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North Wales Live
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- North Wales Live
Next's £14 dress that's so popular shoppers say 'I bought five'
Dresses are a staple in any fashion lover's wardrobe, particularly during the balmy summer months. Currently, Boden is offering a 25% discount on all dresses on its website until next Monday when you use the code 7N7G at checkout - you can view all the items reduced in the flash sale here. Next also offers a wide range of options, with one dress proving particularly popular among shoppers. The Khaki Green 100% Cotton T-shirt Dress, priced at £14, comes in various sizes and fits, including petite, regular and tall, although some fits may be sold out. The budget-friendly dress is available in a selection of nine colours and patterns. Besides khaki, the dress is offered in black, ecru zebra, stone stripe, multi-coloured, fluro orange, green, palm tree brown and even a William Morris blue print. Constructed from 'breathable' cotton, Next describes its Khaki Green 100% Cotton T-shirt Dress as ideal for everyday wear in warm weather, whether at home or abroad. It features a crewneck collar and comes in a 'stylish' midi-length, reports Essex Live. If you're in the market for a cotton T-shirt dress with more length, New Look is retailing this Black Cotton Midi Smock Dress for £19.99. For something similar but with pockets, Uniqlo has this AIRism Short Sleeve Cotton Mini Dress on sale for £19.90. Each dress colour has garnered unique responses from customers. Notably, the khaki green variant has been met with exceptional five-star reviews. Heidi was thrilled, mentioning her plans to buy the dres s in additional colours. "Lovely dress, fits nice, twist detail on front of dress is very flattering, great length, can easily be dressed up or down, so good ordered it in another colour," she stated. Tracy echoed her enthusiasm, saying: "Love these T-shirt dresses, I have bought at least five, great quality. Wash well." Another customer added: "Great little dress for the summer with a pair of trainers, I ended up going up a size just for a better fit." Some criticism did surface, as one shopper commented, "Badly cut, neck too high, not good cotton jersey fabric." However, others commended the dress's adaptability: "Very pretty dress and you can keep it casual or dress up, looks very flattering on." Alison's review stated: "Great price Loose fit perfect for everyday use and can be dressed up or down." Alexandra shared her perspective: "A simple dress to throw on, can also be worn with leggings when it's cooler." Melanie voiced her affection for the dress: "Love this dress. So much so, I bought other colours too." On the other hand, Nicola reported a different experience: "I just didn't like the colour on me so returned it." A few customers praised the dress' s comfort and simplicity, recommending it as a great option for casual wear. Some reviewers noted that the dress runs a bit large, suggesting sizing down for a more fitted look. The high street retailer also has a similar style with the Black Twist Short Sleeved T-shirt Summer Dress, which costs £24. Overall, the feedback on the dress has been overwhelmingly positive, with many customers appreciating its versatility and value for money. Sandra offered a glowing review: "It looked as good as the picture, quality material, well made. It fits and looks lovely on me. I took it on holiday and had compliments. Plus, the price was excellent. Might buy another!". In contrast, an unnamed customer remarked: "Would have liked it 2 inches shorter, but kept it because of the quality." Next's Khaki Green 100% Cotton T-shirt Dress retails at £14, with other colours and patterns available at varying price points.
Daily Mirror
02-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Small town home to famous singer that people struggle to pronounce
Witham in Essex is a prominent town in the county with a number of famous faces hailing from the area including singer Olly Murs and former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Essex - famed for its rich diversity - stands out as one of England's most eclectic counties, boasting an enchanting blend of bustling cityscapes, charming coastal towns, and idyllic rural retreats, all woven with a tapestry of historical significance. The county is strategically connected to London through robust infrastructure and the natural route provided by the River Thames, which has historically made it a magnet for invasions from Romans, Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. Such a storied heritage often leaves those not from Essex tongue-tied when trying to pronounce local place names. This even trips up public figures; many find themselves caught out when attempting local appellations, including Witham. Witham, where pop star Olly Murs hails from, is renowned in Essex but often mispronounced due to confusion over its 'th'. Rather than a soft 'th' like in 'bath', Witham sports a hard 't', rightly pronounced 'Witt-ham'. Even former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak once fumbled over the name during Prime Minister's Questions on May 22 last year. He stumbled responding to Sir John Whittingdale, MP for Maldon, who raised concerns his constituents had been waiting for a new hospital at St Peter's "for over 20 years". The plans indicated the possibility of the current facility closing without a replacement lined up, reports Essex Live. Sir Whittingdale said to the Prime Minister: "It leaves my constituents and those of Ms Priti Patel [MP for Witham] having to travel up to 30 miles for some treatments,". Mr Sunak responded: "I know that he [Sir Whittingdale] and the Right Honourable Friend for Witham met both the Minister of State for Health and Secondary Care and the Minister for Social Care recently to discuss this. "I understand the ICB have extended their consultation to be extended for three weeks to ensure that more consideration can be given and voices can be heard, but I will ensure that the relevant ministers keep my Right Hon Friend updated on the progress of this."
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Family 'shattered' after boy with incurable condition needs urgent treatment
Brave young boy Freddie Elwood is battling a rare disorder that affects just one in 1 million people - his parents are hoping to raise funds for gene therapy costing millions A brave young boy is battling an extremely rare and incurable condition, leaving his family 'shattered'. Little Freddie Elwood has Infantile Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (INAD), a rare disorder that affects just one in 1 million people. Freddie, from Upminster, needs treatment or he might not reach his 10th birthday as there is no cure for his condition. His parents, Emily, 33, and Louis, 40, are desperately trying to raise funds for a clinical trial with over £30,000 raised so far. The first sign Freddie's parents noticed something was wrong was when he was 16 months old. He had learned to crawl, pull himself up and had begun saying basic words such as "mumma" and "dadda" and he could imitate a lion's roar, but suddenly started to lose his balance. Freddie, born in May 2021, also started to scream and cry. "It was a little strange and was the first sign of something not being right,' mum Emily said to Essex Live. 'He went within himself a bit. We lost him a little bit.' INAD is a devastating disorder that heavily affects the brain and nervous system. Progressive symptoms can begin between six months and three years and leaves patients completely dependent on their families, carers and the healthcare system. Even more tragically, it has a life-expectancy of around ten years. Emily and Louis' glimmer of hope is advancements in medical research have suggested that a form of treatment could be available. The American charity INAD Cure says they are working on 'miracle-pioneering' gene therapy but $1.8 million (£1.3m) is needed for drug manufacturing and $3 million (£2.2m) is needed for clinical trial costs. 'Funding is a big part of it because Freddie's condition is so rare that for people to invest, these companies want a return and there's no profit in it because there's not enough children with the condition,' Emily said. 'It's baffling to us when there's something out there that could save children. We are running out of time. Time is of the essence, we've not got years to wait to come as Freddie does not have years to live.' She added: 'All the testing they have done so far is really hopeful and it's thought to be the closest the scientists have seen to a cure in all their research. We just want to really get the word out there, raise awareness and hopefully get it funded in time.' The pain Emily and Louis have felt has been difficult for the couple to bear. 'To not only be told he had a life-limiting condition but to back that with that there was nothing they could do for us or my son, it's just heart-breaking and wrenching,' Emily said. 'It shattered our world. We have an older son, Henry, and I kept thinking I would have to go home and somehow get up every day and face the world knowing that if nothing changes we will lose Freddie before he turns 10. I've got to tell my other child that he's going to lose his brother.' 'If you have a baby and are told at the beginning that something is wrong then that's your life and you're thrown into it. But to have him perfectly fine for months and then be told that, it's like you're grieving the life that you have had and it's being taken away from you day by day and there's nothing you can do about it. 'If you lose someone you spend time moving on. Although you never get over it, you move on as time is a healer. But we are sat in this desperate place every single day trying to put one foot in front of the other knowing that if nothing changes he will die and there's nothing we can do.' Emily set up a fundraising page hoping to receive a few thousand pounds to go towards the campaign, but after a matter of days almost £35,000 has been collected. It has come from hundreds of donors, including many anonymous who have found out about Freddie and wanted to support financially. She said: 'The love, support and sharing means everything. I know anyone with children would read our story and it's touching as they would hate to be in our position but to donate and spend their money the way the world is [at the moment] is great. It's beyond anything we could ever imagine and it's only been a few days. We hope that if we keep pushing it could really reach far.' 'We felt so helpless the last 18 months and that's the worst part of things,' she added. 'The only thing we can do is keep going for them, putting one foot in front of the other. This has given us a reason and something to cling onto and fight with all our energy to see until the end.'
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Millionaire bought entire village to turn it into a spa town before it backfired
The swan fountain and the Mistley Towers are the only remaining physical reminders of an ambitious plan to turn the town of Mistley into a saltwater spa in the 18th century At first glance, the charming riverside town of Mistley in Essex might not seem particularly remarkable. However, two enduring symbols of an ambitious yet ultimately failed 18th-century project to transform the town into a saltwater spa still exist - the swan fountain and the Mistley Towers. According to English Heritage, Richard Rigby's father accumulated significant wealth and influence when he was appointed Paymaster General of the Forces by George III in 1786. Back then, the village of Mistley consisted of warehouses, a granary, a malting office, quays and a medieval church - only the porch of which survives to this day. There was also a more recent church, built to the north of the village in 1735 at the request of Rigby's father. However, when Rigby dreamt up his grand plan to turn Mistley into a fashionable spa, the simple brick structure of the church didn't fit with his vision. Initially, Rigby commissioned Robert Adam to design a saltwater bath by the river, but this idea never materialised. Instead, the architect was assigned to work on the church around 1776, reports Essex Live. In a departure from the norm, Adam's design broke away from the traditional 18th-century parish church blueprint, featuring towers at both the east and west ends and semi-circular porticoes to the north and south. It's been suggested that Adam may have drawn inspiration from Roman tombs, giving the structure an unusual flair. Regrettably, Rigby's grand plans to turn Mistley into a bustling spa destination never came to fruition. The central part of the church was demolished in 1870, making way for a newer, trendier place of worship nearby. Despite the original plans falling through, the remaining towers found a new purpose as a "seamark" and were sold off to local families who had aspirations of converting them into opulent mausoleums. Yet, this idea too did not take hold, and over time, the towers were left to deteriorate. It wasn't until the 1950s that the towers saw a revival, thanks to architect Raymond Erith and the efforts of the Georgian Group, who meticulously restored them. The surrounding churchyard is peppered with monuments dating from the early to mid-18th century, including an eye-catching polished black granite mausoleum in the Egyptian style, erected in memory of the Norman family.
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brits love beautiful beach with colourful huts that's 'perfect for a day trip'
Located in the Tendring district of Essex, the beach is a popular spot for both locals and visitors alike with its colourful beach huts, fresh water lido and a range of sports activities The county of Essex boasts a plethora of beautiful beaches to revel in when the sun makes an appearance, and this one, adorned with vibrant beach huts, impresses time and time again, setting the scene for a splendid day trip. The rainbow of beach huts at Brightlingsea never fails to pull in the crowds, yet there's even more to this seaside gem, including a rare freshwater lido and a whole host of watersports on offer. A mere 10 miles from Colchester, you've got the option to windsurf, canoe, jet ski, swim and soak up the sun. And for those seeking a more tranquil experience, there are serene pleasure trips on sailing barges too. But note, dogs aren't permitted on the sands. As Essex's sole Cinque Port, a historical harbour once frequented by monarchs like Edward the Confessor, Brightlingsea is steeped in maritime tradition. Journey from the harbour office to the marina steps, and you'll discover a monument commemorating local Olympic hero Reg White, who clinched gold back in '76. Originally a vital hub for fishing and shipbuilding, today's Brightlingsea is a yachting sanctuary, annually playing host to renowned international sailing competitions that draw significant crowds, reports Essex Live. Mark Frith shared on Google reviews: "First time here and we found it to be a nice quiet place with the most amount of beach huts we have ever seen in one place. It has a Lido, which you don't see many of these days, which looked well maintained." Hans Rol shared his experience online, saying: "My wife and I were pleasantly surprised by the feel, the looks and the warmth of Brightlingsea Beach. There is plenty to see and do, from the beach it is a short walk to the centre of town." He was particularly impressed with the beach huts, admitting: "Personally I was taken by the beach huts, beach houses. So much love has gone in to personalising and maintaining these structures. Brightlingsea Beach has it." Prem Anand had a similarly positive view, commenting: "Lovely beach for family, had a long walk with our dog and park and activities for kids.. had a lovely day." Matthew Barrett also left a rave review: "Lovely day out, nice beach, safe places to swim, couple of food / drink places, kids play area, nice walks, parking is free along in the road or there is a pay and display car park at the end, would definitely recommend."
