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WHILE theme parks across the UK are opening back up for the summer, a popular attraction in Japan remains shut after two decades.

The once popular Wild West land closed its gates for the last time in 2007, remaining frozen in time ever since.

Located in Nikko, around two hours drive from Tokyo, Western Village was once home to a bustling arcade and entertainment park, designed to resemble the American Frontier.

However, the once-buzzing family establishment is now only visited by urban explorers.

The park first opened its doors in 1973 as a small attraction called Kinugawa Family Ranch, offering guests a range of outdoor activities including fishing and horse riding.

Just two years later, the site was rebranded as Western Village, attracting tourists from all over the world with its impressive recreating of a 19th Century frontier town.

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The attraction included an old-timey bank, barber shop, sheriff’s office and general store, as well as arcades and animatronic displays.

Live stunt shows also took place at the park, with actors reenacting gunfights between cowboys and outlaws.

There was also a train that took visitors around the park which was often subject to a staged robbery by the park’s resident outlaws.

In 1995, the park added a £20million replica of Mount Rushmore, which measured one-third of the real thing and was even carved into the landscape.

Despite the park’s initial success, it eventually began to lose out to larger, better located competitors such as Universal Studios Japan and Tokyo Disneyland.

In 2007, Western Village shut its doors for the last time, with many sections remaining untouched in the years since.

From arcade machines and eerie animatronics covered in dust to bottles still sitting on tables, the entire park has a creepy abandoned feel to it.

The park has remained a source of fascination for those visiting the area, particularly urban explorers.

According to the website Offbeat Japan, the replica Rushmore is still attracting visitors in 2026.

The outlet reported that tourists “have to come back to check it isn’t a hallucination”, adding that what remains of the park is “now being demolished little by little”.

HOLLY Hagan says she has been left in ‘excruciating pain’ while attempting to breastfeed her newborn daughter.

The Geordie Shore star, who gave birth last weekend, told fans that part of her nipple had ‘fallen off’ after spending 12 hours feeding the newborn.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, Holly opened up about struggling to breastfeed, admitting there was something stopping her from being able to feed comfortably.

Sharing how it currently feels like ‘glass’ going through her breasts, the reality star said she had been through a night from hell with daughter Madison-Darci.

The mum-of-two, who also shares son Alpha-Jax with her husband Jacob Blyth, wrote to the platform “Apologies for the lack of update but we had a BADDD night.

“Little missy awake for like 5 hours 3-8, nothing would settle her, she’d just fall asleep and wake up again.

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“My nipples honestly feel like they have glass running through them. I worked out I fed her 18 times for an average of 40 minutes that’s 12 hours of my day sat feeding! I have zero time to think about eating which is WILD for me I think about food 24/7.

“My bum hurts so much from constantly sitting down, my body hurts so much from being so tense when she feeds through the excruciating pain.”

Holly continued that Madison-Darci – who is sweetly named after her late sister – has been checked by doctors, who have confirmed there is no issue with her.

“Yes she’s been checked twice for a tongue tie. It’s not her latch that’s actually so strong, it’s my anatomy.

“It’s still excruciating with a nipple shield, still can’t get any more of my nipple in her mouth after expressing a bit off. Thank god I’d caught quite a bit of milk and stored it in the fridge so Jacob could take her this morning.

“But wow hats off to anyone who breast feeds it is more than a full time job!”

Despite the agonising pain, Holly, who didn’t breastfeed the first time around, said she is going to keep trying in the hopes it will get easier.

She ended the story: “I thought I wouldn’t care about adding formula especially since I only did formula with AJ but I REALLY want to breast feed this time!

“Not going to give up just yet, trying some bigger shields and seeing if my nipples toughen up.. a physical piece of my nipple fell off today LOL”.

WHILE most Brits use retirement to slow down, one Brit has done the opposite by starting a new life in Spain.

Fed up of the UK’s grey skies, Jeff Locke-Lavell packed his bags and moved to Majorca to start a new career as a Tui holiday rep.

Jeff admitted that in Majorca he’s “happier than ever”, now waking up to sunshine and spending his days helping people make the most of their holiday.

“It’s a completely different way of life,” he said.

Day-to-day, Jeff helps out with guest experiences at Tui Blue Sensatori Biomar Resort as well as sharing tips about the resort and the area.

One of his top tips: “If you want to see the real Majorca, I always suggest heading out to places like the mountains around Sóller or taking a boat trip along the coast.

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“There are some incredible hidden coves and the island has so much more to offer than people expect,” he revealed.

Jeff continued: “For something special, I love recommending a Palma day trip. The old town, the cathedral, the food, it’s a brilliant day out.

“And for families, the experiences we offer mean you can really make the most of your time here without the stress.

“Everything’s taken care of.”

When not working, Jeff and his wife, Sarah, make the most of living in Majorca, heading off exploring different spots including ticking things off the bucket list such as learning to scuba dive.

He said: “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do but never had the confidence and this job has given me that push.

“There’s always something new to discover.”

Before heading out to Spain, Jeff thought he would slow down.

But after the couple fell in love with Spain following trips to Nerja and Sarah landed her dream role as a kids’ club rep with Tui, working across Spanish destinations such as Benidorm and Majorca, as well as Lapland, the decision felt easy.

Jeff said: “We loved the lifestyle straight away, it was the warmth of the people, the pace of life, and of course the weather.

He added: “That’s when I thought, why not give [becoming a Tui rep] a go myself?”

Then landing a role as a Tui Blue rep, Jeff felt as if he had achieved a lifelong dream, especially after watching holiday reps work as a child during summer trips to Cornwall.

He shared: “At my age, you don’t expect someone to say yes, but they did – and it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.

“People think opportunities like this are only for the young, but that’s just not true.”

He added that no two guests are the same, with some wanting total relaxation while others want adventure.

“One minute I’m chatting to a family about day trips, the next I’m pointing couples towards hidden gems across the island,” he said.

Ultimately, Jeff hopes that other Brits will take similar leaps later in life.

“I’d say to anyone, if you’re thinking about doing something different, whether it’s a new job, moving abroad or trying a new hobby, just go for it.

“Life’s too short to sit back and wonder what if.

“I thought my best years were behind me, but it turns out they were only just getting started.”

What should have been the start of an exciting family holiday to Greece turned into a nightmare, after a mother of three was unable to board the plane due to a passport mistake

A mum was banned from boarding an easyJet flight with her family and was left £700 out of pocket after being caught out by a crucial passport rule.

Bolaji Omisade, 35, was filled with excitement as she headed to London Gatwick Airport with her husband and three sons ahead of their family holiday to Greece. But on arrival at the airport, she was told by easyJet staff that she wouldn’t be allowed to board the plane.

Confused by the situation, the social worker and content creator from Rainham in Essex was told at check-in that while her passport had not expired, it had been issued more than 10 years earlier, meaning it did not meet EU entry requirements. “Until that moment, I had absolutely no idea this rule existed,” Bolaji told creatorzine.com.

All UK passports must have been issued less than 10 years before the date of entry when travelling to most European countries under post-Brexit travel rules. Bolaji checked that her passport hadn’t expired before heading to the airport, but wasn’t aware of the crucial rule regarding the issue date.

It was a devastating moment for Bolaji as the reality of not being able to go on holiday with her husband and their three sons hit home. “I had to hold back my emotions because my children were watching everything unfold,” she said. “As a parent, that was one of the hardest parts. They were so disappointed.”

With no refund option and their planned departure time approaching, the family decided that Bolaji would return home with their youngest son, while her husband and two older boys would board the easyJet flight to Greece. Amid the holiday nightmare, Bolaji said she saw another holidaymaker being turned away at the airport for the same reason. “That was the moment I realised this wasn’t an isolated incident,” she said.

In an attempt to salvage the holiday, Bolaji swiftly booked an appointment to secure a new passport by using the one-day premium service through His Majesty’s Passport Office. While there were no suitable appointments available in London due to the bank holiday weekend, the mum managed to secure a 9.30am slot in Newport, Wales, and travelled up the night before.

After waiting several hours, Bolaji was finally issued a fresh passport, and she booked new flights. Bolaji and her youngest son joined the rest of the family in Greece on Thursday, but it meant they had only two days left of the holiday before flying home on Saturday.

While it was a stressful time for the family, it also resulted in an expensive mistake. With the cost of the emergency passport, hotel stay in Wales, travel expenses, and extra flights, the family ended up spending an additional £700 on top of their already prebooked getaway.

Since the ordeal, Bolaji has shared her experience on social media, warning other travellers and urging booking platforms to clarify the rule. “I believe airlines and booking platforms could do much more to highlight this rule,” she said. “If sharing my story helps even one family avoid being turned away at the airport, then something positive will have come from what was a very upsetting experience.”

To renew or replace your passport, online or at the HM Passport Office, visit the government website.

EasyJet has a dedicated page on its website to warn passengers of passport rules and requirements, including for the EU. As part of these warnings it explains: “Please check your passport’s expiry and issue date before you travel. If you’re a UK passport holder travelling to the EU (except Ireland), or Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican City or Switzerland, your passport will need to meet the following criteria:

• It must be valid for at least three months after the day you plan to depart from the EU or above countries*
• It must be no more than 10 years’ old on the date of travel to the EU or above countries.

“Visit the UK government’s advice page for more information.

“Citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area and Switzerland may travel within Europe using a valid EU/EEA/Swiss National Identity Card or Passport Card.”

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

OSCAR-nominated actor Terence Stamp left ­£1million in his will, ­documents show.

The star, who died last August aged 87, played villain General Zod in the original Superman movie and its sequel Superman II.

High Court records seen by The Sun show Stamp — who was divorced and had no children — left £1,015,564 to his wider family.

Stamp was born in London’s East End in 1938 and worked in advertising before ­winning a drama school scholarship in the 1950s.

His movie debut, Billy Budd in 1962, won him an Oscar nomination.

He dated actress Julie Christie and became a Sixties cultural figure.

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In 1994, he shocked fans by playing trans woman Bernadette in The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

The role won him a Golden Globe nomination.

Stamp went on to appear in a string of other films, including Valkyrie with Tom Cruise and Yes Man with Jim Carrey.

He continued to act well into his 80s with parts in various films and in TV’s adaptation of His Dark Materials.

But despite appearing in dozens of productions, he said he was annoyed he had not done more. He revealed: “My only regrets are the films that I passed on because I was fearful.”

Stamp died on August 17 last year, with tributes flooding in from acting royalty.

THE Traitors star Diane Carson has revealed she suffered a nasty fall on holiday that resulted in a £280 trip to the dentist.

The keen runner, 65, is on holiday in Lisbon with her son and his girlfriend, Rima.

While exploring the sunny Portuguese city, Diane came a cropper on a jog and it needed a pricey resolution.

She shared a video of her happily bounding through a park before the accident and wrote over the top: “Today’s amazing run — before the £280 worth of dental treatment.”

In the caption she gave more detail, explaining she had two scraped knees, a staved thumb, a severely swollen lip and two chipped teeth; one was so far back she couldn’t close her mouth.

Showing true grit, she completed another 1.5miles after the incident to finish her route.

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She wrote: “My tooth was masterfully maneuvered back into place and treatment completed with an orthodontic wire.”

Her followers were quick to comment, wishing her well and praising her strength for returning to exercise so soon after the accident.

One wrote: “Yikes! Not sure I would have carried on after that…”

Diane replied: “I’m a tad bloody minded – matching my face this morning!”

Another said: “Ouch!!!! But obviously finish the run! hope you’re ok.”

The reality star responded: “I’ll live, thank u. Tooth mightn’t though!”

In another exchange, a fan posted: “Poor you! Sounds painful… hope it doesn’t impede the rose enjoyment.”

Diane said: “Rarely impeded – even if I have to use a straw to accommodate a swollen mouth!!!”

The previous day, the retired teacher shared a picture with her son Ross, with whom she appeared in The Traitors with.

She wrote: “Lovely meeting up with Ross and Rima and what a great holiday destination – Lisbon!”

“Plenty of sunshine, running, exploring, shopping, Padel AND the discovery of natural wines! We arrived just in time for the start of Festas de Lisboa – so lots of craic!”

The series two pair were responsible for one of the series’ biggest twists and were both a big hit with viewers.

Their co-stars had no idea they were related until Ross delivered the news after being eliminated at the round table in episode 10.

His parting words were: “I am a Faithful… oh wait, no, I’m a Traitor. But I was a Faithful for most of it. And I do have one more secret… Diane is my mum.”

LOVE Island viewers have been left baffled after spotting Ellie Chadwick is rarely seen without her iconic £2,000 Prada bag.

Despite engaging in some tense chats in the villa, fans of the hit ITV show have been left distracted by her trusty wicker basket bag never being far from sight.

And it turns out there is a key reason why real estate videographer Ellie, 24, is always carrying her beloved accessory around the villa.

Amy Bannerman, eBay‘s Pre-Loved Style Director, told The Sun that bags were added into the Love Island pad for the first season of Love Island All Stars in January 2025.

She explained: “I wanted a way to add more eBay to the Islanders’ non-swimwear looks and give us an opportunity to talk about eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee (AG) offering. 

“The Love Island All Stars cast all really veer towards premium brands too, so it felt like the perfect place to introduce it.

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“There isn’t more of a focus on bags this season, but they have got more airtime from Ellie’s iconic Prada moment, which is great.”

Viewers have been left in fits of giggles after spotting Ellie’s bag habit and have taken to social media to discuss it further.

One wrote: “Ellie is the first girl I’ve seen carry a bag around the villa, she’s so real go find those designer bags girly show us the villa collection.”

This person replied: “And the only thing in there is probably her phone and some lip gloss.”

This person asked: “Can tell you right now that there’s nothing in Ellie’s bag,” while someone else echoed: “Why is Ellie the only person in love island to ever carry a handbag?”

Someone shared a picture of Teletubbies character Tinky Winky and their famous red handbag, while another posted a picture of Mr Tumble and his yellow spotted bag.

This viewer shared: “Ellie walking around the villa with a handbag, quite possibly is the first time I’ve seen that happen on that show, since I began watching it, all those years ago. Definitely not on my bingo card.”

Another added: “It’s really making me laugh that Ellie carries a handbag, like girl why do you need a handbag in the villa?”

And some fans have even suggested: “If she stays long enough, she’s going to have some bag deals.”

Amy clarified that there is no quota for how many eBay items Islanders have to use, but they have the option to choose from their “incredible choice of brands and styles.”

Amy explained: “They pick pieces from a shared wardrobe that includes everything from Versace and Gucci to vintage Topshop and Marks & Spencer. 

“Last season, unbranded vintage was the most-worn category, which was very exciting for us!”

The eBay staff member said they also added men’s bags as the “boys all seemed keen to join the girls in carrying AG bags.”

She added: “We have also added luxury AG men’s sliders too, so they’re wearing more eBay around the pool during daytime moments.”

The love triangle between Scottish lass Ellie and brothers Aidan and Kavan reared an ugly head on Sunday’s episode of Love Island, with Ellie branding Aidan as a ‘p****’.

Since Kavan entered the villa as a surprise bombshell he caught Ellie’s eye, despite her previously being coupled up with his brother.

The blonde beauty continued to express interest in both of the lads for a while until Sunday when everything came crashing down.

Ellie and Aidan were sitting on a sofa together talking about how Aidan kissed someone else when she was briefly booted from the villa.

Ellie left for around 12 hours alongside Samraj after bombshells Yasmin and George were tasked by host Maya Jama to axe a lad and a lady from the show.

However they weren’t really dumped from the programme, and instead went on secret dates with bombshells Priya and Kavan.

Ellie then returned to the villa and discovered that Aidan hadn’t been faithful.

She brought it up with Aidan tonight saying she can’t get past it and needed to “draw a line” under things.

An unconvinced Aidan didn’t take her seriously, saying he thinks she “still likes him”.

But Ellie then shut the romance down well and good, saying that the difference between Aidan and his brother Kavan is that Kavan “is not a p****”.

Flynn Byron finally found out what solider Rory Dickson was hiding during the latest episode of BBC’s Casualty as his romance with Stevie Nash left fans gobsmacked

The ending of the latest episode of Casualty has left BBC viewers all saying the same thing.

Saturday’s (June 6) instalment of the medical drama finally revealed the deadly secret from Flynn Byron’s (Olly Rix) past, which explains his mysterious and fractured relationship with his former military trainer, Colonel Jack Bard (Mark Womack)

In the current boxset titled Lethal Legacy, the clinical lead has become concerned about the welfare of one of Bard’s soldiers, Rory Dickson (Gwïon Morris Jones).

After noticing several injuries on the young man, Flynn has reached out to Rory several times, but has been silenced by Bard each time raising suspicions.

In the latest episode, Flynn rushed to hospital in the middle of the night to see Rory, who was brought in after being found drunk on a busy road. Rory received a mental health assessment before being released but Flynn was convinced that he was at risk of harming himself.

Flynn asked Rory to stick around so he can patch him up in his office and Rory later admitted that he’s being bullied by Bard, disclosing various horrific incidents that he has experienced at the barracks.

However, after Flynn secured Rory a place at a recuperation facility, the soldier vanished. A packet of drugs also went missing and Flynn headed out fearing the worst. Thankfully, Stevie found the medication in the hospital.

Flynn then got a call to say that Rory was in a critical condition after being hit by a car. Flynn rushed back to the ED to find Rory in cardiac arrest, but against all odds, managed to restart his heart.

Deeply affected by the events of the day, Flynn went out for a drink with Stevie Nash (Elinor Lawless) on the canal and the pair had an honest chat about her current struggles and they headed to a bar to shelter from the rain.

Flynn told Stevie that he started basic military training at the age of 17 with a boy called Adam, whose name was mentioned earlier in the boxset. Adam was also bullied by Bard and his ordeal led him to take his own life.

He signed a statement out of fear saying that Bard had nothing to do with Adam’s death but in an emotional moment, he explained that his fight to get justice for Rory is partly to make up for his past regrets.

Stevie sent Matty Linklaker (Aron Julius) a text to end their secret fling and she continued to drink with Flynn. He initially decided against sharing a taxi with Stevie but as he started walking in the rain and released that he wants to be with her.

He rushed back to the bar and was gutted to realise that he was too late as Stevie had already left in a taxi, leaving fans begging for next week’s episode already.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, one fan penned: “I am SCREAMING at today’s #Casualty I will simply never recover.” Another added: “Those final scenes between Flynn & Stevie in tonight’s #Casualty were [flame emoji].”

A third person said: “That end montage with Stevie and Flynn? It’s all probably going to go pear shaped though when he finds out about Matty.”

A fourth person said: “That ending had me literally jumping up and down, next week needs to hurry up already.” Someone else agreed: “Today’s episode was intense and full of emotion.” Could a love story be on the horizon or have Flynn and Stevie missed their chance?

Casualty airs on Saturday nights on BBC One and now streams first on BBC iPlayer at 6am on the day of transmission

For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website

Geraldine Noel was a lawyer in the UK when she accidentally found herself relocating to Malta, a sun-drenched Mediterranean island where English is an official language

It was a complete twist of fate that led high-flying lawyer Geraldine Noel to swap her life for a Mediterranean paradise where English is spoken as a first language.

She said: “I never would have thought adopting a rescue dog and being banned from bringing it into the UK would have led me to settling in Malta, but I love my life here in the sun and wouldn’t change a thing.”

Born in south-west London, Geraldine was offered a position at a Maltese bank. This was before Brexit, she explains, when it was considerably easier for British citizens to live and work across EU nations.

She told the I newspaper how property prices on the sun-soaked island have shifted dramatically since she first arrived 16 years ago: “I’m very fortunate. I was able to purchase a property in the north of the island in St Paul’s Bay 13 years ago. So I’ve been able to avoid the year-on-year increase of property prices that we are currently dealing with.”

Soaring property prices are being driven by a significant surge in demand. Malta’s population is currently estimated to sit at around 580,000 – with much of the growth attributed to American retirees, drawn in by the Mediterranean haven’s warm climate and straightforward access to Italy, Greece, and North Africa. The single largest expat community in Malta, however, remains British – with roughly 15,000 Brits calling the island home.

Geraldine continued: “When I moved, a two-bedroom in St Paul’s Bay would have cost between £150,000 and £250,000 and now that same property would be worth between £200,000 and £350,000.”

This surge in property demand has sparked a construction boom, with new homes and extensions springing up across the island. The downside, Geraldine notes, is increased traffic and noise.

Yet it’s Malta’s tax system that proves most enticing to British expats, she explains: “Tax efficiency is one of the most appealing things about living here. Malta still has the British non-dom regime and a variety of tax breaks that include a 15% rate on income remitted to the country, and no capital gains or inheritance tax.”

Sadly, moving to Malta from the UK has become more complicated in recent years: “The curse of Brexit, though, means it’s so much harder for young people to move over – you have to have a work permit or be on a residency programme,” Geraldine said.

That said, she points out, skilled tradespeople – plumbers, carpenters or electricians – will find abundant opportunities thanks to Malta’s construction surge.

Ultimately, Malta offers an exceptional quality of life, Geraldine insists. She cultivates tropical fruit in her garden and lives just a five-minute stroll from the beach, while still enjoying familiar home comforts for nostalgic Brits: “There are so many things that make Malta appealing to British nationals,” Geraldine says.

“English is an official language, there are British pubs galore that do roasts with all the trimmings, red post boxes, Marks & Spencer. You can get Waitrose and Iceland-branded products in certain supermarkets. I actually have Greggs sausage rolls in the freezer right now.”

Malta remained under British rule until it achieved independence in 1964. As a result, English is one of the island’s two official languages, alongside Maltese.