Five Wearside stories you might have missed this week
A new lease of life for a disused church, repairs of a much-loved pier and the start of a year of music - these are just some of the things that made the news this week.Here are five Wearside stories you might have missed.
Pier repairs begin
Top honours for community volunteers
Volunteers have been awarded the highest honour their local authority can grant for outstanding services to the community.Chester-le-Street residents John Adey and Jimmy Carroll were among those given a Chairman's Medal by Durham County Council thanks to their community efforts to commemorate those from the borough who have fought and died in wars.The pair were instrumental in creating the town's Remembrance memorial and annual parade, offering residents opportunities to reflect and pay their respects.Also recognised were volunteers from the Open Door Church for their support for vulnerable residents across Willington.
Film festival returns with packed programme
A film festival has returned with its biggest programme yet, according to bosses.The Sunderland Shorts Film Festival, which is now in its 10th year, will show more than 200 films at venues across the city centre until Sunday.Festival director Chris Allan said it had seen its most popular year and had received more than 1,100 entries, hundreds more than in 2024.Read more about it here.
New lease of life for disused church
A historic church building could become an adult learning and arts centre.Sunderland City Council's planning department has approved the change of use of St Mary's Church in South Hylton.The Grade II-listed structure, which sits on the corner of Wear Street and Church Street, dates to the 1800s and has been vacant for some time.Read more about the plans here.
Opening acts for music year announced
Chart-topping indie rockers Franz Ferdinand and acclaimed singer-songwriter Adele Sandé are to kick off a year-long major celebration of music.The two acts will launch the Sunderland Year of Music 2025-2026 in June.It will mark Franz Ferdinand's return to Wearside for the first time in more than a decade, while Sunderland-born Sandé - formerly known as Emeli - will be making her stage debut under her real name.The gigs will kickstart a week of special live events across the city.Read more about it here.
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The Sun
13 minutes ago
- The Sun
End-of-terrace house looks normal from the outside but hides bizarre secret in sprawling basement – would YOU move in?
A BLACKPOOL guest house has undergone a jaw-dropping transformation and now contains a private nightclub, cinema room, and space for 24 guests. Wayne and Katie Anne Mylroie have spent nearly two years converting the modest semi-detached property into a high-spec holiday home. 7 7 Just a short walk from the promenade, the couple named the property The Fun House. Announcing the launch on Facebook, the couple said: "After almost two years in the making, we're finally live and we have had our first guests." Described by the owners as "the perfect party house", the property boasts a "large sociable lounge with custom seating and pool table, a cinema room, a hot tub room and your very own exclusive private basement nightclub." Inside, the house features nine en-suite bedrooms with 15 beds, offering space for large groups looking to celebrate in style. "The Fun House has 9 bedrooms all en-suite with 15 beds that sleeps 24 guests," the post reads. One standout feature is a uniquely designed bedroom with dramatic lighting effects: "It also has the coolest kids/adult room with a light-up lightening clouded ceiling." Every inch of the property has been carefully designed and finished to an exceptionally high standard. "It has been completed to the highest standard so you would never want to leave!" the Mylroies added. With its bold interior, private nightclub and close proximity to Blackpool's attractions, The Fun House is already turning heads as one of the seaside town's most striking new holiday rentals. The couple might have their work cut out to win the locals over though who claim Airbnbs and short term lets are "ruining" the town. People living in Blackpool, Lancs, say their lives are being blighted by anti-social behaviour. They raised their concerns as tens of thousands of holiday-makers are set to flood Britain's resorts and tourist hot spots for the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. In England, the short-term let sector is unregulated, except in London where there's a 90-day per year cap on letting out properties. Blackpool City Council says it's received just one complaint about short-term lets since 2019 – but the council doesn't know how many are in the area. A total of 16 planning enforcement notices have been issued in the same period. Residents of the seaside resort town, known for its traditional B&Bs, tell a different story. One resident said she has operated three hotels in Blackpool's town centre for eight years. She says the proliferation of Airbnbs and other short-term lets, where owners are not present, have brought the character of the street down – with rooms being used for parties until the early hours of the morning and even prostitution. She said: 'The ones now, there's nobody there. If somebody's booked a double room, they know the code. 'If they meet friends with a girl, they use that code, go in, use the room, and go out. 'It's like one person's booked the room, a couple who's out for the night and give the code to another couple. 'They use the room and just go out after an hour.' B&B owners Sandra Spriggs, 52, and husband John, 69, have owned the Bianca Guesthouse on Blackpool's Palatine Road for 20 years. The couple says they have heard loud stag and hen parties inside unattended AirBNBs. Sandra said: 'My friend lives next door to an AirBNB. It's bloody noisy, especially in the summer – she actually goes to her daughter's for the weekend so she hasn't got to put up with the noise.' 7 7 7 7
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Love Island SPOILER: Launch show kicks off with MAJOR new couple twist that leaves the girls in shock
Love Island's series 12 launch show is set to kick off with a major new couples twist that will leave the girls stunned. The latest installment of the reality dating show begins on Monday night with host Maya Jama set to introduce a new batch of sexy singletons looking for love. The ladies - Shakira, Meg, Alima, Sophie, Megan and Helena - are first to enter the villa with talk soon turning to the boys they could potentially couple up with. However, in contrast to recent series, it won't be the viewers that will be picking the couples, but instead the girls will be tasked with choosing their boys based on their dating profiles. Explaining the huge change, Maya tells the girls: 'This year things are slightly different. You've told me what your type on paper is, but does that match your ideal man in reality? Come and join me by the pool.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. As the girls line up, she continues: 'Girls, in front of you there are six love hearts and each boy has given me their dating profile which is written on each of these hearts - shall we have a look at what these boys have to offer?' The girls then check out the descriptions of the island's boys - Ben, Dejon, Harry, Conor, Blu and Tommy. They then have to decide to who they'd like to pair up with based on key stats with the boys' name, age, job and a headline. Headlines includes lines such as: 'I like to play hard and work harder! I love to play, so I work very hard...' in order to help the girls make their big decisions. After discussing the boys' profiles and attempting to figure out which lad could be right for them, Maya then forces them to make their choice. Counting to three, the stunner informs the ladies that they must run to their chosen heart, with only one girl allowed to stand next to each heart. With mere seconds to make their choice, it remains to be seen whether they get the man of their choice or will be left to beg for a swap. Meanwhile, following the decisions, the boys then enter the villa and meet their matches one-by-one. 'Girls, in front of you there are six love hearts and each boy has given me their dating profile which is written on each of these hearts - shall we have a look at what these boys have to offer?' Headlines includes lines such as: ' I like to play hard and work harder! I love to play, so I work very hard...' in order to help the girls make their big decisions But will it be love at first write or were the girls too quick to judge their type? It comes as one Love Island star has already been sensationally dumped from the villa, before the launch show has even aired. For one girl, her time on the show is set to be brutally cut short as she's sent packing shortly after her arrival in the first savage twist of the series. It is said that the girl was 'absolutely gutted' by her dismissal which came following the entrance of this year's first bombshell. A source told The Sun: 'This girl will be sorely missed as was already proving to be a big character. They were absolutely gutted to leave.' They continued: 'But the series has twists and turns at every stage and this isn't the usual dumping viewers might expect after a bombshell arrives. 'Executive producer Mike Spencer-Hayter has promised drama for the tenth anniversary and this format point will not disappoint.' It comes as the first bombshell has been revealed as Antonia Laites, a 24-year-old pool party girl from Las Vegas. Antonia, who was born in Connecticut but has also resided in Miami, is a sizzling brunette whose day-to-day is looking after the VIP cabanas at the lavish Fontainebleau Resort in Sin City, reports The Sun. The Yank has reportedly strutted in on the first day to stir the pot for the islanders on the very first day. When asked who she is looking for in the villa, the American beauty quipped: 'Someone that can make me laugh - I'm super outgoing. And someone that's quite active. Maybe one day we could start our own family together.' Ahead of her villa debut she dubbed the dating scene in the states a 'mess' as people are there for a 'good time, not a long time'. And it is the British charm that has attracted Toni to the UK version of the show as she confessed that she is attracted to the accent. 'I've lived in three different states and I'm still single. It's time to try something new! I have some British friends and they're pretty charming. I think all Americans love a good accent. British men are just more polite, with better manners,' she added Love Island confirmed the full line-up of contestants joining the upcoming series last week. The ITV2 dating show returns on June 9 and there looks set to be the usual mix of love triangles, bedroom trysts and messy breakups as contestants make their way to the island. Love Island airs on June 9 over on ITV2 and ITVX. NAME: Sophie Lee AGE: 29 FROM: Manchester OCCUPATION: Motivational Speaker and Author WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is fun, spontaneous, who has a lot of jokes and who is attentive. At the moment I'm only finding ones draped in red flags and 'do not cross' signs IF YOU WERE THE CEO OF SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? I'm the CEO of empowerment. I want women to feel beautiful and validated in themselves and feel their best self. NAME: Dejon Noel Williams AGE: 26 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Semi-pro footballer and personal trainer WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is beautiful on the inside and out, looks after themselves and is healthy CLAIM TO FAME? My dad being an ex-professional footballer. I've met all kinds of famous people through him. When I was younger it was weird because he was just my dad, but we'd go to a game and fans were asking for photos. I've met David Beckham, he was really nice. Megan Moore NAME: Megan Moore AGE: 25 FROM: Southampton OCCUPATION: Payroll specialist WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'd like to meet someone who is tall, with a nice tan, nice eyes and a nice smile. He needs to have a good fashion sense and a really good, funny personality that I can get on with HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt, right now. But we're going to make sales and get on that corporate ladder and be booming. Profits, profits, profits! NAME: Tommy Bradley AGE: 22 FROM: Hertfordshire OCCUPATION: Landscape Gardener WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A girl who is very ambitious, with a big personality, caring, but also someone that doesn't take themselves too seriously. I don't know if that's asking for too much, but I want a bit of everything. I haven't got a specific type in terms of looks, though. WHAT WOULD YOU BE CEO OF? Taking hours to do my hair NAME: Alima Gagio AGE: 23 FROM: Glasgow OCCUPATION: Wealth Management Client Services Executive WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? A tall man with a handsome face. You know when you just look at a guy and they have that Disney prince look to them? That's it WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I think she'd hire me because I'm a good flirt. I always ask guys on a night out to guess which country I'm originally from. If they get it right, they can get my number. But they never guess correctly so it works really well if you don't want to give a guy your number. I'm originally from Guinea Bissau. If they're close and I really fancy them, I'll give them my number anyway. NAME: Ben Holbrough AGE: 23 FROM: Gloucester OCCUPATION: Private Hire Taxi driver WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone sexy, good looking, good chat, good vibes, nice teeth and good eye contact - they're all the traits I look for. Oh, and also a cute smile, I just look at you and know I can be around you all day, every day. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Bankrupt. I'd have been out of business a long time ago. That's exactly why I'm here. NAME: Helena Ford AGE: 29 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Cabin Crew WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Somebody funny or Northern. I feel like Northern people have much more banter than Southerners. If you look through my previous dating history, you'll see I clearly go for personality. You can pretty much laugh me into bed. WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? I would say hire but then quickly fire soon after. It would only be a temporary contract. NAME: Megan Moore AGE: 24 FROM: Dublin OCCUPATION: Musical theatre performer and energy broker WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who doesn't take themselves too seriously and has a sense of humour. If they're not bad looking, that's always a plus. I love a boy that's a bit pasty, like Timothée Chalamet. I don't mind scrawny, or a bit of a 'dad bod'. I'm 5ft1 so any height really. CLAIM TO FAME? Me and my friends made a Derry Girls TikTok for Halloween and it went a bit viral around Brighton. Sometimes I get stopped in the street about it. I've also done Panto. NAME: Blu Chegini AGE: 26 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is family oriented, has a lot of love to give and a lot of love to receive. Personality goes a long way. WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? She'd fire me, but I've got the charm to smooth things over with a girl. The fact I speak fluent Spanish comes in handy when it comes to flirting! Shakira Khan NAME: Shakira Khan AGE: 26 FROM: London OCCUPATION: Construction Project Manager WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone who is tall, charming, witty, with big arms, a good smile and just really funny. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE LIFE? Booming, but they're all frogs. It's a busy love life but I've not found 'the husband', I'm looking for 'the one'. I'm looking for the ring. NAME: Harry Cooksley AGE: 30 FROM: Guildford OCCUPATION: Gold trader, semi-professional footballer and model WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? The girl next door that makes me laugh and can hold eye contact with me. I don't think I'd go for the most obvious girl, I like a real sweet girl. CLAIM TO FAME? I'm the body double for Declan Rice. So when he does a shoot, any body close ups will actually be me. You'll never see my face, but you'll see my shoulder or chest, that kind of thing. NAME: Conor Phillips AGE: 23 FROM: Limerick OCCUPATION: Professional rugby player WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?Someone who is really sure of themselves, ambitious, a bit of a go-getter and good craic. I like dark eyes and I don't mind a dominant woman. WOULD MAYA HIRE YOU FOR YOUR FLIRTING SKILLS? Definitely hire. I ask girls if they want to go halves on a baby. It doesn't work, but it gets them laughing. It's an ice-breaker, not a serious question of course! NAME: Toni Laites AGE: 24 FROM: Connecticut OCCUPATION: Las Vegas Pool Cabana Server WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? I'm looking for darker hair, definitely muscular but not too muscular. Super fit. Clean hair cut. Someone that can make me laugh - I'm super outgoing. And someone that's quite active. Maybe one day we could start our own family together. I WANT TO DATE A BRITISH GUY BECAUSE... I've lived in three different states and I'm still single. It's time to try something new! I have some British friends and they're pretty charming. I think all Americans love a good accent. British men are just more polite, with better manners. NAME: Kyle Ashman AGE: 23 FROM: Stafford OCCUPATION: Water operative WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? Someone that's fun, confident and just themselves. I'd say I'd be hired. I just go with it, find something to compliment a girl on and go from there.
Reuters
40 minutes ago
- Reuters
'Anything goes': Yoshitomo Nara on his creative process as London exhibition opens
LONDON, June 9 (Reuters) - Artworks by Yoshitomo Nara go on display in London this week in what organisers say is the largest European retrospective of the Japanese artist. The show, running at the Hayward Gallery by the River Thames, features more than 150 works - drawings, paintings, sculptures, ceramics and installations - nodding to the longtime influences of Nara's works including music, nature, the importance of home and the peace movement. "This is about 40 years' worth of my work," Nara told Reuters at a press preview on Monday. "When I look at my work I don't think what I'm trying to say has actually changed in that time. Whatever period I look at reflects a part of myself, which is why this exhibition is not done chronologically." Nara, 65, is best known for his portraits of child-like characters with big gazing eyes. "I think all the pictures I've created are like my reflections," he said when asked about them. On display are plenty of those kinds of paintings and drawings as well as sculptures. "Anything goes," says Nara, who was born in Aomori Prefecture in northern Japan and lived in Germany early in his career before moving back home, said of his creative process. "I don't think about what I'm doing, but when I've done something good I can feel the reason behind it almost like a kind of hindsight." The show is an expanded version of a touring exhibition previously put on at the Guggenheim in Bilbao and Museum Frieder Burda in Baden-Baden. "What's quite interesting, I think, for audiences in London and in Europe overall (is)... we don't actually get to see Nara's work in person that often," exhibition curator Yung Ma said. "We've all seen his paintings and drawings on our I think all these kind of images, they don't do the works justice. So it's actually quite important to come and see because you can actually then understand (that)... he's a really good you can actually really see the texture of the works and the colours and the layering of the paint." The exhibition runs from June 10 to August 31.
