Latest news with #Teeside
The Sun
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
World first driverless BUS to ferry holidaymakers between terminals at major UK airport is unveiled
HOLIDAYMAKERS will soon be ferried between terminals in the world's first driverless bus at a UK airport. The eight-seater auto shuttle will trial at Teeside International Airport from October. 2 A £1 million deal between the airport and Aurrigo International Plc will see the bus ferry passengers between terminals, while an Auto-Dolly Tug - designed to ferry cargo instead of passengers - will be trialled in January. Managing Director at Teesside International Airport, Phil Forster, said the technology would make moving bags from check-in to planes seamless. But Aurrigo's Auto-Shuttle will be tested before it carries any passengers across the tarmac. It's hoped that, if successful, the new vehicles will transform the way passengers are moved around the airport. And they could be shuttling passengers to their flights as early as 2026. Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, told the BBC: "These vehicles arriving in just a couple of months' time are a huge boost and I'm excited to see them serving holidaymakers on our year-round flights in the New Year." The futuristic vehicles come to the airport after plans were announced earlier this year to invest £2 million to build a facility that would construct and test trackless trams. The Tees Valley Combined Authority hopes the facility would allow driverless vehicles to be put to work in town centres by the end of 2027. He went on to say that the tech will likely have an impact on the whole aviation industry. Aurrigo has deployed its driverless vehicles across the world before but has never trialled them at a live airport. The firm's test will mark a world first as the driverless buses take to the tarmac. Driverless buses have previously been used in Scotland but never deployed to an airport before. The new technology allows for operating costs to be reduced with no need to pay drivers. Driverless vehicles are still relatively new and untested technology and are yet to be rolled out nationwide.
Wales Online
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Who are the support acts for Stereophonics at the Principality Stadium 2025?
Who are the support acts for Stereophonics at the Principality Stadium 2025? Stereophonics are being joined by two support acts for their Principality Stadium gigs Stereophonics are back in Cardiff (Image: Richard Swingler ) In their homecoming gig, Stereophonics are back in Wales and performing at the Principality Stadium. The band, headed up by Kelly Jones, is back in Cardiff for two nights. They will be performing at the Principality Stadium on Friday, July 11, and Saturday, July 12. The band last took to the stage at Principality Stadium in 2022, in a joint concert with Tom Jones. You can read our review of them, here. They are known for their stellar hits such as Dakota, Indian Summer, Maybe Tomorrow, Handbags And Gladrags, and many more. Stereophonics will be joined by two support acts for the gigs. First up is Teeside's Finn Forster. With soul-stirring vocals and unfiltered storytelling, his music shines a light on the highs, lows, and hard-won lessons of life's trials in the north. Posting to his Instagram about joining the Stereophonics on tour, he said: "Absolutely buzzing to announce I'll be joining @stereophonicsofficial for their upcoming UK dates. "These shows will mark the biggest shows of my life to date. I'm so excited to give it everything." The second support act is the English indie rock band, Blossoms. They are known for their songs There's A Reason Why, Charlemagne, Honey Sweet and Your Girlfriend. (Image: PA ) The band consists of Tom Ogden, who is lead vocals and guitar, Charlie Salt on the bass, Josh Dewhurst as lead guitar and percussion, Joe Donovan on the drums, and Myles Kellock on the keyboard. Oasis competition: Win tickets to see Oasis at Wembley . They most recently released their fifth album, Gary, in 2024. There are still tickets available for Stereophonics in Cardiff, with prices starting at £57 on Ticketmaster. You can buy them, here. Article continues below Read everything you need to know about the gig, here.
The Sun
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
‘Slap in the face' blast shoppers after being BANNED from UK retail giant for ‘returning too many items'
SHOPPERS have shared their fury after being banned from shopping at a UK retail giant for returning too many items of clothing. Thousands of fashion fans have received emails stating that their accounts have been closed with "immediate effect" for breaking the Fair Use Policy. 3 3 3 ASOS last year enraged customers by charging a £3.95 fee to those who return items frequently, and keep less than £40 worth of items. And now the fast-fashion giant has sparked fury again, with customers describing the strict policy as a "slap in the face". ASOS said: "We recently closed the accounts of a small group of customers whose shopping activity has consistently fallen outside our Fair Use policy. "This helps us maintain our commitment to offering free returns to all customers across all core markets." ASOS' Fair Use Policy states that customers may have their accounts shut down if they carry out "unusual or suspicious activity", such as "unusual patterns of returns activity", and returning items that look like they have been worn. Lucy Britnell, from Teeside, has been paying for a premium ASOS account for seven years, but has now been banned from using the fast-fashion website. The self-confessed "shopaholic" said that she spends around £100 a month at ASOS and spent a whopping £500 on a haul for her latest holiday. She revealed that when buying large hauls, she often buys multiple sizes, as she claims ASOS' sizing is "often unpredictable". However, last Thursday, Lucy received an email stating that her account would be closed within 30 days. "After reviewing your recent return activity, we've noticed that it no longer aligns with our current policy", the email read. I've found the perfect spring wedding guest dress - it's from ASOS & people say it's so nice I'd even upstage the bride Lucy was left shocked by the email telling the BBC: "It was a real slap in the face - I thought it was a joke at first. "Even if they did reinstate my account, I'd take my money elsewhere. "It's really left a bad taste in my mouth." Other customers have revealed that they have tried to appeal the ban, but were "cut off" by customer service. Can your account be closed for making too many returns? By Laura McGuire, Consumer Reporter WHEN shopping online it is important to be clued up on what your rights are - especially when it comes to making a return. H&M, Boohoo and Zara are among the countless fashion retailers which make customers pay for sending products back. And brands such as ASOS and Pretty Little Thing now ban customers who return items frequently. Retailers can impose these stricter rules as part of their own returns policies. Some stores may assess shoppers return behaviour on a case-by-case basis, while others may have a strict blanket policy. Amazon customers in the US have claimed the retail giant has closed accounts without warning more making too many returns. Louise Gowrie, from Glasgow said: "I tried again and asked how to complain regarding this and they told me the decision was final - and cut me off again with no reasoning." Frankie Allen from London, was also told by customer service that nothing could be done about the ban, and slammed "robotic comms" for "alienating" customers. However, she added that she does understand why ASOS has decided to crack down. "I've received ripped jeans and clothes with make-up on them before from ASOS, so I know there are some people who abuse the policy - like they wear the clothes once, keep the labels on, then return them for a refund," she said. Explaining why ASOS introduced the severe measures, retail expert Medi Parry-Williams said: "Managing high volumes of returns simply isn't a sustainable model. "In many cases, a return fee of £3.95 doesn't come close to covering these costs." And ASOS is not the only online store to crack down on customers who make frequent returns. H&M, Boohoo, Pretty Little Thing, and Zara are among stores which now charge customers.
The Sun
25-06-2025
- The Sun
Brit teacher, 25, dies suddenly in China mins after telling mum he was excited to come home in heartbreaking last call
A YOUNG British teacher died just minutes after speaking to his mum on the phone about coming home. Bradley Hall, 25, passed away suddenly in Shanghai, China, where he had worked for two years as a teacher. 4 4 4 Just 90 minutes before his death, Bradley had been chatting away to his mum Lindsey back in Teeside. They were planning his upcoming trip home - but tragically it never happened. Lindsey was surprised to see Bradley's number phoning back shortly after they'd hung up. Devastatingly, it wasn't her son but a friend who broke the awful news that Bradley was dead. The Teeside University graduate could have suffered a heart-related issue, the authorities said. After signing off on a post-mortem in China, they were told it would cost them £3,000. Bradley's grieving family are now trying to arrange for his body to be flown home. Lindsey told TeessideLive: "I was talking to my son an hour and a half beforehand, chit chatting away. "Then he rang back. I said: 'Hiya son, alright?' but it was his friend to say he'd passed away." UK authorities have said a second post-mortem might be needed once Bradley's body has been returned, according to his stepfather, Marc Henderson-Thynne. Two killed and one injured in plane crash after pilot lost control while trying to dodge a turtle on the runway Marc, 56, said information is "scarce" at the moment. Bradley was described by his family as "fit as a fiddle". They said he was a healthy 25-year-old whose life revolved around the gym, his teaching work and dog walks. Marc said: "He was fit, he trained, he didn't smoke, didn't drink. He was never in any trouble, he didn't like violence, he loved football and had a season ticket before." Bradley's aunt set up a GoFundMe page to help his parents cover the repatriation costs, estimated at £18,000. The campaign reads: "Sadly, on May 10th, my 25-year-old nephew Bradley passed away suddenly while in China. I'm doing this just to make it a bit easier on his mam and dad. "He was working out there as a teacher, as a family, we are absolutely devastated and heartbroken. "We are working with the authorities here and in China to bring him home. "As you will imagine this is not going to be cheap, and when he is home we need a funeral which a parent doesn't expect to have to do any donation will be amazing no matter how much any funds that are left after everything we will be donating to the Finley cooper foundation in Bradley's memory." More than £5,500 has been raised so far.
The Independent
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Public-private deal to invest £1bn in offshore wind supply chains unveiled
A public-private deal to drive £1 billion investment into offshore wind supply chains has been announced by the Government. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the 'unprecedented' collaboration would help deliver clean energy jobs, energy security and lower bills, with investment in areas such as Teeside, Scotland, South Wales and East Anglia. In addition to previously-announced funding of £300 million from publicly-owned Great British Energy, the Crown Estate has pledged £400 million to support new infrastructure including ports, supply chain manufacturing and research and testing facilities. And £300 million from industry would match government funding, to deliver investments into supply chains such as advanced turbine technology and offshore wind turbine foundations, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) said. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 'This is an unprecedented collaboration between public and private investors with Great British Energy crowding in millions of private sector investment from industry and the Crown Estate, to ensure that British companies and workers win the global race for clean energy. 'We are witnessing the coming of age of Britain's green industrial revolution as we build this new era of clean energy abundance, helping deliver new jobs, energy security and lower households' bills.' Industry body RenewableUK's deputy chief executive Jane Cooper said: 'A concerted focus from industry and Government on growing the offshore wind industry's supply chain in the UK could deliver an extra 10,000 jobs between now and 2035, boosting the UK's economy by £25 billion. 'Our sector is stepping up, working closely with the Energy Secretary and the Crown Estate to create new opportunities for manufacturing high-value goods like turbine towers, blades, foundations and cables, and providing high-quality jobs building, operating and maintaining offshore wind farms.' In addition to the £1 billion funding, which has not yet been allocated to specific projects, the Government has announced it will allocate up to £544 million from its 'clean industry bonus'. The bonus scheme provides funding to offshore wind developers for prioritising investment in some of the UK's most deprived communities and in cleaner supply chains, with companies pledging to invest in regions such as Scotland, the North East and East Anglia. Up to £200 million has been allocated to clean energy facilities such as electrical equipment and heavy steel products in the North East, unlocking up to £4 billion in private sector investment, while up to £185 million will go to Scotland, unlocking up to £3.5 billion for ports and wind farm components. The East of England will get up to £20 million from the bonus, and Northern Ireland has been allocated £25 million, with industry estimating the cash could support up to 14,000 jobs and drive up to £9 billion of private funding into the regions over the next four years. The funding will be delivered through the contracts for difference scheme, which pays clean energy developers an agreed price for the power they produce from their projects, and will be allocated to companies that are successful in the next round of auctions for the contracts. Those projects that win contracts in the auction can then finalise their investment into clean energy manufacturing factories, DESNZ said. The funding for the clean industry bonus would be paid for through bills, adding less than £2 a year over the next four years, officials said.
