Latest news with #StokeonTrent
BBC News
27 minutes ago
- BBC News
More than 100 people join County Durham missing cat search
More than 100 volunteers have been looking for a cat who was spotted 200 miles away from home but is still missing, her owner has disappeared from Stoke-on-Trent on 30 March and was later seen in County Durham in mid April. Police are investigating whether she was taken during a reported Leann Chello said the support she had received had been "overwhelming", with people travelling from Chester-le-Street, Washington and as far away as Teesside to help the search."She is my absolute world. I really want her back," she said. Mini was nine-months-old when she went missing and had never been outside on her own, Ms Chello said."I was absolutely devastated," she said."She means more to me than anything in the world."I'm holding out hope that she does come home and we are reunited." Ms Chello posted on social media after being told where the cat might be. One of those helping in the search after seeing the plea, Julie Campbell, said volunteers were out looking for up to six hours at a time, "wandering, and hoping and praying" that Mini would show Campbell said the support had been "phenomenal"."We rallied together and there's quite a lot of us still searching," she said."We're holding out hope that she's still out there somewhere, that someone's seen her and took her in." There has been only one confirmed sighting of Mini in the area. Resident Gina Skinner said she spotted the cat running across Lumley New Road into nearby bushes on 12 Skinner, who had joined the search after finding out about it from social media, said she pulled over and tried to bring Mini out after recognising her from pictures. She said the cat looked at her, but got scared by the traffic and ran away."It was most definitely Mini that ran across the road," she said, adding it was upsetting to have narrowly missed her. Fellow searcher Rene Carr said it had been very frustrating that there had not been any more sightings but volunteers were determined to keep looking."I've walked for miles in the woods," she said."I've at knocked on every house on the edge of the woods. We've left no stone unturned." Staffordshire Police said a man had been charged with burglary with intent to cause damage. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Sun
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I shed 4st on fat jabs to banish my ‘six chins' for my wedding day – despite devastating side-effect I won't give up
KIMBERLY Maberly has endured a devastating side effect to fat jabs so she can walk down the aisle with a smaller waistline. The 42-year-old comedian has dropped 4st since starting weight loss injections last October - but says the powerful slimming drug has left her thick blonde hair falling out in clumps. 7 7 "If the hair loss had been a side effect from day one, I probably wouldn't have stuck with it," the bride-to-be from Stoke-on-Trent. "It's now at a point where if I'm in the shower it literally falls out in clumps." The comedy club owner tipped the scales at 17st and a dress size 22 at her heaviest when she decided to fork out £220 for a month's worth of the jabs from a pharmacy after a consultation with her GP. Kimberly, now a size 16 and weighing 13st, was sick of dodging jokes about her "six chins" during her comedy roast battles and refused to be a "fat bride" for her wedding in July 2026. The family of drugs known as GLP-1 RAs were originally developed to treat diabetes. But now they're often used for weight loss because they suppress appetite, helping people shed pounds fast. She said: "I looked and felt awful and I wanted to look good for my wedding, I don't want to be a fat bride." "I did diet clubs and slimming shakes but the results were always mediocre. I was drawn to [weight loss jabs] as it seemed like a quick fix." "I do roast battles at the comedy club and one of the things that people mentioned all the time was my weight. "When all you're looking at is your six chins, instead of going 'oh I got a few laughs there' that becomes another reason for wanting to lose weight." But the jabs came with a cruel price. Weight Loss Jabs - Pros vs Cons Kimberly has had to stop washing her hair regularly to prevent more fallout and now hides it under a cap when out and about. She doesn't even let her fiancé, Andrew Fisher, see what is left of her locks. "I know he doesn't care, but I do," she explained. "She added: I was FaceTiming my sister who is a hairdresser and showing her and I just started crying. "I was looking underneath and it was patchy. I daren't get anyone to check my full head because I don't want to know the full extent." Trying to see the positives, Kimberly has embraced wigs - even making them a bit of fun. She said: "[In May] I thought 'what if I try a wig?' That way I could carry on with the [weight-loss injections] and hide behind the wigs." 7 7 7 "I was really trying to make the most of my hair by wearing headbands, trying to part it differently so it didn't look so bad, but wigs have become part of my everyday as it got worse." "It's a bit of fun and I can be different every day." Despite what Kimberly thinks, Andrew has been loving the new looks too. "He's been telling everyone he's getting a different girlfriend every day," she said. "He likes the pink wig — he says that one is his favourite." 'You don't have to worry about bad hair days' Despite the hair loss, Kimberly is determined to stay positive. She added: "I decided I could either cry and moan about how little [hair] I've got or not, I'm just having fun with it and embracing it. "The way I look at it is that my hair's going to grow back, but the weight isn't going to come back on. "I'm still taking it now and if I could go back to October and decide not to take it, I wouldn't change a thing. Now on her last prescription, Kimberly wants to give her hair a year to recover ahead of the wedding. "I'm aiming to lose the last stone before the big day without using skinny jabs." "I'm not at my target weight, but I wanted a whole year off the jabs to recover my hair for the wedding. "Even if I want a hair piece or extensions for the wedding day, I need to have more growth before that's possible." She said wearing wigs has given her the confidence she needed. "But I see them [wigs] as a temporary measure to a problem that will go away." She added: "I'd say to other women suffering from hair loss to see it as another accessory to add to your look, plus you don't have to worry about bad hair days." 7 What are the other side effects of weight loss jabs? Like any medication, weight loss jabs can have side effects. Common side effects of injections such as Ozempic include: Nausea: This is the most commonly reported side effect, especially when first starting the medication. It often decreases over time as your body adjusts. Vomiting: Can occur, often in conjunction with nausea. Diarrhea: Some people experience gastrointestinal upset. Constipation: Some individuals may also experience constipation. Stomach pain or discomfort: Some people may experience abdominal pain or discomfort. Reduced appetite: This is often a desired effect for people using Ozempic for weight loss. Indigestion: Can cause a feeling of bloating or discomfort after eating. Serious side effects can also include: Pancreatitis: In rare cases, Ozempic may increase the risk of inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, which can cause severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Kidney problems: There have been reports of kidney issues, including kidney failure, though this is uncommon. Thyroid tumors: There's a potential increased risk of thyroid cancer, although this risk is based on animal studies. It is not confirmed in humans, but people with a history of thyroid cancer should avoid Ozempic. Vision problems: Rapid changes in blood sugar levels may affect vision, and some people have reported blurry vision when taking Ozempic. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Especially if used with other medications like sulfonylureas or insulin.
BBC News
a day ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Legend of Burslem 'witch' retold in opera by community group
An opera based on the legend of a Stoke-on-Trent witch in the 1600s opens to audiences on story of Margaret "Molly" Leigh is shrouded in myth and conjecture. She was born in Burslem in about 1685, and as she grew older she became a landowner but never became ostracised by people in the town, which was thought to be because she looked "different", and rumours about her being a witch behind the contemporary performance at B-Arts on Hartshill Road said it would explore these as well as the theme of being different in the modern day. Francesca Le Lohé is the composer and co-director of the she first came across the story of the accused witch, she said she felt immediately drawn to it."Molly's story is all rumour. It's all fabricated, everything we know about her is from everyone else's point of view"."I thought it's really interesting that you have got all these different perspectives but we don't know how Molly would have described herself," she Le Lohé added that she and others created the opera with the aim that it would help people investigate the rumours and devise their own opinions of the legend. Maurice Greenham is chair of the North Midlands LGBT+ Older Peoples Group and is one of those taking part in the 80-year-old once had a career in the West End in his 30s, and now finds himself treading the boards again after he was drawn to the parallels between Molly Leigh and the LGBT+ performer said he felt as if Molly Leigh was an outsider, an attribute he believed connected her to how people in that community feel."There's all sorts of clues there, so nowadays I regard her as part of the LGBT community," Mr Greenham of the show run until Sunday. Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Better Man
The BAFTA-nominated musical take on Robbie William's life, with the singer played by a digital chimp Year: 2024 Certificate: 15 Watch now on Prime Video Have you ever imagined what a film of Robbie Williams's life might look like if he were played by a digital chimp, and it were staged as a jukebox musical? That's exactly the approach Michael Gracey's film takes to portraying the ascent of the Angels singer, tracing his rise from the streets of Stoke-on-Trent to the heights of entertaining more than 375,000 at Knebworth in 2003. It's a rags-to-riches story then, but one shot through with the importance of relationships - chiefly, Robbie's relationship with himself. The portrayal of the ex-Take Thatter as a chimp represents Robbie's insecurities and how he measures himself through the eyes of those around him, personally and professionally. Two other relationships are significant here, too - that with his showman father and with All Saints' Nicole Appleton, to whom Robbie was engaged. The story of their relationship and especially why she didn't move forward with her pregnancy, is arguably the emotional core of the film and unexpectedly moving in what it says about the cost of fame and why people are prepared to pay it. Gracey's film is filled with creatively staged musical numbers that veer in style from West End razzmatazz to edgy music video, deploying nifty visual effects throughout that earned it a BAFTA nomination. It's also, we shouldn't forget to say, a highly entertaining film to watch, particularly the stretch detailing Robbie's time with Take That. Although it may leave you wondering why on earth anyone would pursue a career in pop music in the first place. (135 minutes)
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Alton Towers launches new ‘Disney style' dining plans in UK first with themed meals and snacks
ALTON Towers has launched new dining plan packages for visitors - the first of its kind in the UK. The theme park in Stoke-on-Trent is offering hotel and lodge guests the chance to buy Disney-style dining packages to include food and drinks and snacks in the park and the on-site hotels on short breaks. 7 7 Alton Towers is offering four different dining plans which are available to anyone staying at one of the on-site hotels. This is something that has been done before by Disney, but not UK-based theme parks. The very first Alton Towers dining plan is called 'The Standard Dining Plan'. It costs £50pp and is described as providing all the 'daily dining essentials'. With this package, you get a regular lunch and soft drink from either the Burger Kitchen or Just Chicken outlet in the park. And it also includes five mini doughnuts and a drink while you're enjoying the park delights as well as a two-course evening meal at one of the hotels' themed restaurants. Flambo's Jambo in the Splash Landings Hotel has views over the indoor waterpark. Or you could dine at the Secret Garden Restaurant in the Alton Towers Hotel, which looks like an English garden. Plus there's the colourful, child-friendly Windmill Restaurant in the Cbeebies Land Hotel. Or families can choose to dine at the quirky Crooked Spoon restaurant by the Woodland Lodges and Treehouses. I was the first to ride Alton Towers' newest ride Toxicator - it was a topsy-turvy spinning explosion 7 7 Children get a unique package called 'The Kids Dining Plan'. This is for children between three and 12, and costs £20pp. This dining plan is only available when bought alongside an adult plan. This includes lunch and a two- or three-course evening meal, which will match the location of the accompanying adult's dining location. Sweet treats and drinks are also included in this plan. For anyone wanting a little more, you can pick 'The Deluxe Dining Plan' for £70pp. This plan includes lunch at either the Burger Kitchen, Just Chicken, Explorer's Pizza Pasta, Generator Refuelling Company and Cbeebies Lunchbox. You can grab a sweet treat from selected snack outlets, and have an evening meal at one of the four accommodation restaurants including a soft or house-brand alcoholic drink. The most indulgent plan is called 'The Ultimate Resort Experience' and is priced at £90pp. With this, you can get lunch at any of the theme park restaurants and enjoy snacks like bubble waffles, doughnuts and signature Freak Shakes. You can get an evening meal at any of the resort restaurants, plus extra drink vouchers and a Costa Coffee. For an extra special touch, you'll also find a bottle of fizz in your hotel room. For anyone on the Ultimate Resort Experience package who is still hungry can get an extra 20 per cent off any other food and drink across the park. 7 Anyone booking a short break with Alton Towers can choose to have a dining plan if staying throughout summer up to August 30, 2025. On arrival at the restaurant or outlet at Alton Towers, visitors need to let the staff know they're on a dining plan and show their barcode at the point of payment. It's recommended to book an evening meal beforehand to avoid long wait times. Anyone with 'The Ultimate Dining Plan' will be guaranteed a dining time slot. You can buy a dining package when booking a short break online - just add it to your basket. These plans are very similar to those that Disney brought back for its World resort in Florida. Disney Dining Plans are a pre-paid option for guests to enjoy meals and snacks at Walt Disney World. These are only available to guests staying at a Disney Resort Hotels as part of a package. Of course, Alton Towers is not all about the food, but rather the rides. One writer was the first to try out the new Toxicator ride when it opened in March 2025. It's the tallest Top Spin ride of its kind and tips those on it upside down. He described it as being 'stomach-fluttering' and 'dizzying' as it whisks you 80 feet into the air. The ride is in the theme park's Forbidden Valley and is flanked by Nemesis Reborn, which was revamped last year. Dramatic green-lit water fountains on both sides of the ride shoot up around the attraction to represent toxic terror. This new UK roller coaster was crowned best in the world, beating rides at bucket list theme parks in America. In June, Alton Towers closed a popular ride for good after more than a decade in the park. 7
