Latest news with #Dad'sArmy


Daily Mail
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Desperate locals demand 'flower cops' to patrol park after kids trample over beloved poppy fields at Cornish landmark
For a few weeks each summer it is one of Britain's most Instagrammable spots but as remote poppy fields on the Cornish coast burst into flower, selfish selfie-hunters have been accused of trampling the plants and threatening locals. In the last few years, visitors have been treated to stunning scenery with acres of spectacular red blooms on National Trust land overlooking the azure blue ocean. But a surge of photos posted on social media has drawn tens of thousands more visitors every year. Now, ageing residents in the tiny village of West Pentire, Cornwall, say they have almost given up asking visitors not to climb among the poppies - despite obvious signage - because it so often leads to aggressive confrontations. The problem has become so bad in recent weeks that dozens of frustrated locals have shared pictures of visitors trampling poppies and threatened to create Dad's Army-style patrols to ensure they follow the rules. One local said: 'Maybe we need to set up a GoFundMe for patrols.' Richard Greenwood, 80, a retired consultant physician, said: 'The poppies attract a lot of people, the last five or six years we have had these magnificent displays. 'But then people started to come and the numbers have been going up each year. I am keen to preserve it but now I have really lost heart. 'I used to speak to people who were trampling the poppies and letting their dogs run around and taking photos of their kiddies and tell them it's damaging it for everybody else. 'A few people got quite aggressive, lots of ''F words'', people just think they're entitled to do whatever they want. 'At my stage in life I don't need that. 'A couple of years ago the National Trust which owns the fields started putting up ropes and signs. They are much better this year but they probably went up about two weeks too late so people have already trodden paths which others think it's fine to follow.' Artist Sally Blackford, 78, added: 'I love the sight of the poppies, I paint them and I love all the wild flowers. 'Most people respect this very special and beautiful place but people want their photo opportunities and they don't care if they break down the fences and hedges to get them. The National Trust has installed signs to tell visitors about the wonderful landscape 'It's people of all ages but especially those with small children. 'When we point out the damage they are doing they just say 'well somebody went over before us', they just blame other people. 'The signage is so good and so clear but people don't think it applies to them, I don't know what will stop them. 'It's a great shame because it's there for everybody to enjoy but what these people are doing is spoiling it.' When MailOnline visited this week, we found families of all ages ignoring the clear warning signs urging them to stay on the path and scrambling over centuries-old stone walls and under rope boundaries to get amongst the poppies. One young couple with their pet dog blatantly ignored rules to snap a quick photo crouching among the poppies with Crantock Bay in the background, another family asked strangers to help to scale a stone wall in order to get amongst the poppies. John Sleep, 86, says he has taken to repairing ancient stone walls every day after tourists carelessly damaged them in pursuit of the perfect shot among the flowers. He said: 'Since this started we have walked down there every day, I find it annoying because all the locals here like to respect the headland and we want to keep that up. 'Almost every day I tell people to get out and the response is almost always the same, the tracks were there before and they're not doing any damage. 'It's got to the point where even visitors are commenting on the bad behaviour of others. 'The hedges are worn and broken in seven or eight places because people want to make a vantage point for their camera. 'It's not just them, it's them and their pets or their children sitting in the poppies. Somebody has taken a photo and put it on Facebook and they want to recreate exactly the same picture, it's sheep behaviour really. It's quite sad.' Caterer Sonya Rogers, 50, said: 'I have seen a lot of people going into the fields even though the signs are pretty clear.


West Australian
17-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
England cricket great Kevin Pietersen rips to shreds Australia's batting line-up
England cricket legend Kevin Pietersen has fired an early warning shot ahead of this summer's Ashes series in Australia. After watching Australia's batters struggle in the recent World Test Championship final against South Africa, Pietersen believes England bowlers will have little to fear when the Ashes begins in WA in November. Among other criticisms, Pietersen said the demise of 30-year-old Marnus Labuschagne was 'very strange' and he said allrounder Cameron Green should not be coming in at No.3 'The batting is not what the batting used to be. Apart from Steve Smith,' Pietersen said. 'I've not seen anything here that would worry me. Not seen it at all. 'I don't know what has happened to Marnus the last couple of years. 'He just won't hit the ball. It's very strange to see.' Pietersen also put the spotlight on Green, who made 4 and a duck against South Africa. 'Cameron Green is not a No.3,' Pietersen said. Not only are there form concerns, Australia's top line-up is ageing. Usman Khawaja is 38 and will turn 39 this December, Steve Smith is 36, Mitchell Starc is 35, Nathan Lyon will be 38 in November and Pat Cummins is 32. Even Beau Webster, who made his Test debut in January this year, will be 32 in December. The team is starting to look like Dad's Army but Pietersen was prepared to cut the veteran stars some slack, and backed in the bowlers. 'Smith is a different level, a modern great,' he said. He also thought Khawaja was certainly good for another Ashes campaign. 'Uzzie is what Uzzie is. He has a good record,' Pietersen said. 'Beau Webster, I've seen better batters than him from what I've seen here. And I've only seen him here and it would probably be hard for me to forge an opinion just on what I've seen here because the ball has actually done quite a bit. 'But just technique ... if I was an English bowler, I would fancy my chances against this batting line-up. 'Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon, Scotty Boland, there's some proper bowling, but as an England bowler (I wouldn't be worried). 'I'd be saying I'd rather be a bowler this Ashes series.' Labuschagne is expected to be dropped for the Test against the West Indies but he could return to the team for the Ashes. Australian coach Andrew McDonald is certainly not ruling him out despite the fact he has a century drought that is almost 24 months long. 'He's a big part of the future of the team,' McDonald said. 'Anyone that averages (46.19) in Test cricket at that age (30) is important. 'We've got older players there that are closer to the end than the start. 'If he can get his game in good order for the next four or five years, he can underpin that batting order, but at the moment, he'd be disappointed with the returns. 'We're confident that he could return to his best, hence why we keep picking him, and it's at what point do we stop picking him? 'There's no harder worker than Marnus, and now it's really just about the returns.' - With AAP


Perth Now
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
England great unloads on ‘very strange' Aussie cricketer
England cricket legend Kevin Pietersen has fired an early warning shot ahead of this summer's Ashes series in Australia. After watching Australia's batters struggle in the recent World Test Championship final against South Africa, Pietersen believes England bowlers will have little to fear when the Ashes begins in WA in November. Among other criticisms, Pietersen said the demise of 30-year-old Marnus Labuschagne was 'very strange' and he said allrounder Cameron Green should not be coming in at No.3 'The batting is not what the batting used to be. Apart from Steve Smith,' Pietersen said. 'I've not seen anything here that would worry me. Not seen it at all. 'I don't know what has happened to Marnus the last couple of years. Kevin Pietersen says Marnus Labuschagne's form woes are 'very strange'. Credit: Getty 'He just won't hit the ball. It's very strange to see.' Pietersen also put the spotlight on Green, who made 4 and a duck against South Africa. 'Cameron Green is not a No.3,' Pietersen said. Not only are there form concerns, Australia's top line-up is ageing. Usman Khawaja is 38 and will turn 39 this December, Steve Smith is 36, Mitchell Starc is 35, Nathan Lyon will be 38 in November and Pat Cummins is 32. Even Beau Webster, who made his Test debut in January this year, will be 32 in December. The team is starting to look like Dad's Army but Pietersen was prepared to cut the veteran stars some slack, and backed in the bowlers. 'Smith is a different level, a modern great,' he said. He also thought Khawaja was certainly good for another Ashes campaign. 'Uzzie is what Uzzie is. He has a good record,' Pietersen said. 'Beau Webster, I've seen better batters than him from what I've seen here. And I've only seen him here and it would probably be hard for me to forge an opinion just on what I've seen here because the ball has actually done quite a bit. 'But just technique ... if I was an English bowler, I would fancy my chances against this batting line-up. 'Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon, Scotty Boland, there's some proper bowling, but as an England bowler (I wouldn't be worried). 'I'd be saying I'd rather be a bowler this Ashes series.' Labuschagne is expected to be dropped for the Test against the West Indies but he could return to the team for the Ashes. Australian coach Andrew McDonald is certainly not ruling him out despite the fact he has a century drought that is almost 24 months long. 'He's a big part of the future of the team,' McDonald said. 'Anyone that averages (46.19) in Test cricket at that age (30) is important. 'We've got older players there that are closer to the end than the start. 'If he can get his game in good order for the next four or five years, he can underpin that batting order, but at the moment, he'd be disappointed with the returns. 'We're confident that he could return to his best, hence why we keep picking him, and it's at what point do we stop picking him? 'There's no harder worker than Marnus, and now it's really just about the returns.' - With AAP


7NEWS
16-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
England cricket great Kevin Pietersen rips to shreds Australia's batting line-up
England cricket legend Kevin Pietersen has fired an early warning shot ahead of this summer's Ashes series in Australia. After watching Australia's batters struggle in the recent World Test Championship final against South Africa, Pietersen believes England bowlers will have little to fear when the Ashes begins in WA in November. Among other criticisms, Pietersen said the demise of 30-year-old Marnus Labuschagne was 'very strange' and he said allrounder Cameron Green should not be coming in at No.3 'The batting is not what the batting used to be. Apart from Steve Smith,' Pietersen said. 'I've not seen anything here that would worry me. Not seen it at all. 'I don't know what has happened to Marnus the last couple of years. 'He just won't hit the ball. It's very strange to see.' Pietersen also put the spotlight on Green, who made 4 and a duck against South Africa. 'Cameron Green is not a No.3,' Pietersen said. Not only are there form concerns, Australia's top line-up is ageing. Usman Khawaja is 38 and will turn 39 this December, Steve Smith is 36, Mitchell Starc is 35, Nathan Lyon will be 38 in November and Pat Cummins is 32. Even Beau Webster, who made his Test debut in January this year, will be 32 in December. The team is starting to look like Dad's Army but Pietersen was prepared to cut the veteran stars some slack, and backed in the bowlers. 'Smith is a different level, a modern great,' he said. He also thought Khawaja was certainly good for another Ashes campaign. 'Uzzie is what Uzzie is. He has a good record,' Pietersen said. 'Beau Webster, I've seen better batters than him from what I've seen here. And I've only seen him here and it would probably be hard for me to forge an opinion just on what I've seen here because the ball has actually done quite a bit. 'But just technique ... if I was an English bowler, I would fancy my chances against this batting line-up. 'Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon, Scotty Boland, there's some proper bowling, but as an England bowler (I wouldn't be worried). 'I'd be saying I'd rather be a bowler this Ashes series.' Labuschagne is expected to be dropped for the Test against the West Indies but he could return to the team for the Ashes. Australian coach Andrew McDonald is certainly not ruling him out despite the fact he has a century drought that is almost 24 months long. 'He's a big part of the future of the team,' McDonald said. 'Anyone that averages (46.19) in Test cricket at that age (30) is important. 'We've got older players there that are closer to the end than the start. 'If he can get his game in good order for the next four or five years, he can underpin that batting order, but at the moment, he'd be disappointed with the returns. 'We're confident that he could return to his best, hence why we keep picking him, and it's at what point do we stop picking him? 'There's no harder worker than Marnus, and now it's really just about the returns.'


Scottish Sun
07-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
The crack-riddled seaside town where dealers flog £15k hauls in Asda bags and junkies hole up in filthy ‘death row'
One local revealed 'I've had to knock a few crack heads out' as trouble on notorious street spirals BRID TOO FAR The crack-riddled seaside town where dealers flog £15k hauls in Asda bags and junkies hole up in filthy 'death row' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DESPAIRING residents of a world-famous seaside town are so fed up of its drugs problem they are taking antidepressants. Bridlington, in East Yorkshire - once an upmarket and bustling resort - is still renowned for its excellent shellfish and is referred to as the Lobster Capital of Europe. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 17 The seaside town of Bridlington has experienced a sharp decline in recent years Credit: NNP 17 Toilets, fridges and other junk rots at the front of boarded-up houses Credit: NNP 17 Simon Elvidge, 59, said he had to 'knock a few crackheads out' who started on him Credit: North News and Pictures 17 One local told how he was homeless for months but used his 'willpower' to stop being around the wrong people Credit: North News and Pictures Tourists continue to flock to the area, which was used as a filming location for the 2016 remake of Dad's Army, to take advantage of its sandy beaches and funfair. But a short distance from the promenade, on Tennyson Avenue, also known as "death row", drug deals are taking place in broad daylight. The scruffy terraced street was once the pride of the town and home to upmarket B&Bs, but in recent years has suffered a sharp decline. The Victorian buildings, which retain little of their former grandeur, have been converted into HMOs and flats or else lie empty and boarded up. Shortly before 8.30am on a grey, cloudy morning, a scrawny woman walks along the street, which is littered with empty cider cans, clutching a bottle of vodka. Residents speak of being forced to defend themselves against "crack heads" and nightmare neighbours, who set fire to their flats. One pensioner says she used to be proud to call Tennyson Avenue home, but now barely recognises it. The woman, who was too scared to give us her name, said: "The best thing about Bridlington now is the road out of it. "Ex prisoners used to live next door, and they were drug taking and setting fire to the place. "It was 24/7. It was the first time in my life I had to get anti-depressants. Inside the seaside town named on of the WORST places to live in Britain "There is drug dealing going on all the time. There's a particular car I recognise and it's dropping things off all the time. "They deal everything, but it will definitely be crack cocaine. You see them outside houses waiting for drugs, doing their rain dance. "You can't go out now without your door locked. Houses around here are full of drugs. "When I moved here it was excellent. It was really quite wonderful. "I used to be proud to say, I live on Tennyson Avenue, but I'm not now. There's not much I can do, I have to live through it." 17 Lee Jenkinson (left), Liam Langton and Luke Gilson (right) were jailed over a £3m crack cocaine conspiracy Credit: Humberside Police 17 Locals say houses in the area are 'full of drugs' Credit: North News and Pictures 17 Sat between Tennyson Avenue and the beach is a former HMO Credit: North News and Pictures 17 One CCTV camera has been painted over, rendering it useless Credit: North News and Pictures Simon Elvidge worked as a commercial diver before he was diagnosed with cancer and moved to the street. The 59-year-old has been forced to fend off drug takers determined to start fights while high on cocaine. He said: "This road used to be posh. But now it is full of druggies and drugs. "It has gradually become worse but I think this is happening to every seaside town. "They deal all sorts of drugs around here. At one point we had a place on the corner which used to house people coming out of jail. "That was a mini crime wave. They would shoplift to pay for their drugs. "The police are up and down all of the time. I worry about it but I can handle myself. I've had to do it a few times. "I've had to knock a few crack heads out. One time I had a guy who came up to me and wanted to start a fight. "But they don't even know what they're doing most of the time, they're so high. "I've been here six years but I came from a village to move here. "That was a huge eye opener for me." Left to rot Sat between Tennyson Avenue and the beach is a former HMO which is now boarded up and in a state of neglect. A sign stuck to the outside simply reads: "CLOSED. To protect your community from anti-social behaviour." Around the corner, CCTV cameras operate in the back alleyways and there are signs warning people not to fly-tip. One camera has been painted over, rendering it useless. 17 The promenade sits a short distance from Tennyson Avenue Credit: North News and Pictures 17 Retired electrician Ken Wicks, 80, tries to stay away from the troubled spots, but says there's poverty everywhere Credit: North News and Pictures 17 An old sofa sits at the top of the garden, dirty and neglected Credit: North News and Pictures Tennyson Avenue was recently home to Michael Severn, until he was sent to prison for six-and-a-half years for drug dealing. Severn, 31, was found with an ASDA carrier bag between his legs containing £15,000 worth of cocaine. A local who didn't want to be named tells us he used to be part of the area's criminal activity before turning his life around. The young man said: "I grew up around here. It has gone really downhill. "It used to be a thriving town and it was a main seaside attraction but now lots of places have closed down. "Drug deals happen all down this road. They deal all kinds of drugs but definitely crack cocaine. 17 Michael Severn was sent to prison for six-and-a-half years for drug dealing Credit: Humberside Police 17 Bridlington was once a thriving town Credit: alamy 17 It was a vastly popular tourist destination Credit: alamy "I've had my own demons in the past but came out the other side. "I was homeless for months but I used my will power and stopped being around the wrong people. "All of the people who told me to hang around and stay are the ones still living in tents now. "There is one back alley just off this road where all of the druggies go to. "They are all over this area. You see them waiting around in plain sight." Desperate deprivation The most up-to-date figures released by the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) ranked Bridlington South as the 45th most deprived area in England out of almost 33,000. In 2021 there were 30 drugs death in East Riding, up from 22 in 2020. And last year, Bridlington suffered the humiliation of being named the worst coastal resort in Yorkshire. In March, three criminals were sent down for a combined 17 years after flooding the town with £3million worth of crack cocaine. Lee Jenkinson, 32, Luke Gibson, 35, and Liam Langton, 27, were snared after a lengthy police probe into rising violence and drug activity between gangs in the town. 17 Georgina Marie, 28, worries for her little one, as she sees people 'openly drug deal' in the street Credit: North News and Pictures Georgina Marie is originally from Hull but moved to Bridlington to live with her partner. The tutor fears for the future of her one-year-old daughter. The 28-year-old said: "We live five minutes from the centre and people will openly drug deal in the middle of the afternoon in the street. "But they will admit to doing it. They don't hide it. "It's a lot of weed in the town centre but there's other drugs elsewhere. I worry for my little one. If I had my own way I'd live in the middle of nowhere and send her to a private school. Georgina "They are trying to make it a better area for the tourists rather than the people who live here. "We don't need a new car park, we need community centres for the kids. "A new car park will be great for the tourists but the locals won't use it. But instead kids are on the streets here because they have nowhere else to go. "I would go to the park as a kid but now they're not safe enough." "Now we see drug dealing in Bridlington and I worry it will escalate to people carrying knives etc. by the time my daughter is older." 17 Now, shops stand boarded up or vacant Credit: North News and Pictures 17 In 2015, Bridlington transformed into Walmington-on-Sea for the filming of the Dad's Army movie Credit: REX A spokesperson for East Riding of Yorkshire Council pointed to their Clear Hold Build scheme, which is a "concerted effort to improve quality of life in Bridlington, including by tackling organised crime and antisocial behaviour". They added: "The aim is to disrupt and dismantle Organised Crime Groups (OCGs) by clearing the area of OCGs, then building community resilience to prevent their return. "The council has also supported the police by using closure orders against council properties which have been the site of antisocial behaviour, to bring immediate relief to residents." Ian Foster, the Neighbourhood Policing Inspector for Humberside Police, said: "Over the past year our Neighbourhood Policing Team have been working relentlessly in Bridlington to tackle anyone who has been causing harm in the area. "We continue to take part in the multi-agency Home Office Clear Hold Build Initiative, which has involved large scale disruption of those involved in organised crime through warrants, arrests and charges. "As a result of our ongoing work through this initiative, since April 2024, the courts have issued a total of 99 years and five months in prison sentences in relation to organised crime in Bridlington. "With continued operations to tackle organised crime gangs and drugs dealing, such as Operation Shield, we continually gather intelligence, conduct Misuse of Drugs Act warrants and arrest and bring to justice those who commit drugs offences in our communities. "Throughout the summer months we have also been running Operation Coastline, our proactive approach to tackling crime in our coastal region as the number of visitors increases. "Bridlington is a fantastic place to live, work and visit and we are proud to be part of the community here. "I urge anyone with any concerns or information about crime to please get in touch via our non-emergency 101 line or speak to an officer on patrol."