Tech

Operation Brock rolled out on M20 for half-term

by Addison
written by Addison

A traffic-holding system for lorries queueing to cross the English Channel has been deployed ahead of the May Bank Holiday weekend and the school half-term.

The Kent and Medway Resilience Forum rolled out Operation Brock on the M20 between junction eight (Maidstone) and nine (Ashford).

The contraflow was put in place earlier this week and a diversion route was put in place during the installation.

Operation Brock sees lorries heading to Dover queue on one side of the M20, with the other carriageway operating as a contraflow, with traffic travelling in both directions.

All Heavy Good Vehicle's heading for the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel must follow the signs to join Operation Brock at junction eight of the M20.

All other coast-bound traffic, including local freight and car drivers heading for mainland Europe, should follow the signs and crossover to enter the contraflow on the M20 London-bound carriageway.

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Industry

Manx police urge TT fans to 'respect our roads'

by Stella
written by Stella

Manx police have urged visitors and local people to "respect our roads" and drive within their limits during this year's Isle of Man TT festival.

An influx of 50,000 visitors to the island are expected for the famous road-racing fortnight which begins on 26 May.

Isle of Man Chief Constable Russ Foster said he wanted to continue "the track record of no fatalities" on open roads during motorcycle festivals seen on the island in the last three years.

He said he also wanted all visitors to enjoy the event, but added "the message is simple – know your limits".

Russ Foster said he wanted to "end the motorcycle season with a fatal free 2025"

The races begin with qualifying sessions on 26 May and continue until 7 June.

Riders and drivers have been warned to stick to speed limits and not to enter closed roads as part of the force's annual safety campaign.

The A18 Mountain Road, between the Ramsey Hairpin and Creg Ny Baa, will operate as a one-way system during the TT, while cycling is not permitted on this section of the road throughout the event.

Mr Foster said 85% of those seriously injured in crashes during 2022 to 2024 festivals were men over the age of 50.

Insp John Mitchell said anyone pushing boundaries would be "robustly targeted"

Stickers in a number of languages have also been produced to remind motorists to keep to the left on Manx roads.

It comes after the force reported an increase in international visitors riding on the wrong side of the road, which led to two incidents in 2024.

Insp John Mitchell, who heads up the Roads Policing Unit during the festival fortnight, said there was "no excuse to break speed limits and no excuse to drink alcohol or to take drugs whilst driving or riding".

He said: "Those actions put others innocent road users at great risk."

Officers would be out in marked and unmarked vehicles to "robustly target anyone who is breaking the law", he added.

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Business

Fraudster claimed £150k in Covid bounce back loans

by Paisley
written by Paisley

A cafe owner has been sentenced for fraudulently claiming £150,000 in Covid bounce back loans from the government.

Mehmet Akyuz, 36, from Conway Street, Brighton, East Sussex, made three applications for two businesses which were not operating at the time.

He was given a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, at Hove Crown Court on Monday, after admitting three counts of fraud by false representation.

He was also ordered to complete 300 hours community service, has been banned from being a company director for five years and faces a proceeds of crime hearing in September.

Each of the three loans was for the maximum amount of £50,000, and were for Akyuz's companies Green and Hove Limited, a food and grocery shop with a cafe, and Leather Wear Limited, an importer of bags and belts.

Both firms had been incorporated in 2019 with him as sole director.

He claimed the cafe had a turnover of £270,000, and the import firm between £215,000 and £225,000.

However, the cafe had filed dormant accounts between 2020 and 2021, and the import firm between 2020 and 2022.

Akyuz applied for three loans, each of £50,000

David Snasdell, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: "Mehmet Akyuz's actions in fraudulently applying for three bounce back loans he was not entitled to were completely unacceptable.

"This was taxpayers' money designed to support small businesses through the pandemic and should not have been exploited in such a cynical manner.

"The Insolvency Service remains committed to investigating these cases and bringing fraudsters such as Akyuz to justice."

A proceeds of crime hearing is due to take place at Hove Crown Court on 18 September.

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Business

Toddler seriously injured in car crash dies

by Faith
written by Faith

A one-year-old toddler who was seriously injured in a crash has died.

Four people – including two boys aged five and one – were injured after their grey Skoda Karoq collided with a white Peugeot 208 on the eastbound A303 in Amesbury on 28 March.

The family of the toddler has now confirmed that he died in hospital from his injuries.

The Peugeot was being driven by a woman in her 20s who suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries, as did the five-year-old boy.

After colliding with the Skoda, the Peugeot then spun onto the westbound carriageway and crashed head-on with a silver Volvo V70 near the Bulford junction.

The driver of the Volvo, a man in his 70s, suffered minor injuries.

Wiltshire Police has asked anybody with relevant information about the crash, which happened at about 17:30 GMT, to get in touch.

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Economy

'I've been a Girlguiding leader for 60 years'

by Luke
written by Luke

A woman has marked her 60th year as a Girlguiding leader – earning her a service award presented by a celebrity and an afternoon tea.

Marion Davies, from Trowbridge in Wiltshire, began volunteering for the organisation when she was 18, and has no plans to stop.

"I love the outdoors, I love the camping and giving the girls the opportunity to enjoy it and appreciate it," she said.

Her award was presented by Phil Harding, an archaeologist who starred on Channel 4's Time Team and who is also a deputy lieutenant for Wiltshire.

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Economy

Check licences when booking prom limos – council

by Louis
written by Louis

Parents in Wolverhampton are being urged to carry out detailed checks if they are hiring vehicles for their children's prom night.

Not all companies advertising the services of stretched limousines and other luxury or performance vehicles were licensed, the city council warned.

The council's licensing team said it was working with schools and other local authorities to alert families to the potential safety risks, including dangers linked to drivers plus uninsured or non-roadworthy transport.

Extra vigilance was said to be particularly needed when booking services advertised on social media, where the unlicensed trade primarily operated.

Companies hiring out a vehicle and driver with fewer than nine seats may require a private hire vehicle operator licence from the city council and people should check that with the service provider and the council, the authority said.

Companies hiring out a limousine and driver with nine passenger seats or more must have a public service vehicle (PSV) operator licence.

Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services, said: "Prom nights are special occasions for young people to get together and celebrate all that they have achieved.

"Unfortunately, we are aware there may be unscrupulous companies looking to take advantage at this time of year. The driver may not have had a criminal record check or the vehicle may not be roadworthy. In addition, unlicensed vehicles and drivers won't be insured.

"Hiring a vehicle and driver that hasn't been properly vetted and licensed could put your child and their friends at risk.

"Please consider making checks on the company you are thinking of hiring from to make sure everyone has fun and stays safe on prom night."

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Global Trade

Wedding dresses go down the aisle for church show

by Morgan
written by Morgan

A village church in Kent is celebrating its 175th anniversary with an exhibition of wedding dresses.

St Paul's Church in Rusthall was consecrated in August 1850 by the then Archbishop of Canterbury John Bird Sumner.

The Victorian church is marking the milestone by displaying 20 dresses, all worn by brides at St Paul's over the years, until 14 June.

The dresses on display – both designer and handmade – have been loaned along with photographs and mementos dating back to 1920, according to curator Elaine Bruce.

Ms Farman tied the knot at the church some seven years ago

"This exhibition is bringing people together to appreciate the beauty and significance of weddings and reconnecting with those who had their marriages at the parish church," she told the BBC.

"It all adds up to quite an emotional display."

Flowers will also be exhibited based on the bouquets the brides had when they tied the knot.

Jennifer Farman, who got married there in 2018, said it felt like a "privilege" to have her dress shown in the exhibit.

"I have a long history with this church. I've been coming here since I was a toddler," she told the BBC.

Her mum also got married there and her grandparents used to attend services.

"I always knew this would be where I got married," she added.

Rita Wilson said her dress – which she walked down the aisle with in 1956 and later wore to dances at the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells – is the oldest on show.

Her mother also married at the church in 1926, alongside her daughter in 1985.

"There's so many memories of events that have happened here… and friendships [that we have made]," she said.

"It's actually very special."

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Economy

Fresh pledge to improve Metro mobile signal

by Cameron
written by Cameron

A pledge has been renewed to provide better phone signal along a rail line, despite a lack of progress in recent years.

Tyne and Wear Metro bosses said they were "fully committed" to delivering 4G and 5G connectivity across the system.

Nexus, which operates the line, had dropped plans to install wi-fi on the Metro's new fleet of trains in 2023, but said it wanted to fix connectivity blackspots in areas such as Pelaw and Fellgate, as well as the underground section in central Newcastle and Gateshead.

Head of ICT Steve Duchar said improving connectivity was a "time consuming and costly" operation.

He said the company is engaging with "major network providers" to deliver improvements.

Mobile network EE has provided 4G connectivity through the tunnels since 2019, but other providers like O2, Vodafone and Three have not followed suit in subsequent years.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service said it understood no work had been carried out since the February 2023 pledge to install new infrastructure.

In London, uninterrupted 4G and 5G mobile coverage is being rolled out to all underground station ticket halls, platforms and tunnels on the Tube.

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Industry

Proceeds of crime help fund young people's charity

by Rachel
written by Rachel

A charity that provides mentoring to young people who have previously been involved in anti-social behaviour has benefitted from a grant funded by money reclaimed from criminals.

Didcot-based charity Train Youth was successful twice in 2024 in acquiring a grant from the Thames Valley community fund, which is organised by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).

The fund relocates proceeds raised through the sale of items seized from criminals to community groups and charities across the region.

Ben Drabble, the charity's chief executive, said he "can't think of a better use" for the proceeds than "reinvesting them in community in organisations like Train and helping young people".

Georgina Dawson, who is a mentor with the charity, said it was "really helpful" to show the "wider community and our young people" where the funding has come from.

"We can actually break down any sort of stigma there is between the police and young people," she said.

"It's turning something that came from crime into something really positive and that has further impact."

Ben Drabble is CEO of TRAIN

More than £200,000 of grants have been awarded to 38 organisations as part of the latest round of funding announced earlier this year.

Matthew Barber, Thames Valley PCC, said communities would benefit from the most recent round of funding through "projects which align with a number of key policing priorities".

Among others selected to receive between £250 and £10,000 are The Slough Job Creation Hub, Windsor Christian Action Homeless Project and Youth Challenge Oxfordshire.

Train, which received two grants in 2024, also runs youth clubs across south Oxfordshire and has about 600 young people engaging with its services each year.

Mr Drabble said there were "fewer and fewer spaces available" to young people, meaning that having a place like Train where they "can't get into trouble" and can "interact with positive role models" was "vitally important".

Teenager Ellie, who uses Train, said it had made her "more confident and happier".

"It made me feel like I could talk to somebody and be myself, and I quite liked that," she said.

Fellow teen Louie added that it was "just good vibes", as there were "people here you can talk to about literally anything".

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Global Trade

Work Lowry called 'too much' at £10 valued at £1m

by Penelope
written by Penelope

An L. S. Lowry painting which the artist sold in a bundle with another work for £10 because he was worried he had charged too much for it has been put up for auction with an estimate of £1m.

Going to the Mill was purchased by the Manchester Guardian's literary editor Arthur Wallace in 1926 for what would be about £520 in today's money.

The Stretford-born artist then sent Mr Wallace a note which read: "I think I've charged you too much. Can I give you another one as well?"

Simon Hucker, from the Lyon & Turnbull auction house in London, said the work was from a time when Lowry found his "unique voice" as an artist.

Going to the Mill was completed by Lowry in 1925, before he was widely known and 14 years before his first major exhibition in London.

He had, however, found some local fame, as after he exhibited work alongside two other artists in an architect's offices in Manchester in 1921, the Manchester Guardian's review stated he was someone who "may make a real contribution to art".

Going to the Mill was originally bought by Mr Wallace to be used to mark Manchester Civic Week, which celebrated the city's industrial success.

It has a price label of £30 on the back, but Lowry agreed to sell it for a third of that price.

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