A motorist has criticised a firm based in Luton – accusing its employees of swallowing all available parking spaces next to a park.

Michelle Nixon claims users of Wigmore Valley Park have been left shortchanged, with nearly all available spaces in the car park taken by employees of TUI.

She said: “I have spoken with endless amounts of people that use this park and the frustration is clearly building up.

“One person I spoke with stated they had called the council and they simply said it was a car park for everyone to use.”

Although it has its own car park nearby, TUI has leased 40 parking spaces from Luton Borough Council to use at Wigmore Valley Community Centre.

Ms Nixon added: “Should I ask TUI if they can allocate me one of their spare spaces in their car park, so that I can walk my dogs at the park?”

A TUI spokesman said: “We’re concerned to hear the reports from local residents regarding our staff car parking. TUI UK employees working in our Wigmore office have spaces allocated across four car parks, this includes a commercial agreement with Luton town council for the usage of 40 spaces at the Wigmore Valley Community Centre.

“We would like to assure all local residents that we actively encourage colleagues to behave responsibly when using staff and local car parks and hope that other local businesses are doing the same. We also employ a car park coordinator who monitors our car parking usage and reports any misuse.”

Luton Borough Council said the lease did not include Wigmore Valley Park.

But Ms Nixon added: “This is a problem that is not going to go away.

“We are tax payers and have a right to use our local parks and the facilities and especially now as the park is already under threat by developers. We should not have these rights taken from us because staff cannot be bothered to walk the extra journey to and from their own allocated car park.”

A Luton Borough Council spokesman said: “The Council has let the former Wigmore Place offices car park to TUI for 12 months. This is aimed at addressing some of the on-street parking issues which residents in the nearby area have been experiencing and have raised with us. As part of the agreement it is required that TUI employees will not park in the Wigmore Valley Park public car park, or on the service road or the grass verges. We are continuing to closely monitor the situation.

“The Council is also currently asking residents for their opinions on proposed parking controls in the Vauxhall Park and Wigmore areas intended to alleviate concerns raised.”

Residents wishing to give their views are requested to go to www.luton.gov.uk/currentconsultations by August 11.

After weeks of voting, The Mall Luton has revealed the winners of their Retailer Awards 2017, including their brand new ‘mystery shopper’ category.

Back for their 12th annual awards, nearly 1,000 shoppers across Luton joined together to reward fantastic customer service and shopping experiences by voting online and in the centre for their top shops of 2017.

In addition to the awards nominated by the public, this year’s awards also included a Retail Service Champion of the Year Award, which was selected by a mystery shopper.

The award was presented to Nathan Quinlan, from Topshop, who went ‘above and beyond’ with the mystery shopper saying it was “THE best customer service they had ever experienced”.

Nathan said: “I am absolutely gobsmacked to have won this award, and so happy – it’s one of my biggest achievements. I always try to go the extra mile for every customer and it’s fantastic that the mystery shopper recognised that – though I still have no idea when I was mystery shopped!”

Luton Town Football Club were awarded both the Best Customer Service and Best Retailer Award for 2017 – their first win since opening in the centre in 2014. They were followed closely by Lush and Debenhams as the runners up of each award.

Greggs were awarded the Best Food and Beverage Award, while Boots were voted the Best Service Provider for their pharmacy and optician service. Jimmy’s Restaurant and The Post Office were both voted as runners up for these categories.

Lavinia Douglass, Marketing Manager at The Mall Luton, said: “It’s been another great year for our retailers and I’d like to wish all of our winners and runners up a huge congratulations. These awards are The Mall’s way of recognising and rewarding our stores and their teams in The Mall, as well as a chance for our customers to have their say and reward the retailers’ achievements.”

The Mall Luton Retailer Awards Winners 2017:

Best Customer Service 2017 – Luton Town Football Club Shop

Best Retailer 2017 – Luton Town Football Club Shop

Best Food and Beverage 2017 – Greggs

Best Service Provider 2017 – Boots

Retail Service Champion of the Year 2017 – Nathan Quinlan from Topshop

The Mall Luton Retailer Awards Runners Up 2017:

Best Customer Service 2017 – Lush

Best Retailer 2017 – Debenhams

Best Food and Beverage 2017 – Jimmy’s Restaurant

Best Service Provider 2017 – The Post Office

Virgin Media customers are set to see their monthly bills rise by nearly 5 per cent this autumn.

The 4.7 per cent price hike is expected to affect around five million households and will see the cost of their media packages rise from between £1.99 and £3.99 per month.

Broadband, phone and TV plans will see their bills rise from £3.49 to £3.99 per month, while broadband only and broadband and phone packages will pay an extra £1.99 to £2.99 per month

Virgin Media is now in the process of contacting all customers about the price hikes.

‘Investing more in ultrafast network’

A Virgin Media spokesperson said, “We do everything we can to balance keeping our prices competitive while investing to meet the ever-increasing appetite for broadband and content.

“Online usage increased by more than 35 per cent in the last year and streaming now accounts for nearly 60 per cent of the total traffic on Virgin Media’s network.

“We’re investing more in our ultrafast network to continue offering the UK’s fastest widely-available speeds.

“This all comes on top of must-see TV programming – from Virgin TV Exclusives to the only place where you can watch all of the live football action from both Sky and BT Sport in a single package.”

The changes will take effect on 01 November 2017, however, Virgin Media customers can cancel their contract within 30 days of receiving notification about the increase without facing a penalty.

A Luton mother was killed in a horror car crash in Devon along with her 12-year-old twins on Monday.

Jane Baker-Lockett, 43, who was born in Luton, and her children, 12-year-old twins James and Amy Gaskin, died when the car they were travelling in was involved in a collision on July 31.

Emergency services were called at 8.25am to the A361 at Barnstaple following a two vehicle collision between a white Kia Sportage travelling towards Barnstaple and a Marks & Spencer lorry travelling in the opposite direction.

They were travelling in a separate vehicle from her husband and her 14-year-old son, who were not directly involved in the incident.

Mrs Baker-Lockett was sadly pronounced dead at the scene, while her daughter Amy was pronounced dead on arrival at North Devon District Hospital.

Twin brother James was taken to hospital via Air Ambulance but tragically died shortly after his arrival.

The family were living in Milton Keynes, but the twins’ paternal grandfather, John Gaskin, of Luton, told the MailOnline that he was still coming to terms with the loss of his family, the walls of his home adorned with photos of his smiling grandchildren.

The 73-year-old said: “They were just the greatest kids and so full of energy. They all got on fantastically well. The twins did everything together and were very close.

“They loved their iPads and were into Lego as well. It is just unbelievable what has happened and not something you would ever think could happen to your family. We are all devastated. It is unthinkable to lose your grandchildren in such a way. Just terrible.”

The road was closed for nine hours on Monday whilst officers from Exeter Serious Collision Investigation Unit examined the scene.

Inspector Richard McLellan, of Devon and Cornwall Police, told the BBC: “It would seem that a car travelling towards Barnstaple, for unknown reasons at the moment, has crossed the centre white line and hit an oncoming truck.

“Unfortunately the family were travelling in two separate cars but travelling together along this road so dad was there at the scene as well.

“There is a significant amount of damage to the vehicles involved so it takes a while for our collision investigators to go through the scene, we owe it to the families to establish the full facts of what’s happened as best as we can.”

The former face of The Mall’s Get Healthy Campaign has helped to raise over £10,500 for charity by taking part in a 21-mile relay swim across the English Channel.

James McFarland, 16, fronted The Mall Luton’s health campaign in 2006, which encouraged children to exercise and to eat well. On Tuesday, July 25, he was part of a team of seven swimmers who took it in turns to swim the English Channel, which they completed in 12 hours and four minutes.

James said: “It was an amazing experience and there was a fantastic team spirit on the boat, with everyone cheering each other on when it was their turn to swim.”

The team have already raised over £10,500 with Gift Aid still to be added. The money raised will be split between World Vision, Guide Dogs, Vasculitis UK, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Mind, The National Autistic Society and Save The Children.

Lavinia Douglass, The Mall’s marketing manager, said: “We are so proud to have supported James as he and his team took on the ultimate open water challenge – to swim the English Channel.”

To donate, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/flitwickdolphinschannel

Police have issued an urgent appeal to find a woman by issuing a distinctive photograph of her with her tongue sticking out but giving few other details.

North Yorkshire Police are hoping social media sharing will help identify the woman but say they cannot say any more about her or the investigation for “operational reasons”.

They said she is not a suspect but may have vital information. Her picture - which shows her sticking out her tongue and sporting a round sticker saying “Adult Admission” - has been shared thousands of times on Facebook and re-tweeted hundreds of time on Twitter.

Police forces around the UK have helped share the message.

A force spokesman said he could not add anything to the message on Facebook, which said: “Officers have issued an urgent appeal to identify a woman they would like to speak to who could have vital information that would assist an ongoing investigation.

“Officers stress that she is a potential witness and not a suspect in any crime.

“It is not known who she is or where she lives and by sharing the appeal on social media, police are hoping that the woman, or someone who recognises her will get in touch.”

The message went on: “For operational reasons we are not able to provide any further details about the investigation, but again stress that she is not a suspect.

“The woman, or anyone else with any information, is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police urgently on 01609 643588 during office hours or 01904 618691, select option 1 and speak to the Force Control Room, any other time. Or email eamonn.clarke@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk”

The message is headlined: “Urgent Appeal”. The Twitter version of the appeals says: “PLEASE RT: We need urgent help to identify this woman. She is not a suspect but may have vital info. She could be anywhere in the country.”

Revoluton Arts will bring Compagnie Off’s electro parade, Colour of Light, to Luton on Saturday, August 12.

The team is working in partnership with Luton Culture to bring the free outdoor show to Market Hill in Luton from 8.15pm.

Visitors can expect to see huge coloured wheels (up to 12 metres in diameter), dancers, lightening and pyrotechnics.

Compagnie Off have toured the world with this work and will be bringing a specially adapted version of the show to Luton, which has new scenes, music composed for it by Shri Shrium (of Drum and Bass act Badmarsh and Shri) and over 50 Luton based performers.

Karen Perkins, director of arts and museums for Luton Culture, said: “If you liked last year’s Clash of Drums in Wardown Park, you’re in for another treat with Colour of Light.

“It’s the first time Luton Culture and Revoluton has brought anything like this to Luton and we can’t wait to introduce this stunning show, which is free for everyone to enjoy.”

People can expect powerful sound, bright lights, saturated colours and explosions.

Councillor Rachel Hopkins said: “Luton is already undergoing an exciting period of transformation as part of the Luton Investment Framework, so we are delighted to support the Colour of Light.

“This event will be extremely exciting for families across Luton and we’re sure it will attract large numbers of visitors to the town.

“Colour of Light is one of a number of events to be held in the town that supports our recently produced ten-year Strategic Vision for Arts, Culture and Creative Industries.

“Cultural events form a key part of the ambition to achieve City of Culture status in 2025, along with celebrating the town’s creative talent and providing local people with quality arts and cultural activities.”

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.”

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.”

A sex fiend has been jailed for abusing a young boy in Houghton Regis during the 1990s.

Stephen Bates, 49, was found guilty by a jury of one count of indecent assault following a trial, and was sentenced today at Luton Crown Court to three years imprisonment.

Bates, of Mount Pleasant Road, Clapham, will also be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and was made subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order banning him from any contact with a child under the age of 16.

His victim was aged just 13 years old at the time the assault took place, between December 1995 and November 1996.

Detective Constable Ian Clarke, from the Bedfordshire Police Child and Vulnerable Adult Abuse unit (CAVAA), said: “This case shows how justice can be done - no matter how long it has been since the abuse took place.

“I would like to pay tribute to the bravery that victim showed in coming forward to disclose the abuse, and throughout the court case.

“We will not tolerate child sexual abuse and are committed to investigating it, supporting victims, and bringing offenders to justice. I hope this case shows that if you do come forward then you will be believed, you will be listened to, and offenders will be made to pay.”

The family of a man who died after being involved in a collision in Luton earlier this month have released a tribute.

Thomas Pashley, 94, from Barton-Le-Clay, was involved in a single vehicle collision on Dunstable Road, Luton, on Monday 17 July. He sadly died in hospital on Friday 21 July.

The family of Mr Pashley have issued the following statement:

“Tom was a much beloved widower of his late wife, and grandparent and father to his family in America.

“Together with his wife, Tom toured the world and golf was a major interest.

“Until his untimely death this month Tom was one of just a few living treasured former WW2 bomber pilots. We will celebrate the life of a cherished man with many talents and vast areas of knowledge. He will be sorely missed.”

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference 292 of 17 July.

A man has been charged over the attempted murder of a baby in Luton.

The news comes following an incident at around 2am in Reginald Street, Luton, on Tuesday (1 August), in which several adults also received injuries.

Sean Ziemelis, 30, of Reginald Street, Luton, was arrested at the scene and has been charged with:

> One count of attempted murder of a child under the age of one

> Two counts of assault by beating

> One count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm

Officers are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the incident and would appeal for anyone with information to contact police on 101 quoting the crime reference C/32774/2017. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Ziemelis appeared before Luton Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday) and has been remanded into custody pending a further court hearing on 18 September.

A Luton man who is determined to turn his life around is appealing for funds to help him access a new drug detox treatment.

Roderick Inayat, 48, of Stopsley, has set up a Go Fund Me online donation page with a goal of raising £5,000 so he can receive a new holistic-based therapy in Marylebone, London, and begin a fresh chapter in his life.

Roderick struggled with heroin and crack cocaine addiction for years – ending up in prison for selling drugs – and hitting “rock bottom” nine years ago.

Recognising that his life had to change, Roderick stopped using illegal drugs and is now down to a daily dose of 2mg of Subutex, an opioid used to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Roderick claims: “I have been suffering from many side effects of Subutex – from not being able to focus to digestive problems – so coming off Subutex will greatly improve my health.

“To put it simply, I have many of the problems that long term drug users suffer from even though I am no longer getting high.

“This is why, after research, I decided that the Bridge/NAD detox will help me with the withdrawals.

“The Bridge is an electronic device fitted to the ear with electrodes, used to treat opiate withdrawal symptoms.

“Meanwhile, NAD (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) greatly helps with withdrawal but also supports healing of the brain (neurotransmitters) and energises the body’s cells.”

NAD is a vitally important molecule found in all living cells, and it is being argued that it can be used to greatly reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. The “miracle molecule” and NAD treatment is being used at the Bionad and NAD Cell Clinic in Marylebone, London, and one day Rod hopes to travel there for treatment.

He said: “My number one priority after my detox is to help people, especially those struggling with addictions.

“I would like to start a charity that helps addicts, especially the difficult cases – people with multiple addictions – and so long as they want to quit I will try to help them. I’d create a fund to pay for detoxes, giving addicts the best chance of recovery.”

But for now, Rod is focussing on funding his London NAD detox, after he applied to Luton Borough Council for funding via an alcohol and drug evaluation panel in October 2016, but had his request declined.

He has been receiving help from the council’s ResoLUTiONS Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service, but hopes to one day receive his desired London detox treatment.

A Luton Borough Council spokesman, said: “The council is not in a position to comment on individual cases. We commission an evidence-based range of services from our current provider ResoLUTiONs who work together with individuals who have dependency issues, offering them appropriate services depending on their circumstances.”

> For more details, visit www.gofundme.com/dashboard-help-fund-rods-drug-detox and www.bionad.co.uk

A charity football tournament marked its 17th anniversary in memory of a young Luton student and West Ham fan.

The Mandip Mudhar Memorial Foundation’s annual football festival celebrates the town’s diverse communities by raising awareness of local causes in the name of Mandip Mudhar, 20, who died in a road traffic accident in 2001.

On Saturday, July 29, it ran a successful tournament at PlayFootball, Stopsley, raising over £700 for nominated local cause, the Luton Foodbank.

Mandip’s older brother, Bobby Mudhar, chairman of the Mandip Mudhar Memorial Foundation, said: “When the Foundation was set-up many years ago, we wanted it to be a platform from which we could raise awareness of causes that affect local people.

“My family and I could never have thought that it would grow to the size it has done. It is always a humbling experience to see the people of the town come out to support us.”

The Foundation works with the Luton Council of Faiths, as well as supporting the Royal Free Hospital, London, which treated Mandip.

Mandip’s parents donated his heart and kidneys and the foundation also aims to promote blood and organ donation amongst minority ethnic groups.

A hardworking organiser and MC at Dunstable Kite Festival is stepping down after 20 years at the prestigious show.

Joe Brown, 39, of Luton, has dedicated his time to booking arena display teams since the late 90s, also providing commentary for 15 years.

He first became involved as an employee of local business, Dunstable Kites, who used to run the event, and after the company closed in 2006, helped the National Trust take on the festival.

Joe said: “One of my favourite memories was when I had a phone call from the RAF, as we notify them about air traffic.

“A man said: ‘Are you having the kite festival ?’ I said yes.

He then asked: ‘How big are the kites?’ and I told them we had large inflatable ones.

“‘OK – they are appearing on our radar so we were a bit concerned,’ he said. ‘Looked like a large shadow – we won’t have to send a fighter jet to check it out then!’”

Joe is proud of the fact that the festival has been extended to two days, and is stepping down to give someone else a go at the role.

He said: “Thank you to the public for supporting the event – without you, we couldn’t hold it. Thank you also to my mum, Denise; she was always ready to bring me a cold drink and sandwich.”

Hundreds of school children and air cadets gathered at Leonardo, an aerospace engineering company, to compete in the Luton Robotic Games.

The children visited the Capability Green site last month to create customised hand-built robots, whose capabilities were then tested with challenges.

The event was the brainchild of former Leonardo employee, Peter Bennett, director of the Rampaging Chariots Guild, to increase interest in STEM subjects.

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.