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The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
We took on four of the toughest eating challenges across the country – but could we finish them?
THEY have long been associated with gut-busting Americans who think nothing of cramming calorie-packed meals into their supersized stomachs. But competitive eating contests are now going mainstream in the UK, with enterprising starved restaurants serving them up to attract punters. Advertisement 5 Competitive eating started with Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in the States in 1972 Credit: The Mega Agency As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, dozens of outlets are now offering a variety of food challenges, from finishing the biggest steak to gobbling up a mountain of burgers. The trend, which started with Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in the States in 1972, is now popular with social media influencers. But how would the average Brit fare taking on the gargantuan meals? Four of our brave writers braced their stomachs to find out. Advertisement Read More on UK News NEWCASTLE 32-inch pizza to be finished in one sitting (They're open for 13 hours) - Difficulty 4/5 What is it? Massive pizza with 20,000 calories. Only two people have ever polished off one of these 32in pizzas – Pizzaholic restaurant owner Ilhan Ozcan and competitive eater Kyle Gibson. 5 Alex Storey and the pizza that beat him Credit: North News and Pictures It's big enough to feed someone for ten days. Advertisement Staring at the humongous pizza, which I must eat all in one go, I realise that a single slice is bigger than my head. Most read in Fabulous I am shocked by the sheer weight of cheese and crust. After 25 minutes, I have consumed 60 per cent of the pizza, but I am shaking with nausea and I am defeated, which means I have to pay my full bill, £93.99. Boss Ilhan said: 'It's popular. The rapper 50 Cent was here and we delivered one to Bryan Adams after his show in Newcastle. We used to challenge people to do it in 20 minutes but it was too difficult.' Advertisement ALEX STOREY PLYMOUTH The Big 60: 60oz steak to be finished in 60mins - Difficulty: 2/5 What is it? Barbican Steakhouse's 5,000-calorie steak is £64.95. 5 Ben Endley with his massive 60oz steak Credit: Wayne Perry Advertisement Around 200 people have tried the Big 60 Challenge in the past decade but just a handful polished it off in under 60 minutes. As the medium rare slab was placed in front of me, I felt confident. But 45 minutes later, I threw in the towel with eight ounces left. Co-owner Tahir Bhatti said: 'Our best time was under 20 minutes. He was an average-looking guy, but the mad thing is his wife told us he'd had a bucket of KFC on the way.' Advertisement BEN ENDLEY LEEDS The Paralyser: Monster English breakfast in 12mins - Difficulty: 3/5 What is it? Breakfast including four slices of bacon, four sausages, four hash browns and equivalent of a loaf of bread, plus trimmings. A 2,000-calorie feast. 5 Samantha Yule with her monster English breakfast Credit: NB PRESS LTD Advertisement Competitors have less than 12 minutes to finish the £18 meal and get their money back at the Greasy Pig. The current best time is 3.27 minutes. I managed four slices of bacon, three hash browns, two half slices of bread, half a sausage, a scoop of beans and a couple of mushrooms. Boss Mitz Bala said: 'It causes a stir on social media, it attracts influencers with huge followings.' Advertisement SAMANTHA YULE LONDON Eating 13 burgers in 10mins - Difficulty: 5/5 What is it? Ten minutes to eat 13 burgers. I'm a glutton, so was looking forward to taking on Red Dog Saloon's burger-eating challenge. 5 Graeme Culliford with his 13 burgers Credit: Oliver Dixon Advertisement But then I found out I would need to eat 13 6oz whoppers in ten minutes to claim £5,000, and my stomach began to shrivel. Professional scoffer Leah Shutkever ate 12 and it's her record you have to beat. My mood darkened as I was served a mountain of meat, cheese, onion and suffocating brioche bun. Halfway through the fourth, I surrendered. I ate three and a half. Advertisement Tourists began to film me on their phones through the window of the Soho branch. GRAEME CULLIFORD
Scottish Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
We took on four of the toughest eating challenges across the country – but could we finish them?
The trend started with Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in the States in 1972 BRIT V FOOD We took on four of the toughest eating challenges across the country – but could we finish them? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THEY have long been associated with gut-busting Americans who think nothing of cramming calorie-packed meals into their supersized stomachs. But competitive eating contests are now going mainstream in the UK, with enterprising starved restaurants serving them up to attract punters. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Competitive eating started with Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in the States in 1972 Credit: The Mega Agency As the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite, dozens of outlets are now offering a variety of food challenges, from finishing the biggest steak to gobbling up a mountain of burgers. The trend, which started with Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in the States in 1972, is now popular with social media influencers. But how would the average Brit fare taking on the gargantuan meals? Four of our brave writers braced their stomachs to find out. NEWCASTLE 32-inch pizza to be finished in one sitting (They're open for 13 hours) - Difficulty 4/5 What is it? Massive pizza with 20,000 calories. Only two people have ever polished off one of these 32in pizzas – Pizzaholic restaurant owner Ilhan Ozcan and competitive eater Kyle Gibson. 5 Alex Storey and the pizza that beat him Credit: North News and Pictures It's big enough to feed someone for ten days. Staring at the humongous pizza, which I must eat all in one go, I realise that a single slice is bigger than my head. I am shocked by the sheer weight of cheese and crust. After 25 minutes, I have consumed 60 per cent of the pizza, but I am shaking with nausea and I am defeated, which means I have to pay my full bill, £93.99. Boss Ilhan said: 'It's popular. The rapper 50 Cent was here and we delivered one to Bryan Adams after his show in Newcastle. We used to challenge people to do it in 20 minutes but it was too difficult.' ALEX STOREY PLYMOUTH The Big 60: 60oz steak to be finished in 60mins - Difficulty: 2/5 What is it? 60oz steak equivalent to seven-and-a-half average servings. Barbican Steakhouse's 5,000-calorie steak is £64.95. 5 Ben Endley with his massive 60oz steak Credit: Wayne Perry Around 200 people have tried the Big 60 Challenge in the past decade but just a handful polished it off in under 60 minutes. As the medium rare slab was placed in front of me, I felt confident. But 45 minutes later, I threw in the towel with eight ounces left. Co-owner Tahir Bhatti said: 'Our best time was under 20 minutes. He was an average-looking guy, but the mad thing is his wife told us he'd had a bucket of KFC on the way.' BEN ENDLEY LEEDS The Paralyser: Monster English breakfast in 12mins - Difficulty: 3/5 What is it? Breakfast including four slices of bacon, four sausages, four hash browns and equivalent of a loaf of bread, plus trimmings. A 2,000-calorie feast. 5 Samantha Yule with her monster English breakfast Credit: NB PRESS LTD Competitors have less than 12 minutes to finish the £18 meal and get their money back at the Greasy Pig. The current best time is 3.27 minutes. I managed four slices of bacon, three hash browns, two half slices of bread, half a sausage, a scoop of beans and a couple of mushrooms. Boss Mitz Bala said: 'It causes a stir on social media, it attracts influencers with huge followings.' SAMANTHA YULE LONDON Eating 13 burgers in 10mins - Difficulty: 5/5 What is it? Ten minutes to eat 13 burgers. I'm a glutton, so was looking forward to taking on Red Dog Saloon's burger-eating challenge. 5 Graeme Culliford with his 13 burgers Credit: Oliver Dixon But then I found out I would need to eat 13 6oz whoppers in ten minutes to claim £5,000, and my stomach began to shrivel. Professional scoffer Leah Shutkever ate 12 and it's her record you have to beat. My mood darkened as I was served a mountain of meat, cheese, onion and suffocating brioche bun. Halfway through the fourth, I surrendered. I ate three and a half. Tourists began to film me on their phones through the window of the Soho branch. GRAEME CULLIFORD
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."
The Irish Sun
07-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
The crack-riddled seaside town where dealers flog £15k hauls in Asda bags and junkies hole up in filthy ‘death row'
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. Advertisement 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 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 The Victorian buildings, which retain little of their former grandeur, have been converted into HMOs and flats or else lie empty and boarded up. Advertisement 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. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Exclusive "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. Advertisement "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 Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement "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. Advertisement "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." Advertisement 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 Advertisement 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. Advertisement "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 Advertisement 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. Advertisement "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. Advertisement 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 Advertisement 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. Advertisement "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. Advertisement "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 Advertisement 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. Advertisement "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. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun "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."
Scottish Sun
04-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Schoolboy, 14, was reported missing hours before he was killed in fire as 11 boys & 3 girls arrested over ‘manslaughter'
A SCHOOLBOY who tragically died in a fire was reported missing just hours before he was caught in the devastating blaze. Fourteen children between 11 and 14 were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the death in Gateshead, Co Durham. 5 Layton Carr tragically died in the fire on Friday Credit: go fund me 5 Police tape on the gates of Fairfield Industrial Park Credit: PA 5 The blaze broke out at Fairfield Industrial Park in Gateshead Credit: North News and Pictures Fears had been raised for missing 14-year-old Layton Carr's well-being after he went missing in the area. In a missing person's appeal, cops said the force was "growing increasingly concerned" about Layton, who had last been seen at around 7pm that night. The teen was described as 5ft 6ins tall, with short brown hair. He was tragically found dead inside the building near Fairfield industrial park in Gateshead on Friday night. A police spokesman said: 'Sadly, following searches carried out by Northumbria Police and partners at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, a body believed to be that of 14-year-old Layton Carr was located deceased inside the building. 'His next of kin have been informed and are currently being supported by specialist officers.' Tributes poured in for Layton after his tragic discovery. His youth worker wrote: "A lush lad with his whole life ahead of him." Another wrote on Facebook: "Rest easy Layton kid forever 14." A GoFundMe page was set up by a family friend in the wake of the incident to support Layton's mum with funeral costs - and can be accessed here. There are 11 boys and three girls under arrest and in custody. Police were alerted to reports of the fire on Friday shortly after 8pm. Fire brigades tackled the blaze for two hours, declaring a major incident. A police spokesman added that 'inquiries are at an early stage and members of the public are asked not to speculate online or in the community'. Detective Chief Inspector Louise Jenkins, of Northumbria Police, said: 'This is an extremely tragic incident where a boy has sadly lost his life. 'Our thoughts are with Layton's family as they begin to attempt to process the loss of their loved one. 'Our specialist officers will continue to support them in whatever way they can. 'We ask that their privacy be respected at this time.' She said a cordon is in place while police carry out enquiries to establish 'the full circumstances surrounding the incident' and officers will be in the area to 'offer reassurance to the public'. Anyone who has information that could help the investigation has been urged to get in touch with Northumbria Police by sending a direct message on social media or by using the live chat or report form functions on the Force's website. 5 Police tape on the gates of Fairfield Industrial Park in the Bill Quay area Credit: PA
