Latest news with #BounceBack
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
English city that was once the country's ‘oldest town' is home to unique Barbie house and Harry Potter style train ride
DID you know that Colchester was once known for being England's oldest town? Despite this, it was actually given city status just two years ago as part of The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations. 8 Colchester is also home to a train station that is barely used Credit: Alamy 8 The Chappel Viaduct looks like the bridge Hogwarts Express drive over in Harry Potter Credit: Alamy Colchester has a history stretched back thousands of years and was one of the very first Roman cities. The Essex city is also home to a train station that is barely used, and looks like something from Harry Potter. Chappel & Wakes Colne railway station in Colchester is around an hour from London, travelling to Liverpool Street station. Compared to some other regional train stations around the country, this one doesn't have many passengers. Read More on Essex Just 28,000 people use it a year, working out to around 77 passengers a day. The train station is right next to the Chappel Viaduct, with the huge brick structure built in the 1840s and measuring 1,066ft. It looks very similar to the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, which was used in Nearby is The Swan Inn pub right on the river, and their beer garden is found underneath the viaduct. Most read in City breaks And there is more history to Colchester too with it also being the place where the oldest hot cross bun in the world was baked. It was baked on Wyre Street in Colchester, on Good Friday 1807 - confirmed by the note on the bag it came in, and the bun is now rock hard. 'World's FASTEST bullet train' that can reach 280mph is unveiled - and it even has a dining car and plush business-class 8 The Swan Inn pub right on the river, and their beer garden is found underneath the viaduct Credit: Alamy Owned by a couple in Wormingford, the bun is older than the one kept in the British Museum, baked in 1869. While you won't be able to see the bun, something in Colchester you can't miss is the pink house. The six-bedroom mansion in Tiptree called the 'Eaton House Studio' is a dream to any fan of Barbie. The house boasts dozens of stylish rooms, each designed completely differently. There is a saloon and space-inspired kitchen, floral staircases, and unicorns in the garden. 8 The 'pink house' is a hot spot for celebrities and can also be rented out Credit: 8 The six-bedroom mansion in Tiptree called the 'Eaton House Studio' is a dream to any fan of Barbie Credit: 8 There a saloon and space inspired kitchen to floral staircases and unicorns in the garden Credit: It's attracted celebrity guests and was featured in Little Mix's Bounce Back music video. It was created by its artist owner Amy Griffith, who said she built it to "share my artistic vision with others". It can sleep 16 people and can be hired you even hire it out from £2,400 as it details on Plus, the And the 8 The house has attracted celebrity guests and was the featured in Little Mix's Bounce Back music video Credit: 8 Colchester was once England's oldest town and is now a city Credit: Alamy
Metro
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Trinny London expands its beauty range with multipurpose illuminator
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Trinny Woodall has proved she is a force to be reckoned with as her namesake multi-million pound beauty label, Trinny London, continues to expand. Some may be familiar with the BFF SPF30 cream, the Bounce Back peptide moisturiser, Take Back Time eye cream, or the multipurpose make-up stick Trinity, which launched earlier this year. But the fun doesn't stop there, as Trinny London is set to add to its beauty collection next month. Trinny London is set to launch another multipurpose beauty essential in the form of the Miracle Halo. Now the name doesn't give away much, other than it's a miracle product, but we already knew that about Trinny London. The Miracle Halo is the ultimate illuminator, which aims to leave your skin glowing in an instant. Now the title makes sense, right? The multipurpose stick functions as a highlighter to illuminate the skin in an instant. The featherlight texture buffs into the skin effortlessly and leaves the skin glowing. Available in four shades, including Sunlight, Firelight, Candlelight and Starlight. Set to launch on 3rd July. Buy Now The Miracle Halo is a product we never knew we needed until we got wind of its benefits and how easy it is to use. The upcoming release can be applied on its own for a natural dewy complexion, layered over your make-up on the high points of your face for an added boost, or mixed in with your moisturiser or foundation for a happy medium between a no make-up make-up look. Speaking about her latest creation, Trinny shared: 'This is the next best thing to that do-not- disturb glow. I use Miracle Halo on its own, mixed with my moisturiser or coverage products such as BFF All Day foundation. It's perfect for that shot of luminosity.' The Miracle Halo is a weightless texture when applied on the skin, but it achieves an instant glow – and we don't mean an iridescent or pearlescent finish. More Trending The genius stick form makes it easy to apply to direct areas of the face, but also take with you travelling, which we all know is a huge headache when you have to decant your favourite products into a pesky 100ml container. The Miracle Halo is available in four illuminating shades, including Starlight, which is a soft cool champagne tone, Candlelight that is a natural pink hue, Sunlight for a honey gold finish, and Firelight that is a bronze tone. A little goes a long way with this product, plus it is longlasting too, which is ideal for the beauty minimalists and those seeking simple fuss-free products. The Miracle Halo is set to launch on 3rd July and retail for £32. So clear your diaries, you've got shopping to do! Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below MORE: This skincare product completely transformed my skin – I get everyone to use it! MORE: Pimple patches remain a cult skincare saviour – and here are the best to buy now MORE: No7 Beauty Vault is back with £105 worth of beauty products and £250 travel voucher Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Daily Mirror
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Post Office compensation happening far too slowly, damning report finds
A report by the cross-party Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found victims of the Horizon IT scandal are still not getting the payouts they deserve with the Government taking 'insufficient' action Compensation for Post Office scandal victims is still moving "too slowly", a damning report has found. Cross-party MPs found not enough is being done to make sure those affected by the Horizon IT failings are applying for payouts. One scheme for wrongly convicted postmasters has not had a single full claim, the Public Accounts Committee found. It says the Government has taken "insufficient action" to make sure those who are entitled to compensation actually receive it. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who chairs the committee, said: "Thousands of people were failed deeply by the system. "This Committee would have hoped to have found government laser-focused on ensuring all those eligible were fully and fairly compensated for what happened. It is deeply dissatisfactory to find these schemes still moving far too slowly, with no government plans to track down the majority of potential claimants who may not yet be aware of their proper entitlements." By March the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) had written to 18,500 people making them aware of the Horizon Shortfall Scheme. But just one in five letters received a response - and there are no plans to follow up, the committee report said. MPs found that 25 of 111 eligible victims had not applied to another scheme relating to convictions in the most complex cases. Sir Geoffrey said: "It is entirely unacceptable that those affected by this scandal, some of whom have had to go through the courts to clear their names, are being forced to relitigate their cases a second time." More than 700 postmasters were wrongly convicted, and many more suffered after dodgy computer systems made it look like money was missing from their branches. Elsewhere the committee found the department had been "dangerously flatfooted" in trying to recoup nearly £2billion in Covid-related fraud. It found DBT had recovered just £130million in payouts from lenders, while the National Investigation Service (NATIS) had got back a "minimal" £8.6million from Bounce Back loan fraud. Business owners inflated their turnover to secure more cash to stay afloat during the crisis, costing the taxpayer huge sums. Sir Geoffrey said: "DBT were unable to tell us if even the tiny fraction of that sum recovered was in fact even related to fraud. Indeed, relying on government-backed lenders to recover losses, who thus lack any incentive to pursue lost funds, has been a dangerously flatfooted approach. "Now that the Insolvency Service has taken over responsibility for viable cases, we look forward to hearing how it fares where others have failed."
Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Company boss pocketed £150,000 in fraudulent Covid business loans
Company boss pocketed £150,000 in fraudulent Covid business loans A judge told Zahid Afzal that at a time of national emergency the government had set up a system to help businesses which he had abused A company boss fraudulently obtained £150,000 in loans designed to help businesses hit by the Covid pandemic, a court has heard. Zahid Afzal made two legitimate applications for "Bounce Bank" loans but then used his knowledge of the application process to acquire three more loans he was not entitled to. A judge at Swansea Crown Court told the defendant that at a time of national emergency the government had set up a system to help businesses which he had abused to obtain loans he was not entitled to. Harry Dickens, prosecuting, told the court that the UK government established "Bounce Back" loans to help small and medium businesses during the coronavirus pandemic, and that the scheme allowed companies to borrow between £2,000 and £50,000 at a low interest rate. He said the defendant made two legitimate applications for his companies Phones Onn and Phone Bits Ltd to HSBC and NatWest respectively, and the applications were successful. However, he said Afzal subsequently made three more applications to Lloyds, Starling, and Metro Bank during 2020 for the same phone companies and in each case falsely declared there had been no previous applications for those firms. The court heard the defendant also inflated the turnover figures of the firms in order to access the maximum £50,000 loan amounts. Article continues below The prosecutor said the three loan applications were successful and a total of £150,000 was paid into the companies' accounts, much of which was subsequently transferred out into personal accounts. Zahid Afzal, aged 37, of Albert Street, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud by false representation when he appeared in the dock for sentencing. He has no previous convictions. Jon Tarrant, for Afzal, said the defendant employed eight people, and said six of those needed the employment to maintain their UK visas. He said the father-of-three was a successful businessman who had established himself in a positive light to many people but that position "has now been reversed". He said the defendant's remorse for his "unwise decisions" had been "palpable" during their conferences. For the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter Judge Catherine Richards said at a time of nation emergency the UK government had established a system to help businesses that was paid for by society and which "relied on the trust and confidence that each gives the other as a member of this society". She told Afzal he had deliberately abused that by applying for loans he knew he was not entitled to and which, ultimately, were not for business use. The judge said while she had no doubt the offending justified immediate custody she was concerned that "the public finances are not further prejudiced" by Afzal's actions. She also said she was mindful of the impact of immediate custody on others. With one-quarter discounts for his guilty pleas Afzal was sentenced to two years in prison suspended for two years and was ordered to complete 300 hours of unpaid work. A proceeds of crime investigation will now be launched into the defendant's finances. Article continues below The prosecution barrister said he wanted to out the court on notice that a written application would be made for a restraint order to be made in respect of the defendant's personal Santander bank account which currently contains some £74,000.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
PICTURES: Kip Marina hosts first major event of Scotland's new sailing season
SAILORS from all over Scotland headed to the Clyde for the first major event of the new sailing season - the annual Kip Regatta. A total of 32 small boats sailed into Kip Marina to compete in a weekend of racing in the Haven Knox-Johnston Kip Regatta. Across the six different classes, boast were up against others of an equal speed and size, with each class racing for historic trophies presented by the Royal Western Yacht Club. (Image: Contributed) (Image: Contributed) Prizes were up for grabs from race sponsors Helly Hansen, Gill, Tunnocks, Dubarry and Kingfisher along with the prestigious RWYC silverware. The overall winners of each class were Sapphire (CYCA 2), Close Encounters (CYCA 4), Bounce Back (Etchells), Salamander XXII (IRC 1), Headhunter (IRC 3), and Inclusion (two-handed). The champion's crown for the overall winner of the regatta went to the crew of Sapphire, from Helensburgh, who were the best performing yacht of the weekend after winning all four of their races. (Image: Contributed) (Image: Contributed) The Royal Western Yacht Club, which promotes small boat sailing on the Clyde, has been involved in running the regatta since the 1980s and said this year's weather was perfect for sailing. A spokesperson said: "The racing was held off the waters of Inverkip which on the Saturday offered the perfect racing conditions. "The steady breeze, glorious sunshine and clear waters enabled three tight races to be held. (Image: Contributed) "The Sunday was a different day, with a shifty light northerly breeze offering different tactical options for the yachts, and one race was completed on the Sunday morning. "We were once again pleased to work alongside Kip Marina to deliver a successful regatta which was enjoyed by the local and visiting yachts." Kip Marina thanked all the competing boats, crews, and race committees for another fantastic event and said they were already lookijng forward to seeing everyone again next year.
