and advice to each other, either virtually or regular meet ups around the country.”

The time Lisa spends with her clients varies on how much help they need.

She said: “Some clients just need a couple of visits, I show them how to make good decisions and then they go ahead themselves, other clients need more sessions, it depends on how much they hoard.

“It will never be more than two to four days a week because it can be mentally tiring for them.”

Today (Tuesday 8 August) has been named Fantasy Football Day, with over a million amateur managers in the UK alone expected to make their picks in what is traditionally the most popular day of the year for wannabe Mourinhos to select their fantasy football teams.

Analysis of data from one online fantasy football game Draft Fantasy shows that the Tuesday prior to the first Premier League fixture is the day most managers select their players, with the corresponding day in 2016 (August 4) having accounted for 12 per cent of all selections. In total, the week before the start of the season will see over a fifth 21 per cent of all players select their team.

With fantasy football games estimated to attract over 8.5 million players in the UK alone, this could mean that this Tuesday will see over 1.2 million teams selected.

Draft Fantasy have marked the occasion with a dedicated website – FantasyFootballDay.com – which includes hints and tips for managers, exclusive videos from football influencers and everything budding Guardiolas need to know ahead of them making their final selections.

Elie Steinbock, Draft Fantasy founder and CEO said, “We are gearing up for our biggest day ever on the site on Tuesday, including having 25 additional support and technical staff to ensure every manager can make their selections without a hitch.”

“Teamed with our unique draft offering, the biggest revolution in the game in over two decades, Tuesday 8 August is going to be momentous occasion for Draft Fantasy, and all fantasy football players across the UK.”

Check out fantastyfootballday.com for more information.

Residents in four streets in Leighton Buzzard have signed a petition requesting residents only parking, and sent it to Central Bedfordshire Council.

The petition, which was for Hartwell Crescent, Hartwell Grove, Albany Road and Dudley Street, went to the Traffic Management Meeting on Tuesday, July 25.

On the covering letter, campaigner Iain Aitken said: “The main daytime problem is workers at Connells Estate Agents. Despite having subsidised parking, employees park in these streets as an alternative to paying a charge.

“Connells have recently extended their working hours and their employees are looking for spaces from 6.30am, and some do not leave till 8pm.

“Shoppers have told me that there are too few places to park in Leighton Buzzard, and that the costs are too high, so they park in our streets.

“Grove Road and Lammas Walk/Bedford Street have recently obtained residents only parking, which has pushed their problems into our streets.”

The decision on the petition is provisional at present.

A spokesman for the council said: “The petition for more residents-only parking in Leighton Buzzard has been noted by the council.

“The proposal for residents-only parking to be implemented in Hartwell Crescent, Hartwell Grove, Albany Road and Dudley Street, Leighton Buzzard, will be considered as part of the council’s wider programme of work in that area.”

Mr Aitken was pleased with the outcome of the meeting.

He said: “The meeting went very well, the petition has been noted and will be taken into consideration.

“What has been proposed is that South Street goes to one way, north bound instead of south bound and that will affect our roads, that will make it better for residents in Hartwell, Albany and Dudley.

“It will all be integrated. I am very happy with the decision and the outcome of the meeting.”

Connells Estate Agents say they were unaware of a parking problem for residents.

A Connells Group spokesperson said: “Connells Group is the biggest employer in Leighton Buzzard and, with other 700 staff employed across four head office buildings, there simply isn’t sufficient allocated parking available.

“We are not aware of any resident issues as regards our staff parking on these streets and are happy to work with Central Bedfordshire Council and residents to ensure that our contribution to the prosperity of the town isn’t overshadowed by parking issues.”

Charlie Smith recovered from a poor start to finish a fine seventh in the Kayak Sprint World Championship for Juniors and Under 23 in Romania.

The Leighton Buzzard Canoe Club member was part of the GB team competing in the Junior 1000m K1 event. The championship attracted 65 countries and over 900 competitors to the venue in Bascov, Pitesti.

Charlie’s race was one of the first in the competition, conditions were good and Charlie covered the distance comfortably taking him through to the semi finals in the afternoon. Thirty six paddlers raced in the four Semi’s with only the first two going through to Final A.

A good start saw Charlie at the front with the Serbian paddler and together the led the race for the full 1000m gaining their place in the final. Conditions change dramatically for the final with massive gusting head winds sufficient to blow over the scoreboard.

As expected the line up was impressive with last years world champion Jacob Schopf favourite to take the title again.

Charlie had a bad start missing his first stroke and fought hard to get back into rhythm. Schopf was away fast along with Knudsen the European Champion but all paddlers struggled with the gusting wind.

Charlie battled hard to make up distance but conditions were against him, in the last 200m he felt the full force of the head wind and crossed the line in seventh place.

Leighton Buzzard weren’t ready to let a spot of rain affect their afternoon at the crease as they climbed back into the Cherwell League Division 2 promotion spots with a Duckworth Lewis win over Great and Little Tew.

With four matches remaining this season, there is still all to play for as Town seek a return to Division 1, now just six points behind leaders Challow and Childrey.

Leighton are one of four teams who are in the running for promotion this season, with Buckingham 2nds and Bledlow Village, who began Saturday atop the table, all within 10 points.

And with Leighton set to take on Challow and Bledlow in the run in, it’s still all to play for.

The 24 run win over Great & Little Tew on Saturday came after early rain threatened to be put the game to rest before it even started.

Fortunately for Town, the sides were eventually able to get some play in, playing a limited overs match reduced to 30 a side.

Town got the ball rolling as they set the pace, reaching 154-6 from their knock. Oliver Price was the thorn in their side though, taking 4-17 for the visitors.

The limited overs nature of the match meant a result was going to be decided one way or the other, and Leighton’s tight bowling made sure they would be on the right end of it.

Restricting the visitors to 130, Leighton were ensured a 24 run victory, and with it second spot in the table.

A man from Leighton Buzzard, who had two bikes stolen from his van, has criticised the response from Bedfordshire Police.

Callum Thomas, of St Georges Close, had two competition bikes - worth over £2,000 - a works drill and an instrument for testing electrical installations stolen from his van, which was parked outside his house, overnight on Saturday, August 5.
He said: “The police action during and post incident is shocking and disgraceful to say the least.

“One of my neighbours assures me they reported two men breaking into my van at around 12.50am.

“When the police arrived all they chose to do was leave a small note in my van with a phone number and a reference to quote.

“They left my van unlocked, made no attempt to find out the owner was, whose identity was obvious for it was parked directly outside my house; and there were letters in the van with my name and address on.

“I also feel they should have spoken to the neighbour who reported the incident.

“There is no excuse for the inadequate and even unwilling response from the police.”

Bedfordshire Police are investigating the incident, a spokesman for the force said: “We received reports of offenders breaking into a vehicle in St George’s Close, Leighton Buzzard, at around 12.50am on Saturday (August 5).

“Officers attended and the area was searched, however there was no trace of the offender. Initial statements were taken from the witness and information was left for the victim to make contact with us.

“The two offenders believed to have been on mopeds which had licence plates removed and were both wearing black with their faces covered.

“They are believed to have broken into a silver Transit van before making off with two bicycles, a Roudax and an Allez, and Milwaukee and Fluke power tools.

“Anyone with information or who has been approached by anyone selling the goods is asked to contact us on 101 quoting crime reference JD/33091/2017.

“Bedfordshire Police takes all theft from vehicle crimes reported to us seriously.

“In the last week there has been five theft from motor vehicles reported in Leighton Buzzard and community officers are working to conducted targeted patrols and giving out crime prevention advice to residents to help decrease these offences in the area.”

Callum’s wife posted about the theft on Facebook and was told by other users that they had also had their vehicles broken into on the same night.

He said: “My wife found out there were four or five break ins that night and they have also said the police have done nothing.

“I have heard nothing from the police since the incident, apart from them calling me to take my statement, no one has even come out to take fingerprints.

“There has been no extra police on the street either, it is not good enough.”