dog

SIX in 10 dog owners base their holiday destinations on what their pet would like.

A poll of 2,000 people with a pooch found Cornwall is considered the best doggy holiday destination, followed by Devon and Yorkshire, where dog-friendly pubs, restaurants and scenic walks are abound.

But 30 per cent would never return to a staycation spot that didn’t meet their pup’s needs.

More than three quarters (78 per cent) have selected specific destinations because they believed their woofer would love the walks, and 55 per cent actively look out for dog-friendly pubs and restaurants.

The research was commissioned by EV charging company GRIDSERVE, which is giving away doggy bags of pet-pleasing goodies at its electric charging points at forecourts across the UK over the Easter weekend.

Rebecca Trebble, chief customer officer at the company, said: “The research clearly highlights the impact pets have on our journeys.

“The nation holds its four-legged friends so dearly, it seems only natural to cater to them at our EV charging stations.

“Every Electric Forecourt is now dog-friendly, offering walking routes so drivers and their hounds can stretch their legs while they recharge.”

The study also found man’s best friend is an influence when it comes to pit stops, with 36 per cent choosing where to pull over based on the doggy amenities in the area.

Nearly half (48 per cent) of those polled chat to their dog while driving, and 36 per cent choose to put their pet in the front seat.

More than one in 10 (13 per cent) even admitted they’ve tailored driving playlists to include songs they thought their hound would enjoy, according to the OnePoll research.

Photos from trips away are most likely dominated by pooches according to their owners, with 28 per cent saying they tend to take and share more photos of them than themselves.

Men were revealed as the biggest spenders on their pets while travelling, splashing out £49 per trip on average, compared to women who part with £40.

Rebecca Trebble, from GRIDSERVE, which is also offering members 25 per cent off charging across the UK, added: “We also found the average journey break is around 42 minutes, but the latest electric vehicles can add over 100 miles of range in less than 10 minutes, so your car will often be ready before you are.

“We want every stop to feel like a highlight of the journey, for drivers and their pets”.

MANCHETER isn’t short of fun hotels, but Yotel knows how to be cheeky without having to splash the cash.

So here’s what you need to know about staying at Yotel Manchester Deansgate.

Where is the Yotel Deansgate?

A short walk from the main train station, Yotel Manchester Deansgate is in the heart of the city centre.

Being on the corner of Deansgate, this means you have all of the top attractions, restaurants and bars on your doorstep.

What is the hotel like?

Expect funky decor when you walk in too, with neon signs and mismatched furniture.

The hotel even has umbrellas and power banks you can rent, so all the bases are covered.

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What are the rooms like?

My King Room had more than enough space, with a working desk, sofa and bold tropical print wallpaper transporting me to another country.

Every room has everything you need – smart TVs, fast WiFi and almost too many plug sockets.

Bathrooms are fully equipped with strong power showers and Korean-Australian toiletries by Urban Jungle.

If you need a cup of tea or coffee, or an iron, you’ll find them in the hallway ‘station’ to take back to your room.

On a budget? Opt for the Compact or Twin rooms – smaller but still with all the amenities.

Otherwise choose rooms on the 9th floor for great views overlooking the city.

Rooms start from £64 on a room only basis. See yotel.com

What is there to eat and drink there?

The Motley restaurant is the place to be with a great atmosphere all day.

There’s something for everyone, from braised beef short ribs to mushroom risottos, although I was especially impressed with the small plates, especially the bread with honey and lavender butter.

It might have been helped to go down thanks to the raspberry martini that accompanied…

Bring the pup – they get a free ‘doggy meal’ per dining guest.

The buffet breakfast was just as good. Along with the usual hot and cold options, they also had veggie dishes including shakshuka and tofu hash to choose from.

What else can you do there?

While it doesn’t have a gym, guests can book a free 45-minute work out classes at boutique fitness centre TRIB3.

If you want to do some shopping, the huge Arndale Centre is a five minute walk away too.

Is it family friendly?

The hotel has Premium King rooms that sleep three, with a king size bed and sofa-bed.

Otherwise cots can be requested, with interconnecting rooms too.

Is the hotel accessible?

There are accessible King Rooms, which have step-free access as well as roll in showers, shower seats and height adjusted sinks.

They also have visual and vibrating alerts, and widened doorways.

CCTV footage circulated online shows the moment that a military dog attacks a worshipper leaving a mosque during an Israeli raid on Tarqumiyah in the occupied West Bank.

A BITTERLY fought five-year dispute between an EastEnders star, his wife and their neighbours over a dog bite on a Lord’s estate has finally ended.

TV actor and film star John Blundell and his wife Mercina were locked in a bitter legal fight with neighbouring lodge owners Alison and Andrew Girdiefski after the row over their tiny pooch Ziggy.

The Sun can now confirm that Mercina and John have finally seen a closure in their favour, with an out of court payment after bringing a civil court case.

John – who also starred in Quadrophenia and Scum – and his wife are understood to be delighted by the result.

The long-running saga dates back to 2021 at the plush Fritton Lake estate in Norfolk, a 5,000-acre retreat owned by aristocrats Hugh and Lara Crossley, Lord and Lady Somerleyton.

Lord Somerleyton, at the height of tension, even attempted to mediate between the two warring couples, The Sun understands.

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The row all kicked off when Mercina had been visiting her neighbours’ lodge to admire renovation work when she says their small hairless Chinese crested dog, Ziggy, suddenly bit her on the wrist.

The attack, they claimed, left her with a half an in inch wound that later scarred, with the actor’s wife needing hospital treatment.

With the row spiralling out of control – John and Mercina then launched a civil case at Norwich County Court seeking damages.

The Sun has now confirmed the long-running dispute has been settled out of court.

It brings to an end to years of acrimony.

Court officials told The Sun the matter was settled out of court using a Part 36 offer – a formal settlement under the law.

A source close to the couple told us: “While the couple are selling their property at Fritton they are reluctant to talk.

“It has been a very difficult few years for the Blundell’s, who really have done nothing wrong at all.”

Back in 2021, what should have been a tranquil countryside getaway quickly spiralled into a toxic feud involving police, lawyers and estate bosses.

Relations between the couples then soured dramatically.

The dispute even drew in Norfolk Police, with officers speaking to both sides.

Ziggy was added to a register of dangerous dogs, but no further action was taken due to the time elapsed.

Complaints of harassment were also investigated by Norfolk Police – but no offences were ultimately found.

Mercina also accused the pair of taunting them by singing “who let the dogs out” and filming them nearby.

Frustrated, the Blundells launched civil action – setting them for a court showdown.

The pair even recruited James McNally – known as “The Dog Bite Solicitor” who specialises in getting civil damages on dog attacks.

The Blundells said at the time they had been quoted £1,500 for a plastic surgeon to fix Mercina’s wrist – and were believed to be seeking up to £30k in costs and damages.

And the Girdiefskis had said ahead of the looming case that they found the figures “ridiculous”.

“The sort of money you would expect to be paying somebody who has had their face ripped off by a dog, not this mere 1.2cm cut,” said Alison in July 2025.

Speaking at the time, she added: “From day one, we have accepted responsibility.

“Our Ziggy did bite Mercina and we have never denied this.”

But the dramatic court clash never happened after the Girdiefskis agreed to settle.

A court spokesperson said: “This case was settled out of court by way of accepting a Part 36 offer, therefore there is no final order or settlement details to provide.

“Both sides had solicitors so in the end the court was not involved.”

John said the retreat, meant to be a peaceful escape, had instead become “a living nightmare”.

Both couples are now trying to sell their lodges on the exclusive estate.

The Girdiefski’s and Blundells have been approached for comment.

The Sun have also contacted Lord Somerleyton.

ANT McPartlin has reportedly reached an agreement with his ex-wife Lisa Armstrong over the heartbreaking loss of their dog.

The former couple shared pup Hurley during their 11-year marriage, with Ant sharing that the beloved chocolate Labrador had passed away earlier this year.

In an emotional update, 50-year-old Ant, who is now married to Anne-Marie Corbett, confirmed last month that Hurley had died in his arms.

Now, it has been alleged that he and Lisa, who split in 2023, reached an agreement over Hurley.

“Ant and Lisa agreed to share Hurley’s ashes 50/50,” a source told MailOnline.

“It’s a decision they felt was fair and it means they’ll both be able to hold their own farewells.”

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They continued to the publication: “Ant has already collected his ashes, while Lisa intends to do likewise when she returns from her trip.

“It’s likely the ashes will be buried in their own respective gardens so they’ll both be able to regularly pay their respects to Hurley.”

Ant was with make-up artist Lisa for over two decades, with the pair going through a divorce in 2018 which saw them reach a massive £31million deal.

Hurley became Britain’s best known celebrity dog during Ant and Lisa’s highly-publicised custody battle following their divorce.

They eventually agreed to share custody and Hurley spent his time between their homes.

The pair recently came together to say goodbye to Hurley, who they got in 2013.

The Sun revealed how they had to make the decision to put Hurley down at the vet due to him being too ill to recover.

And confirming the situation, Ant explained on his and Dec Donnelly’s podcast: “He passed away in my arms.

“We were at the vet’s and we were all there to see him, all the family, everyone that he loved was there, and it was a very sad, but it was a very lovely moment when we all got to say goodbye to him.”

The presenter, who has two other dogs, went on to share how the grief has been “awful” and has seen him often break down in tears.

The study said that as the cocker spaniel, for instance, was designed to flush out game from dense areas of woodland and grassland, the dogs were bred to have high energy, mental resilience and intelligence, which could be “more of a problem in pet homes”.

The Yorkshire Vet stars Julian Norton and Lucy Pittaway tackled an unusual case

The Yorkshire Vet stars Julian Norton and Lucy Pittaway urgently operated on a dog that faced “life-threatening” problems as they admitted it’s something they had never seen before.

The Channel 5 hit show made a comeback to our TV screens on Tuesday evening (March 17), as the vets at Wetherby prepared for a momentous procedure on a three-year-old spaniel named Ghost, who had a mysterious bump on his body.

Julian explained: “His owners are worried that they’ve seen something swollen and big in his abdomen and of literally seeing it sticking out. So the bulge under his skin there, we think it’s a tumour on the spleen.”

While checking Ghost’s lump, he pointed out how it was bigger than anticipated as he said: “Generally the more aggressive cancers we see in older dogs, so that makes it rather unusual, but we’ll see, hopefully with something that we can easily remedy.”

Resident expert scanner Nat was forced to step in and examine Ghost as they struggled to identify the problem as she admitted: “It generally doesn’t look recognizable as anything else.”

Julian was worried as he said: “It could be on the liver. Now, if it is, a cancerous growth on the liver, then that makes it altogether more complicated.

“With the benefit of modern imaging, we can get a really good idea in most cases what we’re dealing with, but this seems to be a little bit of a strange one.”

With scans inconclusive, Julian and the team are puzzled by Ghost’s mysterious lump. They made the decision to operate on the spaniel.

However It was clear they had a huge challenge on their hands as Lucy admitted: “It’s weird because it’s just so prominent there. I’ve literally never seen anything like it. It’s like not moving at all.”

Following a strenuous operation, Julian expressed his relief as he confirmed that it was not an abdominal mass and could in fact be an infection. They decided to prescribe Ghost with some antibiotics to help tackle the swelling.

Julian and Lucy were left pleased as they discovered that just one month after operating on Ghost, his lump was completely gone.

Speaking to Lucy, Julian said: “I’m glad we didn’t do anything more dramatic at the time but yeah, totally mended. Job is a good one. Another life saved, Lucy.”

Lucy added: “At least he is much happier now.” Ghost is definitely in good spirits as he was later seen enjoying a walk with his owner Ryan.

You can catch up on The Yorkshire Vet on Channel 5

For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new ** Everything Gossip ** website.

This countryside spot is steeped in folklore about a monstrous Barghest that legends claim crushed victims – making for an atmospheric hiking spot

Nestled within an abandoned mining region, hidden away in the Wharfedale valley of the Yorkshire Dales, lies a collapsed limestone ravine, brimming with historical tales, folklore and even a potentially terrifying resident.

Unless you’re aware of its existence, the enigmatic cavern is virtually invisible from view, concealed just off the roadside, making it a genuine secret treasure for ramblers.

Troller’s Gill is a legendary location beloved by keen walkers who venture to the region hoping to witness its splendour, as it packs considerable natural beauty into a compact trail.

The difficulty level for the path is fairly moderate, largely due to a handful of sections requiring scrambling, with a total distance of 2.6 km. It’s a trek that typically takes around one hour and can therefore be combined with any other walking or exploration activities you’ve planned during your stay in the Dales.

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To access this captivating destination, you can leave your vehicle on New Road, where parking is free, before discovering this luminous green treasure.

Upon arrival, you’ll understand why it’s such a frequently discussed location and observe its rocky brook, which seems to emerge from nowhere.

Approximately a 15-minute stroll from where you’ve parked, you’ll spot a disused mine, the former operations of Gill Heads Mine, which has remained dormant since the early 1980s.

The entrance features a substantial gate with rockfall partially obstructing it, and visitors are strongly advised against entering the mine itself due to potential hazards, including potholes and collapse risks.

Legends and myths

Since its existence began, Trollers Gill has been cloaked in mystery but there’s one talethat particularly stands out from the rest. The location is thought to have been haunted by a Barghest, a massive hound with large luminous eyes.

According to ancient folklore, encountering the creature was far from fortunate but rather a harbinger of death, as those who crossed paths with the fearsome beast were frequently crushed to death or ripped apart, tales suggest.

One legend recounts the story of a man, John Lambert of Skirethorns, who bragged in a local pub about what he’d do to the enormous hound, which involved ‘giving it a good thrashing’ if he were to ever come across it. However, legend has it, he encountered the dog on his journey home, and it fatally crushed him.

John Henry Dixon from Grassington may have been the first individual to document such tales when he contributed a poem to a book published in 1827, William Hone’s Table Book.

In the ballad he describes a courageous man who ventures out to visit the Gill hoping to summon the mighty Barghest.

As he entered the gorge, he sensed the spirit of the stream warning him to turn back, but he disregarded it. He drew a protective magic circle around himself “with charms unblest”.

In his brief tale, the stream swelled and thundered, accompanied by a powerful wind, sweeping down the valley. He glimpsed the enormous shadow of the growling dog, its eyes illuminating the gorge walls.

The ferocious creature launched itself at the man and seized him as its next victim, dragging him to the valley floor, where his remains were subsequently discovered.

Various mythical creatures and supernatural entities have been reported inhabiting the ravine, which quite literally takes its name from trolls. It’s believed that Trollers’ Gill originates from ‘Troll’s Valley’, drawing from the Scandinavian tongue of those who made this area their home.

Their traditions and legends indicate that the term ‘troll’ encompasses any supernatural creatures, ranging from hulking giants to goblins, and naturally ‘trolls dwelling beneath the bridge’.

Meanwhile, the term ‘trolldom’ was understood to signify witchcraft and therefore implies the name stems from the notion of the valley being cursed, enchanted or inhabited by otherworldly beings.