Across the North East, NHS maternity services continue to operate under growing pressure from inspections, staffing shortages and heightened public scrutiny following national concerns over maternity safety.

This Epilepsy Awareness Week, The Brain Charity is calling for greater understanding of Epilepsy and its everyday impact. Over 50 million people globally are affected by Epilepsy, with nearly 80% of cases found in low/middle-income countries. Despite its prevalence, Epilepsy remains widely misunderstood and extends far beyond seizures.

As Action for Brain Injury Week begins, much of the public conversation around traumatic brain injuries will rightly focus on emergency treatment, survival rates and the immediate aftermath of catastrophic accidents.

Our money-saving expert and consumer champion Jane Hawkes, has advised Brits to conduct an audit of their finances and how to make the most of your money with continued increases in the cost of living and potential instability in the UK economy make revisiting financial plans for 2026 essential if you want to make your money go further. Rising bills coupled with…

Doctor Ross was one of the most distinctive figures - and is still one of the most underrated - in post-war American blues and rock’n’ roll. There is always something compelling about the one-man-band, not least Jesse Fuller and Don Partridge, but Ross operated on another level entirely. He did not simply perform: he generated momentum like a force of nature.

It never ceases to amaze me how many posts I come across on social media debating the best way to make a horse’s bed! There are dozens of comparisons, debates and even full-blown arguments from ‘horsey’ people who all think they know better than each other.

Emerging from East Los Angeles, Thee Sinseers have become one of the defining voices in contemporary soul revival, blending classic R&B, oldies, and lowrider soul traditions into something that feels deeply lived rather than revived.

What an enjoyable album this is. More than easy listening, Celtic Nocturne is melodic and lyrical, played from the heart and communicating a warmth through sensitive, thoughtful pianism. Every track tells a story, and every story is told with beauty.

I have often wondered where ‘The Book Club’ originated. It seems (I think) to be a predominantly female affair. From what I’ve heard, some groups are very serious and engage in rigorous debates about ‘this week’s choice’; some are more gossip-fests where the wine flows freely and local scandal is shared.

Set in 38 acres of gardens and wooded parkland, fringing the banks of the River Weaver, Rookery Hall and Spa in Worleston near Nantwich enjoys complete tranquillity and the atmosphere of a bygone age. The Hall can trace its history back to 1816 when it was known as The Rookery, Worleston.

Have you ever paused, mid-stride along a beach, to notice how your feet sink into the wet sand and something in your shoulders quietly unknots? Or trailed your toes through the shallows, eyes on the horizon, and felt your breathing settle into a rhythm you hadn't asked it to find?

No one quite knows where Dudley came from, Dudley included. What we do know is that he finds the human condition quietly fascinating. Honest, occasionally impatient but persistently curious, Dudley spends his time observing the world with a raised eyebrow (if he had any) and a surprisingly sharp sense of insight. As Dudley would say, ’There’s nothing a chocolate eclair can’t fix.’

I attended the launch of Kia’s PV5 van just before Christmas, and I was able to try it in both commercial and passenger guises. I came away impressed, not just by the way it drove, but also by the affordable pricing for a fully electric van. Keen to try one for an extended period, I have just enjoyed a week behind the wheel of a top-spec passenger PV5 Plus and can now report further.

Leeds-based independent brewery Northern Monk has launched the Northern Monk Foundation, an initiative dedicated to improving access to the outdoors for marginalised and under-resourced communities. The charity, formerly known as the Faith in Futures Foundation, has donated £150,000 to community causes since 2020, supporting more than 20 grassroots organisations.

There is much to contemplate on this absorbing Delphian release, where time seems to stand still and the listener is drawn into a sequence of unhurried, inward-facing reflections. Look How Brightly offers a portrait of Alex Mill's music from the past decade: ten works, many closely linked to moments of change, loss, ritual, and renewal, together telling what feels like an intimate, personal story—almost, as Nico Muhly writes in the booklet, "a sequence of musical diary entries."

In an era defined by rapid technological change, flatter organisational structures and increasingly fluid career paths, the question of how professionals advance has never been more relevant. Qualifications, performance and experience remain essential, but many argue that networking has become the decisive factor.

Six emergency and rescue organisations will gather under one roof in Hull this May half-term as the popular H2O Heroes event returns to The Deep for a fourth consecutive year.

There was really only ever one piece that could mark this orchestra’s connection to one of our county’s most celebrated composers in the year that marks 50 years since his death – Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, written for the consecration of the newly rebuilt Coventry Cathedral, and premiered there by the CBSO in 1962, when the memories of war were still frighteningly real.

A tree-planting project is providing a big boost to biodiversity and plant science in the North West. The Mersey Forest, Chester Zoo and the Environment Agency have created more than five hectares of new woodland in Cheshire, roughly the size of 40 Olympic swimming pools.

Northumberland National Park is marking a major milestone in 2026 as it celebrates 70 years since becoming a designated National Park.

Ryanair: Hedging Strategy Remains a Key Competitive Advantage AmidSurging Oil Prices; Ancillary Revenue in Focus After interviewing a number of executives in the aerospace space, Louis Knight, AVP at Third Bridge, made a series of remarks regarding Ryanair, informed by insights from industry experts: While the airline is successfully outperforming peers o…

Whether you’ve been nurturing houseplants for years or you’re thinking about buying your very first one, there has never been a better time to bring the beauty of the garden indoors.

Nearly two decades after bursting onto the scene with their infectious brand of indie-pop, The Hoosiers are stepping back into the spotlight with renewed purpose. Buoyed by the creative energy behind 2022’s Confidence, Irwin Sparkes and Alan Sharland return armed with their sixth album — one shaped by reflection, resilience and an unwavering connection with their audience.

70% of people in the North East would cut back or stop taking holidays in the UK because of the proposed holiday tax, a major UKHospitality poll has found.

The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson have published a landmark joint report calling for a fundamental reform of the legal and commercial framework governing public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the UK.

UK inflation eased more sharply than expected last month, falling to 2.8% in the year to April from 3.3% in March, but economists have cautioned that the respite for hard-pressed households would prove fleeting as the inflationary aftershock from the conflict in the Middle East continues to build.

Jane Hawkes, the ‘Queen of Customer Service’ who runs the consumer advice website www.ladyjaney.co.uk says repeated posting on social media puts your complaint at risk of being lost and puts you at risk of scams. Jane suggests we get off social media to be successful when *one* makes a complaint.

Standing loud and proud on one of Liverpool’s earliest streets that dates back to medieval times is The Municipal Hotel & Spa. Opened around 3 years ago as a hotel, the Grade 11 listed building that dates back to 1868 was once home to the beating heart of Liverpool City Council.

Gemma Taylor’s career spans finance, technology and now logistics, driven by a focus on refining complex operations and making them more agile and fit for future trends. Born and raised in Sheffield, Taylor studied International Business, Finance and Economics at the University of Manchester before beginning her career in London at PwC, working in investment audits.

I was honoured to be invited by an ex-student of mine to her final degree presentation. I have known Lydia since she was a young girl in primary school, where she joined my art club, so it's been wonderful to be part of her journey through to adulthood and see everything she has achieved.

There is no denying that Järvi is a master of detail, and precision is again the hallmark here. He and the Bremen players conjure a sound world of real elegance and composure, and the minutiae are laid out with such clarity that the effect becomes quietly infectious. The result is the melodious young Schubert in the company of a conductor who has his own pronounced view of what the music wants to say.