Park

A KNIFEMAN is on the loose after a teenage boy was stabbed to death in a Powerleague football car park.

Cops now say a murder investigation has been launched after the brutal attack in Bury, Greater Manchester.

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The 19-year-old man was attacked just before 9pm on Friday, August 1 in a car park on Market Street, according to Greater Manchester Police.

He sustained several stab wounds and later died from his injuries, the force said.

His family are being supported by specially trained officers.

No arrests have yet been made in what police believe was a “targeted attack” and officers have appealed for any witnesses to contact them.

Detective Chief Inspector John Charlton, from the Major Incident Team, said: “Firstly, our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends after this tragic and upsetting incident – our specially trained officers are supporting them at this difficult time.

“This incident will have shocked the community and distressed anyone who witnessed it, but we believe this was a targeted attack with no wider threat.

“We have several scenes in place with the investigation ongoing in order to identify and apprehend the offenders responsible.

“There will be officers in the area today and in the coming days as we are determined to bring the family the answers they deserve.”

PLANS for a giant new village next to a UK holiday hotspot with 1200 homes have now been unveiled.

The proposals to launch Canford Garden Village in Dorset will be essential in tackling the ever-pressing housing crisis in the UK.

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The Canford scheme aims to create a new community focusing on family housing and social infrastructure.

The site will be located near Wimborne in Dorset, and it is thought to be prime real estate, according to W.H. White.

W.H White are behind the plans which were submitted to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP).

The plans are to build 1200 new homes across the 230 hectares site, creating a characterful village which is architecturally striking which fits within the landscape.

In order to help ease the housing crisis currently taking hold of the UK, it has been reported that 40 per cent of the new buildings will be affordable homes.

What’s more, it will not be just a housing development, as the plans recognise the need for supporting infrastructure.

For example, there will be a community hub, flexible workspaces, community facilities, and a care home.

There will also be education and healthcare provision, as well as local infrastructure improvements to ease the pressure that would be placed on surrounding areas.

A total of 600 of the homes would be dedicated to first-time buyers, social rent and shared ownership schemes.

Scott Worsfold Associates were selected to create a complete design vision.

The plans for the site were was unanimously approved for a new sustainable community in March 2021 by the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council.

The land used to be a former quarry and golf course, and will now be made into a biodiverse community.

Current farmland is also earmarked to be turned into 90 hectares of publicly available green space with new habitats and allotments.

The proposal has garnered support from various stakeholders, including Dorset Chamber and Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, who emphasise the economic benefits and job creation potential of the development.

However there has been some backlash to the proposals.

It was reported that there were critics to the plan due to concerns regarding the potential impact on existing infrastructure, traffic congestion, and highway safety, particularly concerning access to the site from Blandford Road.

Some were also concerned about the proximity to existing facilities like Lockyer’s Middle School, which could cause longterm disruption. 

Ward councillor for Bearwood and Merley, Richard Burton, said: “We’ve had a lot of development in Bearwood and therefore I know my residents will be very worried about this because of the impact it could have.” 

However, he said the scheme is in the very early stages and this scoping application does not mean the local authority is supporting it. 

“From a political point of view, I do totally understand that we need more affordable housing in BCP, but just choosing the easiest places to build, which is currently Green Belt, isn’t the way forward and it’s not sustainable,” said Cllr Burton. 

W.H. White said there would be a commitment to low carbon construction with solar energy, ground source heating and opportunities for localised renewable energy. 

A spokesperson for W.H. White said: “The current shortfall in housing supply, combined with well-documented viability challenges of delivering homes on urban land, has prompted renewed interest in strategic and deliverable opportunities such as at Canford Village.”

BCP Council previously said it would soon initiate a new call for potential development sites in the conurbation as part of ongoing efforts to deliver new homes.

Cllr Millie Earl, leader of BCP Council, previously said: “It is important that we balance our future development priorities whilst protecting the beautiful area that we live in and the precious natural environment we are so lucky to have.”

THE WORLD’S top place to take bored kids this summer, which is in the UK, has announced a new rainy day guarantee scheme.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort has introduced a free return for ticketholders who attend the attraction on a day that rains.

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The new policy means that guests will always have a great visit to the attraction, because if the weather is poor they can return on a day where it is better.

The policy will be in place throughout August and it will need to rain for more than three hours on the day of their trip.

If this does happen, then guests can return for free within seven days of their original visit date.

CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, Amanda Thompson OBE said: “It’s important to us that guests have the best time when visiting, and while technically speaking the rain doesn’t affect our rides, we wouldn’t want the wet weather to dampen anyone’s day.

“We truly believe that you can have a great time at Pleasure Beach come rain or shine, but we know that everything is extra special when the weather is on side.”

If a guest wants to use a rainy day return, they should arrive at the same ticket centre on the day of their return visit and display their eTickets, paper tickets or confirmation email to staff.

The new option can also be used seven days of the week.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach resort was also recently named as one of the best attractions to bust kids being bored.

AttractionTickets.com created an index compiling the best attractions to take kids to this summer and the Lancashire-based attraction managed to beat the likes of Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.

Overall, it scored 31.3 out of a possible 35 marks.

The attraction is home to 10 rollercoasters, five ‘dark’ (indoor) rides, five water rides and 12 Nickelodeon-themed rides.

Throughout the year, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort also hosts a number of shows, including fireworks.

Earlier this year, the reimagining of Launch Pad was unveiled, which climbs up to 80 mph and sends riders 210 ft into the air.

AttractionTickets.com’s Banish Boredom Index was made by analysing reviews from over 160 destinations, and the UK dominated the top 20.

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These included the likes of the Tower of London, Ribby Hall Village, and Warner Bros. Studio Tour London all made the list.

Some other attractions across the UK offer rainy day guarantees, such as Crealy Adventure Park in Devon.

The attraction offers visitors a free return within seven days of their original visit if there is 30 minutes or more of continuous rainfall during their visit.

It is worth checking the FAQs or T&Cs of your tickets to an attraction to see if the theme park, adventure park or other destination offers the same guarantee.

Use these tips on your next theme park trip

Next time you visit a theme park, you may want to use our top tips to make the most of your adrenaline-inducing day out.

1. Go to the back of the theme park first. Rides at the front will have the longest queues as soon as it opens.
2. Go on water rides in the middle of the day in the summer – this will cool you off when the sun is at its hottest.
3. Download the park’s app to track which rides have the shortest queues.
4. Visit on your birthday, as some parks give out “birthday badges” that can get you freebies.
5. If it rains, contact the park. Depending on how much it rained, you may get a free ticket to return.

There is also a unique UK theme park with safaris, water park and rides for everyone from toddlers to grandparents.

Plus, Disney is set to open a brand new theme park and resort – here’s everything we know.

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Newbury Park will begin the football season without standout linebacker Balen Betancourt, who is recovering from off-season knee surgery, along with several receiver transfers who will be sitting out until Sept. 29.

The Panthers are expected to be much better after their fifth game but still have enough to get through an improved nonleague schedule with All-American quarterback Brady Smigiel leading the way. That was coach Joe Smigiel’s prediction during a Conjeo Coast League media gathering on Thursday.

Newbury Park’s new offensive coordinator is alumnus Cam Rising, the former Utah quarterback.

“He’s amazing,” Smigiel said. “He brings so much to the table.”

Interesting note: Smigiel and Betancourt have been playing together since fourth grade. Betancourt drives from Ventura. He played for Smigiel’s father, Joe, growing up.

Instead of creating a lemonade stand, Calabasas’ Hardy brothers could open up a sporting goods stand considering all the footballs around the house. Dezmyn Hardy is a 6-foot-5 senior receiver. Brother Dominik is a junior quarterback. And there’s their brothers ages 12 and 9. Dezmyn said he estimates at least 15 footballs are available to use.

The passing duo should be outstanding this season. Both have continued to grow and add weight. Dominik passed for 2,117 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, when Dezmyn had 53 catches and seven touchdowns.

Calabasas has the makings of a dynamic offensewith receiver Kingston Celifie and running back Kayne Miller, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards. Miller’s twin brothers are walk-ons at USC.

Malachi Johnson of Santa Barbara was the Conejo Coast lineman of the year last season.

(Eric Sondheimer / Los Angeles Times)

There’s lots to like about 6-foot-4, 270-pound senior offensive tackle Malachi Johnson, the reigning league lineman of the year from Santa Barbara. For one, he says he hasn’t allowed a sack in two years. He also wants to find a college program that’s about family more than business.

He has long blond hair that he began growing out in 2020 during the COVID era and hasn’t cut it since other than occasional small trims. He has excellent grades and could become a much-desired blocker if he starts well this season.

New Thousand Oaks coach Branden Anderson got to coach Smigiel last season. Now he gets to work with Thousand Oaks quarterback Jackson Taylor, a Boise State commit. He said he feels fortunate and both have similar qualities when it comes to being accurate with strong arms.

As for Taylor’s offseason, he said, “There’s a lot of stuff mechanically I wanted to clean up. Also pocket presence is a big thing for me.”

First-year Westlake coach Rick Clausen has been around some good head coaches during his playing and assistant coaching careers (Nick Saban, Jumbo Fisher, Bill Redell). He said he’ll take things he learned from everyone.

The Clausen family is known for working with quarterbacks since he and brothers Casey and Jimmy were quarterbacks.

He was asked who’s the quarterback coach this season: “As of right now, it’s me. When Jimmy shows up, I’ll pass the torch to him. When Casey shows up, I’ll pass the torch to him. It’s a committee.”

Westlake will have one of the most promising freshman quarterbacks in Ford Green, a 6-2, 195-pounder who was impressive in a spring appearance.

Rio Mesa is turning to 6-3 tight end Alec Fontyn to take over quarterback duties from the graduated J.J. Bittner, a four-year starter.

Fontyn, also an outfielder for the baseball team, played quarterback earlier in his career and has been a two-sport standout since freshman season.

Gov. Gavin Newsom plans to issue an executive order Wednesday allowing Los Angeles-area governments to limit development in wildfire-affected neighborhoods by exempting them from provisions of a landmark housing law, a spokesperson for his office said.

The proposed order would let the city and county of Los Angeles and Malibu restrict construction that was allowed under Senate Bill 9, a 2021 law that allows property owners build as many as four units on land previously reserved for single-family homes.

The order would apply to Pacific Palisades and parts of Malibu and Altadena — areas that burned in January’s Palisades and Eaton fires that are designated as “very high fire hazard severity zones” by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Newsom spokesperson Tara Gallegos said.

The decision came after concerns about the potential of a significant population increase if there were widespread use of SB 9 developments in rebuilding areas, making future fire evacuations even more difficult, Gallegos said.

The governor’s plan follows pressure this week from elected officials in Los Angeles. On Monday, City Councilmember Traci Park, who represents Pacific Palisades, sent a letter to Newsom requesting that he suspend SB 9, warning that otherwise there could be “an unforeseen explosion of density” in a risky area.

“When SB 9 was adopted into state law, it was never intended to capitalize on a horrific disaster,” Park wrote.

On Tuesday, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass released a statement supporting Park’s request, citing similar concerns about SB 9 straining evacuation routes and local infrastructure in the Palisades.

“It could fundamentally alter the safety of the area,” Bass said.

July 27 (UPI) — “All available resources are being used” to find the suspect in the deaths of a couple hiking on a trail at a northwest Arkansas state park, Col. Mike Hagar of the Arkansas State Police said Sunday.

Clinton David Brink, 43, and his wife, Cristenb Amanda Brinks, 41, were killed at Devil’s Den State Park near Fayetteville in Washington County on Saturday afternoon, state police said. The couple, who recently moved to Prairie Grove from another state, were hiking with their daughters, 7 and 9, who were not injured.

They are safe and in the custody of relatives, police said.

“I want to thank the public and our media partners for their support as we pursue the man responsible for this heinous crime,” Hagar said in a statement. “We are using all available resources to apprehend this suspect and bring him to justice.”

Assisting are local, state and federal law enforcement.

The 2,500-acre park is in a remote and rural area, including rugged terrain with thick vegetation and no cellphone service. The park includes several trails and 20 miles for horseback riding.

The park is in Lee Creek Valley of the Boston Mountains, which are part of the Ozarks. It was selected as a state park in the 1930s, and developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a work relief program established during the Great Depression.

Devil’s Den also includes caves, an 8-acre man-made lake for fishing and boating, as well as a swimming pool. Campsites and cabins are also available.

Police were dispatched at 2:40 p.m. local time Saturday.

Investigators have not released the circumstances of the situation but have launched a double homicide investigation.

They are asking for the public’ help in identifying the suspect.

“Investigators are asking those who visited the park on Saturday to check cellphone photos and videos or GoPro camera footage for images of the suspect,” according to the police statement.

Also, people nearby are asked to check their home security camera footage.

The state police believe he is a White man with a medium build who was carrying a backpack.

Police said he was driving toward a park exit in a black, four-door sedan, possibly a Mazda.

The vehicle may have been going on State Highway 170 to State Highway 220 near the park.

There is increased law enforcement in all of the state parks.

“We are praying for the family and friends of the victims, and know that law enforcement will not rest until the perpetrator is brought to justice,” Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders posted on X.

A naked Donald Trump was depicted in bed with Satan in the 27th season premiere of South Park, a reference which sparked anger from the White House in the US

South Park co-creator Trey Parker hit back at anger from the White House over the depiction of a naked Donald Trump in bed with Satan in the animated series.

The reference featured in the first episode of the 27th series of the programme, which aired on Wednesday, following the team’s £1.19bn ($1.5 billion) deal with Paramount. The White House blasted the jibe, branding South Park a “fourth-rate show… with uninspired ideas.”

But today Mr Parker, who with Matt Stone created South Park in 1997, had the briefest – and iciest – response to the backlash. He said: “We’re terribly sorry” and gave a long, deadpan-comic stare to camera and his fans.

Mr Parker, who also co-created The Book of Mormon, was asked for his reaction to the fracas as he sat on the stage at San Diego’s Comic-Con International at the beginning of a Comedy Central animation panel. Mr Stone was also on the panel at the comic book convention, held in California every year.

READ MORE: Where you’ve seen the cast of Amazon Prime’s Cross before from Supernatural to 90210

In the episode, Mr Trump sues the town of South Park when its residents challenge the presence of Jesus Christ – the actual person – in its elementary school. Jesus tells them they ought to settle.

Although Mr Parker and Mr Stone recently signed a five-year deal with Paramount for 50 new episodes and streaming rights to previous seasons, they used the episode on Wednesday to take aim at the company’s its $16 million (£11.8 million) recent settlement with Mr Trump.

But in a statement after the season premiere aired, a spokesperson for the White House said: “This show hasn’t been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention. President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country’s history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump’s hot streak.”

In the episode, Jesus says: “You guys saw what happened to CBS? Yeah, well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount. Do you really want to end up like Colbert?”

CBS and parent Paramount Global canceled Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” last week, days after Colbert sharply criticised Paramount’s settlement of Mr Trump’s lawsuit over a “60 Minutes” interview. CBS and Paramount executives said it was a financial decision to axe “The Late Show.”

The efficiency of South Park production, and the brinksmanship of its creators, has allowed it to stay incredibly current for an animated series, fans say.

Speaking at Comic-Con, father-of-one Mr Parker said: “I don’t know what next week’s episode is going to be. Even just three days ago, we were like, ‘I don’t know if people are going to like this.'”

“South Park” wasted no time putting its very existence on the line, again. On Wednesday, the Comedy Central series kicked off its 27th season with a searing indictment of President Trump and its network’s parent company, Paramount. Paramount recently paid the president $16 million toward his future library rather than fighting a lawsuit Trump brought against “60 Minutes” (Paramount is also a parent company of CBS).

It was also announced last week that “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” which airs on Paramount-owned CBS, was being canceled. Colbert is one of the most prominent political satirists in America, and from his pulpit has been a relentless critic of MAGA policy and Trump. Like the payout over the “60 Minutes” lawsuit, Colbert’s cancellation comes just as Paramount is seeking federal approval of an $8-billion merger with Skydance Media.

“South Park” couldn’t have returned at a better time.

The episode, titled “Sermon on the Mount,” opens with Cartman discovering his favorite radio station, NPR, has been canceled. Making fun of its wokeness was part of his identity, and now he’s lost and angry. “The government can’t cancel a show!” he laments before dropping a self-referential joke about “South Park’s” own vulnerability. “I mean, what show are they going to cancel next?”

Paramount might be tempted to cancel “South Park” after Wednesday night’s damning premiere, when the show repeatedly lampooned the company’s costly capitulation to Trump. And Paramount earlier this week announced a $1.5 billion deal with “South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone for 14 new movies, six more seasons and streaming rights on Paramount+ for the next five years.

The new season continues to plumb the horrifying depths of 2025 when Cartman also finds that his school is demanding students accept the presence of Jesus, literally. Cartman is called to the principal’s office for not letting Jesus sit with his group in the cafeteria at lunch, even though there were no empty seats. There’s always room for the Lord, he’s told.

The townspeople become angry that they voted in a guy who they thought would target other people — like immigrants. They don’t want religion forced on their kids at school, but newscasts make their plight seem hopeless. “More protests today as the president pushes harder for Christianity in our schools. The president stated earlier today that the spirit of Jesus is important to our country and he will sue anyone who doesn’t agree with him.”

The truly wicked satire begins when they cut to Trump at the White House. He’s the only character whose head is an actual photo rather than a drawing, and the president’s image is deftly manipulated to reflect the many faces of the real man: pouting, grimacing, smiling, leering and pouting, again.

He repeatedly demands that everyone relax while he threatens to destroy them. He argues with Canada’s prime minister over tariffs (“You don’t want me to bomb you like I did Iraq,” says Trump. “I thought you just bombed Iran,” the PM replies. “Iran. Iraq. What the hell’s the difference?”). Trump also lies naked in bed with Satan, revealing his minuscule manhood. Disgusted, the devil rebuffs the president’s advances and says, “I can’t even see anything, it’s so small.”

Satan is also perturbed that some rando on Insta keeps commenting about sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein’s client list.

“Epstein, are we still talking about that?” Trump says.

“Are you on the list or not?” Satan asks. “It’s weird that when it comes up you just keep telling everyone to relax.”

Then we jump to a segment of “60 Minutes” where the beleaguered show’s hosts mumble in terror for fear of another lawsuit as the show’s signature stopwatch sound is set to the image of a ticking time bomb. They refer to the president as “a great man” who “is probably watching” before cutting to their reporter who is covering the protests against Trump in South Park, Colorado.

Jesus touches down to address his flock under the guise of fulfilling Trump’s wish to bring Christianity back into public schools. But he’s really there to warn the crowd, and does so in a whisper. “I didn’t want to come back and be in the school, but I had to because it was part of a lawsuit and the agreement with Paramount.”

“The president’s suing you?” a protester asks.

Jesus, through clenched teeth, explains: “The guy can do what he wants now that someone backed down. … You guys see what’s happened to CBS? Well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount! You really want to end up like Colbert? … All of you, shut the f— up or South Park is over!”

The town ends up being sued by Trump, and they, like Paramount, cave. They pay him off, but are also required to sing his praises as part of the settlement.

The episode ends with a pro-Trump ad by the town. It’s a realistic deepfake video of the president trekking through the desert heat in a show of loyalty to his supporters. He strips naked and once again we’re reminded that it’s not just his hands that are small.

That wail you just heard? It’s coming from the White House. A new lawsuit is born.

The creators of Comedy Central’s “South Park” reached a breakthrough Monday in the tense negotiations over the streaming rights of the long-running satirical cartoon.

Paramount agreed to buy the global streaming rights for “South Park” to bring the show to the company’s digital service, Paramount+, for the first time in the U.S., according to three people close to the negotiations who were not authorized to comment.

The deal with Trey Parker and Matt Stone, through their Park County production company, values the global streaming rights at $300 million a year, according to two of the people close to the agreement, who could not discuss the matter publicly because the deal is not final.

The five-year deal means the show will fetch $1.5 billion for streaming alone.

The sum preserves the show’s status as one of the world’s most valuable TV franchises.

Both sides were motivated to reach a deal before Wednesday, when Paramount’s Comedy Central channel kicks off the 27th season of “South Park.”

Paramount also wanted to avoid any public relations fiascoes when Stone and Parker take the stage Thursday at fan-fest Comic-Con in San Diego.

Separately, the two sides have been negotiating an overall deal for Parker and Stone, to renew their previous $900-million pact that kept the show on Comedy Central with new episodes through 2027. Parker and Stone’s team are seeking a higher valuation in order to produce new seasons.

This is a developing story.

Stung by the ‘Benidorm Boom’, this huge Billy Butlin’s resort in the UK closed its doors back in 1999, despite being upgraded with a whopping £25 million of investment

An abandoned Billy Butlin’s resort that once lured in thousands of Brits looks completely different nowadays, after it failed to stay afloat. After being used throughout the war as a Navy training camp, a huge 85-acre site in Ayr, Scotland, was transferred into Butlin’s ownership back in 1946. At first, it could only accommodate some 2,000 guests – but this was quickly expanded to more than double its capacity.

In the following years, major investment was pumped into the site, welcoming an impressive indoor swimming pool, its very own miniature railways, and the first of the Butlin’s iconic chairlifts.

READ MORE: Huge blow to Butlin’s and Pontins as UK’s best holiday park named

All of this bolstered the resort’s appeal, quickly establishing it as one of the best UK staycation destinations for Brits. However, just like the former sites in Barry, Pwllheli, and Filey – the Ayr site started to struggle to bring in the high levels of tourism it had been consistently witnessing.

The blow came as the ‘Benidorm Boom’ (aka when package holidays to overseas destinations like Spain became more affordable) wreaked havoc on seaside destinations across the UK.

According to Butlin’s Memories, the final months of the 1987 season were ‘watched closely’ to see whether it was worth investing in the complex more. “On October 14, Butlin’s finally announced a £25 million investment programme,” the publication wrote.

“The decision to go ahead [with investment] was taken after the Scottish Tourist Board pledged their support for the project. Work began the following year and £12 million was immediately invested in the creation of a new indoor water complex and three-star accommodation for all holidaymakers, as well as a new 900-seat food court and a facelift for the caravan park.”

It is believed the remaining £13 million was invested over the next five years, before the site was renamed Wonderwest World. However, 10 years later and the resort was transferred over to Haven – who developed the site into what is now known as Craig Tara Holiday Park.

The run-down chalets were bulldozed down and replaced with luxury caravans. Now, Craig Tara boasts modern beachfront accommodation looking out onto the Isle of Arran, along with arcades, a Splashaway Bay multi-level water complex, an all-weather Airspace sports hall, and eateries including Burger King and Chopstix.

Three-night breaks start from just £49 for caravan stays and £249 for lodges. Visitors can also stay in apartments, priced from £49 for a four-night stay. All of the accommodation types are within walking distance to three miles of rugged coastline, featuring soft golden sand and crystal-clear waters.

*Prices based on Haven’s website at the time of writing.

What’s your favourite UK holiday park? Let us know in the comments section below

Just a stone’s throw from one of the most popular seaside resorts in the UK, this quaint coastal village has stunning beaches, a ubiquitous history, and one of the country’s best holiday parks

A charming seaside village overshadowed by its popular neighbour is finally having its moment under the spotlight. Surrounded by idyllic Norfolk countryside, and part of a 15-mile stretch of unspoilt coastline, lies the tiny parish of Hopton-on-Sea.

Here, you’ll find all your quintessential seaside must-haves – from rows of flashing arcades, fish and chip shops, and white sand that melts into turquoise waters. It’s just six miles south of Great Yarmouth, one of the most iconic staycation hotspots in the UK. However, Hotpon-On-Sea offers a more laid-back, chilled vibe, which is perfect for those wanting to kick back with a good book and soak up the rays.

Steeped in history, human activity in the village dates back to the Palaeolithic era – and Hopton-On-Sea was used as part of a dense military defence network during the Second World War.

“The oldest building in the parish is the ruins of St Margaret’s church. Built in the 14th century, it burned down in 1865,” explains Visit Norfolk. “The ruins of the old church are being restored to form a cultural centre for the village. As part of the £140,000 restoration project by the Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust, gargoyles were found on the site from the previous 11th-century church.”

But what really sets Hopton-On-Sea apart from the rest is that it’s home to the award-winning Potters Resort, which was recently ranked the best UK holiday park by consumer brand Which?. Scoring an impressive 87 per cent overall customer score, travellers gave the resort five stars for its quality of facilities/ activities and West-end quality entertainment.

Potters also received a respectable four stars for several criteria, including the quality of accommodation, cleanliness of the resort, and food and drink offerings. With average prices at around £110 per night, Potters may seem quite expensive at first – but the adults-only resort is actually all-inclusive, meaning you don’t need to spend a penny on food or drink while you’re there.

“The Facilities are excellent,” raved one visitor. “[The] Activities varied and well organised and the entertainment outstanding. All inclusive deal was very good value; the food is superb and plentiful.” Another agreed, hailing: “I have been many times and find a consistently good standard.”

Located some 143 miles from central London, driving to Hopton-On-Sea from the Big Smoke will take around three hours and 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a two-hour and 36-minute train journey from London Liverpool Street over to Great Yarmouth, which will include a stopover at Norwich.

From here, you’ll have to take a 15-minute taxi ride down to Hopton-On-Sea, or you can take the 1A Coastal Clipper bus towards Lowestoft and disembark at The Turnstone. Then, you’ll be around a 15-minute walk to Hopton’s stunning beach. If you’re flexible with dates, you can grab single adult fares for as little as £20.

Like many other holiday parks, Potters operates on either three-night breaks (that start on a Friday) or four-night breaks that start on a Monday. If you want to visit during the peak season, a three-night stay on Friday, August 8, will set you back £739 for an adult and £599 for a child aged 10-17. Again, this also includes your food and drink for the entire duration, as well as a host of activities and entertainment.

If that’s still way out of your budget, staying in a caravan is a great way to keep the price down. Check out this three-bed mobile home here, which costs £424 on the exact same nights.

*Prices based on Trainline, Booking.com and Potters Resort listings at the time of writing. Which?’s league tables are based on 2,255 responses from 1,717 Which? members and the general public. The survey was carried out in February and March 2024.

Do you have a story to share? Email us at [email protected] for a chance to be featured.

Brits looking for their next staycation have been urged to ‘look past heavyweights’ like Butlin’s and Pontins after both were snubbed in the league tables for the UK’s best holiday park

The UK’s best holiday park has been revealed – and it’s bad news for the Red Coats. With the cost of living crisis still grappling cash-strapped Brits, many of us are ditching their fortnight abroad for a much more affordable staycation.

In fact, data from last year showed a whopping 52 per cent of Brits were opting to holiday in the UK instead of jetting off to the likes of Spain and Greece, with 34 per cent planning for at least two staycations during 2024. Now that the school summer holidays are just around the corner, swathes of households will be searching for a last-minute break to escape the city and relax.

READ MORE: ‘I went to UK’s poshest service station to see if I could survive with £5’

As a result, consumer brand Which? has ranked all of the UK’s holiday parks – arguing you might want to ‘look past heavyweights’ like Center Parcs, Butlin’s and Pontins.

Despite attracting around 1.5 million visitors a year, Butlin’s was dealt a huge blow in the league tables – ranking fifth to last. The resort, which has three sites across the UK, scored an overall customer score of 67 per cent.

Travellers gave Butlin’s a meagre two stars for its value for money, food and drink offerings, and overall customer service, and three stars for its dog friendliness and variety of free facilities. When it came to the ‘quality and variety of children’s activities’, Butlin’s received a much more respectable four stars.

However, it was Pontins that came scraping in at the bottom – with a 56 per cent overall customer score. “The furnishings were extremely tired, the chairs and beds were incredibly uncomfortable, and the grounds within the complex were mostly overgrown,” one visitor scathed.

Another agreed, fuming: “It is cheap to book and entertain children. However, the facilities available and prices were below par when actually at the resort.”

Taking home gold, with an impressive 87 per cent customer score, is Potters Resorts. The adult-only, all-inclusive park has just two locations (one in Norfolk and one in Essex) and prides itself on its ‘award-winning hospitality’ and ‘West End-quality evening entertainment’.

Operating for more than 100 years, visitors spent around £110 per person per night – and was hailed for its good value for money (remember this price covers your food and drinks too). “The facilities are excellent,” praised one recent traveller. “Activities varied and well organised. Entertainment was outstanding. The all inclusive deal was very good value. Food superb and plentiful.”

UK’s best holiday parks and resorts rated

1. Potters Resorts
2. Forest Holidays
3. Bluestone Wales
4. John Fowler Holiday Parks
5. Hoburne Holidays
6. Hoseasons
7. Waterside Holiday Group
8. Warner Leisure Villages
9. Centerparcs
10. Haven Holiday Parks
11. Parkdean Resorts
12. Butlin’s
13. Park Holidays UK
14. Away Resorts
15. Largo Leisure Parks
16. Pontins

*Which?’s league tables are based on 2,255 responses from 1,717 Which? members and the general public. The survey was carried out in February and March 2024.

The Mirror has approached Butlin’s and Pontins for comment.

What’s your favourite UK holiday park? Let us know in the comments section below

NEW YORK — An off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer was shot in a Manhattan park after an apparent robbery gone wrong, New York City police and federal officials said Sunday.

The 42-year-old officer was in stable condition after the Saturday attack and is expected to survive. A spokesperson for the New York Police Department said there was no indication the shooting was politically motivated.

The agent, who was not in uniform, was sitting in a park beneath the George Washington Bridge when he was approached by a man riding on the back of a moped, who shot him in the face and arm, police said. The off-duty officer returned fire as the moped sped off.

No arrests had been made as of Sunday afternoon, according to a police spokesperson.

The Department of Homeland Security shared video online of the two men on a moped, alleging the shooter was caught entering the country illegally in 2023 but released.

The NYPD spokesperson said they had no information about the source of that claim.

In a social media post Sunday afternoon, President Trump seized on the shooting, alleging it was evidence of Democrats’ failures to secure the border. “The CBP Officer bravely fought off his attacker, despite his wounds, demonstrating enormous Skill and Courage,” he wrote.

The shooting comes as federal officials say there has been a surge of attacks on agents carrying out Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

Enforcement officers involved in the crackdown often cover their faces, which critics say spreads fear and panic across communities and imperils citizens as well as immigrants without legal status. The Trump administration defends masking, which it says is needed to avoid harassment of agents in public and online.

On Sunday, the acting director of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, Todd Lyons, said he would allow agents to continue covering their faces, which he called a safety measure “If that’s a tool that the men and women of ICE that keeps themselves and their families safe, then I will allow it,” he said.

It’s all about a California (and high-growth) state of mind.

A park photographer, Kristin Wagner, photographs visitors as they enter Disney’s California Adventure, just below a recreation of the Golden Gate Bridge.

(Don Kelsen/Los Angeles Times)

In a period of grand expansion, Disneyland would start to become a proper resort — a metamorphosis that, while it didn’t work immediately, would be course-corrected and set up Disneyland for a new generation of growth. This era added Disney California Adventure, turning the destination into one that the Walt Disney Co. hoped would command multiday stays.

What was new

A former parking lot across from Disneyland was remade into Disney California Adventure, which would open in February 2001. The long in-development project was designed to honor California culture, but was pitched initially as a West Coast answer to Walt Disney World’s Epcot. The Times was kind in its opening coverage, praising the park’s change of pace from Disneyland and admiring how its architecture blurred fiction and reality.

The hang-gliding simulation Soarin’ Over California was an instant hit, and “Eureka! A California Parade” was Disney theatricality at its weirdest, with floats that depicted Old Town San Diego, Watts and more. But California Adventure’s prevalence of amusement park-like rides failed to command the crowds of its next door neighbor. Disney’s own documentary “The Imagineering Story” took a tough-love approach to the park’s early days, comparing some of its initial designs to those of a local mall. In time, however — with multiple makeovers and additions — California Adventure would become a beloved, world-class theme park, though it would stray from its initial California-centric conceit.

During this era, Disneyland also added the Grand Californian Hotel and its Downtown Disney District. A luxurious take on California’s Arts and Crafts movement, the Grand Californian remains the resort’s signature hotel and home to its finest dining establishment, Napa Rose, under renovations at the time of writing. Disney would also add a second haunted attraction with the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in 2004. Over at Disneyland, Tomorrowland in 1998 would receive a transformation, one it has yet to fully recover from. The beloved People Mover would be no more, a Jules Verne-inspired art style would come and gradually go, and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters would arrive in 2005.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh would in 2003 evict the Country Bears from their music hall.

Did you know?

This era is home to two of Disneyland’s shortest-lived major attractions. Superstar Limo at California Adventure was conceived as a ride in which paparazzi would chase celebs, a concept deemed in poor taste in the wake of the death of Princess Diana. It was refashioned as a sort of tour of Hollywood with heavily caricatured figurines of the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Regis Philbin, Drew Carey, Cher and more, but would close within a year. At Disneyland, People Mover‘s replacement Rocket Rods could never consistently operate, and the ride would last just about two years. The tracks remain.

Fans of the venue said it is “nice to stroll around on a warm day” and dubbed it “cute and wholesome”

Award-winning rose gardens have been praised online as a place to add to your “weekend list.” The venue, tucked away in Norwich, Norfolk, has drawn attention online due to its picturesque views.

Peter Beales Roses, in Norwich, has been dubbed a “hidden gem” by fans on TikTok, who praised the rose gardens specifically. That will come as no surprise to many as Peter Beales is renowned for being home to the largest variety of roses in the UK and having 29 RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medals to its name.

TikTok user Shauna (@ilyxshaun) shared a clip showcasing the venue on a recent trip. Her caption read: “One for your weekend list.”

In the video, Shauna walks through the venue and shows viewers the entrance, the indoor shop selling produce, meets, handmade jewellery, the cafe, and the garden shop. She then moves on to the rose gardens, which she claims are “nice to stroll around on a warm day.”

In her voiceover, Shauna said: “This award-winning spot in Attleborough might just be Norfolk’s best kept summer day out. It’s known for its beautiful rose gardens, but there’s a lot more you can do here.

“Inside. They’ve got a shop with lots of local produce like jams, chutneys, fresh meats, even handmade jewellery. They also have a cafe for brunch and afternoon tea.

“Plus you can sit outside when the weather’s warm, which is a bonus. There’s a garden section with indoor plants, tools and just all the little bits that you didn’t know you even needed.

“But the best part, without a doubt, is the rose gardens. There were rose bushes everywhere, little archways to wander through and so many pretty corners. It’s so nice to stroll around on a warm day. Peter Bales is ideal for when you don’t have plans but want something cute and wholesome to do.”

Beneath the video, others praised the venue and shared their favourite things about it too. One viewer said: “such a lovely day out” and a second wrote: “looks lovely.”

A third added: “When I last went there was a little hidden play park too for children we had to follow signs and it was very hidden but very cute.”

A different person said: “Yep there’s a children’s play area right at the back and a little nature walk.” The praise continued, with one viewer writing: “I love visiting here solely for the rose gardens!” and another adding: “Love it here. The rose festival is fab!”

According to Peter Beales, the rose gardens allow visitors to “escape to a world of beauty and tranquillity”, where “nature’s artistry meets timeless elegance.” The venue’s website adds that the gardens are the perfect place to “lose yourself in a sensory paradise.”

The rose gardens feature rose-covered archways and walkways draped in vibrant blooms, a “stunning” observation turret offering panoramic garden views, a “serene” wildlife garden buzzing with biodiversity, and display gardens with “intoxicating perfumes and seasonal colour.”

Peter Beales Roses is based around half a mile off the A11 in Attleborough, Norfolk. The venue features free parking, wheelchair access, toilets, and baby-changing facilities. Entrance to the rose gardens, which is open seven days a week, year-round, is free.

Not so long ago, parking at the curb in Southern California was relatively simple: It was either free to park, or you had to feed change into a meter. Boy, times have changed! Now, any given meter might require quarters, a credit card, an app, your license plate number or any combination of the above.

As the experience of paying for parking in Southern California grows more complex and confusing, I want to hear your stories about paying for public parking — the good, the bad and the ugly.

Maybe you’ve come to love parking apps like Park Smarter or ParkMobile that alert you when a parking session is about to expire and allow you to add more time remotely. Or maybe it’s taken so long to download a needed app and type in your credit card information that you missed an appointment or were late to a meeting.

I’d also love to hear about any strategies you’ve devised to make the experience of parking more streamlined. Do you keep rolls of quarters in your car or a folder of parking apps on your phone? Have you given up entirely and started taking the bus?

Share your story in the form below, and I might follow up with you to include your tale in a coming story.

NEW YORK — Martin Cruz Smith, the best-selling mystery novelist who engaged readers for decades with “Gorky Park” and other thrillers featuring Moscow investigator Arkady Renko, has died at age 82.

Smith died Friday at a senior living community in San Rafael, “surrounded by those he loved,” according to his publisher, Simon & Schuster. Smith revealed a decade ago that he had Parkinson’s disease, and he gave the same condition to his protagonist. His 11th Renko book, “Hotel Ukraine,” was published July 8 and billed as his last.

“My longevity is linked to Arkady’s,” he told Strand Magazine in 2023. “As long as he remains intelligent, humorous, and romantic, so shall I.”

Smith was often praised for his storytelling and for his insights into modern Russia; he would speak of being interrogated at length by customs officials during his many trips there. The Associated Press called “Hotel Ukraine” a “gem” that “upholds Smith’s reputation as a great craftsman of modern detective fiction with his sharply drawn, complex characters and a compelling plot.”

Smith’s honors included being named a “grand master” by the Mystery Writers of America, winning the Hammett Prize for “Havana Bay” and a Gold Dagger award for “Gorky Park.”

Born Martin William Smith in Reading, Pa. , he studied creative writing at the University of Pennsylvania and started out as a journalist, including a brief stint at the AP and at the Philadelphia Daily News. Success as an author arrived slowly. He had been a published novelist for more than a decade before he broke through in the early 1980s with “Gorky Park.” His novel came out when the Soviet Union and the Cold War were still very much alive and centered on Renko’s investigation into the murders of three people whose bodies were found in the Moscow park that Smith used for the book’s title.

“Gorky Park,” cited by the New York Times as a reminder of “just how satisfying a smoothly turned thriller can be,” topped the Times’ fiction bestseller list and was later made into a movie starring William Hurt.

“Russia is a character in my Renko stories, always,” Smith told Publishers Weekly in 2013. “‘Gorky Park’ may have been one of the first books to take a backdrop and make it into a character. It took me forever to write because of my need to get things right. You’ve got to knock down the issue of ‘Does this guy know what he’s talking about or not?’”

Smith’s other books include science fiction (“The Indians Won”), the Westerns “North to Dakota” and “Ride for Revenge,” and the “Roman Grey” mystery series. Besides “Martin Cruz Smith” — Cruz was his maternal grandmother’s name — he also wrote under the pen names “Nick Carter” and “Simon Quinn.”

Smith’s Renko books were inspired in part by his own travels and he would trace the region’s history over the past 40 years, whether it be the Soviet Union’s collapse (“Red Square”), the rise of Russian oligarchs (“The Siberian Dilemma”) or, in the novel “Wolves Eats Dogs,” the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.

By the time he began working on his last novel, Russia had invaded Ukraine. The AP noted in its review of “Hotel Ukraine” that Smith had devised a backstory “pulled straight from recent headlines,” referencing such world leaders as Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin of Russia and former President Joe Biden of the U.S.

Smith is survived by his brother, Jack Smith; his wife, Emily Smith; three children and five grandchildren.

Italie writes for the Associated Press.

About 50 to 80 other structures also destroyed as two wildfires burn at or near the Grand Canyon’s North Rim in Arizona.

Wildfires have engulfed a historic lodge, destroying it and dozens of other structures along the Grand Canyon’s North Rim in the state of Arizona in the southwestern United States, park officials say.

Rangers were forced to close access to that part of the Grand Canyon National Park on Sunday. Superintendent Ed Keable said the Grand Canyon Lodge was consumed by flames.

He said a park visitor centre, petrol station, wastewater treatment plant, administrative building and employee housing were also among the 50 to 80 structures lost.

Two wildfires are burning at or near the North Rim. They are known as the White Sage Fire and the Dragon Bravo Fire. The latter is the one that destroyed the lodge and other structures.

Started by lightning on July 4, the Dragon Bravo Fire was initially managed by authorities with a “confine and contain” strategy. However, due to hot temperatures, low humidity and strong winds, it grew to 20 square kilometres (7.8 square miles), fire officials said.

No injuries have been reported so far.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs urged the federal government late on Sunday to investigate the National Park Service’s response to the wildfire.

“They must first take aggressive action to end the wildfire and prevent further damage,” she said in a post on X. “But Arizonans deserve answers for how this fire was allowed to decimate the Grand Canyon National Park.”

I am incredibly saddened by the destruction of the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, and my heart goes out to every person impacted by the Dragon Bravo Fire near the Grand Canyon’s North Rim.

Thank you to every firefighter and first responder taking action to combat the flames.

— Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) July 14, 2025

Millions of people visit the park annually with most going to the South Rim. The North Rim is open seasonally. It was evacuated on Thursday because of the wildfire and will remain closed for the rest of the season, the park said in a statement.

The Grand Canyon Lodge was often the first prominent feature that visitors would see, even before viewing the canyon.

“It just feels like you’re a pioneer when you walk through [the lodge],” said Tim Allen, an Arizona resident and yearly visitor to the Grand Canyon. “It really felt like you were in a time gone by.”

Caren Carney, another visitor to the park evacuated with her family, said she was heartbroken to hear that such a “magical place” had burned down.

Firefighters at the North Rim and hikers in the inner canyon were also evacuated on Saturday and Sunday. The park said that beside the fire risk, they could also potentially be exposed to chlorine gas after the treatment plant burned.

Aramark, the company that operated the lodge, said all employees and guests were safely evacuated. “As stewards of some of our country’s most beloved national treasures, we are devastated by the loss,” spokesperson Debbie Albert said.

One of the greatest wonders of the natural world, the Grand Canyon is the result of the Colorado River eating away at layers of red sandstone and other rock for millions of years, leaving a gash up to 30km (18 miles) wide and more than 1.6km (1 mile) deep.

Last year, almost five million people visited the site.