Economy

Almost a week after a car drove into crowds at Liverpool FC's victory parade, questions are being asked why a city centre road remained open to vehicles.

Despite warnings given to businesses over expected crowds, Dale Street, which runs through the city centre, was not closed.

At about 18:00 BST on Monday, 79 people were injured when a car crashed into fans on adjoining Water Street during the trophy parade.

But the council insists that several months of planning went into organising the event, and that a "robust traffic management plan" was agreed by all partners.

Gareth Morgan, 46, who owns The Dead Crafty Beer Company on Dale Street, says he was told to remove street furniture due to the number of people expected, yet "the council still let vehicles up and down".

"When you have 800,000 people walking back up to the city centre, it's crazy that any of the main roads in the city centre were open," Mr Morgan said.

"Everyone I have spoken to is in agreement that it should not have been open to traffic.

"The pavements aren't big enough to take that volume of the public, so the only place for them to go is the road."

Mohamad Abbar, who works at A2Z Mobile on Dale Street, echoed his comments. "There were too many people on this road," he said, adding he thought it was "supposed to be closed".

But a Liverpool City Council spokesman said Dale Street had never been completely closed for a Liverpool FC victory parade in the past, and the bus had travelled on the same route as in 2019 and 2022.

The spokesman added that the part of Dale Street which remained open was a key route for traffic.

Tom Benson, 24, who works in Manchester, said he had travelled to Liverpool for various events in the past, when he felt a lot more roads had been closed.

"This time around that wasn't the case," he said.

"It seemed like a fair few of the roads were opened despite there being significantly more people."

Mr Benson also said he felt organisation at Liverpool's main Lime Street Station was "pretty terrible" after the parade, as fans tried to make their way home, with police blocking all entrances and "thousands of people" queueing for hours only to be told to "go and join a queue at the other side of the station".

Another 24-year-old, who asked not to be named, said he queued for more than an hour at the train station only to be told he was in the wrong place. He described the scenes there as "absolute carnage" and feared a potential safety or security risk.

"There was no organisation at all," he added. "We were pretty lucky we got the last train to Birmingham, but it was terrible for the people with children who were all crying."

Network Rail said there had been "an unprecedented number of people travelling to and from Lime Street Station to be part of the parade."

The firm used "tried and tested plans" to manage demand, it said, including closing the Lime Street entrance and putting a one-way queueing system in place starting at another entrance on the Skelhorne Street.

However, the large numbers of people wanting to travel at the same time "significantly impacted" the queuing system, and Network Rail said it was reviewing what happened.

"We are sorry that people were delayed in getting to where they needed to be during a distressing time," a spokesperson said.

On Friday, former Royal Marine Paul Doyle appeared at Liverpool Magistrates' Court and Liverpool Crown Court where he faced seven charges including wounding with intent, causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent, attempting to cause GBH with intent and dangerous driving.

Mr Doyle faces charges relating to six victims, including two children aged 11 and 17, after a total of 79 people were injured.

He will next appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 14 August for a plea hearing.

Mourners attending the funeral Mass of a County Kerry farmer, whose death is the subject of a murder inquiry, have heard he was a kind, strong man, who loved people, farming and animals.

Michael Gaine, 56, had been missing for more than eight weeks when remains found on his farm, near Kenmare, were identified..

He was initially treated as a missing persons case before it was upgraded to a homicide.

On Saturday the congregation was told by parish priest Fr George Hayes that the funeral was about recovering his dignity, as reported by Irish broadcaster RTÉ.

'Proud Kerry man'

"There were many questions but sometimes in life there were no answers," said Fr George Hayes.

He said that the "dignity of Michael's life, and not the manner of Michael's death, that will abide in our hearts".

Michael was someone who "loved much and was much loved," Fr Hayes said.

In a tribute to his cousin, Eoghan Clarke, who spoke on behalf of the family said Mr Gaine was known for his "incredible work ethic, personality and humour, and was a loving son, sibling and uncle".

He said Mr Gaine's "incredible" work ethic had been instilled in him by his parents.

He said he and his wife Janice had a "truly beautiful relationship" and that they loved to be together, "from simple trips to the cinema in Killarney, visits to new restaurants, walks in the National Park, and adventurous holidays abroad".

"Janice and Michael's sisters will know better than anyone that Michael had a soft, caring side. In Janice's own words, Michael was a true man. He was soft and loving, caring and affectionate, kind and considerate," said.

"He was not afraid to show his emotions. He was also brave, fearless and strong. He was strong mentally and, as anyone who ever tried to follow him up the mountain in wellies will know, he was strong physically too".

Mourners heard Mr Gaine was a keen rally driver.

Over the past week his rallying friends had fixed up the Ford Escort Mark II he used to race and it was used to transport his ashes.

Mr Gaine, a sheep and cattle farmer, was reported missing from his home near Kenmare on 21 March.

He was last seen in the County Kerry town the previous day.

He lived in the remote Carrig East area, close to the Molls Gap beauty spot, along the renowned Ring of Kerry.

According to RTÉ, in-depth investigations by gardaí ruled out "innocent" explanations, such as a medical event, an accident, or that he left the area voluntarily.

A missing person's investigation operates on the basis of consent, but when gardaí announced the re-classification of their investigation, it meant the range of options in front of the investigation team significantly increased.

They could then get search warrants, clear areas of interest and seize and examine certain items like phones and laptops.

Human tissue found in fields and in the farmyard at Mr Gaine's farm on 16 May was later confirmed to be his. His death is being treated as murder.

A man in his 50s, who was arrested last Sunday on suspicion of Mr Gaine's murder, was later released without charge.

He has denied any involvement in the farmer's disappearance.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was stabbed in the chest.

The victim, in his 30s, was found injured on Elmhurst Road in the Belle Vale area of Liverpool at about 08:45 BST, Merseyside Police said.

He is in a serious condition in hospital.

A 39-year-old man from Halewood, Knowsley, is being questioned in police custody.

Detectives said there were people travelling to work and school at the time as they appealed for witnesses.

Det Insp Natalie Charlesworth said an investigation into the incident was in its early stages, but it was believed to be a "targeted" attack.

"We understand the worry that this incident will cause in the community, and we have deployed additional high visibility patrols in the area," she said.

A forensic examination of the scene is under way and officers are conducting house-to-house and CCTV inquiries.

Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to contact the force.

Additional staffing has been drafted in to support hospitals during this year's Isle of Man TT races amid a predicted rise in demand for health care services.

The annual two-week event, which started on Monday but was disrupted by rain, attracted more that 45,000 visitors last year.

Manx Care, said additional cover would support the emergency department and orthopaedics team at Noble's Hospital, as well as the island's ambulance service.

Radiology support at Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital has also been secured to cope with the predicted rise in demand.

Executive director of health care services Oliver Radford said the organisation aimed to provide "the highest quality care" during the period, while trying to maintain "business as usual".

Additional blood products had been ordered to allow for any emergency blood transfusions required during the fortnight, he said.

Minor injuries

The ambulance service would also have access to additional emergency response vehicles, such as critical care cars, rapid response cars and the A99 helicopter, which the body said would allow them to reach non-racing incidents in "hard-to-reach locations".

The health body has urged those with a minor injury or illness to use the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at Ramsey Cottage Hospital to reduce pressure at the Emergency Department at the island's main hospital.

The health care provider said where possible services were being maintained across Noble's Hospital, but orthopaedics would be "significantly affected" as a result of the event.

Patients who are attending scheduled hospital appointments have been advised to "leave plenty of time for your journey".

Manx Care said the Ramsey MIU would be fully staffed across the fortnight, with X-ray provision from 09:00 to 17:00 BST on week days, as well as from 10:00 to 16:00 at weekends.

Visitors to the island have been reminded to make sure they have adequate health insurance in place to cover the duration of their trip and to bring prescription medications and any other medical items they may use daily with them to the island.

The Isle of Man TT race are set to run until 7 June.

A university is set to launch a new centre for research into cyber security and artificial intelligence (AI).

The Centre for Cyber Resilience and Artificial Intelligence (CYBRAI) at the University of Wolverhampton is due to be officially opened on Friday.

Bosses said it was aimed at addressing the "growing regional and national needs for expertise" in the field.

They said the centre would serve as a hub to bring together academics, businesses and the government to tackle challenges in the digital environment.

AI was expected to be one of the centre's main areas of work, they said, bringing potential defences against threats as well as boost economic growth.

Bosses believe the technology has the potential to automate repetitive tasks, and free up to as much as 20% of employees' time.

"The establishment of CYBRAI underscores the university's commitment to addressing the critical challenges and opportunities presented by the digital revolution," said pro vice-chancellor Prof Prashant Pillai.

"This centre will be a vital hub for research, innovation, and skills development in cyber resilience and AI, not only for our region but with national and international impact."

It is estimated that 43% of businesses and 30% of charities, in the UK, experienced a cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months, according to data from The Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2025.

This equates to about 600,000 businesses and 60,000 charities.

Recent high-profile cyber incidents include those involving retailers Marks and Spencer, the Co-op and Harrods.

A restored 18th Century walled garden is to be re-opened to the public this summer after a regeneration project which has taken nearly 20 years.

The Grade I listed Cusworth Hall, near Doncaster, was built between 1740 and 1744, with the garden originally designed for growing food for the house's inhabitants.

The garden has now been planted with fruit trees and flowers, while a bowling pavilion on the site has also been restored.

David Shore, parks development and conservation manager, said the project had "involved thousands of hours clearing the area – it was neglected, overgrown, full of council nursery stock trees that had been abandoned".

Mr Shore, who said he had worked on the garden alongside his team since 2007, explained: "It took about two or three years to totally clear that area and thousands of hours of work for both my team and park volunteers.

"The orchard was planted with 50 apple trees, eight pears, some plums and cherries.

"Twelve of the apple varieties are traditional Yorkshire varieties and they're all bearing lovely fruit now."

The fruit from the orchards would be available for families to pick on special days and plans were under way to introduce beehives that would create honey, he said.

Last year, the park's flower gardens were restored, including gravel paths, box hedging, and colourful herbaceous plants and roses.

Mr Shore said: "The planting is in its infancy, but there are already things flowering in there. There's lots to see."

The work has been funded by the National Lottery, the government and the council, as well as money raised by Friends of Cusworth Hall Park and the Cusworth Hall Garden Trust.

The walled garden will be open to the public for 16 open days over the summer, in a programme which started earlier this month and runs until 26 October.

Mr Shore said: "We used to open once, twice perhaps, every year, not even that sometimes.

"The flower garden generated more interest, so we opened eight times last year and this year we will open 16 times.

"Going forward, hopefully that'll just keep increasing until we can open every week. That's the grand plan."

The original Cusworth Hall was an Elizabethan manor in the village of Cusworth that dated back to the 14th Century.

In the 1740s, William Wrightson built the Cusworth Hall that exists today, creating the walled garden in the location of the original manor house.

The building and surrounding land was purchased by Doncaster Rural District Council in 1961 and underwent extensive restoration between 2002 and 2005.

South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds

Business owners in part of York say their takings have been "significantly" impacted by a 500% rise in charges at a nearby car park.

The cost of parking for an hour at the car park in Bishopthorpe Road rose from 85p to £4.85 on 26 April.

One trader said the hike had resulted in a "massive" drop in footfall while another said the rise had put customers off visiting the area.

City of York Council said it would monitor the impact of the change, adding that the new pricing structure made bus travel more affordable than car parking if staying for two hours or more.

Beppe Lombardo, who owns Trinacria, a Sicilian restaurant on Bishopthorpe Road, said his business had been "struggling" in the wake of the rise.

"I've got staff that need to do their hours and I'm finding myself sending them home, because we can't really afford to keep staff on," he said.

He said some customers had told him they could no longer afford to visit the restaurant because of the cost of parking.

He said he also thought traffic on the road had got worse as a result.

"All the local people who pay for a parking permit are struggling to find parking because people who can't afford to park in the car park risk parking in the side roads, or wherever there is space," he said.

Charlotte Kneafsey, from M&K Butchers, said she had noticed a "massive change in the amount of footfall on the street".

"You can't expect people to pay £5 for parking when they're paying £5 for a pound of mince," she said.

"It's doubling the cost of a meal, which for most families is just completely unacceptable."

She claimed the car park was becoming "wasted space", saying she had seen just nine cars parked in the 35 spaces at times when it would normally be full.

Ruth Phillips, owner of The Good Food Shop, estimated that 20% of her trade came from people using the car park.

She also raised concerns about the number of buses serving the area and claimed the council "had not spoken to the local community and understood the impact on people visiting the car park and how it's going to restrict those who need to drive".

'Sudden shock' to businesses

Joe Nasson, co-owner of The Bishy Weigh eco-shop, said his takings were "significantly down" since the new charges were introduced.

He said he "totally" agreed with efforts to reduce congestion in York, but that it "needs a change in people's behaviours to make sure that independent traders aren't affected by such a sudden shock".

He suggested increasing prices gradually, and incentivising sustainability through improved cycle parking and bus travel.

The Liberal Democrats, the main opposition group on the council, said they would be holding a series of meetings to discuss the impact of the changes.

Dringhouses and Woodthorpe councillor Ashley Mason said: "You've got people driving further afield to find free parking, parking in residential areas or just not even paying the ticket price.

"We're not against looking at ways to make York more sustainable and help people move around but parking – and particularly parking for short periods of time at local shopping areas – is key."

City of York Council said it was aware of the concerns of residents and businesses and was "listening and monitoring the impact" of the increased parking charges.

It said an equalities impact assessment had been carried out prior to the price rise.

A spokesperson added that Bishopthorpe Road and Nunnery Lane were both "well served by bus routes" while adding that parking in council car parks remained free for Blue Badge holders.

A prolonged period of dry weather has prompted a "don't arrive too soon" message for this year's Appleby Horse Fair from the RSPCA.

Thousands of Gypsies and travellers are expected to attend the annual event, which officially begins on 5 June.

The RSPCA said lack of rain had resulted in poor grazing on all routes into the town, and some smaller water springs and becks used for watering horses had dried up or been reduced to a trickle.

With some people arriving early, there is concern this is putting pressure on limited resources.

Rob Melloy, RSPCA chief inspector, said: "There's a very real prospect that people may struggle to find adequate grazing and water supplies for their animals as the fair draws closer, with all the attendant animal welfare issues that that entails.

"Our clear message is please don't come early.

"We recognise that those travelling by horse and in horse-drawn bow tops do have to adopt a staged approach when coming to the fair, and in order to ensure that they have access to grazing and water, we ask that those with access to motorised vehicles show some consideration and delay their arrival until the starting date."

He added: "It is the owner's responsibility to ensure their horses have adequate food and water.

"Because the grazing is so poor this year, people may need to consider bringing additional supplies with them."

When Wicklow man Brian Hughes stopped off in Groomsport to buy an ice-cream while on holiday, he had no idea how life changing it would prove to be.

Beside the freezer was a stack of out-of-date local newspapers.

His grandmother, Dorothy Tait, used to write a column for the County Down Spectator, and Brian thought he would buy one for old times' sake.

"The girl in the shop said: ‘You do know that's last week's paper?' And I said, oh that doesn't matter. I'm buying it for sentimental reasons,” he told BBC News NI.

When the 74-year-old returned to his car, to his astonishment he recognised a picture at the top of the front page from a frame that sat above his late mother Beryl's piano.

It was of RAF Sergeant John McCalla Tait, his mother's cousin.

The 21-year-old from Holywood, known to his family as Jackie, was killed in action when his Halifax MKII was shot down near Zelhem, Holland, in 1943.

He had been piloting the plane and died alongside Sergeants Andrew Wilson and James Archibald Wilson.

As he read on there was another huge surprise in store.

Brian not only learned where his relative's final resting place was, but that his grave was being cared for by a Dutch woman.

“I was just absolutely blown away.”

Nathalie te Wilt, 31, adopted Jackie's grave and those who died alongside him in March this year. They are buried side-by-side in Doetinchem, Gelderland.

"I found it sad that the graves of these three young men were the only ones not yet adopted in the cemetery,” Nathalie told BBC News NI.

"It is important we remember these boys who sacrificed themselves and fought so hard for the freedoms we have now."

Adopting a grave is a display of gratitude and remembrance.

"I take care of the graves and bring roses for them. I also light candles," explained Nathalie.

"They deserve love and attention for everything they've done for us, for our ancestors and for the generations who will come after us."

Ahead of the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, Nathalie was determined to find out more about the young County Down airman and to trace his family.

She knew he had studied medicine at Queen's University and that he was the only son of John James Tait and Jane C. Tait, from Holywood in County Down.

With the help of friend Brenda Kelly, a former member of the Women's Royal Air Force, they put out a local newspaper appeal.

“I was amazed by how Brian found out. It is like a little angel said come and read the newspaper," Nathalie said.

Nathalie attributes her passion for WW2 to her grandfather.

"My grandad was in the war, he had to do forced labour. He taught his grandchildren to always have respect for those who fought for our freedom."

In 2023 she became aware of the Netherlands War Graves Foundation and adopted six graves of a Lancaster squadron. Now she cares for nine – including Jackie's.

After discovering what Nathalie had been doing, Brian was moved.

"It is an incredible feeling of how this person can be so dedicated," Brian told BBC News NI.

"It's such a wonderful human thing to do. It's the best of humanity."

Brian now plans to travel to the Netherlands with his wife Marion, to visit the grave and meet Nathalie.

"I am very excited to visit the grave and to see Nathalie and give her a hug."

'My mother spoke fondly of Jackie'

"My mother would be absolutely amazed that this is happening. She used to speak very fondly of Jackie, and he died so young and far from home," he said.

"It really brings it home, the terrible sacrifice of war. But it also means the freedom that we have, and we must never forget that."

For Brian, the whole experience of being connected with Nathalie and Jackie's grave has been an emotional one. Remarkable too.

"I feel so blessed that I bought this paper. And that all this has come about because of an ice-cream."

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Annual maintenance of grassy areas at Guernsey Airport have been scheduled to take place overnight to minimise any disruption to flight operation, bosses say.

The airport said on Tuesday the works would take between seven and 10 nights to be completed.

It also warned the grassland management may lead to some "increased noise levels overnight".

"We would like to thank any nearby residents for their patience while these essential works are carried out," Guernsey Airport said.